Hushed

Published November 30th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.
Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.
But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

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My Review:

Great cover, right? Kind of gives you the shivers and really makes you want to start reading, huh? Yes. Those were my first thoughts when I saw it. Now that I have read it, all I can think is:

Wow.

That was intense. I just couldn't put it down! XD

Archer Pond has been friends with Vivian since they were kids. After he witnessed his best friend being gang-raped and couldn't do anything to help, he promised himself to always be there for her, to help her in any way he could. And so he has been.

Anytime she calls, he's there. Anything she asks, he does. Anyone hurts her, he ends them.

Always hoping, deep inside, that one day she'll open her eyes and see him.

The book starts with Archer forcing all the guys that hurt Vivian to kill themselves, always making it look like a suicide or an accident. All in order to make the world a better place for her.

Then along comes Evan. The new guy, who keeps trying to get through Archer's defenses, who ignores all the 'keep-out' signs. Evan, who, for some reason, just wants to be close to him. To talk to and spend time with him, wanting nothing in return but his time and attention. The guy who slips into Archer's mind when he least expects it, whose voice calms and reassures him, who, for once, makes him think of himself first, and not of Vivian. The one he ends up falling for.

But Vivian is a very selfish, self-centered b***h, if you'll pardon my french.

She can't take it when her doormat won't let her walk all over him anymore. She cannot believe Archer is happy (especially) with someone who is not her. She can't take it that he's not always there anymore when she's lonely, when she wants to whine or cry or go shopping or needs to feel beautiful or has been beaten by another boyfriend Archer was against her being with ~~or she needs a ride or has broken a nail~~.... uff! >.>

Well, in a nutshell: when he (finally) doesn't want her anymore, she suddenly HAS to have him.

This book really blew my mind. Deep inside I knew I shouldn't like Archer because, well, he was a murderer... but he was so sad, so pitiful, and really deserved being happy, I couldn't help myself!

And even though I hated Vivian from the start, I actually felt a bit sorry for her at first, for what happened to her, but ended up hating her more and more as she kept showing a darker and darker heart.

Evan was a good guy from the very beginning, all cute, thoughful, honest and kind... but even he showed a bit of darkness when needed. A bit shocking, but completely believable.

This story really makes you think of human nature. How we all have the capacity for both good and bad, we need only choose which will rule us.

I know it may bother some people so... about the homosexuality in this book, it was SO well dealt with, it almost brought tears to my eyes. There was no room for fear, shame, confusion or worries. Only for love, caring, calmness and comfort. Gender was the least important thing in their relationship. It so pure, so tasteful, it was almost poetic. *-*

Archer simply loved Evan as Evan loved him. He never worried about what people would see or think about them, the only thing that mattered was how safe, tranquil and happy he was when they were together, the exact opposity as what he felt when Vivian was around.

Kelley York really knows how to ensnare us and keep us wanting more. Her characters were so real I kept thinking maybe it based on a true story or something. LOL

I'm particularly happy with the way the book ended. I was afraid it would disappoint me somehow (Sometimes, when I love a book this much, I usually hate something about how it ends), but it was even better than I could have ever expected.

I have read almost 160 books this year (this is number 159), but Hushed has got to be my favorite.

If I were you, I'd read it right away. If I were not, I'd read it anyway. You'll be missing out on a VERY good read if you don't.

*I received an e-copy of HUSHED from the publisher by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.*