Tangled Lies

I haven't read anything by Connie Mann before, so I can't compare this novel in terms of the author's other books, but I'm disappointed to say this one hasn't inspired me to check them out. The main thrust of the plot is the search for Mama Rosa and Pops' biological son who disappeared twenty years ago. It is largely Sasha who takes up the search, assisted by Jesse Claybourne and another troubled teen Mama Rosa and Pops have taken in, 'Blaze'. One of the things that niggled away at me throughout this book was the lack of subtlety or sophistication to the characters' actions and dialogue. Characters who didn't like Jesse andor Sasha's questions either voiced their opinions quite freely, or had very obvious non-verbal reactions - often a particular emotion that 'flashed' in their eyes, or a nervous look, etc. Perhaps this was to show rather than tell, but it was all too 'on the nose' for me. I didn't feel the emotional connection between Sasha and Jesse. Their attraction to one another seemed more physical than emotional, and sometimes crossed the line to inappropriate for me; for example, Jesse thinks Sasha has a body that 'screams to be touched'. Neither character seemed to experience any personal growth, and while the suspense had its moments, it was a little underwhelming on the whole.