I found Save Me by Crystal Lee to be an intriguing tale that kept my attention throughout. It was a very well crafted story that was a quick read. I really liked the characters and the connection that many of them shared with one another.

I found the story to be predictable at some points, but this wasn't a big issue, and was offset by a few surprises that were thrown in.

I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a love story with a mixture of a little bit of action and suspense. 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading other books by Crystal Lee. ( )

SPOILERS:

THE HEROINE:
This poor, poor girl is probably one of THE most unfortunate main characters I’ve come across, in terms of having to endure so much pain and suffering: physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Continuously.
Year in, year out.
Month in, month out.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
She just doesn’t catch a break, the poor broken soul.


“The incident” - as she refers to it, 3 years ago @ age 16:
From a happy loving family environment to a life of misery after she sees her father being killed and she herself is shot by the same deranged person who killed her dad.
Surgery. Grieving. Moving to a new home.
Rehab to learn to walk again and deal with constant pain.
Seeing a psychologist, panic attacks, etc

After a month at home:
Twin brother of the now jailed killer kidnaps her.
Stripped her, beat her until bloody and bruised and then scarred her, by carving his mark on her back. He’s killed during her rescue.

6 months ago:
Her family don’t tell her, but threatening letters start arriving.

Presently @ age 19:
She has a noticeable limp, cannot walk for long periods, has panic attacks, cannot leave home, hates the dark, has severe nightmares, suffers suffocation and blackouts at any kind of violence, etc
Despite this she WANTS to move on. She has taken online college courses. Has attempted to leave the sanctuary of her home but after one really bad incident during which she actually wets herself in public, she’s been more wary.

But STILL determined to try.
Now she meets the hero, and agrees to her first date. They get as far as her driveway where she finds one of the taunting, threatening letters. Goes into a catatonic state which only an injection of Ativan (and the hero’s soothing words and touches) can bring her out of.


STILL she tries to move forward.
Even takes a flight to another city with the H. Spends time with his dad, in a public place, etc
And gets attacked by his crazy ex wife:
EXCERPTS:
I heard the slap before I felt it….holding onto my hair, pulling viciously…I felt some of my hair separate from my scalp…could feel pressure on my stomach……
She was lying on the floor shaking. She was so pale, her eyes wide with shock. Her right cheek was red and swelling, there were scratch marks on her neck, and her fists were clenched so tightly I could see blood oozing from under her fingers…


Back home she recovers from this ordeal. Learns to drive and reaches new milestones.
Goes on her first solo visit to the store: (Approx. 98% into the book)
Kidnapped by the father of abovementioned 2 criminals. He needs to punish her for the imprisonment of his 1 son, the death of his other son and his wife’s suicide. It’s all her fault.
EXCERPTS:
I saw the flash of a fist before pain exploded…I was lying on concrete…the tickling that was making its way down my nose, and I knew it was some kind of bug…covered in vomit…Cold water hit my face… struck me in the face… hit in the stomach… he rinsed my naked body off… roughly threw me face down on the floor… causing me to bite into my tongue…” I like my mark on you, right next to my son’s,”… burning registered in my back…forced my head into what looked like the opening of a dog kennel… booted foot pressed down on my shredded back… his boot still planted on my back, the one pushing and his hand pulling, it jackknifed my body…3 broken ribs…right hip extremely bruised and swollen…severe concussion…orbital fracture…CT scan shows bruising… the cuts on her back are severe…mental state taken a huge step back…nightmares..lifeless and flat (eyes)…


She tries to break things off with the hero. He deserves better, she says. He disagrees.


I’m hoping her brother, Ethan, gets his own book. Wouldn’t be surprised if Marcus, the killer’s brother has his own as well – that should be one heck of a story. ( )