Happy National Hugging Day!

Tags

Humor, National Hugging Day 2016

I can’t believe I almost missed this day! I’m a compulsive hugger! Thankfully I was over at Michelle Eastman’s blog at http://michelleeastmanbooks.wordpress.com and was saved! So, in honor of this auspicious day I’m sharing some adorable gifs that will hopefully inspire you to go hug someone, and um, hopefully not get clobbered for your effort.

 

And keep this in mind:

You can’t fix things with a hug, but you can’t make them any worse either.

~ Dean Koontz, Brother Odd ~

The Truth ~ By Jeffry W. Johnston – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Family Relationships, Mystery, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016

Synopsis: When Chris wakes up tied to a chair in a dark basement, he knows that he’s trapped–and why. He shot and killed Derek’s little brother. He had his reasons, but no matter how far Derek goes to uncover the truth about that night, Chris’s story won’t change. It can’t. There is far too much at stake…

Derek is desperate to prove his brother didn’t deserve to die. And if kidnapping his brother’s killer is the only way to the truth, then he’ll go to extremes. But Chris’s truth is far more dangerous than Derek could have imagined, and knowing could cost both their lives…

The Truth is an intriguing mystery, but even more importantly it’s about how far you will go to protect the ones you love.

The story opens just as the synopsis says; with Chris duct-taped to a chair. He’s forced by Derek to relate not only what happened that fateful night, but also personal details about his relationship with his deceased father. Through his memories the reader finds out not only what happened, but the events that led up to the shooting. Sixteen-year-old Chris has been forced to grow up too quickly after his police officer father is killed after responding to a domestic call. Chris is now big brother and father figure to his ten-year-old brother Devon. He faithfully attends all of Devon’s baseball games, and even rubs his back at night when he needs comforting. Then one night when their mother isn’t home, Chris wakes up after hearing a noise in the kitchen. Before the night is over, an intruder lies dead, shot by the gun that is kept in a bedroom drawer. Chris is hailed as a hero, but he never seems comfortable with that mantle. When he finds out the burglar was only thirteen-years-old, he’s horrified. All of these tormented feelings pour out of Chris as he sits helpless, being threatened by Derek. But there’s one truth that he won’t reveal no matter what. Even if Derek follows through with his threat to cut off his fingers. 

Once revealed, the secret that Chris has so desperately tried to keep hidden, comes as no great surprise, but by that point the mystery has taken a back seat to the relationship developing between Chris and Derek, and the choices they’ve both made to protect their younger brothers. The story does take a slightly silly turn near the end, which makes it seem more like a Hollywood action movie, but the ending came as a huge surprise and left me wondering what would become of the characters.

The Truth is a great read for kids in 8th grade and up. The characters are appealing and the storyline suspenseful enough that I guarantee they won’t want to put the book down.