Despre autori si cartile lor: Agatha Christie

Salutare tuturor!

        Am avut ocazia zilele trecute sa ma angrenez intr-o discutie despre carti cu o prietena de a mea referitor la tipul de literatura ce se promoveaza pe blogurile de profil si  am constatat cat de superficial este tratata aceasta indeletnicire a cititului in ziua de azi. 

       Ma bucur ca acum o sa am ocazia sa o contrazic prin ceea ce mi-am propus. In fiecare zi,  va voi vorbi despre autori celebri care mi se pare ca au fost uitati pe raft, acum cu toata abundenta de literatura paranaromal/fantasy care a cuprins si Romania. 

        Sa nu ma intelegeti gresit, sunt fan declarat al genului  paranaromal/fantasy, dar cred ca suntem tributari literaturii care a format generatii intregi, inclusiv a mea. :)  

       Dupa cum stiti, printre  autorii mei  favoriti (pe care i-am citit si recitit) sunt John Fowles, Jorge Luis Borges, Octavian Paler, Jane Austen, Marin Preda si nu in ulimul rand Agatha Christie(autoare pe care am regasit-o la AdevarulShop). 

         Va astept sa imi vorbiti de autorii care si-au pus amprenta asupra formarii voastre. 

Azi ma voi opri asupra reginei crimei", Agatha Christie. 

         Agatha Christie este in primul rand o buna cunoscatoare a psihologiei umane in general si a psihologiei criminalilor in particular."Regina romanului politist" are o scriitura plina de talent, imaginatie si suspans, calitati care au facut ca cele 66 de romane publicate sa fie vandute in aproximativ 2 miliarde de exemplare. A intrat in Cartea Recordurilor, fiind autoarea de fictiune care a inregistrat cele mai mari vanzari la nivel mondial, a doua in clasamentul de profil dupa William Shakespeare.

        Dupa cum relata intr-o serie de interviuri, intotdeauna i-a placut sa observe natura umana, sa incerce sa anticipeze reactiile celor din jur in diferite contexte sau sa stabileasca in ce masura personalitatea unui individ poate fi intuita studiindu-i fizionomia. Astfel au luat nastere detectivii sai consacrati: Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple si cuplul Tommy si Tuppence.

Lectura placuta tuturor!

Guest Post - Andrei Inocan - Recenzie "Dark Fever de Karen Marie Moning

Descriere 

Când MacKayla află că sora ei Alina a fost ucisă în Irlanda ─ după ce i-a lăsat un mesaj criptic pe telefon ─, decide să plece la Dublin în căutarea unor răspunsuri.

Dar încercarea de a-l descoperi pe asasinul Alinei o atrage într-o lume de umbre în care nimic nu e ceea ce pare, unde binele şi răul poartă aceeaşi mască seducătoare. 

Curând, MacKayla trebuie să facă faţă unei provocări majore: să rămână în viaţă şi să înveţe să mânuiască o putere pe care nu ştia că o deţine ─ o putere care îi îngăduie să vadă dincolo de lumea oamenilor, în periculosul tărâm locuit de Fae…

Pe măsură ce pătrunde în enigma morţii surorii ei, iar graniţa între lumi începe să se năruie, adevărata misiune a lui Mac devine tot mai clară: trebuie să găsească misterioasa Sinsar Dubh─ Cartea Neagră, un manuscris vechi de milioane de ani care conţine între paginile sale încifrate cea mai primejdioasă dintre vrăji  ─, căci cel care pune primul mâna pe ea va deţine controlul total asupra celor două lumi.

GANDURILE LUI ANDREI

Cum e prima data cand fac asa ceva recunosc nu stiu regulile jocului. Suna familiar? Asa ar trebui, a patit-o si  MacKayla Lane, personajul principal al cartii "Febra neagra" care din cauza unei tragedii, se  trezeste aruncata intr-o lume straina  departe de tot ceea ce stia pana acum.

