Donna had the great pleasure in beta reading Razorblade Kisses by RL Griffin. You always go into these books expecting the unexpected and sometimes you start a book and as soon as you read the first page you know it is going to be fantastic. That is how Donna felt when she started this book. Check out Donna's review below.
We also had the pleasure of interviewing R.L Griffin via video where we talk favourites, her upcoming book Razorblade Kisses and just a general chat about being RL Griffin and being an author.
But that's not all! To celebrate the impending release of Razorblade Kisses on 6th January, RL Griffin has very generously donated a signed arc of Razorblade Kisses to be given away to one of our lucky followers.
Razorblade Kisses Review
**ARC**
Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars
“There is not a person out there who is just good or just bad, we all have layers and scars and graveyards.”
This is going to be one of the hardest reviews I have ever written. There are times when you read a book and that book totally and utterly consumes you, it takes over your thought processes, your soul, your emotions, your heart, everything. One of those books that you continually think about for days and weeks after and for me, this was one of those books, I lived and breathed this book.
“You are braver than you seem and stronger than you think.”
RL Griffin’s previous series, By A Thread was more a romantic suspense, and Razorblade Kisses is far from her normal. This is a book that screams the author has put their heart and soul onto the pages, if books could bleed, this one would be oozing. I felt everything, confusion, hurt, pain, anguish, hope, devastation and love, yes this book will put your emotions through their paces but this is so much more than a book, it is a work of art on paper.
“Hope. It had tempted her with its beauty and suffocated her with is reality.”
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this book; I have seen it grow from strength to strength. It covers some extremely hard hitting subjects but they are dealt with sensitively, thoughtfully and emotionally. There is nothing gratuitous, just heartfelt, beautiful penmanship that creates an ugly yet beautiful story. A story about leaving a painful past behind and trying to live for the now, a story of rebirth in the direst of circumstances, when all hope is lost and you are afraid for yourself and your sanity, clawing back from the pits of despair, making the most of the situations that you find yourself in, trying to forget and be that person you want to be rather than being the person that your past has dictated you be.
“My heart is broken and my head is barely inhabitable.”
Yes there are a lot of lows but this is balanced with some fantastic highs, your heart will be ripped apart several times but will be slowly pieced back together, this is a journey, a voyage, yes it is not pretty in places but what life is? We all have our dark and sad times, we are all different but life is an experience and one that we only get one chance at. Sometimes we have to make decisions we don’t want to, or feel we can’t do, but self-preservation is important. Sometimes our circumstances dictate the paths that need to be taken, give you that nudge in the perceived right direction, we can only follow and hope that it is the right choice. Most importantly, life is what you make it and this book hammers that point home. You can wallow, or you can live, you can be destroyed or you can fight, you can hate or you can love and be loved. But most of all, make those choices for you, always be you.
“She’ll get through it…You see fragile, I see a survivor. She may not be loud or hostile, but she survived…”
Emery was a gutsy character, when most are weak, she was strong, she was a survivor, a fighter. She was damaged, she was frightened and she felt that she couldn’t tell a soul. She bottled everything up and had her coping mechanisms. She coped the only way she knew how and this it seems was a godsend as this little godsend came in the form of a bubbly bundle called Rachel. While the circumstances under which they met were not the best, it proved to be the turning point for Emery and a friendship that would last a life time. A friendship so strong and infallible, a partnership, a best friend that goes above and beyond, this was hitting the best friend lottery and these two were perfect for each other. They saved each other.
“There was light at the end of her never ending tunnel. It was unexpected and it was named Rachel.”
This is not your hearts and flowers romance, obviously, but this is a lesson, a lesson that we all embark on but was made that entire bit harder for Emery. Learning that not all men are the same, that some relationships you embark on may not be “the one” but are important none the less. That love can heal, love can make you forget, love can make you be that better person, love can save you, but also that giving and receiving love is the greatest gift we are given and it should be embraced and treasured with both hands.
“I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“I can’t promise you the same thing.”
I will not say anything about the plot as it needs to be read blind, you need to experience it first hand for yourself. All I will say is that this is by far RL Griffin’s most accomplished book to date. It is raw, it is gritty, it is not pretty but it is more than a book, it is an experience and one that you feel all the better for reading. It makes you want to be a better person, to be the better friend.
“The problem with being a good liar is you forget who you are under all those layers of deceit.”
I cannot convey how much I loved this book; it was the surprises of all surprises. RL Griffin was unsure as to whether to publish this book or not, but this is a book that screams “read me.” It deserves the accolades that I am sure it will garner; it is one of my all-time favourite reads and one that I will read time and time again. If you have never read this author, please take the time to pick up this book, you will not be disappointed. RL Griffin, all I can say, is WOW; this is one book that I will never, ever forget! Kudos to you, allay those fears, this book is the shit!
Find it on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18747233-razorblade-kisses
Interview with R.L Griffin:
Video Link: http://youtu.be/FYHweGN1lRI
Giveaway!
Win a signed arc of Razorblade Kisses
No comments:
Post a Comment