★★★★★
"Valentine" is one of those books are going to be divided over. Some will love it; some will be lukewarm about it; some won't like it at all; a rare few will hate it; and some will be unsure how they feel about it. To me that speaks of a good book, one capable of evoking different opinions based on taste.
Why do I say this? Because "Valentine" is one of those different books that doesn't come along very often, and because it's so different, readers are going to be divided over it. It breaks convention and takes the reader in several unexpected directions. The characters have depth, but they're not likeable characters for the most part. That's because they're all very flawed characters, and they're probably not people you'd want to meet or associate with. They evoke strong emotions and perhaps strong opinions about them.
The title makes it sound like a romance. It is that, but it's hardly a conventional one. You'll wonder what keeps Jack and Lia going when everything says they should not even be together. Not having read the second part of the story at this point, I don't know how it will turn out: happily ever after, tragic, or something else.
Author Elliott Morreau deals with some heady subject matter, and his prose is certainly different from that of other romance novel out there. His prose is sensory in that lets the reader feel with all the senses, prose that involves the reader. Some reviewers have called the prose flowery, but there's a rather large difference between flowery prose and what Morreau writes.
-Rick Taubold
★★★★★
I loved this book! The narrative style alone captured me right away. Yes, it deals with some very dark and potentially disturbing issues, but the author handles them well. It's completely unique and bold. I have honestly never read anything like it before. If you are looking for something entirely different, and can handle a glimpse into the most shadowy corners of our world, I 100% recommend it!
-Kerri Davidson
★★★★★
Valentine Act I is an incredibly well crafted novel by an author who needs a lot more recognition! His story explores the love between a young couple and the aftermath of a gruesome murder. There are some sensitive subjects, but these are approached extremely well and are essential to the telling of the story. I could go on and on with a long list of positives, but I strongly recommended reading this one! An absolutely enthralling adventure!
-Emily Quinn
★★★★
Valentine Act 1 pulled me in from the moment I started reading. It had interesting characters and a unique storyline. I don't normally like books in the horror section but this one was well written and easy to read.
If there was one thing I didn't like was the way the characters spoke about and portrayed women. It was a bit much at times especially when one character told Jack (the main character) to beat his girlfriend. Thankfully Jack does not do that.
However, it was extremely well written. It easily jumped from character to character and at times played out like a movie.
I can't wait for Act 2 so I can find out what happens next.
★★★★
I was sent this by the author, Elliott in exchange for an honest review!
I wasn't sure what to expect when I first read the summary and didn't think I would get into it as much as I did! But let me tell you, this book was such a good read! I loved the style that it is written in; I love the character developments and interactions and love the romantic angles....I wasn't too sure how to take Lia when I first started reading. She came across as spoilt and hard-work! But the way she interacted with Jack was amazing! The dialogue really helps to build the story. It is a very interesting, inventive story. There were some elements I didn't enjoy but overall I loved this story and am excited that it has been left open for more!
I will definitely be reading the next book! Please check this new author out!
-Stepj Gear
★★★★
Valentine Act 1 pulled me in from the moment I started reading. It had interesting characters and a unique storyline. I don't normally like books in the horror section but this one was well written and easy to read.
If there was one thing I didn't like was the way the characters spoke about and portrayed women. It was a bit much at times especially when one character told Jack (the main character) to beat his girlfriend. Thankfully Jack does not do that.
However, it was extremely well written. It easily jumped from character to character and at times played out like a movie.
I can't wait for Act 2 so I can find out what happens next.
- Angela Scavone
★★★★
I was in awe of Elliott Morreau's writing straight away. From the very first page, I was hooked into the story of Jack and Lia. I wanted to know what would happen to them. Morreau's writing flawless, he managed to write incredibly flawed characters yet he made them readable and more relatable than I thought was possible. The narrative structure of the novel works brilliantly with the story. Morreau has a very unique and fresh style of writing that I fell in love with immediately.
This was a compelling read with rich characters. I'm excited to read the next novel and to see how the story unfolds.
-Lauren Knapper