Review: Forbidden Mind

Title: Forbidden Mind

Author: Kimberly Kinrade

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts: great book!

Book Summary: (shortened for length)

“ She reads minds.
   He controls minds.
  Together, they might get out alive.
Sam thinks she’s months away from freedom.  After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old.
Only Sam isn’t normal.  She reads minds.  And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything…
For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn’t a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape.
To survive, they must work together….”

Having the power to read minds isn’t all fun and games.  Sam is being used for her powers to satisfy sketchy clients, whose thoughts she really wishes she couldn’t read.  Rent-a-kid hasn’t been too horrible—they have given her a lot of freedom, but when she sees a boy who seems out of place questions start to form in her mind.  Discovering the mysterious boy, Drake’s, secrets will lead to chaos and, finally, answers.

            
       One unique thing about this story is its thriller/mystery aspect.  I knew the ending pretty quickly but I didn’t know how the ending was reached.  The things that happen, the people they met, the secrets they unravel -- all these pieces are what make this story so surprising.  I got a strong feel right away for Sam’s character.  She threatens bullies, and I get the feeling that these ‘tough girl’ scenes are a first for Sam, revealing her inner strength.  Kinrade definitely takes the time to introduce you to Sam: describing her thoughts, explaining her power, and examining her relationships with those closest around her. 

            The mystery behind Drake is a big part of the novel.  I didn’t get as much of an inside view to his thoughts, character, or emotions because Sam really didn’t get to be around him a whole lot.  I know He can control minds and is super strong but at the end of this book he is still a mystery to me.  This book flows really well; the parts where people are using their paranormal powers aren’t too difficult to follow and it all makes sense.  The end is a cliffhanger that really makes me wish the second book was already out!  I just want to keep reading Sam and Drake’s story… and get them completely figured out. 

The Cover:
           
       This cover features a chain-style fence that is ripped open.  I think this cover is more about the symbolism and the feel from the novel than anything else.  It comes across, to me, as intense.  I will admit that, at first glance, I thought this would be an inmate story… and I guess it kind-of was. 

For more information about Kimberly Kinrade visit her website here: http://kimberlykinrade.com/

To buy Forbidden Mind go here:  Amazon or here: Barnes and Noble