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The Masks #1
True Colors
Caitlyn Davis always cruised through life, not being the type to ruffle feathers or involve herself in high school drama. That is, until a chance encounter with a strange, homeless man changes everything.
Suddenly, Caitlyn has the ability to see behind people's masks. She discovers that her life isn’t as simple as she imagined and high school is filled with secrets...some very sinister ones.
Unable to ignore her new gift, Caitlyn embarks on a mission to learn why one of her friends suddenly appears terrified, but masks her fear with a bright, smiling veneer. Will Caitlyn's new ability lead her into hot water? Or is her new found vision a blessing that will expose her friends' true colors?
Her quest will lead Caitlyn to lose friends, stand up for those in need, and even find love.
At Palisades High School every face tells a story...
Suddenly, Caitlyn has the ability to see behind people's masks. She discovers that her life isn’t as simple as she imagined and high school is filled with secrets...some very sinister ones.
Unable to ignore her new gift, Caitlyn embarks on a mission to learn why one of her friends suddenly appears terrified, but masks her fear with a bright, smiling veneer. Will Caitlyn's new ability lead her into hot water? Or is her new found vision a blessing that will expose her friends' true colors?
Her quest will lead Caitlyn to lose friends, stand up for those in need, and even find love.
At Palisades High School every face tells a story...
340 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2014
About the author
Melissa Pearl
60 books852 followersMelissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books, ranging in genres from Fantasy to Romantic Suspense to Contemporary Romance. She loves the variety.
"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."
Melissa Pearl is a Forever Love Publishing author. If you'd like to download their Starter Library (3 books for FREE), then you can copy and paste this link into your Internet browser: http://bit.ly/FLP_Library
"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."
Melissa Pearl is a Forever Love Publishing author. If you'd like to download their Starter Library (3 books for FREE), then you can copy and paste this link into your Internet browser: http://bit.ly/FLP_Library
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February 20, 2020
"you are a good soul," he said.
"Oh no, it's really no big deal. I should probably do more for you, but my friends..." I pointed back to the club with my free hand, feeling ashamed for even associating with my heartless companions.
His smile was tender as he squeezed my hand. "Your kindness will not go unnoticed".
True Colors (The Masks, #1)
by Melissa Pearl
In this YA novel, Caitlyn has been given the power to read minds. To see behind peoples' exterior and deep into the recesses of their brains..what they are thinking, how they are hurting. She sees their good sides..and the bad as well.
She can do this after a random and mystical meeting with an old homeless man. How, though, will she use her new power?
I found this to be an interesting read. First off, the cover art is magnificent, among the best. And it is such a cool premise. I mean..how would I handle it if I were in this situation? How would you?
In spite of the good, there were a few things I did not like. It was a bit to YA for me and I did not like the beginning which has a romantic scene that put me off. I have no issue with sex scenes, romantic scenes but to start the book off with one before I knew who anyone was kind of made it tough.
This is also part of a series but I have not gone on to read the others in the series.
I think for people who like YA with a bit of romance and magical realism this would be a perfect fit.
I did not love it but I didn't dislike it either. It is very unique and that is always a good thing.
"Oh no, it's really no big deal. I should probably do more for you, but my friends..." I pointed back to the club with my free hand, feeling ashamed for even associating with my heartless companions.
His smile was tender as he squeezed my hand. "Your kindness will not go unnoticed".
True Colors (The Masks, #1)
by Melissa Pearl
In this YA novel, Caitlyn has been given the power to read minds. To see behind peoples' exterior and deep into the recesses of their brains..what they are thinking, how they are hurting. She sees their good sides..and the bad as well.
She can do this after a random and mystical meeting with an old homeless man. How, though, will she use her new power?
I found this to be an interesting read. First off, the cover art is magnificent, among the best. And it is such a cool premise. I mean..how would I handle it if I were in this situation? How would you?
In spite of the good, there were a few things I did not like. It was a bit to YA for me and I did not like the beginning which has a romantic scene that put me off. I have no issue with sex scenes, romantic scenes but to start the book off with one before I knew who anyone was kind of made it tough.
This is also part of a series but I have not gone on to read the others in the series.
I think for people who like YA with a bit of romance and magical realism this would be a perfect fit.
I did not love it but I didn't dislike it either. It is very unique and that is always a good thing.
December 10, 2018
True Colors Review
Book Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Story Line: 5 stars out of 5. I really enjoyed this book. It was such an interesting read. Caitlyn Davis had a normal life until she ran into a homeless man. He gave her a gift. She is able to read people's emotions. She was able to tell that her ex-boyfriend only wanted her for sex. Her best friend didn't really care about her. Thanks to her next door neighbor she was able to control her power. She ended up discovering something sinister. This book made me giggle a little bit and it made me completely worried. Some scenes made me swoon with Caitlyn! I recommend this book to people who love mysteries and romance all in one. I also cannot wait to receive the next three books in the series. I will be reading it after I read Two Dark Reign!
Characters I liked;
Caitlyn: She is the main character. I actually really enjoyed her character. She really cared about some of the other characters in the book. She was a really good soul. She was chosen by the homeless stranger to have the gift. Her best friend, Stella (she will be mentioned in characters I dislike section), pushed him when they first met him. Caitlyn wanted to help him. She gave him money when he needed it. (There was a sad moment with him too...) I loved her strength in this novel. I love her a lot. Her family members made me laugh throughout this book too. I also love her love interest! I can't wait to read more of her story.
Eric: He is one of the most genuine characters in the book. He didn't hide his feelings like mostly everyone. He was even very helpful to Caitlyn. He didn't really know how to trust people either because of his mother's actions. His father left him. I really connected with him. I really enjoyed learning more about him. I want to learn even more in the second book.
Libby- She was a sweet character. I really liked that her friendship with Caitlyn was able to grow. I am happy that Caitlyn was able to read her layers.
Indie- I felt so bad for her throughout this book. She really had to go through so much because of her boyfriend, Liam. (He will be mentioned in character's I do not like...but I kind of have empathy for him too..) I am glad she was able to fall in love with someone who actually cared about her.
Micah- I loved him so much! He was really sweet to Indie. I am really happy they were able to be together in the end of the book. He also had an interesting past.
Characters I don't like;
Liam- He was a jerk. I really can't believe what he did. (I don't want to ruin this book for anyone. I am keeping as many details to myself.) As I stated before...I am empathetic because of what he had to go through as a child. His past is dark. I just didn't like him at all...
Chase- Only wanted sex. I don't like men like that.
Stella- I hate her so much. She was all about herself. I really don't like anyone who is all about themselves. They think the whole world revolves around them. That's not true. I also don't like the way she treated the homeless man. She had to be violent towards him and push him. I don't think so, sister. I wish I could hop into the book and punch her in the face honestly. I really am glad that Caitlyn was able to read her layers. She also had a bad attitude towards others in the book. I really hope she gets what's coming to her.
No favorite quotes in the book. I hope that it changes in the future books!
Writing stye: 5 stars out of 5. I think the writing was very simple. I enjoyed the simplicity of it though. It was an easy to read book. It only took me two days to read. It was very addicting as well. I am glad I picked this book up. Now I am really excited to read the Songbird novels too!
Book Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Story Line: 5 stars out of 5. I really enjoyed this book. It was such an interesting read. Caitlyn Davis had a normal life until she ran into a homeless man. He gave her a gift. She is able to read people's emotions. She was able to tell that her ex-boyfriend only wanted her for sex. Her best friend didn't really care about her. Thanks to her next door neighbor she was able to control her power. She ended up discovering something sinister. This book made me giggle a little bit and it made me completely worried. Some scenes made me swoon with Caitlyn! I recommend this book to people who love mysteries and romance all in one. I also cannot wait to receive the next three books in the series. I will be reading it after I read Two Dark Reign!
Characters I liked;
Caitlyn: She is the main character. I actually really enjoyed her character. She really cared about some of the other characters in the book. She was a really good soul. She was chosen by the homeless stranger to have the gift. Her best friend, Stella (she will be mentioned in characters I dislike section), pushed him when they first met him. Caitlyn wanted to help him. She gave him money when he needed it. (There was a sad moment with him too...) I loved her strength in this novel. I love her a lot. Her family members made me laugh throughout this book too. I also love her love interest! I can't wait to read more of her story.
Eric: He is one of the most genuine characters in the book. He didn't hide his feelings like mostly everyone. He was even very helpful to Caitlyn. He didn't really know how to trust people either because of his mother's actions. His father left him. I really connected with him. I really enjoyed learning more about him. I want to learn even more in the second book.
Libby- She was a sweet character. I really liked that her friendship with Caitlyn was able to grow. I am happy that Caitlyn was able to read her layers.
Indie- I felt so bad for her throughout this book. She really had to go through so much because of her boyfriend, Liam. (He will be mentioned in character's I do not like...but I kind of have empathy for him too..) I am glad she was able to fall in love with someone who actually cared about her.
Micah- I loved him so much! He was really sweet to Indie. I am really happy they were able to be together in the end of the book. He also had an interesting past.
Characters I don't like;
Liam- He was a jerk. I really can't believe what he did. (I don't want to ruin this book for anyone. I am keeping as many details to myself.) As I stated before...I am empathetic because of what he had to go through as a child. His past is dark. I just didn't like him at all...
Chase- Only wanted sex. I don't like men like that.
Stella- I hate her so much. She was all about herself. I really don't like anyone who is all about themselves. They think the whole world revolves around them. That's not true. I also don't like the way she treated the homeless man. She had to be violent towards him and push him. I don't think so, sister. I wish I could hop into the book and punch her in the face honestly. I really am glad that Caitlyn was able to read her layers. She also had a bad attitude towards others in the book. I really hope she gets what's coming to her.
No favorite quotes in the book. I hope that it changes in the future books!
Writing stye: 5 stars out of 5. I think the writing was very simple. I enjoyed the simplicity of it though. It was an easy to read book. It only took me two days to read. It was very addicting as well. I am glad I picked this book up. Now I am really excited to read the Songbird novels too!
January 16, 2014
I'm very excited about launching this book into the world on February 16th. It's been really fun to work on and having Dale and Nicole briefly appearing was just SO much fun :D
I hope you all enjoy reading TC as much as I loved writing it!!
If you'd like to help me welcome TC into the world, please join the Masquerade Ball Facebook Event :)
https://www.facebook.com/events/46891...
I hope you all enjoy reading TC as much as I loved writing it!!
If you'd like to help me welcome TC into the world, please join the Masquerade Ball Facebook Event :)
https://www.facebook.com/events/46891...
March 22, 2014
Paranormal meets young adult in this fresh concept of what would happen if we could see the emotions people hide under their masks.
Caitlyn is happy believing the relationships she’s formed with the in-crowd are real ones. So when a homeless man bestows on her the magical gift of true sight—she’s overwhelmed and angry with what she finds. When the homeless man refuses to take back his “gift”, Caitlyn turns to an unexpected confidante whose emotions match the faces he shows the world.
Together they work on a way for Caitlin to make this ability bearable. Before long, Caitlyn discovers an alarming danger at her school and feels obligated to uncover what’s really happening, no matter the risk.
In TRUE COLORS, Caitlyn briefly talks to Nicole and Dale from the Betwixt series. I appreciated the nod to BETWIXT, especially since that series is what originally turned me onto Melissa Pearl in the first place. To me, TRUE COLORS seems geared towards a truly young adult audience – which I respect; I certainly would hope some young adult books would be geared towards its rightful audience rather than the adults who still love to read it. That being said, as an adult I sometimes felt like the story was a little over-the-top in the dramatics department. The bad boy at the high school is dangerous and potentially murderous and Caitlin is immediately singled out as a high-risk target that needed to be dealt with. I didn't find certain aspects of the conflict between Caitlin and Liam to be altogether realistic, but I still enjoyed and appreciated the story itself. Melissa Pearl’s writing flows well and is a pleasure to read; I always find myself sinking right into her stories and the concepts she draws up.
I gave True Colors 3.5 stars because despite my hang-ups on believability, I truly enjoyed reading it. True Colors is a refreshing take on the paranormal genre and a fun, exciting read for any lovers of the young adult genre and in particular those who actually are young adult.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.
Caitlyn is happy believing the relationships she’s formed with the in-crowd are real ones. So when a homeless man bestows on her the magical gift of true sight—she’s overwhelmed and angry with what she finds. When the homeless man refuses to take back his “gift”, Caitlyn turns to an unexpected confidante whose emotions match the faces he shows the world.
Together they work on a way for Caitlin to make this ability bearable. Before long, Caitlyn discovers an alarming danger at her school and feels obligated to uncover what’s really happening, no matter the risk.
In TRUE COLORS, Caitlyn briefly talks to Nicole and Dale from the Betwixt series. I appreciated the nod to BETWIXT, especially since that series is what originally turned me onto Melissa Pearl in the first place. To me, TRUE COLORS seems geared towards a truly young adult audience – which I respect; I certainly would hope some young adult books would be geared towards its rightful audience rather than the adults who still love to read it. That being said, as an adult I sometimes felt like the story was a little over-the-top in the dramatics department. The bad boy at the high school is dangerous and potentially murderous and Caitlin is immediately singled out as a high-risk target that needed to be dealt with. I didn't find certain aspects of the conflict between Caitlin and Liam to be altogether realistic, but I still enjoyed and appreciated the story itself. Melissa Pearl’s writing flows well and is a pleasure to read; I always find myself sinking right into her stories and the concepts she draws up.
I gave True Colors 3.5 stars because despite my hang-ups on believability, I truly enjoyed reading it. True Colors is a refreshing take on the paranormal genre and a fun, exciting read for any lovers of the young adult genre and in particular those who actually are young adult.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.
June 25, 2018
A cute YA read with a slight supernatural tendencies thrown in. Caitlyn gains an ability to see behind people's masks after a recent encounter with a homeless man that changes her life completely. She begins to wonder if this was a blessing or a burden. Caitlyn has to make a decision. Read and find out what happens!
May 22, 2016
Well, let's see.
The premise of this novel is completely unique: Caitlyn is given the gift (or the curse) of seeing what lies beneath people's "masks"--that is, she can see what emotions hide beneath the surface of each person (which also speaks volumes to her about who that person really is--good, evil, happy, insecure, etc.). SO COOL. Seriously, I wish I had thought of this.
And I read this book in one sitting. So there was definitely enough to keep me intrigued.
That being said, there were a few things that left me feeling disappointed.
First, why-oh-why did Eric, the love interest, have to be so hot? (I know--strange complaint, but hear me out). From the very first chapter, Caity is swooning (literally, she swoons) over her hot, model-looking neighbor. Later she receives her unmasking gift, and she discovers that not only is Eric gorgeous, but unlike so many of the other people in her life, he is actually sincere. So basically the beautiful boy next door turns out to be beautiful on the inside too. Considering the title of the book is "True Colors," I didn't understand this decision. Why not make Eric sort of strange...an outcast that no one quite understands? Then later, as Caitlyn's friendships begin to dissolve around her due to her new 'gift,' she could slowly discover that her odd duck of a neighbor is one of the rare few "genuine" people in her world. Eric could slowly become more beautiful in the eyes of Caitlyn as his true colors are unveiled. That would have lent itself so much more with the underlying theme (and title) of this book than Caitlyn going through some shallow insta-love thing with Eric simply because he's hot. And it would have offered some much-needed tension to an otherwise way-too-easy romance.
On that note, even once Caitlyn has spent nearly an entire novel removing people's masks, she still keeps commenting on Eric's abs and such. I was really hoping for more depth from her character by the end...that she'd understand that beauty is so much more than that which can be seen on the surface. To her credit, she does end up befriending an overweight girl named Libby. But when it comes to Eric, she never seems to get it.
Other issues. Nothing in this book takes the reader by surprise. The characters presented to the reader before Caity gets her gift turn out to be exactly who you think they are once Caitlyn tears off their masks. Caity's best friend Stella, who was bossy and self-centered before, ends up being the insecure and mean girl you expect. The people-pleasing and overweight Libby ends up being nice, and desperate for approval. There were simply no surprises. I was waiting for Caity to rip off the mask of the school's most admired teacher to see lust in his eyes--something shocking. But it never came.
Another problem was (*spoiler *) a cheating business at school hardly seems heavy/serious enough to kill over. That was a bit of a stretch. I really thought Caitlyn was going to uncover something much more sinister than kids bullying other kids to do their homework. And it was downright odd that given the criminal lengths Liam was taking to cover up this operation, no one was taking this issue to school authorities, or the police. The author tries to rationalize this by mentioning that Liam was putting incriminating pictures/videos of forced BJs and such in the smart kids' lockers as a scare tactic to keep them from "telling", but see the problem with this? Essentially Liam was offering up damning evidence of his own crimes on a silver platter, and yet not one single kid at this school thought to turn the bastard in. And these are supposed to be the "smart" kids?
Finally, it was a little convenient that the homeless man died before he could give Caity more information about her gift. But okay. I can make my peace with that. The author might be trying to leave some mysteries for future books.
Still, I loved the premise of the story, and it was a pleasant little read. I'm looking forward to seeing what book 2 has to offer, and at the minimum, Melissa Pearl is a talented story teller who knows how to keep her readers from getting anything done on a Sunday afternoon.
