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readfrenzy 's review for:
Swear on This Life
by Renée Carlino
This is the third book I’ve read by Renee Carlino, and I must say she knows how to weave an intriguing tale. In Swear on This Life, she has created a unique story that is engrossing as well as thought-provoking.
Everything about Emiline indicates that her life is stagnant. She’s a fledgling writer with an uninspiring career as an associate writing professor. While all her peers seem to be enjoying success as published authors, Emi is frustrated that she hasn’t managed to live up to her potential. She’s also stuck in a lackluster seven-year relationship with her boyfriend.
When Emiline picks up the latest bestseller, she immediately realizes the work of “fiction” details her very private, very painful past. Although written under a pseudonym, the author is clearly her childhood best friend/love of her life, Jason, with whom she’s had no contact for twelve years. With past and present colliding, Emi is forced to confront her demons and her long-lost love.
The story is told in an intriguing way with Emi’s past being revealed in pieces as she reads each chapter of the book. The details of her upbringing with Jase are riveting and emotional. The fierceness of their love is deep, and while their circumstances may be bleak, they are always painted with a brush of optimism.
The quality of Renee Carlino’s writing is superb, and she has created a wonderfully complex plot filled with multi-faceted characters. I was, however, left with too many unsettled questions and emotions to feel completely satisfied. Nonetheless, Swear on This Life is a gripping story of sacrifice, forgiveness, love, and second chances.
Recommended for fans of:
Second chance romance
Friends to lovers
Mysteries
Stories within stories
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Everything about Emiline indicates that her life is stagnant. She’s a fledgling writer with an uninspiring career as an associate writing professor. While all her peers seem to be enjoying success as published authors, Emi is frustrated that she hasn’t managed to live up to her potential. She’s also stuck in a lackluster seven-year relationship with her boyfriend.
When Emiline picks up the latest bestseller, she immediately realizes the work of “fiction” details her very private, very painful past. Although written under a pseudonym, the author is clearly her childhood best friend/love of her life, Jason, with whom she’s had no contact for twelve years. With past and present colliding, Emi is forced to confront her demons and her long-lost love.
The story is told in an intriguing way with Emi’s past being revealed in pieces as she reads each chapter of the book. The details of her upbringing with Jase are riveting and emotional. The fierceness of their love is deep, and while their circumstances may be bleak, they are always painted with a brush of optimism.
“I love you, Emiline. I loved you before I even knew what it meant.”I loved their connection and was moved by their struggles. Although both characters are inspiring, I just couldn’t get past Jason writing the book without Emiline’s permission and profiting from its success. The story is told entirely from Emi’s point of view, and I think I would have benefitted from some of Jase’s perspective. His character remained a bit of an enigma to me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing important details.
The quality of Renee Carlino’s writing is superb, and she has created a wonderfully complex plot filled with multi-faceted characters. I was, however, left with too many unsettled questions and emotions to feel completely satisfied. Nonetheless, Swear on This Life is a gripping story of sacrifice, forgiveness, love, and second chances.
Recommended for fans of:
Second chance romance
Friends to lovers
Mysteries
Stories within stories
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**