Confuzi? Lasati-ma sa va lamuresc: Mac afla ca sora ei mai mare cu 2 ani este gasita moarta in Dublin Irlanda unde isi facea studiile. Dupa ce asculta un mesaj lasat de Alina in casuta vocala a telefonului si  dorind sa afle cea sa intamplat cu adevarat aceasta pleaca in Dublin urmand pasii Alinei.

Sincer, nu as vrea acum si aici sa transcriu toata actiunea cartii. Vreau doar sa punctez cateva chestii care mi-au placut la acesta carte.

In primul rand mi-a placut “inocenta” lui Mac din prima parte a cartii si, in ciuda faptului ca are de a face cu intalnirii stranii, isi pastreaza calmul. Intalnirea cu enigmaticul personaj Jericho si relatia care se lega intre el si Mac este al punct pe care l-as mentiona. Mi-au placut schimbarile de replicii dintre ei si faptul ca la un moment dat nu stii daca sunt prieteni sau dusmani.

Exista un pasaj in carte care mi-a placut foarte tare si mi-a ramas in minte : “I turned and stared up at the bookstore, now seeing it in an entirely different light : It wasn’t a bilding – it was a weapon. Only last week I’d stood out front, thinking it seemed to stand bastion between the good part of the city and the bad . Now I understood it was a bastion – this was the line of demarcation, the last defense – and Barrons held the encroachement of the abandoned neighborhood at bay with his many and carefully placed floodlights and all he had to do to protect his property from threat at night was turn them off and let the Shades move in, hungry guard dogs from Hell”

Imi place ideea potrivit careia cartiile fac diferenta  intre o viata mohorata dusa in intuneric si viata plina de lumina in care pasim cu ajutorul cartiilor.

Cartea a aparut la Editura Leda si poate fi comandata aici

Recenzie ”Adevărul despre cazul Harry Quebert” de Joel Dicker

Titlul original: La Vérité sur l'Affaire Harry Quebert

Publicată de: Éditions de Fallois/L’Âge d’Homme, 2012

Limba originală: franceză

Traducere de: Ana Antonescu

Anul apariţiei: 2013

Format: 130 x 200 mm, paperback cu supracopertă

Nr. de pagini: 656

ISBN: 978-973-707-753-0

Descriere

1975, New Hampshire: Nola Kellergan, o adolescentă în vârstă de 15 ani, dispare fără urmă. 33 de ani mai târziu, scriitorul de succes Harry Quebert este acuzat de crimă, atunci când trupul fetei este descoperit în timpul unor săpături în grădina casei sale.

Tânărul Marcus Goldman, scriitor în pană de inspiraţie, nu ezită să plece la New Hampshire şi să înceapă propria anchetă pentru a-l ajuta pe Harry, mentorul şi prietenul său.

Acolo este depăşit rapid de evenimente: investigaţia intră în impas, iar Marcus începe să primească ameninţări. Pentru a dovedi nevinovăţia lui Harry şi a-şi salva cariera de scriitor, e absolut necesar să răspundă la trei întrebări: cine a omorât-o pe Nola Kellergan? Ce s-a întâmplat în New Hampshire în vara lui 1975? Şi cum se scrie un roman de succes?

Exploatând un fapt divers, Joël Dicker a construit un thriller alert care este, în acelaşi timp, un roman în roman, un studiu sociologic asupra Americii clasei de mijloc înainte de alegerea la preşedinţie a lui Barack Obama, ancheta unei crime şi un curs de literatură.

Ca un maestru, Dicker alternează epocile, registrele stilistice (raportul poliţiei, transcrierea unui interogatoriu, extrase din roman) şi explorează America în toate excesele ei – mediatice, literare, religioase, meditând, în acelaşi timp, asupra condiţiei scriitorului. O lecţie de scris şi o lecţie de viaţă. -- L’Express

GÂNDURILE MELE DESPRE CARTE

 “Când vei ajunge la finalul cărţii, Marcus, oferă-i cititorului o rasturnare de situaţie în ultima secundă.

