Semi Finalist

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Cole skillfully sets the stage in this suspenseful thriller and keeps the action buzzing until the very end—with a gut-wrenching conclusion that will stun readers.

Prose: The prose drops subtle hints that add to the story’s edginess, with a little heat along the way for romance fans, and the action scenes are bolstered by Cole’s polished style.

Originality: Cole revitalizes the romantic thriller with surprising depth and unanticipated moves from the main protagonists, married couple Sloane and Ethan. That intricate tension makes this a definite page-turner.

Character/Execution: Cole’s characters are breathtakingly believable. Sloane’s uncertainty about her marriage—and painful choices that threaten to undo everything she’s worked for—is flawlessly portrayed, as are Ethan’s conflicting emotions of anger, jealousy, and, ultimately, hope. As the two struggle to make sense of their relationship, the aftereffects endanger their careers (and potentially their lives) in very real and terrifying ways.

Date Submitted: April 19, 2023