REVIEW FOR - DRAWN IN - BY SIOUX TRETT

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Serenity Winters is taking the summer off. After her last year included crushing on the wrong guy (again), having her best friend move all the way across the country, and an unexpected loss she's still not prepared to deal with, she deserves it. And a visit to see Maia in California seems like the perfect getaway. Beaches, bonfires and boys? Yes please!

But Rennie's dreams aren't so easy to elude. Sketching what she can remember of them helps some, but her drawings are taking on a life of their own and the dreams they represent are starting to come true.

Enter Alex, who may or may not be perfect. (No, who is she kidding? He's perfect. Great hair, plus he can quote Hamlet and Yoda? Come on!) But Alex has secrets of his own, namely a hidden ability to transport himself through time using a book as a portal. Could it be that both Rennie and Alex are being drawn in to the same mystery? They better find out quickly, because her dreams are getting louder. And they know her by name.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Serenity or Rennie as she goes by in the book goes to California to visit her best friend for the summer.  Maia and Rennie have grown up together in Pennsylvania, but Maia's family ended up moving across the country. 

After a very trying year Rennie's aunt decides it's time for her to take a break.  She sends her to California to visit her best friend Rennie.  The summer is sure to be full of fun, bon fires, boys, and the beach.  What high school student doesn't love boys, and the beach?  Of course it is bound to make for a fun story to read.

Maia takes Rennie right from the airport to a bon fire on the beach with her friends.  She is determined to make this the best summer ever for Rennie.    The first boy she meets, is the boy who happens to hit her in the shoulder with a large log.  Yup, what a great introduction.  Right?  Of course it happens to be the one boy Maia doesn't want him to meet.  Alex.  

Rennie is a little struck (no pun intended) by Alex right from the beginning.  Upon meeting all of Rennie's girl friends they take it upon themselves to help her have a fling for the summer.  All Rennie can think about is Alex though.  

This story is told in present tense which I love!  It's not that I don't like historical books, but sometimes it's really nice to have a story about today's kids.  The whole time I read this book I couldn't help but think of my own daughter and niece.  Rennie is a little nerdy (which I love) and has OCD...umm My daughter and niece in a nut shell.....hehe.  

There are so many references in this book to other books, and shows that my kids watch now.  It was a lot of fun.  It takes place in San Luis Obispo, California, and the author did a great job of putting me right in the story.  I felt like I was there.  It was awesome.

Okay, I got side tracked for a bit.  There are so many wonderful side characters in this book.  Levi, which I think is a hottie :), and Seth, who Maia is determined to make her boyfriend.  Maia's girls friends, and of course Alex.  Each one makes the story interesting and so much fun.  Some are fantastically (yes, I just made that a word) wonderful, and some are not who they seem to be.  Makes for an interesting story.

Funny things have been happening to Rennie since tragedy struck her family.  She has been having night mares that seem so real, but she cannot quite remember them.  She starts to make sketches of her dreams after a while so that hopefully she can make sense out of them.  They are so real to her that sometimes she thinks she might be loosing her mind.

When Rennie is in California she stats having her "dreams" while she is awake.  She feels like she is being transported to another world.  Which in her mind she knows cannot really be happening, but she cannot find another answer for what is happening to her.

Rennie decides Maia is going to have to give her an inch where Alex is concerned.  She seems to only have eyes for Alex.  Alex gets Rennie, and Rennie gets Alex.  They both have secrets that they can only share with each other.  He's kind of a mystery, and who doesn't love a mysterious guy?  

When things start getting more and more strange, Rennie decides she is going to have to tell Maia all things that have been going on in her life since the day her life changed for ever.

I love the witty banter in this book.  It's so much fun.  I love the mystery.  I love the characters.  I just loved it all around.  I got to the end, and I have to tell you, it's a good thing there is more coming!!!!  The ending made me want to scream a little.  I need the next book, like, NOW.

I already feel like I have told you too much.  I hope I intrigued you enough to read it and didn't give too much away.  I hope it was a vague review...hehehe

I think the thing I loved most about this book was the fierce loyalty between Maia and Rennie.  They are what true friends really should be.  Stand by each other no matter what.  Face anything that comes at them together, and back each other up.  It really is a great book.

If you like mystery, boys, strange happening...maybe new worlds...then you should pick this book up.  It's a great read.

I bought this book because my brother read it and told me that it was one he thought I would like it.  I am glad I picked it up.  I have to admit the cover isn't my favorite.  I am not a fan of animated looking covers.   I like real trees, real people etc.  This is yet another book you cannot judge by it's cover if you are a cover whore like me.  I like it enough, but I probably wouldn't have grabbed it if it hadn't been recommended to me.  I am so glad I read it though.  It was so much fun to read.

***  I am going to have the author on my blog later this month for an interview.  I am so excited!  I am also going to give this book away during the Tackle Your TBR Read-A-Thon hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings, for one of the Challenges.  It starts September 14th and goes to the 27th.  So stay tuned for your chance to win a copy :) ***

Source:  I bought this book for myself off Amazon.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

Content:  Seriously I have been so lucky lately when it comes to reading clean books.  I love it so much.  There is kissing, but that is all.  In my opinion a very clean book!

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from SiouxTrett's Blog here

Hi, I’m Sioux and I’m a writer.

I’m also a reader (mostly YA these days, but other genres sneak in there occasionally).

In my non-book-related time, I like to travel, see movies, cook (or at least rip lots of recipes out of magazines that I may or may not make), all things Disney, and most things Joss Whedon (with the exception of the really scary things that I can’t watch). Oh, and I may be addicted to Pintrest.