{Review} If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Title: If I Die
Series: Soul Screamers #5
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
September 27, 2011
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Synopsis:

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Ah, If I Die, happens to be my favorite book of the Soul Screamer Series. If I were to die now, I could honestly say that I died after reading the absolute best book of the Soul Screamer Series to date. That being said...I am overjoyed that there is another book coming out in June. I am not sure When I Wake can top If I Die...ever, but we shall see.

Have you ever read a series where you thought you knew what you wanted to happen, only to realize your heart wanted the complete opposite? That is exactly how I felt about this book. I can tell you this because I haven't reviewed the others...so you don't know what I'm talking about. LOL.

So, what to tell that won't spoil everything. As you know from the blurb...Kaylee finds out her life is nearing the end and so many things are left undone. Kaylee, Emma, and Sabine (yes, her) will have time for just one last mission before Kaylee's time runs out. Kaylee makes it one of her dying wishes to save her classmates from the evil that is Mr. Beck. Not only is she doing something good for humanity but she is keeping her mind busy, focused on anything but her death.

Nash spends his time vying for Kaylee's love and attention that seems to be divided between him and his brother. Kaylee commits to give Nash the thing he has always wanted before she dies...oddly though, a certain Reaper keeps showing up just in the nick of time. I have always enjoyed the tension between Tod and Nash. This book takes it to a whole new level. We learn things about Tod's death that Nash doesn't even know. We see Tod make decisions that may cost him greatly.

Kaylee makes a deal with a nightmare that I never saw coming. If Nash is the epitome of selfish then Kaylee is the epitome of selflessness. Okay, maybe Nash isn't always selfish. He has been trying really hard to gain Kaylee's trust and doing a pretty good job of it...but if you have read this series, you know what I am talking about.

I loved Kaylee's I-don't-give-a-darn-attitude-about-anything-other-than-getting-rid-of-the-demon-sucking-the-souls-out-of-high-school-girls attitude. Homework? Um...no. Closing the door to her bedroom when Nash is there? Um...hell no. Curfew? WTH? But...she actually went to school and that is more than I would have done.

A spine-tingling, heart-pounding, tear-jerking, and fury-evoking read. Never under-estimate Rachel Vincent's power to twist the plot, pull the strings, and throw the curve balls like no other. Her characters are multidimensional and have their share of adversities. In If I Die, some characters rise to the challenge and others fall from grace but through it all, they have each other...for better or worse. So many things take place in this installment, making it difficult to stop reading.

Be sure to check out Rachel's blog to see the cover of When I Wake. It is beautiful. Also, Rachel has some really great discussions on her blog. From cliffhangers to love triangles and so much more. Also, if you look around...you will find interview questions with both Tod and Nash.

One last thing because I like to do my part for charity and St. Jude's is one of my favorite charities because they never turn a child away. Go to Barnes and Noble ($1.29) or Amazon ($1.79) and download Never to Sleep a Soul Screamers Novella. Rachel is donating her royalties from this novella to St. Judes. You can read more about it HERE.