Book Blurb:
The present is built on the past. But what if your past is a lie?
When 18 yr old Abigail Bridges’ grandmother dies, she leaves behind a mysterious letter asking her to unravel a hidden family secret.
There is only one rule: tell no one.
But meeting strangers in the dark and receiving old journals dating back to the Holocaust isn’t what she bargained for. Neither is a chance encounter with the enigmatic, brown-eyed Kaden Oliver, who makes her want to discard her usually reserved nature.
After a key clue goes missing, Abigail ignores her grandmother’s rule and tells Kade everything. Together, they begin to unravel a terrifying secret. The truth may set others free, but for Abigail, it will tear her family apart.
Now, she must decide between continuing to uncover her families’ lies or burying the past once and for all.
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My Review:
Genre: Heart-Wrenching, Mystery, Suspense, Teen--
4 Out Of 5 Stars
"Bravery is a choice, Miss Bridges. It's not inherent or given. It's a choice we make. And real courage is tested not by those who simply make hard choices but by those who stand by them. Even in the face of fear and recrimination."
When Abby's grandmother GG dies, Abby is completely lost- not only did she lose her loved one, but her best friend. When she receives a letter from GG written before she died, Abby is excited to get a piece of her back. But GG has left a mystery for Abby to solve, one that may change the way Abby sees the world and everyone in it.
In between the present action with Abby were entries from her Grandfather's time at the Jewish concentration camp Auschwitz and they were awful, painful yet ever so realistic and gritty to read. I have a hard time wrapping my head around that level of horror and disrespect for human life, so it was really hard to read those sections but they added a level of realism, back story and purpose to the plot. Just keep in mind that the entries are pretty detailed at times and pretty awful in general, so don't expect fluff and rainbows.
"Not today, then? he asked.
..."We may both be socially awkward, but you are going to kiss me. Soon enough, you won't be able to help yourself."
I love Kaden and his charm and pushiness. The fact he could get an invitation for dinner without Abby even realizing it, make her parents love him in a blink of an eye, his humor in the face of any substations... he was such a perfect foil to Abby- so willing to share and be open about his feelings and life, so full of joy and outwardly outgoing. Every scene he was in made me happy and I looked forward to the fact he so easily made Abby uncomfortable in the best of ways. I think Tia was a genius to create Kaden and use him as the perfect tool to help Abby as well as lighten the tone to what was a pretty serious topic.
Overall I found this to be a very interesting blend of history and mystery, with the perfect touch of romance thrown in for flavor. Watching Abby put together pieces that I knew would not end well had me so emotionally invested in the story. The resolve, courage and determination that Abby showed was truly remarkable and I enjoyed being with her on this heart-wrenching discovery. This was my first read by Tia but I will for sure keep my eyes open for my next one!
I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.
Tia Souders is the author of young adult novels MORE THAN A NUMBER and BETTER THAN THIS, as well as the women's fiction novel WAITING ON HOPE. When she isn’t writing, she’s likely working with her hubby renovating their century home. She’s a wine-loving, coffeeholic with a sweet tooth and resides on a farm in rural Ohio with her husband and children.
She loves chatting about books and has always wanted to join a book club but her introverted self won't let her. She loves connecting with readers, so reach out!
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