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Bleed The Water Red

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When Kate Tennison returns to the low country of South Carolina it’s with her tail tucked between her legs. She doesn’t want to be there and face the love of her life, who’s now married with a child. Distance has not broken the spell of fear that surrounds why she ran from her home in the first place.

Her story is a tragic one.

Mom in rehab.

Father dead.

Career annihilated.

When we run from something looking back over our shoulder, we miss the scars on the arms that now hold us.

Can the magic of the water heal her wounded heart or does something dangerous lurk underneath the perfect features of the new man she’s decided to take a chance on?

Unknown Binding

Published March 23, 2017

6 people are currently reading
48 people want to read

About the author

R.L. Griffin

14 books470 followers
R.L. lives in the Atlanta area with her husband, son, and two dogs. After going to law school at American University, Washington College of Law, she settled back in the state in which she grew up but only after she fell in love with D.C. She worked in the Senate during the impeachment trial and the Department of Justice.

She loves reading all sorts of books and rarely has free time.

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Donna ~ The Romance Cover.
2,907 reviews323 followers
March 23, 2017
Bleed the Water Red by RL Griffin
4.5 stars!!!

“Sometimes a victory is simply surviving.”


It takes a lot for an author to knock me for six, but RL Griffin did just that. This was a book that was quick in its birth and quick in its writing. This book demanded to be written and its characters demanded to be heard. This was a book that commanded my attention and this was a book that I couldn’t put down. This is also a book that I cannot review properly, EVERYTHING is a spoiler, so this is going to be a rant about how manipulative RL Griffin’s mind is, how she had no qualms in toying with my emotions. How even when she didn’t mean to, she made me cry…again. But this is RL Griffin at her devious, scheming best, where intrigue is rife, where suspense is guaranteed and where sucker punches are par for the course. RL Griffin is one sneaky, sneaky author. The anti-hero in this book will remain nameless, he doesn’t deserve acknowledgement but you will want to know him, you will want to kill him and most importantly, you will hate him…a lot. But this story makes for some fantastic reading, jaw dropping, page turning, I cannot read this book quick enough reading.

“Sometimes the end of something is the beginning of everything.”


Kate Tennison was a woman you just wanted to hug, she was broken, adorable, had more baggage than a Boeing 747, yet had a heart of gold, she had the patience of a saint and saw the best in everyone, even if they didn’t deserve it. Most of all though, Kate just wanted to love and be loved. Kate wanted the happy ever after, she wanted the white picket fence, but all she ever got was a broken heart. The man she has always loved…left her, but the love she has for him remains.

“It occurs to me that desperation has a scent, I’ve smelled it before on girls and I inhale deeply to see if it permeates my skin. I wonder if you can smell it on yourself.”


With her career in tatters, returning to the family home is a nightmare, one that she cannot wake up from. A house that haunts and taunts her. With her mother perpetually in rehab and her father dead, Kate is alone. The man that she has always loved still holds the purse strings and now having to deal with him face to face rubs salt into already raw wounds. Now married and with a child he is definitely off limits, the only way to get over him is to get under someone else.

“You saw all my scars, my bruises and you used them against me.”


Some people are the masters of disguise, master manipulators, unscrupulous, certifiable a chameleon of emotions and a forever changing façade. Sometimes what you see is definitely what you don’t get. Some people are too intelligent for their own good, too rich and way too attractive, but it is these weapons that are their enablers, their sticky net to draw in the vulnerable, the web to the spider that they are. They are the predators, the nefarious arseholes that always seem to get what they want and RL Griffin always pens a good one.

“There are moments in your life that you feel are not your own, where your actions you watch from above and that is what happens here, because I cannot believe this guy. I’ve never had such an intense connection with anyone so quick. I don’t trust it. Rationally, I know this is not smart.”


I want to say so much about this book, but I can’t…the temptation is REAL!! The first few chapters I was soaking up the background, the beginning, becoming one with the character and the feel of the story and then BAM!! After that one chapter I was like…WTF, I had to re-read, check for the error of my ways, back track and then let the realisation dawn…this was old school Griffin, this was all about the mind fuck and mind fuck she did.

