whisperingchapters
Written on Nov 10, 2014
I received an eARC in exchange for my honest review
I found a new love: gorillas. This story isn't only about finding love in a jungle. It also includes how gorillas interact with humans and what they are capable of doing and I really enjoyed reading those scenes.
Raven travels to Africa to find answers about what had happened to her dad. She lives in the habitat where dad worked and one day in the jungle, she meets Jospin and he offers to show her how to throw knives. They create a friendship but they know they have feelings for one another, very forbidden feelings because Jospin is a poacher, someone who kills gorillas and sells the gorilla meat and Raven is growing fond of these gorillas. And then Raven makes a discovery that will seriously destroy their world.
My experience was gratifying. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It started off with a slow pace but it kept building up and up until the intensity crushed me. There is a character that stood out most to me and that was Clovis. I can't say why or it will be a spoiler but this is a character that you will learn to love.
I love how Raven was so fascinated with Leahcim (Lee-eh-kim). Leahcim is a very smart and stubborn gorilla and he singles out Raven. It's like he knows he can trust her. They discovered one another when Raven was painting one day and Leahcim was sat in behind the crystal wall where the gorillas are kept and he got mud on his fingers and started painting on the crystal wall what Raven and painted. Raven was mesmerized by this but she didn't want to get attached to gorillas. After all, they are terrible creatures or so she thought. Later on, Raven gets to spend more time with Leahcim and their time together is simply magnificent.
The romance is spot on. Raven and Jospin...you can cut the sexual attraction in the air with a knife. I was so happy when they got together plus it had that steamy scene, which was wonderfully written and it wasn't too much. It was just...perfect.
I thought this was going to be part of a series but could be read as a stand-alone...I was mistaken. I kept glancing at the percentage. When I was at 98%, I thought "no, it can't end like it is going to" but it did. That being said, it does end in a cliff-hanger but it definitely motivates the reader to pick up the second book as soon as it comes out. There will be revenge in that second book and I can't wait to read all about it.
This review was first published at GenGen's Book Blog