Review: Adrenaline Rush by Cindy M. Hogan

 

Adrenaline Rush (A Christy Spy Novel Book 1) by Cindy M. Hogan

Paperback, 360 pages

Published October 2013 by O'neal Publishing 

My Source: I received a copy from eBooksforReview in exchange for an honest review

Description:

This is a break off series of the Watched series-Enjoy

A madman with a mission is kidnapping groups of thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him.

To do so, she must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit. Death-defying stunts are only the beginning: two groups fit the profile, and Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late.

If she chooses the wrong group, more people will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll get out alive.

Young Adults, teens and adults will love this exciting suspenseful adventure with a dash of romance. You won't want to put it down.

My Review:

I really enjoyed the Watched series and was excited to see a continuation of Christy's story. You really don't have to read the previous story to enjoy this one, but it does help to understand how she became a spy. 

One thing that I really discovered while reading this book is that I do not have what it takes to become a spy. Wow--I really felt some adrenaline rush and anxiety with this book and was totally on the edge of my seat! Christy is now taking on a character who is completely opposite of herself, in order to put herself in the midst of a group who is targeted to be kidnapped. There are two possible groups and she must guess right so that she can put herself in a position to catch this madman.

I thought the feelings and characters were well-done in a way that really drew the reader in. It was easy to feel the fear, anxiety, thrill, anger, etc. I was horrified at some of the events that occurred and couldn't imagine how things could possibly end well. Christy handled things very well, for the most part. I loved it when she seemed human though--when she let her true feelings show and when she was herself instead of trying to be someone else, like she had to. Christy isn't the ideal spy, by any means. When she lets her guard down, she makes mistakes--sometimes costly mistakes, yet she's able to rally herself together and try to patch things up.

I think it would be really easy to lose your real identity when you're a spy. Taking on so many different personalities would be hard. I hope to see Christy hang on to herself as this series continues.

The madman was the perfect bad guy. He was so creepy, evil, and crazy. I couldn't believe what he got away with. The way the relationships were woven together was pretty crazy, too. 

All in all, this is a very suspenseful, creative series.

Content: no language; moderate violence (kidnapping, daredevil acts, murders, blood, beatings, abuse)--not overly graphic, but definitely PG-13 worthy (not for a younger reader); mild romance (some kissing). 

 

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About the Author:

 
Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a BA in education and is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. Most of all, she loves to laugh.

She is the bestselling and award winning author of the Watched trilogy, a YA suspense series with a dash of romance. She has since branched off to write a mystery, Gravediggers, that won Best YA novel of 2013, a contemporary romance, Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips, and two in a spy series, Adrenaline Rush and Hotwire.