![\"Veil](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/aiy6Tcx.jpeg\" "\\"Veil")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nVeil of Deception \u2013 Elizabeth Aragon<\/h2>\nGenre<\/strong>: Action, Mystery, Romance<\/h4>\nPublisher:<\/strong> Self-published<\/h4>\nRelease Date:<\/strong> 6 December 2024<\/h4>\nFormat read:<\/strong> Ebook (PDF)<\/h4>\nSource of book:<\/strong> A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest, paid review<\/h5>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMy Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Veil of Deception<\/em>\u00a0is marketed as a murder-mystery romance\u00a0and\u00a0an intriguing genre blend that makes you wonder how these two elements\u00a0play\u00a0together.\u00a0After all, we\u00a0exist\u00a0in an\u00a0age\u00a0where romance, and all\u00a0of\u00a0its variations, have dominated the reading world.\u00a0You can credit that largely to BookTok.<\/p>\nHowever, what\u2019s most surprising about this book is that there are enough action scenes to fill your standard Hollywood movie. In fact, while I would cite the description of \u201cmurder-mystery romance\u201d as an accurate description, it\u2019s not the complete scope of the wide-encompassing story that is contained within this compact read.\u00a0There is a murder mystery, and\u00a0there is\u00a0a romance.\u00a0But\u00a0there\u2019s also an international conspiracy plot with shades of the ongoing \u201cEpstein files\u201d controversy, multiple car chases, hacking, gunfights, and other high-octane scenes.\u00a0There will be some minor spoilers ahead\u00a0in order\u00a0to explain aspects of the book.<\/p>\n
This is\u00a0a very enjoyable\u00a0read, easy to enjoy within a day if you\u2019re looking for a short read that packs a major punch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Storyline & Plot<\/h3>\n
For the romance readers in the audience wanting to know what tropes are at play here, here\u2019s what you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n
\n- Calm, confident, and very protective male main character<\/li>\n
- Feisty, tough female main character<\/li>\n
- Instant attraction, bordering on insta-love, but due to\u00a0a lot of\u00a0the\u00a0action going on, there\u2019s still plenty of tension when the characters are together.<\/li>\n
- Lots of banter, as well as sweet, caring moments<\/li>\n
- Dual POV<\/li>\n
- Closed-door (no explicit bedroom scenes, for those who are concerned about that)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In addition, the romance element is really a secondary focus to the action\/mystery plot. It\u2019s an important aspect of the story, but not the foremost element. This is perfect for those who like their romance as a side dish to something else.<\/p>\n
For everyone else, this book is best described as a fast-paced mystery in the first half, that morphs into an even faster-paced action story in the second half. What starts as a possibly low-stakes murder of a wealthy man unravels into a far-reaching global network of secrets and power. New enemies and threats pop up from every corner, and nothing is safe.<\/p>\n
While the story itself is fictional, there are moments that\u00a0call back to\u00a0the state of our current world and\u00a0make you think. For example, the aforementioned high-ranking shadowy leaders, student environmental protests, and the use of social media and modern technology as a tool for revolution.\u00a0In fact, it is possible that\u00a0by\u00a0marketing this novel as a murder-mystery romance,\u00a0it\u00a0actually\u00a0undersells\u00a0its strongest plot points.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Characters<\/h3>\n
As you would expect, the plot focuses on our two main characters, Alex and Elena. As a pair, they complement each other well and both contribute to the mystery case at hand.<\/p>\n
Alex \u2013 The Detective<\/strong><\/p>\nAlex is a somewhat grizzled detective who has been around the block too many times to count. But he maintains a calm and confident demeanour throughout most of the book. Most importantly, he has a soft side, as shown by his care for Elena.\u00a0As the action star and\u00a0mystery-solver for\u00a0the book, he\u00a0already\u00a0is\u00a0very capable\u00a0and successful.\u00a0His development in the book is the new vulnerability and protective attitude he has towards Elena,\u00a0and\u00a0learning to work with her as a pair.<\/p>\n
Elena \u2013 The Heroine<\/strong><\/p>\nElena is a bit rough around the edges\u00a0in the beginning, but her street smarts and resilience make her a good teammate\u00a0to Alex.\u00a0She\u2019s characterised early on as someone willing to take risks to secure her future, but also has a kind heart for others\u00a0in spite of\u00a0her difficult life.\u00a0She has her own character arc as she learns more about\u00a0who she is\u00a0and resolves difficult experiences\u00a0in\u00a0her childhood.<\/p>\n
