Title: Girl at the Grave
Author: Teri Bailey Black
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Genres: Young Adult — Historical, Mystery, Romance
Only
one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man
her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer,
but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her
own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My thoughts...
Ugh! we know how much I love drama, a love triangle and murder! Welp let me introduce Girl at the Grave, this book covered all three! Look at that cover, at soon as I saw it I jumped on board for the book tour!
I'm usually not the kind of person who reads historical fiction at all, those kind of books tend to erase Black people...this book is set in 1849! bahhaa! But I must say I did enjoy the book, except Sam...but we'll get to him later. Let's talk about Valentine Barron Deluca, the protagonist, she lost her mother tragically at an early age. Her mother was hanged for killing her childhood bestfriend, and local bank owner Nigel Blackshaw...Yeah that totally happens, which is one reason we never see Valentine's dad. He is very absentee, and welp not a good father at all. Valentine is a student at the most prestigious Drake University, with a benefactor paying her tuition. It used to be a boys only school but some progressive women, have opened doors for the young women to attend. Literally everyone hates this girl, at her school, she is never given a break. They make up rumors about why her mother killed Mr. Blackshaw but no one really knows. Valentine was 6 years old, when her mother killed Mr. Blackshaw, and she is now 17. For 11 years she has had to deal with being an outcast. Valentine has always wondered why her mother killed Mr.Blackshaw, and finally accepted that her mother was guilty..I mean after all she was hanged, right? Valentine has just been told that, someone else was there that night, and her mother was innocent. Now Valentine, goes on a secret search to clear her mother's name.
Now let's talk about Sam Frye, whose families reputation is worse than Valentine's. But Sam has been her bff forever! He is truly the person, she can lean on when she needs a friend...but ehhh! Didn't I mention they were 17 year olds? Like Sam is hunting for a wife, guess who fits the bill!!! Ding Ding Valentine, the girl he has always been there for, the one who grows more beautiful everyday. At one point he becomes very cruel to her because he thinks/knows she likes someone else...gross! He also tells her that his brothers kiss a new girl every week, and basically they should promise themselves to each other...Oh! The kiss that Sam is talking about basically, will let him know that he can expect a future with Valentine...Bruh not in 2018!
Rowan Blackshaw! Ugh, he is so swoon worthy! Teri definitely made Rowan, the son to be man, you want Valentine to have a happily ever after with. Yes, Yes, this is the son of the man Valentine's mom killed. But he is a total good guy, who falls for the daughter of the woman who killed his father...Everyone saw this happening, he stares at her all the time...very weird I know. But in 1849, it is amazing! Any who Rowan and Valentine make contact and become great friends. But then drama because of course!
So drama right? Let' focus on romance drama, Sam gets BIG mad, please refer to paragraph 2. He eventually leaves her be for a while. Rowan on the other hand casually asks Valentine about Sam basically have you promised yourself to him? See so swoon worthy! So her is Valentine, falling for someone who is perfect in her eyes but also believes that she deserves Sam because she is willing to settle. I mean Sam has been there for her, and he is the safe choice...
Back to the main story everyone has secrets but someone is trying to destroy Valentine, and her future. Murders start happening, and Valentine looks guilty, we see her trying to navigate the world with little to no guidance. Valentine handles everything thrown her way, but she can't always make the best choices, right? I didn't even talk about the killer!?!?!
My rating 4.85/5
This was my first Teri Bailey Black and it will not be my last. You should definitely check out this book!
Tour Schedule
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Author:
Teri Bailey Black grew up near the beach in southern California in a large, quirky family with no television or junk food, but an abundance of books and art supplies. She’s happiest when she’s creating things, whether it’s with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. She makes an amazing chocolate cherry cake—frequently. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California.
Visit her website teribaileyblack.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Prize: Wonderland Book Beau, size XL for a standard hardcover (USA only)
Starts:10/25/18
No comments:
Post a Comment