Discretion

by David Balzarini

The past is murder.

On a beautiful September afternoon at Lake Apache, Colin Wyle is boating with his girlfriend Natalie Merian when she disappears. Natalie’s father, a local politician, uses the opportunity to further his career by starting a media storm, causing panic in the area. Colin and his father, a retired NBA star, come under the microscope as the sheriff investigates. All anyone expects to find is a dead body. Colin’s friends support him, but with no answers to Natalie’s whereabouts and time running out, Colin makes a wreak-less move to find her–he seeks help from a mysterious source, leading him to the truth behind Natalie’s disappearance. Colin has to make the hardest choice of his life: commit a crime or lose her forever.

Fifteen years later, Colin lives the good life with a high-profile career in investments and a trophy wife in the waiting. When three new serial murders bring the FBI to the cold Natalie Merian case, Colin must answer questions about what happened at Lake Apache. He will reckon with the past. And his sins.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

324 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2013

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

…And this is why a mystery is called a mystery! David Balzarini has written a tale that seems to be heading in one direction but ends up being on a completely different path that forked in the road somewhere along the line. DISCRETION spans years, going back to a time when one girl simply “vanished,” fingers were pointed at her teen boyfriend. Colin knows he is innocent and with the help of a mysterious voice, he must choose between losing her and committing a crime that he must live with for the rest of his life. It won’t be until similarities arise many years later that the truth behind the abduction will arise, but it will not answer the questions to the “rest of the story” until the very end. Will they all be answered or will Colin hold the final card hidden away?

Colin heard a voice that would direct him, perhaps like an angel on his shoulder, but who or what was this voice and why does it stay with him through the years, guiding him to the successful life he has achieved? Will there be a time of reckoning for Colin? Will he learn the true identity of the being that guides him only to discover he has sold his soul to the devil or has Divine intervention been his guiding force all along?

Certainly an interesting story that manages to be partially veiled in a deep mystery or two until the end! One will wonder about the voice, why are we kept in the dark about its true origin? Why does it seem a blessing at times and evil at others?

Definitely a page turner that had me guessing throughout, David Balzarini both gives intense details on one hand while holding back what seems to be quite a bit on the other. Creative, intriguing and well worth the read!

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 9, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1490957928
ISBN-13: 978-1490957920
Genre: Mystery | Suspense
Paperback: 496 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this very interesting book with a lot of mixed emotions.

The book is a mystery. Fifteen years ago Colin was boating with his girlfriend, Natalie. She disappeared from the boat. All fingers were pointing to him, but there was no proof that he knew more than what he was telling.

Today .... he is a wealthy man, managing other peoples' money. He has a good life and is engaged to a wonderful woman. Then the FBI come calling.

This book has a touch of mysticism. There is always a voice in Colin's head ... predicting the future... keeping him safe from the world. Her name is Christel. She has been with him since he was a teenager. She was with him when Natalie disappeared.. and she's with him now.

The book touches on spiritualism. Is Christel an angel sent by God .. or is she something far more dangerous?

The book tells the story from beginning to end about Colin's life and how Natalie's disappearance changed him.. how he views the world.. and how he defines himself.

Not the usual kind of mystery that I read .. but I am so glad I took the time to read this one. This is one book that I had no idea of where it was heading and how it would end ...and I was sorely tempted to read the last few pages before I had finished the book.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with his book in exchange for an honest review.

I hope we see more of him in the near future.

NOTE: I didn't realize the author was a sort-of neighbor. He's in Phoenix and I'm in Mesa. I really enjoyed seeing places that I recognize .. like Apache Lake. I spent a lot of time there with my sons when they were a lot younger.

[J. Core · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a young man, Colin Wyle is not particularly impressive. The son of a former professional basketball player, Colin is cordial and likeable enough, but ultimately he’s forgettable. He, like many boys his age, spends most of his time daydreaming about the unattainable girl-of-his-dreams, Natalie Merian, and the rest of his time trying to figure out a way to earn his father’s respect. Then one day while attending church with the family of one of his friends, Colin begins to hear a voice. The disembodied personality calls herself Christel, and she begins guiding Colin to a better life.
Thanks to Christel, Colin becomes a sports hero and wins the affections of his girl and the growing tenuous respect of his father. Is she a guardian angel, a psychic spirit guide, a muse, a daemon? Colin doesn’t know, and frankly he doesn’t care. Things are going perfectly, and Colin is on his way to the life he’s always wanted. Then, one day while on a holiday trip to the lake, everything changes. Natalie disappears. Suspicion falls on Colin and his father. Days pass, tension mounts, and then out of the blue, Christel is in Colin’s ear telling him the steps he has to take. Hours later, Colin’s life is changed again, Natalie is saved, the man who had her is dead, Colin is a killer, and the police are covering the whole thing up to save face.
Years pass. Colin and Natalie have remained friends, but he is in a new relationship, engaged to be married. He has an investment job which he has been very successful at with Christel’s help. Then, again torment from his past arrives. New evidence has surfaced in several cases similar to the one involving Natalie’s abduction. Investigation is sure to uncover his involvement in the death of her captor. Colin needs Christel now more than ever, but is she everything he’s always assumed that she was?
“Discretion” by David Balzarini is a thriller with a message. A born again Christian, Balzarini weaves a tale that’s more about consequences than resolution. None of the thriller elements of the story are ever reconciled in the traditional manner, but fatalists and those who enjoy affirmation of faith in their literature are sure to take comfort in the book’s suppositions and anti-resolution.
The story is told mostly in a first-person present voice which I personally find off-putting. When I write, I create my notes and outline in first-person present. The beginning paragraphs of this review are also written in that POV. It’s more urgent feeling and gives one the sense of being instantly connected to the action. However, as I tell a story, I prefer to put all of the action in the past, where it belongs. “Guy walks into a bar,” may work for a joke told to friends at a party, but if I’m writing to an audience, I want them to understand that the action occurred in a tangible reality which I am recounting — not one which I am describing on the fly.
This is not to say that Balzarini doesn’t create a richly textured atmosphere. Indeed he does. His words are carefully chosen and I understand why he elected for the immediacy afforded by telling the story as if it’s happening in the now. I’m not noting this to say the writing is poor. Quite the contrary, it’s excellent. However, for me, there was a curve where I had to acclimate to the style in order to appreciate the writing. So this isn’t a criticism as much as it is fair warning.
I will say that I wish there had been more resolution to the traditional mystery element at the end of the story. The focus at the conclusion is more on Colin’s spiritual resolution than on wrapping up the story of how Natalie wound up where she did that long ago summer day; and there was no warning that this was going to be the case in the book’s description. In fact, the description gives no indication whatsoever that the story is less “Taken” and more “Angel Heart.” I, for one, wish I had known that going in.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free paperback copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This was a hard book for me to rate, and I'd probably settle on a 3.5. But I'll try to review it the best I can.

