REVIEW
Lingering Echoes
by Erica
Kiefer
I came across Lingering Echoes via NetGalley, a
wonderful site for authors to get their books to people who love to read and
review books. You can download your own FREE copy of Lingering Echoes from NetGalley. Write a
review of your own and enter the author's giveaway for a chance to win a Kindle Fire.
Also available: Rumors (A Lingering Echoes Novella).
Description
She's broken with guilt. He harbors a chilling past. It's safer if they
keep their distance ... But, the echoes that linger connect them.
Returning to Hidden Pines is the last thing Allie Collins wants to do
during her final summer before college. For her, the family cabin she spent her
youthful summers in, now holds a dark memory that has haunted her every day for
the last year.
While struggling to forget her past, Allie runs into Damien, a local
rebel with secrets of his own. He's dark, dangerous and he keeps showing up
when Allie least expects him to. She has every reason not to trust him. So why
does she find herself opening up to him in a way she hasn't been able to with
anyone?
As pieces of Damien's identity emerge, answers to a rumored mystery begin
to unfold. By the time Allie unearths the secrets of Damien's past, she
realizes just how intricately they are connected. Now she is caught in a
dangerous battle that threatens her life and those she loves.
Excerpt
A gunshot echoed
through the cabin.
“No!” I screamed. I
threw my hands over my mouth, but it was too late. I could hear footsteps
hurrying to the stairwell door.
I bolted across the
room, stepping inside a small bedroom. Cardboard boxes were scattered
throughout the room, disheveled and disorganized.
There was nowhere to
go. I tripped my way to the corner of the room, stubbing my toe and ignoring
the throbbing pain.
I could hear the
heavy footsteps descending the stairs. Falling against the corner wall, I
buried my head behind a large, unopened box. I crouched low, too afraid to even
peek around the corner.
A set of footsteps
entered the room, pausing by the entryway.
My hand clamped back
over my mouth, muffling my breaths and the scream that threatened to escape. I
wished I could quiet the pounding in my chest that was sure to give me away.
“We know you’re
here. Come on out now, and maybe we won’t kill you.”
I didn’t move an
inch, despite the painful cramping in my thighs. I closed my eyes, leaning my
sweaty forehead against the cardboard.
A swift click
flooded the room with light.
“There you are!”
I tumbled backwards,
jumping against the wall as a very large man stalked towards me. At the sight
of me, he lowered his gun, smiling in amusement.
“Stay away from me!”
I managed to squeeze out from my dry throat. My voice sounded weak and small. I
barricaded myself in the corner, my eyes jumping from side to side, searching in
vain for an exit.
There was nowhere to
go.
Favorite Lines
"I let out a
long sigh and glanced upwards, allowing drizzling rain to kiss my face. A
silent flash of light lit up the darkened sky, followed by a mumble of thunder.
As the sky shed its heavy tears, I remained huddled on the muddy soil. staring
up into the grayness."
"Darkness folded
around us, all except for the west sky before us. The sky was a watercolor wash
of pinks and deep hues of orange, bleeding together. The sun blazed gingery
red, its light painting the mountains into a darkened silhouette. The moon
glowed awake with each passing minute, iridescent as it replaced the sun."
"The river
played gentle melody, popping against
the rock and trickling its soprano voice."
"The one-haunting
laughter was gone, no longer echoing off the trees - no longer taunting me with
painful memories and guilty emotions."
Review
By Lynda Dickson
Allie is spending
the summer at Hidden Pines with her dad, his new wife Clara, and her
stepbrother Nick, along with her new friend Brooke and Nick's college buddy
Aaron. Her family hopes to help Allie overcome her feelings of guilt over an
incident that happened the previous summer. But how far will they go? Who can Allie
trust? And why is she so afraid of the water?
When Allie is
rescued from a fall by the mysterious Damien, she discovers that they have more
in common that she originally thought. Damien tries to help Allie overcome her
fears, but he is also haunted by his past. Can people change? Will Damien ever
be able to escape his past, or will his past come back to haunt him?
The story moves
along at a steady pace and has a nice mix of mystery, romance, and
suspense. I especially like the chapter that tells Damien's story about his
past. While there are some minor editing errors, including word misuse, there
are also some lovely descriptive passages.
I look forward to
reading more by this talented new writer.
About the Author
Erica Kiefer was born on Christmas Eve in Southern California to an
American father whose ancestors arrived from Europe during colonial times and a
Thai mother who moved to the US during high school. Adding to her rich and
varied heritage, Erica grew up living abroad in Asia, including Taiwan, Fiji,
Thailand and Indonesia. She gained a great respect for the beautiful mosaic of
cultures found in various parts of the world. After graduating from
International School Bangkok, she attended Brigham Young University in Utah,
where she earned a degree in Recreation Therapy. Her career as a Recreation
Therapist has allowed her to work with at-risk youth since 2007.
Erica made the best decision of her life by marrying her husband in 2005
and is currently a mother of three, one of whom awaits her in heaven. Erica
also loves singing, reading, writing, and satisfying her sweet-tooth with
chocolate-chip cookies. Playing collegiate rugby was one of the most memorable
experiences of her life, thus far.
Erica's first book, Lingering Echoes, was signed by Clean Teen Publishing and released in early November 2013.
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