Review: TRUTH by Aleatha Romig

***THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES, CONSEQUENCES.  IF YOU HAVE NOT READ CONSEQUENCES, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW***

Truth is the follow-up to Consequences, the stunning book that left me reeling.  In my review of Consequences I was pretty vague.  Unfortunately it was necessary to be that way because it is a book best read when you know nothing about it.  My review of Truth will not be much different.  Both book are a complex puzzle that need to be sorted out, by the reader, as you go along.  To give away the ending, or even the middle, of either would do a disservice to the book as a whole.

At the beginning of Truth someone has seen fit to pardon Claire and give her $100,000 to move on with her life.  We do not know who this person is but the fear everyone has is that it was Tony playing more of his mind games.  Not sure where to go with her life, Claire moves out to California to stay with Simon’s widow.  There she will figure out what her next move is and if that move has something to do with revenge on Anthony Rawlings.

When I first picked up Truth I had too many thoughts running through my head.  What will Claire’s frame of mind be once out of prison?  What part did Tony play in her being out of prison?  How will Tony react to her being out of prison?  What sort of revenge will Claire exact upon Tony?  Will Tony be redeemed?

I am a dumb sucker when it comes to lurve, and I truly believe that in his own way, Tony loved Claire so I was looking for a HEA for these two.  My opinion is a very unpopular one, with good reason.  Tony kidnapped, raped, beat, isolated, tortured, murdered and then framed Claire.  That is a lot of stuff to get around, however I felt there was something else going on here.

Of course, there is something else going on.  Truth tells three stories at the same time.  One of Claire in the present day, one of Sophia and one of Anton Rawls.  Each story is pivotal in the overall arc.  While you are reading the chapters you might not know why things seem to jump around but please, hang on because it will all make sense in the end.

One of my biggest concerns was how Claire would be perceived in this new book.  In Consequences she was the victim.  She has had enough experience with Tony now to not be the victim.  This couldn’t be another book with Claire as the victim or it just wouldn’t be worth it, to me.  The Claire we see once she leaves prison is one with a purpose, a goal that she will stop at nothing to fulfill.  Things change throughout the story and Claire regresses but there are other reasons for her regression, reasons that I could buy in to, but I will be interested to see how everyone else feels about those reasons.

In her interview with FV, Ms Romig says that Consequences with leaving you reeling while Truth will leave you questions.  There is no doubt to that.  I *think* I know what the ending is supposed to be.  I question how it could be anything but what I thought it was.  However, after reading these two twisty-turny books I can also question if anything I think is really what it seems.  I held my breath through most of this book waiting, just waiting for what would come next.  You gotta love a book that makes you turn the pages faster and faster just to get to what might be around that corner.  Like Consequences, Truth kept me hanging on the edge of my seat.

I am anxiously awaiting the third book in this series.  Anxiously and not very patiently!  Final grade- B

Favorite Quotes:

He was right.  She wanted him that day.  Truthfully, even at this moment she enjoyed the familiar touch.  There was something about the continual challenge that kept her senses electrified.  The range of emotions he elicited and the depth of understanding they shared, created a bond.

Rating: B
TRUTH by Aleatha Romig
November 1st 2012
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