Okay, so this book centers around Colin Wyle, and significant events in his life that occurred fifteen years ago. The book shifts narratives between current day and the day that changed his life when he was a teenager. This aspect is, I feel, done very well, and heightens the tension and suspense in both narratives.
Fifteen years ago, his girlfriend, Natalie, disappeared off his boat. Terrible things happened, but eventually the case went away.
Until now. One morning, the cops show up at the house Colin shares with his fiance, Marisa. They start asking questions about recent homicides that they believe are linked with events that occurred during Natalie's case. Colin has to deal with the re-emergence of that thought-to-be-settled case, his high-stress job in investment management, his relationship with his fiance who is largely ignorant of his past, and, oh yeah, the voice that's been guiding him since the day that Natalie disappeared, and whether it's as benevolent as it seems.

This book's story was intriguing and compelling, until the last fifth or so. It is self-published, so there are the requisite spelling, grammar, and construction errors that are par for the course in self-pubs and ARCs. They were occasionally distracting (I don't think "than" was used once in the book; it was always then), but not enough to really diminish the reading experience.

But the book really did lose impact for me near the end. It became preachy, and all the things that seemed important for the preceding part of the book kind of got pushed aside. Questions went unanswered, at least, they weren't answered to satisfaction. Discussed below, spoilers abound.

There was no solid wrap-up of the trafficking cases. It felt like a huge let-down, that there was nothing definite there, other than Jackson was out killing people. Mike and Mayra never got any comeuppance for their contribution. (And personally, I felt like there were clues planted through the whole book that painted Mayra as the main actor in Natalie's attempted kidnapping/abduction, but it seemed everyone just accepted she had nothing to do with it.) The bit with Father Sal was good, but all the religious bits after that seemed incongruous with the rest of the novel, and took me by surprise. Frankly, I don't like books that unexpectedly preach at me. It seemed abrupt and out of sync/tone with the rest of the novel. I mean, yes, Colin was somewhat wrestling with whether Christel was angelic or demonic, but that was just...extreme.

[David Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy on Goodreads Firstreads.

When Colin's girlfriend goes missing, Colin and his father are prime suspects. After several days and Colin reaches an emotional low, he seeks clairavoyant help to find Natalie.But that help comes with a price that Colin may not be able to afford.

This was an advance reading copy so it had not gone through its final editing phase and has some mistakes like using waive/wave for each other multiple times which should be cleared up in the final version.

But there are also glitches that probably won't be corrected.Things like the father being present when Colin tells the police what happened and then saying the father never knew later in the book. Also from different things said in the book, Colin's age changed. Admittedly these are samll things but they distract from the story.

That was not my main problem with this story though. From the back of the book(Which was basically the synopsis that I with which I started this review.), I thought the book was going to be a paranormal book about Natalie going missing and the serarch for her. But that was only the first 70 pages or so of this 350 page book. After that, the story jumps 15 years into the future. Suddenly Colin seems to be an entirely different character in a different story. He went from a fairly likeable character to one that isn't that likeable or interesting. The story also seems to lose its track. it meanders back and forth without making any real progress until around page 300 when it starts to pick back up. Characters and events are talked about as if we had gone through the missing 15 years.The investigation didn't really work for me.It seemed vague and just shoved into the story.

While I was dissapointed with the story and didn't really connect with any of the characters, I still don't think this was a bad book. The first part of the book was good, and the ending was okay(even if the resolution came a little too easily). The general story was interesting but could have been cut down(lose a lot of the descriptions about his job). I did like the overall message of the book.I don't expect the book blurb to give everything away, but it is nice to be able to figure out what the main thrust(plotline) of the book will be. Playing up the good versus evil elements over the mystery surrounding Natalie would have been more appropriate.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discretion by David Balzarini detail 15 years of life for Wylie Allen a d his benefactor an invisible voice who he eventually discovers is a fallen angel. His girlfriend, Natalie, disappeared from Wylie's family boat. Finds out she was drugged and kidnapped.

[Sharlene Almond · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue instantly had me intrigued, causing me to keep on reading to find out what happens.

The voice that mysteriously comes to the teenage boy, Colin, sets the scene as though he has an angel watching over him, and brings a fascinating and insightful aspect to the plot, as this voice enables Colin to know what others are thinking, and be able to know certain elements of the future. But when he needs the voice the most, it abandons him. The disappearance of his girlfriend builds tension. Blame and fear can be felt. And although you know something has happened, you can feel there is more to come.

The author has a creative way of keeping the reader engaged, with the roller-coaster of emotions. With the voice finally returning to Colin, he is given advice to do something he never thought he could ever do. A situation continuously created as though you feel something is amiss. You know it’s not over, and that’s what is exciting. It is what makes it so hard to put down.

And the past comes to haunt. Fifteen years after a kidnapping and Colin’s mysterious insights, the past comes back. In a happy relationship (or so it appears), a very successful job, aided by this voice, but still unable to let go of the past, believing there was something more to it. And it would seem the kidnapping was only the beginning. Other girls found dead, sold as sex slaves; just a tattoo connecting them.

So, who was this inner voice? What was she? Was she there for another purpose? As the past becomes present, it causes conflict. Keeps on bringing up surprises.

In parts a sentimental read, as the inner voice helps Colin to assist the less fortunate.

I would say though that the novel would have been even better if there was a bit less detail on the character’s life. I admit though, I was pretty impatient to get more clues to what happened fifteen years ago. So, perhaps a strategic move on the author’s part.

A twist in the plot from the voice left me wondering, what is good and evil? Something big asked of Colin causes him to become a murderer. But can he kill a seemingly innocent man, or is this man not so innocent?

The religious aspect makes it a unique novel. I enjoyed the mix of sexual tension, combined with the need for God to overcome the evil that plagues man-kind. Even for those that don’t believe in God, this aspect struck a chord for many, needing something more to help them overcome certain situations in their life, and how easily something bad can manipulate a person to appear that they are good.

The kidnapping does seem more of a subplot than the main storyline. There is more focus on this inner voice and how it impacts the main character’s life.

3 ½ out of 5 stars

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Discretion by David Balzarini, teen Colin Wyle hears a voice in his head during a church service. The voice emanates from a spirit, called Cristel. Cristel’s benevolence earns Colin’s trust while her clairvoyance eventually earns his paycheck.

Shortly after meeting Cristel, Colin’s high school crush Natalie is drugged and kidnapped from a party. Colin and his dad come under suspicion. Three days pass before Natalie’s found. Through the ordeal, Cristel guides and supports Colin, establishing Colin’s reliance on Cristel from his teen years and into his adulthood.

15 years after Natalie’s kidnapping, links between Natalie’s case and similar cases around the States prompt investigators to reopen the case. Colin fears what the media and legal attention will do to the career, love life, and friendships that he and Cristel have jointly constructed; but, as events unfold, Colin finds himself questioning, for the first time since Cristel’s arrival in his life, whether her motivations are as benevolent as he believed. Is Cristel demon or angel?

Discretion breaks into two parts – Colin as a teen and Colin as an adult. The kidnapping scenes in the first part left me leaving the light on at night. Balzarini paces the opening of his novel like he’s a seasoned thriller author. The second half of Discretion slows, eventually transmuting into more of a lecture than a story. Balzarini detours the story into a good versus evil debate that concludes with if you follow God, all will be well. I don’t have a problem with the message, I simply prefer story over lecture.

In marketing, allegory wins out over lecture in affecting people’s opinions. It’s why presidential candidates tell stories of constituents’ problems to bolster their political agendas. Balzarini could have enhanced the story’s page-turning and strengthened the impact of his “trust God” message by elaborating on the sex trafficking ring that was part of Natalie’s 3-day imprisonment. Instead, after the story’s right turn down Religious Drive, the sex traffic subplot was left to dangle limply at the end of the story.

Religion aside, Balzarini’s writing increased my heart beat and electric bill. I preferred the pacing and thrill of the first half of the story, yet, the story in its entirety is well-written.

~review originally posted on pagecravings.com

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw a request by David Balzarini to review his new book Discretion, I jumped at it.  Not because I had read the premise of the story, but I just happened to be between books and something drew me to request to review.  How odd, considering this book is about forces beyond our control affecting our everyday life. 
If there was a picture on Wikipedia (since the dictionary isn't relevant anymore) for 'conflicted' it would be the cover of this book.
I normally don't read first person stories as I find it difficult to get into the character, it comes across as autobiographical or egotistical to me for some reason.  In this instance, it fits the narrative perfectly.  It's easier to identify with the storyteller because so much revolves inside his head.
I'm not religious by any means, and you don't have to be to grab ahold of the influences driving this narrative.  Religion, while inferred, is not a focal point here.  Man's struggle to do what's right when faced with an obfuscated and  overwhelming force to do wrong is the underlying theme.
Whether you believe in Angels and Demons, or not, you can appreciate the difficulties involved in being pushed by something you feel is good or right.
Without creating any spoilers, I'll say this is a magnificently written story.  It borders on believable, which is what draws you in so far.  This is like Stephen King at his (briefest) and best.  A gripping read that leaves you thinking, 'well perhaps that could happen' at the end. 
It's a story about inner conflict, plain and simple.  Love lost, and re-found.  Holding on to your ideals in the face of moral collapse.  Believing in right, and finding out that it isn't.  Evil disguised as beneficial. 
It's a page turner, as most good books are, keeping you enthralled with the ambiguity of forces directing the story towards its conclusion.

[Laura Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note: The review/critique of this book (which was donated to The Magnolia Blossom Review for the sole purpose of a review) was completed by The MBR’s owner, L. Avery Brown based on a Rubric she designed. If you would like to read the entire review which includes an in depth author interview – please visit The Magnolia Blossom Review’s site online today! Thank you.

And Now for the Review…
(Review completed by L. Avery Brown)

1. Book Title - 3 of 5
For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention right away? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Would you glance at it and then forget it? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book titles? (You should have plenty of space for each item on the form as I think I set it up for the boxes to 'grow'.)

LAB: Discretion: It's a title with a lot of meanings (literally the definition are listed as: the right to choose what should be done in a particular situation : the quality of being careful about what you do and say so that people will not be embarrassed or offended : the quality of being discreet. Honestly I'm stuck between 'did it grab my attention right away?' and 'would you glance at it and then forget it?' Usually I'm intrigued with one word titles because they've got an intensity to them. And with this title it did lead me to the notion that the book was going to have something to do with someone intentionally working to keep 'something' sort of hidden away. But unlike Voltaire's 'Candide', Stephen King's 'It', or even Orwell's '1984' (which,
when spoken is actually 'three words' but one must look at it as those words a one, singular unit) 'Discretion' simply doesn't have a 'oomph' factor to it. But then again, I don't think I'd cast it aside. So, I'm going to cut it in the middle and say it's a bit ho-hum.

2. Book Cover – 4 of 5
For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Did it look like it was haphazardly thrown together? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book covers? Did it help make the title more effective?

LAB: I really don't know what to say about the cover. Please, remember when I look at a cover to a book I'm reading for a review, I write down my immediate response before I ever open the book. My reason for doing this is because I want to try to put myself into the shoes (or, rather, the eyes) of the potential reader. And when I look at the cover I see, first and foremost, a lovely, sleek, expensive high powered luxury 'weekender' boat as they're often referred to here in the area where I live, which happens to overlook a massive lake surrounded by a somewhat rugged terrain in the Hill Country of Texas, at rest on the water. There's nothing to suggest anything that even harkens to the notion of a need or an allusion to discretion aside from the very faint drop shadow of the word Discretion. Knowing that it's listed in the general 'suspense' genre definitely makes me wonder - why does this beautiful boat appear to be abandoned? And that does draw me in. But the title - if I'm being totally honest, doesn't seem to mesh at all with the image.

3. First 500... – 8 of 10
For the Reviewer: Thinking of the first 500 (usually about 2 pages) words of the book, do you think the author provided enough incentive to urge the reader to continue? What stood out to you the most? Were you captivated after a couple of paragraphs? Did the 1st sentence grab you? Did you get to around the 500 word mark and didn't have a clue where the story was going?

LAB: First let me begin by saying that I am NOT a fan of authors who post a quote by philosophers of any sort where one would find a dedication. I think it's a rather pretentious thing to do as it almost screams to someone preparing to read the story 'If you don't 'get' this or know who this philosopher is - you really shouldn't be reading this book.' Also, I am not a fan of prologues. But, I tolerate them if the author successfully pulls it off. In fact, I typically don't count them in the First 500 HOWEVER, this prologue set a scene providing a definite time reference: Labor Day. A location: a large cabin cruiser on a lake. Atmosphere: it's a party where on a cabin cruiser with lots of people (mind flashes back to the cover - the boat on the cover is NOT a cabin cruiser - if it is - it is one really SMALL cabin cruiser - I am starting to have doubts) But it is quite intriguing at about 550 words -- and looks like this might turn out to be a thrill ride of a book. (*I would give this 10 points BUT, again, there's just something about that quote that makes me wary.)

4. Blurb Effectiveness – 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Now that you've finished the book, please take a moment to look back over the blurb. How effective do you think the blurb will be to potential readers? Did the author write a blurb that was enticing and went along with the story? (10) Was the blurb lacking? (5) Was it entirely too long or too short? (1) Do you have any suggestions for the author to make it more effective?

LAB: The blurb is very effective. I am sure that were I a casual shopper in a bookstore and I saw this book on a table - even though the title and cover don't exactly have a 'grab you by the eyeballs' quality - the blurb would surely get me to open the book. And again, were I wandering through a store and I picked up this book, I'd probably scan the prologue and think 'Okay, the blurb mentioned someone disappearing - and it's evident that some sort of foul play has occured.' All in all, as a potential buyer - I'd say that the blurb - aside from the other elements mentioned has a 'slam dunk' quality to it and that is so vital because getting a potential reader to open the book and read through the opening is exactly what it's intended to do.

