Always Watching

Books have been written about famous kids. Books have been written about kids dealing with famous parents. Always Watching is about a famous parent and her supportive teenager. Rayne reigns. Finding fame as a musician, Rayne brought her daughter, Shaley, on her tour - complete with tutor and bodyguards. Shaley didn't find herself overshadowed by her mother; indeed, she loves her mom and is totally demonstrative of her admiration. Everything was perfect until their hairdresser/makeup artist, Tom, was murdered. Was it a stranger at the venue? Was it someone they KNEW? Shaley had to contend with the danger to herself and to her visiting best friend, Brittany. The two girls suffered paparazzi to the point of panic. All the while, Shaley feared for herself after receiving a rose with a message known only to herself and to her mother, and to a message mysteriously placed into her shopping bag. Fear rose to nearly the point of terror. Meanwhile, between chapters, the reader sees into the mind of the killer. Shaley doesn't solve the mystery on her own; she's thrust into the horrifying solution. Always Watching is the first book in what appears to be an amazing series for young adults. Well-written, with great details of what it's like to live in the world of a rock star, it gives a realistic view through eyes of a healthy teenager. This book is unique in that it shows a down-to-earth kid whose mother happens to be a star, and their mutual love and respect. Highly recommended for the teenager who's sick of books about nonrepresentational peers. Shaley O'Connor may not be your typical teenager, but she's more real than a lot of the plastic characters out there. Brandilyn and Amberly Collins did a lovely job depicting a teenager for other teenagers.

Shaley is on tour with her famous Mom, Rayne O'Connor. Shaley wants nothing more than to have her Mom be Mom again, giving her the love and attention she craves. She also wants to know who her father is. These two things play out along with a story that starts out with Shaley backstage at one of her Mom's concerts, waiting to leave to pick up her friend, Brittany, from the airport. Her Mom's hair stylist, and Shaley's good friend, Tom, is supposed to join her, but he has one thing he needs to do. It's time to go, but Tom is missing. Shaley goes to get him only to find him dead from a gunshot wound. This puts Rayne's private security on high alert as they don't know who the killer is. Suddenly Shaley can't go anywhere, not even home, without security. It doesn't help that as the daughter of Rayne she's a bit of a celebrity herself. To make matters worse, the murder is now big news and the paparazzi swarm in to cover the story. The reader is taken on a suspenseful adventure trying to figure out who the killer is before they can attack again. The authors (mother and daughter) write a great story. I like authors who can convey so much without writing out every little detail. Because the story was so well written I breezed through it rather quickly. The ending is very suspenseful, and I felt myself really cringe with fear as I sat up late reading. I also liked that you have the first person narrative from Shaley's perspective, and then the author switches to that of the killer in short little one or two page chapters. Throughout the story I read these passages trying to figure out who the killer was; that was a really neat idea! Loved this book and ready for the next one. Well done!

I realize this book was intended for teens but this 40 something enjoyed it. One of the better books I have read lately. Something a bit different! Still kept me guessing with some twists and turns. A look into a world different from mine. Fun, enjoyable, suspenseful, easy read! I am anxiously awaiting the next book!

Heart. Stopping. (Yeah. It's that good.) Sixteen-year-old Shaley O'Connor is on tour with her rock star mother. Again. And tired of it. If it weren't for Tom, her mother's hip hair stylist, she'd be totally bummed. Then Tom is murdered, and Shaley's world is shoved into a tailspin. From that moment on, she is hounded by the paparazzi, questioned by the police, and tormented by haunting messages from a mysterious stalker who is "always watching." Now for my feeble attempt to list all the things I LOVED about this story: Story Structure: This book is a classic example of how to do the three-act story structure. In fact, the book is cleverly divided into three parts, one for each of the three days of the story. In my writerly studies, I've also learned that a "ticking clock" is a good technique for suspense stories. The three-part story structure is the "ticking clock" in this book. Great Characterization: From teenager to rock-star mom to band members to body guards to paparazzi to detectives, EVERY character in this book is well done. IMHO when you have a character at the beginning of the book that is the soon-to-be dead body, the author has a brief amount of time to make us care about that character. The two Collins ladies do that with pizazz. Tom Hutchens' is portrayed as a vivid hip-hopping-style twenty-something with a crazy personality, from his wild blue, white, and red-checkered sneakers to his attempt to entertain Shaley with his bad rap rhymes. Fast Pacing: From the minute you get on this roller coaster, it's a non-stop thrill ride that leaves your heart torn between needing to catch a breath and needing to turn the page! Short, punchy chapters help pull off this feat. Character Emotion: These authors know how to write character emotion better than just about anyone I've read. The story literally grabs you by the jugular and won't let go! You experience with pounding heart and gasps of air what Shaley O'Connor is experiencing. Book Design: I thought it was so cool that the book design matched the two point of view characters. All of Shaley's chapters have a curly-cue design; a thick black stripe is used for the the antagonist's chapters. Setting: Brandilyn and Amberly Collins did a fantastic job with the setting of the rock concert. I could hear the raucous crowd, feel the energy. Well done!

Shaley O'Connor has the kind of life most girls would do anything for: A rock star mom, limitless wealth, and the celebrity status to boot. What teenager wouldn't want to tour with one of the world's most famous bands? Unfortunately, the fame soon loses its power and appeal when one of Shaley's closest friends is murdered back stage at the latest concert. As new evidence comes to light she soon realizes her own life is in danger. Not knowing who to trust, Shaley turns to the God who has always seemed so far to help her in her greatest time of need. Mother and daughter team Brandilyn and Amberly Collins have stormed onto the YA scene in exhilarating style with this great new series. Always Watching is a fast paced whodunit set against the intriguing backdrop of rock star celebrity. From the opening lines, we are immersed into Shaley's exciting life as a celebrity's daughter. It doesn't take long for us to see that fame is not all its cut out to be. Indeed Shaley's struggle to balance her public status with her true identity is one of the most interesting aspects of this story. When you read Brandilyn Collins you expect mystery and thrills, and once again she doesn't disappoint. Her adult fans will find much to rave about here, while new teen readers will love the youthful voice and perspective that Amberly Collins brings to the table. Underlying the tension and dread is a strong spiritual message about trusting in the God who is always watching over us. In the end we are left with the closure we long for and a promise of even more mystery to come. The Rayne Tour is in full swing and you can guarantee that I won't miss a show.