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The Layers
In a world that remembers past lives, he remembers her—how he loved her, how she killed him. Since the Unveiling, most everyone struggles with memories of past lives, and 19-year-old David Kiplinger struggles more than most, more than anyone. When TheLayers reveals his 68 lives, shattering the record set at five, he becomes the story of the century, an overnight celebrity, and the world looks to him for an answer to the burning question—what is the point of living? For David, the answer has always been her—the girl he knows will come, the one he will love unconditionally, the one who will kill him. When he’s teamed with Holly Stone to write his autobiography, he’s sure that he’s found her again, but rather than run, he relies on the signs he’s been given that this life will be different. And that’s when bad things begin to happen. With their lives suddenly in danger, they’re secreted away to a North Carolina mountain retreat where they tumble even further into a tangled web of passion and apprehension, love and suspicion. If they’re to have a future, they must first unravel the mystery of their past and determine once and for all if Holly is the love of his lives, his angel of death. Much to the couple's dismay, the fates hold true to their trickster form when all revelations come to pass on international television, setting the world on a countdown to David’s twentieth birthday—a birthday he may not live to see.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2013
4 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Candace Austin
3 books4 followersThe Layers is Candace Austin's debut novel and the first in the Layers series. Her fast-paced, suspenseful novels use magical realism to explore love, life, and the humorous and heart-wrenching oddities in both.
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Candace has resided in Raleigh, North Carolina since 1986 (which practically makes her a native) with her husband of twenty years, two kids (one heading for college, the other ... kindergarten), a hefty Golden Retriever, and a Maine Coon Cat that comes and goes as he dang well pleases.
When not writing, she enjoys NC State football games (particularly the tailgating), and traveling to Maine to spend time with her parents and family on the farm.
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Candace has resided in Raleigh, North Carolina since 1986 (which practically makes her a native) with her husband of twenty years, two kids (one heading for college, the other ... kindergarten), a hefty Golden Retriever, and a Maine Coon Cat that comes and goes as he dang well pleases.
When not writing, she enjoys NC State football games (particularly the tailgating), and traveling to Maine to spend time with her parents and family on the farm.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 27, 2020
A little romance, a little mystery, a little reincarnation - just not enough of each. The idea for this book was so promising. It could have been epic, but was just poorly executed.
July 25, 2013
Loved this book! The characters were so real to me, very likable. The sarcasm and humor had me laughing, and the magical realism was so interesting. This book stayed with me for a long time. I thought about the possibility of living multiple lives and all of the complications that could arise. The romance between David and Holly was so endearing and inspiring – it's what we all aspire to – a love that lasts a lifetime … or 68. I actually miss the characters. I think about them. I wonder how they're doing. Might seem crazy – but for me, that's the sign of a really good book! This is a MUST READ! I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a bit of romance, mystery, and humor. I look forward to the sequel … and the movie!
July 17, 2013
I finished this book within 2 days of download! I thought it was very entertaining and I really enjoyed the unique concept of people remembering their past lives and logging on to a social media site to remember further. Sort of an Ancestry.com meets Facebook. :) Not only was it entertaining, but it also provides the reader with some thought provoking subjects such as religion, family, love, etc... I encourage everyone to take the time to read "The Layers" as I'm positive you will not be disappointed. I look forward to Candace's next novel.
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August 7, 2013 This book is an amazing read! I loved the characters, especially
Grandma Jo. She had me laughing every time she opened her mouth ...which happily, she did quite often! The twists and turns this mystery took kept me engaged on every page. So many deeper topics to think about and discuss in this book! What a unique premise for the story! I was very sad when I came to the end and wanted more! The sign of a great story! I'll be looking forward to her sequel! Are there any other books she has written?
Grandma Jo. She had me laughing every time she opened her mouth ...which happily, she did quite often! The twists and turns this mystery took kept me engaged on every page. So many deeper topics to think about and discuss in this book! What a unique premise for the story! I was very sad when I came to the end and wanted more! The sign of a great story! I'll be looking forward to her sequel! Are there any other books she has written?
