Title: The Rebound Effect
Author: Linda Griffin
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb:
In the small town of Cougar, struggling single mother and veterinary assistant Teresa Lansing is still bruised from a failed relationship when Frank McAllister sweeps her off her feet.
Frank is a big-city SWAT officer who moved to Cougar only four months ago. He's handsome, charming, forceful, very sexy, and a bit mysterious. He had his eye on Teresa even before they met and is pushing for a serious relationship right away.
Teresa finds his intense courtship flattering, and the sex is fabulous, but she doesn't want her deaf six-year-old son to be hurt again. Her former fiancé cheated on her when he got drunk after being unjustly fired, but he loves her and her son, and the whirlwind romance is complicated by his efforts to win Teresa back.
And then there's the matter of the bodies buried at Big Devil Creek…
My Review:
After the breakup of her last boyfriend, Teresa is more cautious when it comes to dating. She’s not only protecting her heart but her deaf young son too. So when she first meets Frank, she plays it cool. He comes on strong, though, and she’s attracted to him. Before she can figure out her own feelings, he pushes for a serious relationship. The sex is great but there’s something about Frank she can’t quite put her finger on. Her ex-boyfriend is also back in her life and is trying to win her back. Lines between hero and villain are blurred and poor Teresa is caught in the middle. Feeling like a scared rabbit caught in a snare, she realizes too late she’s about to become the murderer’s next victim.
This is one of the most original romantic suspense I’ve ever read. It reads more like a psychological thriller than a romantic suspense, which is fine but may mislead some readers. If they’re looking for a HEA, they may be disappointed.
What I loved most about The Rebound Effect was the accurate portrayal of an abuser. The manipulation, control, tracking tricks abusers use was clearly defined in this book. Teresa’s reactions and emotional angst rang true and added authenticity to the story. There were parts of the story where I gasped aloud, proving the suspense is well drawn out. The ending shocked me to my core. I wasn’t prepared for it.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful romantic thriller with a clear message for women everywhere, pick up The Rebound Effect today.
My Rating: 4 stars
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Author Biography:
Linda Griffin is a native of San Diego and has a BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. She retired from a position as the fiction librarian for the San Diego Public Library in order to spend more time on her writing. Her stories have been published in numerous journals, including The Binnacle , Eclectica, Orbis, and The Nassau Review. The Rebound Effect is her second novel from The Wild Rose Press. Seventeen Days was published in October 2018. She enjoys Scrabble, movies, and travel, as well as the three R’s—reading, writing, and research.
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N