First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. Rules: Share the opening paragraph for a book you are reading or thinking of reading.
First Chapter, First Paragraph
My name is Anabel Martin, and I am an orphan.
I can't say that. I shook my head and sighed, pivoting slowly in front of the mirror, taking in my hair, my legs, my dress. My blue eyes looked sullen in the mirror, and I wondered if nineteen was too old to be considered an orphan. Does it count if you've never known your mother, and your father was emotionally unavailable for your whole life?
The Review
Anabel Unraveled by Amanda Romine Lynch is written from the viewpoint of two of the characters, Jared and Anabel, but really focuses on one – Anabel.
Anabel has grown up on a top secret government island all her life with little interaction with people her own age. Her father Jonathon is very over possessive and although it seems he does love Anabel, he rarely shows it.
This all changes when the president of the United States, also Annabel’s half brother, sends a lawyer called Jared over to check on things on the island. Anabel finally sees her chance of an escape and plans to make the lawyer tell her brother that the best thing for Anabel would be to leave the island. She does get her wish but only after her father is murdered and the whole thing becomes a problem for national security and a huge mystery. Anabel is taken to live with her brother Sam, and now has to sit through hearings to try to discover who killed her father and if her life is in danger. With her blatant honesty and sharp tongue not everybody likes Anabel but she also has a much softer and sweeter side that we do get to see and love.
The story was very addictive and Lynch adds in twists and turns that keeps you wanting to read more and know more about Anabel and this new life she is forced to lead. The main character Anabel is an incredibly strong woman and even though there are many events in her life that have taken her through hell and back she still manages to come out the other side of it stronger.
It was interesting to read the memories of what led them to where the characters are at present and both Jared and Anabel have to relive some awful things that have happened to them on the island and since leaving it, that can either make them or break them. Anabel Unraveled is an emotional rollercoaster and at times I felt so angry at more than one character and at other times I could have cried with them. They were so well written and thought out that it makes you want to know more about them. This book was very hard to put down.
If you enjoy murder and mystery with all of life’s hard choices, decisions and experiences with some love and romance thrown in then this is definitely a book you need to add to your ‘to be read’ pile.
Buy Anabel Unraveled at Amazon
Book info:
Available formats: ebook & paperback (384 pages)
Published: December 2012 by eLectio Publishing
ISBN13: 9781611874891
Genres: chick-lit, mystery, new adult
Source: author
Read: September 2014
Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link. A free ebook was provided for this review.
Posts
This books sounds totally bizarre, but in a good way. I'm completely intrigued and liked the intro...I'd keep reading!
ReplyDeleteHere's Mine: http://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/top-ten-tuesday/top-ten-hard-read-books-tuesday-intro/
Thanks Sarah it was a really good read. I'm just starting on the second book. But I have added "the stranger beside me" off your top ten hard to read list to my "To be read" list as this sounds like something I would really love! Thanks for sharing
DeletePromising beginning...I'd read on.
ReplyDeleteMy Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/09/first-chapter-first-paragraph-77-and.html
The cover is so weirdly interesting, that I am very curious...and the blurb made me more so. Thanks for sharing...and here's mine: “THE CORN MAIDEN”
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an intense read! I like the sound of it and am glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteWhat? A secret government island? You can bet I would read this one! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe author has created a unique situation, so I'd enjoy reading the book simply because it seems to be different. The opening definitely made me want to know more about Anabel.
ReplyDeleteHere's the link to my Tuesday post: SUMMERTIME.
Very unusual... I'd keep reading!
ReplyDeleteClaire, this intro drew me in immediately -- hope you love it.
ReplyDeleteI like the intro, sounds like an emotional story will follow. Have a nice week! kelley—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDelete