Boy on Hold This book just blew me away honestly. From the trips Hen’s brother was constantly on and having to the bad egg vibe all the way down to the horrible gut wrenching dread the followed you through the book. I thought that it would be interesting, but I didn’t think the author would be able to captivate me in the way that I was captivated. Hen’s life and his second mother was ripped away from him, as well as his brother at what cost? Who would do a terrible thing and why? Care to journey down this path with me and read this heart wrenching story? Don’t put it down for too long, Hen is waiting.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Charlene Yateshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCharlene Yates2021-09-02 00:26:022021-09-02 09:26:43Boy on Hold (Boy Series Book 1) by J.D. Spero – Review by Charlene Yates
Boy On Hold by JD Spero is a suspenseful, engaging story that reels you in from the beginning.
Spero writes the story from multiple points of view and carefully crafts this mystery. The characters are well-developed throughout the book and you can’t help but endear yourself to most of them. The reader immediately finds themself engulfed in a mystery witnessed by small little Hen (who sees monsters come the crime against a beloved neighbor and friend) and it all unravels from there. Could it be his brother, his brother’s best friend, or someone else entirely? Spero’s storytelling is excellent. The development of the mystery with special attention to the characters and shedding light on mental illness make this must-read. It will have you turning the page to the very end.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jessica Condrahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJessica Condra2021-08-31 22:07:452021-09-02 08:43:54Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Jess Engel
J.D Spero has a knack for bringing the readers into a world that could very much be someone’s reality. Boy on Hold being no exception. A psychological thriller in its own right, could be a trigger warning for someone else. Boy on Hold dives deep into a world of mental health as the novel moves forward. Tyler, being the oldest of Marcella’s 2 children, is on the brink of a mental break. Hen, 10 years Tyler’s junior, idolizes his brother for who he knows him to be. Until Cabbage Night 1991, that’s when everything changed. Changed in ways a 7 year old could not even begin to understand, but he was smart enough to realize what happened. Influenced by his best friend Derek and drugs, Tyler goes through a whirlwind of suffering the consequences for his actions, as the book progresses. I’m not sure if I was the biggest fan of the constant jumping around from different points of view, however the author masterfully wove it all together so that it works very well. Highly recommended and also looking forward to reading book 2!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Beverly Place-Finniehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBeverly Place-Finnie2021-08-31 17:11:052021-09-01 09:25:14Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Beverly Finnie
What an incredible emotional story! Hen is a 7-year-old boy, who wants nothing more than to catch a hedgehog as a pet in his back yard. He falls asleep in his play tent to wake up to yelling at Miss Sally’s, the neighbor’s house. Miss Sally is like a second mom to him, she babysits him after school. Hen struggles with what he sees that night, did he see it correctly? When his 17-year-old brother, Tyler, is arrested for the crime, his life is torn apart. Marcella, their single mom is distraught, how to save her son. Drugs, murder, and a psychiatric condition make for the beginning of a horror story. This was a story filled with love, concern, and family first. I cried for Hen, I cried for Tyler, and as a single mom, I cried for Marcella. JD Spero ripped my heart out, stomped on it, then put it back together. Families are never perfect, but when love is the foundation, they can survive anything.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Packardhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Packard2021-08-30 21:35:282021-08-31 09:40:35Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Angela Packard
Boy Released is the follow up story to Boy on Hold and picks up 10 years after Tyler is convicted of the murder of Sally Hubbard. Hen, Marcella, and Bernie are living at and running the motel they have purchased. Tyler has been released from the psych hospital and is staying on site in the one of the cabins. When Marcella is brutally attacked, Tyler is the only witness, and quickly becomes the prime suspect. But what really happened on that night? Can Hen, Bernie, Marcella and Tyler come to grips with their new lives?
J D Spero knows how to write a story that draws in the reader, develops characters that are relatable, and keeps the reader engaged until the very end. I loved both the books in this series. The parts of the story from Tyler’s point of view really seem to hit the nail on the head when it comes to schizophrenia and related issues. His story was heart breaking, and the effects on his family where realistic. This is hands down a 5 star book !