The Other Characters<\/strong><\/p>\nEveryone else in the story largely exists to support Alex and Elena\u2019s story, but they\u00a0work\u00a0as supporting roles\u00a0that havetheir own quirks.\u00a0One side character sadly does not survive the story, and while the death is during an action scene, I would have appreciated it if the main characters had taken a moment to grieve the loss afterwards. Since that character plays an important role in the story, we would expect the characters to react emotionally to the sad event.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Writing<\/h3>\n
Aragon\u2019s writing is very descriptive, detailed, and effective. She lays out tense interactions, car chases, and fights in a way that helps you clearly imagine what\u2019s happening. The comparison to a Hollywood action movie is not hyperbole.\u00a0She\u00a0is able to\u00a0describe scenery, character movements and actions, punchy dialogue, and fast-moving plot elements in a very movie-esque way. This makes it easy to visualise the possible movie adaptation of many scenes.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Aragon is better utilised as an action writer than a romance one. That\u2019s not a negative critique; it\u2019s just a reflection of the fact that it is in the action scenes where her writing truly shines.<\/p>\n
The romance is written effectively as a side plot,\u00a0showing\u00a0the natural chemistry and banter between Alex and Elena\u00a0andtheir sweet moments\u00a0in between\u00a0the harrowing events they encounter.\u00a0There are enough of the expected tropes of romance writing that a romance reader might expect. For example, because we get a split first-person narration between both characters, we get to hear their inner thoughts and feelings for each other. With this perspective, it\u2019s easy to get on board with the relationship and support the characters.<\/p>\n
The only point to be made against the writing is not about the writing at all, but about the text layout.\u00a0The text of the eBook version\u00a0that was\u00a0read for this review was a bit small and required zooming in on the eReader\u00a0in order\u00a0to read\u00a0well. Text size is\u00a0important\u00a0for the reading experience of any book, but for\u00a0eBooks, it is worth considering\u00a0the fact\u00a0that eReaders come in\u00a0a few different\u00a0size\u00a0variations\u00a0and screen types, so\u00a0having a\u00a0good\u00a0size or adjustable size is important, especially if\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0PDF format.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, the text sizing is an easily fixable issue and a minor concern\u00a0against a\u00a0book\u00a0that\u00a0is otherwise an engaging story that pleasantly went against my expectations.<\/p>\n
Publisher:<\/strong> Self-published<\/h4>\nRelease Date:<\/strong> 6 December 2024<\/h4>\nFormat read:<\/strong> Ebook (PDF)<\/h4>\nSource of book:<\/strong> A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest, paid review<\/h5>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMy Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Veil of Deception<\/em>\u00a0is marketed as a murder-mystery romance\u00a0and\u00a0an intriguing genre blend that makes you wonder how these two elements\u00a0play\u00a0together.\u00a0After all, we\u00a0exist\u00a0in an\u00a0age\u00a0where romance, and all\u00a0of\u00a0its variations, have dominated the reading world.\u00a0You can credit that largely to BookTok.<\/p>\nHowever, what\u2019s most surprising about this book is that there are enough action scenes to fill your standard Hollywood movie. In fact, while I would cite the description of \u201cmurder-mystery romance\u201d as an accurate description, it\u2019s not the complete scope of the wide-encompassing story that is contained within this compact read.\u00a0There is a murder mystery, and\u00a0there is\u00a0a romance.\u00a0But\u00a0there\u2019s also an international conspiracy plot with shades of the ongoing \u201cEpstein files\u201d controversy, multiple car chases, hacking, gunfights, and other high-octane scenes.\u00a0There will be some minor spoilers ahead\u00a0in order\u00a0to explain aspects of the book.<\/p>\n
This is\u00a0a very enjoyable\u00a0read, easy to enjoy within a day if you\u2019re looking for a short read that packs a major punch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Storyline & Plot<\/h3>\n
For the romance readers in the audience wanting to know what tropes are at play here, here\u2019s what you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n
\n- Calm, confident, and very protective male main character<\/li>\n
- Feisty, tough female main character<\/li>\n
- Instant attraction, bordering on insta-love, but due to\u00a0a lot of\u00a0the\u00a0action going on, there\u2019s still plenty of tension when the characters are together.<\/li>\n
