Broken Summer: one man is forced to confront the past, the secrets and lies that surround it

Broken Summer by J.M. Lee and translated by An Seon Jae is a story of a mysterious death, lies and a secret that one man spent 26 years running from until one fateful day. Lee Hanjo is an artist who is envied and celebrated. On the morning of his 43rd birthday, he wakes up to find his devoted wife gone and a completed, not yet published book she had secretly written. A story about an unsavory past and the questionable past of an artist that was eerily similar to his own and one summer when a deadly lie tragically destroys two families. Dread fills him as he realizes that his life is about to shatter and the demons he has been running from have caught up with him. Why did his wife do it? And why now? 

Described as a master storyteller, J.M. Lee is a renowned Korean author. He delivers an unforgettable story of hidden truths, lies, and the inevitable consequences. The past won’t stay buried and deceptions will be unraveled. The writing is beautifully poetic and with every twist and turn, readers will be on the edge of their seats. The story does start off a bit slow; but as Hanjo remembers the details of that fateful summer, the story picks up pace as he tries to discover who his wife really is and what her motivations could possibly be. With multiple points of views, dual timelines and very character driven. They may not be characters to root for or care about; however, they are intriguing as the mystery unfolds. If you enjoy a sleepy thriller with a fast paced ending, I highly recommend Broken Summer. 

Broken Summer is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Cross Out: a look into urban life

Cross Out by Roger Cannon is the story of 17 year old Jaime “Kimo” Flores who leads three very different lives. He’s a talented artist, an aspiring future cop and he is a member of a local tagging crew. When members of his crew kill a member of a local gang called The Posse, Jaime finds himself in a race against time to keep himself, his friends and his family safe. In the community of Bell Gardens, Jaime starts to see the lines between his different lives begin to blur. He must choose his final path before it is chosen for him. What path will he take? Will he make it out alive?

Cross Out is an interesting look into urban life and the impact the community has on the youth who grow up there. While I appreciate the author’s capture of the urban life, I was not captivated by the story. I see this story appealing more to young adult readers especially teenage boys. I recommend this book for young adult readers or anyone who can appreciate a story of an urban youth trying to find his way in the world.

Cross Out

is available on Amazon

in paperback and on the Kindle