Audio: A Kiss in the Dark - Gina Giocca

When the lights go out at a Georgia high school football game, senior Macy Atwood finds herself in the arms of a boy who kisses her senseless-but he's gone by the time the lights come back on. All she knows is that there was something special-and oddly familiar-about her mystery kisser. Noah Granger, Ridgedale's resident bad boy and newest transfer student, has no problem taking credit for the kiss, but Macy can't shake the feeling that he's lying. Especially since a photograph of Macy and former star football player Joel Hargrove resurfaced online moments before the blackout, a not-so-random reminder of how hard she fell for Joel last year. And how doing so ultimately sent her lifelong friendships with Meredith Kopala and Ben Collins up in literal smoke. Soon last year's wounds begin to reopen as Macy realizes the events that unfolded during junior year are somehow tied to her mystery kisser. But the closer Macy gets to figuring it all out, the more she starts to worry that the boy who kissed her in the dark and the boy who is stealing her heart might be two very different people. 

Audio CD, 9 h
Published March 6th 2018 by Tantor Audio
Narrator: Amy Melissa Bentley
YA /romance
For review

MY thoughts:

The book alternates between junior and senior year. And I lost my train of thought. You know what, YA really works for me when it is like this. First audio, obviously, and second, normal YA with normal people. No angst. Drama, yes, they are teens after all. And romance of course.

Macy loves to take photos (this author seems to have a type),  she is nice and normal. I'd love to have had a friend like that in HS.

And then someone kisses her, in the dark. Let the drama begin. 

There is Joel who she got close to last year. And as the book alternates we get to see them meeting and becoming friend. But something obviously happened.

There is Noah, the new guy in school, hot and wanting to get to know her better. He is not around in the previous year though. But it could be him.

I wanted to know what happened. Why did she looser her bestie Meredith? And her friend Ben? Why is she not talking with Joel anymore? I did like how it all came together. Oh and kids can sure hold grudges!

I spotted the mysterious kisser when all the players were introduced, so yes that was easy and I was happy.

I spotted the other secret before the first real hint was out. But I did wonder about that when nothing happened (before the end). Juicy secrets.

A nice YA fiction.

Narration

I think this is my 5th? book by Amy Melissa Bentley and I so like her voice. When she started talking I was all, yay, it is Amy! I like her soothing voice and her different characters. She is also really good at YA

Sample

Audio: Busted - Gina Ciocca

Marisa never planned to be a snoop for hire. It wasn't like she wanted to catch her best friend's boyfriend making out with another girl. But as her reputation for sniffing out cheaters spreads all over school, Marisa finds herself the reluctant queen of busting two-timing boys. And her next case? It's for ex-frenemy Kendall. She's convinced that her boyfriend, TJ, has feelings for someone else and persuades Marissa to start spying on him. But the more Marisa gets to know sincere and artistic TJ, the more she starts to fall for him. Worse yet, the feelings seem to be mutual. Marisa knows she needs to give up her investigation-and the spoken-for guy who may just be the love of her life. Then she uncovers new secrets about Kendall and TJ, secrets that take "cheater" to a whole new level . . . 

Audio CD, 8h
Published January 2nd 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published January 1st 2018)
Fiction YA
For review

My thoughts:

The blurb was a bit misleading, I thought she was the queen of spies, but it was not like that. She catches a cheater and her next case is when her old frenemy Kendall shows up and wants to know if her boyfriend TJ is cheating. So not spyqueen.

Marissa loves journalism. She likes hanging out with her friends, yup, you know a normal teenager, she says so herself. Why on earth she even thinks of befriending Kendall again I do not know, sorry Kendall but you are a bitch. Marissa is being way too kind.

Which brings us to the story. Spying on TJ. Who is cute, who likes the same things she does and who has a girlfriend (even a bitchy one like Kendall). Of course she starts to fall for him and well trust me, it will all work out in a very good way. No spoiler saying that.

There are also some sidestories while she investigates, her BFF Charlotte getting over her Ex, a scandal at Charlotte's school. Marissa getting over her own ex. All of the stories tying together neatly.

I liked Marissa. I was not sure about TJ, I mean yes I liked him, but ugh Kendall. I am glad it all worked out in the end even if I thought it ended too well for some, cough cough.

Conclusion:
A nice mystery and romance.

Narrator

Amy Melissa Bentley

She was good. I liked her voices and nuances. She works well for a YA book.