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kayla Bullockhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKayla Bullock2021-08-23 21:06:442021-08-25 10:11:56Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Kayla Bullock
Boy on Hold by J. D. Spero takes place in the Adirondacks and revolves around a crime that shocks the small town. Henry (or Hen) is a seven year old who witnesses the horrendous crime. His brother, Ty, begins acting very strange after the crime. Hen is certain Ty could have nothing to do with the crime. After all, he loves his brother and cannot imagine him being capable of such actions.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Paula Sayershttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPaula Sayers2021-08-10 15:27:502021-08-11 08:01:13Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Paula R Sayers
Boy Released is the thrilling sequel to J.D Spero’s novel, Boy on Hold, which starts us on the journey of the Trout family in upstate New York. As Tyler comes back from rehab and has to learn to live with the murder and his mental illness, it puts a strain on the family. Boy Released is a book full of healing, love and hope, and I loved the ending. I hope she decides to write a third book, because I am in love with these books, and it’ll be hard to say goodbye to the Trout family.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lucy Machardhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLucy Machard2021-08-05 22:13:402021-08-06 07:28:19Boy Released (Boy Series Book 2) by J.D Spero – Review by Lucy Vincent
Seven year old Henry Trout is outside after his bedtime one night, searching for hedgehogs. What he sees instead is something gruesome and heartbreaking- his beloved neighbour, Miss Sally, is assaulted and left for dead. When Henry’s brother, seventeen year old Tyler Trout, is arrested and charged with the crime, their mother, Marcella, and even Sally’s son, Bernie are convinced Tyler is innocent. But Tyler has been acting very strange lately, and under the bad influence of his friend, Derek, leaving the local police to cast on Tyler. But Henry knows his brother could not have done it, because he thinks he knows who did.
JD Spero’s novel, “Boy on Hold” is a heartbreaking story with relatable, empathy-inducing characters, full of suspense and intrigue. Young Henry is so innocent and charming and his relationship with his loving big brother is admirable. Marcella, as a single mother, does the best she can to protect her children and is willing to fight to keep their innocence. There is not a likable character in the bunch, and it was easy to bond with the Trout family, and root for a positive outcome.
Spero’s novel also touches on the devastating reality that is schizophrenia and mental illness. She realistically depicts a young boy struggling with the disorder, with his family watching on, neither of them recognizing the disorder for what it is, until it takes over completely and they have gone too far to turn back. Spero manages to depict mental illness in an honest and compassionate way.
The novel is told from different time periods- before and after the crime. Each chapter is labeled so it is easy to follow along with the time switches. I am normally not a fan of novels told in this way, but in “Boy on Hold” this plot style added to the suspense.
“Boy on Hold” is a unique and gripping story with realistic and relatable characters. I eagerly look forward to the second book in this series, “Boy Released”.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erinhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErin2021-08-05 08:58:572021-08-06 07:04:22Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Erin Clemence
This book was so good! The characters made me wish I knew them and could be there for them while they were struggling. The conflict was so relatable and really made me think. The author has this way of writing that just really draws you in and makes you want to keep going. I was reluctant to put it down and stayed up later than I should have more than once because I just didn’t want to stop!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jo Frizzellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJo Frizzell2021-08-03 20:16:062021-08-05 07:06:14Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Jo Frizzell
The synopsis for this novel is short, but it holds more than enough to draw a reader in. Before starting to read I was already caught up in what may come.
This novel is a definite page turner! Spero had me sitting on the edge of my seat; I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Her writing style flows smoothly and does not falter between characters views or jumps into the past and present.
This was my first read by this author and it won’t be my last. I already have the next one, “Boy Released”, lined up!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00S. Bittleshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngS. Bittles2021-08-03 19:45:332021-08-05 07:04:42Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by S.Bittles
Boy on Hold by JD Spero is the first installment in a psychological thriller series surrounding a young boy who sees something he was never supposed to see. Because he was a witness, is the only one to know the truth about this traumatic event. Now, his brother Tyler’s livelihood relies on him to speak out. This story will capture your attention and pull at your heartstrings; it is full of universal familial struggles, victories, and relatable, endearing characters. The story shifts through various time and perspectives but is easy to follow. If you are a fan of suspense and stories that drag you (willingly) on a rollercoaster of emotions, definitely pick this one up. Can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christine J. Spulakhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine J. Spulak2021-08-03 16:05:242021-08-05 07:00:34Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Chrissy Spulak
Boy on Hold is the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. This author had me captivated right from the start, with the multi person POV, dynamic characters, family trauma and mental illness I was fully intrigued the whole way through.
