Deception

Deception: A Haunting Emma Novel
by Lee Nichols

When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life. (description taken from Amazon.com)

I can't believe I didn't read this book sooner. I had heard over and over that it was really great, but it sat on my TBR shelf for ages and ages...I just got the second book to review and so finally felt compelled to read Deception.

I am so sorry that it took so long for me to read this. Swimming in a sea of paranormal books, this is a stand out and it's the start of a series! *squee!* The ghostkeepers concept is really well done. Some people can summon ghosts, some can communicate with them, some can compel them, some can dispel them...but only Emma can do it all. Only just learning about her powers and abandoned by her family, Emma is totally freaking out. Now a creepy serial killer ghost is after her and Emma's not sure she can fight him off!

With an awesome creepy vibe and a compelling and potentially rocky romance, I couldn't put Deception down! I read it in one long sitting and loved every minute of it. I'm very much looking forward to reading and reviewing the next book. There are many questions that still have to be answered...

Full disclosure: ARC won from Dark Faerie Tales (...sadly about a year ago! :P)