Review: Untraceable

Title: Untraceable

Series: The Nature of Grace, Book 1

Author: S. R. Johannes

Genre: YA

Source: Purchased copy

Fave quote: "Life is short. Be sure to make your mark."

Book Photo and Goodreads info on Untraceable.

I actually read this book a while back, when I was on a reading but not review streak. So this review might be rather sparse. But you simply must know that I truly enjoyed Untraceable by S. R. Johannes. To start with the cover is beautiful, a little creepy with the girl peeking out through the greenery but beautiful nonetheless.

First, I must say that I am familiar with the setting of Untraceable in Smoky Mountains near Cherokee, North Carolina. That area is about three hours from my home base so I've been there many times for family vacays and church retreats. It is really incredible any time of year; lush and green in the spring and summer, fabulous fall foliage in autumn, and crisp, cold and possibly even icy and snow covered in winter. I always appreciate when I can really visualize a location in a novel. It just brings a level of realness to the story for me. I'm even including a couple of snappies from my past trips to the area to set the Untraceable mood.

 Now, I'm not saying I'm ready to be hiking up the mountains with Grace but I can at least imagine her doing it now.

Back to the book at hand. I really thought the "survival tips" at the beginning of each chapter was an excellent touch. For example, "Survival Skill # 10: If lost, do not be impulsive. Patience can be the difference between life and death." 

There is a mystery element (multiple intertwining mysteries actually) that runs through the book that kept me turning the pages! But balancing out that need to know urgency while reading was all the traumatic sadness and betrayals. Poor Grace never knew who she could trust and every time she tried to trust someone that person would prove to be untrustworthy, or at the very least not what they seemed. 

Also, she never seemed to catch a good break. She'd get some good info and no one would believe her or she'd find what she was looking for only to have it slip away again. Grace is one of those characters that would probably be really mad at her author if they ever got the chance to meet.

Untraceable does not have a "happy ending." But I think sometimes more books need to need on less than perfect notes. We don't always live happily ever after. Stuff happens (well lots of stuff in Grace's life) but that's how we grow as people, through the STUFF. 

I also thought it was cool how Untraceable is an "environmental thriller." It's awesome that a YA book took on another, more comprehensive issue than just why or why not the main female character doesn't have a boyfriend. Untraceable deals with questionable ethics from adults and community "leaders." Untraceable is about standing up for what's right even at the risk to one's self.

Lastly, there is a boy. Le sigh. The boy. I actually kind of love the boy, even though he is totally sketchy! He's conflicted but brave and totes crush worthy. He's an outdoors man of sorts and smart AND he has a swoon worthy English accent! LOVE!

I give Untraceable 4 out of 5 stars. A very good read by an author from my home state of Georgia. Also, currently the time of this post Untraceable is available on Kindle for $0.99. This is a real steal of deal for some good reading material!

Author S.R. Johannes and Me at YallFest 2012!

Short Story Sunday: Unspeakable

Hello y'all! This is just a little post to let you know what's going on in Alli's World...AND of course discuss some good writing. First, I want to tell you that the hubs, some of my family members and myself spent a couple of days together on Tybee Island, Georgia (and did the tourist thing in Savannah as well) earlier this week. Which was completely lovely and just what we all needed. The only unfortunate thing is that I didn't get to read as much as I thought I would while we were there, just not enough time to do it all! 

Second, my work schedule changed and I'm on night shift now. I'm still trying to adjust to that and it has really put a damper on my reading for the time being. (If I'm trying to read so late at night it tends to just make me more sleepy and that is certainly not what I need!) So, please just hang in here with me and the next 16 weeks of night shift will fly by and then we will be back to our regularly scheduled Alli's World. Heck, who knows, I might adjust so well I might want to stay on nights, we'll just have to see. 


So this past week I haven't really read much in my current read, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, not because it's not good of course but see above, for the whole night shift makes me narcoleptic thing exploitation. Plus once I get all done with it I really want to share with you guys some things we saw in Sav that you can also read about in the book. It's going be great, trust me. Until then I'll just give you one glimpse at the beautiful "Hostess City" of the South. This is the fabulous fountain at Forsyth Park, complete with the Live Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss.

BUT until I finish Midnight and get my "photo tour" ready to go live on the blog, I've actually been reading some short stories this week I downloaded on my Kindle app for my phone. The first two, I'm not even going to mention cause they were just that bad. Finally today though, I read some quality stuff! YaY!! I downloaded it a week or two ago and finally got around to reading it and it left me wanting MORE!!!

Click the pic for more info!

(Amazon-which I do NOT get paid for, 

just so you know, I just do this cause

I love books!)

I've been hearing about S.R. Johannes' The Nature of Grace series and my interest was piqued. THEN, I saw Unspeakable a short story to the first book Untraceable was a free download on Amazon I simply had to give it a try. Ohmygosh y'all! Just based off the little bit in the short story, I reallllllly want to continue reading. The characters are witty and mysterious. (What ARE they doing in the woods!?) And it ends on a cliffhanger that has me hooked. I told the hubs I think he might enjoy this one (and hopefully the whole series) because it has this whole out in nature aspect to it. (Bless hubs heart, he gets roped into reading most of what I read...but a family that reads together, stays together, right??) Basically, even though I'm like 20 books down in my to-read stack I really want to move this one to the top! PLUS the next book in the series Uncontrollable is due out late summer 2012 and I saw the third book is scheduled for a Christmas 2012 release date!


By the way, S.R. Johannes is a GEORGIA author! YaY for local authors! This makes me super happy! Here's a link to her site so you find out more info about the author and the books!


Anybody out there reading anything good? Got any good summer fun times, you'd like to share? Leave me a comment. I HEART comments!