The Shadow and the Rose is a young adult paranormal story. It takes place at a school called Ash Grove for preforming arts in North Carolina. We meet out main character Joy here. She is a student at the school who doesn't quite fit in with the popular crowd as she isn't beautiful, or skinny, or have an amazing skill at the preforming arts.She is also strugging in school and her dad is away for cancer treatement. In a struggle to try and fit in she takes a dare from Sheila, one of the popular girls and takes a trip to the mysterious graveyard to take a wild white rose from the grave of long dead Josiah Cavanaugh's grave. Unbeknownst to her this is also the place that she would meet the troubled man of her dreams Tanner Lindsey. Tanner is currently under the control of his guardian Melisande (whom is also his mentor in modeling) who is very possessive. Will Melisande let this love be? Or will she keep them apart at all cost?
I really enjoyed this book from begining to finish. I love how good it flowed from the pages and made me feel like I was right there the whole time. I loved how the heroine Joy wasn't your average prissy cheerleader that I am so used to seeing in young adult fiction. It made me happy to know that some people can see that beauty isn't just skin deep. I would however say to err on the side of caution for teen readers under 14 or so because of subject matter. I can't wait for the next installment!
