Tina Reads All the Books

Author: Lyn Liao Butler

Rating: 2 stars

Book Blurb:

A new life in paradise should have healed her wounds. But for a woman struggling to hold on to her family and her sanity, one stormy night could change everything.

Blow by blow, Annie Lin’s life crumbles. Her dance studio goes bankrupt. Her mother and beloved dog are gone the same year. Then a terrible accident leaves her young son traumatized.

It’s time for a change.

Palm trees, mai tais, peace and quiet―Annie should be at ease, safe in her new Kauai home with her husband and son. She hopes proximity to her family can provide them all with a sense of belonging and calm. But soon items from her past start turning up―her dog’s collar, a bracelet that disappeared years ago―and she has the unnerving sensation she’s being watched. Reality begins to fracture, and Annie’s panic attacks return. When, during a brewing storm, a woman appears on her doorstep looking for shelter, Annie is relieved to have the company and feels an unexplainable bond with her visitor.

As the night progresses, Annie realizes the woman is no stranger. Their lives are inextricably intertwined―and Annie might just lose everything.

Wow.

This was pretty bad.

It started off solid, I was engrossed and wanted to find out what in the world was going on with these characters. Was Annie going crazy? Were there other forces at work? Then it lagged for a quite a bit and during that lag it lost my interest.

These were some really unlikable characters. Annie, the main character, was so self absorbed it was painful. She also made some over the top stupid decisions, one of which is letting a stranger in her house and sharing sooooooooooooooooooooo much information with her. Boundaries, people.

The story, once all the players were revealed, became predictable. I don’t think there was a twist you didn’t see coming.

I wouldn’t recommend this, there are too many other good thrillers out there.