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    Saving Max
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    Saving Max
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    Saving Max
    Ebook402 pages6 hours

    Saving Max

    By Antoinette Van Heugten

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Max Parkmanautistic and whip-smart, emotionally fragile and aggressiveis perfect in his mother's eyes. Until he's accused of murder. 

    Attorney Danielle Parkman can't deny her son's behavior has been getting worsedrugs and violent outbursts have become a frightening routine. But the diagnosis she receives from a top-notch adolescent psychiatric facility that Max is deeply disturbedand dangerousis too devastating to accept. 

    Until she finds Max, weapon in hand, at the bedside of a fellow patient who has been brutally stabbed to death. 

    Trapped in a maelstrom of doubt and fear and barred from contacting Max, Danielle's mothering instincts snap sharply into focus. The justice system is bearing down on them, so she must use her years of legal experience to find out the truth, no matter what that might be. But has she, too, lost touch with reality? Is her son truly a killer?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin MIRA
    Release dateOct 1, 2013
    ISBN9781460319475
    Unavailable
    Saving Max
    Author

    Antoinette Van Heugten

    Antoinette van Heugten is a former international trial lawyer who retired to pursue a full-time career as a novelist. She lives with her husband in the Texas Hill country.

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    Reviews for Saving Max

    3.5/5

    102 ratings37 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Awesome book. Really tugged at my heart in places and showed how far a mother is willing to go for their child. Kept me turning pages and guessing throughout. Would definitely recommend.
    • 4/5
      I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I read it very quickly and easily. I really couldn't pull myself away from it once I started it. On the other hand, there are many things that usually annoy me in my books and this one was no exception.

      It's always easier for me to say what I don't like than what I like. Therefore, let's start with good things. Although the beginning is rather slow and not much happens, you read this story really fast. The chapters are short, there are no long descriptions, and even the first ten chapters, though introductory, are not very boring.

      The plot is also very interesting. It is a combination of a legal and psychological thriller. Of course, many things can be predicted from the very beginning but still some elements surprised me. All the time I wanted to know what would happen next.

      Now let's get to what I had a problem with. Danielle very often behaves really stupidly. First of all, she lies to her lawyer. At some point, she justifies it by not wanting to go to jail for these acts. But who would report her to the police? Her own lawyer and the detective they hired?! There is such a thing as a legal professional privilege! Danielle as an excellent lawyer herself should know this and be honest with her own lawyer. Hiding things from him, hoping he won't find out, doesn't help her case.

      Danielle also does a lot of other annoying things. Breaking parole rules comes a little too easily to her. She runs away from her lawyer and detective who are there to help her. Without a moment's thought, she goes head first into dangerous situations. For such an intelligent woman, she does really stupid things. And you can't justify all that with the fact that she is desperate.

      There are also at least two moments when her personality is inconsistent. That is, when she finds out about her son's diagnosis and during a meeting with doctors to discuss it. I was convinced that it would turn out that she was given some medicine without her knowing about it. But it turns out that it was her own reaction. Her behaviour at these moments does not match her character.

      And finally we have this bizarre romance. This is completely unreliable. I mean, I don't mind Danielle and Tony meet in such circumstances and are interested in each other. But love ?! They know each other for a few days, during which they mainly work to get her and her son out of prison. And then she disappears for a few days. When was this feeling supposed to develop between them ?! This is really one of the weak points of this book, straight from the category romance.

      Despite some of the issues I mentioned above, I really like this book. I would definitely recommend.
    • 5/5
      Book 2 - a strong follow up to the first in the series. The pseudo Scooby gang must help save a teen pop star who sold her soul to a Hellion for fame - surprising ending!
    • 4/5
      This one wasn't quite as good as the first one, but it was still very interesting. We got to learn a lot more about the banshee's ways and backstory. We also saw a lot more of the underworld and the dangers that it holds. There were a few inconsistencies between this and the one before it which kind of bothered me. (not too badly though) I love the scenes where Todd's around; they always make me laugh. Something that I think sets this series apart from so many others is that the characters actually have to accept the consequences of their actions. Not everything ends up rosy and happy at the end of the day. I'm always a fan of happy endings, but they're definitely not always realistic.
    • 5/5
      I'm still thoroughly loving this series. I love the storyline and the characters more and more each book. I love Kaylee's dad and the fact that he's trying to be a dad. I can't wait to see what else happens in the series.
    • 5/5
      When a famous singer dies in front of her, in the middle of a concert, Kaylee Cavanaugh begins to panic. Why? Because when someone dies near her she instantly feels the need to scream bloody murder. And when she realizes that there's no soul to sing to she and her boyfriend, Nash, know that something is wrong. Really really wrong.The confirmation comes when Nash's brother, Tod (who is dead and is a reaper) tells them that Kaylee is not screaming because that body is empty. No soul to sing to = No screams.But that's impossible, right? Where is her soul and most importantly: who has it?!The answers begin to flow in the form of one of the most ancient and incredible reapers: Libby. She tells them, thanks to Tod's obvious reverence, that the poor human girl had sold her soul in exchange of fame, beauty and fortune. And that she was there to collect what replaced And that Addison Page, another singer who was becoming very famous too, was going to be the next one to die.The only problem was that Addison had been Tod's girlfriend once and he still had feelings for her.And that's how Tod convinced Kaylee to help him catch the culprit and how she dragged Nash into it too. Together they would discover that even the cute and safe face of a big family-friend corporation could hide terrible secrets.Personal opinion:Just like the first book, My Soul to Take, this book was amazing. Honestly. I couldn't stop reading and, in fact, I finished it in 4 hours, while I was waiting for my flight to take off. How? I'm not sure, I think I just kept reading and reading, and reading non-stop. And when I finished it I re-read it just to make sure it was as awesome as I knew it was.And yes, Rachel Vincent had rocked my world. Again.The characters not only kept evolving and growing but also they won more shades, more colors and a lot of deepness. Kaylee turns out to be a really strong, confident and lovely character that truly cares for everyone. Nash, although very supportive of Kaylee, is more reserved and very protective while Tod is more... Tod. What can I say? Tod is a whole new concept for me, I can't wait to read more about him. My advice? Read the series, start with it right now and make your own opinion.
    • 3/5
      I read this originally a few years ago, and I enjoyed it. However, this was the last book in the series I read, although I cannot figure out why. I enjoyed this just as much as the first book. Rachel Vincent has created a fun, entertaining, and unique series that stands apart from many of the stereotypical vampire and werewolf books out there. Kaylee remains a fantastic heroine, if for no other reason than the fact that she is willing to sacrifice everything to save someone else. She is such a selfless character, but at the same time she does not come across as someone who is annoyingly good. I will mention briefly that Nash remains an adorable, ideal boyfriend, but otherwise I do not have a whole lot to say about him. Tod, however, I adore. There are so many issues with his role, and his morality can be questionable, but he is so intriguing. Addison, as I stated in my original review of this, is best addition to this book. At first she just seemed like an annoying drama queen, but her character expanded & changed perfectly. All of which lead up to my favorite scene of the book, which I can’t discuss because it’d be too spoiler-y. Let’s just say it was my favorite moment from either of the books. Once again this book is an action-packed, nonstop read. The danger reaches even higher heights than the first book. This is one book that you will want to read in one sitting. We get to know a lot more about the bean sidhes and the world of the Nether, which is unique and adds a whole new layer to the story. The only thing I wish there had been more of was Kaylee’s best friend, Emma. Her brief scenes in this book were awesome, but I would love to see even more of her. All in all, I think this book built nicely upon the characters and setting set forth in the first book. This is an engaging, adventurous series, and I cannot wait to see where it heads next. I am so glad I participated in Rachel’s Soul Screamer Challenge, and I would highly recommend that you join in if you enjoy a good paranormal romance with a perfect cast of characters.
    • 3/5
      Is anyone familiar with the term, "sophomore slump?" If you haven't heard of it, it's a term usually used regarding music. When a band releases a really good debut album, they must avoid the "sophomore slump" which is the not-as-awesome-as-the-first, second CD. I have found this term applies nicely to books as well. I really loved the first book in this series. But the second failed to live up to my expectations or the expectations the first book set. What's even worse is the fact that I completely fail at finding a solid reason as to why I didn't like this book as much as the first. I know, wtf Mia? Wtf? But honestly, I just can't. Sometimes a book can have all the right elements: awesome characters, splendid writing, intriguing plot, and everything else it takes to weave a good book. But even though it's all there, for whatever reason it just fails to live up to what you wanted it to be. I guess the reason why I just didn't dig this one so much lies in the plot. It was just... not as thrilling. Well, I mean it was, but not as much? Argh, I wish I could explain this better. The plot didn't build up enough tension to completely mesmerize me. At least not until the last ten or so pages. I know it isn't completely fair to consistently compare this book with the first one, but with My Soul to Take I was just so taken with the plot. It built up and up and up but this built up sort of slowly. There was a lot at risk in the first one but here? The thing that was at risk, I didn't come to care about as much as I should've. Not only that, there was a lack of sacrifice on Nash and Kaylee's part so maybe that's where the lack of concern for the plot came in too. Speaking of Nash and Kaylee, I sort of, kind of, love them together. A lot of fans are totally on the Tod and Kaylee ship but there's something about Nash and Kaylee that I do love. They have a nice balance. I'm not still completely sold on this pairing but I'm beginning to really like -- and maybe even love? -- them together. My love for this series didn't fail to grow, however. I do still completely love the world Rachel Vincent is continuing to build, even if some of the more detailed concepts of it is hard to grasp sometimes. But still, it is entirely gripping. I'm also really loving Rachel Vincent's writing style. It's so effortless and I can tell she works really hard to grow and perfect her writing. What I really l love about her is that she thinks outside the box with her descriptions and what exactly something means. I love authors who do that. Who really get me to think on what something exactly means and to see or think about the flip side of that term or whatever. I should only hope that this series gets better and that the other books exceed the first. I'm officially a fan of Rachel Vincent, but I do hope she stepped up her game with the next book.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis:When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….Review:I loved all the charcters of the first book so I had to find out what was going to happen with Kayley, Nash, Tod and her family considering the end of the first book pretty much left all of that high and dry.Firstly Kaylee is now living with her father, which she gets on with even though he now puts down rules for her which she didn't really have before. He tries to act like a father should except he hasn't been around for thirteen years so this scenario would have driven me crazy but Kaylee handles it well.Kaylee herself develops such an understanding of herself in this book. She steps up every time and takes the lead. And everyone else follows her, which considering she wasn't aware of her Banshee background until a few weeks before is great. The only thing she has issues with is self-confidence when it comes to Nash. She constantly asks herself if he'll leave her once they get further in their relationship (and by further I mean sex). In one way this is her immaturity showing through, she's not that experienced when it comes to boys and we all know that Nash is more experienced when it comes to girls.No matter how many times these two charcters try to bond more in their love there are always complications or interruptions. Mostly from Reaper brother, Tod, who in my mind would have had a frying pan in the face if he carried on those antics. Either Tod is trying to intervene in some way or just being downright annoying, I don't know but he does prove that he's a valuable friend in this book and clearly thinks alot of Kaylee (more than he should? we'll see).The premise of the story is rescueing Addy from dying and entering the Netherworld because she sold her soul. There's always a hidden message in Vincent's stories and this comes out loud and clear. Nothing is worth selling out for, and fame and fortune doesn't come easily. You have to work for it through hard graft and determination. Any shortcut is going to have side effects.While Kaylee battles with new baddy Avari, we also have Emma join us in the know-how of Banshee and otherwordly life. She understands that more is going on than she realises but is happy with the 'Don't ask - don't tell' arrangement with Kaylee.Overall, I liked this book. Not as much as the first but it comes up with a good plot and great twists and turns. The characters have all developed more since the first book and I know that alot is being left for the third to continue with.A great book of the series.