"It's weird how things that happened years before, ones that you haven't even really thought about in forever, are always just there. They never really go away." (Kayden Walker)
Did I really need to read a book from Kayden's POV that largely deals with his past in order to feel complete? The answer to that is a definite "NO!"
But, did I enjoy reading a book from Kayden's POV that largely deals with his past? The answer is a resounding "YES!"
What Lies Beneath starts with Kayden looking for his journal from when he was younger so that he can show Isabelle just how much of an impact she had in his life from way back then. However, the journal ends up being a "curse" for Kayden and he has to deal with his past colliding with his present as ugly, painful and bitter emotions are brought to the surface. He also has to deal with whether or not Isabelle can handle everything in that journal or if it's the final straw that could push her away.
I could always understand and sympathise with all the events that have taken place in Kayden's life and how he became who he is, but I could never condone his actions. What Lies Beneath spins all of that around. It shows us a boy who can't understand why he is going through all the pain and raw emotions that has become a part of his life. Kayden's emotions are so raw and human - his love and hate, his need for comfort and understanding, his goal to be feared and the conflicting feelings inside him that creates the person he becomes.
Isabelle, on the other hand, remains one of the most strongest characters I have ever read about. She's more confident, assertive and fiesty and while she still deals with autism and the challenges that she faces, she doesn't let it control or define her. Isabelle's growth from Count On Me to What Lies Beneath is one of the most amazing and believable things I have ever read about.
"She was Beauty. She was Belle." (Kayden Walker)
When I found out that this book was going to deal with Kayden's past, I was reluctant to read it. I'm not a fan of flashbacks and I felt that I knew everything there was to know about Kayden's past. However, What Lies Beneath shows information from Kayden's past that I knew about such as the abuse that he got from Dean, but details incidents that were only mentioned in passing or weren't mentioned at all in previous books. This means that there isn't tedious repetition of something that I've known and read about before.
What Lies Beneath is also not just flashbacks from the past, but the past intertwining with the present as we see the effects of the journal on Isabelle and Kayden. What Lies Beneath is relatively drama-free. There is a tiny amount of drama, but it isn't overpowering. The drama also stems more from internal factors than external factors.
There are a few typos, misplaced words and sentence construction errors, but they don't detract from the story. However, the dialogue and actions that take place in What Lies Beneath are difficult to understand and follow. It frustrates me that I couldn't fully visualise what was going on.
What Lies Beneath is not a necessary book in the Count On Me series, but it certainly does add more to Kayden's and Isabelle's relationship.
"Life with you, loving you, it's worth every fight." (Isabelle Reagan)