Review: Song of the Fireflies by J.A Redmerski

Song of the Fireflies

Author: J.A Redmerski

Series: -

Pages: 464

Publisher: Forever Grand Publishing

Amazon

Release date: 4^th February 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

New York Times bestselling author J.A. Redmerski brings us a stunning and heart-wrenching new novel about a couple who find each other in their darkest moment. 

Since they were kids, Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates have been inseparable. When Bray moves to South Carolina, separating the two for the first time, they both at last realize that their innocent childhood friendship has developed into something much more. So when Bray finally returns to Georgia—and to Elias—things between them couldn’t be more perfect…until one fateful night changes everything.

Desperate not to go to prison for a terrible accident, Elias and Bray decide to run. As they try to make the most of their freedom, the two find themselves relying on a rebellious group of people who tempt the duo into a wild and daring new life. But they can’t run from their troubles forever.

As the consequences of their past catch up to them, the couple must finally face reality. Even if they can make it through the unimaginable, Elias knows the truth about Bray’s painful history, and in the end he may not be able to save Bray from herself…

New Adult Contemporary Romance - Standalone Novel

Review: 2 out of 5 stars

I wanted to love Song of the Fireflies, Killing Sarah by J.A Redmerski was amazing and I have heard great things about her The Edge of Never series but unfortunately I didn’t connect with this one whatsoever and was left underwhelmed and disappointed.

The beginning of the book was quite promising as we meet Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates, best friends since childhood but as the book progresses and a huge mistake is made it all went downhill from there and the only saving grace for me was a satisfying ending but there was a lot of emotional turmoil and drama-filled moments to get there.

Bray wasn’t a likeable character whatsoever; I sympathised with what she went through but I couldn’t find any qualities about her that I could connect with emotionally or personally unfortunately. I did like Elias but there were many moments that left me shaking my head and wanting to shake some sense into both of them. I found their love, dedication and commitment to one another to be wonderful but it was a fragile, toxic relationship and one I was waiting to crumble right from the onset.

I won’t reveal what happens to avoid spoilers but over the course of the book there was a lot of partying, drug use and alcohol – this isn’t me so I couldn’t connect to the lifestyle or to their reckless behaviour and new friends whilst on the run. The overall storyline wasn’t believable and I was detached through a lot of it.

Overall, I couldn’t fault J.A Redmerski’s writing but the general dark tone, characters actions and the storyline just wasn’t for me.

Thank-you to Forever Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read Song of the Fireflies.

About the author: 

Born November 25, 1975, J.A. (Jessica Ann) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead. 

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Review: Killing Sarai (In the Company of Killers #1) by J.A. Redmerski

Killing Sarai

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Series: In the Company of Killers

Pages: 393

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Self

Amazon

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.

Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.

As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.

This is their story…

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Killing Sarai is certainly intense, action packed and gritty; I’ve been curious about J.A. Redmerski and her books and after seeing a number of positive reviews for this one and wanting to read something a little darker, it seemed to be perfect for me. I was also drawn to the beautiful cover which I feel suits the book perfectly.

Sarai Cohen has been confined to the walls of a Mexican drug lords home for the past nine years, favoured and treated differently to the other girls around her she has witnessed some horrors and experienced abuse and fear; when an opportunity comes in the form of a hired killer to escape, she jumps at the chance of freedom.

Victor Faust is all sorts of messed up, with his life filled with murder and crime he is a hardened character but also extremely controlled and intriguing, he doesn’t know whether to save Sarai, use her or kill her. Part of a secret organisation where he has been since his childhood, he doesn’t know of a life outside of corruption, violence and death.

I felt disconnected from Sarai and Victor initially but I think this was mainly because of the people they had become and the upbringing they both had – they have both had to adapt to survive; I was saddened by what they had endured but had hope for who they could become; Victor was a complex and mysterious character who had me questioning his sincerity but I came to love the way he protected Sarai; Sarai had a lot of strength, despite how she had suffered she coped to survive but she held a lot of anger for the life that had been taken away from her, they came to form a mutual trust which I loved watching progress.

The pacing was spot on for me up until around the half way mark when things change dramatically and an important key player is eliminated, I didn’t know in which direction it would go from this point but it was still as riveting and hold on to the edge of your seats exciting.

I adored the dual POV’s; getting an insight into both Sarai and Victor’s thoughts and actions was wonderful and written perfectly – I don’t think the story would have worked as well without it. I am a HUGE fan of any form of romance and the chemistry is apparent between them from the beginning but I was curious to see how it would all play out, I didn’t think there would be any sappy knee-wobbling moments and even though we don’t really know how either is truly feeling it was great seeing the build-up to the point where they actually give in to the attraction, especially Victor.

Quote: “I don’t think that this thing between us is love, or even lust. It’s something else, something powerful and unmistakable that neither of us have been able to ignore. But it doesn’t have a face.”

The writing is perfection! J.A Redmerski has created gripping, detailed scenes and completely fleshed out yet imperfect characters like no other and the unpredictable plot kept me completely fascinated.

Overall, this is a darkly intense, suspenseful read that definitely keeps you wanting to know what will happen next and while we don’t get a cliff-hanger ending as such, it does leave you needing more.

About the Author: J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE EDGE OF NEVER lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

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