Hayley is a girl with her whole life ahead of her, after running away she decides to start living her life, but going to a house party, brings about more problems than she ever envisioned. Taking the help offered she gets out, only to fall for a guy who could be the catalyst to her down fall. Slowly as their relationship blossoms, the world around her darkens, bringing with it fears from her … past, but can she keep her secrets or must her relationship come first and which one presents the most danger, when Jesse finally starts piecing things together though, it is her that must go back, to protect the people she loves, but can Jesse protect her, and at what cost?
more
Mystery, Thriller, Romance with a STRONG Heroine.
This book is so many things–mystery, thriller, romance–and each part kept me intrigued. The main character, Hayley, has suffered and is damaged because of it, but as you read you realize how amazingly strong she is, too. This is not a fluffy romance, but a deep read, with sections that will break your heart. The Vine Cross is hard to read at times, but the rewards are well worth it. (Be advised and read the trigger warnings before reading this series–there are challenging elements in this series that may be disturbing to some readers.)
The Vine Cross by S. P. Dawes is a gem of a book and it is very high up on my list of favourite novels.
It begins at an easy pace and tells us about Hayley who works as a chef in a local restaurant. She is invited to a party by her boss at his home and, while there, she spots a face from her past that sends her world crashing down around her.
A man called Jesse helps her get away without being seen and later that evening they both feel the pull of attraction. Jesse has fallen for her and it seems Hayley likes him too, though she is more hesitant about a relationship.
Hayley tells him a little of her past and how she has put the bad things that happened to her behind her. Their relationship grows and their future together looks bright.
But Jesse is a police officer, a detective, and he is working on not one but two major cases and, after a few incidents, it seems that Hayley might possibly be involved in one of those cases.
This is where The Vine Cross makes the leap from a pleasant, easy to read story to a gripping crime drama that will make your heart beat faster with each page you turn.
Hayley’s past is dark. She suffered horrendous abuse, escaped and turned her life around but now her past has caught up with her and her life is in deadly danger.
The author has created a situation that keeps us on the edge of our seats. We are sympathetic to both Jesse and Hayley and, of course, we constantly worry about them
What a wonderful job this author has done in making me care about these people to the point that I was almost afraid to continue reading in case something awful happened to them.
I won’t say if it does, you will have to read it yourself. I’m off to read Book 2 in this great series!
This book definitely got my interest in reading the rest of the series. There is Just the right mix of mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Jesse has wonderful qualities and is invested in Hayley despite her past demons that continue to challenge her. A unique and enchanting read with a tension filled story line. Highly recommended!
t took me a few pages to get into the story, but when that happened I couldn’t put it away. It’s emotional, has a lot of twists and turns and very intriguing characters. I liked the atmosphere in the book and I recommend to read this series.
I received this arc from the author and this review is my honest opinion.