I love how this author created characters that were so easy to connect with and I loved the way everything was beautifully detailed while also providing some mystery. I enjoyed following these characters and trying to piece everything together. It made for a truly entertaining read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kaitlynn Taylorhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKaitlynn Taylor2021-08-03 16:05:002021-08-05 07:00:11Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Kaitlynn Taylor
Hen is a seven year old boy who loves hedgehogs and lives with his mother and his older brother Tyler who he looks up to and loves with all his heart, but he knows that there is something going on with Tyler when he starts to withdraw into himself. One night in October, Hen sneaks out of the house to find a hedgehog so that he can call it Louis and keep it as a pet, he is cold, but he is determined to sit in his tent and wait for his new friend to turn up, however, despite his best efforts not to, he falls asleep and is woken up by a terrible screeching sound. As he tries to work out where it came from, he looks to his neighbours house and sees shadows moving in the windows in front of the light from the television set, he continues to hear shouting and then sees one of the shadows attack the other and the sounds stop. Hen has no idea what he just witnessed but he is terrified and goes and curls back up in his tent until the next morning when his mother comes running out thinking he is missing, but he finds it really hard to find the words to tell her and in the end decides not to, it is only when the next door neighbours son calls and tells the family that his mother can’t look after Hen after school like she normally would, so Tyler is asked to step in, he agrees to, albeit grudgingly as he leaves the house t o go to school with his best friend.
As Tyler is heading to school, he is trying to make sense of what is going on in his head, he feels worse than normal, but can’t remember why, it worries him a little, however, not as much as it should, so he tries his best to ignore it and get on with his day and as usual it is music and cigarettes which are helping him to do this, at least until he heads home from school where he decides to spend some quality time with his brother, but this doesn’t go to plan either when he thinks he hears something and it sets off his other issues. Hen has an idea of what is happening, so he just leaves his big brother to himself until his best friend arrives, Hen doesn’t like him, but he doesn’t know how he can avoid him, until his neighbours son comes round to fix their window, he also tells them that their neighbour is in hospital after being attacked, this is when Hen realises what he has seen was real after all.
It is while they are fixing the window that a police officer knocks on the door and takes Tyler and his best friend in for questioning, this isn’t something anyone expected to happen, least of all Hen, but the longer that they stay at the station, the more worried Tyler’s family becomes and none of them want to believe that he is involved, especially Hen and his mother, but as the case progresses, Hen is determined to tell someone what he saw and to convince them that Tyler is innocent, but as Tyler’s mental issues manifest in more serious ways, will they be able to work out who was the culprit and who is innocent in this tragedy? This is murder mystery which deals with mental health and its effects on people in a thrilling murder mystery you will not want to put down.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2021-08-03 16:03:372021-08-05 06:59:50Boy on Hold: a must-read psychological thriller by J.D. Spero – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
I absolutely adored this novel. The author did an amazing job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat! It kept me thoroughly enthralled throughout. It was just the thing to get me out of my reader’s stump. I would definitely recommend reading this!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Alexia Scallanhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAlexia Scallan2021-08-03 12:30:382021-08-03 14:40:08Boy on Hold by JD Spero- Review by Alexia Scallan
This book was my first by J. D. Spero and I look forward to more. It is a story about a 7 year old boy who just wants to catch a hedgehog to keep as a pet. Henry, or Hen as everyone calls him, sees a serious attack on his friend and neighbor Miss Sally, and then tries to figure out what is going on in his little world.
This begins a scary time for the whole family, Tyler, the big brother with some mental health issues, and his mom Marcella.
