Title: Girl of Rage Author: Charles Sheehan-Miles
Series: Rachel's Peril #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 25, 2014
Genre: Mystery
More Info: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon US
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Purchase: Amazon UK
Four days ago, Andrea Thompson agreed to fly to the United States to help her sister Carrie. Four days ago, everything changed.
Now Andrea is lost and on the run. Dylan Paris is missing. Julia and Crank Wilson are under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. The Thompson family is scattered and in danger, and Andrea’s very identity may hold the key to unlock decades of buried secrets.
Andrea, the youngest member of the Thompson clan, sets out on a search to find answers. Who is attacking her family? Who is trying to kill her and why?
As Andrea seeks her answers, everything she thought she knew about her family will be turned upside down.
Excerpt
Carrie. May 2. 10:45 am.
Mention of the newspapers made her stomach twitch. She and Ray had been smeared in the news. “Everything in the papers was wrong,” she replied sharply.
“Okay, so tell me what happened.”
Carrie swallowed. “Army platoon went off the deep end. They took a lot of casualties, then the platoon sergeant went crazy and shot a civilian kid. Ray reported it several months later, and his sergeant leveled counter charges saying Ray had pulled the trigger. They put him on trial.”
“And he was murdered,” Bear said.
The word always hurt. It was ugly, and bare, and truthful. It said nothing and it said everything. “That’s right,” she said. “By one of his fellow soldiers.”
“Jesus,” Bear said.
“Anyway,” she said. “You’ve got to understand. I’ve already lost my soul mate. My husband. And … all I have is my family. My sisters. My daughter. You understand? I can tell you this much: Andrea’s not mixed up with money laundering or drugs or anything else. Neither is Julia. Whatever’s going on with this prosecutor and investigation stinks.”
Bear didn’t answer. He kept his eyes on the highway as they got closer to the city.
“Why aren’t you answering?” she asked. “You think they’re guilty?”
My Review:
How much did I love this book? Let me count the ways…
The way he kept me on my toes and turned me into a conspiracy theorist.
Truths turned into lies, and even the lies ran deeper than I could imagine. There is a depth in his writing that you don’t find often. From the multi-faceted characters to the environment to everything in between. No stone is left unturned, and even though you’re left with more questions than answers, you keep coming back for more. CSM’s writing is so fulfilling that even when you are hanging by a thread you enjoy the delicious torture.
The vulnerability and strength of Andrea.
Only sixteen years old and thrust into a family she doesn’t know, this young woman has continued to amaze me. Seemingly cast aside by those who should love her unconditionally, Andrea still remains cautiously optimistic. She doesn’t view the world through rose colored glasses and possesses a realism not usually afforded others her age.
The quiet stoicism of Carrie.
Though still reeling from the death of her husband, her world doesn’t stop moving. Even when chaos surrounds them, she commands the room. The scenes in which her inner emotions are exposed are raw and gritty and you won’t leave without shedding more than a few tears.
The reflections of Julia.
I loved that, more than anyone else, she seemed to come to the realization that not everything was as it seemed. Memories that once seemed so black and white turned gray, and Julia was left questioning everything and everyone. Empathy began to creep in and I feel like forgiveness is around the corner.
The protectiveness of Dylan.
Here’s a character that life has dumped all over, yet he keeps fighting. Without a second thought to his well-being, he thinks in the moment and takes charge. What I love about CSM’s writing is strength he develops in his characters. They become living, breathing beings that don’t merely exist between the pages. His stories come to life, and the multi-dimensional movie plays out in real time, keeping you on the edge of your seat.
The rawness of Adelina.
Like an onion, we are rapidly peeling her layers. Here is a character that throughout ALL CSM’s books, has been somewhat of a villain. Her inner musings are what drives this series, and you will find yourself bouncing between loving and hating her. Honestly, even two books in, I am still not sure what side of the fence I stand on. I certainly know and understand more, but there are still plenty of truths to be revealed.
The insightful nature of Sarah.
Surprisingly the voice of reason, she brought a much needed humor to this book. Her snarky attitude and call-it-like-I-see-it persona were refreshing. Even when people would lie to her, she could see right through them. Introduced in the last book, she really shines in this one. Her special connection with Dylan was one of my favorite parts!
The realism of the situation.
CSM doesn’t sugarcoat anything for the readers, nor does he ease you into it. From the beginning of this series we were quite literally knocked on our tails with supposed truths and revelations. Everything we thought to be true wasn’t and we had to learn the characters all over again. The authenticity that CSM brings to his books is that of someone who has not only done his research, but lived and breathed it to an extent. The background and locations of the story not only add to the experience, but they are almost a character themselves.
We are two-thirds of the way through this adventure and I can’t even begin to imagine where he’ll take us next. I know one thing for certain though; wild horses couldn’t keep me away!
My Cast of Characters
Giveaway
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Girl of Lies (Rachel’s Peril, #1)
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My Review
Andrea Thompson is smart, assertive and beautiful. She’s also desperately lonely. Raised in Europe by her grandmother, she struggles knowing neither of her parents wanted her, and she has no idea why.
When Andrea receives an urgent call from her older sister Carrie, she agrees to fly to the United States to help. Carrie’s newborn daughter Rachel needs a bone marrow transplant.
What Andrea doesn’t know is that her return to the United States will launch a chain of events that will uncover secrets hidden for decades. Secrets which will rock the Thompson family and ignite a political firestorm.
Secrets that some will kill to protect.
Rachel’s Peril is a Spin-off of The Thompson Sisters Series: Reading Order
Book One: A Song About Julia
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Everyone should have something to rebel against.
Crank Wilson left his South Boston home at sixteen to start a punk band and burn out his rage at the world. Six years later, he’s still at odds with his father, a Boston cop, and doesn’t ever speak to his mother. The only relationship that really matters is with his younger brother, but watching out for Sean can be a full-time job. The one thing Crank wants in life is to be left the hell alone to write his music and drive his band to success.
Julia Thompson left a secret behind in Beijing that exploded into scandal in Washington, DC, threatening her father’s career and dominating her family’s life. Now, in her senior year at Harvard, she’s haunted by a voice from her past and refuses to ever lose control of her emotions again, especially when it comes to a guy.
When Julia and Crank meet at an anti-war protest in Washington in the fall of 2002, the connection between them is so powerful it threatens to tear everything apart.
Book One.Five: Falling Stars
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Crank Wilson and Julia Thompson love each other madly. But after Crank’s huge mistake during the summer, on the road with Crank’s rock band Morbid Obesity, they aren’t getting along.
Sean Wilson and Carrie Thompson are the seventeen year old younger siblings of Julia and Crank. Carrie is on her way to New York to start college at Columbia University and Sean is on his way home to Boston. For the next five days, they’re stuck in a car. Along the way, they’ll contend with screaming matches, giant spiders and a 240-pound pissed off Marine.
And the whole way, Crank will be faced with one question. After he screwed up so badly, is there any way he can win Julia back?
Book Two: Just Remember To Breathe
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Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.
Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.
When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.
Only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.
The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.
Book Three: The Last Hour
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Twenty-seven year old Carrie Thompson-Sherman has the life she always wanted: her PhD, a prestigious fellowship, and an amazing husband.
Her life begins to unravel as a jealous colleague puts her fellowship in jeopardy and a haunting secret Ray Sherman carried home from Afghanistan comes to light.
Hounded by a federal investigation and the ensuing media feeding frenzy, Carrie and Ray desperately lean on each other, until a disastrous accident puts both Ray and her sister’s lives at risk.
In the last hour, Carrie and Ray will each find themselves faced with a choice.
A choice that will change everything.
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