By a Thread by R.L. Griffin is a book, from the description, that there is no way I would have read, despite it’s awesome cover. If you guys have been following my reviews, you know I like feel-good books. Emotions are fine if I get my HEA. But my sister asked me to do a friend a favor and read her book, and I did, with some trepidation from reading the blurb. Well guess what? I was completely and utterly sucked in from page one.
What a pleasant surprise! Despite its mostly dark subject matter, this was a book filled with hope and lots of funny little lines. By a Thread was very well written and filled with loss, longing, friendship, love, healing and a holy shit! moment that I never saw coming.
Stella has just moved to Washington DC with her fiancé Jamie and their awesome dog, Cooper. Jamie is starting his new job as an ATF agent, and she is about to start law school. Stella knows nobody in DC and they are moving into Jamie’s friend’s basement apartment. That same first day in DC, Jamie is killed in a car accident.
Patrick, Jamie’s friend and Stella’s new roommate is completely there for her. What a great guy. He takes care of her when all she really wants to do is crawl in a hole. Stella defers law school for a year while she spends that time as a drunk zombie with only Patrick and their other roommate, Billy, to remind her to get up each day and take care of her dog.
“She was held together by a thread. Not even strong fishing wire, but the kind of thread that could fray and break in the wind. A thread that could unravel at any moment, scattering and smashing all the pieces of her that she was trying desperately to keep together.”
Stella might be miserable, but she is one feisty girl with a really great sense of humor, especially drunk (which she always is). The three of them spend a lot of time at a local bar, Finnegan’s, where Stella strikes up a friendship with the bartender, George. But she doesn’t heal. In fact, she gets an accurate (yet gross) depiction of her shattered heart tattooed across her back to keep people away.
“She was hard, numb. The hardness had come about recently, spreading through her brain and chest. She worried that if she were hit hard enough she would just crack”
When Stella begins law school a year late, she meets Millie, a fun, feisty law student, that starts a friendship with Stella immediately. Stella doesn’t share much. She doesn’t talk about Jamie–to anyone. And she is still wearing her engagement ring. But Millie is welcomed into the group immediately, and she thinks Patrick is H-O-T!
“I mean, seriously hot. Did you see he has that arrow muscle?
“What” Stella was confused.
“You know, the muscles that point to his dick, the arrow to his dick. Good God,” she groaned. “I almost jumped him last night.”
(I LOVE the arrow muscle!)
Over the years, Stella and George’s attraction grows, in fact he has been crazy about her, but her heart is still shattered. All she wants is sex.
“If I weren’t working I would take you home immediately,” he growled.
“What’s wrong with here,” she teased and pulled his earlobe with her teeth.
“Oh, no. This is going to be slow and deliberate.”
George is pretty fucking awesome…and he rides a motorcycle. But Stella is just too broken to see it.
“I want to tell you that you are beautiful, you know that? Inside and out.” He kissed her left shoulder blade, “but you are broken. I plan on fixing you.”
“Oh really, how do you plan on doing that?” she asked without moving.
He leaned down and kissed her lovingly on the back of her neck, up slowly behind her ear. A shutter went through her entire body. “Very slowly, and one piece at a time, love.”
And then….and then…….
Holy Fuck!
Likes:
- The cover is awesome!
- Even the miserable times had a snarky, humorous edge to them.
- I liked all of the characters, especially Millie.
- Oh My Shit! Funny lines made me laugh.
- Cooper. What an awesome dog, and such an integral part of the story.
- Though the story didn’t really progress quickly, I found I couldn’t put it down.
- A crazy twist I didn’t expect.
- The Washington DC aspect. It was clearly written by someone who had lived there. (I went to college there, so this part was cool to me).
- The group felt a little like “How I Met Your Mother”.
- Though there is a little cliffhanger, you can read this on it’s own.
Dislikes:
- Aaaaargh! It has a semi-cliffhager, and the next book doesn’t come out until summer! But it has an HFN (Happy For Now) at the same time…you just know you HAVE to read the next!
- The blurb doesn’t do the book justice.
- The third quarter of the book got a teeny bit slow, and the end was a bit rushed (very minor pacing issue).
- She blows her bangs out of her eyes….a LOT.
Rating: 4.5 stars, 3.75 heat
By a Thread is one of those books where I’m having a really hard time explaining just why I loved it. If I think of the story, I’m not sure it rates quite as high. But my enjoyment of the book, and the fact that I didn’t check facebook while I read tells you something right there. I guess I felt like I was friends with the characters. Something about the way it is written draws you right in and doesn’t let go.
By a Thread was a fast read with great, relatable characters, funny lines, emotional subjects and crazy twists and turns. But mostly it’s about healing from great loss. This was a really wonderful surprise, and I look forward to reading the next in this series, which is currently planned as a trilogy.
Purchase or Borrow (Prime) By a Thread by RL Griffin
Amazon
*This book was sent to me by the author for an honest review.
PS: This is the fourth book in 2 weeks that features a dead fiancé! How weird is that?