“Life is full of endings and beginnings, this is both.”


RL Griffin was cunning and calculating with this one, she became one with “him,” she brought him to life and paraded him around toying with your emotions and that of our decent, honest Kate. This was a cluster fuck of epic proportions, this had my heart running a mile minute. This was a book where dread followed me with every page, this was a book where RL Griffin manipulated me with ease. This was a book where I wanted to bash the author, but when all was said and done wanted to pat her on the back. I got the result I wanted, even if I went through the mill to get there. I wanted to Bleed the Water Red around chapter seven. If I could climb into a book and give out warnings I would have, step the fuck away, but alas, I had to read and read I did. I loved this book, yes it should come with a health warning, but this was the RL Griffin I love, the sick and twisted version. Bring it on and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

www.theromancecover.com
Profile Image for Grace.
2,315 reviews114 followers
March 14, 2017
This is the story of a woman looking to start a new life.
She's suffered from the loss of a father and the heartbreak from a first love.
And she looks for that second chance in the place where all the pain began.

By the prologue, the reader is aware that this story may not have a happy ending. Not everything as perfect as it may seem. For me personally, everything we learn in that prologue didn't sink in at first. However, about mid-way through the story, I went back and reread it, and that really opening my eyes to the threats building.

Sebastian Pryor Jr. "Bash" is almost too good to be true. He's sweet and sexy, and highly complementary, saying all the right things. But at times, he's actions bordered on starkerish, and that sent off some warning alarms. Then there were other clues along the way. I won't point them out, but they all have to do with others opinions on Bash. The signs are all there. It is just up to the reader, and our heroine, Kate "Layla" Tennison, to put the pieces together.

The build in the story is slow.
Layla struggles at first with her return to the place that caused so many bad memories. However, there are pockets of happiness.
Buying a new home.
Finding Blue, her sweet pitbull.
Meeting Bash.
And her time with her BBF, Poppy.

Poppy and her loony husband, Austin add some humor to the story. I loved their dialogue and flirty bickering. On the flip side, Harrison Gentry, Layla's ex, adds some heavy moments to the plot, particularly with regards to his daughter, Grace. (BTW, I totally pretended the author named her after me, LOL).

The last 25% or so of the book is where the pieces come together for Layla, as her happy bubble is due to burst. I was surprised by how things played out, but I liked where the author took the story.

Ultimately, sometimes your first is worth a second chance.

*An ARC was received for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Courtney.
1,982 reviews210 followers
March 23, 2017
3.5 Stars

First off, let me tell you that I enjoy reading R.L.'s stories. Her book, Quiet Lies is one of my favorite books and my favorite by her. And I was so hoping that this book would rank right up there with it. But somewhere along the lines, things fell short for me.

Bleed The Water Red is not a bad book by any means. I know a lot will enjoy this book more than I. And I do hate that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. But let me explain myself.

The plot line was amazing. I love how we were given small snippets throughout the story and were able to piece together our own thoughts. What I didn't like was how things felt disjointed at times. It's hard to explain without giving away parts of the story, but things are left out it seems or overlooked. It makes the writing come across as scattered. And that's what hurt the story and pace for me. I felt all over the place at times. And I do understand that part of a psychological thriller is to have pieces left out, but in this particular scenario, the pieces were obvious but at the same killed the vibe for me. I knew what would happen in the end because of this. And for me, that really sucked.

Like I said, this book is good. I love R.L. and her writing. However, her writing in this book was not what I have to come expect from her. I know that this story came to her fast and I get that you just need to get it out. However, as a beta reader, proofreader and editor, there are a lot of things that I personally would have changed/edited. I am in no way knocking any of the proofreaders or editors on this, there is nothing wrong in that aspect. But for me, certain things were not working and made it plainly obvious what the outcome was going to be.

The characters are very well written. I love their backgrounds and where they are from. The amazing friendship between Layla, Poppy and Austin is awesome - I love these three so much. I enjoyed learning about Layla's past with Gent and how all that comes together in the end. This part of the story was beautiful and heart-wrenching to watch unfold. Layla has some growing struggles to deal with it and does come in to her own eventually. It's a really good story with different avenues that all come together in the end.

