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Precipice
When Julia said I do to her husband three years ago, she thought it would last forever. But when she finds herself in a dead-end marriage and in love with her best friend's boyfriend, she begins to question those relationships and everything she once believed in. As Julia contemplates the biggest decision of her life, will she choose to walk away . . . or will she surrender her fears and let herself fall?
252 pages, ebook
First published May 19, 2009
10 people are currently reading
570 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Luznicky Garrett
9 books94 followersMelissa Luznicky Garrett is an author of adult and young adult novels. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, three children, and numerous animals. Melissa is currently hard at work on her next project.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 5, 2012
Well this book...I neither liked, nor did I dislike it. I am just indifferent. It was kind of just... Blah.
I had such high hopes for this book. When I read the description...I thought OMG this is going to be great. A real emotional struggle type of book. God it had so much potential. I could already see my mind reeling from it. But sorry to have to say, it was just plain...nothing. It was very simple, boring, no romance, no steam, very little story line, too quick and I didn't like a lot of things about it. I keep thinking it had so much potential...but the author never grabbed a hold of her chance to do this. Without telling what happens, it's hard to tell you the things I didn't like. But one of the things I highly had a problem with, was when a major issue happened, the worst kind of betrayal....the H/h go on like it was no big deal. They end up talking about how the house was built and so on. It was just so bizarre and wrong. It left me with no feelings and the author totally let us down...we see no reason to have any emotion. Like I say it was a very simple Simon type of book. Very little romance involved and no steam or heat. :(
January 28, 2013
First let me state that I read the revised edition of PRECIPICE so my review is based solely on the edition Melissa released January 25, 2013. I had not read the previous version but as a fan of Melissa's on Facebook, it seems that the book underwent some major reconstruction.
And on with the review...
While not my normal genre of reading material (I am more of a paranormal/thriller/horror type of reader)I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to read something that didn't have you trying to follow a million different characters, or a complicated plot. PRECIPICE is an easy quick read. I was totally caught up in Julia's life. The characters are down to earth, normal every day people, going through normal, every day issues. Melissa did a good job of keeping me guessing on how the story would play out, with a few twists and turns along the way.
I have now read every book Melissa has published and have enjoyed every one of them so I wasn't surprised the I enjoyed PRECIPICE as well.
And on with the review...
While not my normal genre of reading material (I am more of a paranormal/thriller/horror type of reader)I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to read something that didn't have you trying to follow a million different characters, or a complicated plot. PRECIPICE is an easy quick read. I was totally caught up in Julia's life. The characters are down to earth, normal every day people, going through normal, every day issues. Melissa did a good job of keeping me guessing on how the story would play out, with a few twists and turns along the way.
I have now read every book Melissa has published and have enjoyed every one of them so I wasn't surprised the I enjoyed PRECIPICE as well.
April 19, 2011
This is one of those romantic stories that I carry with me long after I've read it. The characters become so close to me that I feel like I know them, and I find myself missing them long after I've finished the book. I don't often re-read a book, but this one I have read several times. This is a total 'A' List, must read!
I'll read anything written by this author. Melissa is a great story teller!
I'll read anything written by this author. Melissa is a great story teller!
October 11, 2012
Geeze, I thought this book was pretty depressing. I didn't really have one feel good moment. Just seemed to convenient.. the way it worked out with the husband and the best friend (I don't want to spoil it) I mean, I didn't hate this book.. but it seemed very gray the whole way through.
January 29, 2013
Updated review: Julia Becker’s life isn’t following the pattern she expected. Her marriage has disintegrated, her job is precarious and her best friend doesn’t understand her need for change. She is balancing precariously on the Precipice. Along comes Wesley. Sexy, sensitive and smart – he unintentionally lures Julia away from all that’s wrong in her life. Unfortunately, instead of basking in his attention and love, Julia is torn between her duties as a wife in a loveless marriage and her loyalty to her best friend Kris, who has also fallen for Wesley’s charms.
Simply written, in a style indicative of storytelling, this book takes the reader through Julia’s emotional journey. From confused, stuck-in-a-rut housewife to confident lover, she grows and changes as the story progresses. Julia is faced with difficult decisions that test her strength of character and force her to search within herself for truth. In the end, it’s not a question of “what’s right or wrong” – it’s about need and being true to herself.
I had the privilege of reading this book twice. The first time (the original version), it was “good”. The writing was clean and the characters were believable, but it wasn’t spectacular. The second time, I was amazed at what a few small tweaks could do. The story line is the same, but the characterization is more dynamic, the relationships are more “real” and I felt compelled to read through to the end even though I already knew what was going to happen.
Melissa’s narrative style reminds me of sitting in a room with close friends and listening to them talk of their childhood antics, how they met their husbands, and their dreams for the future. It’s comfortable, something you can sink into to escape your own reality.
Original review: Precipice introduces the reader to a conflicted young woman, who needs to make some very tough decisions regarding her marriage, her best friend and her future. Written in first person present, the voice is smooth and pulls you directly into the thoughts of the main character, Julia. Ms. Luznicky Garret creates characters who could live and breathe right next door, making them all the more believable for their flaws, strengths and weaknesses.
I found the beginning of the story opened slowly, so that we could really get to know and appreciate the MC for who she is and understand the values she holds. The middle of the book flew by in a flurry of heart-racing excitement. My only nit-pick is with the very tidy ending. It's almost too convenient and too abrupt in relation to how the rest of the plot unfolded.
In all, I would definitely recommend this book. The softly flowing prose draws you into the book, while the content is thought-provoking and intriguing.
Simply written, in a style indicative of storytelling, this book takes the reader through Julia’s emotional journey. From confused, stuck-in-a-rut housewife to confident lover, she grows and changes as the story progresses. Julia is faced with difficult decisions that test her strength of character and force her to search within herself for truth. In the end, it’s not a question of “what’s right or wrong” – it’s about need and being true to herself.
I had the privilege of reading this book twice. The first time (the original version), it was “good”. The writing was clean and the characters were believable, but it wasn’t spectacular. The second time, I was amazed at what a few small tweaks could do. The story line is the same, but the characterization is more dynamic, the relationships are more “real” and I felt compelled to read through to the end even though I already knew what was going to happen.
Melissa’s narrative style reminds me of sitting in a room with close friends and listening to them talk of their childhood antics, how they met their husbands, and their dreams for the future. It’s comfortable, something you can sink into to escape your own reality.
Original review: Precipice introduces the reader to a conflicted young woman, who needs to make some very tough decisions regarding her marriage, her best friend and her future. Written in first person present, the voice is smooth and pulls you directly into the thoughts of the main character, Julia. Ms. Luznicky Garret creates characters who could live and breathe right next door, making them all the more believable for their flaws, strengths and weaknesses.
I found the beginning of the story opened slowly, so that we could really get to know and appreciate the MC for who she is and understand the values she holds. The middle of the book flew by in a flurry of heart-racing excitement. My only nit-pick is with the very tidy ending. It's almost too convenient and too abrupt in relation to how the rest of the plot unfolded.
In all, I would definitely recommend this book. The softly flowing prose draws you into the book, while the content is thought-provoking and intriguing.
February 1, 2012
You know how there are those times when your life is just a tad stressful and you can't handle too much heavy lifting in the reading department, and you really just need something light and easy and romantic to kind of take you away from all the crap you're dealing with?
Precipice is that kind of book.
The week that my grandmother died, I was in such a reading funk. It was 10 days before Christmas, work was crazy, I hadn't bought a damn present, and here we were looking at an unexpected (but, as it turned out, completely worth it) 6 hour trip back home just mere days before we were intending to go home for the holidays. I needed some literary Calgon to take me away, and when I scrolled down the offerings in my Kindle to find something to distract me during the somber ride and I realized I hadn't read my friend's debut novel yet, I knew from the first few pages (or whatever the first few page equivalents are in Kindle) that I had found my escape for several hours.
Julia and Jim have only been married for several years, but right from the beginning of the novel, the reader understands that theirs isn't a happy union. He's a bit emotionally abusive, in my opinion. Secrets and things left unsaid cause distance between the couple. Clearly, these two are not a good match and they're basically just going through the motions of a couple in a dead-end relationship.
Through her best friend Kris, Julia is introduced to Wes, a new teacher at the school where she and Kris work. With Wes, she begins to see that there might be a chance for happiness after all ... if she decides to take that risk, which could mean that Julia will lose everything and everyone she loves (including Kris, because as it turns out, Kris also has a bit of a thing for Wes.)
This was a much lighter, romantic read than my usual fare - but given my mood at the time, that's what I was looking for. It kept my attention (partially due to several steamy scenes, which I wasn't expecting but which were well done!) and it was, indeed, a good distraction from the funeral and the trip back home. A few other readers have commented in their reviews that the ending is a bit too tidy (and yeah, that is somewhat of a valid point but I think it's the only ending that fits with this story) but there is a twist that I didn't see coming and that definitely adds to the suspense as to what direction Julia will go.
Precipice is that kind of book.
The week that my grandmother died, I was in such a reading funk. It was 10 days before Christmas, work was crazy, I hadn't bought a damn present, and here we were looking at an unexpected (but, as it turned out, completely worth it) 6 hour trip back home just mere days before we were intending to go home for the holidays. I needed some literary Calgon to take me away, and when I scrolled down the offerings in my Kindle to find something to distract me during the somber ride and I realized I hadn't read my friend's debut novel yet, I knew from the first few pages (or whatever the first few page equivalents are in Kindle) that I had found my escape for several hours.
Julia and Jim have only been married for several years, but right from the beginning of the novel, the reader understands that theirs isn't a happy union. He's a bit emotionally abusive, in my opinion. Secrets and things left unsaid cause distance between the couple. Clearly, these two are not a good match and they're basically just going through the motions of a couple in a dead-end relationship.
Through her best friend Kris, Julia is introduced to Wes, a new teacher at the school where she and Kris work. With Wes, she begins to see that there might be a chance for happiness after all ... if she decides to take that risk, which could mean that Julia will lose everything and everyone she loves (including Kris, because as it turns out, Kris also has a bit of a thing for Wes.)
This was a much lighter, romantic read than my usual fare - but given my mood at the time, that's what I was looking for. It kept my attention (partially due to several steamy scenes, which I wasn't expecting but which were well done!) and it was, indeed, a good distraction from the funeral and the trip back home. A few other readers have commented in their reviews that the ending is a bit too tidy (and yeah, that is somewhat of a valid point but I think it's the only ending that fits with this story) but there is a twist that I didn't see coming and that definitely adds to the suspense as to what direction Julia will go.
October 9, 2015
I was very excited about this book. It had been on my to-read list for awhile and I was finally getting to read it. The book wasn't all that I had hoped for, but it was still a good read. I enjoyed the characters, except for Jim, who, let's face it, was an ass.
My first issue with the story is that the first couple of chapters seemed to be written by a kid in high school. The author threw every adjective she could possibly think of into the story in what I can only imagine was her attempt to say, "Look how awesome my writing is!" It was unbelievably annoying and I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking if the whole book was like that, there was no way I was going to last. Thankfully, she seems to have found her flow a few chapters in and I was able to enjoy the story more. The second issue was that there were just so many characters. I was constantly getting Kris and Kim confused and finally gave up on trying to keep them straight. It was never really explained why Kris liked Jim so much or really why Julia's parents didn't, or why Kris and Kim didn't like each other, or why anyone expected that they should.
I liked Wes quite a lot, until he started coming onto Julia and just would not let up. The whole scenario in the library, she kept telling him no and he kept pushing and pushing. However at the end, when Julia goes through to get all her belongings and doesn't want to take the cats, I was pissed. Thankfully Wes stood up and said the cats were going with them, so he was okay with me after that.
My last issue was the "I love you"'s being exchanged after such a short time of knowing each other, and what seemed to be only a week of secretly seeing each other. Also Julia tells her sister she had an affair. That's a pretty open-for-interpretation word. I'm not sure that sleeping with someone for the first time after you've filed for divorce and left your husband counts as an affair, but whatever.
Lastly, about half way in, it seemed the editor gave up on the book as the errors were plenty and very distracting.
My first issue with the story is that the first couple of chapters seemed to be written by a kid in high school. The author threw every adjective she could possibly think of into the story in what I can only imagine was her attempt to say, "Look how awesome my writing is!" It was unbelievably annoying and I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking if the whole book was like that, there was no way I was going to last. Thankfully, she seems to have found her flow a few chapters in and I was able to enjoy the story more. The second issue was that there were just so many characters. I was constantly getting Kris and Kim confused and finally gave up on trying to keep them straight. It was never really explained why Kris liked Jim so much or really why Julia's parents didn't, or why Kris and Kim didn't like each other, or why anyone expected that they should.
I liked Wes quite a lot, until he started coming onto Julia and just would not let up. The whole scenario in the library, she kept telling him no and he kept pushing and pushing. However at the end, when Julia goes through to get all her belongings and doesn't want to take the cats, I was pissed. Thankfully Wes stood up and said the cats were going with them, so he was okay with me after that.
My last issue was the "I love you"'s being exchanged after such a short time of knowing each other, and what seemed to be only a week of secretly seeing each other. Also Julia tells her sister she had an affair. That's a pretty open-for-interpretation word. I'm not sure that sleeping with someone for the first time after you've filed for divorce and left your husband counts as an affair, but whatever.
Lastly, about half way in, it seemed the editor gave up on the book as the errors were plenty and very distracting.
September 4, 2011
I really, really enjoyed this book! Once I started reading I didn't want to put it down. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it wasn't long enough. I like long books. That is really a good thing, though, because I liked it so much that I read it really fast. I felt a lot of sympathy for Julia. She was in a tough spot and she did what was the best thing given her circumstances. I think in a way she wanted her marriage to work just to prove her family wrong and that is definitely not a good enough reason. I thought the story was told very well and I can't wait to read more from this author.
February 25, 2012
The classic tale of girl meets boy, with all the drama of a forbidden romance. Precipice was an easy read with a nice flow, that made me smile at some parts and frown at others. I think we all can relate to finding yourself in a dead-end relationship, seeking for a way out ... which is one reason why I enjoyed reading this book. So many aspects were relatable, and that is something I like in a romance.
I can see Lifetime Movie in the future for this one ... :)
I can see Lifetime Movie in the future for this one ... :)
September 8, 2011
This is not your typical love story. There are many unexpected twists and you will constantly be asking yourself, "Did that really happen?"
Garrett is a refreshing change to your ho-hum author. She has a unique writing style that I truly enjoy. She has other works in the process and I eagerly await what's next! Definitely an author you should follow.
Garrett is a refreshing change to your ho-hum author. She has a unique writing style that I truly enjoy. She has other works in the process and I eagerly await what's next! Definitely an author you should follow.
August 21, 2011
Nice quick read. The story is quite touching, especially if you have ever found yourself in a less than desirable marriage. For me, it was a bit on the short side. I would have preferred a little "more".
April 7, 2013
This book was so good, I could not put it down. Just when I would think just one more chapter, I had to get to the next. Then I had to know how it ended. Quick, easy read. I finished in one day. I highly recommend this book.
November 24, 2013
A Chic*Lit that kept my interest. The writing was smooth with good editing. A fast one day read. I liked the story and even got to my emotions enough to grab a tissue. Melissa has written a couple other books and I will be sure to look them up.
May 31, 2014
This is an easy quick read. The characters are interesting and normal. As usual with Ms. Garrett it is a well-written novel. She has painted Jim’s character in such a way that you hated the SoB. No action, no suspense but yet you still keep on turning the pages.
November 8, 2014
Much closer to a 4.5 rating.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. It handles a topic that, in some hands, might be tacky or tawdry. Ms. Garrett writes a compassionate story that deals with this situation with understanding and tact. A well written and moving romance.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. It handles a topic that, in some hands, might be tacky or tawdry. Ms. Garrett writes a compassionate story that deals with this situation with understanding and tact. A well written and moving romance.
July 27, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were engaging, and I was sucked in to the story from the beginning. Lovely!
Want to read
January 25, 2013Amazon (ebook) freebie 1/25/13
June 13, 2014
loved this book will be reading more from this author
July 8, 2014
WOW
What a great story! What I really loved about this story is how modern day the story line was and how mature the characters were!
What a great story! What I really loved about this story is how modern day the story line was and how mature the characters were!
Want to read
January 27, 2013Freebie on amazon
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews