A HUMAN ELEMENT By Donna Galanti : BOOK REVIEW

Earlier this month, a package came in the mail for me... Oh those little perks that you get from blog-hopping! It was a month before when I received an email from Ms. Donna Galanti herself, saying that I won a paperback copy of her book, through her giveaway at Jersey Girl Book Reviews. For a self-confessed book monster, this is definitely a treat! 

The Story...

A Human Element revolves around Laura Armstrong, a girl who, at a young age, discovered that she has special powers, including the ability to heal. However, her life turns upside down when one by one, her family and loved-ones are being brutally murdered by a mysterious killer, and she couldn't do anything to stop it, even with her special powers. As she tries to move on with her life alone, her life gets intertwined with that of Ben Fieldstone, a man whose parents have been killed in a meteorite crash more than twenty years before. Together, they realize that they share a connection which will be helpful in finding who is doing the killings and what the notes left with Laura in the scenes of each crime actually mean.

The Characters...

Not a lot of characters, but just enough to give substance to the story. My favorite this time? Mr. B! I'm so thankful that he took care of Laura from childhood until she grew up. I can't imagine living Laura's life. She's probably felt very helpless that she couldn't do anything to help her loved-ones. She even felt that she's cursed and was afraid to get close to anyone for fearing of causing harm to anyone. And of course, there's Felix... and his "The One Who Got Away" love story. And poor Charlie... Sigh... (OK, OK, I must stop talking now lest I reveal too much. LOL). 

The Verdict...

At first I got restless while reading the book. Because after about twenty pages, I already knew who the killer was. But because I always finish any book I start reading (Uhm... let's say 99% of the time.), I continued to read. My husband was the first one to read the book, the day after it came in the mail, and he had positive comments for it. However, things turned a bit predictable for him towards the middle of the story. 

Even if I already know who the killer was early on the story, the ending was still a bit surprising for me. A Human Element is a story of love and loss and you can't help but sympathize with each character. There really is no single evil character, you know, a villain that you'd love to hate. None of that. It's about family, friendship, forgiveness, and the faith that everything will be alright in the end.... after a creepy game of hide-and-seek, that is.

Clearly written in simple sentences, you won't get lost in sentences which are too long. (I noticed that it's my newest requirement for me to like a book.) Very easy to understand the words, making it easier to focus on the meat of the story. A Human Element is a good read for young adults and adults alike. A balanced mix between a thrilling chase and the warmth of a love story. And of course, this is my first signed book so it's really special to me. ☺

Congratulations Donna!

Visit her Website & Blog: www.donnagalanti.com.

Follow her on Twitter: @DonnaGalanti.

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