Hushed (Entangled Embrace)

by Kelley York

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn't protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he's never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn't matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another-Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed. Then along comes Evan, the only person who's ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is. But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer's committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn't get what she wants...And what she wants is Evan's death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

• ISBN10: 1937044734
• ISBN13: 9781937044732
• Publish Date: 1 November 2011
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Entangled Publishing
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 Stars

Shhh! or someone may hear you as you enjoy reading this intense mystery, suspense laden love story. Imagine someone's love and commitment so strong they would do anything and I do mean anything to show their love. Is there a love so deep for another and the sacrifices so vast that a lover will endure heart ache to protect a loved one? In the spine-tingling, suspenseful, heart pounding, roller coaster ride Hushed penned by author Kelley York is exactly what you will experience. The narrative Hushed is a book of many conflicts and tangled series of events it grasps you so tightly that breathing through the numerous unsuspecting events can be somewhat challenging.

Set on the compass of Haven University, The Grove a college hang-out and the apartments of Archer and Evan. Kelley York demonstrates her powerful talent for creating a narrative of high intensity, a troubling tale of young college students and how life presents them with harsh complexities for the hunger for attention and pain. This rapid paced read features the characters' emotional state of being while roaring, rapidly through the weight of sadness, disappointments and darkness and the positive glimmering light of love.

I enjoyed the flow of Ms. York's words that so aptly depicts the elements of her story's characters, settings, rising and falling actions as they unfold. Ms. York's messages of about self-preservation, confusion and shame are portrayed in such a realistic, dramatic manner. I understood and related to the book's premise and how Archer's devotion fueled his actions in the name of friendship, companionship, love and protection. Hushed in my opinion is the perfect suspenseful love story for young adults and anyone who enjoys romantic suspense with nail biting vibrations.

Vivian, is a beautiful woman who has experience troubling events in her life. She is Archer's best friend.

Archer, handsome, intelligent, gentle soul and like a brother, a knight in shining armor for Vivian since elementary school. As you read this highly emotional, psychological thriller you get to peek deeply into the hearts and psyche of Archer, Vivian and Evan.

The characters are so realistic and with lifestyles a reader can relate to. The surprises are breath-taking.

The secondary characters: Marissa, Mrs. Pond, Archer's mom, Roxy, Brody, Mick, Richter, Evan's, family the Bishop's support this mind-bending story and gives the story the foundation necessary to maintain the electrifying events that takes place.

The demonstrations of love are tender yet tough. There is a healing element that bounces off the painful darkness of the characters' lives. I was enthralled with the rapid-fire events in Hushed.

Hushed is an extraordinary read with powerful messages for all readers since it allows for the use of a vivid imagination to take hold and carrying the story into higher levels of excitement. It left a mark on my mind and will probably do the same to other readers. Hushed is a book that speaks so loudly that it can not be silenced. I am curious to see if Ms. York will compose a sequential to this engrossing novel.

Reviewed by Rhonda for Cocktails and Books

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

After really enjoying Made of Stars, I knew I'd have to read Hushed, especially after reading that intense blurb. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, since it doesn't really pick up until the last third, but I ended up liking it a lot. There's a lot of death, but it's not quite as violent or bloody as I thought it was going to be. Which was a good thing, at least for a wimp like me. Hushed opens up with Archer working on his latest kill, and his methods are quite disturbing. Smart, but disturbing. He has a list of men who he wants to remove permanently, since they've hurt his long time best friend, Vivian. But then he meets Evan, who figures him out but lets him know that he doesn't have to be a monster, especially for someone who will never appreciate him. Then there's an unexpected twist and things get crazy!

Hushed is very slow in the beginning. Yes, there are two murders, but they're not super in-your-face violent kills. I think this may be the author's style, since her other book also started out very slow, developing relationships, and then got extremely intense toward the end. I did like getting a deep understanding of Archer and Vivian's relationship before everything changes. It's a very unstable relationship, but both partners aren't exactly stable individuals. Vivian essentially uses Archer as a doormat, ditches him, then gets upset when he makes a new friend. She's not all to blame, of course, since Archer always goes back to her and tries to do everything in his power (including manslaughter) to make her happy.

It was really interesting to compare that to his developing relationship with Evan. Evan is a genuinely nice guy, and really listens to Archer. He doesn't use him like Vivian does, and he encourages Archer to take time for himself instead of always putting her first. They meet at the beginning of Hushed, and Archer who is typically a loner, reluctantly starts hanging out with him. Soon enough they're getting close...very close. There is one quite steamy shower scene! But getting close to Archer is dangerous, and not even for the obvious reason of him being a kind of serial killer.

The last third of Hushed is insane. I didn't see that coming, but it was to be expected. Halloween changes everything for Archer and there's no going back. After the big climax, I really liked how the author handled Archer's mental health. While I wanted a happy ending for him, I also didn't want things to be too convenient. He definitely has some work to do and I'm glad it ended the way it did.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.