“Another verse I love is Psalm 32:7. ‘For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.’ I love the idea of being surrounded by songs.”
Brandon Jeffrey feels stuck in his small town of Appleton. He’s working two summer jobs to pay for his destroyed car — a car he didn’t even crash, but unfortunately he stills owes his parents money for it. He feels stuck, that is, until the day Marvella “Marvel” Garcia walks into the record store where he works and into his life.
In “Marvelous,” Travis Thrasher’s first installment in his “Books of Marvella” series, Brandon quickly falls for the cute and quirky Marvel — so much so that he’s willing to work for free at Fascination Street Records just so boss Harry will also give her a job.
The summer proceeds with lots of secrets (his own, as well as Marvel’s) as well as dark and strange occurrences (again in his own life, in Marvel’s and in the town itself). This book leaves you hanging at the end, making it hard to wait for book two.
Thrasher’s books are always filled with twists and turns and chilling moments, but end with redemption and hope — and “Marvelous” doesn’t disappoint. He always bring a subtle message of God into the story, without being overbearing.
Even though it is written for a teen/young adult audience, adults of all ages will enjoy it. The characters are fun and interesting, the plot moves quickly, and there are always unusual moments and events that keep you guessing.
Five stars out of five.
Brandon Jeffrey feels stuck in his small town of Appleton. He’s working two summer jobs to pay for his destroyed car — a car he didn’t even crash, but unfortunately he stills owes his parents money for it. He feels stuck, that is, until the day Marvella “Marvel” Garcia walks into the record store where he works and into his life.
In “Marvelous,” Travis Thrasher’s first installment in his “Books of Marvella” series, Brandon quickly falls for the cute and quirky Marvel — so much so that he’s willing to work for free at Fascination Street Records just so boss Harry will also give her a job.
The summer proceeds with lots of secrets (his own, as well as Marvel’s) as well as dark and strange occurrences (again in his own life, in Marvel’s and in the town itself). This book leaves you hanging at the end, making it hard to wait for book two.
Thrasher’s books are always filled with twists and turns and chilling moments, but end with redemption and hope — and “Marvelous” doesn’t disappoint. He always bring a subtle message of God into the story, without being overbearing.
Even though it is written for a teen/young adult audience, adults of all ages will enjoy it. The characters are fun and interesting, the plot moves quickly, and there are always unusual moments and events that keep you guessing.
Five stars out of five.