As I open the book, I can hardly wait to see what taylor dean has in store for me today. A pretty cover and the book blurb make me eager to begin.
Riveting from beginning to end. Be prepared to read straight through.
Adam was born when his Pa told him they had found their Eve at a rest stop in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Alyssa’s life was changed forever at the same rest stop.
The saying, your life passes before your eyes, ran through her mind, as she thought of all the wonderful memories she had, until now. She felt her life had been perfect. She had married her wonderful husband and their beautiful son, Clay, had recently entered their life.
Pa drove deeper into the wilderness and Sam began to worry for them all, but especially for Alyssa. They stopped and separated Alyssa from Sam and Clay. She thought if she went willingly, maybe Pa would leave them alive in the woods.
Alyssa had a hard time keeping it together, so they knocked her out. She was so worried about Clay and Sam, she really didn’t care what they did to her.
Pa and Adam put a leash around her neck and led her like a dog. She couldn’t figure out what they wanted with her. They hadn’t done anything to her yet. When they told her why they had kidnapped her, she couldn’t help but laugh. She felt the idea was so ludicrous, they must be yanking her chain. She began to realize they were not joking around and became horrified, trying to think of a way out of the mess she was in.
Alex had lived alone in the mountains for three years. He was an only child and had wanted for nothing. He came from a family of doctors, but with his family gone, he changed his world dramatically. He isolated himself at his cabin and seemed quite content keeping his own company. He had supplies brought in once a year and that was enough socializing for him.
Alyssa had been looking for an opportunity to escape. When it came, she ran for her life. Pa and Adam had taken her so deep in woods, she didn’t know which way to go, so she just ran as far away from them as she could.
They caught her easily, she ran right to them. Adam said she belonged to him and he would kill her before he would let her go.
Alyssa prayed. She didn’t want to die. She had to fight. They had to pay. She would not let them win.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
I look at the cover and it conveys a feeling of peacefulness. I can picture myself in the warm, snug cabin, sitting in front of a cozy fire burning in the fireplace, with my feet up and a cup of hot chocolate (or a hot toddy) in one hand and a book in the other. A deep quiet settles over the cabin as the snow floats softly to the ground. Well, if you think that is what this book is going to be like, you better brace yourself.
This was a hard review to write. By the time I got to page 20, I wanted to stop giving any clues as to what was to come. It was a kidnapping, but the cruelty went way beyond that. It was very intense and I feel you need to read it for yourself to get the full effect of the events.
Riveting from beginning to end. Be prepared to read straight through. I couldn’t put it down. It was hard to keep from skimming ahead. I just had to know what was coming. It was killing me waiting for it.
I thought Alyssa was an idiot, when she took off from Alex on her own. I hate when women are depicted as being so stupid. But then, Alex said, “sometimes you have to see and know for yourself how impossible something really is.” It made sense to me. The scene helped to develop the personalities of the characters.
A man and a woman alone in the woods, of course sex is going to be an issue. A knight in shining armor? Well, the armor might be a little tarnished, but a knight nonetheless. A woman with a family to go back to. A man who had felt such loss, he had isolated himself in the mountains, with human contact only once a year, when supplies were brought in.
I watch a lot of the Alaskan reality shows on TV. Some of those people are pretty far off the grid. If it wasn’t for friends checking on them and helping them out, who knows how long they could be dead before anyone found out. Some of them live in places that are almost inaccessible. Because of this, who knows if a story like this could be real or not.
But, it is a fantasy, a book. Just like in the movies, some things are put in to make it work the way the writer wants, or to make the reader (or watcher) become more involved in the story and up the level of intensity. And why not? It is fiction, not a true story. I want the story to take me to a place I would not otherwise go. To me, books are an escape. I want to be so engrossed in them, that the world around me is nonexistent. taylor dean seems to do that exceptionally well for me.
I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
My Favorite Quotes
“Everything that happens to us in life becomes a part of us and makes us who we are.”
