Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to learn more about her, he tries to get close, but is thrown into a world of lies and confusion. The only thing that becomes apparent is that discovering the truth may get him killed.

TEASERS FOR IKL

ZACH...

When it came to girls I was a fool. I wouldn't deny it. My track record sucked, but maybe this time it would be different. I wouldn't label it love at first sight or anything, but intrigue. Yeah that's it - intrigue at first sight. That girl, whoever she was, had captured me...and it had only taken a glimpse.

ZACH...

"This is different, you guys." I shook my head. "I mean yes, she is gorgeous. And yes, I'm attracted to her, but it's not just her looks. There's something about her. She's intriguing. It's like she's not all she appears to be or something."

"You can tell that after two minutes of interacting with her? Give me a break." Elliot balled up his napkin and threw it on the table.

"I know I don't know her at all yet, but I can tell there's something more there." I rubbed my bottom lip.

"She looks normal to me." AJ shrugged.

"I think she's pretty. She looks sweet, but..." Liesl turned to spy her quickly. "AJ's right. She looks like any other transfer student. What makes her so different?"

"It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them."

"I bet you do." Elliot raised his eyebrows.

"Not like that." I threw him a droll look. "I just want to solve the mystery that is Danielle Harrison."

"Dude, there is no mystery." Elliot slapped his hand lightly on the table.

"Yes there is. I can feel it."

"Careful, Zachy, your Nancy Drew is showing." Jaeda's green eyes were large and round as she gave me a playful look.

"I don't care." I shrugged, confident in the truth that I really didn't. "That girl over there has secrets and I'm gonna figure out what they are."

LUCY...

Lucy felt sick, but then came that smile. She hated that smile, but she couldn't help it. She had managed to lift that bracelet without the lady knowing. The art of pickpocketing was a skill she'd had to really practice. Marlin had taught her a couple of months into their time together. At first she'd outright refused to learn, but after three days of garbage scraps, Lucy was going out of her mind. She agreed to do whatever it took to get a decent meal...and so Marlin had become her Fagan and they were an excellent team.

ZACH...

Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed the girl had disappeared on the other side of the street. I picked up a French fry and popped it in my mouth wondering if I had been right. If it was a con, it sucked that she just ripped that guy off by three hundred bucks, although he looked as though he could take it. A slow smile spread across my face. Man, if that had been a con, she was a really good artist. It had been a piece of magic to watch.

ZACH...

"You're eighteen. You're old enough to make your own choices, you know."

I didn't want her to play the rebel and get her in trouble, but I had a damn good point. Her father was being way too protective. No boyfriends in high school? Come on.

Her eyes said something I couldn't decipher and her words were spoken with a softness that pierced me. "Some people don't get as many choices as others."

As if realizing she'd suddenly gone too deep and serious, she forced a bright smile over her lips. Leaning towards me with a playful grin, she touched her lips to my ear. "But I am eighteen and if I really want something, I won't let Daddy stop me."

Her breath was warm and tickled my skin, making goosebumps rise over my forearms. Her soft lips pressed against my cheek before she leaned back with a smile. Her eyes were dancing as she bit her lip. "See you tomorrow, Zach."

ZACH...

Riley was Dani. I wanted to deny it, but I couldn't, because I knew. In my gut, I knew that Dani had secrets and I had just found a layer I could peel back.

I just wasn't sure if I wanted to.

ZACH...

"I can't— Look my parents were killed by a crooked cop and he's still out there. If he finds me..." Dani shook her head, expelling a heavy sigh. "What if he found you? What if he hurt you? I can't live with that, Zach. You have no idea how bad I want to run, how my instinct is telling me to split." She closed her eyes, chewing her bottom lip so hard I thought I might bleed.

"Do you think that cop is still looking for you?"

"I don't know." Her eyes were wide and jittery. "I just don't know...but if he ever does find me, I'm dead, okay? I'm dead."

    

REVIEW:

I Know Lucy is easily one of the best suspense novels we've read. Though it is also a love story, it did not forget that it was also a suspense story which most suspense-romance novels are not able to  achieve. This book kept us guessing until the very end. It was definitely not your typical YA love story.

Lucy seems to be a very strong character. She got through her parent's death and survived five years on the run. Zach started out as a bit immature but soon became a great male lead. He obviously cares about Lucy and not just because she was messed up and he likes being the hero. It may have started out a bit like that but soon, you realize that Zach cares about Lucy (or Dani, as he knows her) past that level. He puts his life and the life of those he loves on the line for Lucy.

The story was told in the first-person POV of Zach portraying the present and the third-person POV of Lucy showing the past in alternating chapters. The book wouldn't have been as great if it wasn't told this way. The slow build up if suspense as Lucy begins to show more of her past was also perfect and leaves its readers hanging on to every word on the page. 

The book ended perfectly with Lucy revealing her real name to Zach.We still don't know what will happen to Lucy, Zach, or the killer but we do know that we can't wait to get our hands on the second book of the series.

 

About The Author

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Author Blog / Book Blog / Pinterest

Sign up for Melissa's Newsletter

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love.