So, I have been absent for quite a bit longer than anticipated. I would very much like to chalk it up to a busy social life, but let's be real. I have no social life. I work, I go home, I read. That's my social life. A majority of my social interactions consist of talking to animals while sticking them with a needle, or placing a thermometer in unpleasant places. The truth of the matter is, I have been in a horrible reading slump. I just can't get into any of the stories I'm reading. They are enjoyable, don't get me wrong. Once I pick them up I'm very involved in them. It's just grasping the motivation to actually pick up the books that's the difficult part. It's that horrible type of reading slump where you want to read, but then you realize there are other things you'd like to do as well - like watch YouTube videos for 5 hours straight. Then you get distracted, and suddenly watching Markiplier scream his way through Five Nights At Freddy's or watching Danisnotonfire and Amazingphil play the Sims has trumped out finding out what happens to Sookie Stackhouse in Dallas. (I still don't know. I'm only on chapter 4. I have been on chapter 4 for over a month.)
In an attempt to stare my slump in the eye and banish it back to the pit it rose from, I decided to participate in another Read for Review through the Read It & Reap program through the Good Reads group Shut Up & Read. It took me nearly a month to finish this book. To be fair I had a somewhat busy work schedule this month, but to be perfectly honest, I was really just a bit of a slacker.
This Read It & Reap story was Voice of Innocence by Lindsay Detwiler. Description from the Read It & Reap sign-up page: We’ve all heard the saying: you never forget your first love. For some, however, perhaps the better terminology is haunted—haunted with the memories, the connections, and the life-changing relationship. So begins the tale of Emma Ranstein and Corbin Jones, two typical teenagers who travel the road of first love together, hearts sealed by a seemingly impenetrable bond. When Corbin Jones is convicted of murder and faces years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, though, their love is put to the test. As Emma and Corbin await his release from prison decades later, both reflect on the power of a relationship neither has gotten over. Their unique story speaks to a universal heartstring within all of us: how do we move on past a first love if we aren’t meant to do so? More importantly, it reminds us that there is hope if the heart leads the way.
The following review is the same review I posted to Good Reads. I rated the story 3 out of 5 stars. I will preface the following review by saying: I'm not entirely sure whether the reason I was so dissatisfied with this book is because of the writing or because of my reading slump. I want to blame the reading slump, because I really believe that I could enjoy this author's writing. I really wanted to love this book. I loved the concept, I enjoyed the characters. It just lacked something.
*I received this story for review. This review is spoiler free.*
I have mixed feelings about this story. Let me start off by saying that I really loved the concept of this story. I thought it was beautifully written. The author's writing style is beautiful and easy to follow. I particularly enjoyed the flashback parts of the story.
As far as the characters go, I found it easier to connect with Past Emma than Present Emma. I just could not find depth in Present Emma. Corbin was very well written in that it was easy to connect with him in both the Past and the Present. His character was a bit deeper, and it was easier to get into him as a character. The character of John, for me, was very flat. I realize he was not a main character, but all of the other side characters had more depth, even Emma's father who never actually makes an appearance. I feel like John was a big enough character in the story to earn a bit more dimension. I didn't really feel any emotional connection between Emma and John. It felt more like he was just there to be a place marker - which may have been intentional, but it really just did nothing for me, and I felt it didn't add anything to story. I feel like if he had been written a little differently, it would have possibly added a little more impact to that part of the storyline.
I found the reason for Corbin's arrest slightly disappointing. It sort of came out of left field for me, but not exactly in a good way. It just felt awkward in the plotline.
The biggest problem I had with the story, was the ending. No spoilers, but I felt that the ending was so very disappointing in that it didn't feel like an ending. I didn't feel that it resolved anything. It just ended. I felt like the author spent all this time building up this great romantic story, and then in just 4 pages it was done. The End. It wasn't even a cliffhanger ending, or a leave it up to the reader's imagination ending. It was just done. For me it felt like one of those copout endings where the author isn't quite sure how they want to end the story, so they just don't. Maybe I just wanted a certain ending and was disappointed that it didn't end the way I wanted it to. I don't know, but I feel like something could have been resolved.
I feel like overall it was a good story with potential. The concept was really different than most of the stories in the genre. I'm not a huge fan of the romantic contemporaries - with the exception of a few authors that have just managed to hook me. I enjoyed Lindsay Detwiler's writing style and would definitely like to read something else by her. I just feel that Voice of Innocence fell somewhat short.
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So, there is my review for Voice of Innocence by Lindsay Detwiler. My current reads are still Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (Book #2 of the Sookie Stackhouse series) and Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel. I will hopefully finish those, eventually. Maybe even before the new year. Fingers crossed. This has been an ultimately disappointing reading month. Sorry I have been absent. I will try very hard to get into a more regular schedule, though I'm afraid it may have to wait until the new year. Perhaps it will be my New Year's Resolution.
Anyway, thanks for visiting, and until next time Happy Reading!
