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Brighter
Five years ago, when Ramona Brinks was a freshman in college, Garrett Hillard raped a girl. At least that's what the girl said anyway, and that's why the guys in town got together and introduced Garrett to their fists. They told him in no uncertain terms to leave and stay gone. Garrett's back in town. And Ramona finds herself drawn to the social pariah, especially after he tells her that he didn't rape anyone. Instead, he saw the girl get killed. Of course, that's clearly crazy. The girl isn't dead. But Ramona's been feeling a little crazy herself lately. She had a conversation with her neighbor, only to find out later that while they were chatting, her neighbor's dead body was washing up from a shallow grave.... This is a supernatural horror novel in the tradition of Stephen King, Caitlin R. Kiernan, or Poppy Z. Brite
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2010
70 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
V.J. Chambers
104 books463 followersV. J. Chambers writes about being inexplicably attracted to the dangerously alluring. Her works span mundane settings and fantastic ones. She writes about serial killers, cult leaders, werewolves, witches, for-hire assassins, zombies, space pirates, and regular everyday people.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 1, 2011
I'm re-reading this because I live in a college town, and I need a reminder every now and then that no, I'm not literally stuck in a vortex. I can leave, unlike the characters in Chamber's excellent horror novel. Although there's plenty that's frightening- disappearances, murder, soul-stealing, monsters, and more- perhaps the most frightening of all is the way Chambers captures that moment when we leave college behind for the "real world," and how very ill-prepared so many of us are.
July 25, 2012
For me, this book was very hard to get into at first. Later into the book I found myself skipping parts of it. I wanted more of an explanation of the "bad guys." I wanted to not roll my eyes and think "of course that happened" at some of the parts, it was very predictable. There was one continuity error that stuck out to me. On one page a character that was there was Dawn, and on the very next page it was Cecilia. I checked a couple of times to make sure I'd read correctly. I can overlook a lot, but things like that bug me. I think with some more development, especially a back story on the "bad guys" this would have been a better book.
July 5, 2012
I kept waiting for it to pick up and get on with the story and then once it did, eh. The story line was choppy and scattered, jumping from one character to another. The ending was anti climatic and left a lot to be desired. I really feel like I wasted my time reading this book. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read but I will not be recommending it to anyone in the future.
January 15, 2018
Not for me
Slow and confusing, then vampires. This is not my type of book. I'm only adding more words because of the minimum. Don't waste your time.
Slow and confusing, then vampires. This is not my type of book. I'm only adding more words because of the minimum. Don't waste your time.
July 10, 2018
In the small college town of Elston, West Virginia, at a bar called The Brass Frog, Garrett lay on the ground after being beat senseless. He’d been accused of raping a girl and some of the guys in town were there to take care of him and make sure he knew not to show up back in this town. Ben had told his friends to be gone when he came back out of his bedroom back at his place, he was so tired of cleaning up after Owen’s girlfriend. He was supposed to have had a date tonight with Ramona.
Five years later, Garrett had been through a relationship with a girl named Carrie who had graduated from college, but she wasn’t making much money and neither was he. They’d decided not to get married after all and each went back to their parents house, even though he’d been told not to come back to Elston. After he’d been to the grocery store for his mother a few times and run errands for her and not run into anyone, he figured he was fairly safe, making his way to the only bar in town, The Brass Frog. When a young pretty girl approached and started talking to Garrett, he realized he shouldn’t have gone in. When he gets a hand on his shoulder and nasty words in his ears, he knows he shouldn’t have. He’d been having nightmares again, not being able to sleep because of what had happened here, just outside. He simply can’t remember everything, but hopes it’ll come back to him.
Ramona had now lived above the most commonly called upon coffee house in Elston, she’d gone to college there and had continued at the same job the for the last five years. Tonight was the annual Halloween party, her plan was not to even go this year, but it’d changed. The party was being held down at the river bank, where she’d like to get a place to live, but at the same time she’d have to get a roomie to afford the rent and that could be a problem. Sometimes if it rained too much the road got flooded out as well, cutting out power and making life a pain in the ass. Once she’d landed at the party, she grabbed a couple of beers and walked around the perimeter of the entire place figuring out which parking spot to choose. By the time she’d done this, she needed to get more beer out of her car, then had to pee. With so many people and maybe two or three bathrooms, she chose the woods, they’d been closer and still light enough. Seeing flashing red and blue lights as she turned around looking to make sure she’d been alone only meant one thing, police...what had happened? Pulling up her pants when she finished, she started walking away, and immediately saw someone running towards her, none other than, her latest crush, Mason. He started by telling her they’d found a dead body washed up in the river, and that she should leave or wait them out and leave after. Ingoring his advice, she continued towards the house and told him that she wanted to know what had happened. But Heather, Ramona’s best friend just came to tell her that the body was that of a fellow tenant, one she claimed to have just seen hours ago.
