Customer Reviews

Paradise Lost (Private)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This last book was a disappointment.

The main character, Reed, should have matured more for someone who has been through two murder attempts, public ostracism and a stalker. Allow me to elaborate.

Firstly, she bends over backwards to regain Noelle's trust and friendship (book 8) yet in this book she snaps at Noelle constantly. Sometimes she was downright rude to the girl. You have to wonder if she really cares about Noelle or what Noelle can do for her. (which is a shame because you can tell Noelle really loves Reed as a sister)

Secondly, Reed also seems to continue to forget her "place". Standing up for yourself is good but being rude and insulting to an adult, socialite, Billings descendent AND alumnus is not a good idea (even if she was rude you); especially if you're the scholarship kid.

Thirdly, I find it unrealistic that Reed has no contact with her family in this book AT ALL. She goes to St. Barths, for CHRISTMAS, after a SECOND murder attempt with nary a cheep from her parents! C'mon...

Fourthly, why chose to go horizontal with a blatant flirt on a yacht where she can be easily caught, especially after the Dash fiasco? That's just D-U-M-B. I'm loosin' major respect for this character.

Last point: The ending. This "kill Reed" thing is getting o-l-d. (Think of Stewie and Lois from Family Guy)

After the excitement in Revelation this book really let me down.

I'm not gonna give up on Brian yet, though. It is ONE book of nine.

Book ten better be better.

On many levels this book felt like the sit-com summer vacation shows. If anyone remembers, think "Saved by the Bell-Hawaii." It may have effects on the rest of the story line (without a doubt because of the ending), but is also complete fluff. Maybe that's why the ending felt so wrong. The rest of the book was meaningless, but the ending has to tie in to the next book. Like some others, I will look forward to the next book, but I have luke-warm feelings about it. Another suggestion for readers might be to wait until you're off on your own tropical vacation this summer (or spring break) and read it then. Maybe it will be more effective.

The moment Reed Brennan entered the Easton Academy, her life has not been the same. Falling for Thomas Pearson got the attention of the Billings girls, turning her into a member of the elite group, only to discover that one of the girls, Ariana Osgood, wanted her dead. After Ariana is taken away for murdering Thomas, Reed feels the worst is over -- only to encounter even more tragedy. After the events in Revelation, Reed is depleted of hope, which is why Noelle convinces her to join her and a few of the Billings girls to a Christmas vacation in St. Barths. What could be better than a vacation in paradise? Reed reunites with Taylor and Kiran and meets old Billings girls on the island. She even meets a hot guy who, though every girl on the island is after him, seems to have the hots for no one but her. But Reed is unable to escape her past. Even in paradise, she is stalked and threatened, and meets a flock of new enemies that would prove to be as dangerous as Ariana and Sabine.

To me, this series has jumped the shark. Why? Well, even though this series has never been realistic, it was nevertheless entertaining and intriguing, keeping me looking forward to the new installment. But now this series has gone from unrealistic to downright ridiculous. Reed has turned into a one-woman circus. She attracts jerks, jealous psychos, murderers and stalkers like moths to a flame. Am I expected to suspend this much disbelief? I'm surprised Noelle, Tiffany and the others would want to remain friends with someone who leaves nothing but bad luck and death in her wake. Even though one of the new characters acknowledges Reed's flair for drama by calling her "Hurricane Reed," it is not enough. The book would have been boring without the mystery and the drama, which is why I think Kate Brian should consider wrapping up this series before it gets even more over the top. I am considering abandoning this series, something that I hadn't considered before, that's how bad things have gotten. I'll await the second installment of the Privilege series. At least that one shows some potential.

I love Kate Brian... I stalk out Amazon weeks before hand hopefully the book will be released early so I can find out what's going on with Reed... but this book disappoints! Maybe it was slow b/c a new story arch is starting and everything needs to be set up? I'll give Kate the benefit of the doubt and stay a loyal reader since it was a good book, but it definately wasn't a "page turner", "can't put it down" type of book. I'm sure I'll read the next book when it comes out, but I most likely won't be biting at the nail like I have been for other Private books.

In Paradise Lost we see the actions of Sabine - Arianna's half-sister , Remember Arianna was the one who killed Thomas and Sabine -the one who killed Cheyenne and harmed Ivy and Josh. We see Sabine arrested with the attemped murder of Reed and all Reed can't wait is for the end of school to finish so that she can go home and hide from the scandals.tragedies and secrets that being a Billings Girl and an Easton Academy student requires. However, when you are friends with Noelle Lange, plans don't turn out how you want them too. Noelle is heading with a group of friends to St.Barths for vacation and she has invited Reed along. It is on the island that she discovers what the girls called the "Upton Game". Upton Giles, the hottest guy around and each summer a girl will win his attention and this summer it looks like Reed is coming first. However we discover that maybe the attraction between Upton and Reed is not just a summer fling and secondly, somebody wants Upton to themselves and will stop at nothing to achieve it as we read how Reed has two near-deaths and a third that could result in being lost at sea or worse killed as she is pushed overboard at the end of the story ?

Will Reed discover who wants her dead before its too late or has Reed met her end as she plunges overboard in the last chapter on the final page.

First about the book: It was amazing !!! I can't stop myself untill it ends. The story really keeps you like the others books of the serie, you'll hold your beath untill the lost word of the last page.

And about the place where I bought : the_book_depository was perfect, I had some inssues with the brazilian mail and they help me, they were avaiable to send me another book wihout cost if my mail didn't find the books that were missing. They really belive in your word, for now I'll always buy on then. And the most important the books were in perfect condition and come all protect in a special box.

All of Kate Brian's books are fun, mysterious, and tastful for older teens. They never let down!

The latest in the Kate Brian series, I've read through all the previous books and so far the series has a knack for keeping the reader on the edge of their seat (or bed) with the mysterious twists and cliffhanger endings that keep you guessing for the next several months until each new book comes out, but sadly, with book 9, I found myself saying aloud, "Why is there so much drama and no one is upset by it?"

From a writer's point of view, it's hard to keep a reader's interest without having some form of mystery and intrigue, and a few gasping moments here and there, but from a reader's point of view, the intrigue is lost when the character is overwhelmed with destruction, such as the main character Reed's long trail of "bad luck," which seems to be the only definition the other characters can find for murder, two psycho killers, an accidental shooting, mind blowing scandals, and everything else that seems to center around only Reed and no one else, or at least she seems to be the only one who notices. Even her love life is exciting to read into, but loses its cool at the end of each book due to murder, an accidental shooting, and mind blowing scandals. Her friends are there to help her, but they also change from good to bad due to murder, an accidental shooting, mind blowing scandals...

Overall, the books are a great read, for teenagers and young adults, and I highly recommend the series for its detailed plots, exciting twists, and the amazing descriptions of the handsome privileged men and beautiful leading ladies, but as for the drama, it isn't very realistic and is too obviously downplayed to extend the series, but if you like a little fantastical drama that repeats itself regularly to blur the lines between good and bad, you're in for a good read.

Reed Brennan is a magnet for trouble. It seems that everywhere she goes murder and mayhem follow. After the revelation at Kiran's pre-birthday bash, the Billings girls decide that maybe they should leave Easton a little early for their holiday plans.

The Billings girls, along with Gage, Dash, and a few others head to St.Barth's for Christmas break. Reed is the only newcomer to the islands so the girls decide to introduce her to their favorite pastime,the Upton Game. Upton Giles is labeled the hottest man on the islands and the object of the game is to be the first girl to hook up with him. Reed decides that she is going to change her ways and forget about her past. She vows that she will stay out of the Upton Game and make her own fun, at least until she actually meets Upton.

Little does she know, Upton is somebody else's boyfriend or at least she thinks he is. Poppy Simon is not happy about Reed interfering with her plans and she makes it known. Loyalties are tested and friendships are broken all over one guy.

Also, Reed starts feeling a little paranoid. Everywhere she goes she seems to have some near death experience. And she doesn't think they are accidents. Reed can't help but feel like someone is following her and that whoever it is plans on taking Reed out of the Upton Game...for good.

I was actually a little bit disappointed at the end of this book. I love all the Privates books but it seems like Kate Brian is running out of ideas. The ending is definitely another cliff-hanger, though. I may have been disappointed but I still can't wait for September 8 to see what happens in the next book.

Beloved 15 year old grandaughter thanks me for sending her books of this series, and this one in particular! She lives in Switzerland, now, and is very grateful to me and the author! Martha Keller