Review: Surprisingly good gritty, emotional read, that twists and turns...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2013
The author, Eve Rabi, never ceases to surprise me with the range of setting, characters, and sub-text of her work. I don't normally read books related to war or watch war movies. The subject is both unpleasant and abstract for me. Other social complexities are equally terrible and more real for me (the poverty, sexual, physical, emotional or mental abuse, food, alcohol, sex, and work addictions, and so on, that humans face). That said, I had to buy and read this book because I loved Rabi'sGringa - In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug-Lord Book 1andTHE WAGES OF SINEAD - A Tale of Lies and Infidelity book 1series (and I really thought I wouldn't like the second series because I wasn't sure how I could feel sympathy for a cheating husband, but I did really, really like that series after all--had to read each of the books--and felt compassion and understanding for the male protagonist and the twists and turns of that series). In addition to writing really innovative and exciting plots, in unique settings, Rabi has a gift for clever, ironic dialogue, as evidenced by the following exchange from "Captured - My Sworn Enemy, My Secret Lover":"You shouldn't smoke," he says, handing me one."What?" It'll kill me? How I hope it does. Tomorrow."This book may seem to have a bit of a slow start, but the setup is the prelude to a kiss--among other steamy things--with lots of love to sweeten the deal. I don't know how realistic the details of this book are, knowing nothing about the setting, time, and so on. I do know it is a surprisingly good (for a person who doesn't read/watch things related to war) gritty, emotional read with twists and turns. Rabi is especially gifted at creating unusual well-drawn characters in complicated, riveting to read about, situations. Her work is also, always, hilarious--characters say and do the funniest things. SPOILER ALERT: In this book, Leeanne, an extremely religious female Christian character, has been chastising Megan, the female protagonist, about her use of profanity. However, not too long after that, Leanne loses her cool. After repeated unwanted sexual advances from supporting male characters, militants, Leanne loses it in an entirely HILARIOUS and empowering scene where she stands up for herself and swears vociferously the entire time. Rather than quote overly much, I'll share just this. Shortly after that scene, the protagonist, Megan, watches Leanne smoke and updates her view of her: "Bad pixie."If you are a literary thrill-seeker, who loves characters in jeopardy, romance, falling in love, dynamic action, situations that are unlike your daily life, with plot lines that mirror the complexity and sexy, sometimes violent, aspects of humanity and life, you will *LOVE* Eve Rabi's books. Happy Reading~*