The Indie Bookshelf discussion

I have yet to read Opportunist (no tomato throwing), but am getting ready to start on Monday. After that I plan on diving into this book.

Therefore, I will let my fellow TIB girls lead this discussion and join you later in the week.

Oh boy.....I LOVED this book. Devoured it in 2 days, and the last sentence damn near ruined. I did not see it coming. Did anyone else? Are we doing spoilers in this forum? Want to make sure....

Loved this book!! I sorta thought MAYBE that could be the case but.. no I didn't think it would go there. although knowing Leah it could be a lie. who knows!

LOVED this book! The last 5-10 pages completely gutted me, and I agree with Janna - the last line I didn't see coming at all. It was definitely a jaw dropper. I just wonder if it's actually true or if she just said that to hurt him after what he just did to her.....

I know Ashley!!! I wonder if its really true, or if its for shock value. Question. Was she pregnant before they went to Europe when Olivia flew there? Because when she was in the hospital, before Europe, didn't she tell him she was pregnant??

I didn't love it. There was really no dramatic arc, it felt like the same drum was being beaten over and over and oh yeah, one more time-Leah is a manipulator, liar, and would do anything to keep Caleb. I figured that out in the first book. I didn't need an entire book explaining how massively coo coo she is. You can't categorize this book as a "romance" either because there was zero in it. I felt it was a little indulgent on the authors part. I would have liked it better if there was more of Caleb's POV in it, the little bit we got was the only thing that made me smile. I gave it 3.5 stars. Well written, yes. What I was hoping for in a sequel?... Not really. I know I'm in the minority, but I was just hoping for more.

Janna - I think she was...because she was admitted into the hospital before they went to Europe, right?

http://lisasbookreview.com/2012/12/28...


Amazing interview that will answer a lot of your questions about Dirty Red

Thanks Sarah! Thats a great interview. Ok so now we know the truth, but whose the baby daddy?? Lol! Ashley- you are right, she was pregnant when she went to Europe. And this is what I don't understand, why didn't Caleb tell Olivia that when she was in the street professing her love?

I think Dirty Red succeeds in making the reader just clamor for Book 3. Tarryn brilliantly includes a few glimpses into Olivia's current state as well as a limited POV from Caleb just to tease us!

Nina wrote: "I think Dirty Red succeeds in making the reader just clamor for Book 3. Tarryn brilliantly includes a few glimpses into Olivia's current state as well as a limited POV from Caleb just to tease us!"I loved how Tarryn gave us a little POV from Caleb in The Opportunist and then did the same in Dirty Red. I loved being inside his head, and I wanted more!

Janna wrote: "Thanks Sarah! Thats a great interview. Ok so now we know the truth, but whose the baby daddy?? Lol! Ashley- you are right, she was pregnant when she went to Europe. And this is what I don't underst..."

The only reason I can think of is that he didn't want Olivia to know...

I was pissed when I finished The Opportunist. I couldn't even write a review because I was so mad on how it ended I knew I would say bad things and it was a great book so I didn't want to bash it! I bought Dirty Red and put it off for a week because I was afraid of what joy ride it was giong to take me on. However, I LOVED it! I didn't want to put it down and even though Leah was horrible I like her. It makes me want to reread the Opportunist.

Stacey wrote: "I didn't love it. There was really no dramatic arc, it felt like the same drum was being beaten over and over and oh yeah, one more time-Leah is a manipulator, liar, and would do anything to keep C..."

It wasn't my favorite either, and I had waited so long for this book. I missed Olivia and this wasn't the Caleb from the other book. Buy my hope is that this book will only enhance 3.

Julielynn wrote: "Stacey wrote: "I didn't love it. There was really no dramatic arc, it felt like the same drum was being beaten over and over and oh yeah, one more time-Leah is a manipulator, liar, and would do any..."

To me, this book was more like something I would expect once the actual book series is complete. Re-writing from a different POV... Which is really all she did in Dirty Red. I really dont know what to expect in Book 3. Is she going to shift back to Olivia? I feel like I dont even know who Olivia and Caleb are anymore...maybe that was the point? I think I would have loved Dirty Red if the actual series was complete and she just gave us a different POV for the enjoyment of it.

I think the third book is going to be from Caleb's POV. I cant wait to find out what was in the box, and what happens with all three characters. I really enjoy Noah's brief appearence in this book, and it will be interesting to see if how Olivia and Noah end up.
I think it was very important to give Leah a voice in Dirty Red. The book helped explain why she is the way she is, and why she did the things she did. It also answered a ton of questions I had after finishing The Opportunist. The last sentence of this book was BRILLIANT. The writing alone is enough to love this story.

Janna wrote: "I think the third book is going to be from Caleb's POV. I cant wait to find out what was in the box, and what happens with all three characters. I really enjoy Noah's brief appearence in this book,..."

I think the writing was excellent as well. I guess I was mostly surprised that she devoted the ENTIRE book to Leah. I thought she would jump back and forth between Caleb and Leah's POV's. I think Leah's POV was needed, but I still struggle with how much she gave us. I think the penny was in the box. Caleb was the last one to have it and I think he sent it to Olivia as a sign that he wants her back...

No doubt Tarryn is a writing genius but I was slightly disappointed with DR. By page 200 I was so done with Leah. In my opinion the overall plot lacked any depth. She was beating a dead hose. Leah is satan, I sort of figured that out by page 20. Felt like a filler book to gear us towards Caleb's book. Aside from the last few chapters there were zero plot twists. I was expecting more after TO. TO had my mind in a tizzy and this one I just wanted to murder Leah. And damn I sure missed my Cherry Garcia!

At times I craved to be inside Caleb's head. I LOVED Caleb in this book. And Im pretty sure thats a big part of why I loved the book so much. But I really missed Olivia too. I'm really worried because I really like Noah. However, I truly believe that Caleb and Olivia should be together. But I'm still mad at him for what he did at his office with that girl...he says he didn't cheat, but it was enough for Olivia to do what she did. I read somewhere that the wrapping paper was "Airport Blue" and I think it was the penny too, but part of me feels that is too obvious.....but what else could it be??

Has anyone tried to eat frozen veggies? Not going to lie, I thought about it....

Someone in the TO FB group suggested the deflated basketball! It had to be something sentimental and obvious for Olivia to run out of the room.

The only other guess I have is that the gift was a copy of C&L's divorce papers.

Or a copy of Great Expectations, her favorite CD (I can't remember the name right now)

Stacey-Thats brilliant!! Never thought about that.
What about the engagement ring??

My first thought was that it was the penny, but I think that would be too simple. You could be right about the engagement ring, Janna! But did Olivia know that the ring was meant for her, not Leah? And I got curious about eating frozen veggies too, but I haven't ever tried it...

I don't think Olivia knew it was for. I think Caleb revealed that to Leah in Dirty Ted for first time. It's like this big puzzle and we are slowly putting the pieces together. ..

Would any of you ladies like to leave your star rating and 1-2 sentence review "snippet" of Dirty Red for our Book Club group review on 1/30 for The Indie Bookshelf? I would really appreciate it!!
I started a new discussion thread if you could post it there. Thanks!

Stacey wrote: "The only other guess I have is that the gift was a copy of C&L's divorce papers."

LOVE THAT!!

I just finished! Ahhh! need time to collect thoughts. can't believe y'all don't have the baby daddy figured out.

love the idea of the divorce papers as gift.

I don't think Caleb is Estella father.... No way! It's his brothers

It was confirmed in an interview that baby was not Caleb's. I think Seth is too obvious

Bingo!

I was thinking it was too obvious too, but I don't know. he makes too much sense.

it's like Seth fell in love with red, like Caleb did Olivia.

Interesting Lindsay! I never thought about it like that. Red deserves to be alone. She deserves no one LoL!

Tarryn sure tried to make me feel sorry for her. I'll never concede! Well, as long as she stays away from Caleb and Olivia. I cannot wait for Thief!!! The title is so fitting!

Okay, I have had time to think and the hangover has set in. Went back and read all my highlights from TO.

I went in to DR knowing that I needed to "lower" or change my expectations and came out giving it 5 stars. I knew it was going to be all about crazy slut. It was a necessary bridge to take us to Thief. Boy, I hope he succeeds, but not at the expense of a broken Noah. However, some of Tarryn's comments in the interview posted above make me wonder if she will give us a Caleb/Olivia HEA.

So, book 3.
There is more to the kidnapper/rapist situation and has been.
Baby Daddy
Box with Airport Blue tissue
Additional items in Caleb's Trojan Horse, along with meaning of Jessica's picture

What else do we want to know?

I agree Lindsay! I went into Dirty Red with open mind, I knew it would not compare to Opportunist, and that it might shed some light on what happened in TO.
What I am dying to know is what the hell Caleb did in that room with that girl. He claims he didn't cheat, but because of that, Olivia did what she did. Has she forgiven him?
Why did he do it??
Does Olivia know that Leah tricked Caleb into getting pregnant?
Does Olivia know he has a boat named Great Expectations?
I could go on and on.......

Yeah, I think she knows Leah tricked him due to Cammie asking why she would be hiding the fertility monitor if Caleb knew.

Another question. In DR she talks about being on Clomid, I believe, for fertility. I am starting to doubt Caleb's fertility for a few reasons.

BUT, she was pregnant BEFORE Europe. Caleb knew, but Olivia thought they went to Europe to get pregnant, am I right?
Good observation on the Clomid.....did not think of that. Maybe the rapist dude is the daddy. kidding.

LMAO! There is something to that rapist dude, i tell you!

See, I am still confused with that whole timeline of events. But would make sense why it was in a box, not needed.

I want to know why Caleb so readily allowed Olivia to walk away at the end of TO? I get that he may have thought Leah was pregnant, but, really? Olivia finally comes clean and he doesn't have more to say than that?

I agree Julielyn. That still really bothers me!

The month isn't over yet! We still have time to discuss if you just can't get it off your mind. Just jump on in!