Melodie Starkey

Sullivan is a 17-year-old high school student, dealing with his divorced parents, his twin sister who hates him, and his best friend, Kate, who may be feeling more for him than just friendship. On top of all that, he's gay, has a crush on the same boy Kate does, but hasn't told anyone yet.

I thought this was a good peak into the life of a teenage boy. Not that I know what the life of a teenage boy is really like. Sully is a good kid who's just trying to figure things out, and finally begins to do just that by the end of the book.… (más)

Before I say anything at all about this book, I must tell you it involves incest, rape, and extremely dark adult situations. If you are looking for a clean read, this book is NOT for you. That being said, I was drawn into this macabre saga by the incredible depth of the characters and couldn’t put the book down, even though I found the subject matter unsettling.

After Emma and Trey are orphaned by an accident, Trey gives up his part-time job and his dreams for college to remain home and raise his ten-year-old sister. The two have a deep relationship built on trust and isolation, yet over the years, Trey violates their bond. Emma spends the rest of her life struggling with love/hate feelings toward him. After his sudden death, which she thinks is her fault, she finds herself alone in the world, struggling to trust anyone. There are many horrible things that happen to this poor girl, it’s no surprise that the secret place she and Trey discovered as children eventually becomes the psychological secret place she lives in in her mind for many years.

The subject matter is disturbing, but Emma’s character is such a strange mix of strength, depth, and naiveté that it’s impossible to put the book down. Jeremy, the hero who comes to her rescue, is also a very intriguing character, but I find it difficult to believe he would stay with her for so many years when she is certifiably nuts.

I think these characters were superbly crafted and the writing was excellent. The story is far over the top for anyone with delicate sensibilities. It’s like a horrific accident you just can’t turn away from. This is a well-written story if you can stomach it.… (más)

Spoilers abound. Free on kindle. This is an odd book. I enjoyed it well enough & it is well written but the plot moves along strangely. The hero didn't have much affect & was portrayed kind of from the outside. I didn't really understand his relationship with his ex-girlfriend; and the other woman who shows up has motives that are left very unclear. Maybe that's the point; we are inexplicable to each other and we meet only occasionally and in odd ways. But it wasn't clear that this was intentional so I don't know.… (más)

Melodie Starkey spins a wonderful tale of two sweethearts who meet in high school, and leap into the adult world sooner than they'd expected after their first intimate encounter.

Megan is an honors student without any real friends, and has never had a boyfriend. Friends are hard to come by when you've advanced two grades ahead, and you're the only sixteen-year-old senior. Top that off with a mother who promises boys are an evil nemesis who shouldn't coexist on the same planet. How on this earth would she ever be able to go out on a date?

Christopher Eaton wears wrinkly clothes and is infamously late to class, but the first time Megan sees him, the crush is on! When he catches her staring at him, and he smiles, the heat is on! By the end of the week, Megan knows all of his classes, what kind of car he drives and that he doesn't have a girlfriend. She also knows she's going to marry him someday. But she'd die if he ever spoke to her!

Imagine Megan's shock when Christopher asks her to come to his house to study. Her shock is even greater when she learns the place they arrive at is his home, and not a hotel.

As their relationship develops, and they both find warmth and solace in each other, problems arise. How will Megan break the news to her mother that the friend she's been staying the night with isn't a female? Worse yet, she'd eventually have to tell her mother she's pregnant.

When the truth comes out, it's disasterous. Megan's mom explodes in the worst kind of way. We learn why Megan finds so much comfort at the Eaton house and why Christopher is so attached to Megan. Their story not only takes us through their happy moments, but the many troubles they are faced with throughout their early adult life. Though circumstances threaten to tear them apart, they struggle to mend broken hearts and hold on to the love they have for one another.

There's so much more than what I've shared. There are bittersweet moments, events that will peeve you off, down to their endearing children and the foster kids they take in.

I can truly say I loved this story! And I'm definitely going to jump into the second book, Sons of Eaton House.… (más)