The Lonesome Young Series, Book 1

February 3, 2014
It’s Romeo and Juliet with a Kentucky horse country twist when wealthy Victoria Whitfield and “tall, dark, and definitely dangerous” Mickey Rhodale fall for each other in this romantic drama from Connors, who writes adult fiction as Alesia Holliday and Alyssa Day. The feud between the gritty Rhodales and the well-to-do Whitfields dates back generations, and it’s still going strong. As the push and pull of the teenagers’ romance escalates, Connors complicates matters with lots of fighting, drug-dealing, problems with Victoria’s older sister, smalltown claustrophobia, and all-around contempt for the Rhodales among the locals. Told in chapters that alternate between Mickey’s gruff, hard-edged narration and Victoria’s more naïve and reticent prose, the novel leans heavily on stereotypical genre conventions, including fiery gazes and talk of “hard muscle,” cleavage, miles-long legs, and “lush parted lips.” Readers looking to sink into the vicarious pleasures of a very familiar “good girl meets bad boy” love affair should find it easy to do so; others may find it melodramatic and predictable. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

February 15, 2014
In rural Kentucky, where everyone knows everyone else and grudges run deep, Victoria and Mickey's romance is doomed before it even begins. She is from the Whitfield family, well-established players in the horse business. He is a Rhodale, known for their drug ties and violent tempers. Though a deep-seated family feud usually keeps Whitfields and Rhodales in separate worlds, Victoria and Mickey cannot deny their instantaneous connection. Their feelings for each other and about their family situations are revealed through short chapters that alternate perspectives. Most of the plot centers around the hormone-addled Victoria and Mickey as they hem and haw over their relationship, while their families do everything in their power to keep them apart. However, several juicy subplots are interwoven throughout the storyline, including Victoria's sister Melinda's battle with addiction, the historical connection between the Whitfield and Rhodale families, and dangerous developments in Mickey's brother Ethan's drug business. The narrative suffers from the introduction of some superfluous characters and drags on a bit longer than necessary, but it also sets the stage for further titles, as this is the first in a series. Romance fans will be enthralled by the back-and-forth drama, though general readers may grow impatient with the protagonists. (Romance. 14-17)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-The centuries-old grudge between the Whitfields and the Rhodales burns with all the fiery passion of a Shakespearean feud, although Whitfield County, Kentucky, is a far cry from fair Verona. Everyone knows the Rhodales are criminals. Mickey doesn't sell drugs or carry a gun like his brothers do, but he has a dangerous history of his own. He's desperate to find a way out from under the shadow of the Rhodales before him, but he sometimes worries that he's no different from the rest of the family. When perfect, beautiful Victoria moves to town to live on her grandmother's ranch, Mickey immediately feels drawn to her, even though she's a Whitfield. Her family forbids her to have anything to do with him, but Victoria strikes up a secret romance with Mickey. From the first page, action and intrigue abound in this melodramatic retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Readers will be left with their heads spinning as they try to keep up with the multitude of disastrous situations that the lovebirds are forced to face. Fire, drugs, sex, guns, addiction, kidnapping, horse theft, and violence may keep teens turning pages, but suspense and action are not enough to carry this romance novel. There is little time to connect with characters between catastrophes. The heat between Victoria and Mickey is fast and explosive. However, the voices of these angsty star-crossed lovers fail to ring true.-Liz Overberg, Darlington School, Rome, GA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 This series starter kicks off with the kind of kaboom atypical to YA romancesnamely, the explosion of a meth-lab trailer in rural Kentucky. It is the event that brings together our Romeo (hot-tempered hunk with a really great butt, Mickey Rhodale) and our Juliet (wealthy but wearied Victoria Whitfield). Mickey's half brother, fresh out of jail, is deep in the meth biz, and after Victoria's sister's boyfriend is found dead in the ashes, the long-held feud between the Rhodales and the Whitfields reignites. Regular romance readers know this material is old hat, but Connors rides clich's like a Harley, with enough noise and velocity to shake them awake. Perhaps thanks to Connors' alter ego as best-selling adult author Alyssa Day, this sweaty southern gothic has a broader viewpoint than its YA contemporaries, with a huge, two-family cast of characters deserving of a flow chart, concerns beyond navel-gazingdrugs, history, the lives of adults, and more. There is a lot of chatting about love here, and several bombastic climaxes, but it's crackling and ambitious and therefore welcome.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)