Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Don’t Say A Word by Amber Lynn Natusch. This tour is being run by TBR and Beyond. I’ll be sharing my review, some quotes, and there will be a giveaway.
Please note that this is a book two, so synopsis and review will have spoilers for book one (Dare You To Lie).
Don’t Say a Word (Hometown Antihero #2)
by Amber Lynn Natusch
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: September 17th, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Kylene Danners’s ex-FBI agent father is in prison for murder and she’s hell-bent on getting him out. But trying to investigate in the small town where a defensive lineman is a hero no matter who he tries to kill and the girl who gets him locked up is public enemy number one is dangerous. Dark secrets are everywhere in Jasperville—the kind Ky can’t walk away from.
When rookie FBI agent Cedric Dawson returns to town to finish an open investigation, he goes undercover at her high school—as her ex. Determined to keep her from interfering, Dawson’s plan backfires after Ky gets an anonymous call about missing girls officially labeled as runaways—runaways that didn’t really run away at all.
Because dead girls can’t run.
And they don’t say a word.
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43263260-don-t-say-a-word
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-say-a-word-amber-lynn-natusch/1130016121?ean=9780765397713#/
Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/DonT-Say-Word-Amber-Lynn-Natusch/9780765397713?ref=grid-view&qid=1564876975024&sr=1-10
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/don-t-say-a-word-24
It’s so hard to review a mystery book without giving away any clues. I will do my best to keep this spoiler free. However, there are spoilers for book one (Dare You To Lie). If you haven’t read that, then don’t read this review and just know I gave both books 5 stars.
Don’t Say A Word starts off right where Dare You To Lie ends. Garrett is still in the hospital, but Kylene has to go back to school. Instead of being praised for taking down a drug scandal, she is attacked because now the football team won’t make it to state. The students tend to ignore that Donovan tried to kill her and Garrett. The coach is one of the worst to her.
Luckily Ky will has Tabby. Now that she knows AJ didn’t take and release the photos, Kylene is attempting to be friends with him again. It’s tough because she often times has feelings for him, just by remembering their past. But Agent Dawson is under cover in the school as Ky’s ex that she might be getting back together with. The FBI wants to know who the AD is and how many people he has blackmailed to work for him/her. Right now, the focus is on uncovering who is running a prostitution ring with girls from the high school. One girl stuck in it, “Jane”, contacts Kylene because she thinks she is the only one that can help. She tells her about how one girl was recently killed and that she might be next. Also, she tells Kylene to start looking into all the missing girls from the area. The “throwaways” that people either don’t report missing or don’t even notice them gone. Kylene and Agent Dawson starts working on this together. Dawson isn’t thrilled, but Jane will only speak to Ky.
Garret finally gets released and starts hanging out with Ky, Tabby, and AJ again. Things get complicated with Ky and AJ since he hasn’t ever stopped loving her. AJ and Dawson have a lot of tension between them that doesn’t help. Even though Kylene and Dawson argue all the time, she also starts feeling something more for him. This makes things even more tense and stressful for her.
Dawson and Ky start trying to figure out who is linked to every missing girl that fits the profile. It becomes hard to eliminate too many of them until after they find a body that has DNA under her fingers. It’s still hard for Ky to see adults she trusts on the list. Ky starts getting notes at school left on her car. It becomes clear that she is now a target and she will have to fight to stay alive (again).
She is also still working on her dad’s case. Gramps is still amazing, but not home very much. There is a lot of mystery in Don’t Say A Word. I found it even harder to put down than Dare You To Lie. I loved the relationships with everyone, the banter with Ky and Dawson, Ky’s sarcasm, the AJ, Ky, Dawson sort of triangle, Tabby’s fun personality, and Garrett’s sweetness. The mysteries weave together well and while I did have a feeling on one thing, there were other things that surprised me.
I know I shouldn’t hope for a relationship between Ky and Dawson because of the age difference. But I’m older and this was totally normal when I was in school. Plus, Ky turns 18 and there has been no sex. So I’m very much hoping to see them together. AJ is sweet, but it’s almost too easy with him. He’s comfortable for Ky. Dawson challenges her and they definitely have some tension and chemistry.
I loved this book and already have it pre-ordered. Now I’m just sad (and a bit frustrated) that I have to wait so long for book three.
Thank you to the author, Amber, for sending me a copy through Netgalley for review.
Quotes:
This bitch had bark and bite.
Dawson had gone full-on A Beautiful Mind up in that room. I wasn’t sure if I should be impressed or worried.
I had two coping mechanisms-three, if you counted sarcasm. Extreme denial or all-out fixation/obsession were the main ones, neither of which she would approve.
We all needed heroes. Wonder Woman was mine.
“You know that would make you the only male in existence capable on multitasking, right? You’re like a mythical creature…a unicorn.”
He smiled. It was clear that he delighted in my pain. I had to refrain from kneeing him in the balls so I could delight in his.
AMBER LYNN NATUSCH is the author of the bestselling Caged series for adults. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, and is still deeply attached to her Canadian roots. She loves to dance and practice Muay Thai―but spends most of her time running a chiropractic practice with her husband, raising two young children, and attempting to write when she can lock herself in the bathroom for ten minutes of peace. Dare You to Lie is her debut YA novel with Tor Teen.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: https://amberlynnnatusch.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5399219.Amber_Lynn_Natusch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmberLNatusch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsnatusch/
Book One:
When her FBI agent father is framed for murder, Kylene is forced to move in with her grandfather, back to the small town that turned its back on her, and the boy who betrayed her.
All Ky cares about is clearing her father’s name, but someone won’t let her forget the photo scandal that drove her away two years ago. As the threats gain momentum, Ky finds an unlikely ally in the rookie FBI agent sent to keep an eye on her.
Determined to expose the town’s hidden skeletons, Ky unwittingly thrusts herself into a much bigger plot. They thought she’d forgive and forget. They’re about to learn they messed with the wrong girl.
Prize: Win a physical copy of Don’t Say a Word arc (US/CAN Only)
Starts: August 23rd 2019
Ends: August 31st 2019
Rafflecopter Link
Follow The Tour:
August 23rd
TBR and Beyond – Welcome Post
August 24th
BluePixieoftheGalaxy’s Bookblog – Review
August 25th
TBR and Beyond – Review
The Book Dutchesses – Review + Favourite Quotes
August 26th
Confession of a YA Reader – Review + Favourite Quotes
Bookishly Slytherclaw – Review + Favourite Quotes
August 27th
Functionally Fictional – Review + Favourite Quotes
August 28th
Mahjchi’ Not-so-Secret Books – Review + Favourite Quotes
Read Love Blog – Review + Favourite Quotes
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Interview
August 29th
Laura Bookish Corner – Review + Dreamcast
The Wayfaring Bibliomaniac – Review
August 30th
Young at Heart Reader – Review
Mel and her Books – Review
Book Lover’s Book Reviews – Review
Confessions of a YA Reader 
I love seeing the quotes everyone chooses and how different they all are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s very interesting. So many times, you see the same quotes under the favorites (GR). I love when there is something that others might not have picked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here! It’s really interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy typos in the quotes. I think I have them all fixed now.
LikeLike
Great review and quotes and I’m so happy you enjoyed it as much as you did! I can’t wait for the next one when Ky is 18 😉 haha
Thank you for being part of the blog tour!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, me, too. I need her to be 18 already. I’m glad I’m not the only one here for that relationship. Thank you for having me on the tour.
LikeLike
This sounds like an interesting series – I’ve only skimmed your review because I’m thinking I’ll go and check out book 1.
Lynn 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I hope you end up liking it!
LikeLike
Great review! I haven’t read the first book yet but I hope i’ll get to it soon! I’ve been hearing so many great things about this series! I’m glad you loved both books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope you end up liking them! They’re fast paced with a super sarcastic main character (Ky) that I loved.
LikeLike