These Starcrossed Lives Of Ours
by
Megan Linski
Description
Christine Fjord is on the run. After making her escape from the cult she
called her family for three years, nineteen year old Christie is now
wanted dead by the girl she’s loved and idolized forever...the cult's
cunning and venomous leader, Annabelle Lane. An expert in the art of
deception, Annabelle's threats aren't to be taken lightly, and everybody
knows that once you're in the cult, you're in it for life. The only way
out is death.
Christie's break from Annabelle's clutches leads her to a place she never knew existed, a small town called Manchester, Michigan, and into the arms of a man who is the opposite of everything she's been. Ian Rosenthal is kind, forgiving, and willing to sacrifice everything for Christie's safety. Christie resists Ian's efforts to win her over, despite the strong feelings she has for him. Is falling in love again worth risking her life? Christie knows that nobody crosses Annabelle Lane without paying the ultimate price...
Christie's break from Annabelle's clutches leads her to a place she never knew existed, a small town called Manchester, Michigan, and into the arms of a man who is the opposite of everything she's been. Ian Rosenthal is kind, forgiving, and willing to sacrifice everything for Christie's safety. Christie resists Ian's efforts to win her over, despite the strong feelings she has for him. Is falling in love again worth risking her life? Christie knows that nobody crosses Annabelle Lane without paying the ultimate price...
Review
I received an electronic ARC from Gryfyn Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the synopsis I was instantly intrigued. I love this dark secret, scandalous crime sort of stuff. The day I received my ARC was a busy one so I didn't really have time to start it right away. I thought, "Oh I'll just read the prologue real quick." After ingesting this chilling, dramatic scene, I was like, "Okay, just cancel all my plans for tonight." Seriously. Download the sample HERE and just read the prologue if nothing else. ***Be warned, the violent situation may disturbing to some readers.***
The scenes after the beginning of the book were a bit disappointing. The author set up Christine to be this damaged, hardened girl, but we really didn't know what exactly made her that way. She came from a rough home, but we didn't get much insight into that. I would have enjoyed a flashback or two, especially since I'm familiar with Linksi's work and know she would have been able to execute them nicely. We really don't know much about Annabelle, the antagonist, either - except that she has a split personality that is irresistibly charming one minute and ruthless the next. But again, what made her that way? Most of my questions about her were answered toward the end, but I would have liked a little more character presentation on Annabelle in the beginning to better understand Christine's struggle with leaving the cult.
The cult, or rather Annabelle's little "family" of lonely, misguided teenagers, was one thing that really made me want to read this book. I've always been fascinated by weird fanatic groups and the people that belong to them. I wish the cult aspect of the book had been a bit more developed as well. I understand the kids who belonged to it were vulnerable and susceptible to Annabelle's sweet words and promise of a place to call home, but after they found out about all the rules and that life in her crappy house wasn't worth it, what made them stay? A few tried to run away but many were hopelessly devoted and I just didn't know why. I feel like Christine could have had a few flashbacks during her integration back into society that would have been good insight into what it was exactly that she was leaving.
That part of the book was great. I really enjoyed watching Christine's guarded walls chip away little by little while she is in the care of good people. I really liked Ian. He was flawed, yet genuine and a real model for how a guy should treat his girl. Even though she wasn't his girl...Linski does a really good job of the whole "will they, won't they" scenario. The romance is slow going, but I believe that is more like real life. Or how it should be, anyway. The best relationships are built on a foundation of friendship and trust. I can't say that statement better than how the author illustrates it.
I'm glad I got to read These Starcrossed Lives Of Ours. You get to see the story from the point of view from both Christine and Ian, and the author does a great job of giving both of them a distinctly different voice. There are a few twists, one I saw coming from a mile away and another came up and smacked me in the back of the head when I wasn't looking. Because of the missing links with Annabelle and the cult, I didn't get what I was hoping for out of the book, but it was definitely worth the read.
The scenes after the beginning of the book were a bit disappointing. The author set up Christine to be this damaged, hardened girl, but we really didn't know what exactly made her that way. She came from a rough home, but we didn't get much insight into that. I would have enjoyed a flashback or two, especially since I'm familiar with Linksi's work and know she would have been able to execute them nicely. We really don't know much about Annabelle, the antagonist, either - except that she has a split personality that is irresistibly charming one minute and ruthless the next. But again, what made her that way? Most of my questions about her were answered toward the end, but I would have liked a little more character presentation on Annabelle in the beginning to better understand Christine's struggle with leaving the cult.
The cult, or rather Annabelle's little "family" of lonely, misguided teenagers, was one thing that really made me want to read this book. I've always been fascinated by weird fanatic groups and the people that belong to them. I wish the cult aspect of the book had been a bit more developed as well. I understand the kids who belonged to it were vulnerable and susceptible to Annabelle's sweet words and promise of a place to call home, but after they found out about all the rules and that life in her crappy house wasn't worth it, what made them stay? A few tried to run away but many were hopelessly devoted and I just didn't know why. I feel like Christine could have had a few flashbacks during her integration back into society that would have been good insight into what it was exactly that she was leaving.
That part of the book was great. I really enjoyed watching Christine's guarded walls chip away little by little while she is in the care of good people. I really liked Ian. He was flawed, yet genuine and a real model for how a guy should treat his girl. Even though she wasn't his girl...Linski does a really good job of the whole "will they, won't they" scenario. The romance is slow going, but I believe that is more like real life. Or how it should be, anyway. The best relationships are built on a foundation of friendship and trust. I can't say that statement better than how the author illustrates it.
I'm glad I got to read These Starcrossed Lives Of Ours. You get to see the story from the point of view from both Christine and Ian, and the author does a great job of giving both of them a distinctly different voice. There are a few twists, one I saw coming from a mile away and another came up and smacked me in the back of the head when I wasn't looking. Because of the missing links with Annabelle and the cult, I didn't get what I was hoping for out of the book, but it was definitely worth the read.
3 stars
***
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