Buy:  Kindle Ebook

Review

3.5 stars

This is the first solo novel from author B.T. Urruela. He is a co-writer of one of my favourite books – A Lover’s Lament – so I have been super excited for this book, and I really enjoyed it. It’s an engaging story with dramatic themes, a mystery/suspense twist and a sweet romance.

I was immediately sucked into story as we meet Xander Evans who is currently languishing in prison after being convicted of a brutal crime that he did not commit. The story then moves back three years previously to show us the events leading up to the fateful night that changed Xander’s life.

Xander is a drifter. After growing up in the foster system, he has bounced from town to town, never really settling down, not feeling like he belongs anywhere. When he arrives in a small town in Missouri, his brave actions earn the gratitude of a local wine maker and his family, and when they offer him work and lodgings for the summer, he gratefully accepts. Xander is pretty much adopted into the Watson family, growing to care deeply for them, but it’s their daughter, Paige, who truly captures his attention.

There are sparks from the moment that Xander and Paige meet. They want each other and their attraction is clear, but it’s a slow build with a great build up of sexual tension. The story is written in dual POV so we get to see it developing from both of their perspectives and it’s sweet and realistic, and I enjoyed watching two of them together as they fell for each other.

“Do you know what you mean to me?”…
“Well, I like to think I have an idea. But tell me…tell me what I mean to you.”
“So. Fucking. Much. More than I’m comfortable even admitting. I’ve never gotten close to a woman before. I’ve dated, yes, but it’s never meant anything. Not a single fucking thing. I just never let them get close. But this…” he points to me and then at himself. “This is real. This is different. From the moment I saw you, Paige.”

But the whole time the romance is developing and Xander is starting to settle into life with the Watsons, there is an awful sense of dread building as we know what’s going to happen and we’re just waiting for it. While reading I was frantically coming up with ‘whodunnit’ theories as the story builds to its inevitable ending, and Urruela does a good job of planting threads to keep you guessing – though my predictions turned out to be right.

I enjoyed the build up, and the shift back to the present brings some surprises. Urruela holds nothing back in showing the consequences of all that has happened, and it’s not all easy reading. Things certainly didn’t go the way I was expecting, and I have to admit that it did impact on how I felt about the overall story.

I also thought that the ending felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked that part of the story to be fleshed out a bit more. There was a lot of story rushed into the last few chapters – important parts of the story that could have been epic, but instead were glossed over, and then the story changed direction completely in what I presume is a lead up to the next book. It was certainly an interesting twist, but it left me disappointed at the brief resolution of other aspects of the story after all of that build up.

But overall, I did enjoy this book. Xander’s story is engrossing and well told, and though I had some issues with the pacing and the way parts of the story played out, it ends well with only a mild cliffy. I’m intrigued by the direction of the next book, and I’m interested in the characters and their story and will definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

3.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

Author Info

BT Urruela was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour to Baghdad, Iraq, his vehicle was hit by two roadside bombs, which took his right leg below the knee and the life of his commander. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds, an Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He medically retired from the Army in 2011 and moved to Tampa, FL where he currently works as a Director and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts motivational speeches, works as a cover and fitness model and he’s a personal performance trainer. He co-wrote the military romance novel A Lover’s Lament and will be releasing his debut solo novel, Into the Nothing, on June 21st, 2016.

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Website   |  Goodreads