Audiobook Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo
Hush, Hush #2
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Reader: Caitlin GreerReading Level: YA
Genre: Paranormal/Angels
Run-time: 9 hrs 31 mins
Released: October 19th 2010
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Audio
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar.
Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him—despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything—and everyone—she trusts.

Where to begin…I love that this story takes us into Nora’s past to see what really happened to her father. Crescendo being the second book in the series picks up a month or so after Hush Hush leaves off.

We meet a new character in this book, Scott Parnell. He is an old friend of Nora’s and her mom goes out of her way to get Nora to make Scott feel at home. Unfortunately, there is something seriously wrong with his behavior. While she is trying to figure him out and keep her distance she keeps having issues with Patch. Just when you think she would be secure in their relationship and his love for her, he starts becoming very distant and secretive. All the while her sworn enemy Marcie Millar seems to be moving in on Patch.

There are so many twists and turns in this book, it was hard to keep my emotions in check. I spent the majority of the book frustrated with Patch and Nora and wanting to smack one or the other. I know that teenagers actually don’t make sense in their relationships a lot of the time especially when one of them is insecure in the relationship, but I was going insane on this emotional roller coaster. Vee, who I thought was a bit annoying and self centered in the last book, proved to be a true friend in this one. Regardless of what I thought of her in Hush Hush, she really does care about Nora and ultimately is always there when Nora really needs her.

Overall this was a great book. I did not like it as much as Hush Hush, but maybe it’s because I just want Patch and Nora to be happy and this book was more about testing their relationship while Nora got the answers she so desperately needed. I can’t wait to hear what Becca has waiting for us with Silence. She never ceases to amaze me. She always sucks me in with her beginnings and leaves me dying for the continuation at the end.

The Narration:

Caitlin Greer was the narrator on this book. I like Caitlin for the most part, but I have to say that during the first book there was something about the reading that bothered me a bit and I just couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was. After listening to Crescendo, I finally pin pointed my issue with her narration, although I like her overall because she makes the characters very believable, she over enunciates sometimes and it just grated my nerves a bit. The funny thing was it took me two books to realize that was my problem so maybe it’s just me. As always, Simon & Schuster did a wonderful job producing this audio. There weren’t any obviously editing issues and the sound was nice a clear.