August 13, 2015
This book was fantastic and unexpected.....unexpected because the story line was SO good I was worried that it would fail somewhere. But it did NOT...it kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't wait to see how it ended. It took a second to get into but honestly, every favorite book of mine takes a bit to get into. A MUST read on every list....I can't wait for the next one.....
October 10, 2013
Sooooo boring and predictable!
October 24, 2013
The Layers is one of the best books I've read in a long while. Funny & bittersweet, it hooked me from the first page.
November 23, 2013
I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!
Court: The Layers was another very wonderful surprise for me, as it is a debut indie author who is braving the waters of contacting bloggers to read and review her book...and for that simply, she is a rockstar. I can't even imagine, so first thank you Candace for finding us and asking us and sharing your words. Then, well...the book is pretty dang great. I really liked it. But...while I was intrigued by the blurb...I was pretty apprehensive about this seemingly paranormal aspect with past lives and death and doom. So, Shel...what did you think! Shel: I enjoyed it as well; it was a nice change of pace from what I had been reading.
Court: David remembers his past lives...and we get to see tidbits of his past experiences, and there is always one constant...a girl...and she always seems to inadvertently cause his death. Seems crazy right? Well...come back to the present and he becomes an overnight celebrity because he has lived more than anyone...ever. I thought the parts of the novel were very well set up to give us background, but also keep the story moving forward. I like David a lot, and I definitely enjoyed his thoughts...and am completely on board with the entire story being in his POV after the first chapter (until the epilogue :P)
Shel: David was an endearing character. He's honest and good hearted and thoughtful in the way he approaches his new celebrity. He definitely does not take himself too seriously but at the same time seems to understand the importance of not thinking before he speaks, at least publicly.
Court: Holly is the girl we meet at the beginning of our story when she meets a very drunk David. He thinks she might just be the girl that has followed his soul through the universe...and plans to run away. Their chance meeting sets in motion the events that lead to his being stalked by the paparazzi and writing a biography. She is his ghost writer, but he also wants to get to know her better. It completely fit the story, but I would have liked to have been a little bit more connected to the two of them and their love story. I needed more of that!
Shel: We got a teeny tiny taste of where her head was in the prologue but then everything else we must infer from conversations with David...which made me curious. She seemed very level headed and calm..but also a little removed from it all. I, too, would've liked to feel more chemistry or something between them. All in all, though, it was a sweet love story.
Court: I was a little bit worried towards the end that this story might end in a cliffhanger. Well...it doesn't...so rest assured you get a conclusion to the ever elusive question "Does she kill him again?" The latter half of the story has a lot more spiritual undertones than romance, with some pretty deep stuff. The story was a very original idea, for sure, and even with all of the serious moments there are a lot of funny quips and humor to go along with it. Poor David has more close calls than any person could want between getting run over, shot at, and being allergic to bananas! Shel: Agreed...it got intense at the end and I wasn't sure who to trust but luckily my questions were answered without a cliffhanger!
Court: This is a fun debut, and really a perfect New Adult novel with a great plot, and fun characters (Grandma Jolene..I'm looking at you!) Check it out if you're looking for something different...this fits the bill! (Aka no tattoos, no explicit sex, and no virgins...)
Shel: HAHAA...right!
Courtney: 4 Stars
Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars
Court: The Layers was another very wonderful surprise for me, as it is a debut indie author who is braving the waters of contacting bloggers to read and review her book...and for that simply, she is a rockstar. I can't even imagine, so first thank you Candace for finding us and asking us and sharing your words. Then, well...the book is pretty dang great. I really liked it. But...while I was intrigued by the blurb...I was pretty apprehensive about this seemingly paranormal aspect with past lives and death and doom. So, Shel...what did you think! Shel: I enjoyed it as well; it was a nice change of pace from what I had been reading.
Court: David remembers his past lives...and we get to see tidbits of his past experiences, and there is always one constant...a girl...and she always seems to inadvertently cause his death. Seems crazy right? Well...come back to the present and he becomes an overnight celebrity because he has lived more than anyone...ever. I thought the parts of the novel were very well set up to give us background, but also keep the story moving forward. I like David a lot, and I definitely enjoyed his thoughts...and am completely on board with the entire story being in his POV after the first chapter (until the epilogue :P)
Shel: David was an endearing character. He's honest and good hearted and thoughtful in the way he approaches his new celebrity. He definitely does not take himself too seriously but at the same time seems to understand the importance of not thinking before he speaks, at least publicly.
Court: Holly is the girl we meet at the beginning of our story when she meets a very drunk David. He thinks she might just be the girl that has followed his soul through the universe...and plans to run away. Their chance meeting sets in motion the events that lead to his being stalked by the paparazzi and writing a biography. She is his ghost writer, but he also wants to get to know her better. It completely fit the story, but I would have liked to have been a little bit more connected to the two of them and their love story. I needed more of that!
Shel: We got a teeny tiny taste of where her head was in the prologue but then everything else we must infer from conversations with David...which made me curious. She seemed very level headed and calm..but also a little removed from it all. I, too, would've liked to feel more chemistry or something between them. All in all, though, it was a sweet love story.
Court: I was a little bit worried towards the end that this story might end in a cliffhanger. Well...it doesn't...so rest assured you get a conclusion to the ever elusive question "Does she kill him again?" The latter half of the story has a lot more spiritual undertones than romance, with some pretty deep stuff. The story was a very original idea, for sure, and even with all of the serious moments there are a lot of funny quips and humor to go along with it. Poor David has more close calls than any person could want between getting run over, shot at, and being allergic to bananas! Shel: Agreed...it got intense at the end and I wasn't sure who to trust but luckily my questions were answered without a cliffhanger!
Court: This is a fun debut, and really a perfect New Adult novel with a great plot, and fun characters (Grandma Jolene..I'm looking at you!) Check it out if you're looking for something different...this fits the bill! (Aka no tattoos, no explicit sex, and no virgins...)
Shel: HAHAA...right!
Courtney: 4 Stars
Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars
October 17, 2014
really REALLY liked this book! If you are interested at all in reincarnation then you will LOVE this book. Imagine this...a network like Ancestory.com BUT called The Layers where you can get on and put in your past lives or things that you remember and WHAM you are connected to the people from your past life (lives if you're lucky) and you find out who you were. BUT the catch is those lives link to you in this life....the good and the bad, you even have to make them known on job applications! NOW, our lead man David, he has 68 past lives....and all have ended by the hand of a woman that he loves. Finally in this life he finds her....will it end early or will he survive his 'curse'. I was so drawn into the story of David and then Holly when she makes her entrance that I read this book like a mad woman. Quiet a few parts had me laughing, a couple pulled at the heart strings....but it only made me enjoy the book that much more....Austin knew what she was doing when she sat down to write this book....BRAVO!! (whistle)
August 6, 2013
The Layers is such a great read! I read through this faster than most books because it was difficult to put down and I've continued to recommend it to all my family, friends and book club members.
The concept is that in the future there is a mass societal "unveiling", where people start to remember past lives that they have lived. The main character, David, has lived more lives than any one else, which gains him instant fame.
The Layers raises questions about love, religion, the family unit, fame, relationships, knowledge vs wisdom, good vs bad, etc. There is mystery and a love story, too.
It may be a fun and quick read, but after you finish you'll continue to think about the issues it raises. It's a great book to discuss with a book club!
If you enjoyed reading Hunger Games, you will LOVE this book!
I cannot wait for the rest of the series and I would love to see this make the big screen!
The concept is that in the future there is a mass societal "unveiling", where people start to remember past lives that they have lived. The main character, David, has lived more lives than any one else, which gains him instant fame.
The Layers raises questions about love, religion, the family unit, fame, relationships, knowledge vs wisdom, good vs bad, etc. There is mystery and a love story, too.
It may be a fun and quick read, but after you finish you'll continue to think about the issues it raises. It's a great book to discuss with a book club!
If you enjoyed reading Hunger Games, you will LOVE this book!
I cannot wait for the rest of the series and I would love to see this make the big screen!
August 5, 2016
If you get this book, you won't need to leaf through many pages to get hooked. This book is so skillfully written that you won't believe this is her very first. She treats the "reincarnation" subject in such a way that isn't preachy or boring. The Layers honor the title since it has many layers. It makes you wonder not only about past lives, but also about more known yet relevant topics like love, family bonds and religion.
