STRUCK
by Clarissa Johal
BLURB:
The shadows hadn't been waiting.
The shadows had been invited.
After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend and takes a job at a retirement home. She grows especially close to one resident, who dies alone the night of a terrific storm. On the way home from paying her last respects, Gwynneth is caught in another storm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, the stranger visits her at will and offers Gwynneth a gift--one that will stay the hands of death. Gwynneth is uncertain whether Julian is a savior or something more sinister... for as he shares more and more of this gift, his price becomes more and more deadly.
Buy Links for STRUCK:
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EXCERPT
A loud ‘crack’ sounded and an iridescent white light surrounded her. Two things registered: a searing pain that ripped down her back and the ground which seemed to be pulled away from her at an alarming speed.
* * * *
Blackness.
Pain shot through the back of Gwynneth’s head as she opened her eyes. Somebody was standing over her. She tried to focus on the face, but it hurt too much. A cool hand slid across her forehead. She opened her eyes again.
Pale, almost white eyes. High cheekbones, aquiline nose, and a well-shaped mouth. Long, white hair. Ageless. Beautiful, like a Michelangelo. All of those details registered with clarity before agony ripped through her body. She arched her back and cried out. The man murmured something into her ear which she couldn’t understand. She could feel the vibration of his voice and his breath on her neck as he gathered her in his arms. She opened her eyes and saw lightning fork to the ground silently behind him. She blacked out again.
REVIEW
4 Stars
This spooky tale entertained and frightened me. The idea of being struck by lightning, living through it, then being changed by that experience has always fascinated me. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to read and review this book.
Gwynneth is a kind-hearted person who is a bit naïve. I liked how the story unfolded, but I just wanted to clobber Gwynneth a few times when she continually made stupid choices. She is fortunate to have a few really good friends but she seems intent on her dangerous and foolhardy course of action in her zeal to protect those closest to her. As her sanity and physical health takes a beating, Gwynneth struggles to understand the darkness that encroaches, slowing consuming her. As the truth is revealed, her desperation mounts. This is a different kind of ghost story. It kept me wide awake in the middle of the night because I just had to find out the ending.
The book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Author page
GIVEAWAY
Clarissa will be awarding an ecopy of STRUCK to three (3) randomly drawn commenters during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.
