Review of Strength by Carrie Butler

Strength

by Carrie Butler

★★★★

Synopsis:

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation--and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do--even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.

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I was asked by Carrie to give a review for her debut novel, Strength and I'm very glad to have been given the opportunity. I really enjoyed this book. The beginning of the book is fairly uneventful as far as action goes, but it gives you the opportunity to really get to know the characters. I really enjoyed the interactions between Rena and her friends, Gabby and Aiden. They were a quirky group of friends and all interesting characters. Pretty quickly in the book, Rena literally runs into Wallace, who is basically the campus outcast. He's rumored to be "crazy" and everyone is pretty intimidated by him. Rena quickly finds out that he isn't at all how people believe him to be and an unexpected friendship unfolds. But Wallace does have his secrets. He has a bit of a sordid past, as well as supernatural abilities, which his family also possesses. Rena soon finds herself caught up in all of their drama. Her relationship with Wallace ends up changing her in ways no one would have expected.

As I said, I really enjoyed this novel. There were a few times when I felt myself a little disconnected from the characters, but I'm not quite sure why that was because I really did like them. Especially Wallace, I have a soft spot for him now and was really rooting for him to be able to overcome some of his "issues." But there were definitely a few twists and turns that I wasn't expecting (AssCole) and it was a very good read and definitely held my interest! Overall, I think it was a great book, especially for a debut, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel :)