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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Nine Minutes is told from the perspective of Kit, a fifteen year old with the mentality and maturity of someone in their twenties, she's been kidnapped by one of the scariest biker gangs (I hate calling them gangs, they're truly called clubs) in South Florida and she's happy with them. She's the obsession of biker leader Grizz, a much older, handsome man with a scary past and a not so kosher career path. Kit used to be known as Ginny and she's always been used to taking care of herself, but when she ends up with Satan's Army she finds compassion, companionship, and even love. While she's never truly comfortable with everything going on, it becomes her life until circumstances pull her away from it. I will not give that part away, but let's just say the first chapter will hook you in and you won't be able to get off the bike.
I loved and hated Kit at first, I was completely torn about who she was as a person. Starting the book with her past caught me off guard and it's what kept me around. Watching this not happy story bloom to love, even with the many twists, is what made this book amazing. Beth Flynn successfully tells a dark, disturbing story that easily could of been a story we see on the news on any given day. Flynn develops all the characters, even the most minor, in a way that you cannot forget them. She didn't stray from the gory details and gave every character an individual strength and background. The book read as one complete story beginning to end, leaving a few questions that don't require answers. Fortunately, this is only book one in a trilogy and you can start answering some of those questions in book two if you're interested.
There were definitely things I didn't like, though, and that is why I had to give this four stars. The writing is not the best, but it is certainly better than most books I have read in the "free read" category. Additionally, I couldn't fathom why Kit never took the opportunity to run, not even a single true attempt. I get she had a background, but I think some major details were left out that would've explained why she ended up accepting the life so easily. I hate love triangles, have I mentioned I absolutely hate love triangles? Especially love triangles between a much older man, a young teenager, and another love teenager, all in the midst of a kidnapping story. I read on anyways though and I am glad I did, you learn to see Grizz really loved Kit back and the kidnapping story became less important to me.
I read this book after a friend sent her copy over from her book club and recommended it. I delayed reading it for a couple months, because the plot just didn't pull me in. It was too dark for me, too realistic, and I had a hard time believing in the love story that was promised. It's there though and it's a love story worth reading and believing in. I would recommend this ten times over, and if I could have it in a TV show on HBO I would. I liked it so much I bought the follow up novel, even though I'm supposed to be on a "don't buy any more books until you finish some" path.
I loved and hated Kit at first, I was completely torn about who she was as a person. Starting the book with her past caught me off guard and it's what kept me around. Watching this not happy story bloom to love, even with the many twists, is what made this book amazing. Beth Flynn successfully tells a dark, disturbing story that easily could of been a story we see on the news on any given day. Flynn develops all the characters, even the most minor, in a way that you cannot forget them. She didn't stray from the gory details and gave every character an individual strength and background. The book read as one complete story beginning to end, leaving a few questions that don't require answers. Fortunately, this is only book one in a trilogy and you can start answering some of those questions in book two if you're interested.
There were definitely things I didn't like, though, and that is why I had to give this four stars. The writing is not the best, but it is certainly better than most books I have read in the "free read" category. Additionally, I couldn't fathom why Kit never took the opportunity to run, not even a single true attempt. I get she had a background, but I think some major details were left out that would've explained why she ended up accepting the life so easily. I hate love triangles, have I mentioned I absolutely hate love triangles? Especially love triangles between a much older man, a young teenager, and another love teenager, all in the midst of a kidnapping story. I read on anyways though and I am glad I did, you learn to see Grizz really loved Kit back and the kidnapping story became less important to me.
I read this book after a friend sent her copy over from her book club and recommended it. I delayed reading it for a couple months, because the plot just didn't pull me in. It was too dark for me, too realistic, and I had a hard time believing in the love story that was promised. It's there though and it's a love story worth reading and believing in. I would recommend this ten times over, and if I could have it in a TV show on HBO I would. I liked it so much I bought the follow up novel, even though I'm supposed to be on a "don't buy any more books until you finish some" path.
What Nine Minutes is and isn't:
Nine Minutes is inspired by one of the oldest unsolved cases in US history: the disappearance of Amy Billig.
Police believes that 15y old Amy was kidnapped while she was hitchhiking home by members of notorious motorcycle gang.
I knew about this case. I was terrified by it when I first heard the story.
Considering what's popular currently in genre, I can see why her story would be used as a base...
I start with this because right here you should ask yourself are you ok with this. Personally, I was not comfortable: the reason for that lies in the fact that Amy's mother searched for her so fiercely and devotedly; she traveled the States and went even to UK following clues about mc until she died in 2005.
I simply didn't want to see this romanticized. -__-
If you read mc books, you know what I mean...
So, how did I end up reading it?
I read Jane's review over on DA and I simply couldn't fathom what would make Jane or any other reviewer there read it. And then I saw one, pivotal thing she wrote in her review:
This is not a romance.
Still with me?
Ok.
I will not give much of a story away, but some things simply need to be put in context:
******************************
The story is told from first person POV, heroine's. It spans over years, from the moment Ginny was taken as 15y old girl by Satan's Army to Grizz's arrest and finally, his execution. <--- this is not a spoiler, book opens with this scene.
The story is happening in '70s and early '80s, Ginny wears a peace necklace and likes to play guitar. She is a flower child, since her parents took her to Woodstock as a kid; she likes to spend time in library reading books; she is considered to be very mature and smart for her age.
And then she makes one stupid mistake.
Ginny ended up in a motel held by Satan's Army. She is a gift for their leader, a man named Grizz. Thus begins their relationship.
Grizz is an evil, evil man.
He is a criminal, he is brutal and he expects total obedience from members of his gang, but he loves Ginny and he is ready to do anything to please her. Anything. Whatever she wishes for, she gets it. But he is what he is: in one scene she was hurt one member was hurting a kitten, so Grizz took away his eye and gave her kitten. He loves her so much he waits her to be ready for sex with him and he goes so far that he even arranged her virginity to be taken care of in most painless way possible.
As you can see...Grizz's view of love is pretty much warped and affected by his life as a criminal... Eventually, Ginny falls in love and becomes his wife, completely embracing her new life.
***********************
Ok, I want to clarify some things first.
I also don't think this is a romance story for many, many reasons.
Mostly because she is only 15 and no matter how many characters in book tells her she is "very mature for her age" I was never truly comfortable with this. We are touching age of consent boundary here and that little thing where she was effing kidnapped, so I can't really believe she had choice.
There is also one major non con clusterfuck
Spoiler
Grizz doesn't want to take her virginity,so he orders one of his crew members to drug her and do it with...wait for it.. a billy-club.0_0Spoiler
Grizz is obsessed by Ginny since she was a kid. He first saw her when she was 4, but he fell in love...I guess when she was 13..? Creepy.You are allowed to wtf and freak out. -__-
Anyway, when I checked GR reviews, I saw that many readers did in fact experienced it as romance and I don't see author really discouraging it. There are no scenes of sex; everything is pretty much fade in the black, but it's a life in a gang- sexual acts were heavily implied.
I can also guess some of readers were charmed by Grizz (btw, author actually wrote he is a bit inspired by her husband -__-). Author did write few redeeming scenes that weren't really logical like him waiting for sex or him acting as a savior few times she asked... but he was not a good guy and never will be, so, frankly, I kept waiting her to realize herself and get away from him. He simply didn't work for me in romantic light.
So, I will say that this being romance apparently depends on how you think of it.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Still with me?
Ok.
Ginny is unusual character. She transforms from an innocent girl to a girl who enjoys benefits of being a crime lord's wife. But then...she was always a survivor.
This is a debut and despite the fact non-romance thing made me uncomfortable, this book was engaging. Suspense level is very high and that makes it an interesting read- you want to see what's going to happen to Grizz, gang and if she is ever going to get away.
It also ended up with a cliffie that's going to be a premise of second book, [b:Out of Time|23524664|Out of Time (Nine Minutes, #2)|Beth Flynn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415645546s/23524664.jpg|43127713].
I guess this book is really acquired taste and I was not intended audience.
I'll file this into Me Not You category.
