Review: Such a beautiful tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2014
I LOVE finding new authors. It’s the best. We all have our favorites that we know we’ll love every word they write. But finding that author with her debut novel or maybe even a few books out, and instantly you just feel it? That was me with Gia Riley today. She requested that we read her novella, Between the Pain. I wasn’t sure what to expect because for me, a novella needs to be a follow-up to another series. There’s just not enough time usually to become connected to the characters. In the wise old words of my friend Cassie Graham, “She proved your ass wrong!” Man, did she. I don’t love novellas. I never really get into them, but I just felt something with this one when Gia emailed us. I couldn’t wait to start it. I had no idea what I was walking into though. It went above and beyond what I expected.The synopsis is perfect and tells you what you need to know, so here’s that.It’s devastatingly heartbreaking. It’s beautifully written. The characters are real and believable, along with the storyline. Gia grips you and doesn’t let go for that small amount of time it takes to read this one. She makes it so easy to become emotionally invested in these characters and Hallie’s life specifically. Within the pages of this book, you'll feel love, sorrow, anger, and joy. She reaches out to all of your emotions, and handles each one perfectly.I was chatting with a friend the other day about books and she said that the couple in a book she had read recently didn’t have insta-love, it was more like insta-connection. That’s exactly how I would describe Hallie and Ryan in Between the Pain. I was worried that it would feel too rushed but it wasn’t. Was it fast? Absolutely. But it didn’t matter because I felt how much they cared for one another. There’s a different part of the book that I feel like I should address but I sort of can’t. When you read it, you’ll know why.Overall, I’m addicted to Gia Riley. Addicted. Her writing is so eloquent and so easy to read. Her characters are real and have the most beautiful, romantic love stories. I can’t wait to see what’s to come, and can’t suggest this book enough.<3 Erin