-   De ce?

-  De ce? Pentru că trebuie să-l ţii pe cititor cu sufletul la gură  până la sfârşit” Harry Quebert

Acest citat însumează în câteva cuvinte ceea ce am simţit eu pe parcursul cărţii, culminând cu un final spectaculos! Răsturnările de situaţie sunt laitmotivul cărţii, scâteia creativă a lui Dicker. Fiind o carte cu peste 600 de pagini te-ai fi aşteptat să aibă momente de tărăgănare a naraţiunii, dar, tocmai aceste schimbări de perspectivă ţin cititorul alert şi într-o continuă expectativă a adevărului. Alternarea planului temporal(investigaţiile se desfăşoară în 2008, după 33 de ani de la asasinarea Nolei) este instrumentul folosit de Dicker pentru a rupe monotonia poveştii.

”Adevărul despre cazul Harry Quebert” este o carte cu totul surprinzătoare, un thriller psihologic şi prea puţin un roman poliţist, chiar dacă pe alocuri are accente specifice acestui gen (nu il consider cu adevarat un roman poliţist pentru că am descoperit ucigaşul mult prea repede).

Este o carte despre destinul scriitorului, despre solitudinea unui om care trăieşte prin şi pentru personajele sale. Dicker pune în mâna cititorului său o adevărată lecţie de viaţă aranjată pe mai multe registre, focalizată pe prietenia dintre mentor şi discipol, în paralel, cu o tragică iubire interzisă, transpuse pe un ton relaxat în aproape idilica atmosferă a orăşelului american, Aurora, un oraş unde nu se întâmpla niciodată nimic.

Cartea reuşeşte să facă o adevărată radiografie a societăţii americane contemporane, a moralităţii sau imoralităţii ei, a caracterelor umane mai mult sau mai puţin meschine, mai mult sau mai puţin mânate de dorinţa de a fugi cât mai departe de acest orăşel, unde viaţa curge într-o rutină înnebunitoare, cu oameni mai mult sau mai  puţin conştienţi de realitatea din jurul lor. Personajele lui Dicker sunt foarte bine conturate, chiar şi cele secundare, fiind incluse în mod echilibrat în desfăşurarea intrigii, interconectate şi legate în mod inevitabil de Nola.

Calitatea supremă a acestei cărţi este că m-a transformat, pe parcursul ei, dintr-un cititor detaşat, într-un personaj al poveştii care a ajuns să trăiască, să iubească, să sufere, să viseze alături de Marcus, Harry şi oamenii din Aurora.  Dicker mânuieşte cu multă abilitate trăirile şi acţiunile personajelor sale, reunite în jurul unuia omniprezent(dar cu totul absent fizic), Nola, a cărei dispariţie şi este elementul central al poveştii.

Am parcurs acest roman extraordinar şi complex în doze mici(deh, timp limitat) aşa că am stat sub magia şi magnetismul poveştii ceva vreme. Misterul cărţii, intrigile şi enigmele ei mi s-au dezvăluit progresiv, creându-mi senzaţia că aş rezolva un puzzle imens.  

Concluzia? Am sentimentul că nici Marcus şi nici Harry nu au spus tot ce aveau de spus… deci, poveste cu final deschis…

Urăsc şabloanele în vorbire, dar dacă părerea mea despre carte nu v-a stârnit curiozitatea, atunci poate super-uzitatul şi mult-prea-clasicul “nu poţi lasa cartea din mână” vă va convinge. 

Aceasta carte merge în mod clar pe raftul cu cărţi ce trebuie recite!!

Mulţumesc Editurii Trei pentru că a adus publicului din România această minunată carte şi pentru ca mi-a oferit oportunitatea să o citesc !!

Recenzie "Fata de hartie" de Guillaume Musso

Romanele lui Guillaume Musso s-au vandut in peste 7 milioane de exemplare si au fost traduse in 33 de limbi. 

Tom Boyd este un scriitor celebru, aflat in pana de inspiratie. Billie este o tanara frumoasa si rebela, cu un simt al umorului neobisnuit. Dar mai e un amanunt: Billie este chiar eroina romanelor lui Tom. Intr-o noapte, cand el se afla pe buza prapastiei, ea prinde viata. Si ii aduce o veste tulburatoare: daca el nu mai scrie, ea va muri. Astfel incepe o calatorie halucinanta, in care Tom trebuie sa-si recapete inspiratia, ca sa poata salva viata femeii de care tocmai se indragosteste. Exploziva si plina de umor, cu accente de comedie romantica si thriller, Fata de hartie sfideaza orice scenariu previzibil.

Tom si Billie vin din lumi diferite, dar care se hranesc una din alta. Cine va invinge in acest joc dur al seductiei: realitatea sau fictiunea?

,,Un roman ca un spectacol de magie. O pendulare delicata ca zborul unei pasari intre real si imaginar. Cand ne asteptam mai putin, scriitorul ne striga din oglinda, ca sa ne aminteasca un lucru esential: viata este un roman.”  Le Parisien

,,Cel mai bun roman al lui Guillaume Musso de pana acum. O intriga perfecta si un final uluitor!” Le Figaro Littéraire

,,Dintre toate personajele pe care le-am creat, Billie este preferata mea. Ii simt atat de tare lipsa, dupa ce am terminat de scris romanul, incat s-ar putea spune ca sunt indragostit!”    Guillaume Musso

Gândurile mele despre carte

Superba  poveste!  

“Fata de hartie” are un subiect original, ingenios construit de un autor care alternează magistral povestea la persoana I (vocea autorului)cu cea la persoana a treia(a celor doi prieteni, Carole şi Milo).  Subiectul este unic  în abordarea lui,  chiar dacă tema inţială a cărţii este una clasică, întâlnindu-ne cu un  Pygmalion modern,  în care creatorul / scriitorul (Tom Boyd) şi-a pus în opera propria Eliza Dolittle, îndrăgostindu-se, inevitabil,  de  creaţia lui (Billie). 

Însă ceea ce diferenţiază  “Fata de hartie” de povestea clasică a iubirii dintre creator şi creaţia sa, este tocmai elementul central al poveştii: volumul neterminat al lui  Tom şi locul în care îşi are originile, Billie. “Cartea călătoare” este în sine un personaj,  unul care interconectează, ca într-o pânză de paianjen, restul personajelor, care prin traseul parcus ne oferă crâmpie de viaţă şi dezvăluie pas cu pas destine.

“Bună! Nu sunt pierdută! Sunt gratuită! Nu sunt o carte ca oricare alta.  Mi -e sortit să călătoresc şi să străbat lumea. Luaţi-mă, citiţi-mă şi lăsaţi-mă la rândul vostru întru-un loc public”

     Guillaume Musso, ne prezintă o poveste reală, dar care trece uşor limitele fantasy, despre faima şi căderea  unui unui scriitor de succes,  despre suferinţa  şi salvarea lui prin iubire, despre secrete bine ascunse si decizii mai mult  sau mai puţin greşite.  Este o carte despre cum o nouă iubire poate sa vindece rănile lasăte de o relaţie eşuată, dar şi cum poţi redobândi  succesul după o cădere ce parea iremediabilă.

       

       Pe scurt, Tom o întâlneşte pe Billie Donelly,  un personaj din cărţile sale, de necrezut, dar  este dispus să o creadă şi de aici începe aventura lor. Modul narativ al lui Musso, te face să crezi că fiecare moment al cărţii este bine ancorat in realitatea personajelor.    O consider o carte specială pentru ca eşti atras imediat în poveste, ajungi să te simţi parte a întregii aventuri să suferi, să iubeşti, să fii indignat, să plângi şi să fii fericit  împreună cu personajele lui Musso.

Aceasta carte a fost ca o gură de aer proaspăt pentru mine, după lecturile anterioare.  Sunt sigură că “Fata de Hârtie” nu va fi singura carte a lui Guillaume Musso care va poposi in biblioteca mea. 

Multumesc librariei online, LIBRIS, pentru ocazia de a citi aceasta extraordinara poveste. Cartea in limba română o puteti cumpăra online de pe site-ul librariei, aici sau in limba engleză, aici.

Review The Opportunist by Taryn Fisher

About the book

Olivia Kaspen has just discovered that her ex-boyfriend, Caleb Drake, has lost his memory. With an already lousy reputation for taking advantage of situations, Olivia must decide how far she is willing to go to get Caleb back. 

Wrestling to keep her true identity and their sordid past under wraps, Olivia’s greatest obstacle is Caleb’s wicked, new girlfriend; Leah Smith. It is a race to the finish as these two vipers engage in a vicious tug of war to possess a man who no longer remembers them.

 But, soon enough Olivia must face the consequences of her lies, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

My thoughts

original text on my GR account(april 2013) - 5 BRILLIANT STARS

Sooooo, this is the real reason for we become book addicts? EPIC, AWESOME story... I can't get why I've waited for so long to read this book. Thank you, Andreea Kyle for rec :)) I've finished it  a couple days ago... but the feelings about this book are still present and with the same intensity. hmmm....Is a life changing story.

I just couldn't put it down! I needed to keep reading! I almost breathed this book... but now *sad face* my emotional ride is over. I never wanted to end it!! Why??? I just couldn't accept that this unpredictable, beautiful, full of lies and love, mind game story has to get to an end. God, I love every minute of it!! I loved being in Olivia's head and feel all twists and turns of her life.

Tarryn Fisher created an amazing, fascinating, complex character: vulnerable, but strong, desperate, but optimistic, sad, but at peace in the end. Oh, I hated that Olivia didn't get her HEA, but I loved the way TF choose to end her story... or...isn't the end for her and Caleb? A girl can hope, right??

A big round of applause for the past/present switch :)) Great game, there, Ms Fisher! 

My advice??? Put anything you read aside and grab this book.

You'll never regret it!!!

Review "Drowning in You" by Rebecca Berto

About the book

Secretly crushing

Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.

And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune.

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.

My short thoughts

I got this ARC from the author for an onest review and like so many ARC's this one will get pros and cons :)

Pro:
I've read "Precise" by Rebecca Berto and I really loved her psychological novella. I've kind of expected this book will be the same way. But, no, this one is about death and the pain brought by it. 

DiY is a heartwrenching story, about two young shattered souls, Charz and Dex, trying to overcome the loss of the loved ones, to bring peace in their life and find the true love.  

And  I felt grief for Charlee and her brother Darcy for their tragedy. 

I really appreciate the way Rebecca Berto develop Dex character and his struggle to push behind he guilt and to accept the love for Charz.

Cons:
DiY has a great story line, but the flow is missing. Sometimes I was distracted and detached by so many details. I felt sometimes that I've lost connection with the story...

Too many inner thoughts, dragging the story, when the main characters could interact or talk with someone about that problem. There were scenes left hanging and unfinished, awkard moments and the angst in this type of emotioanl stories is not there.

Conclusion? I loved the promising story and I know this author is a talented one, but  THIS book need a BIG edit!

Review SUICIDE NOTE by Teresa Mummert

This is a 4.5 stars read for me :)

First of all, I must tell you that I started reading the book in the evening and couldn’t put it down. This is one of those books that keep you glued to your ereader. :)

A heartwarming book about love and betrayal, support and understanding, and about the strenght to give and get a second chance.

This book is about a suicide note, but not about a suicide act ! It's about the power of true love and how a broken heart can heal thorugh it. 

"I always thought a piece of my heart had been missing. Turns out that piece was you." Shane

It's a war romance story, not too elaborated or too much drama, but with great storyline and two well written characters. It's a heavy subject... the war of Afganistan, the drama of the soldiers and their families, the distance and the insecurities of the combatants about the loves ones. 

Jenn and Shane are both heartbroken and betrayed by their love ones. Shane is a soldier "left behind by his girlfriend" while he is serving his country...she's cheating on him and breaking up with him in a letter. Jenn's fiance cheats on her only to end up getting married to her own sister.

This story is written from both the hero and heroine point of view. I love it! The best way to be in their shoes, right? :) I absolutely love Jenn and Shane, because they made me laugh and cry. 

You know what I loved the most? The fact that Jenn and Shane surpass their heartache and are able give and get a second chance. The bonus is: in this process they discover what love really is. 

GO GET THE BOOK! 15 march is almost here :))

An ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Teresa Mummert ! 

Review Fall from Grace/ Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz

About the book Fall from Grace(Mad World 1)(Goodreads)

I'm finally home after struggling through my brother's illness and death. But, home is definitely a bit different. My best friend (the only person alive now that knows my secret) has a new boyfriend; and he has a friend. Shane Maxton: bad boy, tattooed rock god, eye candy extraordinaire. He is also New York City's most arrogant, self-serving, son of a, well, a definite one-night stand kind of a guy.

But, it doesn't matter to me because I've spent my existence looking for the love of my life, my angel. And, there is nothing that Shane Maxton can do to change that. 

Saving Grace(Mad World 2)  - About book(Goodreads)

After spending over 2,000 years being a lost soul looking for the angel I was forbidden to fall in love with, I finally found him. Lucky for me he has taken up residence inside the hot body of NYC’s local bad boy, tattooed rock star, Shane Maxton. Turns out, not only is he absolutely perfect, so is the whole Grace Taylor life that I’m stuck in. The only problem is Gabriel. An archangel who wants me all to himself so he kind of kidnaps me. Now I have to find my way back and hope everything works out…

My thoughts for both books

" Please Grace whatever it is you're going after, please try to find it here in me. I will try my best to be the man that you need me to be"

OMG, I’m so inlove with this serie. How not to? Christine Zolendz writes an fantastic story, with incredible easiness, that leaves you breathless. I’ve read both books almost in one sitting... The story is fast paced, hilarious and steamy :) Yeah, I know. But steaminess of one book is not enough for me to keep going with a story.  I really loved the plot behind the twists and the heartbreaking drama.  

It was a read from which I had no expectations, but... , OMG, I fall hard for Shane  *blushing* I'm going crazy, right??? But, damn this man is ... perfect? Take a look at him:

"I want you to tell me why you have a pair of broken angel wings on your shoulder. I want you to tell me why you cut your wrists and I want to know why and how you play and sing the way you do, but most of all I want you to tell me what I need to do to be a good enough man for you.”

There are so many bad reviews on GR... but... I really enjoyed the both books for being fast paced and hilarious... there are few objection I would make... but I don’t ... there are enough bad ones :P

The whole story is like a unpolished diamond. There were so many moments that should be more elaborated, but you can pass over them and see the entire concept of Christine Zolendz’s  books :  unique, addictive, with all the right ingredients for a great story and a promising writing style.

This second book is like a beautiful song... flowing, beguiling and heart wrenching... all ups and downs..and all the banter and comical situations when you are sure thet they finally get togheter... there's an "it" interrupting

And there are moments when you don’t know if your  heart  can keep up with the intensity of their interactions :)

“I promise you, I will pick up every broken piece of you, every single f**king piece, Grace, and for the rest of my life, I will put you back together… I’ll make you whole again.“ 

You get one hint at the time, the author, practically, leaves you guessing and uncertain about what will follow. The second book took a step back  from paranormal set and focused on the character development, and with all intense sexual tension, witty comebacks and hilarious moments put me on fast forward read :P

Her characters keep you in a perpetual state of  mixed feelings about them. I went through so many emotions with them that I almost felt like I knew every one of them. The chemistry between H/H  is so intense, the author give us one of the most maddening foreplays ever :)  

I’ve tried to keep at bay th details because  I’ll be tempted to give spoilers away ... And is not fair to keep you from reading this series .

But I tell you this.....  I loved being in Grace's head, hearing her thoughts, feeling her emotions...

“It is a pure soul who can hold true the in­no­cence and time­less­ness of pas­sion in an­oth­er soul. Each un­veil­ing the great­est pieces of the oth­er, locked to­geth­er at the heart for eter­ni­ty” 

4 stars 

Review "Consequences" by Aleatha Romig

About the book

Besieged by memories of a brutal abduction, Claire Nichols wakes in an unfamiliar bedroom, within a luxurious mansion. Her recollections have one common denominator, the man she just met, Anthony Rawlings.Many of the pivotal events in her life occurred, due to his sinister manipulation. Every action has a consequence, and his actions result in their chance meeting. 

More than a psychological thriller, Consequences is a vivid story of one woman’s struggle to survive incomprehensible circumstances. Every aspect of her being suddenly depends upon the tall, wealthy, dark haired, dark eyed businessman. Anthony Rawlings is known to the world as prosperous, benevolent, and kind. Claire quickly learns that he can also be a menacing controlling captor. 

With few options but concession, Claire attempts to earn her freedom, while enduring a hellish existence that truly appears perfect. Persevering tests and trials, she struggles to retain her pure Midwest values and beliefs. Encouraged by memories of a loving upbringing, she gains strength in the simplest of joys: solitude in nature and good in the face of evil. 

His goal in sight, Anthony’s calculated agenda encounters an unforeseen detour. He becomes captivated by Claire’s beauty, resilience, and determination. The interaction of these two compelling characters instigates strong emotions: fear, anger, love, and lust. Claire and Anthony’s tumultuous journey flows into uncharted waters of intrigue and passion. 

Utilizing vivid detail, this 167,000-word novel unfolds like a movie, before the eyes of its readers. From the opening criminal abduction, through twists and turns, to the unlikely romantic thrills, the suspense climaxes as Anthony’s motivation becomes evident. 

Anthony and Claire must decide if they will stay true to one another, or allow preceding actions to result in justifiable Consequences.

My first reaction:

OMG... WTF did I just read??? I'm done with this one, it's past 2 o'clock in the morning and my mind is blank... "Consequences" is a book about the cause and effect of people... about appearances... and I totally hated it.

I hated him, I hated her, I hate that all their behaviours have consequences... damn, I almost hate myself for enjoying it… Why? Simply because this story borders the insanity. 

With all the psychological terror and the mind f*ck games, Ms Roming put me on a roller coaster and I enjoyed every single minute of it!!

REVIEW UPDATE

“Survival  is not so much about the body, but rather it is about the triumph of the human spirit.”—Danita Vance

I finished this book couple days ago, but I just needed some time to wrap my head around this. Sooooooo…

My mind has just been supremely and utterly mind f**ked! This book is AN INSANE, INTENSE and FASCINATING roller coaster drive. It will blow your mind and let you emotionally drained and I can tell you it will push you over your own limits. But the story is a magnetic and addictive puzzle and you’re just feeling helpless and keep reading.

This story is about apperances… As Ms Romig tell us: “Trust not too much to appearance.—Virgil”

1. The act or an instance of coming into sight.- checked

2. The act or an instance of coming into public view:  - checked

3. Outward aspect: pretence  - checked

4. One of the outward signs or indications by which a person or thing is assessed -checked

5. A superficial aspect; a semblance: - checked

and consequences…

but 

 “Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”—Virginia Satir

My ramble while reading this amazing story, send it to my friend D. (Thank you for pushing me to read it!)

“Did you felt for once in a while that, because of the third person story, you couldn't connect with characters??  Happens to me for the first time. I'm not a first person or the third person story reader... I'd love the story nonetheless...but this one had issues...I feel detached like I watch everything through a window... I wasn't expecting romance and so many 5 stars reviews... “

“I just hate both of them... her for being so stupid to accept all his s*it(beating, humiliation, controll...)and him for... I JUST HATE HIM. PERIOD!!!

I'll keep reading. I'm curious how this sick story goes...”

“I really thought I got this book wrong... I never experienced smth like this... like hate both main characters...  But, I love the story in a kind twisted way :)) maybe I'm just testing my limits *shaking heads* “

“He did try to atone and to redem for what he's done, but still!  He's the same sick bastard, right? There is a precedent in his actions, he will never be a normal man... and his anger, I think, has deep roots, so ... if he suspects her for not keep the f**king appearances one more time... ohhh, God, I don't even want to go there...”

“Back to the proposal...albeit, a sweet moment, I feel it false and fraud...”

“He's playing nice... but for how long??? resident evil is not sleeping,just waiting...there is smth good in everyone, even in him... I just can't belive he can change...but, God, I'm hoping :))”

“D, I knew it!! the insecure bastard!!! I simply knew... his insanity goes too deep. OMG,D, this man is the epitom of polarity disorder... in my others emails I said that I belive he has double personality :)) Now, I AM SURE!!“

“she was delusional all this time...lying herself...maybe hoping he can stay on his good side... but... this author is playing with us...“

“It's starting!!!!I feel like screaming to her: You know what?? You pay for your own stupidity, you idiotic girl. You shlould have find a way to escape this cruel, insane bastard... But, nononononono, you fall inlove with your executioner... how f**ked up is that???”

Back to my thoughts
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself.—Harvey Fierstein

What Claire experiences is beyond anything I ever imagined. This story isn’t a romance in any sense. I think it would better described as a “psychological  thriller”, a real mind f*ck game, the kind of dark read, which take a love story to a twisted, crazy higher level. Oh, yes, there is a lovestory nonetheless, as sick and crazy as is sounds.

“We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us.”—David Seamands

This book is about a psychotic, unstable and sick SOB in search for revenge. He targets a young woman, kidnapping her and destroys her just because he had to complete a promise. But that’s not all… He play with her mind, the kind of power mind game and put her in an intricately web, that let you shocked, confused  and  mind blowed.

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal. It strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it”

The whole story is a untangled web… in one moment you think you see under the surface and than **DANG** another thing happened… and you get played.  Ms Romig is the master puppeteer . Her stage is the book and our minds.  Unbelivable, right??

“There are  two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.”—Plato

“Consequences “is superbly written. Ms Aleatha Romig has an amazing talent with descriptions and word developing. Even there were moments when the abundance of details seems overwhelming, but I think it was necessary to write them to make us understand  the complete picture.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”—Maria Robinson

My updates on GR progress show that I had a personal fight with this book :)

02/03			79.0%	"It's beyond my understanding how she accept his crystal prison"
02/03			76.0%	"Now, I'm sure that the constant terror is killing her bit by bit, even if she doesn't acknowledged yet"
02/02			69.0%	"The Stockholm Syndrome, at his best!!! Still hate him!" 6 comments
02/02			48.0%	"I need to compartmentalize!!!"
02/02			34.0%	"What a sick bastard!!"
02/02			34.0%	""life is not what is supposed to be. It's what it is. The way you cope with it is what make the difference""
02/02			34.0%	"He's playing with her mind. Power play. She behave exacly like Pavlov's dog..."
02/01			31.0%	"he has double personality or what??? this book is one hell of a ride... and I love it!!!"
02/01			25.0%	"she think he's handsome?? oh, I sense some Stockholm Syndrom here!!!"
02/01			19.0%	"Human beings, by changing the inner attitude of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives""
02/01			19.0%	"WTF??? he's washing her brain out and erasing her identity!!!"
02/01				"I'm curious, intrigued and excited about this one."

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”—Robert Frost