Book Review — SPLIT by JB Salsbury

What do you do when you wake up with no memory of what you did last night?

• Buy SPLIT (Kindle)
• Buy SPLIT (Paperback)

I loved this book!! It was such a intriguing story — from the moment I heard about it, I knew I wanted to read it and once I started reading, I was hooked! The hero had a multiple personality disorder where, due to his deeply twisted and scarring past, he’d become split into two… one side a gentle caring guy, and the other a fiercely protective but sometimes dangerous guardian. He had no control over when he’d blackout and change to the other guy so, in order to protect those around him, he tried to distance himself from any relationships. Until her. When she showed up, everything changed… and both sides of him faced, for the first time ever, the exhilaration and complications of falling in love! It was a sexy, edgy, and refreshingly unique romance! Definitely a new favorite!

Lucas spent the first half of his life protecting himself from others, but now his own mind is his biggest enemy. He doesn’t know what happens when the blackouts overtake him, but he can recall the feelings — the rage, the confusion, the fear. Thankfully the quiet life he’s found has kept the darkness at bay. Until his boss’s estranged daughter shows up in town, asking questions she shouldn’t and sparking a desire Lucas can’t control. Getting close to Shyann is the best thing that’s ever happened to him, but when his blackouts return, unleashing the truth he’s battled so long to hide, he may just lose her forever…

Shyann was a small town girl with big dreams of making a career in the city. But after an unfortunate workplace mishap, her dreams came crashing down, she reluctantly returned home to try and get back on her feet.

Lucas suffered from blackouts his whole life — spots of time he didn’t remember, in which things happened that he couldn’t explain. The only way he knew of to keep the blackouts at bay was to try and stay numb — no emotions, no connections, nothing that could trigger another one — so he threw himself into his work and did his best to keep his distance from the world around him. It was his way of protecting both himself and the people around him.

But when his boss’ daughter came home from the big city, something in him stirred to life and even though he knew he should stay away, she got through to him in a way no one else had. While for most people, finding this kind of connection would be a welcome gift, for him it was terrifying because their closeness brought on the darkness.

This is exactly why it’s best for her to ignore me. I’m not like other guys and she’s the type that’s probably attracted to friends who’re confident. Safe. Stable.
Every single thing I’m not.

I was so intrigued by Lucas’ story — where was he from, what exactly was his condition, what had happened to him, etc? I wanted to know more and my favorite parts of the story were when we got to learn more about him because quite frankly I was fascinated with his character… or, I should say, characters.

I really loved the way the story unfolded. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot so I’ll let you discover it on your own when you read the book but one my favorite things about it was that the whole multiple personality thing wasn’t really a big ‘twist’ reveal — I mean, the title, cover, and blurb pretty much tell you what to expect — so the focus of the story was more on… what happens when you fall in love with a guy who is two people in one?

“Who is Gage, Lucas?”
His body tenses and he slowly pulls back. His chin is down and he glares at me through heavy-lidded eyes that are on fire with an emotions I can’t name.
A tendril of fear winds its way up my spine, racking my body with an intense shiver. I can’t explain how I know, and it makes no sense, but… “You’re not Lucas,” I whisper.
He shakes his head, slowly, deliberately keeping our gazes locked.
“Where is he?”

The beginning of the story (specifically Shy’s perspective) was a little slow to me, but Lucas’ perspective was always intriguing to me and once they connected and became entwined with each other’s lives, the story really picked up pace and, from that point on, I couldn’t put it down!

This is a standalone romance (complete with swoony epilogue!!) told in first person perspective in alternating POVs between Shy, Lucas, and… well, you’ll just have to wait to meet the other guy 😉 This isn’t a dark romance but you should know that there are definitely darker elements to the story — especially with regards to Lucas’ past.

This was such a refreshing book to read! In a world where most romance novels can fit into categories, this one explored a situation that few other books have — and that instantly drew me to it. I’m so glad I read it and highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a sexy, edgy, and refreshingly unique romance!

Rating: 4.5 stars. Contemporary Adult Romance Standalone.

• Buy SPLIT (Kindle)
• Buy SPLIT (Paperback)