What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crossing #1
Burned Bridges
Newly sober and dating the man of her dreams, Traci Collins is ready to enjoy the good life, until her new best friend, Olivia Durning, confides a dreadful secret far worse than Traci could imagine.
Sealed by a shared bond, and unaware there is more to the secret than what she was told, Collins feels honor bound to protect her friend when a confrontation between Olivia and her childhood tormentor turns deadly.
A mysterious text forces Traci to question Olivia's actions and re-examine her loyalties. When the answers to Traci's questions endanger a life she treasures more than her own, she must decide if friendship has a limit. For a bridge once burnt severs ties forever...
Sealed by a shared bond, and unaware there is more to the secret than what she was told, Collins feels honor bound to protect her friend when a confrontation between Olivia and her childhood tormentor turns deadly.
A mysterious text forces Traci to question Olivia's actions and re-examine her loyalties. When the answers to Traci's questions endanger a life she treasures more than her own, she must decide if friendship has a limit. For a bridge once burnt severs ties forever...
230 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2012
83 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Ashton
12 books228 followersI'm on Goodreads as an author and a reader. I love reading printed books, but enjoy using my Kindle for late night reading.
When Marguerite Ashton was in her twenties, she took up acting, but soon realized she preferred to work behind the camera, writing crime fiction. A few years later, she married an IT Geek and settled down with her role as wife, mom, and writer. Five kids later, she founded the Crime Writer’s Panel and began working with former law enforcement investigators to create; Criminal Lines Blog, an online library for crime writers who need help with their book research.
She’s a workaholic who hides in her writer’s attic, plotting out her next book and stalking Pinterest for the next avocado recipe.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Marguerite grew up in Colorado, but is now happily living in Wisconsin and playing as much golf as possible. She can be found on Twitter and Facebook.
When Marguerite Ashton was in her twenties, she took up acting, but soon realized she preferred to work behind the camera, writing crime fiction. A few years later, she married an IT Geek and settled down with her role as wife, mom, and writer. Five kids later, she founded the Crime Writer’s Panel and began working with former law enforcement investigators to create; Criminal Lines Blog, an online library for crime writers who need help with their book research.
She’s a workaholic who hides in her writer’s attic, plotting out her next book and stalking Pinterest for the next avocado recipe.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Marguerite grew up in Colorado, but is now happily living in Wisconsin and playing as much golf as possible. She can be found on Twitter and Facebook.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 14, 2012
Reviewed by Renata F. Barcelos for Readers Favorite
Burned Bridges is a story about Traci Collins, a recovering alcoholic. She and her three friends, Norman, Kevin and Olivia, support one another in the tough battle against alcoholism. The book is narrated by Traci, who is a lovely woman, with a troubled past. She’s in a relationship with Marc, a dominant, over-confident lawyer. Traci really wants to help her friends, especially Olivia, who has a terrible secret; but doing so can put her in danger.
This is a story about loyalty. How far should one go to help a friend? Is it okay to hide things to support someone? And how much can it affect your own life?
Traci is a good character, with a believable sad history that left physical and emotional scars. Her past completely diminished her self-esteem, making her really fragile and vulnerable sometimes. It’s heartbreaking to see how she accepts a lot less than she—or anyone—deserves during the story, just trying to please everyone, forgetting to please the most important person—herself. That leads to some poignant moments, where Traci doubts her own merits, allowing the temptations to come too close.
The dialogues are well written. The plot is good, with a compelling ending, but I’d like to have known more about Traci’s past. Perhaps in a second book we will have the opportunity to know more about this intense woman.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a mystery with drama and a bit of romance.
Burned Bridges is a story about Traci Collins, a recovering alcoholic. She and her three friends, Norman, Kevin and Olivia, support one another in the tough battle against alcoholism. The book is narrated by Traci, who is a lovely woman, with a troubled past. She’s in a relationship with Marc, a dominant, over-confident lawyer. Traci really wants to help her friends, especially Olivia, who has a terrible secret; but doing so can put her in danger.
This is a story about loyalty. How far should one go to help a friend? Is it okay to hide things to support someone? And how much can it affect your own life?
Traci is a good character, with a believable sad history that left physical and emotional scars. Her past completely diminished her self-esteem, making her really fragile and vulnerable sometimes. It’s heartbreaking to see how she accepts a lot less than she—or anyone—deserves during the story, just trying to please everyone, forgetting to please the most important person—herself. That leads to some poignant moments, where Traci doubts her own merits, allowing the temptations to come too close.
The dialogues are well written. The plot is good, with a compelling ending, but I’d like to have known more about Traci’s past. Perhaps in a second book we will have the opportunity to know more about this intense woman.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a mystery with drama and a bit of romance.
December 17, 2012
Recovering alcoholic Traci is newly sober, in a relationship, and building friendships with three other recovering alcoholics. When one of the three, Olivia, begins to act strangely, Traci and her friends start to suspect a deeper problem than Olivia falling off the wagon. Traci's tenuous emotional state begins to crumble as Olivia pulls her on a twisting journey of codependency and deception. Amid dealing with Olivia's problems, Traci also must reexamine her relationship with her possibly cheating boyfriend and her own family secrets.
Burned Bridges was a compelling novel with a realistic portrayal of the legal world (Traci is a paralegal and her boyfriend, a lawyer). Those who like stories about addiction and childhood trauma will also find this an interesting story. There are suspense qualities to this book, but the story reads more like Traci's personal journey which made me think of women's fiction.
Burned Bridges was a compelling novel with a realistic portrayal of the legal world (Traci is a paralegal and her boyfriend, a lawyer). Those who like stories about addiction and childhood trauma will also find this an interesting story. There are suspense qualities to this book, but the story reads more like Traci's personal journey which made me think of women's fiction.
February 1, 2013
Ashton’s promising debut novel concerns a group of friends who have bonded because they are all recovering alcoholics looking out for each other - and one of their members may be going over the edge. This is a great premise for drama and murder, with an enormously sympathetic heroine in Traci, who is not only struggling with recovery but who becomes pregnant by her untrustworthy and domineering live-in boyfriend. On top of that, she must answer the challenge of loyalty to her fragile friend Olivia, whose demons threaten to overwhelm her. One looks forward to the next of the series.
October 22, 2013
This book was really good, fast moving, with many emotions brought to light, but; kept you wanting to read more to find out how it ends. This author has a great writing style. Thanks to Firstreads & Marguerite for the opportunity to enjoy it.
July 3, 2018
*I read this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
I really enjoyed this prequel. I think the sobriety, drama and mystery aspects of the novel worked very well together.
The mystery was solid. I think I figured it out toward the end, but it kept me hooked and wanting to read more. I was very invested in Tracie’s story and Olivia’s story. I loved the parallels of dealing with sobriety and the mental issues that were brought up.
Tracie, Olivia and Marc were the most developed characters. Marc annoyed me but that was his purpose. I didn’t like him from the beginning, and I think that’s what the author wanted. Olivia was a mystery herself, and I loved trying to figure her out. Tracie was a great lead. Her devotion to her friends and her sobriety was compelling, and when she made mistakes, her reactions were relatable.
The downside I felt with this book was that Norman wasn’t as developed as I wanted him to be. I can’t get into too many specifics without spoiling, but I guess I just didn’t feel like I knew who he was or what he was about.
Overall, I think this was a great book. I enjoyed the backstory of Oliana. It made reading the Oliana Mercer books that much more appealing because I had an interesting backstory to compare to her life in the future books.
Blog Tour: https://jessicarachow.wordpress.com/2...
I really enjoyed this prequel. I think the sobriety, drama and mystery aspects of the novel worked very well together.
The mystery was solid. I think I figured it out toward the end, but it kept me hooked and wanting to read more. I was very invested in Tracie’s story and Olivia’s story. I loved the parallels of dealing with sobriety and the mental issues that were brought up.
Tracie, Olivia and Marc were the most developed characters. Marc annoyed me but that was his purpose. I didn’t like him from the beginning, and I think that’s what the author wanted. Olivia was a mystery herself, and I loved trying to figure her out. Tracie was a great lead. Her devotion to her friends and her sobriety was compelling, and when she made mistakes, her reactions were relatable.
The downside I felt with this book was that Norman wasn’t as developed as I wanted him to be. I can’t get into too many specifics without spoiling, but I guess I just didn’t feel like I knew who he was or what he was about.
Overall, I think this was a great book. I enjoyed the backstory of Oliana. It made reading the Oliana Mercer books that much more appealing because I had an interesting backstory to compare to her life in the future books.
Blog Tour: https://jessicarachow.wordpress.com/2...
January 14, 2019
Recovering alcoholics become a group of friends as they battle their inner-demons along with old skeletons hidden in the closet. So much baggage and regret lie beneath the surface of every character. The main character, Traci, someone who barely has her own life together and now has to contend with a boyfriend’s fidelity and a new pregnancy, tells the whole story, which seems to center on her friend, Olivia. Why did she have a gun? And why was she so angry? It turns out Olivia was hiding a lot more than what she shared at AA. Then when a murder strikes, Traci must contend with a heart-wrenching decision. Should she come forth with what she knows or lie to protect a friend? And could somebody else know? Who keeps sending her these mysterious texts?
Story was simple, yet compelling. You want to see how the characters turn out. For the most part, the story was too quick; the plot moved so expeditiously from one twist to another, which made for a good mystery thriller, but I didn’t get a chance to soak any of it in. It should’ve been paced better, I think.
But, overall, it was good.
Story was simple, yet compelling. You want to see how the characters turn out. For the most part, the story was too quick; the plot moved so expeditiously from one twist to another, which made for a good mystery thriller, but I didn’t get a chance to soak any of it in. It should’ve been paced better, I think.
But, overall, it was good.
August 7, 2020
Just an OK read for me. The story line was basically good but I just didn't find the writing to be inspired. There were quite a number of typos and missing words, which is a huge problem for me. You end up rereading the same sentence several times trying to figure out what is being said and that kind of "literary speed bump" just drives me crazy. I also felt like the characters were a little hit and miss. One minute they're feeling one thing and two seconds later something else. I know people have fluctuating emotions and if these transitions had been explained a little more thoroughly it may have worked but they just felt forced and so hard to follow. Basically the story is about 4 people, two guys and two girls, who become close friends though an alcohol recovery program. One of the members, unbeknownst to the others, suffered sexual abuse as a child. The retaliation for the past transgressions causes havoc with all their lives.
February 15, 2023
Very Emotional
Olivia had her own story as the time of the life. Many people are involved and several are not fully sane . The main character is a woman with a friend of Olivia. Oliana is a daughter, but is kept away from Olivia. Olivia is killed by her brother because the past of him raped many times. The writing is intense. I found hard to get through.
Olivia had her own story as the time of the life. Many people are involved and several are not fully sane . The main character is a woman with a friend of Olivia. Oliana is a daughter, but is kept away from Olivia. Olivia is killed by her brother because the past of him raped many times. The writing is intense. I found hard to get through.
February 13, 2018
The book was good need more details
The book was quite good, I must say that it lacked details. Norman and traci’s relationship lacked The romance I was looking for. But over all the book was great and full of surprises.
The book was quite good, I must say that it lacked details. Norman and traci’s relationship lacked The romance I was looking for. But over all the book was great and full of surprises.
September 20, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
May 16, 2016
You know how some soap operas are HILARIOUS when they try to be dramatic? Like, it's so obvious how much they fuse drama unnecessarily in there? Most of those TV dramas have characters that consist of:
1. "Oh no! I'm pregnant!" *struggles over whether to get an abortion*
2. "My family members are having a feud that has either involved murder, disease, death, or abusive boyfriend number four!" *cries into pillow*
3. "Hi. I'm best friend's brother." *dashing smile* *audience sighs*
This felt like that. The characters in Burned Bridges are *spoiler*:
1. "Family feud! I feel abandoned!" *rushes over to friend's house*
2. "Me?" *blushes* "Pregnant with noncommittal boyfriend."
3. "I'm a doctor who was an alcoholic and passed out while operating! And I'm into the main character!"
4. I forgot who this one was, because I started zoning out around here somewhere.
I got to around chapter 3 and a half? Ack, and I already knew all of these problems. It's realistic if you're on a TV-14 show with Once Upon a Time shed-a-tear actors, but in real life? It's more like:
1. "My life's okay, but my parents are divorced."
2. "My life's pretty good, but I have OCD." *shrugs and takes medication*
3. "My life's pretty terrible, because I'm crippled." *looks down and frowns*
NOT:
"My life sucks bad because my parents divorced while diagnosing me with OCD, crippling me for life." But that's what it felt like here. Only a couple chapters in, I've put it down and decided that I'd only recommend this to people that have such terrible, horrible lives that reading this makes them feel better about themselves.
1. "Oh no! I'm pregnant!" *struggles over whether to get an abortion*
2. "My family members are having a feud that has either involved murder, disease, death, or abusive boyfriend number four!" *cries into pillow*
3. "Hi. I'm best friend's brother." *dashing smile* *audience sighs*
This felt like that. The characters in Burned Bridges are *spoiler*:
1. "Family feud! I feel abandoned!" *rushes over to friend's house*
2. "Me?" *blushes* "Pregnant with noncommittal boyfriend."
3. "I'm a doctor who was an alcoholic and passed out while operating! And I'm into the main character!"
4. I forgot who this one was, because I started zoning out around here somewhere.
I got to around chapter 3 and a half? Ack, and I already knew all of these problems. It's realistic if you're on a TV-14 show with Once Upon a Time shed-a-tear actors, but in real life? It's more like:
1. "My life's okay, but my parents are divorced."
2. "My life's pretty good, but I have OCD." *shrugs and takes medication*
3. "My life's pretty terrible, because I'm crippled." *looks down and frowns*
NOT:
"My life sucks bad because my parents divorced while diagnosing me with OCD, crippling me for life." But that's what it felt like here. Only a couple chapters in, I've put it down and decided that I'd only recommend this to people that have such terrible, horrible lives that reading this makes them feel better about themselves.
December 17, 2012
3.8 Stars
A Book You Won't Want to Put Down Once You Start Reading
Ms. Ashton has done an excellent job of portraying new bonds developed through three people newly sober. She shows how stresses can cause setbacks, how new friendships can become too intense, particularly when one person doesn't divulge all the secrets that put her into the sobering path to start. This framework is a fine backdrop for the drama that Ms. Ashton portrays so well.
I was touched by the caring shown by these people and their other new friends, even through some serious crises. The characters are well developed and are people I'd like to have for neighbors. The entire plot revolves around the fact that all secrets were not shared with the entire group at the time they should have been, causing some very high drama and intense mysteries.
Dawn Edwards, The Kindle Book Review
The KBR received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. We are not connected with the author, publisher, or Amazon in any way.
A Book You Won't Want to Put Down Once You Start Reading
Ms. Ashton has done an excellent job of portraying new bonds developed through three people newly sober. She shows how stresses can cause setbacks, how new friendships can become too intense, particularly when one person doesn't divulge all the secrets that put her into the sobering path to start. This framework is a fine backdrop for the drama that Ms. Ashton portrays so well.
I was touched by the caring shown by these people and their other new friends, even through some serious crises. The characters are well developed and are people I'd like to have for neighbors. The entire plot revolves around the fact that all secrets were not shared with the entire group at the time they should have been, causing some very high drama and intense mysteries.
Dawn Edwards, The Kindle Book Review
The KBR received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. We are not connected with the author, publisher, or Amazon in any way.
March 23, 2013
I LOVED this book! Main character, Traci is newly sober,in a seemingly perfect relationship and has a growing friendship with 3 fellow recovery alcohlics;Kevin, Olivia, and Norman. When Olivia starts acting strange, Traci and her friends start to suspect a deeper issue than Olivia falling off the wagon. Traci's "perfect" world begins to fall apart as Olivia drags her into her drama. Besides dealing with Olivia's problems, Traci is also forced to reethink her relationship with Marc, her cheating boyfriend..
Burned Bridges was a gripping first book to the crossing series. I read it in duration of a few days. This book is good for people of all ages which I really liked, I reccommended the book to a couple of people.
Burned Bridges was a gripping first book to the crossing series. I read it in duration of a few days. This book is good for people of all ages which I really liked, I reccommended the book to a couple of people.
