Review: Brilliant start to what will be an amazing series!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 30, 2014
I am a huge fan of D H Sidebottom and really enjoy her style of writing when I heard she was to do a new series with a debut co author I was excited to see how this would affect Sidebottom’s writing style. Well all I can say is well done to both DH Sidebottom and R M James on a brilliant start to this series and a great partnership that really works to an amazing standard. Fragile Truths is gritty, sometimes violent but with a really lovely love story at its core. The writing style in some descriptive aspects of the story is really beautiful writing and makes for enjoyable reading.Tate is a lovely character and though his dark side was alluded to in the book I don't think we have truly seen that side to his character as much as I expect we will through the series. He has held a one sided love for a young girl that he meets at the beginning of Fragile Truths; even while dealing with a gruesome matter, it is brought to us in such a beautifully written manner that it is still quite sweet to witness their childhood meeting. And so from the off Tate has made his way into your heart as a lovable rogue. We learn that this meeting has had a profound effect on him , his life and how he has made decisions based on his connection to, and love for, a little girl called Frankie.I love Frankie she is a fearsome character, as I have come to expect from DH Sidebottom, and has you championing for her from the offset. We meet Frankie first as a delicate flower of a child that you just want to hug and when we meet her in later life she has used her childhood experiences to form her life and character. Frankie has a mission to fulfil which nothing and no-one is going to stop her from reaching. I loved Frankie’s strength and resilience, no matter what is thrown at her she does not back down......almost.We also meet Jude,Tate's Brother, throughout the same timescales and my feelings for Jude swung like a pendulum throughout the book. I look forward to the next book which is Jude's story and to getting to know him some more. I honestly cannot say more about Jude without giving away spoilers but I will just say I said "Oh Jude" more than once and in more than a few manners. There are a few other characters that we meet in Fragile Truths that hold great promise for this series.After a couple of chance meetings Tate and Frankie finally meet again as adults and what transpires from there on in this book is nothing of what I was expecting of the story. It is mind blowing; gut wrenching, heart breaking and amazing with some hot and sexy scenes and some gruesome ones. I really cannot go into details as I would hate to spoil the white knuckle ride that this book is for anyone, I believe this is the kind of story that you need to go into blind to truly enjoy. It is full of twists and turns that keep you on your toes throughout the book.After a number of head spinning and heart stopping moments the book ends perfectly, without a cliff-hanger to this chapter of the series and acts as a brilliant introduction to what is going to be a brilliant series with some great characters. I would recommend it if you like a good gritty read with a love story and some hot sex in somewhat of a mafia/gangster setting. I am already looking forward to the next book so much.Once again well done to D H Sidebottom on another great book and to R M James for a brilliant first step into writing and I look forward to more of both of your work.