Helpful Score: 4
Think of the 'mean girls' in an extended story.
The love between Toni and Ryan just makes a target for the 'mean girls' and turns it into a tragedy.
Love, tragedy, and reunion--this is the story of Toni and Ryan.
I liked Chevy Stevens first book, didn't like her second but wanted to give her another chance, I got an ARC copy and am so glad I did! This is very well written (a few typos but not bad), the chapters alternate between the past when they are teens and the present but it was so hard to put it down, I took it on vacation and read every chance I got.
I'm not a reader of romances but this is a different kind of romance story involving a tragedy.
The love between Toni and Ryan just makes a target for the 'mean girls' and turns it into a tragedy.
Love, tragedy, and reunion--this is the story of Toni and Ryan.
I liked Chevy Stevens first book, didn't like her second but wanted to give her another chance, I got an ARC copy and am so glad I did! This is very well written (a few typos but not bad), the chapters alternate between the past when they are teens and the present but it was so hard to put it down, I took it on vacation and read every chance I got.
I'm not a reader of romances but this is a different kind of romance story involving a tragedy.
Helpful Score: 1
I received an ARC of this book and held off reading it because I can't use it in swap games. However since I loved all her previous books, I picked it up one night and finished the second! It was a thrilling mystery with twists and turns and I dare you to put it down until you finish! Five stars!
Helpful Score: 1
Check out Kritters Ramblings for the full review
Small town, murder and lives lost in more than the typical way were the major themes for this book. Toni tells this story, but from three different points in time with chapters nicely headlined as to what time period she is narrating from and I loved how the weaved together. From the beginning, the author sets the stage that Toni's sister has been murdered and Toni and her not so clean cut boyfriend are found guilty for the murder, although they preach from the beginning that they are completely innocent. The reader must decide at some point whether they are convinced that she is speaking the truth or really did commit the crime.
Small town, murder and lives lost in more than the typical way were the major themes for this book. Toni tells this story, but from three different points in time with chapters nicely headlined as to what time period she is narrating from and I loved how the weaved together. From the beginning, the author sets the stage that Toni's sister has been murdered and Toni and her not so clean cut boyfriend are found guilty for the murder, although they preach from the beginning that they are completely innocent. The reader must decide at some point whether they are convinced that she is speaking the truth or really did commit the crime.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh my gosh. Love love loved this book. Literally had my stomach in knots with the suspense. 2nd book I have read from this author. Loved both. Will keep reading her
Helpful Score: 1
I read That Night for the January 2017 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
I'm sorry to say it was pretty disappointing.
The book is all about Toni Murphy and how she was wrongly convicted for the murder of her sister. But what if you don't like Toni Murphy? What if the character is super unlikeable? Where does that leave you for 300+ pages?
Bottom line? This is one of those books where you can read the first and last 50 pages and save yourself the time of the rambling and largely irrelevant filler in-between. It read like a YA novel for much of it, even when main characters get into their 30s.
I never liked Toni and so never became invested in her plight. The reveal at the end was OK, so that saves it from being a complete dud for me, but I couldn't recommend it. There are authors out there writing far better quality mysteries than this. I renamed it That Yawn. ;-)
I'm sorry to say it was pretty disappointing.
The book is all about Toni Murphy and how she was wrongly convicted for the murder of her sister. But what if you don't like Toni Murphy? What if the character is super unlikeable? Where does that leave you for 300+ pages?
Bottom line? This is one of those books where you can read the first and last 50 pages and save yourself the time of the rambling and largely irrelevant filler in-between. It read like a YA novel for much of it, even when main characters get into their 30s.
I never liked Toni and so never became invested in her plight. The reveal at the end was OK, so that saves it from being a complete dud for me, but I couldn't recommend it. There are authors out there writing far better quality mysteries than this. I renamed it That Yawn. ;-)
This is a page turner as all Chevy Stevens' books are. Toni is a typical rebellious teenager who pays such a terrible price for her decisions that it is tragic. She goes through so much after being convicted of her sister's murder which she did not commit. The mystery is who did kill her sister and while it seems obvious throughout the book, it still holds some surprises I didn't suspect. Well done.
Toni Murphy and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of murdering Toni's sister, Nicole while they were teenagers. They were sent to prison. Thirty-four years later, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown. A condition of her parole is that she is not to have any contact with Ryan. But Ryan is convinced he can figure out the truth. Toni's mother doubts that Toni is innocent. No matter how hard Toni tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night. Will Toni be able to figure out who really killed her sister? The book flashes back and forth from the present to the past just before Nicole was murdered. This is a fast-paced book with well-drawn characters. Some things were predictable but the ending was a complete surprise. I think this book would make a great movie. Chevy Stevens is a great storyteller and this one held my attention all the way to the end.
A very juvenile "mystery thriller" with an unbelievable plot and predictable suspects. The main character, Toni, manages to have everyone hate her and want to fight her - from classmates to cellmates. The numerous references to her being a badass were eye-rolling. And a lifelong grudge over a 9th grade crush which then leads to a a murder conviction with zero evidence and a lame motive? I liked Jorjeana Marie's audio narration which is the only reason I continued to the end.
This book was interesting but it took forever to read because it never really hooked you. It was a good enough read, but it never had the high adrenaline thrills that I wanted and expected.
It was a great read.. I admit to me there was a few chapters that dragged on and on... but there were some really good ones and the last 100 or so pages was all intense. I couldn't put it down until it was done and I so wasn't ready for it to be the end... Worth the read, it will take you on an emotional roller coaster.
I didn't want to put this book down and at one point toward the end found myself tearing up, which is unheard of for me. The author brings the reader right into the lives of the characters and you actually start to care about them. The ending, while some parts are predictable, there are other parts that will totally surprise you. Great read.
Lately, it seems with a number of books I've read the author has chosen to approach the story by starting with the present and then in the following chapter jumping back to the past, or visa-versa, in a repeated pattern, as Chevy Stevens does in this book. At first, I found this a bit disturbing, like the author was starting off by spoiling her own story by revealing the ending. Soon, however, I began to catch on; that the real mystery was in the past events that led to the present. I must say she does a marvelous job, though I offer a warning for those readers who come into this book in a low mood, hoping for a lift (as happened in my case), you will probably want to put this aside until a time you are feeling more able to offer sincere empathy. Anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to suddenly find one's self, convicted of a crime which you did not commit, this book does an incredible job of answering that question in accurate detail. Definitely a four-star performance, less one star for failing to leave me feeling completely satisfied.
