When i read the blurb for this book I immediately thought that it would be like a modern day Jim Jones/People’s Temple/Guyana tragedy. [b:Six Years With God: Life Inside Jim Jones' People's Temple|1384302|Six Years With God Life Inside Jim Jones' People's Temple|Jeannie Mills|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345379950s/1384302.jpg|1374329](I didn’t realize how that dated me until I talked to a colleague who as younger than me and didn’t have that cultural reference. Talk about devastating, I don’t think of myself as old.) I wasn’t too far off, though I was pleasantly surprised by the twists in the plot line. I don’t mind when I know the road the plot is taking, when we end up going the scenic route.

Students will get caught up in the danger of Escape from Eden. Fear is a big motivator. Fear for the characters, fear that something like this could (and did) happen. I needed to know if Mia and Gabriel would be okay. As a mom, I wanted to slap some grownups, even as I can understand their fear.
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(This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).

I've always been drawn to books that deal with cults, so when Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader came up for review, I was overjoyed! Luckily, I wasn't disappointed.

I love the synopsis of the book, and I think it's spot on, so I won't bore you with the blurb in my own words.

The title definitely suits the book as Gabriel and Mia are actually trying to escape. It's definitely an intriguing title and one that caught my attention.

I wasn't sold on the cover to begin with, but after awhile, it grew on me. I like the photo of Mia peeking out behind some kind of bush. It definitely sets the tone of the story.

The world building, overall, was really fantastically written, and I found myself instantly drawn into the book. However, I did wonder how Mia, a girl whose been in a compound since the age of 10 with no links to the outside world, knew about sex. Maybe she picked it up from other members, I don't know, but that question kept gnawing at me.

The pacing of this book did start out a bit slow for my liking, and I was wondering if this book would end up on my DNF (did not finish) pile. Luckily, after the first few chapters, the pacing picks up immensely, and it becomes hard to put this book down.

I loved the plot! Although plots about people trying to escape a cult aren't new, Nader did an excellent job at keeping the plot original. There aren't any major plot twists, but it doesn't matter. This book doesn't need them because it is just that good! The author also does a fantastic job of incorporating a bit of romance without it overshadowing the major plot point. Since I'm a Christian, I must admit that I was a little worried this book would belittle religion and/or God, but after reviewing the book, I didn't find anything offensive in it which was a relief.

I felt as if the characters were written really well. I loved Mia, and although I didn't connect with her right at first, I began to slowly love and care for her. I admired her courage even when she was vulnerable. I also loved Gabriel and the dry humor he brought to the story. I couldn't help but love him! Even mean girl Bridgette was written fantastically!

The dialogue was fantastic and flowed smoothly with the exception of the little bit of some info dump at the beginning of the book. The character interactions never felt forced or weak. There are a few swear words in this book though, so be forewarned if you''re not a fan of swearing.

Overall, Escape from Eden is a fantastic read once you get past the first few chapters. I loved how fantastic the characters were and how great the story line was written!

I'd recommend this book to those aged 16 who want to read about strong characters and a fascinating plot that will leave you breathless.

(I received a free hardback copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review). ( )

It's true that I'm generally drawn to books that deal with cults. There's something haunting to me about the "hive mind" mentality. Something sinister about the fact that a single person can possess the minds of so many others. It might be a macabre fascination, but I won't turn down a book like this. That's why I was so intrigued by Escape From Eden. What would I discover in the world of Edenton?

Mia is our main character and she's a brilliant one at that. Feisty, smart, and the one person in her compound who remembers life on the outside. Following this story from Mia's point of view made it all the more intriguing. Imagine growing up in a world that you hate, but can't escape. From the moment I arrived in Edenton with Mia, I knew there was something dark under the peaceful facade. As the cracks began to widen, and I discovered what was there, I couldn't look away.

The synopsis focuses on the romance between Mia and Gabriel, but that isn't what drives the book. I'll admit that their relationship did add another layer. Gabriel is the perfect companion for Mia, especially as they struggle to flee from the madness. What really pushes the book forward though is the slow decline of the "Eden" that these characters are trying to escape from. If you're looking for a book with a sweet romance, or a boy-meets-girl story, you might want to look elsewhere. This one is much deeper than that.

Truth be told, the ending was the only thing that wasn't spot on for me. The rest of Escape From Eden flies by, and I happily devoured it. Much love goes out to Elisa Nader for crafting such an intelligent, and fierce book! I don't see any mention of a sequel, but I'd welcome one. Keep Elisa Nader on your watch-list. Her writing is well worth your attention. ( )

A riveting page-turner packed with action and steamy romance. It's also insightful, occasionally funny, and written with blistering talent. ( )

A really sharp chick named Judith Viorst once said, “Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands—and then eat just one of the pieces.” Yeah, that’s pretty much how I felt after reading Elisa Nader’s novel, Escape From Eden because after I finished the final page, I went to reach for the next piece…and there was none to be had. Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

Nader’s novel starts in the thick of things, like a dense South American jungle, as our unwitting protagonist, Mia, sits through a raging sermon by the utopian leader, Ethan Eden. From there, I learned the basics of the theology of this society, but thankfully (praise baby Jesus!) nothing too deep that would catapult this reader into a snore fest. Instead, I delved into the rebellious thoughts of Mia, and how she is jonesing for the opportunity to fly the coop, only to discover the pen is literally lined with razor wire. She is briefly distracted by the arrival of hot and saucy Gabriel, who willing leads her around the fence for a taste of what’s beyond her reach.

Be warned, the content of this young adult novel added plenty of spice to the original YA dystopian recipe. There are bare butts, brutal blood-shed, and SPOILER ALERT…a sex trafficking scandal, not to mention our hottie’s potty mouth. Would I give the stamp of approval to a teen to read this novel? Abso-friggin’-lutely. There’s nothing in these pages that a kids hasn’t heard in the halls of a modern-day high school or seen depicted on the silver (or small) screen with a PG-13 rating.

Nader’s writing is strong, and her banter between characters is quick, witty, and humorous in places where the reader needs a break from clenching her butt cheeks together during the adrenaline-filled close calls Mia and Gabriel are constantly battling. As far as I know, there isn’t a sequel; thankfully, the ending was strong enough to leave this chick satisfied, yet testing Viorst’s theory to the strength of eating only one of the four pieces of chocolate. Truth, sista. It took strength, indeed. ( )