Lingering Echoes Erica Kiefer
Description (from Goodreads)
She's broken with guilt. 
He harbors a chilling past. 
It's safer if they keep their distance... 
But, the echoes that linger connect them. 

Returning to Hidden Pines is the last thing Allie Collins wants to do during her final summer before college. For her, the family cabin she spent her youthful summers in, now holds a dark memory that has haunted her every day for the last year. 

While struggling to forget her past, Allie runs into Damien, a local rebel with secrets of his own. He's dark, dangerous and he keeps showing up when Allie least expects him to. She has every reason not to trust him. So why does she find herself opening up to him in a way she hasn't been able to with anyone? 

As pieces of Damien’s identity emerge, answers to a rumored mystery begin to unfold. By the time Allie unearths the secrets of Damien’s past, she realizes just how intricately they are connected. Now she is caught in a dangerous battle that threatens her life and those she loves.



*This arc was graciously provided by Clean Teen Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review*

Firstly, I think I read somewhere that this is marketed as a New Adult book. I'm not sure that is a correct placement, and it doesn't have to do with the fact that there isn't any sex in this book. It's because of the mindset of the main character. She's graduated high school, yes, but since she hasn't made that step of actually leaving home, she still thinks like a high schooler. If that makes any sense. And I went in expecting a different sort of narrative thought, which was a bit jarring at first.

That being said, Allie's still a mature person. She's been through quite a lot. This book really excelled in showing her and Damien's pain. They're fully developed characters, with worries, doubts, and hopes. Kiefer does an excellent job of writing these characters.

The interesting thing about this book was the personal tragedies of Allie and Damien. I found Allie's to be very moving. And her thoughts and actions accurately reflected that event.

But Damien's was just a tad over-the-top. On the one hand, it seems like a logical escalation of events, but it just fell flat for me. And while the climax certainly had me turning pages, I just felt that it wasn't enough. While the bad people had been removed from the picture, I didn't think that was enough for Damien to be safe. If his enemies as a group had been so powerful, it seems to me that they would keep sending people to finish the job.

But the real problem I had with this book was Damien. Kiefer spent so much time setting up Damien as this bad boy character, that I was actually turned off by him. I got creeped out by the guy, especially when he kept following her around and essentially stalking her. I was practically convinced that he was going to do something to her, and while I empathized with him when I finally got the full story, by then it was too little too late. I just didn't like or trust him. I actually wanted Allie to end up with Aaron, who was clearly the better choice.

But all in all, it's a good read, and well written. It just wasn't for me. I really couldn't get past my feelings for Damien.

2/5