Candace's Reviews > Ghosted

When I first saw that J. M. Darhower had a new book out, I knew that I'd have to read it. However, I frequently get wild ideas in my head, which are totally unfounded in reality, based on my snap judgments from looking at the cover. That is exactly what happened with this one. I got it in my head that this was going to be a paranormal type of story and I put it in the "some day" category, since it isn't my go-to genre.

Of course, it isn't at all a paranormal book and I have nobody to blame but myself for my delay in reading this. When I started seeing all the rave reviews from friends start to roll in, I knew I had to read it pronto. Then, I was kicking myself because I absolutely LOVED this book!

'Ghosted' was the type of book that makes me want to call in to work so I can finish reading. It was that good. It was well-developed and made me burn with anticipation. It was beautiful, angsty, emotional and heartbreaking. This book was simply wonderful.

The story is told in alternating POVs and timeframes. Sometimes, this can be confusing or leave me feeling "disjointed". However, in this case it was done perfectly. The past and present intersected beautifully. Having read many stories that alternate between time periods in such a manner, I know how difficult it can be for an author to pull this off without losing the reader along the way. J. M. Darhower did this masterfully.

In fact, one of my favorite things about this story was the way that the past story and present story were revealed in such a manner that they were always "opposing". What I mean by that is that in the beginning of the book when the present-day relationship between Kennedy and Jonathan is most damaged, the contrasting story of their sweet, untainted beginning is told. Then, as their relationship begins to mend in present-day, it is contrasted with the "past" demise of their relationship that led them to where they were at the very beginning of the book.

The result was that there was an omnipresent sense of turmoil, leading to one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride for the entirety of the book. As I grew to love Jonathan, I also felt the most intense anger toward him. Yet, it never crossed over into the realm of emotionally exhausting. The balance was perfect.

In a nutshell, the story is a second-chance romance of epic proportions. Kennedy and Jonathan met in high school and their relationship was a whirlwind. The two drop out of high school, moving to L. A. to pursue their dreams. However, the events that transpire change their relationship forever.

As Jonathan begins to get noticed in Hollywood, Kennedy takes a back seat. She gives up her own dreams to support his. Meanwhile, Jonathan's own insecurities lead him down a dangerous road. When Jonathan's behaviors become too much to handle, Kennedy is forced to make a decision about what the future holds for them.

The story begins years later, as Kennedy struggles to make ends meet. She is a single mom, living in her hometown and working as the Assistant Manager at the local grocery store. Her existence is vastly different from Jonathan's. He has risen to the height of success as an A-list actor, the star of the latest action film series.

For the most part, Kennedy's past connection to Jonathan has been forgotten by the town. She lives a low-key life, trying to fly under the radar. She has no interest in the type of attention that Jonathan draws, especially where it may impact her young daughter, Madison.

Set to film scenes for his next movie in nearby NYC, Kennedy is anxious about the likelihood that he will attempt to reenter her life again. The thought makes her both terrified at the thought of him showing up again and fearful that he may have finally moved on and given up. She's not sure which worries her more.

When he eventually does make contact again, old feelings rise to the surface. Anger, jealousy, distrust, shame...you name it and it was a factor. My emotions were all over the place. I desperately wanted this couple to work out their issues, but I couldn't blame Kennedy for her bitterness and lack of faith in Jonathan.

The more he started to redeem himself in the "present day" story, the more his "past" behavior justified Kennedy's standoffish demeanor. The sharp contrast between present and past was an ever-present reminder of why they were where they were. I was definitely torn.

From start to finish, I could not put this book down. I read it in one day. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I felt an immediate strong connection to the characters and their story. I also loved the fact that this story was a "slow burn", where the hero wasn't just forgiven without some hardcore groveling. Jonathan definitely had his work cut out for him, and rightfully so.

If you're sitting on the fence with this one, just read it. It is fabulous! It also happens to be offered on Kindle Unlimited if you're a member. I don't know how long you can count on it being there though.

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