Review: A Strong Debut Book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 14, 2013
I have a hearty love affair with debut authors and often seek them out. To land a publishing contract with a good publisher requires a keen knowledge of craft and the ability to effectively weave an engaging story. Their writing is more crisp, dialog a shade snarky and characters well developed. In short, they've gotten their contract on the basis of their skills, not their name. Misty Dietz is one of those authors.At my age, I know the best things in life often unfold slowly--a great movie, a piece of decadent chocolate or a man slowly undressing for bed. This book was no exception. Ms. Dietz crafted her story so that paragraph by paragraph it expertly unfolded and drew me in much like a chocolaty Venus flytrap. Before I knew it, I was her reading prisoner. I could almost sense her lovingly choosing the most powerful word to aptly describe an action or emotion or facial expression so she could conjure the best mental image for her readers. I simply couldn't shut off the Kindle. She had me trapped with Zachary and Sloan, immersed in their world of past pain, current terrors and future hopes. It was an emotional, yet memorable entrapment. For me, this story is a keeper. So is Ms. Dietz as a new favorite author. Well done. Very well done.I was given an ARC by the publisher for an honest review.