Genre
Audience
14 & Up
Author’s Worldview
Catholic
Year Published
2019
Themes
Reviewed by
M.S. Ocampo
The Academy Saga is a suspenseful contemporary romance. In the small town of Clovis, New Mexico, Katie Connelley is just trying to get by. She balances going to school, taking care of her family farm, and waiting tables at a diner on the weekends. Her younger brother, Andrew is being scouted by the Elite International Academy (EIA). Cadet Pete Davenport has been assigned to mentor him. However, as charming as Cadet Davenport is, and as prestigious as the Academy seems to be, there’s something Katie feels suspicious about. The last thing that Katie wants is to let her younger brother be in the care of strangers. The problem is that she’s not sure if her intuition is right, or if she’s being paranoid like her mother, who passed away.
Cadet Pete Davenport is a very attractive frenemy who falls for Katie’s girl-next-door style. Although the novel is mostly in Katie’s point-of-view, there are some scenes from Pete’s perspective. There’s definitely some truth to Katie’s fears in regards to the EIA, but it’s not certain as to what the Academy’s purpose is. Their business is to recruit the best and brightest, kids with special abilities, and place them in positions of prominence (almost like a junior level CIA).
While this novel is a great suspenseful read, there are some issues that might make readers uncomfortable. Katie’s father is verbally abusive and frequently absent from the story. There are also instances of gaslighting, as Pete is actively making sure that Katie doesn’t interfere with the Academy’s agenda. One other minor nitpick is that I find it hard to believe that Katie, who refuses to say the Lord’s name in vain, would willingly listen to gangsta rap.
Overall, this novel does a great job of telling a suspenseful, thrilling story that’s hard to put down. On top of that, the romance between Katie and Pete is very believable, with a lot of chemistry and tension. I would recommend this novel to fans of James Patterson’s novels or One of Us Is Lying. It’s a great read for a general audience, as there aren’t any overt Catholic themes aside from Katie’s own faith and adherence to a modest lifestyle.
Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal
Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors
The Wish Thief by C.D. Verhoff
Glory steals an unusual gem to save her family but winds up threatening an entire world.
North Pacific: A Story of Life, Love, Suffering, and Grace by Michael Steffan
Joseph & Miku’s love was already illegal. Then WWII began. Now home, disabled, and questioning God’s love, he still searches for her.
Battle for his Soul by Theresa Linden
Bereft of a mother & betrayed by his twin, Jarret fights for a place to call home, unaware a supernatural war threatening to damn him to hell itself.
All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk
A truly healthy romance that will STILL leave you up at night
A World Such As Heaven Intended
Amara didn’t intend to fall in love with a Union soldier. Is love even possible in her war-torn world?
Summer at West Castle By Theresa Linden
Is God really leading Caitlyn to bad boy Jarret?
Saint Magnus: The Last Viking by Susan Peek
A young Viking Prince evades a warlord while finding his own harrowing path to sainthood.
Stay with Me by Carolyn Astfalk
Can Rebecca get out from under her domineering father and find love with the forbidden Catholic boy determined to win her heart?
A Life Such As Heaven Intended by Amanda Lauer
A chance encounter with an amnesiac soldier leads Brigid to discover the realities of the Civil War.
Defend the Tabernacle by Deacon Patrick Augustin Jones
Catherine and Bernard get whisked away to do battle on the Soulscape, where the true nature of things is revealed.
Outlaws of Ravenhurst, by Sr. M. Imelda Wallace, S.L.
The 10-year-old heir of a noble Scottish family must choose between his inheritance and his Catholic faith.
Sydney and Calvin Have a Baby by Adrienne Thorn
Sydney writes romances but living her own romance will require more courage than anything yet required of her.
Shooting At Heaven’s Gate, by Kaye Park Hinckley
How does an ordinary boy become a mass murderer?
Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation By Fr. Josh Johnson
Fr. Josh addresses some of the common misconceptions people have about God and what getting to actually know him actually means.
Through the Ashes by Jacqueline Brown
Fans of The 100 and Runaway’s and The Gifted will find this YA story riveting.
Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors by Katharine Campbell
This quirky, fairytale fantasy is a fun and amusing read with a serious moral backbone.
From the Shadows by Jacqueline Brown
In a broken world, Bria tries to unite a family even as she struggles to keep hope alive.
The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
Would you die for a flower? Would you kill for one? Providence, romance, and danger rule in this tense, heart-warming prison romance.
Rightfully Ours by Carolyn Asfalk
When Paul & Rachel discover a hidden treasure they wrestle with the responsibility of it– even as they face similar questions in their relationship.
The Tale of Patrick Peyton
How a humble, Irish immigrant brought Mary to Hollywood and then the World.