If you are looking for a little more action and intrigue with your classic YA boarding school drama, then A Dangerous Year is definitely the book for you.
About ‘A Dangerous Year’
As the daughter of an American ambassador, seventeen-year-old Riley Collins has grown up in some of the world’s most dangerous cities.
She may have learned the art of politics from her dad, but it’s the lessons in survival taught by his security chief that she’s taken to heart.
When Riley is caught up in a violent incident, the State Department steps in, offering an all-expense paid senior year at Harrington Academy, one of the most elite boarding schools in Connecticut. The catch: she must use her tactical skills to keep her eye on heiress Hayden Frasier, the daughter of a tech billionaire intent on changing the world.
Immersed in American materialism and social media for the first time, it’s culture shock for Riley. Hayden resents her new roommate, and Riley learns nothing is ever private when there’s a cellphone around. She discovers allies in Von Alder, the cute class flirt; Sam Hudson, whose status as Hayden’s ex-boyfriend puts him on the forbidden list; and Captain Grace Taylor, Harrington’s tough new head of security, and the only one who knows Riley’s true purpose at Harrington.
Disturbing signs begin to appear that Riley’s assignment wasn’t the walk in the park she’d been promised. She learns the death of Hayden’s former roommate might not have been an accident after all, and she spars with classmate Quinn, whose attempts at social sabotage causes Riley to take drastic measures.
As Riley’s relationship with Hayden thaws into her first opportunity at true friendship, the danger around her roommate heats up. Riley must fight for her life and Hayden’s – and the security of a nation – as those around her reveal themselves to be true friends, or the ultimate betrayers.
‘A Dangerous Year’ book review
I have to say that if you are looking for a YA book with something a little extra, A Dangerous Year might be just what you’re looking for. This story is chock full of familiar teenage drama, yes, but there’s also government conspiracies, teen agents, and enough mystery to keep you reading well past your bedtime.
Riley is so very different from most of the teen heroines I’ve read. Her travels and time spent in countries most of us only see through the eyes of the news media have turned her into a worldly and empathetic woman, overflowing with curiosity, wonder, and understanding.
When it comes to the kids and faculty of Harrington Academy, the old adage of ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ truly shines through. With Von, Stef, Quinn, Hayden, Sam, and many more flitting in and out of Riley’s day to day, you will find yourself worrying which of them might just have ulterior motives. And her adult interactions, particularly with Mr. Bracken, Mrs. McKenna, and Major Grace Taylor, will have you wondering if everyone is as they seem.
With all the shifty and not-so-shifty characters flitting about Riley’s new world, it’s nice when you get a chance to see her interact with her father or Benson. Riley truly is the center of their universe, and her absence is definitely felt. I laughed out loud at the contents of Benson’s care package, and definitely squeaked with joy when Major Grace Taylor and Benson’s sordid past came to light.
The end of A Dangerous Year has me anxious to see what is next for Riley, Von, Benson, Grace, and all the rest. This is a rich, vibrant world that has the potential for any number of stories to bloom and grow in complications and scope. This book may have taken place mostly in a private boarding school, but the world outside its doors is just waiting for its chance to dig its nails into Riley Collins and the people she holds dear.
A Dangerous Year is available now on Amazon (free for Kindle Unlimited members), Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound, so grab your copy today and get reading! Don’t forget to add it on Goodreads, too.
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