"Minder" by Kate Kaynak
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"Minder" by Kate KaynakA Ganzfield Novel (Book 1)
Cover Blurb: Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams...
Stars: 4 out of 5
# of pages: 250
Rated: PG-13
Buy Minder from Amazon
About the book: Minder is the first book of the Ganzfield Series, a Young Adult/paranormal book series about teenager Maddie Dunn. Maddie is the victim of a would-be horrendous crime and is a newly discovered telepath (AKA, Minder). Because of her special ability, Maddie is taken from her home in New Jersey (did you catch the author similarity??!) to a boarding school called Ganzfield. Ganzfield is filled with psychic students and is run by Dr. Williamson (also a Minder), but the good doctor isn't much of an administrator. The kids--and by kids, I mean bullies--run the show. Minder is a book that depicts Maddie Dunn as she discovers her new mind-reading talents and falls in love...and joins the fight to save Ganzfield from the students, and from the outsiders who wish to destroy it.
My Review (spoiler-free): The hardest part about starting a new book is getting into the story. Chapter one is usually boring, confusing, unmemorable... Chapter two is slightly better. Chapter three is ... By chapter four, I'm usually a bit more okay-I-can-see-this-working. But as I started Minder, I was pleasantly surprised. My first thought as I read page one: Wow, Kate sure knows how to start a book off running. Literally! This book snatches your attention from the first paragraph and doesn't let go until it's too late to stop yourself. Don't believe me? Read the free, 2 chapter preview!
The Pros--
My Review (spoiler-free): The hardest part about starting a new book is getting into the story. Chapter one is usually boring, confusing, unmemorable... Chapter two is slightly better. Chapter three is ... By chapter four, I'm usually a bit more okay-I-can-see-this-working. But as I started Minder, I was pleasantly surprised. My first thought as I read page one: Wow, Kate sure knows how to start a book off running. Literally! This book snatches your attention from the first paragraph and doesn't let go until it's too late to stop yourself. Don't believe me? Read the free, 2 chapter preview!
The Pros--
- Awesome beginning.
- The main character, Maddie, is likable and easy to relate with.
- Easy, fast read.
- The concepts of the book are explained very well, everything makes sense.
- The storyline is believable.
- The writer has a nice variety of characters, but she doesn't let you get them mixed up or forget them.
- "Young Love" is captured in a realistic way.
- The love interest is pretty cool. I'll admit, I have a literary crush on him =P
- Ended strong. I'm looking forward to book 2, Adversary.
The Cons--
- Loads of adverbs. Don't get me wrong, I talk with adverbs and I blog with adverbs, but writing a book should be different. Save the adverb usage for essential moments; take the time to write a stronger sentence without the ly.
- This is a YA (Young Adult) book, but the writing style has a more MG (Middle Grade) feel to it... until you get to a steamy make-out scene. That kept throwing me off.
- Too many ooey-gooey make-out/you're-the-very-air-that-I-breathe scenes. Seriously...I'm gagging here.
- During the middle, after the hero and heroine hook up, the book starts to drag and focuses more on the couple. There are a few "couple scenes" that could be cut out completely.
- The big ending is pretty short. I would have liked it to be drawn out longer--especially since there was so much time devoted to the young lovers.
About the author: Here's what I've been able to dig up... Dr. Kate Kaynak was born and raised in New Jersey. Yep, New Jersey, and since nothing much happens in NJ (kidding) we'll fast forward a bit...now a bit more...right there! Perfect. Okay, picture this: Kate leaves NJ for college--but not just any college. She heads on up to Yale University *insert swoon here* and begins her study of Psychology. After earning her BA, she goes after her MA and PH.D from Rutgers *insert second swoon here* where she dabbled in several different specializations. I know, I know--I'm green with envy too.
But that's not all! Somehow, in the midst of all that uber-schoolage, Kate manages to snag a hunk, marry the hunk, bear 3 babies with said hunk, and live in a foreign locale (Istanbul). Don't interrupt, I'm still not done! So then, Kate decides she's done enough work from the student side of life; now to start on the teaching side. Mmhmm, you read that right. Dr. Kate starts teaching psychology *spews drink at computer monitor*.
Now, I'm not exactly sure when she found time to sleep (or say, eat) but she did. And not only did she find time for mundane things, such as showers and feeding times, but she also found time to write--lucky for us! Now, I for one am convinced that this woman is some sort of cyborg, but hey! Just sayin'...
You can find Kate on her blog, Disgruntled Bear, and on her website, katekaynak.com.
But that's not all! Somehow, in the midst of all that uber-schoolage, Kate manages to snag a hunk, marry the hunk, bear 3 babies with said hunk, and live in a foreign locale (Istanbul). Don't interrupt, I'm still not done! So then, Kate decides she's done enough work from the student side of life; now to start on the teaching side. Mmhmm, you read that right. Dr. Kate starts teaching psychology *spews drink at computer monitor*.
Now, I'm not exactly sure when she found time to sleep (or say, eat) but she did. And not only did she find time for mundane things, such as showers and feeding times, but she also found time to write--lucky for us! Now, I for one am convinced that this woman is some sort of cyborg, but hey! Just sayin'...
You can find Kate on her blog, Disgruntled Bear, and on her website, katekaynak.com.
Hey, great review!
*runs off to check out genius dr author's website*
WOW! I really enjoyed the chapters!
I like when there's not so many descriptors...lets me use my imagination :D
Then again, someitmes, I'd just like to be shown what's happening.
She did a good job with both in the first two.
Thanks, Courtney!