Reap by Casey L Bond (4.5 stars)

About Reap
(from GoodReads)

The remnants of the United States of America have been divided. From five enormous, technologically-advanced cities, the Greaters rule over the Lessers.

In the Lesser village of Orchard, things are not as perfect as Abby Kelley thinks they are. When the apple harvest draws near and the Greaters' engineered fruits become too much for one village to handle alone, reinforcements from neighboring villages are called upon.

Having to choose between her best friend, whom she has no romantic feelings for, and mysterious newcomer Crew, Abby finds herself in the middle of a harvest that she had no intention of becoming a part of. She becomes involved in a situation that threatens the strict rule of the Greaters, and just might give the Lessers hope for a better tomorrow. But, can she help the Lessers without losing Crew?

Buy links: Amazon & Barnes & Noble

Review

Abby "Blue" Kelley feels blessed. Her life is quite full thanks to her loving guardian, Lulu, and her two best friends, Ky and Laney. She's ready to do her part to make sure the apple harvest goes well for her village, but things start to get complicated. First, Kyan would like their relationship to go past friend status; Abby loves him, but more like a brother. Then the Councilman's son, an unsavory fellow from an equally unsavory family, expresses his desire to marry Abby. Actually, he demands it.

To further complicate things, a newcomer from another village comes into town. Crew is drawn to Abby, and she to him. Unfortunately, nothing is as it seems. Things progress to a desperate decision; one that leaves Abby struggling to save herself and her village. Will she find love, or will love be the very thing that threatens everything she holds dear?

I love how the book started--"The few minutes before dawn were usually the most serene. Not today. Today, everything would change"--and then built to a dramatic conclusion without missing a beat in between. Abby embodies strength, facing difficult challenges head on. She handles Ky's feelings for her with grace, and she considers how her decisions will affect those she cares about; even if it means she'll be unhappy. So love her as a character!

For those who love romance, this is a real roller coaster ride--in a good way. Ky found a soft spot in my heart, I must admit, even though I knew Abby's heart was with Crew. Not that love is ever perfect, but Crew had some strikes against him. For now, I'm leaning to Team Ky (but it's a slight lean).

For adrenaline junkies, the last half of the story is full of surprises--well played twists and turns with dramatic results. Casey L Bond spins a unique tale with an age old dilemma--the haves (Greaters) versus the have-nots (Lessers). Of course, I'm not going to give anything away here except to say... be prepared for jaw-dropping revelations. Just when I thought the story couldn't get any better, it did.

Although there were a few grammar hiccups, Casey L Bond has a writing style that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Reap is a real winner, and I can't wait for the next book! 

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author
(from her website)

Casey resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband (high-school sweetheart and love of her life) and two beautiful daughters. She loves God, her awesome family, her crazy friends, writing and reading! Her favorite color is teal! Casey is a wanna-be Italian and loves all Italian food. She loves the fall, but a piece of her heart is always at the ocean. She loves the beauty and majesty of the hills and mountains of her home state of West Virginia. Marshall University is her alma mater, and if you cut her, she will bleed Kelly Green!!! Go Herd!!! She graduated Magna Cum Laude from MU in 2003 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies. Casey attended Hurricane High School and lives only six miles from her home town. Her family has one cat and one hermit crab. She loves flowers, but has a notoriously brown thumb. She attends Church regularly and enjoys her friends and family there as well.

Please follow her on FB, Twitter @authorcaseybond, on Goodreads and on Pinterest! She has made a board dedicated to the awesomeness of Winter Shadows!

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.