The Crossing by Serita Jakes ~ review

Product Details


Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 6, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1400073030

ISBN-13: 978-1400073030
 
Book Description from Amazon.com:


Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free?
On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fi re on a Texas school bus. Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.
Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.


As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?
 
My take on this book:
In a Texas town ten years ago a high school football team was on their bus headed back home when a mask gunman boards the bus and shoots the cheerleading coach BJ Remington and Casio Hightower the team quarterback who had a bright future. In one instant BJ is dead and Casio's life is changed forever. Claudia King (Campbell) who was a good friend of BJ's was also on the bus. Fast forward ten years, Claudia and Casio have never gotten over what transpired that night on the bus, and are each living with their own personal demons. Thing is the shooter was never found, and Claudia's husband Victor, who is an assistant DA decides he wants to try and solve the case.
 
"The Crossing" by Serita Jakes was a story that grabbed me from the beginning pages. It was interesting to see the story unfold thru the eyes of several characters,and we also get to experience the thoughts and feelings  of the victim BJ as she lay dying, which were actually some of my favorite parts of the story. The author made these characters seem very realistic, allowing the reader to see how their lives were affected by the horrific event. Claudia suffered flash backs, and Casio suffered from anger issues, which affected his relatonship with his girlfriend. There were plenty of twists to keep the story interesting for me, and I was a bit surprised at who was actually behind the murder. An emotional story for sure, that deals with love, loss, hurt and finding forgiveness that kept me guessing right up until the end.
rating 4/5
 
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*