This book was Flowers in the Attic fucked up, but in a good way. The violence and creepiness of some of the characters (namely Grunt. I hate love triangles so much and he was SUPER CREEPY. Even the ultra violent Grizz didn't bug me as much as he did. Grunt was a sneaky bastard who tried to appear good when he was an awful human being. At least Grizz was himself) left me feeling dirty on the inside, but the plot, lack of porn-esque sex, and taboo made it a excellent read. Ever since reading LJ Smith's Forbidden Game trilogy when I was in high school (and the Persephone/Hades myth in elementary school tbh. There are def Hades/Persephone feels in this book), I've had a thing for older guys watching over and pining for younger girls. Ginny was underage in this and KIDNAPPED JFC, but I found myself loving her and wanting her to end up with Grizz. She was VERY mature for her age mentally and emotionally and survived quite a bit of trauma. The main characters bonding over shared loneliness and abuse made their relationship believable and almost heartwarming, despite the taboo. Love love love.
Grizz should have murdered Grunt though. HATE YOU GRUNT.
Grizz should have murdered Grunt though. HATE YOU GRUNT.
There are so many 5 star reviews on this one and I had heard it was a good one. I couldn't wait to start it because I have been in such a book funk lately. So I couldn't wait to get a good read that had me on edge the entire time.
There are a few reasons I didn't give it 5 stars.
•I am not a big fan of past tense. It works because the author was able to tell you more about things that happened when Kit didn't actually know about it then or see it.
•I have leaned that when books have a prologue I generally feel cheated. Most of them give away a huge spoiler in the book or pretty much let you know what to expect. I like to learn it as I read. So part of me kind of wished that it just wasn't added, because I know how it ended pretty much before I started.
•The connection…I personally didn't feel the connection between Kit and Grizz. I read it that he loves her with everything in him I got that but just didn't FEEL the connection.
•so many are categorizing this book as a biker book and in all reality to me it felt like that was more the underlying theme it is in Kits point of view so we hear about the biker aspect from her thoughts, and since she pretty much stayed away from things to do with the "gang" it isn't much about the gang so much as it is about her and her relationship with Grizz.
Now that all being said I read this in one day I couldn't put it down because it was good and gritty. That is always something I expect when I hear "biker". Although there isn't a whole lot of first hand most is what she heard happened kind of thing it was still wow. It's dark in the sense of how someone could think of something to "punish" someone by thinking of what they did. Well that is pretty dark. (If you have read the book you get what I mean, if not I don't want to give away anything in particular).
There were a a couple moments where I was completely surprised, and did NOT see the twist that came.
Chances are I will read the second one because I felt like this was just not complete and I want that closure. I need to know what happened next. I'm glad I read this one because I finally feel like I am climbing out of the funk I have been in.
:)
There are a few reasons I didn't give it 5 stars.
•I am not a big fan of past tense. It works because the author was able to tell you more about things that happened when Kit didn't actually know about it then or see it.
•I have leaned that when books have a prologue I generally feel cheated. Most of them give away a huge spoiler in the book or pretty much let you know what to expect. I like to learn it as I read. So part of me kind of wished that it just wasn't added, because I know how it ended pretty much before I started.
•The connection…I personally didn't feel the connection between Kit and Grizz. I read it that he loves her with everything in him I got that but just didn't FEEL the connection.
•so many are categorizing this book as a biker book and in all reality to me it felt like that was more the underlying theme it is in Kits point of view so we hear about the biker aspect from her thoughts, and since she pretty much stayed away from things to do with the "gang" it isn't much about the gang so much as it is about her and her relationship with Grizz.
Now that all being said I read this in one day I couldn't put it down because it was good and gritty. That is always something I expect when I hear "biker". Although there isn't a whole lot of first hand most is what she heard happened kind of thing it was still wow. It's dark in the sense of how someone could think of something to "punish" someone by thinking of what they did. Well that is pretty dark. (If you have read the book you get what I mean, if not I don't want to give away anything in particular).
There were a a couple moments where I was completely surprised, and did NOT see the twist that came.
Chances are I will read the second one because I felt like this was just not complete and I want that closure. I need to know what happened next. I'm glad I read this one because I finally feel like I am climbing out of the funk I have been in.
:)
5 mindblown stars
Finally! A book that takes me out of my horrid reading slump cluttered with mediocre overly hyped dreck.
This was an absolutely excellent read. No, this is not a romance, no this was not written for a cheap thrill or for titillation. This book is a truly masterful example of strong narrative at its best. Beth Flynn is a genius at subverting reader expectations and keeping them on edge always guessing and in suspense. People going in expecting tons of graphic sex or a strong conventional romantic element will be disappointed. But really this book... Oh this book is so much more than that. It's in a class of its own.
The writing was right on point, poignant in its simplicity, effective in its elegance and raw sincerity. If anything I'd categorize this as a thriller/crime drama with a historical background? There is a dark twisted romance in there but it's not a romance. I loved every second of this brutal journey. At times it was hard to read the events on the page, but I enjoyed every gut wrenching bit, even the truly terrible parts because they were written in such a non-assuming way. For me, this was proof of someone who took delicate and potentially offensive subject matter and treated it with the delicate precision of a surgeon. My only complaint is that I truly thought this was a standalone however there is an excerpt of the sequel at the end of the book. No matter, I'll definitely read that and hope it's every bit as exquisitely engrossing as this was. 5 stars and to my favorites it goes.
Finally! A book that takes me out of my horrid reading slump cluttered with mediocre overly hyped dreck.
This was an absolutely excellent read. No, this is not a romance, no this was not written for a cheap thrill or for titillation. This book is a truly masterful example of strong narrative at its best. Beth Flynn is a genius at subverting reader expectations and keeping them on edge always guessing and in suspense. People going in expecting tons of graphic sex or a strong conventional romantic element will be disappointed. But really this book... Oh this book is so much more than that. It's in a class of its own.
The writing was right on point, poignant in its simplicity, effective in its elegance and raw sincerity. If anything I'd categorize this as a thriller/crime drama with a historical background? There is a dark twisted romance in there but it's not a romance. I loved every second of this brutal journey. At times it was hard to read the events on the page, but I enjoyed every gut wrenching bit, even the truly terrible parts because they were written in such a non-assuming way. For me, this was proof of someone who took delicate and potentially offensive subject matter and treated it with the delicate precision of a surgeon. My only complaint is that I truly thought this was a standalone however there is an excerpt of the sequel at the end of the book. No matter, I'll definitely read that and hope it's every bit as exquisitely engrossing as this was. 5 stars and to my favorites it goes.
2⭐️
Loved the idea of the book but I was definitely expecting moreee
Loved the idea of the book but I was definitely expecting moreee
Hoooooolyyyyy Fuuuuuuckkkkkk....
I honestly wasnt expecting to like this book that much.... I guess since I had been going on a biker binge I thought I had read it all.. but by Zeus have I not had my heart ripped out of my chest since Undeniable... I thought no other biker book could compare but this just... I can't even process my feelings right now... the amount of holy fuckness just kept on coming and I feel so fucking shattered that I don't know how to handle this... I need to go binge on leftover pumpkin pie to process this...
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
First read: October 2015
First read: October 2015
DNF 65% BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS BREAKING MY FREAKING HEART!
It's soooo goood, but I can't continue knowing the end. So I'll have to wait until I grow up emotionally -enough- to continue it. T_T
It's soooo goood, but I can't continue knowing the end. So I'll have to wait until I grow up emotionally -enough- to continue it. T_T
How has it taken me so long to start this series? I have had friends telling me for years to read it and I was all yeah yeah I'll get to it.
Now I am kicking myself for taking so long to get started!
Dark, gritty and real, Nine Minutes does not shy away from the reality of MC clubs, and I have a love/hate relationship with Griz, with Grunt and the people of Satan's Army.
I was left with so many questions at the end of this book, however knowing there are 2 more books, I know that they will be answered.
MOnique Makena is a new narrator to me, and one that I will be searching for more of in the future.
Now I am kicking myself for taking so long to get started!
Dark, gritty and real, Nine Minutes does not shy away from the reality of MC clubs, and I have a love/hate relationship with Griz, with Grunt and the people of Satan's Army.
I was left with so many questions at the end of this book, however knowing there are 2 more books, I know that they will be answered.
MOnique Makena is a new narrator to me, and one that I will be searching for more of in the future.