5. Age Recommendation/Genre Classification – 8 of 10
For the Reviewer: Age Recommendation - If the book is entirely too young/juvenile for the intended age group? Is it entirely too mature? (Please take into account swearing/sexual scenes/drug use, etc... Genre Classification - Was the book listed as a thrill ride of a read but was more of a bumper car ride (sort of all over the place)? Was it listed as a mystery and you simply had to turn the page to find out 'who did it'?

LAB: It's definitely intended for adult readers. There's some language a few scenes and language that, I feel, preclude it from getting into the Young Adult age range. Now, as for the genre classification - the request for a review filled out by Balzarini lists it as a 'Suspense' book - and it does have some terrifically suspenseful parts. However, there's also an odd undercurrent of the supernatural (the voice that guide the protagonist) mixed with religion...is the voice angelic or demonic with a dash of 'is this guy -the protagonist, Colin Wyle- a bit off his rocker? Because he distinctly hears a voice in his head guiding him this way and that way. These elements, when all put together, make me wonder if it has been properly classified because after a while - I felt like the 'what happened to Natalie' aspect is lost to the 'what is going on in Colin's head' element.

6. Presentation/Format – 7 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did the 'innards' of the book follow a clear, concise, standard format throughout the book? Or did you have a hard time keeping up with paragraphs or dialogue? Were multiple fonts used? Were they distracting?

LAB: There was a bit of a disclaimer at the beginning of the book pointing out that the version I was reading was not necessarily in its final format and that there may still be several items that need to be addressed. And that, I'm fine with. I am not, however, fine however with the POV of the book. A book that starts out as 3rd person past tense POV with an unseen narrator only to then flip to a 1st person, present tense narrative is not something that can be 'touched up' before the final version of the book goes to press (either in an actual printing sense or via a virtual publishing avenue) Also, there are no paragraph breaks to give the eye a mental cue that there's a shift in the action or the speaker. Sure this might be addressed in the final version but considering the entire book is written in the same style leads me to believe that it was an intentional choice made by the author.

7. Theme/Originality – 9 of 10
For the Reviewer: Was this book similar to something you may have read before? If it was a retelling - did the author make it feel fresh and just different enough that it kept you involved? Or was it formulaic and a 'rehash' of a popular tale/current 'pop' genre? OR - is this the first time you can recall ever reading a book with theme/setup/etc of this particular title?

LAB: For the most part, I'd have to say it's pretty original. The only thing that really detracts from the whole concept is the odd religious overtones that are thrown in to the story. The Christal (I think that's the name of the 'voice') element was, at times, just a bit too much.

8. Description/Enhancement – 8 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did the author use descriptive language and 'all those extra little things' to make it the best it could be? Did you feel it was too sparse in description? Did the author go OVER board with the description?

LAB: Hmm, I found myself getting lost at times because it seemed (especially after the first couple of chapters) that the story became more and more disjointed and it moved away from the truth about Colin Wyle's involvement in Nicole's life and her disappearance. There are moments where it felt like I was trapped in an existential discussion about religion and its relevancy to humans in general. But I will say that on the one side - the vagueness of the story was handled fairly well - well enough that it did keep me reading. However, it was also a bit much to read the odd discussions Colin has with his friends/associates.

9. Intrigue – 6 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did you want to turn the next page because it was SO good? (10) Was it interesting but you didn't quite have an urge to keep reading? (5) Did you think 'I wonder if we have Twinkies in the pantry? Mmmmm, Twinkies' while you read? (1)

LAB: As I mentioned, it opened quite strong but as the story progressed, but it became a bit too convoluted in parts and towards the end - it sort of fell...flat.

10. Grammar/Mechanics – 9 of 10
For the Reviewer: Was the book pretty darn flawless? (10) Did you see more that 5 or 10 'jump out' at you mistakes in grammar or the actual mechanics (verb tense, noun/pronoun agreement, misused words) ? (5) Did you feel it was a chore to read because it was riddled with errors? (1)

LAB: There weren't too many major issues with the grammar and mechanics of the story - again, I do realize the version I was given wasn't necessarily the 'final' version. So, I'll go with the belief that the little errors have been rectified since its actual publishing. (Although, the author might want to consider NOT giving reviewers the 'it might not end up looking like this in a month or so' version. It's not a good practice as a reviewer is NOT a beta reader.) However, there were some errors that should never have made it to this far.

11. Overall Impression – 7 of 10
For the Reviewer: When all is said in done - did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it to others?

LAB: Discretion starts out interesting and becomes less of a suspense story and more of an examination of the inner workings of the protagonist who might or might not actually hear a voice - that somehow has the ability to 'predict' things (like financial futures) or if that voice is some sort of angelic or possibly demonic entity driving him to make decisions. And there are some serious continuity problems in the story, too - only they don't really fall into either the grammar/mechanics area or the description/enhancement area as defined in the rubric. I don't know that I'd rush to tell a friend, 'Hey, you have simply got to read this book'. However, if someone said, 'I'm looking for an offbeat sort of suspense story that makes me question what is and isn't real.' I'd for sure tell them to look at Discretion.

The Bestowing of the Blossoms...
When all is said and done, David Balzarini has scored a total of 79 points and 3 Blossoms that are so solid - it's kissing the edge of 4 Blossoms! – However, for the purpose of this Amazon.com review posting it’s going to be bumped up to 4 Stars since Amazon doesn’t have a fractional scoring system! So YAY for David and his book! That’s pretty darn impressive for his first major publication. We do wish him all the best and we hope that Discretion will find its niche of readers who really enjoy the suspenseful tale as well as the deeper, more philosophical aspect that essentially is the driving force behind the decisions made by the protagonist.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discretion by David Balzarini, is a thriller with supernatural elements.

First Paragraph:

"It's Labor Day at Apache Lake when Natalie Merian climbs the ladder of the massive cabin cruiser. The noise level on board is like a concert. Most of the people, by her guess, are college age, a few years older than her at least. She tries not to be intimidated. Her friends, Mayra and Mike, follow close behind, the deck of the white and brown vessel is anchored near the north shore. The sun is shining on a cloudless day, a scorching one hundred degrees- and the alcohol seems endless, with four coolers open, frosted cans and bottles passed around with jovial acclaim."

PLOT

Colin Wyle was in church the first time he heard her. Not a religious person himself, he was only there with his best friend, Jamal, and Jamal's family. She called herself Christel, and he was the only one who could hear her. From that moment on, she inhabits his mind, giving him advice and hints about the future.

The very first thing she helps him with is winning the heart of the girl of his dreams- Natalie Merian- the good girl all the boys want. Colin is your typical awkward teen when it comes to matters of the heart, and Christel guides him and gives him confidence. Before they know it, the two are dating.

