Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino Also by this author: Before We Were Strangers, Blind Kiss
Published by Atria Books on August 9th 2016
Pages: 320
ISBN: 1501105795
Goodreads
When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.
Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.
That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.
The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?
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#NewRelease #BookReview #SwearOnThisLife by @renayz @AtriaBooks is a fabulous read! Be sure to add it to your immediate #TBR!
Debbie’s Review
When the words you read create a story that is written with such exquisite elegance, with emotions so rich, deep and overflowing with tenderness you can’t help but fall in love one word at a time.
Swear on This Life is the story of two young children and their journey into adulthood. We learn the story of their families and the circumstances in which they live. We share in their hopes and dreams. We bask in their happiness and are gutted by the sadness. It is a story of sacrifice and desperation. It is the story of their lives.
Meet Jase and Emiline. Two characters that are written with such intense realism the attachment I felt was instantaneous. Crafted by the brilliant imagination of the author, they are written with absolute perfection. They are equally complex, strong willed, determined and both have a fierce desire to survive. They share in their hopes and dreams and escape into each other.
This story and what it encompasses is vast. You follow these two characters, their families and their lives. Not all of the circumstances they encounter are good. You experience the heartache, heartbreak, the happiness, the longing, the desire, devastation and confusion. Along with that, you feel the determination, the hope, the hate, the love and the loss. The past crashes into the present. The present leads you back to your past and somewhere in the middle you learn to accept your future.
As with all of her books the author works her magic creating a world that encompasses your entire being. You live the words. You ride the roller coaster of emotions. You yearn for the good and grieve for the bad. Most of all you fall in love with the characters, their words and their world.
Giveaway
About Renee Carlino
Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women’s novels. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.
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Debbie, I just finished reading this book and was going to text you to tell you to read it! This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and it won’t be the last. Fantastic book that I literally could not put down.