With that being said, please give the book a chance. It's a great story line. I loved how this is tied to Quiet Lies. If you have read it before, you will like the tie-in. If you haven't, it won't hurt the story at all. I gave this book 3.5 stars because my only gripe was the disjointedness that I felt and how I was able to figure the ending immediately but the overall story line was what kept me moving forward and not stopping.

Will I continue to read R.L.'s books - hell yes! She's writes amazing stories. This one just want for me and that sometimes happens. But it won't stop me from reading any of her books.
Profile Image for Tammy.
136 reviews6 followers
April 5, 2017
4.5 Stars. This was my first R. L. Griffin book. I found I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for GA Bookaholics.
271 reviews22 followers
March 23, 2017
For the full review, please go to:
http://gabookaholics.blogspot.com/201...

Once again, there's another can't-freaking-stop page turner and 5 star read from Mrs. Griffin!

I was lucky enough to be picked to receive an ARC of Bleed the Water Red in exchange for an honest review. I am ever so happy to oblige!

Oh, RL Griffin. You've done it to me again. Talk about a book hangover. I read from 55% until the very bitter/sweet end all in one sitting. The first half of the book I think I actually read in maybe all of two sittings. All this to say, Bleed the Water Red kept me... enthralled. I was completely bought into this book based on the cover and prologue alone. I remember when the author posted the cover reveal of this book and I remember my immediate thought was it was "hauntingly beautiful." After reading this book, I cannot think of a more perfect cover to go along with the content of the book itself. My initial reaction to the cover perfectly correlates with the feelings I had while reading this book. I was on the edge of my figurative seat throughout every single chapter.

I kept waiting for it. I waited and waited for the epic turn I knew the story was going to take. All the while, falling more and more in love with Kate as the story progressed.

DISCLAIMER--

STOP HERE if you are the type of person who hates ANY HINT of SPOILERS. I don't think I give much more away than the book description and what you could surmise from the prologue, but if you're squeamish- don't continue! Just trust my recommendation that you need to read this book!!

Anyway...

Have you met Kate? If not, she is amazing. She is in fact a "goddess, a glorious female warrior!" Kate has had to deal with more than most should in her short lifetime. She tragically lost her father after a childhood and adolescence of learning that he may not have been the best role model for her life. Her mother has all but given up and has completely checked out on her. Her first love destroyed her and left her feeling alone, vulnerable, and betrayed. Not to mention, she's had one failed career and had to move home into a house that reminds her more often that not about bad times rather than the good ones. Her biggest positive in her life right now is her friendships. Who wouldn't want to have a Poppy and Austin as your best friends?! They seem like people I would want to have in my tribe. She's also got enough money from the shady dealings of her father that she can use as she wishes (within reason, under the watchful eye of her lawyer/ex, Gent). She has a home with 20 acres outside of Charleston and then totally restores what sounds to be an amazing, picturesque place right on top of the waves at Edisto.

**Sidenote-- if you have never been to the Charleston, SC area and the subsequent beautiful little beach towns close by, you MUST go. It's breathtaking and such a beautiful part of our southern culture.

Through all of the trials and tribulations Kate has faced though, she perseveres. She is a fighter, a warrior, through and through. She is selfless and selfish, but in the best way. She wants to help and take care of others, but she also desperately wants someone to take care of her. She will try to avoid the fall, she will try to prevent hitting the ground when she's dropped, but you can be sure she will pull herself up time and time again. If anyone deserves happiness, it's Kate. Below is one of my favorite quotes when describing Kate's warrior spirit:

"Life is a constant fight, a fight to the death. It's a gut punch followed by a roundhouse kick over and over. We all stand in the ring with black eyes, broken teeth and blood pouring out of rips and tears in our flesh."- RL Griffin

That's probably enough gushing about my love affair with Kate. The last thing I'll add is that I really appreciate a strong female character. RL Griffin never lets me down in this. The end of this book, though tragic, truly shows how much of a warrior Kate really is.