- Lots of banter, as well as sweet, caring moments<\/li>\n
- Dual POV<\/li>\n
- Closed-door (no explicit bedroom scenes, for those who are concerned about that)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In addition, the romance element is really a secondary focus to the action\/mystery plot. It\u2019s an important aspect of the story, but not the foremost element. This is perfect for those who like their romance as a side dish to something else.<\/p>\n
For everyone else, this book is best described as a fast-paced mystery in the first half, that morphs into an even faster-paced action story in the second half. What starts as a possibly low-stakes murder of a wealthy man unravels into a far-reaching global network of secrets and power. New enemies and threats pop up from every corner, and nothing is safe.<\/p>\n
While the story itself is fictional, there are moments that\u00a0call back to\u00a0the state of our current world and\u00a0make you think. For example, the aforementioned high-ranking shadowy leaders, student environmental protests, and the use of social media and modern technology as a tool for revolution.\u00a0In fact, it is possible that\u00a0by\u00a0marketing this novel as a murder-mystery romance,\u00a0it\u00a0actually\u00a0undersells\u00a0its strongest plot points.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Characters<\/h3>\n
As you would expect, the plot focuses on our two main characters, Alex and Elena. As a pair, they complement each other well and both contribute to the mystery case at hand.<\/p>\n
Alex \u2013 The Detective<\/strong><\/p>\nAlex is a somewhat grizzled detective who has been around the block too many times to count. But he maintains a calm and confident demeanour throughout most of the book. Most importantly, he has a soft side, as shown by his care for Elena.\u00a0As the action star and\u00a0mystery-solver for\u00a0the book, he\u00a0already\u00a0is\u00a0very capable\u00a0and successful.\u00a0His development in the book is the new vulnerability and protective attitude he has towards Elena,\u00a0and\u00a0learning to work with her as a pair.<\/p>\n
Elena \u2013 The Heroine<\/strong><\/p>\nElena is a bit rough around the edges\u00a0in the beginning, but her street smarts and resilience make her a good teammate\u00a0to Alex.\u00a0She\u2019s characterised early on as someone willing to take risks to secure her future, but also has a kind heart for others\u00a0in spite of\u00a0her difficult life.\u00a0She has her own character arc as she learns more about\u00a0who she is\u00a0and resolves difficult experiences\u00a0in\u00a0her childhood.<\/p>\n
The Other Characters<\/strong><\/p>\nEveryone else in the story largely exists to support Alex and Elena\u2019s story, but they\u00a0work\u00a0as supporting roles\u00a0that havetheir own quirks.\u00a0One side character sadly does not survive the story, and while the death is during an action scene, I would have appreciated it if the main characters had taken a moment to grieve the loss afterwards. Since that character plays an important role in the story, we would expect the characters to react emotionally to the sad event.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Writing<\/h3>\n
Aragon\u2019s writing is very descriptive, detailed, and effective. She lays out tense interactions, car chases, and fights in a way that helps you clearly imagine what\u2019s happening. The comparison to a Hollywood action movie is not hyperbole.\u00a0She\u00a0is able to\u00a0describe scenery, character movements and actions, punchy dialogue, and fast-moving plot elements in a very movie-esque way. This makes it easy to visualise the possible movie adaptation of many scenes.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Aragon is better utilised as an action writer than a romance one. That\u2019s not a negative critique; it\u2019s just a reflection of the fact that it is in the action scenes where her writing truly shines.<\/p>\n
The romance is written effectively as a side plot,\u00a0showing\u00a0the natural chemistry and banter between Alex and Elena\u00a0andtheir sweet moments\u00a0in between\u00a0the harrowing events they encounter.\u00a0There are enough of the expected tropes of romance writing that a romance reader might expect. For example, because we get a split first-person narration between both characters, we get to hear their inner thoughts and feelings for each other. With this perspective, it\u2019s easy to get on board with the relationship and support the characters.<\/p>\n
The only point to be made against the writing is not about the writing at all, but about the text layout.\u00a0The text of the eBook version\u00a0that was\u00a0read for this review was a bit small and required zooming in on the eReader\u00a0in order\u00a0to read\u00a0well. Text size is\u00a0important\u00a0for the reading experience of any book, but for\u00a0eBooks, it is worth considering\u00a0the fact\u00a0that eReaders come in\u00a0a few different\u00a0size\u00a0variations\u00a0and screen types, so\u00a0having a\u00a0good\u00a0size or adjustable size is important, especially if\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0PDF format.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, the text sizing is an easily fixable issue and a minor concern\u00a0against a\u00a0book\u00a0that\u00a0is otherwise an engaging story that pleasantly went against my expectations.<\/p>\n
Format read:<\/strong> Ebook (PDF)<\/h4>\nSource of book:<\/strong> A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest, paid review<\/h5>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMy Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Veil of Deception<\/em>\u00a0is marketed as a murder-mystery romance\u00a0and\u00a0an intriguing genre blend that makes you wonder how these two elements\u00a0play\u00a0together.\u00a0After all, we\u00a0exist\u00a0in an\u00a0age\u00a0where romance, and all\u00a0of\u00a0its variations, have dominated the reading world.\u00a0You can credit that largely to BookTok.<\/p>\nHowever, what\u2019s most surprising about this book is that there are enough action scenes to fill your standard Hollywood movie. In fact, while I would cite the description of \u201cmurder-mystery romance\u201d as an accurate description, it\u2019s not the complete scope of the wide-encompassing story that is contained within this compact read.\u00a0There is a murder mystery, and\u00a0there is\u00a0a romance.\u00a0But\u00a0there\u2019s also an international conspiracy plot with shades of the ongoing \u201cEpstein files\u201d controversy, multiple car chases, hacking, gunfights, and other high-octane scenes.\u00a0There will be some minor spoilers ahead\u00a0in order\u00a0to explain aspects of the book.<\/p>\n
This is\u00a0a very enjoyable\u00a0read, easy to enjoy within a day if you\u2019re looking for a short read that packs a major punch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Storyline & Plot<\/h3>\n
For the romance readers in the audience wanting to know what tropes are at play here, here\u2019s what you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n
\n- Calm, confident, and very protective male main character<\/li>\n
- Feisty, tough female main character<\/li>\n
- Instant attraction, bordering on insta-love, but due to\u00a0a lot of\u00a0the\u00a0action going on, there\u2019s still plenty of tension when the characters are together.<\/li>\n
- Lots of banter, as well as sweet, caring moments<\/li>\n
- Dual POV<\/li>\n
- Closed-door (no explicit bedroom scenes, for those who are concerned about that)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In addition, the romance element is really a secondary focus to the action\/mystery plot. It\u2019s an important aspect of the story, but not the foremost element. This is perfect for those who like their romance as a side dish to something else.<\/p>\n
For everyone else, this book is best described as a fast-paced mystery in the first half, that morphs into an even faster-paced action story in the second half. What starts as a possibly low-stakes murder of a wealthy man unravels into a far-reaching global network of secrets and power. New enemies and threats pop up from every corner, and nothing is safe.<\/p>\n
While the story itself is fictional, there are moments that\u00a0call back to\u00a0the state of our current world and\u00a0make you think. For example, the aforementioned high-ranking shadowy leaders, student environmental protests, and the use of social media and modern technology as a tool for revolution.\u00a0In fact, it is possible that\u00a0by\u00a0marketing this novel as a murder-mystery romance,\u00a0it\u00a0actually\u00a0undersells\u00a0its strongest plot points.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Characters<\/h3>\n
As you would expect, the plot focuses on our two main characters, Alex and Elena. As a pair, they complement each other well and both contribute to the mystery case at hand.<\/p>\n
Alex \u2013 The Detective<\/strong><\/p>\nAlex is a somewhat grizzled detective who has been around the block too many times to count. But he maintains a calm and confident demeanour throughout most of the book. Most importantly, he has a soft side, as shown by his care for Elena.\u00a0As the action star and\u00a0mystery-solver for\u00a0the book, he\u00a0already\u00a0is\u00a0very capable\u00a0and successful.\u00a0His development in the book is the new vulnerability and protective attitude he has towards Elena,\u00a0and\u00a0learning to work with her as a pair.<\/p>\n
Elena \u2013 The Heroine<\/strong><\/p>\nElena is a bit rough around the edges\u00a0in the beginning, but her street smarts and resilience make her a good teammate\u00a0to Alex.\u00a0She\u2019s characterised early on as someone willing to take risks to secure her future, but also has a kind heart for others\u00a0in spite of\u00a0her difficult life.\u00a0She has her own character arc as she learns more about\u00a0who she is\u00a0and resolves difficult experiences\u00a0in\u00a0her childhood.<\/p>\n
The Other Characters<\/strong><\/p>\nEveryone else in the story largely exists to support Alex and Elena\u2019s story, but they\u00a0work\u00a0as supporting roles\u00a0that havetheir own quirks.\u00a0One side character sadly does not survive the story, and while the death is during an action scene, I would have appreciated it if the main characters had taken a moment to grieve the loss afterwards. Since that character plays an important role in the story, we would expect the characters to react emotionally to the sad event.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Writing<\/h3>\n
Aragon\u2019s writing is very descriptive, detailed, and effective. She lays out tense interactions, car chases, and fights in a way that helps you clearly imagine what\u2019s happening. The comparison to a Hollywood action movie is not hyperbole.\u00a0She\u00a0is able to\u00a0describe scenery, character movements and actions, punchy dialogue, and fast-moving plot elements in a very movie-esque way. This makes it easy to visualise the possible movie adaptation of many scenes.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Aragon is better utilised as an action writer than a romance one. That\u2019s not a negative critique; it\u2019s just a reflection of the fact that it is in the action scenes where her writing truly shines.<\/p>\n
The romance is written effectively as a side plot,\u00a0showing\u00a0the natural chemistry and banter between Alex and Elena\u00a0andtheir sweet moments\u00a0in between\u00a0the harrowing events they encounter.\u00a0There are enough of the expected tropes of romance writing that a romance reader might expect. For example, because we get a split first-person narration between both characters, we get to hear their inner thoughts and feelings for each other. With this perspective, it\u2019s easy to get on board with the relationship and support the characters.<\/p>\n
The only point to be made against the writing is not about the writing at all, but about the text layout.\u00a0The text of the eBook version\u00a0that was\u00a0read for this review was a bit small and required zooming in on the eReader\u00a0in order\u00a0to read\u00a0well. Text size is\u00a0important\u00a0for the reading experience of any book, but for\u00a0eBooks, it is worth considering\u00a0the fact\u00a0that eReaders come in\u00a0a few different\u00a0size\u00a0variations\u00a0and screen types, so\u00a0having a\u00a0good\u00a0size or adjustable size is important, especially if\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0PDF format.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, the text sizing is an easily fixable issue and a minor concern\u00a0against a\u00a0book\u00a0that\u00a0is otherwise an engaging story that pleasantly went against my expectations.<\/p>\n
My Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Veil of Deception<\/em>\u00a0is marketed as a murder-mystery romance\u00a0and\u00a0an intriguing genre blend that makes you wonder how these two elements\u00a0play\u00a0together.\u00a0After all, we\u00a0exist\u00a0in an\u00a0age\u00a0where romance, and all\u00a0of\u00a0its variations, have dominated the reading world.\u00a0You can credit that largely to BookTok.<\/p>\n However, what\u2019s most surprising about this book is that there are enough action scenes to fill your standard Hollywood movie. In fact, while I would cite the description of \u201cmurder-mystery romance\u201d as an accurate description, it\u2019s not the complete scope of the wide-encompassing story that is contained within this compact read.\u00a0There is a murder mystery, and\u00a0there is\u00a0a romance.\u00a0But\u00a0there\u2019s also an international conspiracy plot with shades of the ongoing \u201cEpstein files\u201d controversy, multiple car chases, hacking, gunfights, and other high-octane scenes.\u00a0There will be some minor spoilers ahead\u00a0in order\u00a0to explain aspects of the book.<\/p>\n This is\u00a0a very enjoyable\u00a0read, easy to enjoy within a day if you\u2019re looking for a short read that packs a major punch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the romance readers in the audience wanting to know what tropes are at play here, here\u2019s what you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n In addition, the romance element is really a secondary focus to the action\/mystery plot. It\u2019s an important aspect of the story, but not the foremost element. This is perfect for those who like their romance as a side dish to something else.<\/p>\n For everyone else, this book is best described as a fast-paced mystery in the first half, that morphs into an even faster-paced action story in the second half. What starts as a possibly low-stakes murder of a wealthy man unravels into a far-reaching global network of secrets and power. New enemies and threats pop up from every corner, and nothing is safe.<\/p>\n While the story itself is fictional, there are moments that\u00a0call back to\u00a0the state of our current world and\u00a0make you think. For example, the aforementioned high-ranking shadowy leaders, student environmental protests, and the use of social media and modern technology as a tool for revolution.\u00a0In fact, it is possible that\u00a0by\u00a0marketing this novel as a murder-mystery romance,\u00a0it\u00a0actually\u00a0undersells\u00a0its strongest plot points.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you would expect, the plot focuses on our two main characters, Alex and Elena. As a pair, they complement each other well and both contribute to the mystery case at hand.<\/p>\n Alex \u2013 The Detective<\/strong><\/p>\n Alex is a somewhat grizzled detective who has been around the block too many times to count. But he maintains a calm and confident demeanour throughout most of the book. Most importantly, he has a soft side, as shown by his care for Elena.\u00a0As the action star and\u00a0mystery-solver for\u00a0the book, he\u00a0already\u00a0is\u00a0very capable\u00a0and successful.\u00a0His development in the book is the new vulnerability and protective attitude he has towards Elena,\u00a0and\u00a0learning to work with her as a pair.<\/p>\n Elena \u2013 The Heroine<\/strong><\/p>\n Elena is a bit rough around the edges\u00a0in the beginning, but her street smarts and resilience make her a good teammate\u00a0to Alex.\u00a0She\u2019s characterised early on as someone willing to take risks to secure her future, but also has a kind heart for others\u00a0in spite of\u00a0her difficult life.\u00a0She has her own character arc as she learns more about\u00a0who she is\u00a0and resolves difficult experiences\u00a0in\u00a0her childhood.<\/p>\n The Other Characters<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone else in the story largely exists to support Alex and Elena\u2019s story, but they\u00a0work\u00a0as supporting roles\u00a0that havetheir own quirks.\u00a0One side character sadly does not survive the story, and while the death is during an action scene, I would have appreciated it if the main characters had taken a moment to grieve the loss afterwards. Since that character plays an important role in the story, we would expect the characters to react emotionally to the sad event.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aragon\u2019s writing is very descriptive, detailed, and effective. She lays out tense interactions, car chases, and fights in a way that helps you clearly imagine what\u2019s happening. The comparison to a Hollywood action movie is not hyperbole.\u00a0She\u00a0is able to\u00a0describe scenery, character movements and actions, punchy dialogue, and fast-moving plot elements in a very movie-esque way. This makes it easy to visualise the possible movie adaptation of many scenes.<\/p>\n Perhaps Aragon is better utilised as an action writer than a romance one. That\u2019s not a negative critique; it\u2019s just a reflection of the fact that it is in the action scenes where her writing truly shines.<\/p>\n The romance is written effectively as a side plot,\u00a0showing\u00a0the natural chemistry and banter between Alex and Elena\u00a0andtheir sweet moments\u00a0in between\u00a0the harrowing events they encounter.\u00a0There are enough of the expected tropes of romance writing that a romance reader might expect. For example, because we get a split first-person narration between both characters, we get to hear their inner thoughts and feelings for each other. With this perspective, it\u2019s easy to get on board with the relationship and support the characters.<\/p>\n The only point to be made against the writing is not about the writing at all, but about the text layout.\u00a0The text of the eBook version\u00a0that was\u00a0read for this review was a bit small and required zooming in on the eReader\u00a0in order\u00a0to read\u00a0well. Text size is\u00a0important\u00a0for the reading experience of any book, but for\u00a0eBooks, it is worth considering\u00a0the fact\u00a0that eReaders come in\u00a0a few different\u00a0size\u00a0variations\u00a0and screen types, so\u00a0having a\u00a0good\u00a0size or adjustable size is important, especially if\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0PDF format.<\/p>\n Overall, though, the text sizing is an easily fixable issue and a minor concern\u00a0against a\u00a0book\u00a0that\u00a0is otherwise an engaging story that pleasantly went against my expectations.<\/p>\nStoryline & Plot<\/h3>\n
\n
Characters<\/h3>\n
Writing<\/h3>\n