Hillary Duff's Book

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publish Date: October 12, 2010

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

First thing that came to mind: Hilary Duff is sorta famous, which means she has money, which means she must have connections, if this were all true, why couldn't she get a better looking cover?! I mean, the color is pretty enough, the font is cool looking, sorta gossip girl-ish, but the image itself? Shoot me dead and call me sparky. I guess if it was looking for boring looking, well, it hit right off the park.

The cover is the first impression. It's hard, so hard to get over that first impression, specially if it's a bad one. We are already a bit (yeah, right) cynic about the writing skills, some people are even wandering if she had someone else write the book for her... Bottom line, the cover is just not helping.

THEN AGAIN, as Ive said before on some other post, I have a bit of faith that Hilary can pull it off. The summary sounds kinda interesting, maybe enough to compel me to pick up the book, and Hilary has made it into my Top 5 guilty pleasure list so I don't hate her. Yet some people are very weary as to if this book was published because of the author's name on the title, or because she is a gifted writer.

Who's rooting for Hilary along side with me? Who is not? ;)