Wednesday, September 20, 2023

About the Book

Book: Battered & Torn

Author: Allison Pearl

Genre: Faith-Based Romantic Suspense

Release Date: February 6, 2023

As just another staff member in the mansion of billionaire Archie Hamilton, Nora’s finally found a place to hide from her murderous family. But when the handsome bigshot asks her out on a date, she worries Archie’s interest—no matter how thrilling—will blow her cover and shoot up a flare for those hunting her. And if she can’t squash his crush, only God will be able to keep him out of danger.

When Archie turned in his scalpel to run the family business, life became too busy to go home and deal with his grief. But when he discovers a suspicious hire at his ancestral estate, he’s forced to confront the situation as well as his anger at God for taking not only his family, but his dreams. Despite his objections, his grandmother is determined to keep Nora on staff, but that isn’t going to stop him investigating her on his own—no matter how attractive he finds her. But the more he digs, the more questions he has.

Drawn to Nora again and again, Archie wonders if she’ll help lead him back to the truth or get him killed. Is trusting a beautiful stranger worth the risk to his family, his life, and his heart? And when Nora’s past catches up with them, will anyone be left alive?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Allison Pearl is a small-town girl who’s lived just about everywhere. She loves books, tea, chocolate, and watching old movies with her husband and furbabies. To keep in touch and get updates on new releases visit www.allison-pearl.com or follow her Facebook page ‘Books by Pearl’ at www.facebook.com/allisonnicolepearl/, on Twitter at @AllisonPearl5, and on Instagram at @allisonnicolepearl.

More from Allison

We’ve all fantasized about running away and starting over. Maybe it’s to some gem of a small town or a thrilling big city, but who hasn’t wondered what it would be like to leave our history, our anxieties, and our problems behind and trade them in for something fairytale-worthy and new? Nora didn’t just dream about starting over, she did. But did she run far enough? The nightmares that haunt her at night say otherwise, leading her to wonder Can we ever really start over or do our fears just lie in wait?

Nora’s written her own fairytale, but will her murderous family steal the happy ending? Find out the truth by getting your copy of BATTERED & TORN!

MY REVIEW

The book is a suspenseful story that draws readers into the world of deceit. Nora is trying so hard to run away from her past but can she really ever be safe? I thought she was a complex character with deep scars and trust issues. It is understandable why it is hard to trust when you come from such a dysfunctional family like hers. When she is taken in by a sweet older woman she starts to relax a bit. Unfortunately that secure feeling won’t last for long.

Archie is a good character who adores his grandmother. He is fiercely protective of her and it shows when he interrogates Nora. Why has his grandmother allowed a stranger to come live with her? There are some tense moments between Nora and Archie that put them both on guard. Archie is angry at God for taking his loved ones but he is determined to keep his grandmother safe from the stranger living in the house.

I like the way the author develops the relationship between the two main characters. It is subtle and not without doubts that lead them to try to sort out their feelings. Nora has this idea about love that she explains to Archie. “Knowing when to let someone go is just as much an act of love as chasing them.” You can see the question in Archie’s eyes when she tells him this. There is pain deep within Nora and I think at that moment, Archie feels this need to protect her.

Nora’s past is getting closer to being exposed as unexplained accidents start happening. I loved the suspense throughout the book and the faith thread scattered in and out of the storyline. Someone wants Nora harmed but will Archie be able to protect her?

The author gives us some unexpected twists that had me on the edge of my seat. There are people after Nora but among her enemies is someone I never thought was capable of inflicting harm on someone else. It is a rollercoaster ride as the drama intensifies and the secrets start to explode in front of Nora.

During a very intense moment Archie reminds Nora that she is free because God loves her and has forgiven her. Will Nora trust Archie or leave with someone who she has been running from? There are a few moments in the story where sensitive subjects are mentioned. The author does handle this with grace but still could be a trigger for some readers. The author ends the story with a cliff hanger that tells me I have another book from her coming soon. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

“If you spend your whole life focusing on the bad, you’ll never see the good things you have left.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.