Marcella Trout doesn’t know what to do, her seventeen-year-old son has been arrested and she can’t help but worry that his recent mood swings are something more serious. I love Hen, and the relationship he has with his brother is very heartwarming. This story really moves along nicely and becomes more than you thought it would with every turn of a page.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Samantha Bassetthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngSamantha Bassett2021-08-03 11:50:062021-08-03 12:04:27Boy On Hold by JD Spero – Review by Samantha Bassett
Boy on Hold by JD Spero is a captivating book that reels you in from the first chapter. A seven year old Hen sets out to find himself a pet hedgehog in the middle of the night, but not just any night as it was cabbage night. A night of tradition pranks. One prank gone drastically wrong next door to the Trout family while Hen is outside making him the only witness. The story revolves around this crime that has taken place. Hen’s older brother Tyler is arrested and his mother Marcella shocked. As a single mother working hard to raise her boys this is a blindside. It couldn’t be her son. Told in different points of view you gain a true connection to each character from little innocent Hen to hard-working loving mother Marcella and to the mental illness plaguing Tyler. As the tale unfolds will the truth come out on who done the crime so foul?
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ayla Eddyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAyla Eddy2021-08-03 09:59:512021-08-03 12:01:59Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Ayla Eddy
Henry Atticus Trout, called Hen by everyone, is the younger brother of Tyler Trout. Tyler’s and Hen’s mom works as a waitress and does the best a single mother can do to provide a loving home for her boys. After school, Hen spends his days with Miss Sally, their neighbor, until his mom gets off of work.
One night, Hen goes outside alone to try and catch a hedgehog. While he is out there, he sees shadows in Miss Sally’s window. He hears screaming and knows something very bad is happening. The next day he learns from Bernie, Miss Sally’s son, that something very bad has happened to Miss Sally. While Bernie is fixing a window, the police come and pick up Tyler and his best friend, Derek, for questioning.
As a young boy of seven and in the first grade, Hen tries very hard to understand what is going on with Tyler since the incident with Miss Sally. Hen struggles to discover the truth. Can Hen and his mom stay strong when the truth of Miss Sally’s accident is revealed?
Boy on Hold is a great psychological thriller. By speaking to the heart of a serious mental illness, you will love this novel.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ashley Doverhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAshley Dover2021-08-02 20:41:362021-08-03 11:58:43Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Ashley Dover
Multi-POV books have become a favorite of mine. That being said, they need to be done very well in order for everything to come together. Boy on Hold goes above and beyond. It’s uncomplicated but elegant writing style and fascinating plot made it a very quick read. I always ended up staying up later than I intended when I picked up this book. I’m going straight on to the second one!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kristy Nelsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKristy Nelson2021-08-01 16:04:582021-08-03 11:35:07Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Kristy Nelson
Drugs, murder, mental illness…In the Adirondacks, Hen witnesses the assault of his neighbor Miss Sally. The problem is that he recognizes the voice of one of the attackers and a homemade bracelet left at the scene…Tyler, his 17 yr old brother. This starts the drama that will leave you on the the edge of your seat. It’s that exciting and thrilling that you have to know what’s going on and what’s happening. Every character plays an important part in the story. There are twists and surprising turns. Loved every minute of it. Highly recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shelly Kittellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShelly Kittell2021-08-01 09:49:232021-08-03 11:28:47Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Shelly Kittell
This book wasn’t a typical book I thought I would find myself reading, but when I picked it up off my e-shelf and started reading, I was immediately enthralled. The details are immaculate, the plot is fantastic, it’s truly a wonderful book. The story of Little Hen, his family, and other members in their community is wonderfully written. While it wasn’t a debut novel, it was the first in a series, and I intend to finish this series as we’re pulled along the story of the Trout family and the community surrounding it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lucy Machardhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLucy Machard2021-07-31 22:38:252021-08-03 11:19:51Boy On Hold by JD Spero – Review by Lucy Vincent
From the very first chapter, J.D. Spero’s Boy on Hold pulls you in! A fantastically written mystery written from several characters point of view, the author does a fantastic job at completely painting the picture. Spero dives deep into the brutal realities of mental illness, addiction and murder, showing how much each character is affected by it. I really enjoyed how well she was able to show how complex mental health can be. Boy on Hold was my first book by J.D. Spero, but it won’t be my last!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kayla Kearneyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKayla Kearney2021-07-30 21:56:532021-08-03 10:18:07Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Kayla Kearney
Henry “Hen” Trout has a good life for a seven year old. Hen has an awesome big brother, Tyler, a best friend, Murphy, and is studying how to set a hedgehog trap. When Hen sees a horrifying attack on his neighbor and babysitter, Ms. Sally, his world gets turned upside down. Hen doesn’t want to believe what his memory and the evidence is telling him, that Tyler was involved, but there are just somethings that can’t be wrong.
