Today, I think we successfully were able to write a spoiler free review of our journey through Convicted by Aleatha Romig, and here it is to share with you!
Before you do, if you haven't already, we also reviewed Consequences and Truth!
Find the series information to purchase here:
Book #3 of the Consequences Series—
There were still lessons to learn and consequences for the truth!
When Claire Nichols met Anthony Rawlings, she didn’t know they had a past, or that he had plans for her future. Over time, the role of teacher changed—games became reality—and domination turned to desire. Despite an insurmountable history, Claire and Tony found their way back to one another.
Just when they seemed to have it all—love, respect, and the promise of a family—the game master exposed the truth. Claire’s world once again spun out of control. Unwilling to allow her child to suffer the consequences of an old vendetta, Claire fled...
At one time, Claire was held captive in an opulent mansion—then her incarceration was a cell inside a state penitentiary. Was her new prison—a tropical island—truly less lonely? Perhaps that was the game master’s plan, all along?
Who will save Claire from her oldest nightmare and her newest reality? Will it be Tony? Can he forgive her for leaving him—again? Harry? Will he utilize previously unknown connections to save the woman who infiltrates his thoughts? Maybe Phil? Will his devotion in keeping Claire and her child safe be rewarded?
As the cards are played—sins of the past, innocent victims, and truths are revealed. With compartmentalization no longer an option, is the reality too much? Could there be an even worse isolation?
With the game master dealing from a stacked deck, can this new high-stakes game possibly be won?
When it’s all over and their cards are on the table—SOME will discover their bets were too high—they have nothing left to lose—ALL will learn the crucial lesson—the most important rule—there are CONSEQUENCES for the TRUTH!
Aleatha Romig’s CONVICTED!
Our Review
I almost feel like I don't know where to start...maybe it's because I don't know if I'm ready for this to end. I cannot even imagine the pressure Aleatha Romig must have felt to follow up her fantastic Consequences and Truth books and please her fan base...but I'm here to tell you that she absolutely did not disappoint.Wow. Me either. I just finished, and as it is always better for you to finish a book before me...so you can hold my hand like the needy person I am...we didn't disappoint on our routines here either! Me begging for spoilers, you not giving them. All is right in the world of Shelley & Courtney reading books together!
This novel starts out in what-the-fuck-land and proceeds to keep you there for many, many pages. So. Many. Questions. How? When? WHYYYY??? and the answers to those questions come but not until way, way later. Instead you go on many detours--discovering more of Claire and Phil and Tony and Catherine and Harry and Sophia and what they are up to. We travel to a few different locales and through time to try to make sense of what the hell these people have been up to. We get to see who ends up meeting up with Claire while she's in hiding and who she ends up with ...EEEEEEP! We also get a taste of crazy town with Catherine--man is she nutso! Harry and Phil also provide insider/outsider perspectives that enhance the tension in the story as well. But honestly, whether Claire and Tony end up together or not (no spoilers here!) this story is really theirs. This third novel strives to give these two some closure and peace after all of the tumult and heartache from the previous two novels. We not only get into Claire's head but we also get into Tony's a little too and having both of their insights provides an added extra oomph to this story.
Shee-it. Question after question piled up, and I knew from previous experience that it was going to emotionally slay me. The story is sometimes outrageous to my rational thinking, but everything that is going on all at once is seriously captivating...and that is what I love the most about this story! Shelley says it best right up there, but this story goes full circle right back to Consequences...where it all started..and WHY, you'll say that a lot. My nerves are absolutely shot, but each tiny morsel of information made me want to read more, and quicker, but then slow down, and savor because I didn't want this journey to end!
In addition to the plot lines of Claire et al, we also get the narration of Meredith, Emily and we see Brent, Courtney and Amber again too (we even get a very small moment with Eric!). Additionally there are a few new characters introduced...characters important to Tony and Claire as their stories progress. I'll admit that it seems like a lot of characters to juggle but Aleatha Romig finds her footing very early on in this novel and the number of characters really never becomes a distraction or annoyance because you know that every single one plays a crucial role in how this story will end.
I loved the changes in point of view this time around. It was entirely necessary and done so well. I never had to question who was speaking, and you quickly figure out where you are and what time period you've been dropped in. Each chapter is like you are dropped on a land mine, and when the smoke clears you turn the page and there is another meaningful quote that drops you into another one. Meredith has some big parts, and I feel like it is okay to say that this woman seriously makes some Major Gains in my approval rating in this story! (Don't remember her? She starts out in book 1 as that pesky reporter who used Claire!)
There's a lot of story in this novel if you haven't noticed....so be prepared to have a chunk of time blocked off so that you can read because once you start you will have a hard time putting it down. It's not that Romig pulls a lot of punches, the novel progresses rather naturally, but it's the desire to know what the hell has happened that pulls you along until 1 A.M. (when you have work in the morning!) because you just need to know. Trust me..there will be answers and the last 25% provides several heart stopping, oh fuck!, moments but by the time you get to the end you definitely feel that the events leading up to the end and the resolution of all of these relationships makes sense.
For me, I never think these books are too long. They're long, for sure. But when my favorite books are over 700 pages (HP 4-7) I am probably not the person to give my opinion on this! But none the less, if Convicted was any shorter, I don't think all of my questions would have been answered, and definitely not in a way that felt genuine...so yes it is long. But I hope that if you're as invested as I was you'll appreciate the fact that no stone is left unturned. This is the end. And with all of the crazy shit that happens throughout every single page, I wanted ALL of the information I needed!
I'm thrilled to see that Aleatha has other things in the works...cannot wait to see what she brings us next! Eeeep! Me Too! Word of advice.....doubt everyone!
Shelley 4 1/2 Stars
Courtney 5 stars
About the Author
Aleatha Romig is a bestselling author, who has been voted #1 "New Author to Read" on Goodreads July 2012 - Present! She was also #9 most followed author on Goodreads - July / August 2013.
Aleatha has lived most of her life in Indiana growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty six years, they've raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include exercising, reading and creating heros/ anti-heros who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved. In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world.
CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011 by Xlibris Publishing. October 2012 Ms. Romig rereleased CONSEQUENCES as an Indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012 and CONVICTED, the final installment of the Consequences Series, release today, October 8th, 2013!
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.
Aleatha has lived most of her life in Indiana growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty six years, they've raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include exercising, reading and creating heros/ anti-heros who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved. In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world.
CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011 by Xlibris Publishing. October 2012 Ms. Romig rereleased CONSEQUENCES as an Indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012 and CONVICTED, the final installment of the Consequences Series, release today, October 8th, 2013!
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.
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