The premise of this novel is completely unique: Caitlyn is given the gift (or the curse) of seeing what lies beneath people's "masks"--that is, she can see what emotions hide beneath the surface of each person (which also speaks volumes to her about who that person really is--good, evil, happy, insecure, etc.). SO COOL. Seriously, I wish I had thought of this.
And I read this book in one sitting. So there was definitely enough to keep me intrigued.
That being said, there were a few things that left me feeling disappointed.
First, why-oh-why did Eric, the love interest, have to be so hot? (I know--strange complaint, but hear me out). From the very first chapter, Caity is swooning (literally, she swoons) over her hot, model-looking neighbor. Later she receives her unmasking gift, and she discovers that not only is Eric gorgeous, but unlike so many of the other people in her life, he is actually sincere. So basically the beautiful boy next door turns out to be beautiful on the inside too. Considering the title of the book is "True Colors," I didn't understand this decision. Why not make Eric sort of strange...an outcast that no one quite understands? Then later, as Caitlyn's friendships begin to dissolve around her due to her new 'gift,' she could slowly discover that her odd duck of a neighbor is one of the rare few "genuine" people in her world. Eric could slowly become more beautiful in the eyes of Caitlyn as his true colors are unveiled. That would have lent itself so much more with the underlying theme (and title) of this book than Caitlyn going through some shallow insta-love thing with Eric simply because he's hot. And it would have offered some much-needed tension to an otherwise way-too-easy romance.
On that note, even once Caitlyn has spent nearly an entire novel removing people's masks, she still keeps commenting on Eric's abs and such. I was really hoping for more depth from her character by the end...that she'd understand that beauty is so much more than that which can be seen on the surface. To her credit, she does end up befriending an overweight girl named Libby. But when it comes to Eric, she never seems to get it.
Other issues. Nothing in this book takes the reader by surprise. The characters presented to the reader before Caity gets her gift turn out to be exactly who you think they are once Caitlyn tears off their masks. Caity's best friend Stella, who was bossy and self-centered before, ends up being the insecure and mean girl you expect. The people-pleasing and overweight Libby ends up being nice, and desperate for approval. There were simply no surprises. I was waiting for Caity to rip off the mask of the school's most admired teacher to see lust in his eyes--something shocking. But it never came.
Another problem was (*spoiler *) a cheating business at school hardly seems heavy/serious enough to kill over. That was a bit of a stretch. I really thought Caitlyn was going to uncover something much more sinister than kids bullying other kids to do their homework. And it was downright odd that given the criminal lengths Liam was taking to cover up this operation, no one was taking this issue to school authorities, or the police. The author tries to rationalize this by mentioning that Liam was putting incriminating pictures/videos of forced BJs and such in the smart kids' lockers as a scare tactic to keep them from "telling", but see the problem with this? Essentially Liam was offering up damning evidence of his own crimes on a silver platter, and yet not one single kid at this school thought to turn the bastard in. And these are supposed to be the "smart" kids?
Finally, it was a little convenient that the homeless man died before he could give Caity more information about her gift. But okay. I can make my peace with that. The author might be trying to leave some mysteries for future books.
Still, I loved the premise of the story, and it was a pleasant little read. I'm looking forward to seeing what book 2 has to offer, and at the minimum, Melissa Pearl is a talented story teller who knows how to keep her readers from getting anything done on a Sunday afternoon.
October 24, 2014
*I was given a copy for an honest review.*
4.5 stars
True Colors was unlike any paranormal YA book I have ever read, although there wasn't a lot of paranormal aspects to it. Caitlyn is blessed by a homeless man with the gift of sight (as in she can see behind people's masks and what they are truly feeling) when she gives him some money for food. At first she is freaked out, understandably, and fights her gift. She finds out that the two people closest to her (her boyfriend, Chase and her best friend, Stella) aren't really the people she thought they were. I don't know if it was my age or what, but this was me when she had those revelations.
Stella was your stereotypical rich mean girl: selfish, self-centered, spoiled, snobby....wow that's a lot of s's.
Chase was the typical douche bag out to get only one thing...
I found the parts where Caitlyn saw people's true feelings to be fascinating. At first she views her gift as a curse until her hot neighbor, Eric, helps her figure out how to put the masks back. Then while at a party, she accidentally picks up on one of her friend, Indie's, absolute terror and it appears that it is directed at Indie's boyfriend, Liam. Caitlyn is confused because Indie and Liam are the golden couple. Everyone wants what they have. Caitlyn decides that maybe her curse isn't so much of a curse after all and she decides to figure out what is going on with Indie and help her.
Then the story turned kind of Veronica Mars-ish. I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but it seems that every story these day has a bit of mystery to it. Although I did figure out what was going on pretty early on, I still enjoyed the journey as Caitlyn put all of the pieces together.
I finished reading at about 11:30pm and sat for a good five minutes trying to decide if I wanted to start the next book. In the end, sleep won out, so I've got grand plans of curling up with book two and my sweet pup this afternoon. I can't wait to see what's next for Caitlyn!
4.5 stars
True Colors was unlike any paranormal YA book I have ever read, although there wasn't a lot of paranormal aspects to it. Caitlyn is blessed by a homeless man with the gift of sight (as in she can see behind people's masks and what they are truly feeling) when she gives him some money for food. At first she is freaked out, understandably, and fights her gift. She finds out that the two people closest to her (her boyfriend, Chase and her best friend, Stella) aren't really the people she thought they were. I don't know if it was my age or what, but this was me when she had those revelations.
Stella was your stereotypical rich mean girl: selfish, self-centered, spoiled, snobby....wow that's a lot of s's.
Chase was the typical douche bag out to get only one thing...
I found the parts where Caitlyn saw people's true feelings to be fascinating. At first she views her gift as a curse until her hot neighbor, Eric, helps her figure out how to put the masks back. Then while at a party, she accidentally picks up on one of her friend, Indie's, absolute terror and it appears that it is directed at Indie's boyfriend, Liam. Caitlyn is confused because Indie and Liam are the golden couple. Everyone wants what they have. Caitlyn decides that maybe her curse isn't so much of a curse after all and she decides to figure out what is going on with Indie and help her.
Then the story turned kind of Veronica Mars-ish. I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but it seems that every story these day has a bit of mystery to it. Although I did figure out what was going on pretty early on, I still enjoyed the journey as Caitlyn put all of the pieces together.
I finished reading at about 11:30pm and sat for a good five minutes trying to decide if I wanted to start the next book. In the end, sleep won out, so I've got grand plans of curling up with book two and my sweet pup this afternoon. I can't wait to see what's next for Caitlyn!
February 11, 2014
Originally posted at Geeky Chiquitas
I have never read a Melissa Pearl book before but I was drawn to True Colors from the very start. What an interesting concept this book has. What would you do if you are bestowed a gift - not a physical one but a paranormal one that gives you the ability to see through people's masks? Caitlyn, the protagonist, deals with that question everyday ever since she met a homeless man who touched her and changed her life forever.
Caity has always been a follower and is frequently bossed around by her equally selfish and self-absorbed best friend and boyfriend. But everything changes when she earns the gift. Suddenly, she can see through the false demeanor of the people around her, and she is able to see their true colors. She cannot read their minds but she is able to read their emotions. With the help of her hot next door neighbor, Caity learns to control her power and use it for good.
I really liked the concept of this book. I liked how it borders around contemporary YA to paranormal YA, what with all the teenage highschool drama tinged with small bits of a paranormal twist. The plot was very well-structured and the characters were well-rounded. I liked the characterization of Caity most of all. She started out as a pushover who didn't know how to stand up for herself, and eventually broke out of her shell and learned to become a leader. She used to let Stella push her around and guilt trip her to do things for her and let Chase lead the relationship just to avoid any conflict and to appease everyone. But throughout the book, I watched her develop from a weak unquestioning girl into someone who speaks out and stands up for what is right.
Apart from the beautiful cover artwork of this book, the story is as enchanting, and I simply cannot wait to read the next book of the series!
I have never read a Melissa Pearl book before but I was drawn to True Colors from the very start. What an interesting concept this book has. What would you do if you are bestowed a gift - not a physical one but a paranormal one that gives you the ability to see through people's masks? Caitlyn, the protagonist, deals with that question everyday ever since she met a homeless man who touched her and changed her life forever.
Caity has always been a follower and is frequently bossed around by her equally selfish and self-absorbed best friend and boyfriend. But everything changes when she earns the gift. Suddenly, she can see through the false demeanor of the people around her, and she is able to see their true colors. She cannot read their minds but she is able to read their emotions. With the help of her hot next door neighbor, Caity learns to control her power and use it for good.
I really liked the concept of this book. I liked how it borders around contemporary YA to paranormal YA, what with all the teenage highschool drama tinged with small bits of a paranormal twist. The plot was very well-structured and the characters were well-rounded. I liked the characterization of Caity most of all. She started out as a pushover who didn't know how to stand up for herself, and eventually broke out of her shell and learned to become a leader. She used to let Stella push her around and guilt trip her to do things for her and let Chase lead the relationship just to avoid any conflict and to appease everyone. But throughout the book, I watched her develop from a weak unquestioning girl into someone who speaks out and stands up for what is right.
Apart from the beautiful cover artwork of this book, the story is as enchanting, and I simply cannot wait to read the next book of the series!
February 10, 2014
Series: Masks #1
Category /Genre: Fantasy, YA
Received from: Melissa Pearl (in exchange for an honest review)
Tour by: Mrs. Potters Book Publicity Services
Recommended for: 16+ (no sex, but it is discussed)
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect– book received as an unedited ARC
This is the first in a new series from young adult author, Melissa Pearl.
Eighteen-year-old Caitlyn Davis is in the popular crowd at her private high school in Berkley, CA, but she is the quiet one in the bunch. She is always supportive of her friends, a people-pleaser. One night, while out clubbing, she steps out into the alley to grab a breath of fresh air and meets a homeless man. A touch of his hand transfers a gift to Caity. Her new ability to see behind the masks of her friends sends her on a quest to stand up for someone in need.
The conversations are quick, lively, and natural. It is easy to fall into the school community and recognize all of the cliques. I am absolutely in love with Caitlyn and Eric. I swear, Ms. Pearl found my old diaries when she was developing Caity; she is so much like me at that age, full of self-doubt and hope.
TRUE COLORS stands on its own; no cliffhanger. I am looking forward to seeing what hot water Caitlyn finds herself in when we return to this beach community. This is the downside of reading before release. I have to wait even longer!
Ms. Pearl has asked me to invite you all as my guests to the True Colors Masquerade Ball on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/46891.... Let her know you heard about it here at Page Princess.
Category /Genre: Fantasy, YA
Received from: Melissa Pearl (in exchange for an honest review)
Tour by: Mrs. Potters Book Publicity Services
Recommended for: 16+ (no sex, but it is discussed)
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect– book received as an unedited ARC
This is the first in a new series from young adult author, Melissa Pearl.
Eighteen-year-old Caitlyn Davis is in the popular crowd at her private high school in Berkley, CA, but she is the quiet one in the bunch. She is always supportive of her friends, a people-pleaser. One night, while out clubbing, she steps out into the alley to grab a breath of fresh air and meets a homeless man. A touch of his hand transfers a gift to Caity. Her new ability to see behind the masks of her friends sends her on a quest to stand up for someone in need.
The conversations are quick, lively, and natural. It is easy to fall into the school community and recognize all of the cliques. I am absolutely in love with Caitlyn and Eric. I swear, Ms. Pearl found my old diaries when she was developing Caity; she is so much like me at that age, full of self-doubt and hope.
TRUE COLORS stands on its own; no cliffhanger. I am looking forward to seeing what hot water Caitlyn finds herself in when we return to this beach community. This is the downside of reading before release. I have to wait even longer!
Ms. Pearl has asked me to invite you all as my guests to the True Colors Masquerade Ball on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/46891.... Let her know you heard about it here at Page Princess.
October 23, 2014
True Colors is the story of Caitlyn Davis she has her whole life changed forever on the night she meets a stranger in the alley. Gifted with the ability to see past what people are really feeling isn’t going to be easy for Caitlyn when she learns that her boyfriend cares more about getting some than about her. As Caitlyn learns to deal with her new gift will she turn it into a blessing or a curse? Will she survive high school learning secrets that could tear hear world apart? What about the neighbor guy she’s been crushing on he seems to be genuine.
I really like Caitlyn, it’s not easy finding out the people you thought you could trust aren’t good people but she accepts it well. She learns to deal with her gift of being able to read people much better than I would even if she did sort of attempt to run away. I really like Eric he works well for Caitlyn and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
This isn’t my first book by Melissa Pearl so I knew I was going to fall in love with her newest series which I did. I love the romance mixed with the paranormal elements it creates a captivating story that I had a hard time putting down. The characters are easy to connect with you can’t help loving Caitlyn and enjoying her story. Granted it is a little on the emotional side but I think that just makes it a better story. The author has created a beautiful story filled with romance, and mystery that kept me captivated to the very last page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see what happens to Caitlyn next. Love the covers super stunning. It’s a clean book that teens as well as adults will enjoy I did.
I really like Caitlyn, it’s not easy finding out the people you thought you could trust aren’t good people but she accepts it well. She learns to deal with her gift of being able to read people much better than I would even if she did sort of attempt to run away. I really like Eric he works well for Caitlyn and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
This isn’t my first book by Melissa Pearl so I knew I was going to fall in love with her newest series which I did. I love the romance mixed with the paranormal elements it creates a captivating story that I had a hard time putting down. The characters are easy to connect with you can’t help loving Caitlyn and enjoying her story. Granted it is a little on the emotional side but I think that just makes it a better story. The author has created a beautiful story filled with romance, and mystery that kept me captivated to the very last page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see what happens to Caitlyn next. Love the covers super stunning. It’s a clean book that teens as well as adults will enjoy I did.
February 25, 2014
True Colors is a great book, a quick read, with a cast of great characters.
After showing selfless kindness to an old homeless man, she is gifted with the ability to see the true motivations and emotions behind the façade that people show.
She discovers that not all is well with the seemingly perfect world of Palisades High, including realising that her best-friend who was always so sure of herself is incredibly insecure and selfish.
But it’s what she sees in some of the other students that turns her blood cold, which thus also motivates her to get to the bottom of the problem.
My thoughts?
I really loved this book, and I can’t wait to read the next books in the series to see what trouble Caitlyn gets into next.
Caitlyn is a super character, with mostly good moral grounding. At the start of the book, she’s a bit of a ‘follower’ with her friends, but as she starts to see the real world behind their faces, she really comes into her own and develops well. She has a heart of gold, and while the gift is frustrating and confusing at first – it becomes quite the asset when she least expects it.
I love – like ‘super-love’ the relationship between Caitlyn and Eric, and how it develops throughout the story. Eric is awesome. He’s so calm – even when his world is upending as Caitlyn gets herself into more and more dire trouble.
This book is probably a 4.5-star read. It had me gripped from the very start, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I can’t wait to read more!
After showing selfless kindness to an old homeless man, she is gifted with the ability to see the true motivations and emotions behind the façade that people show.
She discovers that not all is well with the seemingly perfect world of Palisades High, including realising that her best-friend who was always so sure of herself is incredibly insecure and selfish.
But it’s what she sees in some of the other students that turns her blood cold, which thus also motivates her to get to the bottom of the problem.
My thoughts?
I really loved this book, and I can’t wait to read the next books in the series to see what trouble Caitlyn gets into next.
Caitlyn is a super character, with mostly good moral grounding. At the start of the book, she’s a bit of a ‘follower’ with her friends, but as she starts to see the real world behind their faces, she really comes into her own and develops well. She has a heart of gold, and while the gift is frustrating and confusing at first – it becomes quite the asset when she least expects it.
I love – like ‘super-love’ the relationship between Caitlyn and Eric, and how it develops throughout the story. Eric is awesome. He’s so calm – even when his world is upending as Caitlyn gets herself into more and more dire trouble.
This book is probably a 4.5-star read. It had me gripped from the very start, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I can’t wait to read more!
February 5, 2014
I was given an ARC of Melissa Pearl's True Colors by the author for an honest review. I want to give it 3 1/2 stars. While not great literature, for this genre, it is far better than 3 but falls somewhat short of 4. I liked the story, creative ideas, and most of the characters. The book was entertaining, well edited and plotted, yet felt a bit...lacking. Although I readily confess, high school YA is not my typical genre. And this is relatively tame YA. There is an interesting little paranormal twist for the main character that adds extra flavor and complications throughout, and that clever little element was handled rather well. There is mention, musings, and thoughts of sex, but no sex. While our heroine is frequently finding herself contemplating sex and believes she is ready - much to her mother’s horror - it is her hot boyfriend that tells her no. Hmm, this seems to be one of the major sticking points for me... teenage boys do not EVER say no to sex… at least, not in my experience… and especially not when it is offered up so willingly by someone they are crushing on. For moms, grandmothers, and ministers who are checking to see if the story is safe for their young loved-ones to read; there are a few obscenities, but the language and story lines are relatively tame. As someone who knows and works with kids this age, they hear far worse language and more intense story lines listening to each other.
February 11, 2014
Don't wear your emotions on your sleeve someone may take notice! Caitlyn is just a regular teen who by her lucky or not so lucky stars gets a gift. Only Caity's gift let's her see peoples true feelings and it's not good. The gift to see does force her to drop some awful friends, but it also helps pick up her super cute crush Eric who's actually smitten with her. Caitlyn then has to do decide if her seeing peoples true colors is a gift or a curse and if it will be beneficial to use. The story definitely kicks in to high gear when Eric helps Caity control her gift by letting it all in. Caitlyn then truly opens her "eyes" but she can't un-see what she sees and she can't just walk away even if it's to much for her to handle. The concept of this book is so interesting especially since Caitlyn is at the age where no one wants to express their true feelings, and yet she is bombarded with them. I wouldn't have wanted to be poor Caity but at least she has the gorgeous Eric to help. Great book especially with detailing Caity's friends excellent YA read Melissa!!!
February 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. There is so much you can relate to when you think back to your high school days and the struggles of being a teenager. Melissa Pearl does a good job of mixing a good amount of humor, mystery and suspense into the story without it being too overwhelming. I immediately fell in love with Eric and can totally understand why Caitlyn was crushing. All the characters were great and the story was interesting. I will definitely be waiting to read the following books in this series.
January 1, 2015
This book took me totally by surprise. I won it in a giveaway and had no idea what it was about. Quite frankly the delicate mask on the cover led me to believe it might be a bondage book, but I was determined to read it and review. Imagine my utter relief to find it a paranormal story! Can I just say I loved this tale of deception and truth. At times I could feel my heart racing with anticipation. There's something to be said about inherently good people. And Caitlyn was one. The characters interacted perfectly and were believable.
December 23, 2014
More @ http:// melenasreviews.wordpress.com
Okay so I have to say I'm used to Melissa Pearl's books but this one is so different from her others. You have Caitlyn who is a normal high schooler trying to lead a teenagers life. All of a sudden she is faced with powers that scare her. I loved that no matter how tough it is Caitlyn doesn't back down to help her friends. All in all definitely a good book and can't wait for a sequel for this is one series that sounds unlike any I have read.
Okay so I have to say I'm used to Melissa Pearl's books but this one is so different from her others. You have Caitlyn who is a normal high schooler trying to lead a teenagers life. All of a sudden she is faced with powers that scare her. I loved that no matter how tough it is Caitlyn doesn't back down to help her friends. All in all definitely a good book and can't wait for a sequel for this is one series that sounds unlike any I have read.
February 13, 2014
ARC REVIEW
I REALLY LOVED THE IDEA OF THIS BOOK AND WAS INTRIGUED BEFORE I READ IT. I WASN'T DISAPPOINTED. STORY WAS FAB AND WELL WRITTEN ABSOLUTELY LOVE CAITLYN. CANT WAIT TO READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR.
I REALLY LOVED THE IDEA OF THIS BOOK AND WAS INTRIGUED BEFORE I READ IT. I WASN'T DISAPPOINTED. STORY WAS FAB AND WELL WRITTEN ABSOLUTELY LOVE CAITLYN. CANT WAIT TO READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR.
May 5, 2019
True Colors follows Caity, a girl with a large friend group that likes to party and hangout at the beach. While she is partying with her friends at a club one night, Caity approaches a homeless man that grabs for her, transferring his power to Caity that allows her to see peoples' real emotions without their masks to hide them. She has to come to terms with the fact that the people she thought had her back don't actually have her best interests at heart.
The beginning of the book focuses on Caity's relationship with her best friend, who always expects Caity to be by her side and anticipate her needs. It's actually a really toxic friendship, so I was very happy when Caity was able to realize this herself and accept herself as someone with value. The second half of the book focuses on a completely different topic. With her power, Caity finds out there's some shady stuff going down at her school, and she takes it upon herself to figure out why everyone is scared of this one guy in her friend group.
The two different storylines felt a little disconnected to me, especially since I didn't feel like Caity had much closure with her best friend. They had a fight that ended their friendship, but their relationship wasn't mentioned or explored much afterward.
The second part of the story was entertaining and kept my attention until the end. I just wish the first half of Caity's journey had been as fleshed out!
The beginning of the book focuses on Caity's relationship with her best friend, who always expects Caity to be by her side and anticipate her needs. It's actually a really toxic friendship, so I was very happy when Caity was able to realize this herself and accept herself as someone with value. The second half of the book focuses on a completely different topic. With her power, Caity finds out there's some shady stuff going down at her school, and she takes it upon herself to figure out why everyone is scared of this one guy in her friend group.
The two different storylines felt a little disconnected to me, especially since I didn't feel like Caity had much closure with her best friend. They had a fight that ended their friendship, but their relationship wasn't mentioned or explored much afterward.
The second part of the story was entertaining and kept my attention until the end. I just wish the first half of Caity's journey had been as fleshed out!
June 19, 2018
I don't know what took me so long to start this series, but I'm excited I can read them all back to back. Caitlyn is a Senior, finishing her final year at high school when a strange meeting leaves her with a gift...or is it a curse. She has the power of seeing through the facade of a person's face. It would seem that so many people are deceptive. As if being a teen wasn't hard enough with parents, teachers and the melodramas going on in everyday life. There were heart racing moments in this book, there was a mystery to solve and danger was looming. I really enjoyed this story and hope the rest of the series is just as great.
February 17, 2021
This book was incredible. I read it in two days. I was totally immersed, especially at the end. 100% recommend if you want something with a sweet romance and a cool supernatural element set in normal society.
Want to read
June 21, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/21/2019)! 🎁
June 29, 2018
As always a fantastic read. Caitlyn has always cruised through life but when she meets a strange homeless man, things change for her. Loved the book.
March 28, 2014
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I receive a copy via Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review for a book tour!
True Colors by Melissa Pearl is a young adult (dangerously close to the new adult age group) novel that follows a protagonist whose life changes drastically after a chance encounter. This mystery resembles the TV show, Veronica Mars, if she had the ability to read people’s true emotions (Just so you can get a gist of what to expect!) Pearl’s novel is also the first in a series, which I’m hoping to read more of, and shows a lot of promise, since it has such a unique premise. True Colors is a quickly paced and very filling meal for romantic gluttons—oh and the mystery, which begs to be solved, makes this a very entertaining read.
Caitlyn, the protagonist, is the type of girl in high school that fits in but at the cost of letting others, like her best friend, walk all over her. What I immediately disliked about Caitlyn was her bratty attitude at the beginning of the book, but what redeemed her for me was the amount of character growth she’d experienced by the end of the book. Despite her character flaw of letting others walk all over her and having a particular addiction to running away when things get too complicated, I liked Caitlyn’s (ironic) tenacity to do the right thing. Her ability to see others’ mask is an intriguing concept that I’m not sure I’ve seen before, so that was refreshing. What I find extremely interesting, however, is how through Caitlyn’s sight of others’ true emotions, she learns to see and accept her own, as if she is unconsciously pulling away her own emotional masks.
I loved the mystery in this book. The question of who is behind the force controlling the students of Caitlyn’s school is a question that drives the story forward, urging the reader to watch Caitlyn solve the problem. I liked the fact that Pearl allows for the reader to become accustomed to Caitlyn’s new sight by introducing minor situations that challenge her ability to read the people she thought she knew well. Like Caitlyn, at first the reader may feel a bit flustered with the sudden change, what with the confusing descriptions of what she sees and how she handles the situations. But then, with some help from an unexpected source, we, like Caitlyn, finally begin to understand exactly what is happening. The conclusion of the mystery was both a surprising and expected, since the story had me guessing at who was really behind the strings of the operation, so it was fun to second-guess my idea of who-done-it.
What I had a hard time believing was the romantic aspect of the novel. If you’re into sappy romantic tales of heroes in the form of sexy men who, by the way, love to make the girls they like promise impossible things, then you’re going to love this budding relationship. Not exactly an insta-love novel (though Pearl does comment on this phenomena in her narrative at some point), Caitlyn’s blossoming romance moves very quickly, considering how the events occur in probably only a few weeks. While I loved the mystery, the pacing, and the uniqueness, it almost felt like the romance was an added bonus just so Caitlyn could have a hero to call her own. Yes, her love interest is sexy and predictable, but with the whole build-up of her , I expected something huge to happen between him and her. Readers: a protagonist doesn’t always need a hero to save the day, even if she appears to be a helpless teen girl. (Which Caitlyn proves not to be—most of the time.)
One more minor issue that I had with this one was how quickly Caitlyn mastered her gift. I know that for the sake of the story she had to become a pro quickly, but it would have made the whole situation a bit more realistic if Caitlyn’s mastering of her sight was a constant struggle throughout the book. I found it to be a bit convenient that she was suddenly very good at controlling a life-altering gift that she’d received only weeks before.
Other than the issues I had with this one, I found it to be an enjoyable and quick read! I started reading True Colors while reading another book, just to get a feel for it, and I found myself unable to stop thinking about it. I wasn’t disappointed in the story’s premise and I absolutely loved the mystery aspect. I recommend this to readers looking for a dark mystery and anyone who likes a slightly predictable romance that mimics the formula of insta-love (but not really.) I’m looking forward to the sequel!
I receive a copy via Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review for a book tour!
True Colors by Melissa Pearl is a young adult (dangerously close to the new adult age group) novel that follows a protagonist whose life changes drastically after a chance encounter. This mystery resembles the TV show, Veronica Mars, if she had the ability to read people’s true emotions (Just so you can get a gist of what to expect!) Pearl’s novel is also the first in a series, which I’m hoping to read more of, and shows a lot of promise, since it has such a unique premise. True Colors is a quickly paced and very filling meal for romantic gluttons—oh and the mystery, which begs to be solved, makes this a very entertaining read.
Caitlyn, the protagonist, is the type of girl in high school that fits in but at the cost of letting others, like her best friend, walk all over her. What I immediately disliked about Caitlyn was her bratty attitude at the beginning of the book, but what redeemed her for me was the amount of character growth she’d experienced by the end of the book. Despite her character flaw of letting others walk all over her and having a particular addiction to running away when things get too complicated, I liked Caitlyn’s (ironic) tenacity to do the right thing. Her ability to see others’ mask is an intriguing concept that I’m not sure I’ve seen before, so that was refreshing. What I find extremely interesting, however, is how through Caitlyn’s sight of others’ true emotions, she learns to see and accept her own, as if she is unconsciously pulling away her own emotional masks.
I loved the mystery in this book. The question of who is behind the force controlling the students of Caitlyn’s school is a question that drives the story forward, urging the reader to watch Caitlyn solve the problem. I liked the fact that Pearl allows for the reader to become accustomed to Caitlyn’s new sight by introducing minor situations that challenge her ability to read the people she thought she knew well. Like Caitlyn, at first the reader may feel a bit flustered with the sudden change, what with the confusing descriptions of what she sees and how she handles the situations. But then, with some help from an unexpected source, we, like Caitlyn, finally begin to understand exactly what is happening. The conclusion of the mystery was both a surprising and expected, since the story had me guessing at who was really behind the strings of the operation, so it was fun to second-guess my idea of who-done-it.
What I had a hard time believing was the romantic aspect of the novel. If you’re into sappy romantic tales of heroes in the form of sexy men who, by the way, love to make the girls they like promise impossible things, then you’re going to love this budding relationship. Not exactly an insta-love novel (though Pearl does comment on this phenomena in her narrative at some point), Caitlyn’s blossoming romance moves very quickly, considering how the events occur in probably only a few weeks. While I loved the mystery, the pacing, and the uniqueness, it almost felt like the romance was an added bonus just so Caitlyn could have a hero to call her own. Yes, her love interest is sexy and predictable, but with the whole build-up of her , I expected something huge to happen between him and her. Readers: a protagonist doesn’t always need a hero to save the day, even if she appears to be a helpless teen girl. (Which Caitlyn proves not to be—most of the time.)
One more minor issue that I had with this one was how quickly Caitlyn mastered her gift. I know that for the sake of the story she had to become a pro quickly, but it would have made the whole situation a bit more realistic if Caitlyn’s mastering of her sight was a constant struggle throughout the book. I found it to be a bit convenient that she was suddenly very good at controlling a life-altering gift that she’d received only weeks before.
Other than the issues I had with this one, I found it to be an enjoyable and quick read! I started reading True Colors while reading another book, just to get a feel for it, and I found myself unable to stop thinking about it. I wasn’t disappointed in the story’s premise and I absolutely loved the mystery aspect. I recommend this to readers looking for a dark mystery and anyone who likes a slightly predictable romance that mimics the formula of insta-love (but not really.) I’m looking forward to the sequel!
August 14, 2016
Caitlyn Davis comes from a wealthy home. Life is easy. Then, she’s given a gift from a dying homeless man because he sees she has a good heart. But Caitlyn doesn’t see it as a gift, she sees it as a curse. She can see the emotions people hide behind their everyday expressions. But who wants to see people putting on a happy face when they are hurting or fearful?
At first she just wishes it would just go away. Then she learns to control when she can see behind these masks. Caitlyn is surprised when she sees one of her friends appears to be terrified of her boyfriend beneath her mask of happiness. Caitlyn sets out to find out what she is afraid of.
True Colors was an intriguing look at what might happen if someone could see what we really felt under the masks that we wear when we are in public. We all wear them. We hide our true feelings from most people. I enjoyed this book as it made me think about what I would do if I could truly see beneath the façade that everyone wears in front of us.
I really liked the main characters Caitlyn and Eric as they seemed to really care about the people they came into contact with. Caitlyn knew that getting involved with whatever it was that was troubling Indie might put her in danger, but she knew it was the right thing to do and did it anyway.
I did not like Caitlyn’s best friend Stella. She was extremely self-centered and their whole friendship (which Caitlyn finally figured out) was only there for Stella to get the attention she craved. Stella was a friend that was easy to do without.
There was a little bit of swearing in the novel. I mention it for those who like to know before they pick up a book to read. There was also a romantic element in this novel. How could there not be when Eric is such a gorgeous 20 year-old university student, home next door to Caitlyn on the weekends? There are no sex scenes in the book is some pretty heavy kissing in True Colors, so if you are a parent of a young teen, you might want to pre-screen the book to decide if you feel it’s appropriate for your child before he/she reads it.
I really enjoyed the plot and themes of True Colors. I think Melissa Pearl did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and making them believable. The scam that Liam had running was plausible.
Melissa Pearl has a gift for speaking to the issues that teens and young adults face. She is able to relate to them about issues like bullying, true friendships, honesty and through stories like this one. I gave True Colors 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author, Melissa Pearl for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
At first she just wishes it would just go away. Then she learns to control when she can see behind these masks. Caitlyn is surprised when she sees one of her friends appears to be terrified of her boyfriend beneath her mask of happiness. Caitlyn sets out to find out what she is afraid of.
True Colors was an intriguing look at what might happen if someone could see what we really felt under the masks that we wear when we are in public. We all wear them. We hide our true feelings from most people. I enjoyed this book as it made me think about what I would do if I could truly see beneath the façade that everyone wears in front of us.
I really liked the main characters Caitlyn and Eric as they seemed to really care about the people they came into contact with. Caitlyn knew that getting involved with whatever it was that was troubling Indie might put her in danger, but she knew it was the right thing to do and did it anyway.
I did not like Caitlyn’s best friend Stella. She was extremely self-centered and their whole friendship (which Caitlyn finally figured out) was only there for Stella to get the attention she craved. Stella was a friend that was easy to do without.
There was a little bit of swearing in the novel. I mention it for those who like to know before they pick up a book to read. There was also a romantic element in this novel. How could there not be when Eric is such a gorgeous 20 year-old university student, home next door to Caitlyn on the weekends? There are no sex scenes in the book is some pretty heavy kissing in True Colors, so if you are a parent of a young teen, you might want to pre-screen the book to decide if you feel it’s appropriate for your child before he/she reads it.
I really enjoyed the plot and themes of True Colors. I think Melissa Pearl did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and making them believable. The scam that Liam had running was plausible.
Melissa Pearl has a gift for speaking to the issues that teens and young adults face. She is able to relate to them about issues like bullying, true friendships, honesty and through stories like this one. I gave True Colors 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author, Melissa Pearl for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
February 15, 2014
I received an ARC version of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and although there was a moment or two where I was frustrated with Caity and her short-sightedness, I have to say that overall I was fully engaged and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Caity is 18, a senior in high school, and comes from a more privileged background. She isn’t a bad person, but also not one to make waves and pretty much just goes along with whatever her best friend Stella and the rest of the in crowd is doing. After a lecture from her mom about the direction her life is taking and the negative influence both her boyfriend Chase and her friend Stella are having on her, she comes across a homeless man in need of a helping hand, and decides to assist him. Little does she expect that he’ll bestow upon her a gift in return for her kindness. A gift that she doesn’t want, but cannot refuse nor give back. A gift that should be used to help those less fortunate, or just unable to help themselves. At this point she starts to see that the friends she thought were friends, are not all they pretend to be and that there are some secrets she isn’t privy to. With the help of Eric, her sexy next door neighbor, she’ll learn to adapt and control her new gift, and begin to use it as intended. But not without costs to herself. She’ll make some new friends, she’ll lose some current friends, and she’ll find herself in some pretty dangerous situations.
