Review: 3.5 emotional stars
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
SHREDDED is the first storyline in Tracy Wolff's contemporary, new adult EXTREME RISK snowboarding series.  This is Z Michaels and Ophelia Richardson's story. Z is the bad boy of the snowboarding circuit with a dark and tormented past.  Ophelia is a young woman on the road to both physical and emotional recovery following a horrific accident one year earlier. The storyline is told from two distinct first person POV-Ophelia and Z.The focus of the storyline is on the building relationship between Ophelia and Z and, Z's determination to push himself to the limits of his capabilities. As an extreme snowboarder Z constantly places himself in dangerous situations including a late night `jump' off a mountain that could have ended his life.  But it is these types of suicidal actions that will push Ophelia in another direction when Z's need for the rush hits too close to home.  Ophelia has already experienced the life and death situation of someone she once loved and she has sworn never to watch another friend self-destruct while she sits in the passenger seat-along for the ride.The relationship between Z and Ophelia is confrontational in the beginning as Z's reputation with woman and sex precedes his bad boy persona. Z pushes all of Ophelia's buttons noting that she holds a secret almost as dark as the secrets from Z's past and it is with this realization that Z can be both sympathetic and empathetic when the truth is finally revealed. But Z will continue to push the boundaries of his sport and in this Ophelia may be pushed right out of his life.All of the secondary characters-Z's friends Ash, Cam and Luc-as well as our leading couple have yet to grow up. Their immaturity fuels the lifestyle and public perception that is extreme sports-alcohol, drugs, nameless sex and risk taking. Ophelia runs when she is needed the most; and Z's past drives the dangerous life style that is extreme snowboarding.Tracy Wolff brings the world of snowboarding onto the pages of SHREDDED with references to the famous and the infamous; snowboarding terminology; and the Olympic trials and extreme snowboarding games.  We are pulled onto the slopes, the half-pipe and the snow covered mountains where Z and his fellow athletes hone their skill and risk their lives for the ultimate thrill and the chance to be the best.SHREDDED is a new adult storyline but the writing style was a little choppy. The language was stilted and at times felt forced as though the author was unsure how to proceed with the conversations.  Yes, extreme sports have their own style of speech and terminology but the language or usage felt disconcerted at times.Overall, SHREDDED is an interesting and timely storyline that ends on a cliffhanger. While one couple gets their happily ever after another young boarder will have his entire life destroyed in the blink of an eye.gifted a copy