Wake Unto Me
Wake Unto Meby Lisa Cach
A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School.And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy. (goodreads.com)
The summary and the cover of this book aren't anything eye-catching (although the summary does have those magic "boarding school" words in it!). Had I not read on a couple of other blogs (including The Story Siren) that this book was amazing, I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it.I was looking for something new and exciting to read so I added this book to my Book Depository order from April (ironically, I received a review request for the same book a day after my order shipped. Oh, timing!). I took the book with me on my trip to Michigan when we went to pick up our new pup, but with my epic food poisoning episode 3 hours after getting there, I didn't even finish the book I was almost finished, let alone start this one. So I picked it up this weekend and read it in one day!What is it about boarding school stories that I find so entertaining? I have no idea. This one was sort of similar to Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer in a way (isn't it odd how sometimes you'll read/see something that is new to you and then suddenly the next couple of books or shows you read/watch are similar? I love it when that happens out of the blue!). Caitlyn was visiting the past in her dreams and was drawn to the ghost of Raphael. Only this time around it was based on history (and to be honest, I don't give a hoot about the history of France so my eyes sort of glazed over for those bits).I was drawn to the mystery of what was happening to Caitlyn. I was convinced that the women who ran the school were evil and wanted to use Caitlyn for some nefarious purpose. I wanted to know who Raphael was and what his history had to do with the present. I also liked watching the friendships bloom between Caitlyn and her roommate (whom I thought was going to be the typical Mean Girl) and Naomi, the insomniac friend. I like that Caitlyn shared her secrets with at least someone and they believed her.I have a suspicion that this isn't going to be a stand alone novel. Something that Madame Snowe says in the last couple of pages sent big red flags of SEQUEL up in the air. I am highly curious read more about the shenanigans of Chateau de la Fortune because, hey, boarding school and witchy-psychics! My two favourite things in a story!This book had just enough action and adventure and dialogue to make for the perfect read on a wonderful spring day. I took the book outside on Friday on my day off and just enjoyed the weather, the plot and the writing. I was sort of sad when it was over because I could have spent much more time with Caitlyn and those at the Castle. I hope I get another chance to visit!