R.L. Griffin has graciously offered a signed paperback of By a Thread to a lucky winner!
Lisa Sanders says
Would love to check this one out.
Amanda Brown says
would love to win 🙂
priscilla v says
would love to read!
Cynthia L. says
Looking forward to this!
Kim says
Great review! The storyline reminds me of Connected by Kim Karr and Falling into You by Jasinda Wilder.
Ana's Attic says
It isn’t really…Just the dead fiance thing.
Vickie Milizia says
I’m with you, don’t know if I can read this. If I win, however, I’m going to read it, and then I’ll post my review for you……
Ana's Attic says
Don’t let the description/blurb put you off.
J. Gore says
Wow, I’m excited to read this book!
Janeane says
Sounds like a great read!
Holley says
Sounds interesting
Veronica says
I normally don’t like books like this that sound like it will be sad and somewhat dark, but reading your review I think I would love this! Especially that she is feisty and funny, because I love both of those traits in characters. Sweet review!
Ana's Attic says
I would never have picked it up from the description. I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
Veronica says
I love when you discover a book like that and then kick yourself for all the other amazing books you may have missed out there because you didn’t give them a chance
Katrina Lynn Camacho says
Interesting reading material.
Nichole C says
Would love to win this book!
Christina says
Sounds like a book I’d love to read.
Irene Rosa says
This sounds like a very interesting book. Thank you for the great review.
Dannielle says
Would like to read this one 🙂
Crystal Marie says
Would love to read this book 🙂
Darci says
Sounds like a great book! I like the fact you mentioned it doesn’t leave you completely hanging at the end, I could use a book like that right about now: )
Joanne Christenson says
Love your reviews, especially the likes and dislikes
Melanie Canning says
This book sounds like it would be right up my street!!!
Laura Mendez says
AAAHHH!!!!! I really can’t wait to read this book. I’ve heard lots of great things about it. Thanks for the opportunity.
Lariza says
Great review can’t wait to read it!
Stephanie Nuss says
Cannot wait for this!!
Tami says
Actually sounds good – is the giveaway open internationally? I’ve entered but understand if I’m not eligible 🙂
Melissa D says
This sounds very good and would love a chance to win it!!!
Mindy Jarreau says
I WILL be reading this!! 😉
Jenn says
Sounds great can’t wait to read it.
Vicki Deatelhauser says
Looks like an amazing book…..can’t wait to read it!!
Alicia Batista says
Thanks for the giveaway! This book sounds SO GOOD! 🙂
Jamie says
Would love for the chance!
Tanya Childress says
It is on my wish list 🙂
thanks for the chance!
Gina G says
This sounds great..
stephanie vincent says
what a great give away!
Alisa says
Thanks for sharing. This looks great
kp says
Looking at this cover it would not have been a book I would choose, but after reading your review it went on my TBR list!!
Joanne Cowan says
Another one for my tbr list!
nicki says
this looks so good, i think i’m gonna grab it if i don’t win! love the review!
Meg says
Looks super interesting! I would love to win 😀
Candice says
Thanks for an awesome giveaway!!
Robin N says
Sounds good!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!!!!!
nicole a. says
Thank you for the giveaway! Definitely gonna check this one out. =)
Crystal says
Sounds excellent! Tbr for sure.
Megan Myers says
I like the title…thanks for the giveaway!
Marina B says
Would love to read “By a Thread” by RL Griffin
Cathy says
Would love to read this, it sounds amazing!!! 🙂
Molly F. says
This sounds like a really great read that I can’t wait to pick up!
Jay B. says
I prefer feel-good books too because HEAs are always assured 😀 as long as it’s an HEA I don’t mind! hahaha
Ana's Attic says
It’s a HFN–not a HEA. It’s a 3 book series.
Adrienne Scales says
I’m glad I read this review. I probably would have skipped it. I will def. add to my tbr.
Lorie says
Dying to read this!!! My friend loved it.
Meghan Stith says
Thanks for the giveaway! LOVE your Joey Gif!
mestith at gmail dot com
Kristin says
I would love to win. Thanks for the chance!
TG says
Looking forward to reading this book!!!
RL says
I can’t wait to give away this book and thank you so much Ana for the awesome review.
Debra Diaz says
Love the review, my favorite part, she blows her bangs out of her face…A LOT, made me lol!
Alyssa says
THanks for the review! I would love to read it!
Shannon Backstrom says
On my TBR list? Can’t wait!
Mick Murphy says
Thanks for the giveaway!
Jenny Dauksa Schaber says
You have me intrigued enough to add it to my TBR despite the giveaway. It soulds like a great book!
Erika S. says
Sounds intriguing!
Jamie Nichols says
Would love to check this one out! Sounds great!
Roxanne G says
It’s on my TBR, can’t wait to check it out! 🙂
Micah DeLozier says
I’m definitely one of those girls that likes to judge a book by its cover or review…but after YOUR review, I’d definitely read this book! Lol.
Courtney says
Just finished it and I loved it! Thanks for recommending it!