Prom Night in Purgatory: Purgatory Series - Book Two Paperback – August 8, 2012

I just lost interest in these characters. The back and forth between the 2 time periods wasn't done well. I almost gave up, but I hate to not finish. This book exemplifies why I don't like series books so much. The first one grabs you and each additional book struggles to keep your interest.

4-stars — Huh, the book went in slightly different directions than I was expecting! I really didn’t expect the time travel-ish aspect to the story! No, that’s a lie. I knew there had to be something b/c of the hints at the end of the previous book. But I didn’t expect it to take up so much space in the narrative I guess. Or maybe I just didn’t expect the way everything would play out. I grew increasingly concerned as the book went on about how it was going to end. You guys have no idea how hard it was to resist skipping to the end to find out…SO HARD. I’m glad I didn’t though, b/c it added to the reading experience to feel that stress and concern. And all in all I was happy with the ending, though I wanted a bit more epilogue…it felt a bit fast and I needed more wrap up I think.The book was still written in third person omniscient, but it didn’t bother me as much b/c I was anticipating it. I was able to settle into the style.I still loved both Maggie and Johnny, though they go through some pretty crazy trials in this one…the universe really did try to mess with them. I felt for Maggie when faced with the suddenly alive Johnny. And I felt for Johnny’s utter confusion and devastation. I don’t want to get into it and give away spoilers, but as much as I was frustrated by their emotions/attitudes sometimes, I also truly understood them.And I truly loved some of their great romance scenes. Both prom nights were swoony for me, I truly loved them.I also really loved getting to meet some new secondary characters, especially Lizzie. She was hilarious. I enjoyed seeing some of the little side plots that spun out of their time machinations. I will admit that I was a bit bummed that we got basically no resolution with Shad, and only little bits with Gus.As I said above, I wanted a better wrap up for the ending. Not just the happiness stuff, but I felt like the whole Rodger plot was left unresolved…particularly the shadow stuff. I NEED ANSWERS!!!So yeah. This is a very sporadic and odd review for me. For some reason I had a harder time figuring out what I wanted to say, but I’ve decided not to stress it! I definitely enjoyed this conclusion to Maggie and Johnny’s story, I just wanted a bit more at the end.

When I woke up this morning, I realized I had been dreaming about this story. For me, that’s always a sign of a great book. It imprints itself into my subconscious and allows me to live the story in the only way I can. And now, I’m sad it’s over. I absolutely adored these books! Somehow, I loved Prom Night in Purgatory even more than the former book in the duet.I was surprised by how different each of these books were. I didn’t quite know where the trajectory of Prom Night in Purgatory would go, but I know I wasn’t expecting time travel. I’ve always been fascinated with all things time-related, making it a welcome surprise. I loved the theme of this story, with time echoing all around us and the same events happening over and over throughout history. For Maggie, the veil between the past and present became thin enough to force her to constantly wobble between the two.The suspense of this story was excellent! I truly had no idea how things would pan out for Johnny, Maggie, Irene, Roger, Billy, and the rest of the characters I had come to cherish through these two books. In the end, I was pleased with how the events from both books were wrapped up, making these fantastical elements feel realistic.My only wish for this book was that there were a few more scenes of Johnny and Maggie together, especially in the conclusion of the story. I was missing the sweet moments from the first book during their forced separation in this story.Again, I was excited to see the chapter headings in this book as well. I thought the use of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 was a beautiful layer to this already amazing story. This book of the Bible has been one I’ve come to appreciate more as I’ve aged. It has a somewhat melancholy feel to it, but it is comforting at the same time. It helps us to realize everything we can possibly experience in this life has been done before. This idea set the tone for the entire story. Absolute perfection, in my opinion!

I didn't want to read this sequel but after reading more of Amy Harmons books and loving her style I decided to give this a try. I read the first book and was a little disappointed. Just too much unrealistic teen hormones. I enjoyed the ending and the elements seemed a little more less fake and more a reality in this world. There were some coincidences that were hard to believe but it worked. The love story smoothed itself out and the ending was well done and everything fit together like a puzzle. It was a hard sell a lot of ghosts and time travel but it worked out in the end. Not really my kind of thing, so that should say a lot about the writer.This book would be pg13. There was a little sexual innuendo and an attempted rape that doesn't get to far or too detailed. This is a little cleaner then the first with less swear words or sexual references. Amy has a very amazing way of writing real world gritty stuff world in a way that holds with integrity.

Two great books, highly recommend them. I'm a bit fan of all Amy Harmon's books and these two books didn't disappoint, so well written and full of surprises right up to the end.

Unfortunately I found myself skipping pages of this book , it lost me quite a lot , and I love this authors books but after reading it found myself thinking what the hell have I just read , bit of a baffler

An unusually written story, I’ve read both of Amy Harmon’s Purgatory novels. A lot of twists, suspension and a love story which is a bit different. Well worth reading.

<b><i>“That which has been is now, and that which is to be has already been."<i><b>Prom Night in Purgatory is everything I want in an epic YA romance, and everything I did not expect it to be.The predecessors to this book, Slow Dance in Purgatory, has a relatively straightforward plot. It has a couple of mysteries that hint at what is to come but remain unresolved when the story is concluded. In my review for that book I said it left me wanting more. Well, in the second book, Prom Night in Purgatory, I got all my answers, along with a wild journey with Johnny and Maggie, culminating in a very satisfying conclusion as the story came full circle.What I like most about Prom Night in Purgatory:1. The romance is very gratifying. It's got elements of angst (which I like!) and many moments of sweetness. And it's epic... <b><i>"Paradise or Purgatory? The choice was easy. He chose Purgatory."<i><b>2. The time jumps - When not done well it's a device that frustrates and confuses. Not in this case. The time jumps are done perfectly, as they have created so many moments of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seats.3. Time travel - it's mind-boggling, exciting and enchanting. Loved the plot twists that accompanied each travel back in time. I just never knew what to expect following each episode.4. Hardly any mentions of Shad in this instalment. Yay. Seriously the plot is much tighter without the distraction of this annoying secondary character.5. Love the way hints are dropped in the first book and throughout this book that foreshadow unexpected turns of events. Very clever writing. You can trust Amy Harmon to never write a mystery just for the drama of it. There is a reason behind every observation.6. Irene's character - the heartaches and regrets of an aged woman are portrayed sensitively and with dignity. This is a book with heart.7. The ending is perfect. It brought a tear to my eyes. It's hauntingly beautiful.A memorable and un-put-down-able book that I'd highly recommend.

I will not spoil this book because it needs to be read. This is one of the most epic romance stories I have ever read. Amy's ability to tell such a complex story in such simple terms is beyond incredible. I'm in love with the writing style. I do wish we got a BIT more Maggie and Johnny, because they were just so adorable in slow dance. But the scenes we did get were pretty darn good! This book will stay with me for a long time!