Torn (Lost, #4)

by Cynthia Eden

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Cynthia Eden never disappoints. I have been following her LOST series from the start. I have read all the books thus far and I have enjoyed them all. As such I expected the same would apply for ‘Torn’. From the moment I began reading, I knew it was going to be an intriguing story. The prologue was intense. It peaked my interest and I was curious to discover how everything would unfold.

I was first introduced to Wade and Veronica when I read Broken. Throughout the series, the author hinted at issues that they both were dealing with. I had an idea of what was plaguing Wade, but Victoria was an enigma. It was evident that there was something from her past that plagued her, but no one was aware. She kept her feelings to herself and did not allow herself to get emotionally entangled with anyone. Lately, she has been having regrets about being a part of the LOST team. As a member of the team, she was exposed to horrific events which helped to stir up memories she wishes she could forget.

Wade and Victoria were attracted to each other, but they both hid how they felt about each other. However, when Wade saw that he almost lost her, he realized that he had to let her know how he felt. In the midst of them trying to come to terms with their feelings they were assigned a new case which involved locating a college student who went missing five years ago. What started out as cold case soon evolved into something of epic proportions as another girl has gone missing. They soon came to realise they were dealing with a twisted and deranged perpetrator and to make matters worse the villain has set his sights on Victoria. They have now found themselves in a race against time to stop the villain, and in the process, they are forced to confront their past.

The story was intense, fast-paced and suspenseful. It had me guessing at every page turn. Just when I thought I figured out who the villain was, the author throws in a twist that had me thinking ‘What the Hell!’ There were so many things in this story that I never saw coming. There were so many possible suspects and it was not until I was near the end that I figured it out.
I loved that the romance was not sacrificed at the expense of the suspense. I personally believe that it was perfectly balanced.

One of the things I like about this series is the characters. Wade and Victoria were no exceptions. They had depth and were easy to relate to. The events of Victoria’s past were shocking, but I can honestly say that if I were in her position at the time I would probably have done the same thing. I completely understood why she acted the way she acted. She honestly believed that she did not deserve to be loved and that she was not capable of love. Wade was determined to prove to her that she was mistaken. I thought they were perfect for each other.

Verdict:
This was a compelling and suspenseful read. If you enjoy suspense, romance, and mystery, then you will love this book. Although it can be read as a stand-alone I would recommend that you read the other books in the series before proceeding with “Torn”.