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Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that bewilder his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of the children, sees the brutal images of tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips ...
Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and hopefully uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s involved. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always understand.
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“Oh! Ms. Elson, you couldn’t possibly loan me a few of your pieces for my humble studio? Just to complement Alex’s work? You know, a husband-and-wife theme?”
Jane hesitated, thinking how tempting it sounded. She could even picture the publicity and how people would come to the studio just for the novelty of it.
“Come, my dear,” Peters cajoled. “You know my little studio can give you more exposure than Preston Gallery ever could.” He winked conspiringly. “You’d no longer have to work with Creg Bradley.”
Her thoughts jumped to the scene with Creg at the gallery that morning. It was a card she could play if she had to. “I’m contracted for the rest of the year, but I might be able to get out of it.”
“Wonderful!” He turned to Alex. “May I see what you’ve brought?”
They moved to the table in the center of the room, and Alex drew out his two sketches. Peters lost his breath as he ogled them, and Jane slipped an arm around Alex, giving him a squeeze. She smiled when he looked at her, proud of how far he’d come in his art. The scenes had come alive under his skillful fingers. The river flowed in bold lines and deep shadings. In one picture, sunlight flashed through the overhanging trees. In the other, snow fluttered through bare branches to the half-frozen water.
Leaving Peters to examine the sketches, she drew Alex away to look at some of the other pieces on display. They stopped before a cherry wood cabinet to study several pen and ink drawings on the shelves.
“Kyle Bronsin’s work,” Peters said from behind Alex.
Alex cleared his throat. “You knew him?”
“Very well. Andrew Gardinar brought him by occasionally. Kyle came in by himself a few times to bring me those. Such a tragedy.”
Alex scrutinized the drawings and Peters touched his arm. “I’d like to show you something.”
He opened a drawer in the cabinet and took out a small leather case. Undoing the latch, he withdrew a framed picture and handed it to Alex. Jane looked over his shoulder. A delicately drawn face of unique beauty gazed back at them. “Who is she?” Alex whispered.
“Kyle said she was a dream he’d once had. He gave the sketch to me only a few days before…before he was taken from us. You should keep it.”
Alex uttered a soft sound of misery. He brushed his fingers over the picture. “I couldn’t. Kyle gave it to you.”
An indulgent smile slid over Peters’ face. “Nonsense. He must have had you in mind when he drew such lovely lines. I knew him, and I’m sure he’d want you to have it.”
Color flushed Alex’s cheeks. He carefully placed the picture back in its case and slid it into a pocket.
3 out of 5 (good)
ALEX is the first book in the same-titled series and we stay with him as we learn about how his life was, how it is now, and what he is going through.
Alex is a complex character - at times appearing like a small boy - which is no real surprise considering what he has been through. Jane is seven years older than him and has been by his side since he first came to her house, rescued by her dad. He is also a divisive character - some people like him, but a lot don't. Creg, Brad, and Dr Bennett, to name some. Alex also has friends in Angie, Justin, Becca, and Ben, the local police chief. It's a good job too, as he gets into situations that look bad for him.
If anything could go wrong for Alex, it did. He is kidnapped multiple times, gets attacked, tortured (again), assaulted, knifed, and shot at! I would be a nervous wreck. There was so much going on in this story, I sometimes forgot what the main storyline actually was, especially with so many characters, including some who just appear and seem to have no real purpose to the story.
On the whole, this was a gripping book with brilliant (albeit horrible) descriptions, but I was left wanting more that I hope will be covered in future books in the series - more about Alex, his past, and how he deals with his visions and migraines in the future.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
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Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.
She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
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