Its an unusual take on a Pygmalian-type of fantasy, where an artist brings his work of art to life, and falls in love with her, only Cameron is already falling for Farrah before he creates her Echo. The premise for the story was cleverly thought out and written with a light touch that lifted it above the ordinary – a heavier hand would have thrown everything out of balance and crushed the plot entirely. Farrah wasn’t quite so well, ahem, drawn as Cameron, but as she was not the main character, only the focus for Cameron’s growing affections, this was understandable – she was attractive, but as a reader I knew little about her, which was pitched very well, as Cameron didn’t really know all that much about her beyond the basics and his attraction for her. I felt for Cameron, I felt for him deeply, and was able to sink into his emotions and passion for art quite effortlessly. I don’t read an awful lot of teen fiction, but when I do, I only enjoy it if the premise is original and daring and grabs me from the get-go.Ĭhris Ledbetter has done something few have done, and that is to write a teenaged boy with whom I, as a woman (and once, a teenaged girl) can relate. To save her, he must draw himself into the book. Cameron now has twenty days to extract Farrah.

Farrah is now in grave danger because the sketch he drew of her sucked her real-life’s soul into the sketchbook. He nearly jumps from his skin when the sketch moves and communicates with him. To impress Farrah, Cameron sketches her portrait into a mysterious sketchbook. Following a tense run-in with Farrah’s father, she forbids Cameron to speak to her again, but Cameron’s convinced there’s more behind the request. After several warm interactions with Farrah, including painting together at the beach, Cameron discovers just how complex Farrah’s life is. Cameron hopes he can win her heart through art. That, and for Farrah Spangled to view him as more than just a friend. First Published: 5 June 2015 (Kindle) / 3 June 2015 (paperback)Ĭaught between the sweltering fall landscape of Wilmington, NC beaches and southern illusions and expectations, all sixteen year-old Cameron Shade thinks about is art.

Drawn by Chris Ledbetter