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A coming-of-age novel with a strong heroine, a sweet love story, and the eternal struggle between good and evil
Running from vile rumors and merciless ridicule, thirteen-year-old Nicole Beaumont flees her home in Parsons Valley, Georgia. She leaves Chris behind, the boy who had been her best-friend-for-life, her soul mate, the one with whom she was supposed to spend her life, and she takes refuge at a boarding school in rural Pennsylvania.
In the farming community in which she lived, almost any transgression could be tolerated, excused, or overlooked. Any transgression, save one that smacked of sex, and, according to rumor, that was exactly what she and Chris had done while lying on the bank of Parsons Pond. It was a lie, the worst part at any rate, but Chris refused to deny the rumor. Never again, Nicole vows, will she trust another person as she had trusted Chris.
Such vows can be difficult to keep, but Nicole perseveres.
Then, she meets Richard. He seems different from the others. He accepts Nicole as she is. He keeps her secrets. When others doubt her, he stands in her defense. Nevertheless, even as they fall in love, the full story of what happened at Parsons Pond remains off-limits to him, and her memories of Chris, which tempt her, tugging her into the past, threaten to betray her,
Chris re-enters her life in a most unexpected way, and Nicole finds herself emmeshed in a deadly game that pits Chris, the boy she once loved, against Richard, the man who loves her, now, a game from which only one will emerge unscathed. Nicole faces an impossible decision. Which will she choose? Who will live?
House Beside the River is a romantic, true-to-life coming-of-age novel featuring a violent culture, a strong woman, and a sweet ending. Buy House Beside the River today!
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My Thoughts:
If you are looking for a read that will capture your attention from the front cover to the back, this is it! David Burnett pulls us into Nicole's story and instantly, you'll find your heart aching for the young girl. What she goes through is a travesty. But she rises above it, even finding love again.
But as Nicole advances in her career, she finds herself at a crossroads. She can either face jail time or take a job within the FBI. If you've ever watched Criminal Minds, there was a little Penelope Garcia vibe here! She ends up going undercover and soon finds her past crashing into her present. It is an extreme risk, but one that brings her story full circle.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, giving you a true feel for the atmosphere of the situations and locations throughout the book. Nicole's upbringing and her past trauma have a great impact on the woman she becomes, often threatening to send her on a downward spiral. But Richard returns at critical moments in her life, giving her a centered, safe, and secure home.
I thoroughly enjoyed the case that Nicole works on that collides her past and present together. It's something I could easily see in the current news. Not only does it show the brutality and unrest of these types of groups, it also shows how easily people can be pulled into the cause.
I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Other books by the author...
About the author
David Burnett lives in Columbia South Carolina, with his wife and their blue-eyed cat, Bonnie. The Reunion, his first novel, is set in nearby Charleston.
David enjoys traveling, photography, baking bread, and the Carolina beaches.
He has photographed subjects as varied as prehistoric ruins on the islands of Scotland, star trails, sea gulls, a Native American powwow, and his grandson, Jack. David and his wife have traveled widely in the United States and the United Kingdom. During one trip to Scotland, they visited Crathes Castle, the ancestral home of the Burnett family near Aberdeen. In The Reunion, Michael's journey through England and Scotland allows him to sketch many places they have visited.
David has graduate degrees in psychology and education and previously was Director of Research for the South Carolina Department of Education. He and his wife have two daughters.
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