Four months later, and we reach the events of the prologue. Colin's father takes the happy couple out for a trip to the lake in his boat. The have fun goofing around, then settle down as the day does. Colin and his father both fall asleep. When they wake up, Natalie is gone. Exactly what happened is a mystery, but they believe she went willingly. If not, the ruckus would've woken them up, plus she left her shoes, but then why not tell them?

Hours pass, which turn to days and fingers begin pointing at Colin. His father hires a PI, Jackson, to prove his innocence, and track her down. But that's easier said than done. Until, three days later, when Christel tells Colin to follow Mike onto his boat. Mike is heading out with Mayra, back to the lake, with an arsenal of weapons- intent on bringing back their friend. With Christel's guidance they find a lone boat out on the lake. When the owners spot them, they immediately draw weapons, and Colin is forced to do the unthinkable to save all their skins. When they finally get on board, they find Natalie tied to a chair, still breathing.

Cut to 15 years later. Colin is now a successful portfolio manager- dealing with stocks all day, engaged to the beautiful Marisa, and living the high-life. Everything is coming up roses, until he gets a call from Jackson. The case with Natalie was never solved- as they always believed there was something more going on. Natalie's mind completely blanked her memories of those days, so the trail went dead. But now the case is being brought to light again, and the past with it- including Colin's. Jackson believes there's a much bigger problem- girls who went missing in the same days as Natalie, have started turning up again- dead, and with a mysterious tattoo on their wrists. The same tattoo one of the kidnappers had.

Jackson is the only other person who knows about Christel, and others may not be so easily convinced of her authenticity. It's up to Colin to prove his innocence, and quickly. But why doesn't Christel want him to help Jackson? And is she really the gift he thought she was?

REVIEW

Discretion is a book that is hard to pin down. It starts off as a thriller- though a little slow-paced, but quickly spirals into a complicated, tangled plot involving religion- in some ambiguous way. The focus is more on Colin's lack of religion, and his friends' belief that he needs it. There is some plot around Christel, as well as the original plot with Natalie, but those are more in the background. There are a lot of random, irrelevant aspects, that don't add to the plot or story in any way, and just succeed in bogging down an already slow moving book.

The story starts off well, but loses itself around the '15 years later' mark. If the author had stuck with the original plot, the story could've been pretty good. Though I will give it this, the book is very good at creating an uneasiness. A tension surrounding Christel, and exactly what her motivations are. You can never be sure how much of the truth she is telling you. But then again, the whole book from that point on is a confused mess, one that makes it very hard to tell what's going on.

I would say the book's focus is more on good and bad, and the fine line between them. You can do both, but in the end the scales will tip more one way than the other. It comes down to the nature of temptation and addiction. Because that is what Christel is- Colin's drug. Her true 'form' is almost irrelevant. She has been in Colin's mind for so long, that he needs her, to the point where he is willing to do anything to keep her.

Like I mentioned earlier, the story becomes a little too bogged down with religion towards the end, and I'm afraid we get that rather irritating 'accepting God makes everything alright' ending- which I think is the ultimate cop-out. As though it solves everything. God and religion are not things that should ever be forced on someone. They are things you choose as an individual, and you should respect that others have the right to refuse them. Something I see often in books with Christian undertones is that the moment you let it in/convert, suddenly everything is miraculously better. That's not how it works. It's not a cure-all. What it is is a safety net-there to catch you if you fall. It's an authority, that allows people to believe that if someone does wrong, they will be held accountable for it. It is an idea- a concept. Nothing more. It changes nothing. Resolution through conversion is not resolution. Yes, it can provide comfort or strength- as many things can- but it doesn't change the reality of the situation.

The ending itself just sort of happens, and while it's written as though it's meant to be a satisfying conclusion, it is anything but. It is unbelievable to the point of ridiculousness. This is a mild spoiler, but that the book wants you to accept that one witness can bring down an entire prostitution ring led by a clearly well-established group is absurd. Especially as she is not a reliable witness- considering she was heavily drugged during her entire ordeal.

Another not very satisfying conclusion is Christel. Unbelievably underwhelming and anti-climactic. She was the main interest of this story- at least for me- her origin and motives were the main reason I got through this book, and her storyline just fades away. It's left in the background and almost forgotten.

In fact, very few of the questions raised are ever answered. Foe example, we don't even really know what happened with the mystery of Natalie.

Overall, an interesting story, that was unfortunately let down by its ending, and irrelevant tangents. I personally believe that the religious tones could have worked, if they had been a little more ambiguous. Especially for non-Christian/ religious readers. I think even Christian readers would find it a little too shoe-horned in, and nonsensical. The characters start of well, but once you hit that '15 years later' point, become bland and devoid of much personality, not to mention Colin goes through a complete 180 on his- due to Christel's guidance perhaps. A book that had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, dropped the ball.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could recall how I learned of this novel. All I know for certain is that I had added the book title to my wish-to-read book list which my husband and my Mother use to 'surprise' me with book bags for my birthday and for Christmas. Using the wish list I have a 'ready' list of novels to purchase when I've received an Amazon gift card or if I'm going to visit a location that sells used paperbacks.

There were moments when I thought I might abandon reading this novel but something kept drawing me to keep open to the storyline. As I do not provide spoilers within my reviews, I won't elaborate why reading this novel was at times difficult for me to continue - other than to say that the blurb shares - "Desperate to find his love, he (Colin Wyle) sought help from a mysterious source, forcing Colin to make the hardest choice of his life: commit a crime or lose her forever." Let me only comment that the "mysterious source" is not who I would have ever anticipated on my own prior to reading the novel.

Simply said, not everyone will enjoy this novel. I'm giving 3 stars for "liked it" rather than 2 stars for "It was ok" as I couldn't stop reading. I'd also like to credit the author's creativity - especially for a first novel- and an interesting portrayal of a subject that many of us shy away from discussion even with family and/or close friends. I doubt I would read another novel by this author but I'm glad I finished this novel. As someone once said, "Don't miss out on something that could be amazing, just because it could be difficult." I doubt the person was talking about reading but I think it's applicable to giving thought to reading "outside" of your comfort zone. Or as someone else once said, "Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things is the best way to grow." I believe that our lives as readers are also best when we continue to try new things.

[Nancy Brutsche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discretion

David Balzarini did a great job writing this book. It had many twists and turns.I didn't want to put it down.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished the book to see what happened to Natalie, and I have more questions than I started with.

[Ingrid Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discretion tells the story of Colin, a young man who along with his father, a former NBA star finds themselves prime suspects in a missing persons case when Natalie, Colin's sixteen year old girlfriend mysteriously goes missing from their boat...

