Review: 4 1/4 Stars from "RedAdeptReviews.com"
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 20, 2010
Plot/Storyline: 4 StarsThis book opened with a scene that pulled me into the novel, making me want to know what happened next. I didn't have to wait long as each section, which told of a portion of Johnny Buck's life, while leaving the reader hanging for more, still had a feeling of completeness.The overall plot was intriguing and original. The storyline did get a little long-winded at times, with about thirty percent of the book being unnecessary to the plot. I do prefer my novels to be a little more tightly written and with a faster pace. There were just too many scenes that did not contribute to the storyline.I found the conclusion to be completely unpredictable and satisfying, if a little corny. I liked the way the author did not add a lot of explanation to drag out the ending.There was a rather drawn-out sex scene in the middle of the book. When reading it, I really thought it was superfluous. However, the inclusion of it was explained in the ending, so it definitely fit.Character Development: 4 StarsI found Johnny to be a normal kid, if not particularly likable, in the first section. As he got older, I found myself liking him less and less. He just seemed like a jerk for the most part. However, by the end, I was rooting for him, at least a little, as some sympathy was generated. He also grew quite a bit as a character.Most of the other characters were one-dimensional, without any real personalities.Writing Style: 4 1/4 StarsThe writing style was excellent with good voice and sentence structure.  The descriptions were vivid and well written. The dialogue for the "young Johnny" was a little mature for the age group; however, the rest of the book had good dialogue.I found it odd that a very few chapters were thrown in that told the story from different viewpoints. It seemed like the entire book should have been from Johnny's point of view or have had more chapters told from various viewpoints. Those few chapters threw the book off course for short periods.Editing/Formatting: 5 StarsBoth were of professional quality.Rating: R for Sex, Language, Mild Violence