“Cold pizza is the best breakfast food ever” I can relate to that. My mother and I both think cold pizza is the breakfast of champions.
“It’s like I’ve tasted the bitter, and now the sweet’s so overwhelmingly good, I just want to bask in it.”
“…there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this and that is, life is short, life is tender. It can be taken away in the blink of an eye. When you find love you grasp it, never let it go and enjoy each day you’ve been given to the fullest.”
She slowly rocked him as she wept. Alex felt……weeping.
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
.
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:
To Purchase a copy of taylor dean’s books from Amazon, click on the cover below.
My Review of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle
GIVEAWAY
taylor dean is offering for this awesome Giveaway:
US – 2 signed copies of Sierra packaged in gift bags
International – 2 ebooks
Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:
Would you find living alone in the woods a cool thing to do, or do you crave the big city?
Giveaway will run through 3/20/2013 .
To see all my Reviews, click HERE.
To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.
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- The End Is Here……… (fuonlyknew.wordpress.com)
Wow! That cover is really misleading. Kudos to the author and the publisher for branching out from the typical covers that always telegraph what the book is about.
Jonathan
http://www.ireadabookonce.com
I loved it too. It’s refreshing to have someone challenge us and make us look deeper into the book to see what the story is about.
Hi Sherry! I slowly read through your review, twice. I’m completely overwhelmed right now! It’s such an absolute thrill to hear how your book has effected someone else. Sierra is my personal favorite of all of my books. This makes your review all the more satisfying. Thank you so much for your WONDERFUL and THOUGHTFUL review. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
-Taylor
I loved lancaster house and the middle aisle, but this book really blew me away. I loved, loved, loved it. I am so happy that you liked my review. When I love a book as much as this, it takes me a while to tweak the review to my satisfaction. Thanks also for allowing me to do the great giveaway.
You’ve totally got me curious, Sherry! I would never want to live alone in the woods, but neither would I enjoy the big city 😉
Glad you are curious, means I’ve accomplished my goal. I am an in between kind of person. I like all the modern conveniences, but some quiet is really nice.
I grew up in the Welsh hills, right next to a huge wooded area and spent many a day out in the forest so I would say yes but with the option to visit civilisation once in a while 🙂
Seems like you had an adventurous childhood. I loved exploring the small woods we had behind our house. I was young enough that it seemed big to me. I don’t see any reason you can’t have the best of both worlds. ^_^
Trees and snow. What an awesome cover. It misleads you a little! Looks all cozy until you start reading:)
I’d love to win this! Thanks for hosting Sherry!
I don’t relish living in the woods, but don’t like big cities either. I’ll stick with my quaint little single tax colony thank you:)
My trees. LOL It does mislead you. I think it makes the story even better, because you are caught off guard. You are running pretty hot in the Giveaways, so keep your eyes peeled. Good luck!!!!
I think that it would be a brilliant adventure. Ao calm, relaxing and low key.
I can see myself with my feet kicked up in front of the fire with a hot toddy and a book. There is an eerie quietness when the snow falls and you are in an isolated spot. I used to love walking in the woods, shooting photos as the snow fell. It made me feel as if I was on another planet.
This would really be a great book to read as I read the comments. It really intrigues me
Good. I am glad you are curious. Good luck in the giveaway. Then you can find out what all the buzz is about.
For me, there is always a sense of adventure about the woods and I love the woods I like adventure 😀 Thank you for sharing 🙂
I feel the same way. I love to sit still and let all the sounds come alive.
Sherry, if I was in the woods by myself with internet YES! But I have to have my outlet to the outside world! Oh I also need plumbing and electricity too. So I guess I don’t qualify but being alone doesn’t bother me at all! Lots of love, Emily
Yeah, you about summed it up for me too. I just find there is too much noise pollution in the world. Don’t worry about your email, it is in my address book. lol
Oh guido.emily@gmail.com
Eek, think I’d prefer a big city, especially after reading your review, Sherry, lol. I like the excitement with all the lights, people, and activity. I live in a small town but would love to live in Boston if I could.
Thank you for the giveaway! 😀
pearlofabonogirl (at) hotmail (dot) com
Hi Jennifer. If I was younger, I would love to live in Boston. Now it would seem to much like work. But I do love to visit there. One of my favorite things to do was go see the Boston Red Sox and wander around the city before the game. Good luck.
I have always loved the woods. Even as a teen I would spend hours hiking in the woods where I grew up. I know I could live there and not miss anything, as long as I had access to the internet. lol I love the cold and snow and trees and everything about nature. Of course I would want my sweet hubby with me(he is not a cold loving man though) and would have to be able to visit and see my granddaughters and daughter when I wanted. But I don’t like big cities, nothing about them appeals to me so I think I would be fine living in the woods in a beautiful log cabin. The quiet and serene and just everything about it would be fine with me. Give me my books, Kindle, Nook and laptop and I don’t need much else at all. I am not a city girl or a material girl either. I would go to the mountain as a teen to get away from the things at home and always felt so at home and peaceful there. It was my getaway and I found so much peace in the woods on the mountain. No big cities for me. I would be so out of place. I hope that does not make me sound strange. I just love the solitude.
Thanks for the chance to have the beautiful paper back copy. I would love to win that.. 🙂
Lsmoore43(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Linda. Thank you for that wonderful comment. Since I have gotten older, I find I have an aversion to “noise pollution”. I like my peace and quiet, with a book, or kindle, in my hand and my computer at my fingertips. I love sitting on my patio whiling away the hours. Good luck and have a super weekend.
I wouldn’t mind living in the woods as long as I wasn’t alone. This is a wonderful prize. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Rose
harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com
You are very welcome Rose and a huge thank you to taylor dean. I like solitude, but critters really can’t carry on much of a conversation. ^_^
I would like to live in the woods, but I would want to have my husband with me. Thanks for the giveaway. This looks like a fascinating book.
I agree with the hubby. I always like having mine around too. Good luck.
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Easy answer! Since I was maybe 15 or 16, my dream has been to live in a cottage in the woods alone and be a writer (and reader).
A great review that makes me eager to read the rest of the story. I admire Kevin’s tenacity for not publishing the story until he could do it his way. Sounds like the long wait was well worth it. I would love to retire to a “peaceful” cabin in the woods to do my art and writing…but sure I would need supply’s more than once a year.
I am glad you are intrigued. I would think a cabin in the woods, with nature all around, would be an inspiration and add to your art and writing. Good luck.
My entire career was one of perpetual solitude, living several miles out from very small towns of 200 to 450 people. When you heard gunshots in the middle of the night, your first thought was “poacher” rather than “drive by shooting” or “somebody just got killed”. As a teen I was an avid backpacker and camper, but I HATED going to the Parks, because so many of the visitors there brought too much of the city with them… generators going all night to power the TV and microwave, etc. My preference was always for the wilderness, or just follow a dirt road into the forest until it ended, then start hiking from there. I would LOVE nothing better than to live in a small, one-room cabin in the woods, but now it would have to be in an area with cell phone coverage and satellite internet access. I could live without a lot of things, but I’ve become soft enough in my old age I think I’d need electricity (to keep the cell phone, Kindle and Laptop charged) and running hot water (gotta have my daily shower – the wildlife would insist upon it). In a way I’m almost ashamed that I’ve gotten that “civilized”, because there was a time I would have been happy living in a cave and growing/catching all my food. Health issues are now a big concern that would prohibit such remoteness, but even today I could be quite contented if I never saw another human for days at a time. I could finally start to whittle down my TBR list. I would also need to see my kids and grandkids from time to time, just to let them know I was still alive. Skype would be a nice amenity to have, but my dependence on electricity would have to be severely curtailed. I’d also have to keep entering these giveaways, just to shake up my reading choices once in a while! So I guess my short answer is, yes, living alone in the woods would be a cool thing to do. As always, acwa(at)netscape(dot)com
Thanks so much for the wonderful comment. I am with you all the way. I am a bit of a loner and do not like the “noise pollution” that seems to be all around me. I love the parks and tend to go in the off season to avoid as many people as possible. I don’t think I could ever live in a cave, though. I like electricity, running water and the internet. I am sorry to say I am a TVaholic, but I can live without my cell phone. ^_^
Once upon a time cable/satellite TV came to our location, where previously we got no reception. I sat in front of that thing from the moment I got home from work until the 11:00 news was over. I gradually scaled it back to just old serial reruns on TVLand, like Gilligan’s Island, Hogan’s Heroes, etc, and finally it got to where the only thing I watched was NFL Football. But after the way THIS season started, with those incompetent Pop Warner officials, and that one game in Week 3, where the only person in the entire USA who DIDN’T get the call right was the ultra-incompetent official standing right there, I even quit watching football. Didn’t see another game until the Super Bowl, but I think the way the NFL handled the owner’s lockout of the REAL officials soured me forever on football. Now my TV is just an avenue for my wife to shop at QVC, etc. I can now say without fear of contradiction that I can live without my TV. As for my cell phone, I don’t use it to make calls. I use the the calendar to keep track of EVERY little detail of my life, including when I’m supposed to take my pills, go to the doctor, and visit my daughter! THAT I can’t live without, or I’ll become one of those old geezers who wander around town, drooling on themselves, with a vacant look in their eyes. BTW, I also would go to the parks during off-season, but I noticed that if you are the ONLY person at a campsite, somebody will drive in and set up camp RIGHT NEXT TO YOU! It’s like they’re afraid to be too far away from other people or something. That cave sounds better all the time!
Dude, you had me laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes. I so agree with the disgusting way money has even ruined sports. Everyone is too greedy, they don’t want to share. Didn’t their parents teach them any manners. I never really thought about it, but you are right. I remember standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. My husband and I were the only ones there and before you knew it people were trying to talk to us. My hubby’s in TV, so he handles most of the video stuff and I love still photography. We would be up before daylight and stake out our place to get the sunrise. You are so right about people needing to be near you. There would be lots of other places they could go, but NOOOOO, they had to plunk down right beside us. People don’t realize how much they miss by never shutting up. LOL
I;m with you, Jaxgrampy! I’d not ask for the cell phone or TV, but I do need the Internet to acquire books and to post reviews. Guess I’d have to get me a big P.O. box in town to receive all my book packages, because if I could, I would be so far out only I could find my way in and out.:D Nice dream.
lol. Loved your comments. It seems like a lot of us could do with a little less input from society. Sometimes it seems so overwhelming, my head spins. Good luck in the giveaway.
I live in a rural area and spend much of my time in the woods with my family, hiking, taking pictures, and just enjoying nature. That being said, I don’t think I could handle living in the woods alone. But I wouldn’t want to live in a big city either. I’m good with the in-between 🙂
bnacole86@yahoo.com
I’m an in-betweener too. Happy to know there are plenty of us out there. ^_^
Id love to live in the woods, I actually owned a home in the woods and it was so peaceful (well after the kids were in bed 🙂 ) I loved it until I lost it in my divorce. That was a sad day for me. If I was able to take care of a home on my own Id definitely try to own again in the woods!! kelleeh.73@gmail.com
Sorry to hear that. Divorce sucks, there are NO winners. Remember the good things. ^_^
Definitely not alone in the woods unless the house came with a handsome hunk who loves dogs as much as I do!
I can picture it right now. The bear rug spread out before the fireplace, with a fire warming the room, the dogs sprawled out on each side of you while the hunk tries to find a spot. lol
Wow what a great review. It makes me want to read these books. I will check out on Amazon if there are any specials
Thanks Evelyne. I love taylor’s books. Sierra is my favorite, so far. Happy Reading.
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