Review: An enjoyable read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 24, 2011
I really enjoyed reading Angel's Bend, a story about a small town with a dark underbelly. L.A Dale's talent is for character and the main character here, Lacy, has a strong and engaging voice. Her relationships with her friends are well portrayed, from the shy Abbie to the outgoing and rather dodgy character of Zac.  Add the mysterious Cam, the delightful Aunt Beth, the creepy William and the amusing Ty, all of who have surprises in store, and you have a rich cast of very real characters.Zac, the leader of a popular gang at school, can't wait to make Lacey a member. Dark and charismatic, he has minions that emulate his every move and when he gazes at her with those eyes of his, Lacey feels a pull of attraction. She's just not sure she wants to be a part of what he's offering. I really like the way Lacey doesn't fall prey to peer pressure here. It makes her a very strong character.After Lacy's mother died, she fell into a period of drug abuse which saw her failing her last year at school, now she's decided to come to Angel's Bend to live with her Aunt to repeat year 12 and have a fresh start. But her past doesn't stay behind her and she discovers that there are some in Angel's Bend who know more about her distant past than she does. A decision her mother made before her birth has terrible repercussions for her now. Can she escape the fate set in motion all those years ago?Lacy has help in the form of an angel. I won't tell you who he is, though it won't take you long to work it out. Of course, the angel is gorgeous and not allowed to fall in love with his charge, but a bond develops between them and suggests that there could be more, if he allowed it. Which of course he won't; or will he? Then there's the demon and just when you think you know which of the people in Angel's Bend it is, you discover that it's not him at all; or is it? You get the idea.I love the way Aunt Beth takes the angel revelation in her stride. Rather than freak out as many would, she decides she should get to know him, so she asks him to dinner. This is different to so many young adult novels where the teens don't tell the adults because they'd never believe them. Aunt Beth's a tarot card reader, nothing phases her and I found this refreshing in an adult character.The story builds to a satisfying conclusion with some unexpected revelations, all in all a good young adult read. There were a couple of plot holes near the end and an over use of sentences beginning with words ending in `ing' which weakens the prose, but I doubt if they would mar the enjoyment for most readers.