First and foremost, whilst these are not usually the types of characters that I would particularly relate to David Balzarini does the whole rich, white American kid who finds himself in a spot of bother and has to rely on daddy to help dig him out of the poop rather well. I loved the prologue and was instantly hooked and whilst the first couple of chapters which give an insight into the central character's background and lifestyle bored me, my curiosity was once again piqued as I quickly found myself drawn into the "main" plot and I was definitely "there" with Colin, his father and Natalie on Lake Apache...

Then I ran in to difficulties because the whole premise behind the book is very quickly wrapped up and the reader is fast forwarded fifteen years to a point when Colin is leading a jolly comfortable and happy life with his new fiancee and in spite of his fiancee's reservations is still enjoying a close friendship with Natalie. The triangle between Natalie, Colin and Marisa incidentally along with Colin's friendship with lifelong buddy Jamal is actually one of the most plausible elements of what is at times an implausible story line, however I digress because I was incredibly disappointed by the speed in which the author whizzed through the incident on the lake, Natalie's subsequent disappearance and what she ultimately experiences, because given how several other women are also taken by the same perpetrators; given the full sexual horror and abuse that they suffered then, I felt as a reader that it was totally implausible that Natalie didn't experience the same and I think this is maybe in part down to the conservative nature in which the author writes. I certainly didn't buy the fact that she was spared the full horrors because "God saved her" I was also disappointed by the fact that as the prime suspects Colin and and his further weren't subject to intense interrogations by the police. - Come on, I watch the American crime dramas like C.S.I and N.C.I.S I know how it works!! - I wanted to feel, to experience his emotional suffering, his torment as his life was destroyed...

Back to Colin and his extremely comfortable life fifteen years later... I think the author could maybe have benefited from editing out several scenes in full, in particular the scenes involving his career as I didn't feel that they were relevant and to be frank, they bored me.

Now to the spiritual element of the book and "Christel" the spirit/demon who throughout the entire book offers Colin valuable insights and speaks to him. I found her very intriguing, if a little under used and my curiosity always picked up when she made an appearance. However and I am afraid it seems like there are lots of "howevers" I did feel as if she was portrayed in a somewhat stereotypical demonic fashion: In a way that people with strong religious beliefs and who don't actually believe in the spirit world in say, the New Age sense often do and as a result I felt that Christel was somewhat demeaned: As if she wasn't taken seriously enough, almost as if she were written in as a bogey man type figure; a deterrent to anyone who might believe in evil sorts like her..

I may have gone totally off mark here, however I do have my own spiritual beliefs and I would have loved for Christel to have been portrayed in a more positive and less stereotypical light.

I hope I haven't sounded unduly negative about Discretion because in spite of all that have said, I do believe that there is a market for the book. It is a relatively quick, light read that you can pick up and put down; that would keep you entertained whilst at a holiday airport, or when chilling out on a beach but which won't tax your mind too much. I also feel that for a first novel it was a really good effort and if the author would only just step slightly out of his conservative, safe mode and really delve inside the minds and emotions of his characters then he could definitely be one to watch in future!

You can find me at www.ingridhall.com

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this from Library Thing to read and review. I began this book eagerly. The blurb on the book and on the net sounded great. The book initially was quite interesting and exciting. Colin and Natalie go out to the lake with his father on his father’s boat. After several fun-filled hours, Colin falls asleep and his father does also. During the time they are asleep, Natalie disappears. It seems as if she has gotten off the boat with friends and goes to a party on another boat, but disappears after some frolicking and a strange drink. Colin and his father awaken to find her missing. After a thorough search, her absences reported to the police, who have n luck finding her. Shortly thereafter, Colin and two others find her held hostage on a boat. Once Natalie is freed, they begin life where it left off, or so we think. Fast forward to fifteen years later. Colin is now a successful financial analyst, engaged to Marissa, but no date has been set for their nuptials. The story of Colin’s life continues. This book started out exciting and engaged me from the beginning. However, after the incident with Natalie’s kidnapping, the book began to drag and left me wondering whether the same author had continued writing or whether a different one had taken up the role. As the book goes on, there are a lot of events that seem significant that are just dropped on the reader (e.g. Marissa’s abortion, Natalie knowing it) with no discussion or explanation. I read through other reviews, and one reviewer said the author wrote well. He did write quite well at the outset. However, I always think that writing well involves more than just putting down words. It involves putting words down in a cohesive manner, tying them and ideas or plots/subplots together so the reader can follow them. I did not see this in this book. The author wandered a lot all seemed all over the place. Religion and worshipping important, but I never did understand why. Colin detects a presence/spirit, whom he refers to as Crystal, during one of his visits to church, and Crystal stays with him through the book, often speaking only to him (through his thoughts I figured), which helps him out a lot in his professional life. I never really could figure out what was going on here. After reading the book, I also was disappointed with the ending, and Natalie’s kidnapping was never really well explained or concluded. I am not sure who the audience for this book is. I guess a reader looking for something a bit different might enjoy it. It really is not a definite romance or mystery, but rather a mixture of some of each. I do think the author would have had a better book had he stayed with the same plot/storyline throughout and followed through on Natalie’s kidnaping and being held hostage rather than including all the other event and does he did. The book plot and storyline would have been cleaner and the book would probably have read better, in my opinion.

[Asil Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book free from the author on my Amazon Kindle. I have to say that at the beginning of the story I was hooked. I thought I was getting into a Suspense/Mystery novel. The story starts out about a girl named Natalie (from her perspective) partying on a lake with her boyfriend Colin and his Dad. She leaves their boat, when they both fall asleep expectantly, and goes off with some other friends without telling anyone where she is going. She ends up on a boat with strangers and starts to drink with them and goes missing for 3 days and that is the end of her narrative. Then the story fast forwarded to 15 years in the future and I got very confused. It switched to Colin's point of view. It almost started to sound like the book was an autobiography of a financial advisor who was over the top on details. (I know that some people enjoy a lot of detail and description in the reading, I am not one of them.) I kind of liked Colin's character in the beginning of the book, but the Colin 15 years later is a little pretentious and unlikable. He has been leading a life of luxury, thanks to the "voice" of "Christel" who guides him through life and work to be successful at both. Then the story takes another turn that completely confused me. We find out who/ what "Christel" is and then the story takes on a Supernatural/Sci-fi feel. The end is fully Religious. I also felt that Colin did not show enough emotion when his childhood best friend (Jamal) dies. Colin continues with his day, working, working out, having sex with his fiancée....etc. Where was the emotional connection needed to be shown for such a horrible day in someone's life?? I would have preferred a bit more emotion in the book and less description of everyday surroundings and the life and work of Colin. Maybe I just started out wrongfully thinking I knew what the book was going to be about and that is why I felt let down. I thought the story was going to be about a young girl, her disappearance and her rescue. And then the characters finding out years later that there was more than just one girl involved and the search to save them and bring the bad guys to justice. There was little things put into the story that left me going "huh?". I will not put them down here, as I do not wish to reveal spoilers that might ruin the story for others. I do know that I have friends who like books with LOTS of details and are religious, so I may recommend this book to them to read.

[Merenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hard pressed on HOW I was going to review this book. And even rating it I'm borderline. I gave it a 2, but I'm stuck in between the 2 and 3.

The 3 would be for I liked the writing and overall story. But the author seemed to get a little lazy about half way through. I'm normally not a stickler for grammar and spelling errors. I make many of my own. LOL But, when a word is presented in a sentence to mean one thing and with the leaving off a letter, it can/does change the meaning of the word. It happened several times mid way through.

The BIGGEST problem I had was "stock talk". All I was reading was chapter after chapter about Stocks! It was like I re-reading chapters at some points. There was simply WAY TOO MUCH of "stock talk". I got the feeling the author was making it filler just to get pages filled up to meet the "demand". I was SO annoyed with the constant overkill of "stock talk", I put the book(Fire) down and went on to read other books on my list. I finally mustered my patience to give the book my attention as I promised I would read it. So, getting back to it, I pushed through. I found myself completely annoyed at a WHOLE CHAPTER dedicated to ONE CLIENT. There was just so much clutter of "stock talk" it over took the enjoyment of the good parts of the book. It's so mundane to read Colin's EVERY move while returning to the office. How many cups of coffee he drank, how many phone calls he missed, the amount of time stuck in traffic, etc. It drove me nuts!

As the book got to the nuts and bolts, I finally let my attention stay with it. I was let down though. I felt there was so much build up to the story and in the end the fluff simply wasn't there. All the tedious weaving around the story just wrapped up in short order. There was no big ah ha moment. For me, I just found the overburdening of "stock talk" too much to get past making even the remainder of the book push me to really like the book enough to recommend it to any of my friends. :( I really wish I could say something better, but that's what I got. :(

* I received a copy of the book from the Author for an honest review.

[Julie Schoen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I am reviewing a debut novel at request of the author. I really enjoyed being a part of that, so thank you David Balzarini!!Before I began I knew nothing about this book except for what I read in the synopsis. I enjoy mystery-thrillers so I was excited to read this book.
I have to say first off that I completely bonded with the main character. He was down to earth, slightly unsure of himself, good at heart, yet could be swayed into doing things that he knew he shouldn’t . I think many of us share these same traits in our own personalities, so this main character is a person that many of us can relate to. I immediately become invested in his life and cared deeply about what happened to him.
This story focused around the constant struggle between good and evil ; the Angel vs. Devil on our shoulder. Which way will we choose…the right path or the wrong? There is a “Presence” throughout this story that tries to guide our main character along. Even though this book was not religious in content, it referenced the Bible constantly in a hidden, almost subliminal way. In that respect it was quite cleverly written. It taught without being preachy.
I was held captive throughout this entire story due to the fact that the Author did such a great job at creating a world in which many of us live. We all struggle with decisions and choices, and fear the outcome of our chosen actions. There is never a guarantee of a perfect outcome, just a given faith that internally our “Presence” will guide us correctly. I give kudos to this Author for writing a story that many of us can relate to, teaching us lessons without preaching, and allowing us to get lost in a “fictional” world where many of us live on a daily basis already. In many respects it felt like a home away from home.

[Joecool Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say I don't know where to begin its a good thing, because this book was so thought provoking! With the exception of the Prologue, this book is told through the eyes of Colin. We begin the story with Colin as a teenage boy with a typical problem.......he's afraid to talk to his crush Natalie. Suffice to say he gets over that and they begin dating. It is around this time that Colin gains a new friend.....in his head!

It is toward the end of the summer that Natalie mysteriously disappears off Colins dads boat, and with this Colin consults with his friend Christel for help locating her. Christel is the friend in Colins head and she remains silent for 3 agonizing days. When the silence is broken, Colin is led to where Natalie is being held and is told to kill in order to get Natalie back.

After the situation is resolved we move ahead 15 years and Colin is very successful in his career, and life, due to the long-time help from Christel. Now the FBI is looking at the 15 year old kidnapping in relation to a large crime ring.

This book really sucks you in from the very beginning as you are given a view of the kidnapping from Natalies point of view. The book did have a bit of a stream of consciousness feel, but for the most part was very smooth. Ocassionally the more stressed out Colin was the more off his thoughts were, but I think that is a true picture of real life. Overall, this book was a real page turner and I couldn't wait to see where it was leading. I wasn't completely satisfied with the conclusion because I felt I still had a few questions, but again I feel like that is a true representation of life. Nothing is ever wrapped up in a pretty bow for us. :-)

[TMDGReviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this book and thought it was great. I was excited, as it appeared to fall in one of my favorite categories of reading, and looked forward to the finish. The writer has potential. The book has potential. That being said, in my honest opinion, for all the compelling points of the story, there were an equal number of confusing points. The complications of tangled emotions toward the end with Natalie and Colin didn't seem to be firmly resolved. The whole federal investigation left me with more questions than answers, and seemed like it was wrapped up neatly - but I didn't really get how or why. Jamal's fate was a big question mark for me - Why put the people with the tattoos in the mix if it was an act of God? If it wasn't an act of God, then why would Jamal be marked and not Colin or his lawyer? The story turned into a struggle of religious beliefs, which was okay because it wasn't preachy or aggressive. I found it interesting. Colin's struggle between doing what was truly right and doing what he wanted to do - with help from the voice in his head, Christel, and justifying it by using the "power" to help others - was well delivered. But, Colin dragged on so long trying to discover whether the voice was "good" or "bad", and when he finally decided if he would listen to Christel anymore or take full responsibility for his own life - I felt a little deflated and unsure. Although, she added an interesting element to the story, I was also unclear how and why Christel ever entered his head to begin with.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't know how to rate this book. I think I really enjoyed about the first 70%. I really felt it was leading up to a big BOOM...that there was a mystery to be solved. I even enjoyed the switching back and forth from present day to 15 yrs ago. But then it got very confusing. The mystery either wasn't ever there or I never got the answers I was looking for. I guess I'm still confused. And the mysterious voice...good or evil. I kind of think I may have gotten the message the author was trying to give...but again, I'm not sure. If it was meant to be a Christian message, which I really think it was, then I felt like there was way too much adventurous sex. It kind of soured the message. (and if you ARE trying to send a Christian message, then how about leaving out the "f" word) I understand that sometimes in giving a Christian message, an author will make a story "real". But that...it could have been left to the imagination. I was also confused as to where the emotion was from the main character. Your best friend is the horrible situation he's in and you're able to forget about that so much that you're plating your dinner on your girlfriend's body? That's a little different than seeking love and comfort. The last thing that bothered me was that I did NOT like Marisa at all. AT ALL. I thought she was meant to be unlikable and that things were headed a certain direction with that. But then suddenly in the end, she's just a wonderful person. I didn't get that.

The author does show promise. The intrigue was there. He's obviously capable of writing a good story. But he lost me in the last 30% of the book.

[Yvanka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an arc of the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Before I started reading, I thought the synopsis of the book sounded really interesting.
Unfortunately the first time 'Christel' started talking (which is only a few pages in) my excitement slipped away a little. This is because I'm usually not a big fan of the 'paranormal'. However, as well as you can't judge a book by it's cover, I also thought it wouldn't be fair to judge it based on this occurrence.

The book starts with a certain event and after a few pages you skip to 'one month earlier'. After that time-frame you don't skip back to the event, but you skip forward to 15 years later. This, unfortunately, was another thing that bothered me. It only takes 80 pages to skip from one time to another, while there's nothing and everything going on at the same time. I really believe that especially the 'one month earlier' part where Natalie goes missing and where she get's found could've been stretched some more and/or should've had more details to it. It's like the main event in the beginning of the book was explained in very few pages and that's disappointing.

When the story continued the writing-style remained the same, unfortunately the story also remained to lose my interest and therefore I can only give this book 2 stars. It was an okay read, but I expected something more interesting.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self-published; I'm guessing a first novel. Balzarini has written a compelling and at the same time, confusing book. The gist - a "voice" is guiding him through most of the book. Is this a good "voice" or a bad "voice"?

The main character is Colin Wyle - the prologue sets the stage, for what the reader thinks will be the emphasis of the book and then...we move on to his life 15 years later - a good life; a life guided by Christel, the "voice". Wyle is now a portfolio manager who wears designer clothing - always reeling off the designer brand names. Christel has made him successful because she can see into the future and guide his stock investments based on what is to come. He is well-liked and envied at his firm.

A side theme is Wyle's approach to religion or a lack thereof. His friend Jamal prays that Wyle will become a believer while Colin sees Christel as his guiding force.

The book is written in first person and lacks a flow that will come as he continues to grow as a writer. His dialogue is more of a monologue with short choppy paragraphs. There are several incidences where a situation is talked about but never introduced. I spent several minutes looking for Marisa's abortion, only to figure out that it had never been discussed.

Having said all this, I still think this author has potential.

I won this book through the giveaways and as it is an advance reading copy, there are grammatical errors which will be corrected in the final run.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a digital copy direct from the author and I am excited to have had the opportunity.

3.5 Stars

Colin's girlfriend disappears when they are teenagers and Colin seeks the help of a mysterious voice to help him find her. To get her back, he commits a crime that he thought himself incapable of committing. Years pass and Colin finds himself in a successful career with a beautiful fiancé. He is, however, still under the influence of this mysterious voice. He struggles to come to terms with the past when he discovers the investigation into Natalie's kidnapping is far from over. Is he willing to give up all he has known to uncover the truth?

I am a bit torn about my rating for this book. I loved the originality of the story. I loved the author's writing style and his character development. The mysteriousness kept me hanging on and I just had to keep reading to find out what happened. Unfortunately, the book lost it's momentum for me in about the last 20 percent of the book. It became a little bit too focused on religion and spirituality for my personal taste. However, the author's explanation of the world of demons and angels was elegantly stated. In the end, I thought the questions became too abundant to be answered adequately and I feel like I didn't walk away with true closure.

[Charles Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin Wylie, as a teenager, has a crush on Natalie. He’s at a loss as to what to do about it until a disembodied female voice, Christel, pops into his head. From that point on, Colin’s life takes one strange turn after another. When Natalie is kidnapped, the voice tells Colin how to find and rescue her.
Years later Natalie’s case pops up again, and now Colin, a successful money manager – all with Christel’s help – must find out what really happened.
I received a free review copy of David Balzarini’s Discretion, and after reading the first ten pages, decided that, even though it’s not what I usually read, I liked it. Balzarini has a skill at writing tight dialogue that keeps the reader interested in the story and the characters, and a way of describing the setting that puts you in the picture, so to speak. Most interesting is how he deals with Christel in the story, - this disembodied voice; is she good or evil - leaving the reader wondering about this enigmatic character until the very end. While at times it’s a bit too much like a Greek deus ex machine, if you pay close attention to each of the voice’s appearances, it helps a bit in explaining subsequent actions.
All in all, a competently crafted novel worthy of an evening’s read. Not too bad for a first novel. Balzarini shows that he has potential.

[Mat Whitehead]

Colin. A Teenager. He has a best friend, his eyes set on the perfect girl. His life seems perfect until two things happen. The first, a voice, who announces herself as Crystal, appears to him. This voice tends to be insightful and helpful, but those two things only get you so far in life. The second thing that derails him from his path of getting his girl, she goes missing. One day Colin and his father go out on their boat with Natalie, who is around Colin's age. She mysteriously goes missing that day when everyone seems to be napping. After what feels like weeks and months, the voice instructs Colin and he and some friends find her. The voice, although mysterious, seems good to have around. I am not going to spoil the book, but I will say that this is a must-read for everyone. It is adventurous and seductive in its own way. The journey you embark on from the Prologue will be breathtakingly beautiful yet the book takes a dramatic twist. This is the first time I have read a book like this and must say that if you need a book to choose to read next, this one is a go-to. Won from Goodreads First-Read. I was looking for books outside of my usual storyline and this one, by far, is the best thing I have ever read from its class. Great Job!

[Deana Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several books from this author and really enjoyed them. This book I couldn't quite get into. The beginning starts with a group on a boat having a great time. Suddenly one of the girls disappears. Natalie just vanished without a trace. This was a beginning of a great mystery , or so I thought. Colin and his dad had fallen asleep and after waking up, realize Natalie has disappeared.


There is a police investigation and mysteriously Natalie is found being held hostage on a boat. So I was ready to find out why she was on this boat and who kidnapped her. For some reason the author takes up the story fifteen years later . Now I am totally confused. Why did the author skip over an intriguing plot and suddenly go into the future? The book becomeseven more stranger when Colin encounters a spirit named Crystal. I didn't quite understand where the book was heading and I must say I lost interest completely. I did finish the book, but I still don't know what the book was about. I feel like I was reading two different stories that somehow got put into one book by mistake. I usually enjoy reading books from this author , but this one was too confusing and the story was all over the place.

I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing for an honest review.

[T.B. Markinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I was given a free copy of this novel for my honest opinion.

The synopsis of this book pulled me in right away. I love stories that involve people having to deal with a secret from their past and coming to terms with something they have done or endured. The first few chapters hooked me and when Natalie disappeared I couldn't stop reading.

Then all of a sudden the author advances the story by fifteen years and the main character, Colin, seems like a completely different person. He was a shy, awkward, and insecure teen. As an adult he’s successful, confident, a lady’s man, and oozes charms. How did that happen? Readers aren't shown the character’s development.

This book is a decent first novel. I wish many of the scenes about Colin’s job were cut from the final story. It could have been breezed over to make a point and then returned to the mystery. I think when the author trusts his storytelling abilities he’ll be able to pull in more readers. This is a solid start to his career, but I have a feeling he has more talent to tap into.