As I said, there were times I was frustrated with Caity. First, her need to not make waves. She wasn’t assertive enough with Stella, who was a total b!tch, because she didn’t want to rock the boat. She didn’t stick up for Libby, who was more smart than popular....at least not at first. She didn’t see the benefits of being able to see people’s true reactions and feelings, and instead preferred not knowing what they truly thought. And when her rose tinted glasses where ripped off, she was pissed and or wanting to run away. Happily, and thanks to Eric, her attitude took a huge 180 and she not only came to see the pros and cons to the “sight”, she was able to help her friends and do the right thing even if it meant she could get hurt. I loved Eric. He was a genuinely nice guy, who liked her and wanted to help her see the good she could do, but also cared enough to worry about her and try to talk sense into her before she leapt without thinking things through.
If you like YA books, with a twist of paranormal and suspense, this is a gem. Maybe not completely realistic, and a touch dark given the mental and physical abuse.
Caity is 18, a senior in high school, and comes from a more privileged background. She isn’t a bad person, but also not one to make waves and pretty much just goes along with whatever her best friend Stella and the rest of the in crowd is doing. After a lecture from her mom about the direction her life is taking and the negative influence both her boyfriend Chase and her friend Stella are having on her, she comes across a homeless man in need of a helping hand, and decides to assist him. Little does she expect that he’ll bestow upon her a gift in return for her kindness. A gift that she doesn’t want, but cannot refuse nor give back. A gift that should be used to help those less fortunate, or just unable to help themselves. At this point she starts to see that the friends she thought were friends, are not all they pretend to be and that there are some secrets she isn’t privy to. With the help of Eric, her sexy next door neighbor, she’ll learn to adapt and control her new gift, and begin to use it as intended. But not without costs to herself. She’ll make some new friends, she’ll lose some current friends, and she’ll find herself in some pretty dangerous situations.
As I said, there were times I was frustrated with Caity. First, her need to not make waves. She wasn’t assertive enough with Stella, who was a total b!tch, because she didn’t want to rock the boat. She didn’t stick up for Libby, who was more smart than popular....at least not at first. She didn’t see the benefits of being able to see people’s true reactions and feelings, and instead preferred not knowing what they truly thought. And when her rose tinted glasses where ripped off, she was pissed and or wanting to run away. Happily, and thanks to Eric, her attitude took a huge 180 and she not only came to see the pros and cons to the “sight”, she was able to help her friends and do the right thing even if it meant she could get hurt. I loved Eric. He was a genuinely nice guy, who liked her and wanted to help her see the good she could do, but also cared enough to worry about her and try to talk sense into her before she leapt without thinking things through.
If you like YA books, with a twist of paranormal and suspense, this is a gem. Maybe not completely realistic, and a touch dark given the mental and physical abuse.
January 18, 2014
One evening Caity's BFF Stella talks her into going out to a dance club to unwind with her Boyfriend Chase and the rest of their friends. This is the same night that Caity ends up being surprised in more ways than one, but it doesn't stop there she also starts to feel quite sick which leads her to not act like herself.
Caity seems to be able to see through peoples' facades right to their real emotions. It's written all over their faces clear as day the more she looks at them. All expressions, thoughts can be displayed openly for her to read and it scares but also confuses her. She has no idea how this has happened?? Caity can really see who Stella, Chase, and everyone around her for who they are or what they are hiding and she does not like it one bit. It unnerves her making her feel like it was better maybe not knowing. The ugliness and fear are almost too much to bear but then she sees beauty, as well as love with the help of her Gorgeous neighbor Eric.
Eric helps her learn to control it instead of this gift (or curse how she sees it)controlling her. Caity used to be a follower, let Stella push her around, let Chase take the lead just so she could appease everyone and not ruffle anyone's feathers. Well no more weak, quiet Caity!! She makes her voice heard, she questions everything, stands up for what is right.
Caity sees that her friend Indie always looks scared and nervous around her boyfriend Liam, as do other students. This puts her on alert because Liam had seemed like a Great guy. What is Liam hiding? Why are the other students so scared around him? With a little help from her friend Micha they coax the truth out. Now they have to come up with a plan to put a stop to all the shady things Liam and his brother Mason have been doing. They will not be controlling or hurting anyone anymore!
How are they going to stop them?? You'll just have to BUY a copy when it releases and find out!!! This story keeps you turning the page for more. Bonus: two of my Favorite characters Dale & Nicole pop in :) and wait for it... There's a bit of steamy sweet romance too!!!!!!!!
Caity seems to be able to see through peoples' facades right to their real emotions. It's written all over their faces clear as day the more she looks at them. All expressions, thoughts can be displayed openly for her to read and it scares but also confuses her. She has no idea how this has happened?? Caity can really see who Stella, Chase, and everyone around her for who they are or what they are hiding and she does not like it one bit. It unnerves her making her feel like it was better maybe not knowing. The ugliness and fear are almost too much to bear but then she sees beauty, as well as love with the help of her Gorgeous neighbor Eric.
Eric helps her learn to control it instead of this gift (or curse how she sees it)controlling her. Caity used to be a follower, let Stella push her around, let Chase take the lead just so she could appease everyone and not ruffle anyone's feathers. Well no more weak, quiet Caity!! She makes her voice heard, she questions everything, stands up for what is right.
Caity sees that her friend Indie always looks scared and nervous around her boyfriend Liam, as do other students. This puts her on alert because Liam had seemed like a Great guy. What is Liam hiding? Why are the other students so scared around him? With a little help from her friend Micha they coax the truth out. Now they have to come up with a plan to put a stop to all the shady things Liam and his brother Mason have been doing. They will not be controlling or hurting anyone anymore!
How are they going to stop them?? You'll just have to BUY a copy when it releases and find out!!! This story keeps you turning the page for more. Bonus: two of my Favorite characters Dale & Nicole pop in :) and wait for it... There's a bit of steamy sweet romance too!!!!!!!!
January 1, 2015
Another really great read from Melissa Pearl. I picked this up after reading the Betwixt series by the same author and was instantly caught up in the story. This book follows the life of high-school student Caitlyn as she suddenly develops the ability to see people's true emotions and discovers the false masks many of her peers constantly wear. It isn't long before Caitlyn realises there are very few truly genuine people in her life and soon she is discovering sinister plots and terrifying truths that hide behind the most normal-looking people.
I really liked the creativity of this story and the paranormal concept of being able to see people's true emotions. It was a intriguing idea that I hadn't seen before and found really interesting. I also liked getting to know Caitlyn's character and watch as she gradually learned how to stand up for what was right. She spent a lot of time in the past doing everything possible to keep everyone else happy and not rock the boat so it was great to see her standing up for herself and others. I also liked Eric's character and how genuine he was. I found the fact that he didn't directly feature in a lot of Caitlin's adventures (since most of it happened at her high school when Eric was at college) really refreshing. It emphasised the main story and put the romance between him and Caitlyn on the back burner - always there in the background but not the most important thing going on in Caitlyn's head all the time. I think this was good and helped show Caitlyn's character as it forced her to learn to accept her powers and use them to help others on her own - even though it took some encouragement from Eric at first. The other thing I loved about the story was getting to see Dale and Nicole form the Betwixt series again. They only featured briefly but I find myself wondering if they will show up again as this new series continues.
Overall this was a really great story that I loved reading. It was well-written and had a good mix of romance, suspense and action/drama. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and easy young-adult read that is highly entertaining and easy to get stuck into.
I really liked the creativity of this story and the paranormal concept of being able to see people's true emotions. It was a intriguing idea that I hadn't seen before and found really interesting. I also liked getting to know Caitlyn's character and watch as she gradually learned how to stand up for what was right. She spent a lot of time in the past doing everything possible to keep everyone else happy and not rock the boat so it was great to see her standing up for herself and others. I also liked Eric's character and how genuine he was. I found the fact that he didn't directly feature in a lot of Caitlin's adventures (since most of it happened at her high school when Eric was at college) really refreshing. It emphasised the main story and put the romance between him and Caitlyn on the back burner - always there in the background but not the most important thing going on in Caitlyn's head all the time. I think this was good and helped show Caitlyn's character as it forced her to learn to accept her powers and use them to help others on her own - even though it took some encouragement from Eric at first. The other thing I loved about the story was getting to see Dale and Nicole form the Betwixt series again. They only featured briefly but I find myself wondering if they will show up again as this new series continues.
Overall this was a really great story that I loved reading. It was well-written and had a good mix of romance, suspense and action/drama. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and easy young-adult read that is highly entertaining and easy to get stuck into.
April 15, 2016
Things are not always what the seem......
I give this book 4 stars
What does this mean to me?
I LOVED IT and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
I'll admit Melissa Pearl is one of the best authors I've come across since I've started accepting ARC novels for review. I was so excited when I received an email letting me know that True colors was available to be reviews. I've enjoyed Melissa's writing style since the very first book of hers that I picked up.