Heather had married Rick just after college and at that point stopped being (really) best friends with Ramona, since she’d been with Ben at the time. Now she’d been married to Rick but only heard from Ramona whenever something bad happened and at that, she’d never leave Elston. Which meant Heather had to come to her, and that had to be on weekends. After hearing from Ramona this time, she’d promised to call Heather this weekend, but Ramona had to find out what Garrett meant by his note on the library card first. Inevitably, Ramona had been given a project from her boss to find a few historic things to say for a new brochure for the university and since she was in admissions, who better for the idea, and this put her to the library where Garrett was now working. His mother had found a connection within the system and got him a much needed job. Blair had now also come to the library having heard that he and Ramona had been seen sitting together talking at The Frog. Garrett had worked himself up and was getting freaked out, so he went to her office, hunting her down. He waited outside after letting her know he was there, having closed the library until he could talk to her about his visit from Blair. Garrett and Ramona thought they’d been on to something, something that’d been going on in their town, and Blair couldn’t have the two of them finding out what that something was, or she and her friends just might die.
I like reading books by VJ Chambers, this one is no different, she’s done it again!! Taking her talents to another whole level into horror stories about a small town with secrets from it’s historical incidents. The characters were well developed, each having their own individual personalities,each having their own reasons for doing what they do. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, definitely recommend!
Five years later, Garrett had been through a relationship with a girl named Carrie who had graduated from college, but she wasn’t making much money and neither was he. They’d decided not to get married after all and each went back to their parents house, even though he’d been told not to come back to Elston. After he’d been to the grocery store for his mother a few times and run errands for her and not run into anyone, he figured he was fairly safe, making his way to the only bar in town, The Brass Frog. When a young pretty girl approached and started talking to Garrett, he realized he shouldn’t have gone in. When he gets a hand on his shoulder and nasty words in his ears, he knows he shouldn’t have. He’d been having nightmares again, not being able to sleep because of what had happened here, just outside. He simply can’t remember everything, but hopes it’ll come back to him.
Ramona had now lived above the most commonly called upon coffee house in Elston, she’d gone to college there and had continued at the same job the for the last five years. Tonight was the annual Halloween party, her plan was not to even go this year, but it’d changed. The party was being held down at the river bank, where she’d like to get a place to live, but at the same time she’d have to get a roomie to afford the rent and that could be a problem. Sometimes if it rained too much the road got flooded out as well, cutting out power and making life a pain in the ass. Once she’d landed at the party, she grabbed a couple of beers and walked around the perimeter of the entire place figuring out which parking spot to choose. By the time she’d done this, she needed to get more beer out of her car, then had to pee. With so many people and maybe two or three bathrooms, she chose the woods, they’d been closer and still light enough. Seeing flashing red and blue lights as she turned around looking to make sure she’d been alone only meant one thing, police...what had happened? Pulling up her pants when she finished, she started walking away, and immediately saw someone running towards her, none other than, her latest crush, Mason. He started by telling her they’d found a dead body washed up in the river, and that she should leave or wait them out and leave after. Ingoring his advice, she continued towards the house and told him that she wanted to know what had happened. But Heather, Ramona’s best friend just came to tell her that the body was that of a fellow tenant, one she claimed to have just seen hours ago.
Heather had married Rick just after college and at that point stopped being (really) best friends with Ramona, since she’d been with Ben at the time. Now she’d been married to Rick but only heard from Ramona whenever something bad happened and at that, she’d never leave Elston. Which meant Heather had to come to her, and that had to be on weekends. After hearing from Ramona this time, she’d promised to call Heather this weekend, but Ramona had to find out what Garrett meant by his note on the library card first. Inevitably, Ramona had been given a project from her boss to find a few historic things to say for a new brochure for the university and since she was in admissions, who better for the idea, and this put her to the library where Garrett was now working. His mother had found a connection within the system and got him a much needed job. Blair had now also come to the library having heard that he and Ramona had been seen sitting together talking at The Frog. Garrett had worked himself up and was getting freaked out, so he went to her office, hunting her down. He waited outside after letting her know he was there, having closed the library until he could talk to her about his visit from Blair. Garrett and Ramona thought they’d been on to something, something that’d been going on in their town, and Blair couldn’t have the two of them finding out what that something was, or she and her friends just might die.
I like reading books by VJ Chambers, this one is no different, she’s done it again!! Taking her talents to another whole level into horror stories about a small town with secrets from it’s historical incidents. The characters were well developed, each having their own individual personalities,each having their own reasons for doing what they do. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, definitely recommend!
January 20, 2018
This was a good horror tale, well written with interesting characters. The narrative dragged in a few places, and the ending was satisfying though it felt a little abrupt. But the plot was compelling enough to make me want to get to the end and find out just what WAS going on in this small "historic" town of Elston. Something with that library...
I downloaded (and will soon read) Ms. Chambers' RATCATCHER based on the sample included at the end of this novel.
I downloaded (and will soon read) Ms. Chambers' RATCATCHER based on the sample included at the end of this novel.
September 30, 2017
Boring
This book would have been 3 stars for me as being mediocre but I gave it less because it was way too long. The main characters were not likable. Ramona is an alcoholic and Heather isn't believable,. I could have cared less about what happened to them by the end. The thought I had at the end of the book was who cares? A waste of time.
This book would have been 3 stars for me as being mediocre but I gave it less because it was way too long. The main characters were not likable. Ramona is an alcoholic and Heather isn't believable,. I could have cared less about what happened to them by the end. The thought I had at the end of the book was who cares? A waste of time.
April 27, 2023
Okay
Took me two months to finish this book. It's ok but meant for a younger person.
These monsters and vortex thing is really not a great story line. It will good for teens and I'm just glad this book was free.
Took me two months to finish this book. It's ok but meant for a younger person.
These monsters and vortex thing is really not a great story line. It will good for teens and I'm just glad this book was free.
May 20, 2024
For the easily taken in
This story is just warmed over pulp. After an agonizingly slow start I forced myself to read to a predictable, tired end. I guess a 14 year old might be made nervous by this book but I doubt it.
This story is just warmed over pulp. After an agonizingly slow start I forced myself to read to a predictable, tired end. I guess a 14 year old might be made nervous by this book but I doubt it.
July 14, 2012
I will always love this book for personal reasons. Ms. Chambers writes about a "vortex", an unseen force that keeps the inhabitants of a small college town locked or glued in place. I have lived in a little nightmare just like that. The book is easy to read; the author is worried to a fault the reader might not understand the plot or the characters' motives. However, this makes the book soothing for horror fiction fans coming home from work with a headache. I enjoyed the plot, the romance, and most of all, the "river hippies". I would not agree the ending was disappointing. I thought it was well-rounded and clever. For me, personally, I would give it a five-star. The book is very entertaining. Ms. Chambers takes the issues very many young people deal with today, sex, love, drugs, coffee, life and unemployment after college, personal satisfaction, and weaves them into a story, so that we can deal with these issues without really being dragged down by them.
December 16, 2014
A recommended book for readers interested in a thrilling new-adult novel about a college town with a mysterious and deadly entrapment that never allows its residents to leave.
Brighter has a cast of authentic complex characters that are coming to terms with life post graduation in addition to realizing their town and its residents are not what they seem. The prose and pacing create an enjoyable and engaging story. While subtle elements of horror and mystery forge a suspenseful constantly unfolding plot.
Brighter has a cast of authentic complex characters that are coming to terms with life post graduation in addition to realizing their town and its residents are not what they seem. The prose and pacing create an enjoyable and engaging story. While subtle elements of horror and mystery forge a suspenseful constantly unfolding plot.
Want to read
September 20, 2010This does sound interesting......
April 19, 2011
This book seemed to move a lot slower than other books by V.J. Chambers. It was still a decent book, but I like her other novels better.
July 22, 2012
Eh....
December 30, 2012
I understand cliffhangers, but this was drug out too far and you never really found out anything in the end.
April 16, 2013
Great book. Did not want to put this one down.
Read
December 7, 2013False
August 23, 2011
Great book I loved the story!!! Thank you for putting it up free on your website!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews