Dana

by Samuel Alexander

After a traumatic event in his childhood, Dana decides he's going to change his name, move across the country, and start all over. Forgetting the past seems like a good idea until he meets someone. Suddenly he's in love, his past catches up with him, and he's forced to face the truths he struggles to hide. Will love win, or will the trauma of his past ruin any chance for happiness?

Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

so this was really good and interesting.. odd in spots.. terrifying n spots.. but overall very interesting and kept me curious and interested.. however in spots there was just so many characters and things going on that i got confused.. but i did enjoy it

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana's Story . . .

After a traumatic event in his childhood, Dana moves across the country to start over. He’s still working on his anger management. Forgetting the past seems like a good idea but then he meets someone he can truly care about only to have his past catch up with him. Is it possible for him to find happiness? Or has the violence he thought he left behind made him unworthy of love?

[MM Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Samuel Alexander's Virgil so I was very excited about Dana. However Dana isn't as good as Virgil. The beginning dragged a bit. It wasn't until over half the book where it got more interesting. I still liked the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like watching a Hitchcock movie with all the twists and turns of the plot. Dana is trying to build a new life but there is clearly a dangerous enemy out there doing everything possible to ruin him. I got caught up in all the machinations and wondering what was going to happen next and really enjoyed this one.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

His life has not been easy and he has finally had enough so he leaves it all behind. He travels to the opposite side of the country and changes his name. They will enter his life and for the first time he feels in a good place until his past reappears. What will he do? How will it affect his new love? Can he overcome it all? See if it all works out for him

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Dana’s story. He had a traumatic event happen in his childhood. After moving across the country, and fell in love. I thought the book was well written. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

[Isaiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book.

With every book, it is amazing just how much Alexander grows as an author. It has been clear from the first book that he would have a very distinct voice. It grows stronger and so do the plots and the characters.

This was another great example of characters facing incredibly difficult emotions and somehow surviving. This is truly Alexander's specialty. Every character has something that is happening and a goofy side. I live for the goofy moments that break up what could have been an overwhelmingly difficult book. The ability to switch between trauma and light jokes is one of the things that drew me to Alexander in the first place.

This is not his darkest book, but it is one of my top books by Alexander. The characters feel real, the story feels like it could really happen. It just felt real. Like I could meet these people on the beach and just be part of their group. I am always impressed.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars 🌟

This book confused the heck out of me... to many characters... and dialogue to keep up with, I legitimately didn't know who the other main character of this book was in the first parts of this book. I can't say that and one character was memorable either 🙁 This was just not the writing style that I usually read and for that I was to busy keeping up to enjoy the story as a whole.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Emma Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana is a raw, emotional journey of healing, self-discovery, and love that doesn’t shy away from the pain of the past.

After surviving a childhood trauma, Dana chooses reinvention—new name, new city, new life. But the past doesn’t stay buried forever. When he falls in love, he’s finally forced to confront the parts of himself he’s tried to outrun.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall story was quite good but bounced all over the place, so I had a bit of a struggle trying to keep track of what was happening. It was only towards the end that certain things started to make more sense. There were so many characters right in the beginning that it was hard to get into. The various issues of both MCs didn't feel as if they really struggled with them until later.

[RjS · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was interesting but the author’s writing style is not for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it but didn't think it was a long enough book for what happened, maybe more description and pages would have helped bring the story right out.