She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.
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Review
Author: J. A. Huss
Publisher: Science Future Press
Released: May 15th 2013
Pages: 282 (Kindle)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US
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Rook Walsh is TRAGIC
Because life so far – just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky… Rook got a second chance. And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.
Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract. Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s camera. Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modelling world. It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.
Before I start this review, I'm going to admit something to you...modelling is my guilty pleasure. Hey, don't give me that look; I don't model! But I love watching America's Next Top Model and reading books based in the modelling industry, so as soon as I read the synopsis of Tragic...well, how could I resist?
Rook Walsh has had a tough life so far, so when the opportunity for a modelling contract arises, she jumps at the chance to earn some money. At first everything seems great - a cute apartment, effortless work, and free food, and a hot boy to boot; what more could a girl want? Unfortunately, things are never as straightforward as they seem, and Rook soon finds herself in a little bit too deep.
I kind of hated and loved Rook, but I get that with any book character who is a model. I like my heroines feisty and down-to-earth, and models can be the opposite. Rook surprised me in a lot of ways, as a lot of the time, Huss characterised her to be quite thoughtful and realistic, with a touching backstory that really hit home. However, she also had her vain side, which drove me insane! She was slim, with lovely hair and a lovely figure and lovely eyes and lovely nails and lovely big boobs (she called them 'my girls' - this I just couldn't handle) - and she mentioned these facts far too often for my liking. So she was a bit full of herself, but a lot of models are - and for good reason, too! For the most part, Rook was pretty awesome.
Ronin...can you read it and not fall for him? You share in Rook's despair as he flirts dangerously with her - the typical rumours of male models surrounded everything he did, but he was such a sweetheart that you couldn't help but want them to be together! And I mean, come on - doesn't Rook and Ronin sound so coupley?! Brilliant characterisation all over.
I loved how Huss transported the reader into the world of modelling. I guess I know my fair share about it, thanks to ANTM, and I could see that she had described the chaos, the hurdles, the emotions perfectly. It takes a great author to be able to make the reader feel as if they're in the story, and Huss did just that - so I tip my metaphorical hat off for her!
I don't think I talk about covers as much as I should do, but I'd just like to point out how gorgeous this one is! Look at the detail, how it relates to the story (cherry blossoms!), how it draws potential readers in. If I picked books based purely on the cover, this would definitely have been in my shopping basket!
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel - it was fun, with intense flirting and high-running emotions that made you sit back and thick. I also thought that although some people view erotic modelling as racy and degrading, Tragic actually showed a feminist side to it, and I felt it taught me a lot about independence. Many contemporary novels surround the idea of a guy saving this girl - Tragic was the opposite, as Rook took her future into her own hands. Absolutely amazing - Huss is an author to look out for. Now it's just a matter of getting my hands on I Am Just Junco!
Rating: 4/5
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Nina I really enjoyed Tragic and I totally agree with you, this cover is really what made me pay attention to JA Huss to begin with and since then I've read two of her books, Tragic and Losing Francesca, both I really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!