March 5, 2014
As sad as I am to say this entire story totally confused me.
I wanted to like the characters I really did.
Traci was annoying. The boyfriend I forgot his name I just remember the whole secretary at the house fiasco. The two men.. I think ones name was Norman (the doctor), Jessie the sponsor, and Olivia the psycho killer. Oh wait I forgot the husband Bruce.
The kid was soon forgotten as soon as he came and the other one was so out of touch with the story line that I have no idea what in the world I was really reading.
I didn't hate the story but I did not love it either. I honestly walked away wondering what in the hell I had just read.
I wanted to like the characters I really did.
Traci was annoying. The boyfriend I forgot his name I just remember the whole secretary at the house fiasco. The two men.. I think ones name was Norman (the doctor), Jessie the sponsor, and Olivia the psycho killer. Oh wait I forgot the husband Bruce.
The kid was soon forgotten as soon as he came and the other one was so out of touch with the story line that I have no idea what in the world I was really reading.
I didn't hate the story but I did not love it either. I honestly walked away wondering what in the hell I had just read.
January 23, 2013
I have received a free copy of this book through a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
The story begins with a woman who seems to be picking up the pieces of her life from an alcohol addiction. With the help of friends to lean on things get better, but she soon realizes she may not know her friends as well as she thinks. A tragic story of family secrets and addiction.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
The story begins with a woman who seems to be picking up the pieces of her life from an alcohol addiction. With the help of friends to lean on things get better, but she soon realizes she may not know her friends as well as she thinks. A tragic story of family secrets and addiction.
July 17, 2014
Five Star
Five Star
My first book by Marguerite Ashton, didn't want to put it down. I loved the character's and the story kept me guessing. I would recommend this book and look forward to another by this Author.
Five Star
My first book by Marguerite Ashton, didn't want to put it down. I loved the character's and the story kept me guessing. I would recommend this book and look forward to another by this Author.
August 24, 2013
Thanks to Marguerite and Good reads.
A dark emotional mystery. Well written, that will take you inside the lives of those who struggle with secrets from their past.
A dark emotional mystery. Well written, that will take you inside the lives of those who struggle with secrets from their past.
January 30, 2013
Received from Goodreads First Reads
I enjoyed the wonderful story this book told.
I enjoyed the wonderful story this book told.
Want to read
December 30, 2012Won in Goodreads First Reads Contest. Received on Thu, Jan 17 2013. TO REVIEW.
January 17, 2013
Great story and amazing characters. I didn't want to put it down.
February 16, 2013
This book shows how important it is for recovering alcoholics to have a good support group. I think this is an interesting book and can recommend reading it.
February 16, 2013
I enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. Having a good support group for anyone who is trying to battle an addiction is very important.
July 8, 2013
Predictable and poorly written.
July 30, 2013
Amateur writing was too much for me to get through the book. Characters lacked depth.
August 25, 2013
I give this a rating of one because I don't remember what the story is about or even the plot. Sorry.
June 15, 2014
Good
Good
this all about the dease that is alcoholism and mental and sexual abuse.the way people have to learn to live with it. the relationships it affects.
Good
this all about the dease that is alcoholism and mental and sexual abuse.the way people have to learn to live with it. the relationships it affects.
July 10, 2014
Words cannot describe this book. I can't believe I actually finished. I guess I kept hoping it would get better. I can't believe it is part of a series. Thank goodness it was free.
September 24, 2014
Burned Bridges was ok, had a plot I hadn't read before, but I didn't like it.
Though I finished Burned Bridges, I not planning to read the rest of the series.
Though I finished Burned Bridges, I not planning to read the rest of the series.
February 12, 2015
immeasurably sad
This is the story of some good friends with the bond of AA. It's the story of sadness and depression. The ending is a surprise that breaks your heart.
This is the story of some good friends with the bond of AA. It's the story of sadness and depression. The ending is a surprise that breaks your heart.
August 19, 2016
Interesting story
First time to read this author. Will definitely try her again in the future . Olivia was so fragile and Marc was a dick
First time to read this author. Will definitely try her again in the future . Olivia was so fragile and Marc was a dick
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews