It’s a tour day – the first tour of 2013, as a matter of fact! Today’s title is a creepy, creepy read by Elizabeth Haynes. *Shudder*
About Elizabeth Haynes:
ELIZABETH HAYNES is a police intelligence analyst. She started writing fiction in 2006 with the annual challenge of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the encouragement of the creative writing courses at West Dean College. She lives in a village near Maidstone, Kent, with her husband and son.
Visit her at elizabeth-haynes.com, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
About Into the Darkest Corner:
When young, pretty Catherine Bailey meets Lee Brightman, she can’t believe her luck. Gorgeous, charismatic, and a bit mysterious, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true.
But what begins as flattering attention and spontaneous, passionate sex transforms into raging jealousy, and Catherine soon discovers that Lee’s dazzling blue eyes and blond good looks hide a dark, violent nature. Disturbed by his increasingly erratic, controlling behavior, she tries to break it off; turning to her friends for support, she’s stunned to find they don’t believe her. Increasingly isolated and driven into the darkest corner of her world, a desperate Catherine plans a meticulous escape.
Four years later, Lee is behind bars and Catherine—now Cathy—is trying to build a new life in a new city. Though her body has healed, the trauma of the past still haunts her. Then Stuart Richardson, her attractive new neighbor, moves in. Encouraging her to confront her fears, he sparks unexpected hope and the possibility of love and a normal life.
Until the day the phone rings . . .
ISBN-13: 9780062197269
Paperback: 335 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2013
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: TLC Book Tours
drey’s thoughts:
Oh. My. Goodness. Elizabeth Haynes’ debut novel is a gripping story that’ll have you staying up late turning the pages as fast as you can read. And Catherine Bailey will stay with you long after you’re done with the book, she’s so real.
The entire book is told in two timelines — the current day (or, 2007) and when Catherine met Lee (2003). You get to watch Catherine fall in love, realize something is amiss, and get scared for her life. All as you’re watching her try to put her life back together. Emphasis on try. Living through the horribly damaging experience that was Lee is no easy task, and Catherine almost didn’t make it.
The scariest part of this story? Catherine could so easily be somebody you know. And the way all her friends pshaw’d her when she told them her fears? Heart-wrenching. Then, when she’s finally on the path to healing, he shows up. Again. And he’s living with someone she knows.
Catherine’s story is so very sad, but her courage jumps off the pages. She’s stuck in that place where nightmares live, yet comes riding to the rescue when needed, mindful that while nobody believed her, she can’t just let this monster take someone else. Again.
Into the Darkest Corner will get you hooked, and get you thinking. And while I found the repetitive counting and checking annoying initially, I was very much ashamed of that reaction by the time I got to the end. This one reminds us that people are oftentimes “different” through no fault of their own. At all.
An excellent debut from Elizabeth Haynes — I can’t wait to see what she’ll have for us next!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
Have you read Into the Darkest Corner? What did you think?
Giveaway
Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours, I have one copy of Into the Darkest Corner for you. This one’s open to US & Canada residents. To enter, fill out the form below before January 22nd. Good luck!
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Wow, you’ve made this sound very compelling! I’d love to read it because I really enjoy page turners!
Thanks, Kathy! Good luck!
A great post and review which interests me greatly. Many thanks.
I’m anxious to enter this contest. The browser I’m using won’t display Rafflecopter. Maybe I’ll be able to retry in another browser tonight.
I’m sorry to hear that – which browser are you using?
I’m using IE, but it’s an older version, Version 7. And I can’t change it. I have no admin rights to this computer.
If I have time, I’ll get on my own computer tonight and use the latest version of Firefox.
I would love to read this book. It sounds really good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
This book has been on my wishlist since it first came out in hardcover.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one! I did as well and am touring the book, also. Such a creepy page turner. I inhaled this one faster than any other book in recent memory.
Creepy is right! And yes, so is inhaled.
I want to read this book because every review of it that I’ve seen has raved about it.
I want to read it because it sounds gripping!
To figure out what happens based on your review
I would like to read this book because it sounds like a real page turner and one I wouldn’t be able to put down. I really love this type of book. Thanks for this chance.
From what I read, it sounds like a great book to read. I would love to have that chance.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one – it sounds fantastic!
Thanks for being on the tour.