Sixteen-year-old Teresa has a gift: she can read people's memories when she is near them, and it makes her feel like a freak, especially when her father, a New Jersey crime-family boss, uses her. Her mother is a trophy wife extraordinaire; when her husband is killed, she immediately ingratiates herself with the new crime boss, despite the fact that he's trying to kill her daughter. Teresa takes off and is rescued by Andre Mandak, who kills the three men who are chasing her. She is very distrustful, but Mandak convinces her that he can help her learn to control her gift. In the process, he changes her name to Allie and places her with an older couple, with whom she lives the relatively normal life of a college student. Then her cover is blown. Mandak will help her flee, but, in return, he needs her to use her gift to get him out of his own jam. Their mutual attraction adds another layer of appeal to this fast-moving stand-alone thriller, which combines suspense, romance, and the paranormal into one whirlwind read. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: For anyone needing a short course in how best-sellers-to-be are marketed in the modern world, read the back of this ARC. These words pop up prominently: national, television, online, blog, and that old favorite, one-day laydown.--Alesi, Stacy Copyright 2014 Booklist

At the start of this thrilling novel of paranormal suspense from bestseller Johansen (Shadow Zone), 16-year-old Teresa Casali, the daughter of the head of the New Jersey Mafia, who was gunned down three weeks earlier, is running for her life through a forest after being shot. A mysterious man, Andre Mandak, comes to her rescue. Teresa reluctantly agrees to let Mandak provide her with a new life and identity as Allie Girard. While Allie realizes that Mandak wants something in return for saving her, she also knows that he understands her ability to read people's memories, a skill that her late father often exploited. Fast forward seven years when Allie is living with a new family and enjoying a relatively normal life as a college student. When disaster strikes and her cover is blown, Allie must once again rely on Mandak, who reveals the task for which he needs her special talents. This page-turner builds to a breathless conclusion. Agent: Andrea Cirillo, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

When assassins come after a teen with a rare psychic ability, she's rescued by an enigmatic warrior who sweeps her into a new life. Danger is never far away, however, and her gift is potent to enemies and allies alike.The daughter of a ruthless mob boss, Teresa Casali has been forced to use her ability to read people's memories to benefit her father's business interests. But when her father is killed and her mother betrays her to his successor, she has to go on the run from his henchmen. Soon a mysterious savior appears to protect her. At first wary of Mandak's help, she comes to trust him when she realizes he can create a brand-new identity for her as well as help her control her gift. After a few weeks of training and guidance, Mandak sets her up as Allie Girard, a college student living with her "aunt and uncle," a loving couple who take her into their home and under their wing. Safe for seven years, Allie is suddenly under attack again and must go on the run with Mandak, who she discovers is attached to a shadowy organization that finds and helps psychic individuals around the globe. Mandak and his group have made a very dangerous enemy, one who has connected some dots and allied with the people who've been searching for Allie for years. After years of controlling her gift, Allie is suddenly the best weapon for vanquishing two powerful, brutal villains who will kill her if she doesn't get to them first, while Mandak is her best hope for survival until they can find their shared enemies. Johansen creates an intriguing world that revolves around a psychic underground and is peppered with some really diabolical bad guys. Readers will likely feel engaged by the story, though a few plot points seem slightly contrived, and the sexual tension between Mandak and Allie begins when she's 16, which makes sense contextually but feels slightly unwholesome. An enticing hook and compelling storytelling overcome some small flaws. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.