What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood In The Holler
The world of pro wrestling is about to change. Eric "Jiggolo" Johnson can sense it, but he's already on his way out. On the way to what he expects will be one of his last big shows, he and the wrestlers he's traveling with come into conflict with a family of meth dealers in rural West Virginia. Suddenly Eric and the others find themselves held captive on a farm, unsure of what will happen and desperate to escape. As they are forced, one by one, to contend with just how tough they actually are, one man may be their last hope. Brick Lamar, current company champion, is sent to find Eric and the others when they go missing. The former Marine is their best chance for survival, if he can find them. Can Brick get to Eric before it's too late? The sun sets early in the hollers of West Virginia, and the darkness waits for no man.
302 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2023
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 3, 2023
David Sangiao-Parga’s Blood in the Holler is a masterfully woven narrative that captivates from the outset with its complex ensemble of characters – Julie, Eric, Terry, Ricky, Burt, Brick, John, Les, Mark, Nate, and Norm. Each character, characterized by their personal tribulations, witnesses their life irrevocably reshaped by a string of unexpected calamities one pivotal morning.
Sangiao-Parga astutely intertwines romantic tension into the plot with Eric’s burgeoning feelings for Julie, leaving readers intrigued about the prospects of their romantic future. This sense of anticipation is further amplified by Terry’s quest for an emotional connection with Julie. The pair, Ricky and Burt, cloaked in an air of intrigue, bear a secret whose revelation could be a game-changer. Unexpectedly brought together, Brick and John embark on a journey ripe with the promise of revelations. Simultaneously, the foursome, Les, Mark, Norm, and Nate, embody an unusual family, each member harboring secrets that have deeper implications than meet the eye.
The power of Sangiao-Parga’s narrative lies in its nuanced and diverse cast. The characters grapple with issues ranging from forming new alliances and addressing paternal insecurities to overcoming an assortment of challenges that push them beyond their anticipated boundaries. The author exhibits remarkable finesse in crafting compelling primary characters and brings equal meticulousness to the development of secondary characters, such as Marcy and Mason, ensuring their narratives are equally engaging. This precision in storytelling, coupled with an engaging pace, makes for a riveting reading experience from start to finish. The vividly rendered setting dovetails perfectly with the plot, highlighting the unexpected dangers these wrestling characters face beyond the ring.
Sangiao-Parga’s talent shines in the suspenseful moments, holding the readers in thrall with the relentless question of what fate holds for these characters. The impressive maintenance of tension throughout makes for a narrative that’s unputdownable until the very end.
Readers will thoroughly enjoy this gritty, suspenseful tale that keeps them on tenterhooks. With anticipation, I look forward to the author’s future offerings, eager to embark on another captivating literary journey.
Sangiao-Parga astutely intertwines romantic tension into the plot with Eric’s burgeoning feelings for Julie, leaving readers intrigued about the prospects of their romantic future. This sense of anticipation is further amplified by Terry’s quest for an emotional connection with Julie. The pair, Ricky and Burt, cloaked in an air of intrigue, bear a secret whose revelation could be a game-changer. Unexpectedly brought together, Brick and John embark on a journey ripe with the promise of revelations. Simultaneously, the foursome, Les, Mark, Norm, and Nate, embody an unusual family, each member harboring secrets that have deeper implications than meet the eye.
The power of Sangiao-Parga’s narrative lies in its nuanced and diverse cast. The characters grapple with issues ranging from forming new alliances and addressing paternal insecurities to overcoming an assortment of challenges that push them beyond their anticipated boundaries. The author exhibits remarkable finesse in crafting compelling primary characters and brings equal meticulousness to the development of secondary characters, such as Marcy and Mason, ensuring their narratives are equally engaging. This precision in storytelling, coupled with an engaging pace, makes for a riveting reading experience from start to finish. The vividly rendered setting dovetails perfectly with the plot, highlighting the unexpected dangers these wrestling characters face beyond the ring.
Sangiao-Parga’s talent shines in the suspenseful moments, holding the readers in thrall with the relentless question of what fate holds for these characters. The impressive maintenance of tension throughout makes for a narrative that’s unputdownable until the very end.
Readers will thoroughly enjoy this gritty, suspenseful tale that keeps them on tenterhooks. With anticipation, I look forward to the author’s future offerings, eager to embark on another captivating literary journey.
January 9, 2024
David Sangiao-Parga's Blood in the Holler is a gripping story that immediately draws you in with its complex cast of characters. Julie, Eric, Terry, Ricky, Burt, Brick, John, Les, Mark, Nate, and Norm all have their own struggles, and their lives are forever changed one fateful morning.
One of the things that keeps you hooked is the romantic tension between Eric and Julie. You can't help but wonder where their relationship will go. And then there's Terry, who's trying to connect with Julie emotionally, adding another layer of intrigue. Ricky and Burt have a mysterious secret that could change everything, and the unlikely pairing of Brick and John takes you on a journey full of surprises. The group consisting of Les, Mark, Norm, and Nate forms an unusual family with hidden secrets that have deeper meanings.
Sangiao-Parga's strength lies in the diversity and complexity of the characters. They grapple with a wide range of issues, from forming new alliances to dealing with parental insecurities and facing unexpected challenges that push them beyond their limits. The author pays attention to both the main and secondary characters like Marcy and Mason, making sure their stories are equally engaging. This attention to detail, combined with a compelling pace, makes for a truly captivating read. The vividly described setting complements the plot, highlighting the dangers these characters face beyond the wrestling ring.
Sangiao-Parga's talent shines in the suspenseful moments, keeping you on the edge of your seat, wondering about the characters' fates. The tension is maintained masterfully throughout the narrative, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
Readers will undoubtedly enjoy this gritty and suspenseful tale that keeps you guessing until the very end. I eagerly await the author's future works, eager for another enthralling literary journey.
One of the things that keeps you hooked is the romantic tension between Eric and Julie. You can't help but wonder where their relationship will go. And then there's Terry, who's trying to connect with Julie emotionally, adding another layer of intrigue. Ricky and Burt have a mysterious secret that could change everything, and the unlikely pairing of Brick and John takes you on a journey full of surprises. The group consisting of Les, Mark, Norm, and Nate forms an unusual family with hidden secrets that have deeper meanings.
Sangiao-Parga's strength lies in the diversity and complexity of the characters. They grapple with a wide range of issues, from forming new alliances to dealing with parental insecurities and facing unexpected challenges that push them beyond their limits. The author pays attention to both the main and secondary characters like Marcy and Mason, making sure their stories are equally engaging. This attention to detail, combined with a compelling pace, makes for a truly captivating read. The vividly described setting complements the plot, highlighting the dangers these characters face beyond the wrestling ring.
Sangiao-Parga's talent shines in the suspenseful moments, keeping you on the edge of your seat, wondering about the characters' fates. The tension is maintained masterfully throughout the narrative, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
Readers will undoubtedly enjoy this gritty and suspenseful tale that keeps you guessing until the very end. I eagerly await the author's future works, eager for another enthralling literary journey.
October 24, 2023
Oh my gosh. This book was just a darn fun read. It’s an action packed thriller that never lets its foot off the gas pedal. I’m personally a wrestling fan so I enjoyed it even more, but you definitely don’t have to be to enjoy it. Only the first 30 pages were a little wresting heavy but after that it was just a riveting thriller. What happens when a group of wrestlers get kidnapped by some lunatics? It seriously was a page turner from about page 40 all the way to the last page.
Highly recommend!! It won three awards and when I found that out, it wasn’t a surprise to me because I couldn’t put it down.
Highly recommend!! It won three awards and when I found that out, it wasn’t a surprise to me because I couldn’t put it down.
October 15, 2023
Les and Mark keep a lot of people hostage, one of whom is Eric. This becomes a survival story as the hostages attempt to escape. The chapters feature the time of day, making for a suspenseful read. The story is dialogue-driven, which makes it often difficult to grasp the setting; there are rarely any details to explain a change of scene or what is happening. The story also follows plenty of character perspectives so a wide view of the story can be followed.
I received a free copy of this book.
Thank you to LibraryThing and author.
I received a free copy of this book.
Thank you to LibraryThing and author.
April 20, 2024
This fast-paced, gritty, action-packed thriller is filled with suspenseful moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the very end! There were multiple main characters and perspectives, so I was concerned the plot might become overwhelming, but that wasn’t the case. The story is both intriguing and dynamic, with each character serving a distinct purpose. It explores the less glamorous side of pro wrestling in a very realistic way, which I liked. There were some wrestling terms used throughout the book, but you don’t have to be familiar with them to enjoy the story. The conclusion felt a little rushed and abrupt. I wish there was another chapter or an epilogue afterward.
Overall, this was a well-written, suspenseful, and intriguing book that kept me on my toes, waiting to see what was going to happen next. It was a gripping read that I found impossible to put down!
Thank you, LibraryThing, the publisher Woodhall Press, and author David Sangiao-Parga for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, this was a well-written, suspenseful, and intriguing book that kept me on my toes, waiting to see what was going to happen next. It was a gripping read that I found impossible to put down!
Thank you, LibraryThing, the publisher Woodhall Press, and author David Sangiao-Parga for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 18, 2024
This fast-paced, gritty, action-packed thriller is filled with suspenseful moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the very end! There were multiple main characters and perspectives, so I was concerned the plot might become overwhelming, but that wasn’t the case. The story is both intriguing and dynamic, with each character serving a distinct purpose. It explores the less glamorous side of pro wrestling in a very realistic way, which I liked. There were some wrestling terms used throughout the book, but you don’t have to be familiar with them to enjoy the story. The conclusion felt a little rushed and abrupt. I wish there was another chapter or an epilogue afterward.
Overall, this was a well-written, suspenseful, and intriguing book that kept me on my toes, waiting to see what was going to happen next. It was a gripping read that I found impossible to put down!
Thank you, LibraryThing, the publisher Woodhall Press, and author David Sangiao-Parga for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, this was a well-written, suspenseful, and intriguing book that kept me on my toes, waiting to see what was going to happen next. It was a gripping read that I found impossible to put down!
Thank you, LibraryThing, the publisher Woodhall Press, and author David Sangiao-Parga for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews