Review | Tempest by Julie Cross

Title: Tempest
Series: Tempest #1
Author: Julie Cross
Publication: 01.03.2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 352
Source: Smitten With Books ARC Tours

Summary: The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Cover: I love it because it's actually an intense scene in the book and it is what first drew me to it.

May contain spoilers, but not really. Just proceed with caution.

Thoughts: Tempest is one of those books that capture your attention in the first few pages. And although it starts off a bit confusing because the whole time traveling/home base thing, it flows so well that you easily get the hang of it. I wasn't aware of how much time travel there would be, but it is so unique and very important to how the story develops, that I was pulled into it immediately and loved the idea of it. Shocking from the beginning and intense all the way to the end, Tempest had me at the edge of my seat until the very last page.

Jackson is pretty much an ordinary guy except, you know, he can travel through time and all. He knows how it works (mostly) and also knows there is no real harm when he travels (right?) so confiding in his friend Adam, they experiment to find out what the extent of his abilities really are. His personality and relationship with Adam is strong and we can tell from the start that Adam is going to be an important character. Together, they have some conversations and quite a few adventures that had me laughing out loud. His girlfriend Holly, on the other hand, doesn't get as well of an introduction. She gets shot just a few pages into the book and although we know she is important, we don't really meet her until Jackson is stuck in the past. Determined to keep her safe and figure out how to get back "home," Jackson sets off to find Holly, but discovers that keeping her safe might be trickier than he originally expected.

Jackson and Holly have a cute relationship. Like I said, we don't get much of a look into it at first because of how quickly the events spiral out of control, but soon we find how much Jackson really cares for Holly. In 2007, she is the younger version of Holly, one Jackson never got to meet. Careful to keep her safe, he edges closer to her emotionally, until she decides to let him into her life. Jackson is a terribly sweet guy and we also get glimpses of his relationship with 2009 Holly, and how their relationship develops. I absolutely loved the connection that they shared and wanted Jackson to find a way to change a future where they both ended unharmed.

Not only there are there many twists to Jackson's story with the time traveling that shape his past and future, but also a big connection to Jackson's family. We get to learn more about the relationship between Jackson and his father, what secrets he may hold as Jackson jumps to see his past, and we also meet Courtney. Courtney is an important character that I loved and each scene with her tugged at my heart. We learn much more about Jackson when Courtney is around and it was during those parts that I really loved him more.

The story overall is fast-paced. There aren't any dull moments and the story moves pretty quickly and keeps you on your toes. Since Jackson can travel back in time, I got to experience a lot more from his character by learning of his life growing up and I definitely felt a connection with him, so I really can't stop saying that he's great. The ending...well, it broke my heart a little. It sort of wrapped things up and left you hanging at the same time. It was a happy ending but a sad ending; definitely good, but heartbreaking. You'll see.

The action will keep you turning pages and with the suspense you won't be able to turn them fast enough. The romance between Jackson and Holly develops throughout the book and keeps you wondering how it will all turn out in the end. Jackson's relationship with his father and Courtney will mystify you at first, but also touch your heart as you learn more. The ending will leave you a little shocked, a little heartbroken, but definitely wanting more. This is a must-read for YA readers, paranormal lovers, and anyone looking for something new, exciting and captivating. Tempest is an unforgettable book!

Favorite Quote: “Erase everything you’ve ever heard about time travel, because it will just confuse you.”

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