Book Review & ARC Giveaway: Erased by Jennifer Rush

“What’s wrong? Do you want me to get Sam?”
“No,” I said, but the word came out too breathy, too quiet.
Was it another flashback? Why here? Why now?
“I’m getting Sam,” Dani said and started for the door.
I tried to stop her but stumbled, pitching forward.
The sound of paper scraping against paper.
The sound of a voice.
“How long are you here?” The question echoed in my head. It was my voice asking it.
Just tonight,” Dani answered.
The flashback took ahold of me, and the motel room faded away, the smell of cleaner and iron disappearing, replaced with the smell of pine and flowers and something smokey.
We were in a a bedroom. Mine, I thought. From my old house. My old life.
I sat cross-legged on the bed, and Dani sat next to me.
I must have pouted, because she laughed and pushed the hair behind my ear. “Don’t be sad, bird.”
“I don’t like it when you’re gone. Dad is mean, and Mom doesn’t say or do anything. I’m so bored.”
Dani stiffened. “How is Dad mean?”
“I don’t know. He yells a lot.”
“Has he…” Her voice cracked. “Did he hit you again? I mean, when you get in trouble? Or when he yells?”
I frowned. I couldn’t remember him hitting me ever, so I said, “No. I don’t think so.”
Dani relaxed and blew out a breath. She curled her index finger and thumb, cupping my chin. “I’ll come back for you. I swear it. You just have to be patient.”
“I don’t want to be patient.”
“It won’t be much longer now. Sam’s gonna help me get you out. It’ll be an adventure.”
I brightened. “Will Nick go with us?”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Why would you ever want that crabby pants to come with us?”
“I don’t know.” I picked at the blanket spread out beneath us. “He’s nice to me. He showed me how to make these.” I held up a piece of paper that was folded into a bird. “He said his mom showed him how.”
Dani held the bird by its sharp, pointed tail. “Did he, now? Well, in that case, maybe we should bring him along. Maybe he can fold us a boat out of paper and we can sail across the ocean.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s dumb. It would sink.”
She laughed again and smoothed down my hair. “You never know. Anything is possible, bird, if you wish for it hard enough.”

Anna, Sam, Cas, and Nick are fleeing from The Branch and their top secret genetic and memory program, and fighting to regain their memories that have been wiped during their treatments. Flashbacks come and go, making little sense, and Anna is trying to learn the Boys’ rules: Don’t draw attention, always carry a weapon, know your surroundings, and watch your back. But when her sister Dani turns out to be alive, and more of her memories of her life before surface, can Dani trust Sam or any of The Boys? What was the real reason her memories were erased?

In this sequel to Altered, Jennifer Rush picks up right where she left off and keeps the reader running until the end. The danger and action are exponential, with not only the secret Branch on their heels but flashbacks bringing back memories to everyone, casting loyalties in doubt. In addition, the Branch has new tricks up their sleeves, and will stop at nothing and no one to make sure that Anna is in custody and the rest are captured or killed. The back stories on Anna, Sam, and Nick are more fully fleshed out, leaving readers wanting detail happy, yet they only add to the twists within the story.

 

 

 

Filed under: Book Reviews, Erased, Jennifer Rush