New Release Review and Giveaway! THE TRUTH ABOUT AIR & WATER by Katherine Owen (Truth in Lies #2)

The Truth In Lies Series. READ This Much Is True (book 1) first, although it’s been written as a standalone. Readers say, don’t do that.

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” -Ernest Hemingway ~ A Farewell To Arms

They share an epic love but one moment changes everything. A life together that seemed certain is shattered. One learns you never love the same way twice; the other learns what it means to come home. You only think you know how this love story goes, but do you really know how an epic love can end?

“There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice.”
-F. Scott Fitzgerald

She is living color, and I’ve been in a black-and-white world for far too long without her.
Powerful stuff. It surrounds me. I’ve felt it since I first arrived. The forcefield of her. The magnetism of her. The power she wields over me. I’m alive again because of her, like a dying plant that finally gets some water. I’ve got it bad for this girl.
Reality dawns.
The light comes through the darkness and shines on me.
She’s my water.
-Lincoln Presley

The truth is I breathe with him. He is my air. Raison d’etre.
-Tally Landon

Author’s note: This novel is part of the Truth In Lies series. It can be read as standalone, however, fans of my fiction already are highly recommending that those new to my work, READ This Much Is True book 1 FIRST.

As Lincoln Presley would say, “Do as you must, Princess.”

Review:

I definitely agree–it helps to have read book one ( This Much is True ) and to have done so recently before picking up this one. Ms. Owen does manage to give us a recap eventually–for reasons I can’t explain, but it works for the plot–but it’s pretty far into the novel and doesn’t quite explain everything. I read book one when it first came out, but the details were more than a little fuzzy in my head before I started and I did feel a bit lost. So…if possible, read book one first.

Though–holy schmoly–by reading the series back-to-back you’ll more than fulfill your ration of drama for the year. Ms. Owen once again puts both Tally and Linc through the ringer! (Aaaaand there’s going to be a book three in the series–I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s going to do to them in that one…but yeah, I’ll be signing up for it, glutton for punishment and sucker for an HEA that I am.)

It’s very hard to write a review without spoilers, so I’m going to have to stick to generalities here. I definitely would not have wanted to know the events of the story before reading it, so…

I have to admit–for a good chunk of the book it was really, reallyhard to stay firmly on Tally’s side. Yes, some really crappy things happen that are definitely not her fault and make her life pretty hellish. Plus, oh my gosh, Linc’s dad is over-the-top nasty to her. I can totally share her frustration at the things that are going on around her and her feeling of helplessness over them. But she definitely makes some questionable choices and puts Linc through way more than he’s owed for it all, because a good deal of what’s going on is beyond his control as well. (I’m not saying he’s blameless, because he’s not–but for reasons I can’t explain here, because SPOILERS, he’s getting a pretty raw deal too, and at least after a while he’s trying…)

It got to be pretty frustrating at times.

But then Ms. Owen does it again–seriously, I don’t know how she manages it–and has Tally make up for almost all of her craziness in a fantastic speech to Linc in the second-to-last chapter. I highlighted it, that’s how awesome it is, but sadly can’t share it because of the “s” word again. Definite spoilers in it. Trust me, though, it’s good and makes up for what came before.

Fortunately, Linc agreed with me 😉

Bring on book three–I’m ready! (I think… 😉 )

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Owen writes contemporary edgy fiction, which translates to: she writes love stories that are contemporary in setting and both edgy and dark. Some readers term her books emotional roller coasters. With her writing, Owen admits she has a fondness for angst, likes to play with a little drama, and essentially toys around with the unintentional complications of love. She contends this began early on when she won a poetry contest at the age of fourteen and appears to be without end. Owen has an avid love of coffee, books, and writing, but not necessarily in that order. She writes both Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction which includes her bestselling TRUTH IN LIES Series (a series despite despising ‘series’) beginning with This Much Is True and her latest release, The Truth About Air & Water. The TRUTH IN LIES series is fan-driven. So. There will be a third book about Linc and Tally released in 2015 titled Tell Me Something True.About Owen’s fiction…This is NOT the light trope stuff. She travels a unique, writerly path and enjoys writing dark and angsty (a “non-word” she is fond of) emotional love stories. She often warns readers to be prepared with: time, tissues, wine, Advil or your drug of choice. And, as her most favored character, Lincoln Presley, would say, “Do what you must, Princess.”