Wednesday, April 12, 2017

BOOK REVIEW - SPLIT by J.B. SALSBURY - HEADLINE - SUSPENSE ROMANCE


By: J.B. Salsbury

Published By: Headline
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 402 Pages

RATING: 4.25 SPLIT STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

JB Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has captivated readers around the world. Her unforgettable new novel is a story of romance and suspense, with a twist no one will see coming . . .


What do you do when you wake up with no memory of what you did last night?

Lucas spent the first half of his life protecting himself from others, but now his own mind is his biggest enemy. He doesn't know what happens when the blackouts overtake him, but he can recall the feelings--the rage, the confusion, the fear. Thankfully the quiet life he's found in Payson, Arizona has kept the darkness at bay. Until his boss's estranged daughter shows up in town, asking questions she shouldn't and sparking a desire Lucas can't control. Getting close to Shyann is the best thing that's ever happened to him, but when his blackouts return, unleashing the truth he's battled so long to hide, he may just lose her forever . . .

BOOK REVIEW:


I am giving this book just over 4 stars, but have to hold myself back from making it a five star read.

I enjoyed Split.

I enjoyed the characters, Lucas and Gage.

I love the cover design because I feel like I am looking at Gage.

I need you to hear me out with my review of Split as in a way I am split.

Go figure.

To tackle the topic dissociative identity disorder in a romance suspense read is very interesting and frightening and other emotions.

Shyann is a great character and I commend her on her ability to outshine what is thrown at her.

The reason I can’t give this a five star read and I so wanted to, was I needed to believe in the plot more.

It needed to be able to stand on its own two feet for me ( personally ), because I am a person who looks deeper than the surface. It is how I read and I can’t help that. I look for strength in plot that appeases me as the reader.

When an author tries to direct ( plants little seeds ) a reader's mind a certain way… red flags go up. I will question why you are doing that, especially when there are XXXX amount of pages still to go in the book.

I couldn’t believe/accept one character was capable of something, even though I kept being told it was so.

Red flag.

I wanted to theorize for myself. I wanted to question the characters in my mind and wonder if I was right.

I feel a really, really good suspense can stand on its own two feet and let the reader try to work it out for themselves… until that all revealing OMG moment, but I need believability too in the equation.

I simply have questions a lot of readers may not have about certain characters and maybe the way something is handled near end. I won’t explain because it will spoil and also some readers will accept everything at face value the author writes, and that is cool.

As a reader, if you are gonna present me with a suspense/psychological thriller, I need it bullet proof, because I am that type of reader. I need stuff explained, even if it is just one sentence. I don’t want things looked over. An example could be therapy.

Man, you don’t go through this kinda shiz and walk away with flowers blooming…life is still young…shiz will take you down later in life in some recurring way. Especially something like what happens in this story.

WHAHHH!

I am trying not to say what is on my mind for fear of spoiling, so I am probably coming across a bit vague. I have my thoughts and I can’t explain them here.

I did enjoy this story, but I don’t like being directed to think a certain way. It feels forced and I know it won’t be true. It’s what I call ‘decoy’ plot. It’s a detour around what really has happened which you can then start to work out for yourself ahead of it actually happening.

Almost all this book I enjoyed, apart from the ‘decoy’ parts and needing a stronger backbone to some outcomes.

Gage is a brilliant character.

Lucas is written very well.

Shyann is working through her own shiz and finding the path she should be on in her life.


I was meant for this. To love the unlovable.

I love the dad and the dynamic there with Shyann and I love her brother Cody.



“How do you do this, Code? How can you stand coming here to this house or even living in this town? Everything reminds me of her.”

“Easy.” He swivels and jerks his head in the direction of the living room. “I do it for him. Whatever we went through, he went through worse. He sheltered us from the worst of it. Nobody sheltered him…”




The twist at the end was brilliant because nothing leads you to suspect. It’s kinda random, albeit I’m not getting true strength and depth to have worked the twist out with the character.

Well done. A twist is a twist in my book and it succeeded, it was well played.

I do recommend this book because Gage and Lucas are very intriguing characters.


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