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Max was her next job. She got his name just before he died and it was for her to lead his soul to heaven. She was a Bringer.
Then Max started pleading (as they often do), but not for himself, for his son, James.
Would she look after him, would she comfort him as he grieved for the loss of his father? James was a sensitive young man. He would take his father's death very hard.
Well, Bringers don't do that sort of thing; their exclusive role is to usher souls to heaven. They are not allowed to get involved in earthly affairs.
However, when she saw James, she felt something she had never felt before - an emotion, a shock.
She was a Bringer. Bringers do not have emotions.
Yet she couldn't help herself. She found herself being drawn inexorably towards James and his life, against every instinct she had ever had, against every law of the universe.
And she fell in love.
For a Bringer, that is a terrifying fall.
(Reviewed for The Erratic Reviewer)
This was a personal buy. I read this book last year, soon after it was released and found it truly beautiful. That's how I felt when I read it - beautiful. There's a sweetness and gentleness to it that was refreshing, despite all the crazy stuff that begins to happen. This was written in the first person, and either I'm getting better at reading first person POV, or writers are getting better at writing it. I certainly never used to be a fan of it, but it worked really well here. I really felt for the main character, Lucyna, all the way through, from her longings, her curiosity, her feelings of hurt and jealousy, to her anger. (But Lucyna's such a sweet girl that even her anger's kind of sweet too :))
James is a very realistically portrayed hero, and again, I felt it refreshing that we're not talking all superman-type musclebound, but a regular guy with a job and regular thoughts and urges. And the author did this without making him weak at all - he was still very sexy and it was obvious how much he began to feel for Lucyna.
I didn't see the big twist that happens about two thirds into the book - always a plus!
In short, this was a tender, loving story combining heaven and heavenly beings, with love, death, longings of the heart and soul, and a good plot that begins to unfold half way through the book. A beautiful read and highly recommended. It's the only book of Samantha's that I've read so far, but I'd definitely like to read more.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. This was my first time reading about angels/fallen angels and i absolutely loved this one by Samantha Towle!
It had me hooked from the first page and i couldn't put it down until i finished it. I'm looking forward to whatever Samantha writes. She had me hooked with First Bitten and it only made me even more so after reading The Bringer.
Excellent story telling Samantha Towle!
Readers you will not be disappointed in this book!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Suzy_Turner
Posted October 25, 2011
I bought this book a couple of months ago... partly because the author, Samantha Towle, is a fellow Yorkshire lass and I wanted to support her and partly because I loved the look of the book. I never actually read the blurb!
Anyway, I finally began reading during a recent holiday and boy was I in for a surprise! The beginning hooked me in right from the first few words and I literally couldn't put it down after that. I can honestly say that I went through so many different emotions whilst reading this book - but in particular, it sucked me in and at times it literally made my heart ache.
I really loved James, he seems like such a rounded character, the way he swore just like a regular guy, made him even more real to me. And Lucyna... well, how can you not love her? What she goes through in the book (and before, for that matter) just makes you want everything to work out for her. There are times when you just want to shake her, but that makes her even more real. Well, as real as a Bringer can be of course!
All in all, The Bringer is a fantastic piece of fiction and I can't wait to read more from this debut author.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sanz71
Posted August 17, 2011
Love is agony and Death is sad.
Max was her next job. She got his name just before he died, it was her job to bring his soul to heaven. Then Max began his pleading (as they often do) but Max was pleading for his son James not himself as was usually the case.
Max pleaded. Would she look after James? Would she be there to comfort him as he grieved for the loss of his father? James was a sensitive young man, and would take his father's death very hard.
Bringers don't actually do that sort of thing,they are not allowed to be involved in earthly matters.
When the Bringer saw James she felt something she had never felt before, an emotion. Bringers don't have emotions, yet she really couldn't help herself. She was drawn to James against every instinct she had ever had, and against every law of the universe. She fell in love, a very large fall for a Bringer to take.
Well I really enjoyed the new concept of the Bringer taking you to heaven not an angel. I also thought the eternal love of the Bringer Lucyna and Arran/James was really well done , not too slushy! I read a little snippet on my kindle one night then the second night I sat and read the rest as I wanted to know what was going to happen. There are angels in this story both good and bad, as well as characters who are not who they at first seem to be, it all adds to the mystery of what will happen. As you will know by now I don't include spoilers in my reviews as I wish others to read and enjoy the book as I have, but I will say I love a happy ending! So buy, buy.buy the book! The cover alone would have made me want to read more about the book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CatherineCC
Posted July 26, 2011
I was stunned at how well imagined this story is and the believable universe Ms Towle has created. We're all familiar with angels, death, going to heaven stories but the Bringers are a new idea, very original. I am looking forward to more from this author.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 26, 2011
I loved this book! Loved it! I fell completely in love with these characters and very much hope there is a sequel to this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Passionate_ReaderTR
Posted July 26, 2011
I had no expectations of this book before I read it. I thought it was about some angel-like creature doing something or other. It seemed very nicely written, so I plunged in.
Well, it is about an angel-type creature but what I got was about a thousand times more powerful and impressive than I was expecting.
Samantha Towle's writing really captured me and while I was sure a few times what was going to happen next, I was only right about half of them.
'The Bringer' has some really neat twists and turns to the plot without making you feel you are a complete idiot for not anticipating events. Some developments are relatively obvious; others you just don't see coming. And it is at that exact moment when you are sure of way the book is headed that she kicks your feet away from you and forces you in a totally different direction - and, in the end, it all makes sense, which is pretty smart given the ramifications of the story line.
This is seriously superior story-telling in a down to earth, no-nonsense North Country style which makes it feel all the more credible, which is not how most stories of angels pan out.
Think of it as a love story with some high intelligent twiddly bits - and its a wonderful, sweeping love story too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Poppet38
Posted June 6, 2011
I Also Recommend:
"When love is not madness, it is not love." (what incredible words - and so true)
That is a line from The Bringer - and it sums this book up perfectly.
I don't even know where to begin. I like to write reviews the second I finish a book - while I'm still reeling with the effects of it.
The Bringer is the debut album by Samantha Towles - and wow - it sucker punches your heart.
I have never ever - in all my years - read a book that made me experience *falling in love* - and this book does. You will relive every excruciating moment of the first time someone touches you and you can't breathe, and you can't think, your entire focus is nerve endings on fire - when your eyes are blurry because you're forcing yourself *just* to breathe. When you yourself are unpredictable - because all you want or care about in the whole universe is the person you are so utterly obsessively smitten with - so that your heartbeat deafens your ears and you physically crave their presence. And when you hurt them or you're apart - it hurts - it hurts not just emotionally - but physically.
We've all lived it, we've all been through it - but you let yourself forget how it feels. And the one thing a Bringer doesn't have, is feelings. Which is why when the Bringer Lucyna suddenly begins to experience them - you are along for the ride. The first tears of love, the first kiss, the first touch - the very first eye-lock. A Bringer is the person who takes the just deceased to heaven, delivering them to Heaven's door. And they're like lovely little angelic robots that feel nothing and just get their job done.
Then in a Bringer moment - Lucyna breaks the rules - and meets James - and you know from this moment on - it's going to be interesting and you can't stop reading now if you tried.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
In fact I insist that you get a copy - male or female - you need to read this book. Because - this book will bring you back to life. It will. It will remind you of the glory it is to be human - and how much we suppress on a daily basis. But if we don't suppress - we feel SO MUCH
This book took my emotions to heaven, to hell and let them wallow in purgatory too for a while. Samantha Towle is an exceptionally emotive writer who plays your heart the entire time you are reading her work. I actually can't believe this is a debut novel. This women does a better job of pulling the heart strings than Danielle Steele does (and that's saying something.)
I don't really want to give you any spoilers as to what the content is about - because the journey really is what this book is all about. But in a nutshell - this book is about love - the only love that makes your nerves sing and breathe fire back into you body and daily life. I cannot recommend this book more - I am just such an instant fan - I'll never miss a Samantha Towle book if this one is any indication of what I have to look forward to. I laughed, I cried, and I loved every single chapter! Get it! You will definitely not be disappointed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 2, 2012
I could not get enough of this book!!! I loved it! Its one of the best!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This in another one that would be great for mothers and daughters to share. Bottom line 3.5 stars and read it for yourself!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Book_WhispererJO
Posted September 20, 2011
The Bringer was a very quick and easy read. The beginning lacks emotion understandably due to the fact that Lucyna is unable to feel. Although, as the story continued I just didn't feel it. While this was a very inventive storyline the story itself just couldn't grab me. In the end I can say that I enjoyed it, and it did prove to be a sweet love story. Though it is nothing that knocked my socks off, and will be easy to move on.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Rayven1
Posted September 7, 2011
The Bringer by Samantha Towle, is a unique concept about what happens after one passes. Even with this fresh concept, the gist of this paranormal romance is nothing we haven't seen before. In her story the "Beings" that greet us after death are not angels but Bringers. Devoid of any emotion or feeling their job is to convince us that it is time to enter Heaven. They are beings caught between Heaven and Earth, not allowed any contact with Humans or Angels. This story follows Lucyna, whose existence of nothingness is obliterated with the feelings of emotion for James, the son of one of the people she escorted to Heaven's Gates. The story is told from Lucyna's point of view as she deals with going from nothingness to a world of emotions when she enters James's life. Both of their worlds are turned upside down with one decision. Much of the story is inside Lucyna's head and the plot moves at a very slow pace that is consistent through most of the book. It isn't until the end of the book that the plot starts to take shape and actually gets really interesting with the twist at the end that I didn't see coming. The characters through out most of the book are very one dimensional and only start to take on depth at the very end of the story, which really left me wishing it would have happened sooner. The relationship between Lucyna and James seemed a bit flat. However throw Arlo into the mix and you finally have a story. It is a shame that we did not get to see Arlo's story fleshed out more. He was my favorite character in the book and could be an entire story unto himself. The book was very well written and the editing was great. With that said if you get through the first part of the book you will enjoy the ending which is why I give this book a 3.5 stars.
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Posted June 18, 2011
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Posted June 7, 2011
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Overview
Max was her next job. She got his name just before he died and it was for her to lead his soul to heaven. She was a Bringer.
Then Max started pleading (as they often do), but not for himself, for his son, James.
Would she look after him, would she comfort him as he grieved for the loss of his father? James was a sensitive young man. He would take ...