Tyler Trout has a great mom and a fantastic little brother that he adores. Tyler also has dark feelings that he hasn’t been able to fight lately. Tyler has found two things that help with the feelings, his mom and something he shouldn’t want. Tyler’s mom isn’t an option these days as she works too many hours.
This is a slow burn. I wasn’t getting it at first. Finally, when it clicked, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the relationship between Hen and Tyler. Tyler is as protective of Hen as Hen is of Tyler. There are so many scenes throughout the book that made me glad I was alone when reading. I yelled at characters not to do what they were about to do, like when Marcella broke Derek’s heart unknowingly. I needed her to take that back so badly. Be prepared to be hooked. JD Spero creates full characters to be loved and hated in this small town. I have to know if Louis finally came home!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00M Policicchiohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngM Policicchio2021-07-30 20:01:172021-08-03 08:53:28Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by M Policicchio
Slow to start, Boy on Hold by JD Spero, has twist & turns that made it impossible to put down. I am amazing how JD put into prospective mental illness and how it affects not only the person suffering, but everyone that knows that person.
Boy on Hold, starts off as more JV, and then turns into a complex novel of forgiveness & how hard it is.
Hen’s thoughts of how love could be like Play Dough, as described in this passage, blew my mind: “Hen imagined love was like Play Dough. He could keep it warm in his hand and mush it around, change its shape. It would get under his fingernails and into the grooves of his thumbprint. Once, Hen ate some. It tasted okay. Sometimes, tiny specs fell onto the kitchen floor and dried into hard pebbles. Mom would sweep them up and throw them away. Was love like that? Could it change like that?” ***Page 3189 of 4103 78% finished.
The one passage that broke me down and made me connect with Marcella in a way no author has ever done; is this: “He knew who she really was—a broken woman who lived in denial. She loved the wrong people, suffering valiantly, hurting those who loved her most.” *** Page 3359 of 4103 82% finished.
This is a five star book, showing a mother’s love, a brothers ultimate passion of belief in his older brother and how mental illness is passed from family member to family member with no one ever noticing.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenn Bethhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenn Beth2021-07-30 12:12:002021-07-30 13:36:15Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Jenn Beth
Boy on Hold is an excellent story. Focusing on 7 year old Hen, his 17 year old brother, Tyler, and their mom, Marcella, their lives are turned upside down when Tyler is accused of a horrible crime. Hen happened to be a witness to the crime, and is lost and confused by the accusation against Tyler.