I had nothing to put a finger on this novel: Compelling characters, wonderful setting and fine-tuned descriptions.
If you get this book, you'll find it hard to put aside until you finish. Guaranteed!
Belangela G. Tarazona, author ofThe Child of Dawn
I had nothing to put a finger on this novel: Compelling characters, wonderful setting and fine-tuned descriptions.
If you get this book, you'll find it hard to put aside until you finish. Guaranteed!
Belangela G. Tarazona, author ofThe Child of Dawn
January 9, 2014
I loved this book! It was thought provoking and inspires you to think about human emotions and what makes people tick, while remaining light hearted and very entertaining. It is a very original story concept and makes you think "what if?" The characters were all very consistent and stayed true to themselves the entire time. I am not sure if this book had an editor because one isn't listed in the credits, but if not the author did an excellent job editing it herself, because I saw very very few errors. Also, I enjoyed how not everything is explained implicitly, that's what makes it so thought provoking, leaving it up to reader interpretation. All in all, this is an excellent book and I cannot wait to see more from this author.
July 17, 2013
What would you think about if you knew you had past lives and could remember them, all of them? In her debut novel, Candace Austin provides a thought-provoking yet humorous exploration of past lives, reincarnation, love and romance, religion, and the resulting social interactions while giving the reader a book for all ages. Her easy writing style makes The Layers a fun read while making the reader think about how "you can't know whether you want to know until you already do." This is THE book to read this summer! And next winter. And in the spring! Note to the author: where's the sequel?
October 2, 2018
I have a weakness for reincarnation themes, particularly those which end up giving you glimpses of different lives in different times. I adore books like Ferney and it's sequel. There are surprisingly few good books in this genre. This is one of them.
When I chance upon a book that I love, it's like finding money. This author delivers a compelling story, unpredictable characters, a great sense of timing and snarky humor. She is an author I will follow.
There is only one flaw: it needs a sequel. I need the sequel. Please don't leave us hanging.
When I chance upon a book that I love, it's like finding money. This author delivers a compelling story, unpredictable characters, a great sense of timing and snarky humor. She is an author I will follow.
There is only one flaw: it needs a sequel. I need the sequel. Please don't leave us hanging.
December 30, 2013
This book was highly engaging and had me wondering what would happen next all throughout. Candace Austin created a a wonderful fictional story with like-able characters based upon past life remembrance. The book contains mysterious elements, humor, and creativity that brings many concepts in modern life and belief in reincarnation together. This was a fun read I did not want to put down. I can't wait for the next book in The Layers series!
November 12, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, and the not so subtle references to NC and the company I work for along with the author's husband. I will tell you this I couldn't tell where it was going to go which was nice. We all have layers but I don't think any of us will go through anything like these characters do. I want more!
December 26, 2014
there are some really cool ideas in the world created here - the ideas of remembering past lives effect on mental health, marital strength, and influence on employment - but towards the end it just became another formulaic mystery novel. it was fun and gave me lots to think about, but in the end it was predictable and that made me a little sad.
January 10, 2015
This book inspires one to look in the mirror and only see him/herself but to see all the others we should walk in their shoes. Be compassionate, empathic, and understanding - you never know what the person standing next you is going through.
August 31, 2015
Captivating book and quite original. An excellent read. The author can weave a story well without too many extraneous details or bunny trails. You can almost see a movie unfolding while reading this book.
August 1, 2013
It kept me up reading until the early morning hours! Intriguing story line. Interesting characters. Dynamic dialogue. I am already looking forward to the next one!
March 30, 2015
Never read anything like this!
What an interesting topic and very well written. Loved the suspense aspect. Very entertaining and thought provoking. Highly recommend it.
What an interesting topic and very well written. Loved the suspense aspect. Very entertaining and thought provoking. Highly recommend it.
August 3, 2016
Go read. Just...go read.
Thanks to this book, I've had a book hangover for about a week now. Looking forward to more work from Candace Austin.
Thanks to this book, I've had a book hangover for about a week now. Looking forward to more work from Candace Austin.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews