Nothing good comes from living in the Devil’s swamp. Willow Bell thinks moving to the Okefenokee area isn’t half bad, but nothing prepares her for what awaits in the shadows of the bog. Girls are showing up dead in the swamp. And she could be next. Everyone warns Willow to stay away from Beau Cadwell–the bad boy at the top of their suspect list as the serial killer tormenting the small town. … tormenting the small town.
But beneath his wicked, depthless eyes, there’s something else that draws Willow to him.
When yet another girl he knew dies, though, Willow questions whether she can trust her instincts…or if they’re leading to her own death.
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What a great read, I wasn’t expecting to like this so much Wicked Charm By Amber Hart was a fabulous enchanting but nerve-wracking read.
Set in the swamps of Okefenokee, Willow Bell and her parents have gone to live with her grandmother Old Lady Bell.
And it isn’t long before she catches the eye of local teenage playboy Beau Cadwell.
Beau with his riddles and many ex-girlfriends.
He guards his heart due to the loss of his parents.
He lives with his scarily mean twin sister Charlotte, and his grandpa on the land adjoining Willows grandmothers.
But chilling deadly events are occurring in this small town.
There’s a serial killer on the loose and ex-girlfriends of Beau are turning up dead in the swamp.
Set against the vivid background of the swamp “Wicked Charm” has so much to recommend it.
In some ways, it was like entering a different world, one of shadow, light and secrets waiting to be discovered.
I Loved this aspect of the story, it was such a unique setting for a YA novel.
So, Wicked Charm does exactly what it says on the tin and I found it very refreshing to read a story that makes no apologies for its simplicity.
This was a clean YA that was heavy on the sweet romance and came accompanied by a big dash of intrigue.
It had interesting diverse characters that made this easy to get lost in.
I did kind of guess who the killer may be but this didn’t really detract from my enjoyment.
I loved the ending and this was a very enjoyable read.
NetGalley provided me with an ARC of “Wicked Charm” by Amber Hart of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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Wicked Charm by Amber Hart is a young adult romantic murder mystery that pulls you in page by page. At first it is a slow build. You are getting to know the characters and just when you think it’ll remain slow the intrigue and murder begins. As such I would say this was a very well-paced novel as I was as caught up in the drama as the characters were. Told in dual POV between Willow, the new girl in school, and Beau, the heart-breaker of the county we slowly get to know the intricacies of their lives and cannot help but wonder who is murdering the girls of Ware County. Stepping out of my usual romance reading and over to something Young Adult to very little acclimating thank, in part, to Amber Hart’s writing. Enjoy!
“A heart is a heart. A few words won’t change that.”
This book was a YA thriller based in the swamps of Georgia. Willow moves in with her grandmother while her parents are studying birds in the area. She meets the neighbor young man, Beau, and it’s an instant attraction. Although the attraction may be there, it isn’t enough to guarantee smooth sailing. Beau’s family is most definitely hated by Willow’s Gran, and there’s a lot of talk circling around Beau. Especially when girls begin showing up dead in the swamp and it seems the only connection between them is … Beau.
This story was definitely interesting and different from what I’ve been reading lately. I liked the romance element mixed in with a mystery/thriller. I also enjoyed the setting for the story! The swamp, and the culture surrounding that area, is really interesting to read about. I’m not from the south, so being immersed in their culture was something I enjoyed.
There were a few awkward things for me. First, the insta-love was an issue for me. This type of romance is okay, but what got me was that it seemed to change Beau so quickly. I always feel that change is possible for characters, but it takes time and usually occurs after some motivation has pushed the character to do so. Another issue, which may not be an issue if you’re truly a YA reading this book, was that the characters often seemed to express all the things they’re thinking. My problem with that was that sometimes the dialogue and interactions didn’t quite feel genuine, but that didn’t take much away from the book.
Overall I think this is a good YA story. It was an inventive idea and well thought out. Perhaps not as exciting of a read if you’re an adult who loves YA books, but definitely suitable for the YA crowd.