Slow Dance in Purgatory (Purgatory Series Book 1)

4.5 stars — OK, first thing you should know about me is that I’m a scared crier…meaning tears fall out of my eyes uncontrollably (b/c it’s not normal crying) when I get scared. And this book is NOT scary people. I mean, there are suspenseful bits, sure. But apparently just the concept of ghosts scares the crap out of me. I started this book at 1am while my husband is away on business, and you better believe I freaked myself out. I don’t know why I said first thing, that was more just an aside because it amused me.This book really did suck me in despite scaring me…and I think I was scared because the atmosphere surrounding the school and Johnny was described so well. The way the story was laid out was really interesting as well — there were 2 or 3 glimpses into the past near the beginning to help us understand what happened, but mostly it was set in the present. And we also got quite a few POVs. Now, that’s not always my favourite, but in this case the bits we saw from other people felt right for the plot. However, there were a few times with just Maggie and Johnny where I felt like the POV changed without a clear break (like sometimes maybe even in a paragraph) and that’s a pet peeve of mine. It’s not incorrect at all, I believe this is a case of 3rd person omniscient…but I guess I’m just not as big a fan of that, and it’s not what I’m used to reading so it feels wrong to me even when it isn’t.I loved Maggie, even as she frustrated me. She was so vulnerable and desperate for love that would stay, my heart broke for how hard she worked to not be a bother to Aunt Irene. I totally understood her connection with Johnny, and truly felt their chemistry…I didn’t doubt the love she developed, but I was just as concerned about her lack of awareness of the untenable situation that was their relationship. At times it felt like she did become obsessed. I understood why, I just wanted more for her, you know? I appreciated the little detail about her having dyslexia, and how becoming a foster kid kind of let that fall through the cracks so that no one noticed or helped.Johnny totally got to me too…honestly, I wouldn’t have minded being in his head even more. He was such an interesting character because he was this popular kid when he was alive, but then he had 50+ years of loneliness to shape him into someone…more I guess. I felt for him and what that kind of isolation must have done to him. I understood his connection with Maggie, and I appreciated that he tried to do the right thing, but found that hard to maintain.I adored Gus and Aunt Irene…they were a wonderful pseudo-family for Maggie, and I loved that Maggie automatically had someone who believed her in Gus. Shad was a mixed bag for me…he was written so perfectly, this lonely, awkward, 14 year old boy just trying to survive high school. I would get annoyed with his crush on Maggie, but it was so perfectly realistic for a kid his age. He was hilarious and annoying and my heart ached for what he was going through.I’m super interested to see what happens next. I wouldn’t call that a cliffhanger ending, but I was also glad I could just buy the next book and get answers right away. There were so many little tidbits of plot that felt like hints, and I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds.

A Sad, Sweet & Sassy YA Ghost StoryBOOK DETAILS:Slow Dance in Purgatory by Amy Harmon, read by Emily Woo Zeller, published by Tantor Audio (2014) / Length: 7 hrs 27 minSERIES INFO:This is Book #1 of 2 in the "Purgatory" duology. Both books are available on audio.SUMMARY:She isn't actually a Ghost Whisper, since the ghosts she sees are mostly just echoes that don't interact with her. But she has been able to see them since she was young.I like most everything about this one, and only wish we had gotten more of the wonderful interactions between Johnny & Maggie.CHARACTERS:Maggie O'Bannon: A not-too-tough former foster kid who loves to dance. She doesn't really fit in, but finally has a support system and doesn't want to lose it.Johnny Kinross: He was a bad boy in the typical 50's sense of the word, tuff. He was never a jerk or abuser. He tried to take good care of his mother & little brother. He has matured even more after spending 50 years fading in & out and never able to go anywhere. He tries to do right by Maggie.Maggie & Johnny: I really like this relationship despite its seemingly impossible nature. They spend time together, talk, have fun, and support each other.I love Gus, the elderly Janitor Maggie works with.WORLDBUILDING:This takes place in a High School in the small town of Honeyville, Texas. There are flashbacks to the same town in the '50s. What I noticed when listening was a good sense of the colors and sounds of the time.As for the paranormal aspect, as I said above, most ghosts are just echoes. But several incidents are related in which a ghost (besides Johnny, who isn't sure what he is) actually interacts with someone.PLOT:The beginning is an extremely poignant exploration of Johnny's condition - stuck, often alone, never a part of things. After that we get a flashback to how he ended up that way. The book uses quite a few flashbacks and people telling stories about what happened to explore his life before, as well as those of few other characters (who are now elderly or dead).The ending is a kind of cliffhanger.HIGHLIGHTS / CAUTIONS:--The Chapter Headings - which are all 1950's song titles--Maggie & Johnny make their own drive-in theater--My favorite quote: “Why would you even try to stay away?!” Maggie interrupted, as impassioned as he. “What did I do?” “It’s not what YOU did! It’s what I’m doing to you!” Johnny gaped at her, incredulous. “Maggie – if this were 1958, and none of this had ever happened, and I was just a guy and you were my girl…..I would hold on to you and never let you go,” Johnny implored huskily, “But it isn’t 1958…and I am not just a guy, in love with his girl.”I COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT: Moderate swearing & innuendo / Shad's crush. This relationship has enough troubles, they don't need a third wheel. / The bullying teacher (whose father was apparently also a bullying teacher). Anyone who constantly taunts a dyslexic student and sets them up to fail should be fired.OTHER CAUTIONS: Johnny's mother is said to have been having an affair with the (married) mayor. / He made out with a teacher in order to pass her class. / Gus' daughter (Shad's mother) is a drug addicted prostitute whose behavior humiliates them.NARRATION:Character voices differentiated = Yes / Opposite sex voices acceptable = Yes, I think that Gus' voice especially suits him. And Shad's voice is teenage creaky without being annoying / Accents = This book takes place in Texas, but there aren't really any accents / Phrasing, Pacing & Pronunciation = Good / Emoting = Good / Speed = listened on 1.25, my usual, and it was a tiny touch slow.

If time travel was ever going to be real, these two star-crossed lovers deserved to know how.The touching love story of Johnny and Maggie made me cry on several occasions. How could it not?The characters are well written and the emotional ups and downs of these teenagers separated by death spill from the pages in tsunami waves, leaving the reader emotionally drained.I cannot simply label this as YA, because it is more than that. A touching story with an ending that leaves you in no doubt as to which book you will be reading next - the sequel of course.This is a MUST READ.

This book had an interesting story line and a different take on the teen paranormal romance genre. It was very tame and quite sweet. I also like the way she names each chapter, as she does with her other books. However I couldn't help feeling at times when the two main characters were together it was like reading Twilight fan fiction which is a shame as Amy Harmon is better than that.If I hadn't read any of her other books before this one I may not have bothered to try any others out. Running Barefoot is beautiful. I will read the next installment of this story though just to see what happens!

How does Amy Harmon do it? A brilliantly simple story that just keeps you turning the pages as you become engrossed in the people she creates. Loved it.

I love to read Amy Harmon books and this book kept me interested to the end but I am not a fan of ghost stories.

Once again amy Harmon delivers a masterpiece , reading it made my heart hurt ,beautifully sad and had me utterly consumed , it's official my favourite author of all time