Everything Marie's Reviews > Absolution

*I RECEIVED AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
WOW, OH WOW!!! THIS BOOK IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THE MOMENT I STARTED READING I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. THE PROLOGUE HOOKED ME AND I COULDN'T GET OUT OF ITS GRASPS; IT'S THAT GOOD! THE STORY BEGINS WITH JACK, ALLY, & CALLUM; THREE BEST FRIENDS WHO ARE COMING HOME FROM A CONCERT WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES AND THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A TERRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT. BOTH JACK AND CALLUM WALK AWAY WITH MINOR INJURIES; HOWEVER ALLY IS NOT SO LUCKY, AND SHE IS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST. TORTURED WITH SHAME, FEAR, AND GUILT JACK LEAVES HIS HOMETOWN AND CUTS ALL TIES WITH EVERYONE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. BUT WITH A SUDDEN DEATH IN THE FAMILY, JACK MUST RETURN HOME AND FACE THOSE WHO HE HURT ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
WHILE I WAS READING THIS BOOK, I FELT SO CONNECTED TO ALL THREE CHARACTERS. THROUGHOUT THE STORY, JACK IS CONFLICTED. SHOULD HE STAY AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT OR SHOULD HE ESCAPE AND FORGET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? HIS GUILT, SHAME, AND FEAR REALLY HIT HOME FOR ME. I FELT HIS SHAME AND HIS SADNESS. I WANTED TO COMFORT HIM AND TELL HIM EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT. DEEP DOWN JACK IS A NOBLE GUY WHO COULDN'T BEAR TO FACE THE ONES HE LOVED THE MOST. HIS HEART IS PURE AND GENUINE AND HE ALWAYS HAD THE BEST OF INTENTIONS; NO MATTER WHAT. I ENJOYED HIS CHARACTER VERY MUCH. ALLY WAS SO STRONG IN THIS BOOK. SHE OVERCAME A TON OF OBSTACLES AND HEARTACHES AND ALWAYS STRIVED TO SEE THE POSITIVES IN LIFE. SHE'S BRAVE, HONEST, AND DAMN RIGHT SEXY! I LOVED HER SHY PERSONALITY AND HER CONFIDENCE AND BRAVERY TO FIGHT FOR WHAT SHE TRULY WANTS IN LIFE.
THEN THERE'S CALLUM. OH LORD, HE IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER. AFTER JACK DISAPPEARS, CALLUM TAKES CARE OF ALLY AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM. HE'S A BAD-ASS WITH A BIG HEART; TOUGH, FIERCE, INTIMIDATING BUT ALSO LOVING, NURTURING, AND DOWN RIGHT HOT!!! EVEN THOUGH THE LOVE STORY IS JACK AND ALLY'S; I CAUGHT MYSELF ROOTING FOR CALLUM. HE IS THE PERFECT SUPPORTING CHARACTER WITH THE RIGHT QUALITIES TO SWEEP ANYONE OFF THEIR FEET. I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM AND I'M DYING TO READ MORE ABOUT HIM.
OVERALL, THIS WAS A FANTASTIC DEBUT BY AMANDA DICK. SHE DOES A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING EVERYTHING WITH ENOUGH DETAIL AND A HINT OF IMAGINATION, WHICH MAKES IT FEEL SO REAL. HER WRITING IS EXQUISITE AND SO CLEAR; WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE? I READ THIS BOOK IN 2 SITTINGS AND HAD A SERIOUS HANGOVER ONCE I WAS FINISHED. YOU WILL LAUGH, CRY, AND MOST OF ALL, HAVE HOPE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS THAT WILL STAY WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME AND HAVE A PROFOUND AFFECT ON YOUR SOUL. THIS IS NOT ONLY A LOVE STORY BUT A QUEST FOR REDEMPTION.