Let's change topics and talk about Bash. Bash seems to have it all as well. His whole life is... well put together. That is the best way I can think to describe him. Bash has a put together persona of someone who is charming, beautiful, kind, but also unremarkable and doesn't do or say anything out of the ordinary that may make him stand out. In many ways, especially at the beginning, it seems that he tries to make himself seem ordinary like a regular Joe. I think this is so he can fly under the radar unsuspected and not draw any undue attention to himself. He is mysterious and dark, but seemingly romantic and dedicated. Throughout this book, I warred with myself at times on knowing that it wasn't going to end well, but wanting to take the love and compassion he gave to Layla at face value.

Please take note of my reference to Layla. Layla and Kate are the same person in the literal sense, but also completely different people in personality. Ella Rae is more the true Kate to me, and Layla is the persona she puts on to most people, including Bash.

Anyway, I'm not going to talk much about Bash because honestly... I don't like him. Read the book. Let me know your thoughts ;) I will say, throughout most of the book the **stalker alert** button kept going off in my head.

In good news, there was another male character that I had great hopes for-- Gent. He was also mysterious throughout the book, but in a bit of a different way. Kate can't seem to get over Gent. He was the great first love of her life, as well as the major heart break of her soul. She's never really been able to recover and move on and throughout this book, Gent showed me his feelings weren't altogether different than Kate's. The initial attraction between Layla and Bash is that they could share in their history of tragedy. As Bleed the Water Red goes on, it's obvious that Gent is also able to relate in that way.

Let's not forget the true hero of this book though... BLUE! Oh my lanta- I fell in love with this dog!! I want him! I actually have my own version of Blue. I love how fiercely protective he is, how loyal, but also how loving. Blue sounds like the perfect dog and I love a pit mix. They usually have the most love to give if love is given to them in return. I especially love that RL always seems to have such an awesome four-legged fur child in her stories <3

I don't want to go into too much detail about the book overall because I don't want to completely spoil it for you so I'm going to wrap it up here. However, can we PLEASE talk about the easter egg of names at the end of this book?! Millie and Billy, oh my! :) Thank you for the reminder of our loved ones in BaT, Mrs. Griffin. Please note you may have inspired a re-read of that series due to this little nugget! I kept wanting to be wrong, I kept wanting Bash to turn out to be George, but I was so sorely mistaken. If you haven't read By A Thread, I suggest you check it out right AFTER you read the awesomeness that is Bleed the Water Red!
Profile Image for Ria.
541 reviews42 followers
March 23, 2017
Full Review to Follow@...http://www.abookishescape.com/2017/03...

The End, this is the part that made my eyeballs hurt. The pain stems from all of the balling and bulging and fainting my eyes did. Talk about a work out. The end doesn’t have rainbow farting unicorns popping out of the pages so don’t expect that. There is a lot of resonating pain that may never fully go away. What you can expect is justice with a dash of injustice but isn’t that how life works. We want everything to be perfect but no matter how hard we try or want there will always be pain and loss. I am very happy and dare I say relived at the way things ended. I look forward to seeing what is next from Griffin!
 
My Rating
5.0 Funeral, Pita, Rental, Loony Lux, Execution, Octopus, Blue, Mom Dress, Red Heels, Short Shorts, Kayak, Graduation, Love Lost, Love Found, Little Grace, Grace Period, Parking Garage, Randall, Glass Windows Were a Good Choice, Sun Rise, Sun Set, Waves Crashing LOVE FILLED STARS!!
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,180 reviews7 followers
March 23, 2017
4.5 Stars

Where do I start, how do I start?! I want to say everything about this book but can't, I won't spoil anything, but my mind is blown! Without a doubt R.L. Griffin is one of my all time favorites, I love her words and what she can do with a story. For me she is the queen of 'be careful what you wish for' and she always keeps me on my toes. Bleed the Water Red is no exception to that, this story is powerful, it's emotional and it is twisted!

Kate is a broken woman, she's returning to her hometown even though it's the last place she wants to be. At least she has her best friend Poppy and the water. She wants love, she wants to be happy but she's all to familiar with pain, pain seems to follow her no matter where she is. There's old love and new love in store for her, but not everyone is she thinks they are.
There is so much I want to say about this story, to break down all the moments and the characters but I can't do that! There's a slow build to the beginning of this story, really getting to know these characters and then the twists start coming and I couldn't put it down! There is a brutal honesty to this story, a rawness you can feel. Life certainly doesn't always go the way you planned it and even when it seems like it is lies can tear it to shreds.

I love what R.L. Griffin did with this story! She took me on a twisted, mind-fuck ride and it was brilliant! These characters are complex and phenomenal, even the ones you want to kill. Bleed the Water Red kept me guessing, R.L. Griffin shocked me to my core a few times, making me question my own sanity. This book must be experienced - lies, pain, honesty, lost love, found love and hope. Another amazing book from R.L. Griffin!
Profile Image for Terra Drynan-Werder.
1,070 reviews
March 23, 2017
I am a huge fan of R.L. Griffin and have read every book she has ever written. I'm never quite sure what I am getting into but I know it won't disappoint and Bleed The Water Red was no different. I think every person who reads this book will relate to one or all of the characters in some way and I related to Kate (Layla) she's strong, yet doubts herself, she's a warrior, yet feels weak. Poppy her bestfriend is the best friend everyone wishes they had and is always in Kate's corner. I though early on I had the book figured out and was excited that R.L didn't fool me this time, as usual I had no idea the journey she was taking us on. The writing is wonderful and emotional and sucked me in from the start, as with many R. L. books there was a point where I wanted to throw my kindle and cuss her out, but I just kept reading and all ended up being ok. If you like emotional, page turner books where the author keeps you guessing then Bleed The Water Red is the book for you.

The author/publisher provided me an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Candace.
18 reviews
March 24, 2017
So much to love about this book! R.L. Griffin delivers once again with complex characters and storyline. She weaves a tale of an old love and a new love, then delivers her twist. Not just one twist with the love story, but twists in the plot that leaves you shaking your head. This is something that Griffin always does, which makes me continue to buy her books.
341 reviews7 followers
April 1, 2017
This was the first book I have read by R L Griffin and I loved it! The story kept you captivated and needing to read and read. There was lots going on and after I was a bit confused at the beginning but it all made sense as it went on.
Profile Image for Helen Simpson.
1,222 reviews40 followers
March 24, 2017
WOW THIS BOOK IS SUCH AN AMAZING AN INTENSE READ. A BRILLIANT READ FROM BEGINNING TO END. A FIRST FOR ME BY THIS AUTHOR AND WILL NOT BE MY LAST. RL GRIFFIN WRITES VERY CLEVERLY WITH SUCH SKILL AND MANIPULATION LEAVING YOU HEAD-SPUN AND WONDERING WHERE THINGS CAME FROM. WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO OTHERS.
Profile Image for Pamela .
1,439 reviews77 followers
July 11, 2017
A total disappointment. Talk about one long and boring novel. It wasn't until the last few chapters that it became interesting.
Profile Image for Heather.
1,141 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2017
Wow! R.L Griffin did it again. This authors mind works in mysterious ways. She definitely keeps me on my toes wondering what's going to happen next. This story has Kate coming back to her hometown after deciding that her teaching job wasn't for her. She has a lot of bad memories in this town. Her first love who is now married with a child, a mom who lives in a mental facility, and a past as a criminals daughter. However, her best friends Austin and Poppy also love there. Kate has had a rough life and is delighted to find a man who understands what it's like to be her because he too has had a rough life. Her relationship with Bash Pryor starts out great. He appears to be a great guy who wants to treat her like she deserves to be treated. But not everyone is who they appear to be. Kate will go through a lot more he'll before she gets her happily ever after. I devoured this book! R.L. Griffin has a way with writing that grips your interest and doesn't let go until the very last page.
49 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2017
HOLY CRAP. I cannot say how much this book kept me turning the pages.
This is most definitely a psychological thriller and mind screw. The main character, Layla, is as broken as they come. Life has beaten her up and thrown her under the bus afterwards. She comes from a screwed up childhood and never really believes in herself. She has lifelong friends in Austin and Poppy, who are there through the thick and thin. The banter she has with Poppy is easy to relate and hilarious. Poppy and Layla are the lifelong friendship everyone wants. Of course there is also the unrequited love of Gent, her now boss, as she leaves her life behind to return home and to work for him.
She meets the love of her life and it eases the sting for someone else to be just as broken and just as messed up. She has to figure out who she is and what she wants in life. He may just be the one.
AND who can forget Blue, her beautiful, lovable pit.
Profile Image for Michelle.
28 reviews10 followers
August 23, 2017
I honestly don’t even know where to begin to describe the complete genius of this book. My best advice would be to go in completely blind, and just enjoy the turmoil, emotional havoc and sheer thrill that I’ve come to anticipate when I pick up one of R.L. Griffin’s books.

This story was brilliantly orchestrated. It starts to suck you into its deep dark depths without you even realizing it from the first page. You connect with the characters, and the story starts to develop, while exploring and touching on the backstory, and then Boom, you’re thrown off that track completely, with a twist that will leave you with your jaw on the floor, and retracing your steps, just to ensure that what you read was in actual fact true, and not a complete figment of your imagination.
If you’ve read the previous works of R.L. Griffin, the impact of the twist, will have you grinning sadistically, and marveling at the utter brilliance of this talented author.

When Kate returns home having failed at nearly everything in her life, she returns to her empty childhood home. Haunted with so many memories of a happier life, with friends and family before her father was murdered, her mother committed to a rehabilitation center, her career flat on its face, and the man she loved, and still loves, married with a child, and completely out of bounds, but still tied to her life in every way possible, including financially. She has to decide how her story will continue. She could run and start over somewhere else, or she can stay close to her mom and fight for her do over, with the support of her friends. And that is exactly what Kate decides to do.

“Distraction serves many purposes.
Change makes you focus on something other than your fear.
Confronting your past makes you realize things you don’t want to.”

Included among her big life changes, she decides that she needs to move on from the yearning, longing and heartbreak that is Harrison Gentry. This does prove to be a little easier said than done, when the man is literally in her face all the time since her return to town. Having decided that a girls night out with her best friend Poppy might just do the trick to get her mind off all things Gent is just what she needs, because sometimes throwing your inhibitions into the wind and blowing off extra steam on a night out, can definitely help rejuvenate the mind.

What Kate doesn’t bank on, is meeting … HIM, and having one of the best one night stands of her life. He’s mysterious, he’s beautiful, he’s talented, he’s smart and successful. He is like a magnetic force field pulling her in. He understands her in a way no one ever has. His story is a tragic one, and even though Kate knows he may be dangerous, the thrill of it all can’t keep her away. She’s drawn to the broken parts of him, and more than anything wants what everyone around her seems to have. A happily ever after with someone who loves her unconditionally.

The sparks and energy between these two are undoubted, but as their relationship develops Kate gets sucked further and deeper into the abyss of his manipulative ways. The web of lies slip so easily off his tongue, and the cunning ruthlessness of his actions are so devious. But Kate is a smart woman. She’s not a spoiled little girl who takes crap lying down. She’s a fighter. A survivor. And, that’s one of the things I love about R.L. Griffin’s characters. She always delivers with strong, independent women, with minds of their own who can survive. Yes, things may blind them occasionally, but then, when you’re in a vulnerable position and at your lowest, don’t we all have a moment of weakness? How we handle the aftershocks are what define us, and that’s what makes this story brilliant. Game on.

“When something is so beautiful it can hide so many things...deceit, evil and intent.”

I thoughroughly enjoyed Bleed the water Red, and don’t want to say too much and risk giving away anything more. This is just one of those books that you need to just pick up and go in. It will not dissapoint with romance, suspense and masterful manipulation at its best.
Profile Image for Holly.
8 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2017
Wow, R.L. Griffin has done it again! This may be my favorite of her books so far. I loved the glimpses of characters past but it was not a sequel to any of her other books. This book has it all - heartbreak, new love, humor but mainly suspense that had me devouring this story. 4.5 stars!!
Profile Image for Emma Corcoran.
130 reviews13 followers
March 24, 2017
We've been waiting for a long time for a new book from RL Griffin and Bleed The Water Red does not disappoint!
Rich, dark, deep, suspenseful and full of twists. Bleed the Water Red is RL Griffin at her best!
This tale is loaded with foreboding. Dripping with that feeling throughout that something isn't quite as it should be, but as you devour each page you find yourself surrounded by the stunning surroundings of the island and drawn further and further into the messed up life of Kate Tennison.
Kate has come home to face her past in order to change her future... that change comes in the most unexpected of ways!
There will be no spoilers given away in this review!
I implore you to read Bleed The Water Red and experience it for yourself.
5+Stars!
Profile Image for Laura.
193 reviews
October 10, 2017
This story is about a Girl who had a good childhood but what she thought was good, wasn't. It turns out she was living a life full of lies. This made her closed off to people. She ends up coming home, meeting a guy (Bash) and ends up falling for him. He swept her off her feet but he's not who he pretends to be. Will it be too late for Kate Layla Tennison? Read this book and find out, you won't regret it.
PS. Two extra things I like about this book, if you enjoyed reading By a Thread, Milly and Billy are mentioned in this book, briefly mentioned but still.
The last thing that I loved more about this author was the dedication to her family. I've read many dedications to families but maybe this book just made me feel or something but I actually cried reading this dedication. Thank you for your words, all your words.
Profile Image for Kristina Snyder.
479 reviews227 followers
March 23, 2017
Bleed the Water Red is the first book I have read from R.L Griffin. I have been wanting to read her books for a while now so I was very excited to get my hands on this book. The title alone caught my attention. Then I saw the cover and read the synopsis and I was instantly intrigued. This book made me feel so many things. Some of the emotions that I felt were hate, love, anger, sadness and confusion. The plot was fantastic and the characters were well developed.

Kate's story was definitely a tragic one. This woman has suffered so much. With everything that happened to her mom and dad, then with the person she loved, I understand why she is the way she is. She has lost so much, and is now afraid to open up that love to someone else. Kate has been a shell and throughout this story, I saw her slowly open up and become the warrior that she always was. What bothered me a little about Kate was that she never followed her gut. She was supposed to be a very smart woman. People would tell her things and she kept getting bad feelings about a certain character. Even seen glimpses of a possible darker side to him. But, she ignored it. She wanted to be loved and cherished so bad that she just didn't care.

Gent and Bash confused me a little. These two men were mysteries to me. More so Gent. Like I said at the top, I knew who the villain was going to be, but for a minute I wondered if I was going to be tricked. I loved learning about Layla's past with Gent. I was trying to figure out what all went down with those two and why they were now apart. One reason was obvious, but I knew there were secrets to be revealed on that. I loved seeing it all finally come open. Gent was just a sweetheart in this book. The poor guy was going through the worst unimaginable thing a parent could ever go through. And basically living in a loveless marriage. But, he loved his daughter so much and I loved seeing that. Bash was just so perfect that he was too good to be true. Kate and Bash seem to have a lot in common, especially with their parents. He was always there for Kate, but some things he did were kind of stalkerish. Warning bells would go off, feelings would arise, but Kate would slide them under a rug.

I loved Poppy and Austin's relationship. Their marriage was hilarious. Those two never grew up! They acted like they were twelve and thirteen years old.. Even admitted to it! The banter between them was so funny! I could feel how much they love and adored each other. They only ever and each other and I thought that was so sweet. They were happy that Kate moved back. The three of them were always best friends. Always took care of each other. When the three of them were together, there was hilarious banter as well. Kate was constantly flipping Austin off. Loved their friendship!

The story build was very slow. We get that big moment at the end that the whole book leads to, but I wanted to see the moments in between too. There weren't any defining moments in between that wanted me to keep turning the pages. The shocking, gasp worthy scenes. I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing ever did. This book was also a little predictable for me as well. I knew after a few chapters who the villain was and what was going to happen at the end. Also from the prologue, I knew what was going to happen to another character as well. Wanted some more secrecy with that. I also felt as if there were parts of the story missing. It jumped a little and I got confused a few times with the change. I know pieces were supposed to be missing since it is a psychological thriller, but the pieces missing didn't need to be missing.

Bleed the Water Red was an enjoyable read full of suspense. Even though I knew what was going to happen at the end, I couldn't wait to see how it all went down. And I am also very happy with what happens with Kate and Gent. Even though I didn't love this as much as I hoped, I still really liked it and enjoyed it. I will definitely be checking out the author's other work!!
Profile Image for Kerry Melton.
520 reviews15 followers
May 7, 2017
Bleed the water red

Where do I begin? I was hooked from the prologue. There are so many twists that you don’t see coming. The suspense and mystery are something RL knows how to write! She keeps you so engrossed that you can’t put it down. Some say going home is good for the soul, but for Kate Tennison, it’s the complete opposite. She’s haunted by the ghosts of her past. She is broken… beaten. Her life has been pulled right from under her. Gent is her first love and he’s her new boss. She really wants to leave him in the past but how can she when he’s always there? Kate is so guarded because of her past. In walks Bash Pryor. He knows what to say. He’s gorgeous and charming. Kate is so in love with him, she doesn’t see what’s right in front of her. This physiological thriller will have your head spinning. The sub-

The sub-characters are great too! Poppy and Austin are her best friends. They are hilarious. They bring a lot of banter to the story. And the lovable adorable pit bull Blue, I can’t forget to mention him.

I was so blown away by this story it really. It has you playing out scenarios in your head. Then the ball drops and there’s another twist. I love books like this.
Profile Image for Picky_Book_B1tch.
625 reviews57 followers
June 16, 2017
Because of the title and cover, I was expecting more of a thriller type read. There I go making assumptions I shouldn't. This is more romantic suspense with a few jagged edges and even if it wasn't what I thought, it was still a very good read that sucked me in and had me second guessing everyone's motives from the start. And that sucker punch of a twist.....will have me coming back for more of RL's word. I love nothing more than a strong, kick-ass female character and Kate was exactly that. She may have been broken in places but she was not weak.

Profile Image for Sherry.
150 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2017
RL Griffin never disappoints. As I started this book I was engulfed in the beautiful South. I was completely in love with Kate. She's had some bad cards delt her way. As she begins to start her life over there are things looming that make you have the feel like something wicked is going to happen.
Boy, oh Boy, the twist is excellent and I truly loved how this book connected with another one of my favs Quiet Lies.
I can say no more, you will have to get sucked in all on your own.
Excellent read! Kuddos RL!
Profile Image for Audrey.
1,087 reviews9 followers
April 2, 2017
Not sure why I picked out this book, but I'm glad I did. This is a story with a few major twists - which is great. It is also an intense story which latches onto the reader's emotions.

Love the addition of 'Blue' (the dog) in the story line, just adds a little something.

The characters are good. Half way through the story I had to go back to read the Prologue, which I didn't understand when I first read it. It made more sense half way through.

Good read - plenty of intrigue, drama, emotion, heart wrenching, love, and in the end romance.
Profile Image for Diz Reads 4TLOReading.
667 reviews12 followers
April 2, 2017
A great read with a slow build to a great conclusion, I truly enjoyed this book

It was my first from this author and won't be me last. I loved the writing and the style of this book, the connection and the story arc

3.5 Stars

Donna

4TLOReading
Profile Image for Up All Night Book Addict.
1,240 reviews279 followers
May 15, 2017
I can always count on R.L. Griffin to write a book that I can't really say much about without being a spoiler. Every thought I want to share could potentially give away some major plot twists in this story. While this is a standalone, I would suggest reading Quiet Lies in order to get the full effect of this book. I can't tell you why, but there are some key things in Q.L. that add to this jaw dropping story.

There isn't much about this book that I didn't like. It started out giving me a WTF reaction. That reaction continued throughout the book. The twists and turns, the characters and the plot. I had not anticipated getting this story in all its glory.

If I could change one thing about this book, it would be the darker parts of the book. Once you read it, you will see what I mean. I wanted more of the gasp-worthy scenes. Aside from that, this book was definitely a huge page-turner. I am not in the least bit ashamed that I loved every single word in this book!
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