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this installment of the Soul Screamers series. I read the first one over a year ago, so I thought for sure I'd be lost with this one. The author, however, made key references from the first book to jog the memory. Kaylee reminds me a little bit of Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series, a badass in her own right, yet always willing to right the wrongs. Looking forward to reading My Soul To Keep.
    • 4/5
      this was a pretty good book. it wasnt the best book that i read in my life but not the worst.the lengths that the mother went to for her son is amazing. the things that she did and for him, risking everything to help her son get off murder charges.
    • 4/5
      Though I was not familiar with this author when I recieved this book, upon reading it I could easily tell that Heugten was well-educated, especially since I actually came across a few words I did not know the meaning of - and I consider myself fairly well-read. Words like eidolon and glistered (both from the same sentence) made me a little intimidated by the book, but I stuck with it anyways. The prose of the text is written excellently and I thoroughly appreciated the book for this alone.I was originally drawn to the book because it focuses on a mother's fight for the life and freedom of her son - which I can relate to in some ways. The sub-plots quickly intersect when the mother, Danielle, has to rely on her career as a lawyer to fight for her son while working with another lawyer, who happens to be the man she has a one-night stand with after turning to what she terms as "liquid courage." Some scenes in the plot were quite horrific, especially at the end of the book, but they were necessary to the plot. The psychiatric facility of Maitland where the plot centers at is intended to be the foremost facility of its kind in the country, but I found many of its practices either abysmal or downright terrifying. I found it very satisfying when Max began to take a more active role in his own court case, showing to me that he is indeed in charge of his own faculties (mostly) and not responsible for what he is being accused of. The big revelation that Danielle discovers is incredibly shocking and grotesque and reveals a psychosis I never knew even existed, much less the depths of depravity that it takes a person to. I have no doubt that such individuals exist in real life, though I believe that such people are beyond what psychologists or psychiatrists can fix. These kinds of people either need God or corporal punishment, but that is another soap box for another day.I found the progression of the plot unpredictable, which is a good thing, but the ending not completely fulfilling, since the author obviously opted to leave one loose thread for a possible sequel. While I normally like book series, in this case I would have much preferred a more rewarding ending.
    • 4/5
      MY SOUL TO SAVE, by Rachel Vincent, was a new adventure for Kaylee and her blossoming abilities as a bean sidhe. With the swoon-worthy Nash, and his reaper-brother Tod at her side, Kaylee pushed the boundaries to save stolen souls.I really love Kaylee as a character and this book is no different, I am in awe of her compassion and determination to make things right for those who were wronged. In this case, pop-stars. Kaylee has such a big heart, but I can see her persistence getting her in more trouble as she tests her limits with dangerous non-humans.The relationship between Kaylee and Nash was intensified in this book. I wish Kaylee had more self-confidence to see how crazy Nash is about her! I can't wait to see where there relationship goes in the next book.Overall, another amazing book from Rachel Vincent in the Soul Screamers series. Next up, My Soul to Keep.
    • 2/5
      Again, I find myself wishing for a half star system. The second installment of the "Soul Screamers" series left me a little disappointed. I'm going to blame this partially on my high expectations after reading "My Soul to Take." I felt that this was a bit of a "place saver book" in the sense that really important happened. Yes, Kaylee, Tod and Nash teaming up to try and save the souls of two pop stars was nice, but it didn't hold my attention very well. I didn't care about either of the girls who had sold their souls for fame, and as a result I never truly got into it. Another disappointment was the lack of action in the romance department. Kaylee relationship with Nash is an important element of the series as it helps to drive the plot. So, I was surprised that we didn't see much happen romantically between the two of them. I figured that if the action/suspense bit of the story was somewhat lacking, that the romantic angle would make up for it, but I was wrong.On the bright side, I like Kaylee quite a bit. In fact, the best part of this book was watching her develop her abilities and begin to exercise come control over them. I've also started to really enjoy Tod- a huge plus of this book is that he becomes a more important character than in the previous book, and as a result we get to know him better. Nash actually seems like a jerk compared to his brother, and as the book progressed, I found myself wishing Kaylee was with Tod instead of Nash.Best quotes:"What if I was the sexual equivalent of popcorn? Suitable for light snacking only?""I was ready to give Addison her privacy and go work on her problem somewhere her empty soul-windows didn’t stare at me from behind their eerie human façades."
    • 4/5
      I didn't realize when I selected this book that it was more of a legal thriller than straight literary fiction. As such, it was much more violent than I was anticipating. That said, this book offers a compelling story, one I stayed up half the night reading because I had to find out what would happen at the end. Max Parkman finds himself accused of murdering a fellow patient at the psychiatric hospital where he is being treated. Max is autistic, and appears to have violent tendencies. His mother, Danielle, is convinced that her son is innocent, and wages a full-scale effort to prove his innocence. Danielle's legal battle is a desperate one, and she is committed to saving her son at all costs. The costs will be high. Unable to keep up with work at her Manhattan law firm, Danielle falls off the track to partner. More seriously, her unorthodox efforts to prove Max's innocence land Danielle in jail and out on bail. This is a fast-paced and suspenseful book. Over the course of the book I warmed to Max's character, but I was never able to warm to Danielle. I found Danielle to be quite disturbing. As an officer of the court, Danielle is more than willing to flout the law and the conditions of her bail. Even more troubling to me was the fact that she was willing to pin the crime on any sacrificial lamb in her path. Danielle quite candidly admits that she is willing to place the blame on a known innocent if it will lead to her son's exoneration. Several weeks after having finished this book I'm still left with an unsettled feeling. I'll likely be thinking about this one for quite some time.
    • 3/5
      Max is a troubled little boy with various mental problems. His mother, Danielle, a single mother and successful lawyer, is at her wit's end, not knowing how to help him. She decides to place him in a facility in Iowa that is reputed to be helpful to mentally ill young people. After arriving there, problems only become more complex until Danielle finds herself as well as Max in deep trouble.This book was a little too wordy, a little too dragged out, a little too far fetched. It is a first book for the author, and I would like to see her progress as a writer.
    • 3/5
      Not an unpleasant read but the middle bit just seemed to go on and on. The author defintely knows her subject matter but used it a little too much. Nothing wrong with relying on your knowledge - in fact that's what a good writer should do; however it over-shadowed the plot at times. Good use of dramatic irony once you get to the last third of the book and in fact the last third is really good but by then I was completely fed up with Danielle (Max's mother). This is a book I would've actually bought if I hadn't been lucky enough to receive an Amazon Vine copy and sadly I'm pleased I didn't have to pay for it. I really enjoy thrillers and books where the author has prior knowledge of the subject matter, yet in this case it felt like she wanted to use her knowledge and simply found a way round it. It didn't seem as if the plot came first. Three stars isn't bad overall but for a story that should feel like a page-turner I just wasn't turning them fast enough to satisfy myself.
    • 3/5
      Kaylee has just started to get a grasp on her new role as a bean sidhe (or banshee) and as Nash's full-time girlfriend. Not to mention the fact that Kaylee is now living with her Irish father after having barely had contact with him for 13 years of her life. Kaylee seems to be adapting well when pop star Eden drops dead in front of her and she doesn't feel the need to scream...not even the slightest bit. Eden has no soul, so Kaylee has nothing to scream about.After further investigation, Kaylee, Nash and their reaper friend Todd discover that a CEO billionaire and hellion in disguise named Dekker has been promising young people fame and wealth in exchange for their souls. In particular, Dekker has convinced Addison and Regan Page to sell their souls for a chance to be teen idols. Kaylee and co. must race against the clock to save the girls' souls from being poached by the hellion.Though not as good as My Soul to Take, My Soul to Save is a fun and entertaining story that continues the adventures of Kaylee the banshee. This time, readers get the opportunity to dive deeper into the Soul Screamers universe and learn more about the (sometimes harsh) rules of the Netherworld -plus Kaylee gets the chance to grow her powers a little more, though her relationship with Nash didn't seem to grow much during the novel.Well-written, fast-paced and entertaining, My Soul to Save is a great addition to the Soul Screamers series, but just isn't as good as My Soul To Take. Regardless, I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
    • 4/5
      I loved this book. It takes place right after the 2nd one and the stories go together perfect. I like Kaylees and Nash's relationship it is going pretty realistically and there are never any big love triangles or unneeded fighting like a lot of books tend to do. Kaylee has really taken control of her ability well the best she can. Nash's mom Harmony is there helping her learn more about it and what else she can do with it. You also get to see a whole new and admiring side to Tod which I loved. I thought maybe he was going to come between Kaylee and Nash but that wasn't the case.I don't like to give too much away in my reviews or go over the summary too much since you can just read that right off the bat. This was a seriously good read and I am looking forward to the next one.
    • 3/5
      The second novel in the Soul Screamers series finds Kaylee adjusting to living with her newly returned father. She is taking lessons from Nash's mother, Harmony, on 'how to be a bean sidhe' in order to avoid the kind of trouble she got into in the past. The problem is, Kaylee seems to be looking for trouble or, at least, trouble finds her pretty easily. She and Nash, with some help from Tod, stumble upon a system where a Dekker media, bearing a very recognizable resemblance to Disney, sells the souls of young entertainers to an avarice demon in order to guarantee financial success and market domination. Kaylee and Nash are thrust into the middle of the whole ordeal when we learn that Addison, Tod's old girlfriend and rising teen star, has sold her soul for fame and fortune. Tod, who clearly still cares for Addy, plays upon Kaylee's sense of righteousness and convinces her to help him find a way to reclaim Addy's soul. Of course, things can't go smoothly. Kaylee finds herself in a mess with her father and, along the way, Addison's sister Regan sells her soul as well, so Kaylee is faced with having to save two souls instead of just one. In the end, all doesn't end happily. But, I think that's one of the things I like best about Vincent's writing. She's not afraid for her characters to fail--or, at least, not succeed entirely. I would have liked more of the story to have taken place outside the main plot line. Kaylee's character is facing some major changes and I'd like to see more exploration of that. Also, I hope that, in the future, Aiden's character, Kaylee's father, is more developed. I'm sure that Kaylee and Nash's relationship will be explored in more depth, as things progress and the characters grow.My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2), overall, is a good story. I feel like it was focused a bit too much on the main plot, to the extent that character development was minimal. Aside from some insight into Tod, I don't feel like I learned a whole lot more about the story's characters. I didn't really care for Addison or Regan, so it wasn't easy to empathize with Kaylee's desire to help them; though I easily understood Nash's reluctance to have any part in helping them. I am looking forward to reading My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3), and I hope that I'll learn more about Kaylee and her family/friends in the books to come.Follow me as readerbarbara at blogspot dot com
    • 4/5
      As I made note of in my review of "My Soul to Take"m I am a Tod kinda gal, I prefer him tenfold over Nash. I just can't get over Nash's past, his personality, and whatnot, and as such, I am not a fan. However, in this book my opinion of Tod changed a bit- for the worse. I don't know if he completely comprehended how dangerous the task was that he assigned to Kaylee and Nash and they could have easily been killed or seriously injured in trying to carry it out, yet he still asked them to do it and he even played to Kaylee's hero complex. He knew that if he asked there was no way in heck that she could not help. What if something were to have happened to Nash or Kaylee? Harmony, Nash's mom, not only loses her husband and one son, but then her last remaining son and is left entirely alone in the world? Or Kaylee's dad, who had lost his wife, also loses his daughter who he and his wife have sacrificed so much for? I don't think so! All he was thinking about was his dear Addy...As for Addy? Well, she kinda drove me nuts. I hated how she was so against using the out-clause. I know that her life would be pretty crappy had she used it, but wasn't it better than, I don't know? NOT HAVING A SOUL! But I am not going to lie, I did sympathize with her quite a bit in this book, more so towards the end of the novel where she sacrificed herself for her little sister. As for Tod? Well, it was just really nice to see a different side of him. I had become so accustomed to him being all morbid and snarky, and seeing him all googly eyed? It was cute.I also hated the way in which Nash tried to hold Kaylee back from living up to her full potential. He was so against Kaylee and him helping Tod (and I know, this means that he fully comprehended the dangers whereas Tod did not- and that I am being completely contradictory as per usual), but still, he knows how Kaylee is and how she cannot say no when it comes to helping people, he should have just accepted it and kept his moaning and groaning to himself. As for Kaylee? Well she was her usual kick-ass self, but sometimes I cannot help myself from thinking that she really should put more faith into her dad, Harmony and her uncle and trust them with the problems that they are experiencing. I mean, the three adults combined have been around for probably 400 years, if not longer, so I do think that with age comes wisdom, especially over Tod, Nash, and Kaylee's combined 50ish years.
    • 4/5
      This novel about one mother's battle to save her son starts off like a typical family drama, but quickly (and unexpectedly) spirals into a taut thriller. When Dana's son Max requires hospitalization because his depression is taking over, Dana travels across the country to get him the best help possible. What starts out as a difficult family experience rapidly becomes a nightmare as Max becomes increasingly violent and is eventually charged with murdering another patient at the mental hospital. Dana's quest to find the truth nearly destroys them both as she finds herself at odds with the legal system she has sworn to uphold. Well-written and engaging, this book was unexpectedly enjoyable. Though I did figure out the where the book was going fairly early on, the journey to completion was still well worth the effort.
    • 3/5
      In this book she only tries to save one or two souls. I liked the new characters introduced and the new settings but I missed her saving more people..But I still enjoyed this story.
    • 5/5
      Some surprising twists and turns!
    • 3/5
      I had mixed feelings about this book. It did have its good points: the concept is interesting, and the writing wasn’t bad. I did read to the end, after all, and my patience with books this year is very short. But it definitely had its weak points. We don’t really get to know Max, despite him being at the center of the book. And for being a lawyer, Danielle is awful flippant about jumping bail and breaking the law. I just didn’t find that part of her character believable. Yes, a mother will do whatever she can to help her son, but you can argue that if she was unsuccessful, she would be in a position worse than before. Should a mother take that risk? And because we are never able to connect to Max, her arguments about his mental state sound more like blind denial than an informed opinion. All in all, she just goes about things the wrong way, coming off as hysterical and rigid even to the reader who is supposed to be on her side.
    • 5/5
      Okay, can you say INTENSE?! This book is the stuff my nightmares are made of. While it's not a YA book, it was totally wicked awesome to be sure. We're launched pretty quickly into the heart-wrenching choice of Danielle having to put her child into a psychiatric facility for diagnoses. That in itself is difficult enough. Then when she can't manage to get her child returned to her, scary. Things just get worse from there. While I did find the fact that Danielle kept running off and taking all these crazy chances a tad on the frustrating side, I would have done the same for my child if possible. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Some of the details were a little gory, but nothing I couldn't take.I love Doaks, the crusty old private investigator. Every time he appeared in the book, I pictured Sam Elliott. If they ever make a movie, I vote for him to play Doaks.Having a child that has several diagnoses, I know that mental illness among adolescents is so misunderstood. It was a tad scary how closely this book could have potentially mirrored reality as well. I even found myself waking up at night, pondering how this was all going to work out in the end. SAVING MAX is released in October 2010. This book comes with four kisses from me!
    • 5/5
      Antoinette van Heugten may be a debut author, but her novel sings like a beautiful classic song. Saving Max is your next must read. It will be out in October 2010.Danielle Parkman is a single mother with a troubled son Max, diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome among other psychological afflictions. In an effort to give him the best help available, Danielle takes him to a renowned institution where her life and Max’s takes an abrupt and downward spiral and now the only thing that’s important to Danielle is “Saving Max”. But the real question is can he be saved or should he.In Ms. van Heugten’s brilliant debut novel we see evidence of greatness as she weaves her complicated plot for her audience. A plot where the incredible family drama will hook you and the imaginatively amazing mystery/thriller will reel you in and then culminates with a riveting court room scene of epic proportions that are award worthy. Her dialogue is intense in it’s contents while her prose like narrative will pull extreme emotions from her readers as she describes dramatically and descriptively a parents worst nightmare and the process in which to rectify it. Her characters are beyond capable and near perfection as each of them play their roles with clarity and excellence and each of them is as necessary a component as the next for the telling of the story. And you, her readers will expel every emotion you have before the end of the novel as we pull for the good and cringe at the evil. And let me be clear, this is not a romance, but it is a love story, a love of a mother, a love of a friend and yes the love between a man and a woman. And to that point there are love scenes, but they’re done with exceptional class and imagination. But the essence is the strength of one woman, a mother who wants nothing but the best for her child and would go to the ends of the earth even to hell and back to accomplish it.Saving Max is a rare find in literary fiction. It’s a realistic look at mental health and the facilities that treat it. A heart wrenching drama of the frailties and strengths of our species. So if you’re looking for your next Must Read that will take you through a whole specturm of feelings from horror to joy to edge of your seat, nail biting suspense, run don’t walk to your nearest bookseller for “Saving Max”. You won’t be sorry! And to you Ms. van Heugten, I can’t wait to read your next adventure. Kudos!!!
    • 4/5
      It has been only weeks since Kaylee has discovered that she is a bean sidhe and only weeks since she witnessed her aunts death, as well as the deaths of four other innocent girls; her best friend Emma almost one of them. But Kaylee is about to learn that there is more to the world then reapers and bean sidhes'.Kaylee now has two new men in her life; her boyfriend Nash who was there for her with the truth when no one else was and her father who for as long as she can remember has been absent. If Kaylee thought things were awkward before they are about to get a whole lot more complicated. Forced to skip school, break rules and downright lie, Kaylee will have to make a choice, her life or the life of a complete stranger.When Kaylee crosses over to the dark side she begins to realise just how much danger she is really in. Soulless pop-stars, demons, love sick reapers and overbearing fathers may not be the biggest hurdles she has to face, if she can not get over her own sense of guilt, and a nasty little vine, it may not be just her life lost. Kaylee must realise she can't save everyone, or the price she pays will be herself.My Soul To Save through sacrifice and love, but it may not be enough. Kaylee is delving deeper into the dark and dangerous world of the Netherworld in a way that is daring and energetic. With a focus on trust, friendships and doing what is right there is just the right blend of mystery, danger and romance to keep any reader satisfied. It's a real scream!
    • 4/5
      Chilling. This book is hands down chilling. Not in a bad way, in the suspenseful, edge of your seat what the heck is going to happen next way. I liked Nash's Reaper brother Tod in My Soul to Take. He was certainly morbid, but considering his job, I don't blame him. I didn't quite understand Nash or Kaylee's father's objections to her being friends with him, at least not until this book.Tod is a curious blend of selfish and selfless. It almost seems like he has a hierarchy where everyone he is friends with or cares for is placed on a certain rung. Unfortunately Kaylee doesn't matter quite as much as his ex-girlfriend Addison, so she pays the price to get Addison safe again.Not that I blame him, Kaylee volunteers herself (and Nash since she knew he wouldn't let her go to the Netherworld by herself) against a lot of opposition. I admire Kaylee for the fact that she's willing to risk everything to help save Addison's soul. Do I wish she had asked more questions before venturing into a place that could lead to her death? Sure, but she went in with the best of intentions.The pacing of this novel is faster than the first book--once the ball gets rolling on the group's game plan things continue to happen one after the other like dominoes. I sometimes wished we could have seen into Tod's head, especially as his actions seem to get shadier and shadier. What we as readers notice about his behavior, Kaylee doesn't. The gradual change in Tod's personality was more apparent to the reader, since we are on the outside looking in.Nash seemed less on top of things in this book, less sure of himself and how to do things. He obviously still wants to believe in Tod, despite the inherent animosity between Reapers and bean sidhe, but is finding it harder and harder. Part of it seems to be jealousy, because Tod pops up and will talk to Kaylee but not show himself to Nash, but some of it is also his protective instincts.The uber-Reaper, Lily, is a hoot. I want to see her again more than any other character.The end is bittersweet, with plans being foiled for everyone. Like the end of My Soul to Take, the answer to the problem seems easy, but the end result is devastating. Its painful to think about what happens to the souls honestly, the ones that are bought/bartered/sold to hellions. With the third book, My Soul to Keep due out in June 2010, I'm glad the wait isn't so long. I want to see more of Kaylee and Nash as well as the consequences of their time in the Netherworld.
    • 4/5
      This one was quite a bit slower going than it's predecessor. The plot seemed too focused on what was happening to other people - the stakes just weren't high enough for Kaylee. Still, it was enjoyable but I hope the next one is better.