Nine Minutes by Beth FlynnOn May 15, 1975, fifteen-year-old Ginny Lemon is abducted from a convenience store in Fort Lauderdale by a member of one of the most notorious and brutal motorcycle gangs in South Florida.From that moment on, her life is forever changed. She gets a new name, a new identity and a new life in the midst of the gang’s base on the edge of the Florida Everglades—a frightening, rough and violent world much like the swamps themselves, where everyone has an alias and loyalty is tantamount to survival.And at the center of it all is the gang’s leader,Grizz: massive, ruggedly handsome, terrifying and somehow, when it comes to Ginny, tender. She becomes his obsession and the one true love of his life.So begins a tale of emotional obsession and manipulation, of a young woman ripped from everything she knows and forced to lean on the one person who provides attention, affection and care: her captor. Precocious and intelligent, but still very much a teenager, Ginny struggles to adapt to her existence, initially fighting and then coming to terms with her captivity.Will she be rescued? Will she escape? Will she get out alive—or get out at all? Part psychological thriller, part coming-of-age novel, filled with mystery, romance and unexpected turns, Nine Minutes takes readers into the world of one motorcycle gang and inside the heart of a young girl, whose abduction brought about its fall.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I added this book to my TBR shortly after I saw it was released. I didn’t know what to expect, but the blurb intrigued me. Since that time, I have been seeing 5 star reviews popping up everywhere. I had planned on reading this later this month, when my schedule freed up, BUT, Thanksgiving morning, I received several texts, as I was getting ready for our family dinner, from a friend (Foxy) which read, “I just started Nine Minutes. WOW …” “I mean WOW” and they continued.. Of course, I stopped what I was doing and read this Prologue she was going on and on about. Here is my reply: “D*MN YOU! That was freaking awesome. How am I supposed to go on with my day now?!?!?” And so began the Buddy Read.
Once I returned home that evening, I began reading and finished the next day! I was so captivated, that 1/3 into the book, I realized I had not made any status updates yet. I just kept turning page, after page, after page. I was so engrossed in the story, I thought of nothing else.
This was NOT an easy read for me. I need to be upfront about that. The subject matter was troubling; I have a teenage children after all. But the writing was so good, and the plot and character’s so thoroughly developed that I became “desensitized” to the story line. This is a raw and gritty read. Low on the steamy scenes with moderate violence. So understand that going in.
As the blurb describes, this is about GINNY, a 15-year-old who is abducted at the hands of a biker, then “gifted” to the head of Satan’s Army MC gang – GRIZZ. She was sassy, tough, smart and resilient. Having raised herself, despite living with her mom and step-dad, she refused to be burdened with fear.
“I was no victim. Never had been. Never would be.”
Grizz – The head of Satan’s Army MC gang, was a frighteningly evil man with a tender and loving side. He didn’t show empathy towards anyone but Ginny. His obsessive love for her knew no bounds.
“I love you, Ginny. I’ll always love you.”
What soon develops is a love story…built on the foundation of Stockholm Syndrome .?. perhaps. But as Ginny’s background suggests, she didn’t ever have anyone show her love or affection so when they were showered upon her she allowed herself to drown in them. To soak it all up and fall in love.
There is also an element of mystery and suspense within this book. Which adds to its overall AWESOMENESS! But it is still a love story.
“A story about a man who has loved me from the very beginning, from the first glance. the man who always was and still is my soul mate.”
The side character’s were plentiful and superbly written. Setting us up for more to come.
I am not going to explain any more of the story, just read the blurb – if that’s your thing – because to do so I think would spoil it for you. AND I HATE READING SPOILERS! This is one of my favorites of the year. 5 Stars!
About Beth Flynn
Beth Flynn is a fiction writer who lives and works in Sapphire, North Carolina, deep within the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Beth and her husband, Jim, have spent the last 17 years in Sapphire, where they own a construction company. They have been married 31 years and have two daughters and two dogs. In her spare time, Beth enjoys writing, reading, gardening, church and motorcycles, especially taking rides on the back of her husband’s Harley. She is a five-year breast cancer survivor.
Rock Star Page www.therockstarsofromance.biz/beth-flynn.html
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