☆☆➹⁀☆ 5 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆
What it’s about:
“In another life, she was my forever.”
An unexpected tragedy leaves Professor Nathaniel Hunt a widower alone with a newborn baby.
He hires a nanny. She’s young, but well-qualified, with a simple life, a crazy name obsession, and a boyfriend she met at the grocery store.
Over time, he discovers she knows things about him—things that happened before she was born—like a hidden scar on his head, his favorite pizza, and how he cheated on a high school Spanish test.
She speaks familiar words and shares haunting memories that take him back to over two decades earlier when he lost his best friend in a tragic accident.
“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen when you realize I’m not her.”
Transcend is a sexy, mind-bending journey that uncovers possibilities, challenges beliefs, and begets the age-old question: is there life after death?
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My Thoughts:
Transcend by Jewel E. Ann is the first book of a duet series (book 2, Epoch, will be released in April 2018). I devoured this book in a day. I did have to read the first chapter a few times, but as the story progressed, it became evident how monumental the character set up is in that chapter.
I don’t know what I can say about this book without giving up the plot, so I’m focusing on the characters. Their inner struggles are heart wrenching. I loved Swayze. Her bizarre parents may have had good intention, but they missed out on a lot of precious family moments while they desperately tried to prove their daughter was gifted.
Swazye is tortured by her unexplained knowledge of people and memories that are unrelated to her life. She is an overwhelmingly empathetic character—as are all of the authors heroines. I loved how much she was in love her boyfriend, Griffin, and his family. Griffin is a big, tough-looking grease monkey who is a teddy bear on the inside. His family and upbringing are almost the polar opposite of Swayze’s.
“I want the Calloway life, where everything is measured in love, and time together is the ultimate gift.” –Swayze
I adored Griffin. He is just perfect—sweet, supportive, engaged, romantic, and handsome. I loved, loved, loved Swayze and Griffin together. Remember “cutest couple” from high school? Swayze and her “grocery store guy” would win that hands down!
When Swayze happens upon Nathaniel (Nate) Hunt, her somewhat balanced life is turned upside down. The push-pull was stressful for Swayze and me! The angst and drama steeply ramp up as both Swayze and Nate become emotionally embroiled in emotional memories. An encounter with a rather creepy neighbor foreshadows a mystery to come, and it had me on the edge of my seat. I loved that the angst didn’t feel contrived, and it wasn’t a result of some stupid misbehavior or failure to communicate.
A premise I never would have guessed that I would enjoy immensely, characters I adored, relationships I am totally invested in, and the author’s quintessential writing style, made Transcend a #MustRead2018 book for me.
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Book 2, Epoch, Coming April 9th!
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