I was hooked on True colors from the first chapter. The only word I can think of to describe this novel is "WOW". Melissa Really knows how to bring out tall the good and bad experiences in the life of a young adult in high school.
I would like to ask all of you a question.
"What would you do if a complete stranger gave you a gift of sight?
Now really think about this, could you handle a paranormal gift?
hold on a minute though,let me throw in a little catch. That stranger, did not tell you they were passing on a gift to you. You just wake up one morning and you can see behind all the masks people hide there true feelings behind.
What do you think of this gift now? Not to bad? It would be kind of nice to know when people were telling you fibs.
Well, lets say your friends are not as great as you think they are. Maybe a few of them are hiding a dangerous secret and the friends that you thought were perfectly happy are actually miserable and scared to death.
What about the cute guy next door, do you really want to know what he honestly thinks of you?
and to top that off........You are a teenager in high school.
So yes, that is why WOW is a good word for this novel.
I suggest you take a chance and read True Colors. You need to find out how Caitlyn deals with this gift and if she will be able to find the courage to stand up for herself and those around her or will she hide behind her own masks.
After reading True Colors, I can tell you one thing for sure. You will always be wondering what you would find if the people in your life let there masks slip for one day. This novel is amazing and really makes you think about what goes on in the lives of the ones you are closest to.
I give this book 4 stars
What does this mean to me?
I LOVED IT and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
I'll admit Melissa Pearl is one of the best authors I've come across since I've started accepting ARC novels for review. I was so excited when I received an email letting me know that True colors was available to be reviews. I've enjoyed Melissa's writing style since the very first book of hers that I picked up.
I was hooked on True colors from the first chapter. The only word I can think of to describe this novel is "WOW". Melissa Really knows how to bring out tall the good and bad experiences in the life of a young adult in high school.
I would like to ask all of you a question.
"What would you do if a complete stranger gave you a gift of sight?
Now really think about this, could you handle a paranormal gift?
hold on a minute though,let me throw in a little catch. That stranger, did not tell you they were passing on a gift to you. You just wake up one morning and you can see behind all the masks people hide there true feelings behind.
What do you think of this gift now? Not to bad? It would be kind of nice to know when people were telling you fibs.
Well, lets say your friends are not as great as you think they are. Maybe a few of them are hiding a dangerous secret and the friends that you thought were perfectly happy are actually miserable and scared to death.
What about the cute guy next door, do you really want to know what he honestly thinks of you?
and to top that off........You are a teenager in high school.
So yes, that is why WOW is a good word for this novel.
I suggest you take a chance and read True Colors. You need to find out how Caitlyn deals with this gift and if she will be able to find the courage to stand up for herself and those around her or will she hide behind her own masks.
After reading True Colors, I can tell you one thing for sure. You will always be wondering what you would find if the people in your life let there masks slip for one day. This novel is amazing and really makes you think about what goes on in the lives of the ones you are closest to.
February 13, 2014
True Colors by Melissa Pearl is book 1 in the Mask Series. It is an awesome and interesting YA book that had my attention right from the beginning.
Caitlyn Davis is a normal teenage girl who lives in California and attends Palisades High School. Her life is going great. She has her best friend, Stella, some school friends and her boyfriend, Chase. Caitlyn is the type of girl that stays away from all the high school drama.
One evening at the club with Stella, a homeless man comes walking up to them outside asking for money. Stella had no intention in helping him so she told the man no and to go away. Even though Caitlyn wanted to help the man, she couldn’t because Stella had dragged her back into the club. Shortly after, Caitlyn makes up an excuse about not feeling well so she heads in the direction to the restroom. Instead she sneaks outside to find the homeless man. Something strange had happened to her after giving the man the money.
Caitlyn’s journey has begun. Ever since that evening, her life had changed. She is now seeing her friends in a very different light. They are showing their true colors behind the mask that they wear. Caitlyn doesn’t understand what is going on with herself and doesn’t like what she is seeing and feeling about her friends. It is way too much for her to handle. She doesn’t know what to do or who to tell. One day, Caitlyn drives back to the club to see if she can find the homeless man. When Caitlyn finds him, she demands answers and what he did to her. He explains what is going on and why he passed the gift to her. She thinks it is a curse but he tells her that it isn’t. Will she be able to accept it and fulfill the gift that the homeless man passed on to her?
As I was reading, I could feel the rollercoaster emotions that Caitlyn was feeling through out the book.
Melissa Pearl has done a wonderful job! I am really looking forward to reading the sequel in the Mask Series. It is a must read so I definitely recommend all my book friends to check it out!
Caitlyn Davis is a normal teenage girl who lives in California and attends Palisades High School. Her life is going great. She has her best friend, Stella, some school friends and her boyfriend, Chase. Caitlyn is the type of girl that stays away from all the high school drama.
One evening at the club with Stella, a homeless man comes walking up to them outside asking for money. Stella had no intention in helping him so she told the man no and to go away. Even though Caitlyn wanted to help the man, she couldn’t because Stella had dragged her back into the club. Shortly after, Caitlyn makes up an excuse about not feeling well so she heads in the direction to the restroom. Instead she sneaks outside to find the homeless man. Something strange had happened to her after giving the man the money.
Caitlyn’s journey has begun. Ever since that evening, her life had changed. She is now seeing her friends in a very different light. They are showing their true colors behind the mask that they wear. Caitlyn doesn’t understand what is going on with herself and doesn’t like what she is seeing and feeling about her friends. It is way too much for her to handle. She doesn’t know what to do or who to tell. One day, Caitlyn drives back to the club to see if she can find the homeless man. When Caitlyn finds him, she demands answers and what he did to her. He explains what is going on and why he passed the gift to her. She thinks it is a curse but he tells her that it isn’t. Will she be able to accept it and fulfill the gift that the homeless man passed on to her?
As I was reading, I could feel the rollercoaster emotions that Caitlyn was feeling through out the book.
Melissa Pearl has done a wonderful job! I am really looking forward to reading the sequel in the Mask Series. It is a must read so I definitely recommend all my book friends to check it out!
October 20, 2014
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and thoroughly enjoyed the refreshing premise of the story. I usually struggle with YA and the drama associated with them but this one wowed me. We all wear a mask in public to hide our true emotions but what happens if you're able to strip this mask away and see what the person is truly feeling? And if this happens in a high school then it becomes all the more revealing.
Caitlyn is what I would describe as your typical high school student, just trying to find her way through and beginning to question the friendships that she has. A night out with her best friend Stella has surprising consequences. It not only shows her friend up for the selfish and uncaring girl that she is, but shows Caitlyn's caring nature when she helps a homeless man. It is through this act of kindness that the homeless man passes on his gift of seeing people's true emotions onto Caitlyn.
It is with this gift that she can see that everything in high school is not as it seems. Equally it gives her an opportunity to get to know her sexy next door neighbour better and things start to hot up. Caitlyn's gift tests their fledgling relationship, particularly as she insists on putting a stop to what's going on at school. If it goes wrong Caitlyn could end up paying with her life.
Caitlyn has been cruising through high school but without a clue as to what's going on around her. She has a naivety about her that when combined with her caring nature is endearing and commendable. There is an uncertainty within herself as to who she is and as she becomes more confident in that and knows who she is, she begins to capture the interest of Eric, her hot next door neighbour. He has been patiently waiting for this to happen as he could already see the person she is. He is her rock, her support and her strength to be herself.
I loved this book. Seeing all the characters worst and best traits enhanced through Caitlyn's gift added to the enjoyment of reading it. It was action packed but full of emotion as well.
Caitlyn is what I would describe as your typical high school student, just trying to find her way through and beginning to question the friendships that she has. A night out with her best friend Stella has surprising consequences. It not only shows her friend up for the selfish and uncaring girl that she is, but shows Caitlyn's caring nature when she helps a homeless man. It is through this act of kindness that the homeless man passes on his gift of seeing people's true emotions onto Caitlyn.
It is with this gift that she can see that everything in high school is not as it seems. Equally it gives her an opportunity to get to know her sexy next door neighbour better and things start to hot up. Caitlyn's gift tests their fledgling relationship, particularly as she insists on putting a stop to what's going on at school. If it goes wrong Caitlyn could end up paying with her life.
Caitlyn has been cruising through high school but without a clue as to what's going on around her. She has a naivety about her that when combined with her caring nature is endearing and commendable. There is an uncertainty within herself as to who she is and as she becomes more confident in that and knows who she is, she begins to capture the interest of Eric, her hot next door neighbour. He has been patiently waiting for this to happen as he could already see the person she is. He is her rock, her support and her strength to be herself.
I loved this book. Seeing all the characters worst and best traits enhanced through Caitlyn's gift added to the enjoyment of reading it. It was action packed but full of emotion as well.
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