ARC Review: The Bargaining by Carly Anne West

Title: The Bargaining
Author: Carly Anne West
Publication: 17th 2015 by Simon Pulse
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

The fact that neither of her parents wants to deal with her is nothing new to Penny. She’s used to being discussed like a problem, a problem her mother has finally passed on to her father. What she hasn’t gotten used to is her stepmother…especially when she finds out that she’ll have to spend the summer with April in the remote woods of Washington to restore a broken-down old house.

Set deep in a dense forest, the old Carver House is filled with abandoned antique furniture, rich architectural details, and its own chilling past. The only respite Penny can find away from April’s renovations is in Miller, the young guy who runs the local general store. He’s her only chance at a normal, and enjoyable, summer.

But Miller has his own connection to the Carver House, and it’s one that goes beyond the mysterious tapping Penny hears at her window, the handprints she finds smudging the glass panes, and the visions of children who beckon Penny to follow them into the dark woods. Miller’s past just might threaten to become the terror of Penny’s future….

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I knew that this would be some kind of creepy read that bordered on the paranormal genre. But I didn't set my expectations so high. And man, was I wrong!
     Penny is stunned when her mother leaves her with her dad and his step-family. But things take another turn when she has to stay with her step mum for a summer renovating a house as old as the town around it. But there's something sinister connected to this house and Penny might be the only one able to tell what it is.
     This book didn't start off on such a good note. It was kind-of boring in the beginning and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get pulled into the story. But towards the middle, the pace picks up and it doesn't slow down. Suspense after horror after creepiness, there's not one dull moment after the middle mark.
     I am a great fan of horror films and movies, it's mostly due to the fact that they DON'T scare me. But I was really creeped out with this book and I LOVED it. There's so much background that the author put into this book, it all sounds reasonable and spooky. The plot is multi-dimensional and well thought-out.
     Then, there are the characters. Penny was mainly the reason why I gave this book four stars. I just couldn't like her. Although I grew to like her more towards the end, but in the beginning, she was unbearable to me. But my favorite character was definitely April. I LOVED her. She was such a wonderful, three-dimensional character and her role as the step mum was perfect.
     There is no romance in this book. There's a potential of one, but you don't know if the author is gonna pursue it or not. The ending was definitely my favorite part. I loved it. And i loved the note on which the events ended. It wasn't cliche or weird.  Finally, if you are a fan of the suspense and paranormal genre or you are a genuine horror fan, then this book is for YOU!