Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity is a debut novel by Kim Harrington.  It is set in a coastal tourist town around the character Clarity Fern and her family.  The Ferns aren't your typical family, they are all a little unique.  Her mother is a telepath, her brother, Periwinkle, is a Medium and Clare is psychic.  Her abilities are very specific though, she can only see events that have already occured and only when she touches an object associated with the event.  They have a family business that is pretty successful with the tourists although the local towns people don't really approve of their line of work believing they are fakes. 

Suddenly this normally peaceful, happy town gets turned upside down by the investigation of a teenage tourist found murdered in her hotel room.  A new detective is brought in to help solve the case and he brings along his teenage son, Gabriel.  You get where this is going, right?  Of course, he's good looking and of couse, he and Clare have an immediate connection... but, Clare is just coming out of a relationship with a long time boyfriend that has left her feeling burned and left the guy still in love with her and wanting her back.  Your classic YA love triangle! But before you get me wrong in thinking this is just like every other YA out there of "girl torn between 2 gorgeous guys both pining after her" let me tell you there is more to the story that makes it well worth reading! 

Clare is asked to assist in the murder investigation in hopes that leads can be found.  Her special gift of getting images of the past from objects could prove helpful in a case that has no leads, the problem is everything she finds is pointing in one direction... Her brother.  She is torn between family loyalty and love and the thought that her brother is somehow involved in the only murder to happen in decades.  As the investigation proceeds, the danger to Clare increases and she must untangle the mess of evidence she is "seeing" that no one else can see and somehow convince them that she knows what she's talking about.

This book was a very easy read for two reasons... first, it's short and secondly it was well written and flowed nicely.  The story was different from anything I've read but still had the classic bits that we all know we love (ie. love triangles, murder mystery, sassy teenage girl nonconformist).  I loved the relationship between Clare and Perry (Periwinkle, her brother).  They were connected and protective but not over the top.  Perry is a bit of a womanizer, he is older than Clare, and she makes it well known to him that she doesn't approve of the way he treats girls.  The mother was caring and authoritative yet a little vulnerable as a single mother of 2 teenagers and doing the best she could.  I have had issues in the past with other books portraying parents in a stand-off role but their mom is very much aware and in their lives.

I think Kim Harrington did a wonderful job in this first YA novel.  I would definitely read more from her and look forward to seeing what she comes out with. 

*I received an ARC (advanced reader's copy) of this book through the Amazon Vine Program and receive no reimbursement for this review, it is an honest review and my opinion of this novel.

Blueberry bread

I made blueberry bread (in a 9x9 pan instead of a loaf pan) for my Usborne Book party today and several people asked to share the recipe so here it is.  :)

1 stick of butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups blueberries (I used Wyland's of Maine brand frozen Wild Blueberries.  I love these)

2 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp chilled butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cream butter and sugars.  Add one egg at a time beating each one well.  Mix in vanilla.  In a bowl or large measuring cup mix the 3 dry ingredients.  Alternate adding 1/3 flour mixture, then 1/3 of the milk back and forth stirring with a spoon.  Measure out the frozen blueberries and coat them in flour, this will keep your batter from turning blue and keep the blueberries in place while baking.  Coat a baking dish (loaf pan, 9x9 or muffins) with butter or whatever you use for nonstick baking.  I prefer butter.  Pour batter into pan.

Cut together the remaining 4 ingredients until it's coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle over the top of batter and bake for 20-25 minutes for muffins or 9x9 pan and about 40 minutes for a loaf pan.  When you can lightly touch the top and it springs back and doesn't sink in OR when you can poke it with a toothpick and it comes out clean of batter then it is done.