Review: 40 Souls to Keep by Libby Drew

40 Souls To Keep by Libby Drew
Carina Press
Novel: 253pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Seven years ago, Jase awoke with the mystical power to heal people—and no memory of his past. The only clue to his identity is the number forty tattooed on his arm. Driven by a mission he doesn't understand, Jase follows his visions to those he's meant to save. He is convinced that the fortieth person he's drawn to—a little girl named Macy Pearl—is the key to finally learning the truth...

Social worker Lucas Jacobson has made a promise to protect Macy, orphaned when her parents were brutally murdered. So when Jase shows up in Naples claiming he's there to heal the child, Lucas is wary, despite his attraction to the enigmatic stranger.

Then Macy is abducted, and Lucas has no choice but to trust in Jase. Scouring the city from its glitzy resorts to its seedy underbelly only deepens the mystery—and draws the two men closer. But Jase is certain of one thing: if Macy dies, a dark fate awaits them all.

Review:
This is going to be one of those books that you really love or sort of hate; I am somewhat stuck in the middle. The idea behind the book is somewhat brilliant, and the writing is excellent, I am just very dissatisfied with how it all came together, even though it does have the power to keep you from stop reading. A great effort by Libby Drew, but by the end I kind of stopped caring for the MCs.

A man awakes in a park with no recollection of how he got there, or who he is. A young boy is also at the park with his grandmother and they care enough to take him home and feed him. They pick the name Jase for him, and Jase struggles with the fact that he can’t remember anything about himself. What he does discover is that he has a tattoo (a number 40) and he has the power to heal. That little part comes a surprise but Jase knows what he must do, and that tattoo is about to become the bane to his existence.

Lucas Jacobson is with Child Protective Services, and he’s just been called to his worst case yet. Seems the little girl he’s supposed to pick up might have witnessed the murder of her parents. The fact that they lived in poverty and might be surrounded by gators is another sad fact to add to the equation. Lucas Knows one thing, he’s willing to protect the little girl Macy with all he has, and that is exactly what he has to do.

7 years later Jase has saved many a souls and he is down to his last one a little girl called Macy, and then it will all be over and he can go back to the life he forgot. However, Lucas Jacobson wasn’t supposed to be a part of package but he seems to Macy’s protector. The men are thrust into keeping Macy alive while trying to figure out who’s after her, and realizing not everything is, as it seems.

As I said, the idea behind the book is great. The setting is so rich I was instantly caught up in what the author created, from the lavish setting of the rich, to that of the poorest of poor. It was like one giant awesome road trip (with an ominous countdown). That was my fave part of the entire book, them driving around and the description of the scenery. That part is very well done. It’s another one of those books where it’s longer than it needed to be and by time the ending rolled around my interest was gone. I liked Lucas and Jase a lot, but not that much time was spent on them together, so I can’t call them a couple but as individuals I really like them. Again, lots to like, the plot is interesting and as much as I liked the driving and running around this probably will turn some readers off.

Should You Read It? Yes, if you want to read suspense with a nice paranormal twist. I legit will be reading more from Libby Drew; this book has captured my interest with her obvious talent for spinning a tale. 40 Souls To Keep will be a hit or miss for most readers, but for me I liked it.

3.5 Pants Off