Customer Reviews

Spring Break

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

 

 

"Spring Break" focuses on three gorgeous college co-eds who head to the tropical island of Artula for Spring Break. Chantelle, Erica and Ashley are excited to be in tropical paradise until Ashley disappears after a night of partying at a club. As best friend Chantelle chases down leads to Ashley's disappearance she makes a connection with handsome journalist Jason Shear, who was in Ashley's presence at the club the night of her disappearance. When Jason tells Chantelle that he has been writing a story on a white slavery and informs her that several young woman have gone missing on Artula, Chantelle fears the worst about Ashley's disappearance. Although the book started out as an interesting read it soon spiraled downward into a story that didn't make sense. The twists and turns weren't very interesting and the "revelation" about Ashley in the end was not very believable or interesting. It truly seemed as if the writer was lost in her own plot. The main character of Chantelle wasn't very likeable which made the book all that much harder to read.

Chantelle, Erica, and Ashley are good friends that are ready to have some fun in the sun for their spring break. They decide to go to an island resort along with some other students from their college. Everything seems to be going fine until Ashley disappears after a night of drinking at a bar. With Erica dealing with her own personal issues, it's up to Chantelle to find out where Ashley is. But the more Chantelle investigates into Ashley's whereabouts, the more dangerous the situation becomes. Someone on the island does not want some dark secrets revealed and will do anything to protect them.

Spring Break is an entertaining thriller by Kayla Perrin. Perrin brought us a good story about when an innocent vacation goes terribly wrong. At first glance, you think that this book is based on an infamous disappearance of a real college student during spring break, but that's not the case. This story will really hold your attention as more and more clues are revealed. Just when you think you have the whole book figured out; Perrin throws in some interesting twists that will keep you glued to the pages. Spring Break is a fast-paced page-turner with a good mystery thrown in.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban Reviews

The Caribbean Island of Artula is a perfect setting for a much needed break. Three best friends Ashley, Chantelle, and Erica are set to party for seven days. They are aspiring writers and see this as an opportunity to have fun and gain information for some fantastic stories. The day after arriving on the island, Ashley breaks up with her boyfriend, meets Jason, an editor from the states, and disappears!

The crux of this story is that all of the players have agendas: an abundance of conflicts, old rivalries, and new jealousies. But no one expects things to turn deadly and no one expects that they won't all return. Ashley's ex-boyfriend has turned sinister and Jason is a big question mark. He has a personal motive; over twenty years ago his sister disappeared, in fact, nineteen women have disappeared in the last seven years. He suspects a 'white slavery' ring is behind the disappearances. Could Ashley be number twenty?

Everyone is a suspect and the Artula police offer little help. Chantelle, who refuses to stop asking why, seems to be the only one trying to solve the mystery and find her friend. Back on campus, Erica is reliving an old secret and has zoned out and Chantelle is starting to fear for her own life.

SPRING BREAK is a fast-paced mystery driven by the desperation and frenzied anxiety of the heroine. Chantelle is beginning to feel a sense of hopelessness and fears that she will never see Ashley again. Ms. Perrin presents an intriguing though, slightly disjointed mystery. There are several late twists which detract from what really is a good thriller. I have little doubt that fans will enjoy this cautionary tale of being frivolous and cautious while in a party mode.

Reviewed by aNN

of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

On Artula, following a break up with her boyfriend Ryan Sinclair, college student Ashley Hamilton vanishes. Her disappearance occurs just after she meets New York editor Jason Shear who had come to the Caribbean island to investigate human trafficking; his sister had disappeared without a trace while on spring break here in 1987. Jason finds out that nineteen women have disappeared in the last seven years.

Ashley's best friend Chantelle Higgins searches for her after the local authorities ignore her plea for help. On the other hand Jason agrees to assist her in her investigation into what happened to Ashley. At the same time Ashley's frantic family arrive on the island; someone murders an informant willing to talk to Chantelle.

This is a superb romantic suspense that looks deeply into human sexual trafficking through the constant questioning by the courageous Chantelle who refuses to stop asking the why. The story line is fast-paced throughout as the frantic desperation of the heroine and the family of the abductee turns into a frenzy of extreme anxiety due to hopelessness as what increasingly looks like a lost cause. Although several late twists detract from an otherwise strong thriller, fans will enjoy this cautionary tale of being smart and safe while on Spring Break.

Harriet Klausner

It's hard not to think of the true-life case of Natalie Holloway when reading Spring Break, although the author does attempt to put a different spin on a story of abduction or disappearance, salting her plot with a number of potential scenarios. When Chantelle, Erica and Ashley arrive on the Caribbean island of Artula, all they have in mind is a break from the grind of their studies at a Pennsylvania college. Chantelle has just split from her boyfriend, Carl, but Ashley is very much involved in a relationship with Ryan, until they have an argument the first night. Ashley sets her sights on a handsome editor, Jason, who is on the island to do research for a book. Ashley soon adapts to her changed circumstances to a new man, albeit one that Chantelle has also been attracted to. The alcohol flows, all of the girls getting very drunk.

The socially responsible friend, Chantelle is the worrier of the bunch, the "Mother Superior" as Erica calls her. But when Ashley fails to sleep in her bed for three nights, the other tow roommates get increasingly worried. As their time on the island comes to a close and Ashley has still not returned or sent word, the girls begin to fear the worst. Like the Holloway case, the police are of little help to the stunned girls or Ashley's family, suggestions of white slavery getting a cool response without benefit of proof. The other possible scenarios are equally as daunting, Chantelle unable to make sense of her friend's disappearance. By the time the friends leave the island, they have no idea whether Ashley is alive or dead.

The plot has good energy, a smart chick lit mystery, Chantelle an engaging young protagonist with good instincts, including self-preservation. Horrified at what may have happened, Chantelle nevertheless forms an emotional attachment to a new man, blindsided by the danger that follows her home to campus. By the end of the story, the mystery is solved, but the plot does suffer from too many twists and turns, from white slavery to the potential threat from people Ashley associates with. No matter, this writer knows how to remain within the emotional boundaries of her young characters, students who happily exist in a familiar environment, seduced by spring break and the illusion of security. Luan Gaines/2010.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath. This was a very interesting read that held my attention from page 1 until the end. I kind of knew what was happening, but the ending still left my mouth hanging open.

Keep up the good work Ms. Perrin!

I read this book in one day but it wasn't because I was enriched in it but more because I wanted to see how it was going to end. The book was alright but there were many twists and turns that drag the story on and on and they seemed like they could have been left out of the story. Also I felt the main characters weren't likeable and very annoying at times.

Couldnt put this book down true page turner.. Very shocking in the end with a few twist. IF U LIKE this one he other one WELL never tell very good as well

I usually really enjoy books by this author, but this one was kind of a let down. Some parts of the book seem unrealistic (boring) for it to be college students on spring break and then the ending felt kind of rushed. The overall storyline was ok, but the journey to get there was not worth the ride. Had it not been that this was the book we were reading for Bookclub, I would not have finished it.

this is the first book that I have read by Kayla. It started off slow which was ok but once the book got started and pulled you in it was over. the plot was ok but some of the twist and turns should have been left out because they didn't fit the storyline. I think she left a lot of unanswered questions and left you wondering "were did that come from" but overall it was ok and I will read more of her work.