Bruised

Bruised #1

by Justin Holley

Jason Hylden thinks life is perfect, but at age eighteen things are about to change.

First he falls for Jewel, a pretty redhead with arms marred by mysterious bruises. Then the gang of friends he runs with begins to experiment with witchcraft, blood oaths and revenge.

Soon, Jewel is the only good thing standing between Jason and the gang, but when he finds out she’s one of his mother’s mental health clients, he worries doctor-patient confidentiality will forever mask the truth behind Jewel’s bruises. Is someone out to destroy her, or is she destroying herself? In the end, the truth behind her secrets is beyond his worst imaginings and, as their two worlds draw closer to collision, all hell—quite literally—is about to break loose.

326 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2015

About the author

Justin is the author of the novels HELLWEG'S KEEP, TETHERED TO DARKNESS, the 3-book Blood From the Stars serial novel (THE FALL, THE CAPTURE, & THE END GAME), SEVEN CLEOPATRA HILL, BRUISED, WEDNESDAY'S CHILD, and THE GULLIES, as well as, several short stories haunting magazines and anthologies around the world. BRUISED was mentioned in Brian Keene's "Top Ten Books of 2015". He also investigates the paranormal with a TAPS-family group and plays volleyball twice a week. Correspondence from his fans is encouraged, and the best way to contact him is through his website: www.justinholley.com

Reviews

[Jeremy Megargee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young puppy love, brutality and bullying, misfit souls looking for connection, Holley's "Bruised" is a dark coming of age novel that leaves a mark on the reader. Jewel is a complex character that you can't help but be captivated by, and there are twists and turns in every chapter that make the story wonderfully unpredictable. Dive into this one...it'll make your brain tingle.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy Fun Read

I picked up the book and couldn't put it down. Growing up in a small town, Holley's prose transported me back to a simpler time when neighborhood bullies, first love and spring winds dominated the life of a hormone riddled adolescent.

Holley's characters are strong and relatable. Parental interaction feels real and almost made my palms sweat in anticipation of what happens when rules are broken.

The splash of paranormal and gore amidst creepy yet seemingly mundane settings make the novel cringe worthy throughout the storyline.

In all, it certainly kept me interested in Jason and his Jewel. Looking forward to book 2!

[Kathi Faith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really love this genre and wanted to love this book. I don't find it believable. 18 yr olds have never been so naive about sex. Really? They are in a gang but still rely that much on what mommy and daddy think and say? The characters are poorly developed. The teens are not likeable and not because they are teenagers! There are some editing issues as well. I think the author has some interesting plot ideas that I would love to see developed. It might be better to start from scratch.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.