While reading Hush B.T Urruela and Anne Malcolm, I felt the need for a strong drink and that is saying a lot as I am not a drinker. This story is definitely not for the faint of heart, its dark, twisted, intense, disturbing and gut wrenching.
The story began on a cheerful note with the heroine, Orion, experiencing her first kiss from the boy she had been crushing on since second grade. However, the story took a dark turn shortly after, when on her way home she was abducted and held at the mercy of sexual deviants for ten years. For ten years her home was a dark cell, chained by her ankles to a wall, sleeping on a soiled mattress and her companions, other girls who were taken before and after her. Some were taken from a life of luxury and some not so luxurious. They were scared, beaten, raped and tortured with no hope of escape.
I believe one should go into this story as blindly as possible, therefore I will not go into much details for fear of giving away too much. What I will say though is that this was a superbly written story. It held me captive from start to finish. Two authors wrote this book, and I found it to be a great colloboration as the story flowed seamlessly.
Spending time with the characters proved bittersweet. My heart broke for the situation they found themselves in. Despite escaping their physical prison, the memories of their torturous past held them captive. It was these memories that aided in determining path they would take. In Orion’s case, it took her on the path of revenge.
A relationship developed between Orion and her childhood crush, but it was not roses and sunshine. Their journey towards becoming a couple encountered a myriad of obstacles, which was understandable given what Orion had endured. So, if you were expecting a sweet and rosy romance, then you should avoid this book and besides their relationship was quite unconventional.
It was my first time reading a story of this nature, and it left an indelible mark. I know for a fact I will not be forgetting it soon.
Hush is a story of survival, its abut facing one’s demons, healing, overcoming the terrors of the past and finding strength in the face of adversity. It shows that even though persons may have the same traumatic experience, the psychological effects for each will differ.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, a great story and one I would definitely recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.
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About Anne Malcom
About B.T. Urruela
BT Urruela is a combat wounded amputee, purple heart recipient, contemporary author who has written both independent and traditionally published books. He is a RARE under 40 award recipient, Rockwood Summit High School and Rockwood School District Hall of Fame inductee, Co-founder and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, Ambassador for Tampa Sports Academy, People Magazine Tribute for Heroes winner, Cover Model, Motivational Speaker and Philanthropist. At an early age he began writing short stories having been inspired by reading books authored by RL Stein. His maternal grandmother’s bookshelf was filled with literature that inspired his young mind and cultivated his vivid imagination. Upon graduation from high school his desire to have a 20-year military career was cut drastically short by an improvised explosive device. Taking the life of his commander, and leaving the remaining four team members badly wounded. After careful consideration and multiple surgeries, he along with the guidance of his doctors made the decision to amputate. It was the only surgery he ever left with a smile on his face, as if a weight had been lifted. He struggled for two more years through 4-5 hours of physical therapy a day, five days a week to get adapted to his new prosthetic. He medically retired from the Army with high hopes. His focus on restoring his physical shape being the most eminent battle caused him to neglect his psychological state. Meeting people was difficult and there were very few options for veterans to utilize that would stimulate friendship, and ultimately, allow communication barriers to be breached. After moving to Tampa, Florida, he co-founded the veteran community sports nonprofit, VETSports, with two other combat wounded veterans. It was their mission to change the way veterans transitioned back to civilian life through organized team sports, community involvement, and leadership opportunities. After being invited to attend a photoshoot with acclaimed photographer Michael Stokes, he flew to California in December of 2014, with incredible excitement. His photos were so widely publicized that he soon gained exposure to the literary world like he’d always dreamed of. That opportunity launched him into his present writing career. He co-wrote the novel ‘A Lover’s Lament with author KL Grayson. The following year he released first solo novel, ‘Into the Nothing’ and will be releasing Wicked Little Words with author Stevie J. Cole. He is now writing full-time.
