To Peek, or Not to Peek...
There are those types of readers who can navigate their entire way through a panic attack ridden scene and not even blink an eye. They savor every terrifying word, they delight in the heart palpitations and dance when the anxiety causes a nauseous pit in their stomach. These people give no shits to the trauma they may or may not experience just a few pages ahead. And to these people I say, “What psych ward did you break out of?” Truly though, how were you people just wandering through life a few pages, not knowing if Bella chose Edward or Jacob? What about The Martian, didn’t skip ahead to see if he died from a potato shortage? Just me? How did y’all pull through not knowing if Anastasia would finally get her very first orgasm from Christian Grey? Just kidding! I indulged in every word of that series. No shame. But what is the alternative? What about those of us who just can’t take it? I know what you’re thinking: “Surely she isn’t suggesting....You’re an author! How dare you cheat while reading!” And I get it. My daughter once told me she likes to read the last page of the book first, and I reacted as if she told me she had sold her soul to the devil himself. “No ma’am! We will not behave that way. We earn our endings in this house!” But I strongly adhere to the “do as I say, not as I do” rule. Hear me out, on this one. I don’t necessarily skip ahead and read paragraphs of text. I merely flip a page or two and look for a couple of words. One phrase to secure I won’t be mopping my bleeding heart up off the floor with page 86. There’s a sliver of comfort in knowing everything is going to turn out okay, and I can read those next few pages in peace. Just a little something to knock the edge off, if you will. Sometimes this method works gloriously in my favor. “She threw herself into his arms.” Fan-flippin-tastic, girlfriend came to her senses. I can proceed with chapter seven. “She held his farewell letter tightly, the crisp edges stained with blood.” No thanks. Gonna pass tonight. I’m out of wine so I just can’t. There are some train wrecks my little tender heart can’t witness stone cold sober. But there are those few times when I choose to “cheat-read” and I am tricked beyond measure. I’m looking at you “All the Bright Places.” I honestly thought Violet was going to be getting her ‘Happy Ever After.’ I don’t remember the exact phrase I read towards the back of the book, but I felt confident in marching onward…towards my mental break down. I am still not over that ending. I ignorantly skipped through the pages feeling like things were going swimmingly. I skimmed into the future, arrogantly assuming things were fine and dandy. “Tra-la-la this seems bad, I mean I know it’s reading as though he’s gone, but it’s totally gonna be fine. Maybe this is a paranormal novel and they bring him back from the dead. I’m totally down with that.” And then I hit that last page, and I was snot-sobbing into my book as my husband called my mother for back-up. And if I’m being honest, I kinda loved that feeling of surrender. Giving into that overwhelming emotion of being so completely caught up in a character, and what might happen to them, that you don’t even care you’re heartbroken. Those are the kind of books that stay with you, I think. The well-earned surprise, the plot twist you never saw coming, the character who delivers that one shocking line that flips the entire narrative around...maybe the gut-wrenching nervousness is worth it every now and then. Maybe not.
So, I’m curious. Am I the only one that “cheat-reads” from time to time? What books unsuspectedly ripped your heart out?
Break the Line by Allison Mullinax
Contemporary Romance
Fiery Seas Everlasting
Coming 2018
As a pro-fisherman, Benson Howell’s days are spent on murky lake water, reeling in largemouth bass and winning first place trophies. At twenty-nine, life is easy and carefree. His only job is to stay in the top rankings during the fishing circuit, and keep the sponsors happy. That is, until he meets hot tempered, fiery haired Danni-Rose in small-town Alabama. He has never backed down from anything too big to reel in.
Danni-Rose has spent the past six years of her life burying her past. When Benson Howell literally plows his boat right into her life, armed with simmering anger, she fights the current pulling her closer to him. With a past she can’t let go of, and the sexy fisherman breaking down all her walls, Danni-Rose does everything she can to break the line connecting her to Benson.
Will Danni-Rose be able to let go of the past? Can Benson change her mind about him? Or will they both miss the catch of a lifetime?
About the Author:
North Alabama native, Allison Mullinax, grew up in the small lake town of Guntersville, AL. She discovered the escapism and addiction of writing at an early age. Today she remains a lover of reading, all things outdoors, and spending time with her husband and three daughters.
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