Kate Pearsall

Bittersweet in the Hollow (Bittersweet in the Hollow, #1) by Kate Pearsall

The story moves at a fast pace with likeable (original) well developed characters. The plot is compelling leading up to a slow burn. The magical abilities of the James family adds an air of mystique to an already intesnse plot.

Overall I found Bittersweet in the Hollow very enjoyable. I look forward to the next installment in the series. I highly recommend to those who enjoy a good magical mystery. Perfect for fantasy lovers as well as crime/thrillers.… (more)

Bittersweet in the Hollow is set in the small, isolated Applachian town of Caball Hollow which is encompassed by the National Forest. The story follows Linden James, her three sisters and their family. The James women all have a special "gift"; Linden's is being able taste the emotions of those around her.
Linden is haunted by the events of the summer solstice a year ago, when she vanished into the forest overnight, emerging traumatized and with hazy memories. Now, a year later, another girl goes missing, and is found murdered.
Linden and her sisters gradually unearth the tangled web of secrets and hidden motives in Caball Hollow. The world building is detailed, and characters are colorful and well-developed. The sensory descriptions of food are particularly vivid. This dark fast-paced YA thriller combining mystery, horror, folklore and a touch of romance, grips the reader from the beginning, the tension mounting with each revelation and twist. I completely devoured Bittersweet in the Hollow and absolutely recommend it.… (more)

Excellent! I enjoyed this so much. "Bittersweet in the Hollow" has an awesome, entrancing setup, and it follows through with an engaging plot. It's a little slow to start, but I really enjoyed the time it spent establishing Linden, the main character, her sisters and friends, and the love interest Cole. Linden went missing a year ago, and she can't remember anything that happened during that time. Now that another girl has not only gone missing like her, but turned up dead, she decides to try and figure out what's going on herself. With some help, of course.

I savored this book. Linden and her family have magical abilities, and I really enjoyed this mix of fantasy with the mystery at the heart of the story. Linden being able to taste emotions is not the most exciting ability though, and I feel like more could've been done with the magic present overall.… (more)