Book Review: A Lighter Shade of Gray by Devon Pearse and GIVEAWAY!

First of all, NO, this book is not related to the Fifty Shades of Gray Trilogy. Just unfortunate on the timing (or fortunate?) is all.


A Lighter Shade of Gray, by Devon Pearse:


What does it feel like to stare into the face of madness? Or to anticipate your own? Would you drive away your only love? Could you pretend it didn't matter? How far would you go to protect a friend, or to avenge a death?

Ten years ago, Devon gave up the love of her life, fearing she would one day fall victim to the mental illness that has slowly ravaged the mind of her mother, who is now being cared for in a private facility.

Just when it seems Devon might have a chance to make up for past mistakes, her best friend Cass becomes a suspect in the murder of her sister's drug-dealing boyfriend. Devon knows Cass is lying about the details of her involvement and the lead detective on the case, convinced that Cass is guilty, is relentless in his pursuit of justice.

When her mother's young, emotionally disturbed roommate insinuates she knows something about the night of the murder, as well as details from Devon's own life that no one else is privy to, Devon becomes desperate to uncover the truth before Detective Lake does. As the investigation continues, Devon is led down a path she never expected and forced to face her greatest fears of life and love.

Tangled in a web of lies, regrets and questions, can she find a way to let go of the past and start again? And, once the mystery is solved, can she live with the secrets she's uncovered?

Join author Devon Pearse in this semi-autobiographical journey through the most heartbreakingly beautiful and deceptively mysterious events of her own life and the lives of those closest to her.


I wanted to like this book. I really did. Reading the back cover promised lots of interesting twists and turns, but when I sat down to read it, it was all just too much for me. Everything felt heavy in this book: the language, the plot, the descriptions. It felt like work to get through each page, and that is not what I was in the mood for, for sure.


But that's the thing really: it's not like I can only read "beach" books right now or anything, but I'm not in the mindset to pick up Tolstoy either. Maybe if I were ready for something a bit more dense and dramatic I would be writing a glowing review of A Lighter Shade of Gray. I can tell you that Devon Pearse can write. She is not just slopping the words on the page; she obviously has quite a gift, and her brain must be working in overdrive all the time to put together a novel like this. 


I can't give this a bad review, because I don't believe there are "bad" books, per se. This book was not for me right now.


BUT ... maybe it is the right book for you! Right now! Would you like a free copy of this book? Then you can read it and agree with me or come and write a big long letter about why you loved it. Here's how!


1) Be a follower on Google Friend Connect
2) Leave a comment telling me either your favorite "light" read or your favorite "heavy" read (or both!)
3) Leave me your e-mail address (if it is not connected to your account) in case I need to contact you to let you know you've won
4) Optional: If you want another entry, tweet about this giveaway or post on facebook along with a link to this post, then leave me another comment with a link back to either of those


The giveaway will stay open until Monday, June 25th, and let me tell you, I have gotten free books in blog giveaways TWICE that the blogger didn't care for and I ended up loving. So there you go. Good luck!


If you want to hear what other bloggers on the TLC book tour had to say about this book, click HERE for the full schedule of reviews.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for my review, but was not compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.