Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Firefly Hollow / T.L. Haddix



Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Approximate word count: 100-105,000 words

Availability   
Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: Yes
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

T.L. Haddix was born in Hazard, Kentucky, a small town in the heart of Appalachia country. She states, "Growing up, I wanted to be everything - astronaut, police officer, doctor, teacher, reporter, psychologist - there was no clear choice for me. I wanted to do it all. Becoming a writer has allowed me to do just that, because I can live vicariously through my characters." She now lives in southern Indiana with her husband and three cat-children. Firefly Hollow is the first of a new romance series. T.L. Haddix is the author of the Shadows/Leroy Collection, a series of standalone romantic suspense novels. You can join her on her facebook page.

Description:

Badly scarred from emotional wounds that have never healed, Owen Campbell has become a mysterious recluse. Determined not to let anyone close enough to hurt him again, he lives in a prison of his own making. Sarah Jane Browning is the girl across the Hollow, the girl next door. When she breaks the rules and trespasses onto his land, Owen’s willpower is shaken. When tragedy strikes, both are forced to reevaluate their circumstances. Owen’s secrets could tear them apart forever.

Appraisal:

This story opens with a scene from Sarah’s past where we are given a peek at Sarah’s family and what life was like for them in the heart of the Appalachian country in the late 1950s and 60s. The characters are well developed and endearing. It didn’t take long for me to enjoy their company and feel their pains. The dialogue was authentic and humorous at times, especially the conversations between Sarah and her mother Eliza. The author’s descriptive prose was stellar; you can tell this area of the country holds a special place in the author’s heart. I loved the paranormal twist that the author gave Owen; it truly made the suspension of belief easy to accept and drew me in to the old Appalachian folk tales. I loved everything about his character. Owen’s journey to his own acceptance is what makes this story exceptional.

There are many twists in the plot and when a devastating tragedy strikes Sarah’s family while Owen is away dealing with his uncles’ misfortune, things get complicated. I began to wonder if Sarah would ever be given the chance to know Owen’s secrets or if Owen would have enough faith in himself to trust Sarah with them. I had completely forgotten I was reading a romance and one of the elements of a romance is a Happily Ever After.

FYI:

This book contains adult language and sexual situations that may be offensive to some.

Format/Typo Issues:

I received and read a promotional copy prior to all edits being done, therefore I can not judge in this area.

Rating: ***** Five stars

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