J.D. Spero did a fantastic job of portraying the characters in their elements–the thought processes of a 7 year old innocent child, the confusing mind of a 17 year old boy, and the heartache of a mama caught in the middle of a terrible mess with her children. The story itself kept me guessing, going back and forth on who was guilty and what really happened. A fantastic story and I am looking forward to reading the sequel next!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kayla Bullockhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKayla Bullock2021-07-28 12:31:052021-07-29 07:24:23Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Kayla Bullock
This is the first book I’ve read by JD Spero. When reading thrillers i stick with authors and R L Stein and Stephen King, but wow! I am glad that I branched out and took a chance with this author! This was a fast paced thriller focusing on two brothers Hen and Tyler. It’s a double perspective going back and forth between the two brothers. I was not expecting the plot twist at all! It kept me reading into the night wanting more. I had to know what was going to happen next. She is a very well written author and I’m very excited to read book two! I’m going to add JD on my list of thriller authors to keep track of and buy!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Crystal Jimmohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCrystal Jimmo2021-07-25 22:32:232021-07-26 12:57:05Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Crystal Jimmo
Boy On Hold is my first read by JD Spero and it did not disappoint. Marcella Trout is a single mom raising a young boy, Henry, and a 17 year old, Tyler. Henry witnesses something that no 6 to 7 year old should have to witness, a murder. As the story unfolds to who killed the neighbor, we learn about secrets among family, the power of forgiveness and what is the truth. You will also get into the mind of someone who is struggling with a mental illness. This story definitely held my interest and made me emotional at times. I look forward to reading Boy Released.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angie Finleyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngie Finley2021-07-25 17:46:202021-07-26 11:43:51Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Angie Finley
This is a must-read psychological thriller by J.D. Spero. Boy on Hold is a YA cozy mystery and a surprising tale. It is told in multiple POV’s, which I love, giving you an insight into what the characters are thinking and who they are. JD gives us a raw look at mental illness, drug addictions, murder and more all taking place in a small town. There is also secrets waiting to be unfolded, truths waiting to be found, peeling back layer by layer of mystery to get to the truth of the plot.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2021-07-22 00:33:452021-07-23 09:09:53Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Jenni Bishop
Reading the unravelling of this story was gripping, to say the least. The crime against Miss Sally is partially witnessed by Hen Trout, a 7-year-old boy with a preternatural wisdom and an old soul. He’s also a kid who likes pretending he’s a ninja, and is on a mission to find a hedgehog when he sees the violence in shadow relief. The plot unfolds like a swirling tornado, as details become clear, we learn more deeply about the nature of the characters in this story. Marcella tries desperately to hold her family together, even as her older son is blamed and her younger son is angry and confused. A great story, well-written, awesome characters, well-timed plot, definitely a must-read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Shoebridgehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Shoebridge2021-07-20 20:58:582021-07-22 19:15:47Boy on Hold by JD Spero – Review by Erica Shoebridge
Boy on Hold A must – read psychological thriller By J.D. Spero ☆☆☆☆☆ This is a fully engrossing thriller. I could not put it down. This starts with elevated murder and the rollercoaster ride begins. Great story for YA and adults alike. Little 7 year old Hen knows what really happened. But will the adults take the time to listen to him? As Tyler is saying nothing to prove his innocence, many people have thought of their own ideas as to the truth. Will Tyler find a way out of this trouble? Who really did this and Why? Take a chance with this thriller. It is sure to keep you reading.
J.D Spero is an excellent writer. I have read many of her books and have enjoyed each and everyone. This story will not disappoint! The characters hold the secrets and only the truth will prevail. I can hardly wait for book 2. I am sure it will be as intense as this o e. Well Done J.D. Spero! Well Done!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Cindy Mayberryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCindy Mayberry2021-07-20 12:42:302021-07-22 18:32:43Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero – Review by Cindy Mayberry
Cabbage Night, 1991. The traditional night of pranks takes a disturbing turn when a violent crime rocks a small Adirondack town. Even more so when the only witness is a seven-year-old boy. Hen Trout, who had hoped to catch a pet hedgehog that night, instead sees his beloved Miss Sally become a victim.
Single mom Marcella Trout is blindsided when Tyler, her seventeen-year-old, is arrested for the very crime Hen witnessed. Now Tyler’s eerie mood swings seem dark and frightening and rooted in a family history Marcella has desperately tried to bury. As the criminal investigation churns on, the tenuous fabric of the Trout family begins to unravel…and even Hen begins to question the truth.
Johannah Davies (JD) Spero’s writing career took off when her first release, Catcher’s Keeper, was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013. Since then, she’s found similar success with her young adult fantasy Forte series, winning recognition from National Indie Excellence Award (2014, 2016), Adirondack Literary Award (2015). Her newest release, Boy on Hold, a winner in the 2020 Book Excellence Award and 2020 IPPY Gold winner for Best Mystery/Thriller. With a Masters in Education, Spero leverages her years as a high school English teacher in author presentations across the country, most notably at DFW Writers Conference in 2014. Having lived in various cities from St. Petersburg (Russia) to Boston, she’s settled with her husband and three sons in the Adirondack Mountains, where she was born and raised.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/BoyOnHoldcover.png1200811itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2021-07-20 00:03:502021-10-30 08:16:27Boy on Hold by JD Spero
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