The Rebound Effect

by Linda Griffin

In the small town of Cougar, struggling single mother and veterinary assistant Teresa Lansing is still bruised from a failed relationship when Frank McAllister sweeps her off her feet.

Frank is a big-city SWAT officer who moved to Cougar only four months ago. He's handsome, charming, forceful, very sexy, and a bit mysterious. He had his eye on Teresa even before they met and is pushing for a serious relationship right away.

Teresa finds his intense courtship flattering, and the sex is fabulous, but she doesn't want her deaf six-year-old son to be hurt again. Her former fiancé cheated on her when he got drunk after being unjustly fired, but he loves her and her son, and the whirlwind romance is complicated by his efforts to win Teresa back.

And then there's the matter of the bodies buried at Big Devil Creek…

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2019

About the author

I was born and raised in San Diego, California and earned a BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. As soon as I learned to read, I knew I wanted to be a “book maker” and I wrote my first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” with a plot stolen from a Little Lulu comic book, at the age of six. I retired from the San Diego Public Library to spend more time on my writing and have had stories published in numerous journals. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy Scrabble, movies, and travel.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

THE REBOUND EFFECT by Linda Griffin is listed as a romantic suspense. It is not a romance. This book is a domestic psychological thriller. If considered in that genre, it is a high intensity read of a single mother on the rebound and the new man who comes into her life while women are disappearing in the area.

Teresa Lansing is a struggling single mother working as a veterinary assistant in the small town of Cougar. She is doing the best she can for herself and her six-year-old deaf son. Both are trying to get over the recent break-up of Teresa and her fiancé after she found out he cheated.

While visiting her best-friend at her local family bar and grill, Teresa is swept off her feet by Frank McAllister. Frank just moved to Cougar four months ago. He is a cop and works on the S.W.A.T. team in the big city near Cougar. Frank is handsome, charming and very sexy. Teresa and her friend believe she has finally found a good man.

As the courtship progresses, Teresa at many times feels overwhelmed by the fast pace Frank wants to set for the relationship. She tries to draw some lines, but she always feels ungrateful for everything he is doing for her and her son and lets Frank continue to have his way. While Frank is pushing for a permanent commitment, Teresa’s former fiancé continues to try to win her back.

While tensions rise between Teresa and Frank, the number of missing women in the area also increases. Is Teresa safe or is she the next to die?

Ms. Griffin’s characters are realistic and make you easily understand how psychopaths and psychological abusers can overwhelm you. Yes, there were times I wanted to smack Teresa in the head and tell her to wise up and put her son first, but Frank knew how to tie them both together to get what he wanted. The sense of danger and the high intensity of the emotions in this book keep you turning the pages. As I wrote previously, this is a thriller and not a romance. For me, a romance or romantic suspense must end with or be leading to a HEA. The dating and sex in this book is not a romance.

If you are looking for a domestic psychological suspense, this is a fast paced, high intensity read.

Written for The Romance Reviews.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first instinct of a mother is to protect her child in any way possible and for Teresa Lansing that included her son’s sense of loss when she broke up with her fiancé. Now the attractive and larger-than-life S.W.A.T. member, Frank McAllister has come barreling into her life, overpowering her senses with his powerful personality. He is everything she should want, and yet he is moving too fast, demanding too much and even as her inner “adult” screams for her to take a step back, she makes one misstep after another and Frank is firmly running the show, including attempting to win over her son.

THE REBOUND EFFECT by Linda Griffin is an eerily frightening tale of mental abuse, instability and the bad choices we can make when one woman gets caught up in a rebound romance that she is ill-prepared to handle. As she flails and flounders to set boundaries, she also confuses “security” with what is best for her deaf son. Meanwhile, in the background is a series of bodies buried at Big Devil Creek. How are they connected to her current life of chaos? Was her cheating ex such a bad guy after all? What is it that rings off about Frank?

I really, really had a hard time respecting or liking Teresa as a mother or a woman on her own. I wanted to scream, “NO! NO! Trust your gut! Stand up for yourself, set boundaries,” and on and on. In the end, it was anything but a relaxing read and my tension was constantly on high alert for Teresa’s next dangerous mistake. I wanted her to grow, to go forward and yet, she didn’t. Ms. Griffin’s writing style is personal, I was able to feel the characters were real, probably because I wanted to smack some sense into Teresa.

I received a complimentary copy from Linda Griffin!

For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

This book is one that will make readers really think about trust, whether it be in oneself or those one lets into the most private parts of their life.

Read full review in the 2019 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the breakup of her last boyfriend, Teresa is more cautious when it comes to dating. She’s not only protecting her heart but her deaf young son too. So when she first meets Frank, she plays it cool. He comes on strong, though, and she’s attracted to him. Before she can figure out her own feelings, he pushes for a serious relationship. The sex is great but there’s something about Frank she can’t quite put her finger on. Her ex-boyfriend is also back in her life and is trying to win her back. Lines between hero and villain are blurred and poor Teresa is caught in the middle. Feeling like a scared rabbit caught in a snare, she realizes too late she’s about to become the murderer’s next victim.



This is one of the most original romantic suspense I’ve ever read. It reads more like a psychological thriller than a romantic suspense, which is fine but may mislead some readers. If they’re looking for a HEA, they may be disappointed.



What I loved most about The Rebound Effect was the accurate portrayal of an abuser. The manipulation, control, tracking tricks abusers use was clearly defined in this book. Teresa’s reactions and emotional angst rang true and added authenticity to the story. There were parts of the story where I gasped aloud, proving the suspense is well drawn out. The ending shocked me to my core. I wasn’t prepared for it.



If you’re looking for a suspenseful romantic thriller with a clear message for women everywhere, pick up The Rebound Effect today.



My Rating: 4 stars



Reviewed by: Mrs. N



This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...

[Joyce Stewart Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rebound Effect
by Linda Griffin
Pub Date Jul 15 2019
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
5⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the small town of Cougar, struggling single mother and veterinary assistant Teresa Lansing is still bruised from a failed relationship when Frank McAllister sweeps her off her feet. Frank is a big-city SWAT officer who moved to Cougar only four months ago. He's handsome, charming, forceful, very sexy, and a bit mysterious. He had his eye on Teresa even before they met and is pushing for a serious relationship right away. Teresa finds his intense courtship flattering, and the sex is fabulous, but she doesn't want her deaf six-year-old son to be hurt again. Her former fiancé cheated on her when he got drunk after being unjustly fired, but he loves her and her son, and the whirlwind romance is complicated by his efforts to win Teresa back. And then there's the matter of the bodies buried at Big Devil Creek…
🤡 My REVIEW 🤡
First off this book reads more like a psychological thriller than a suspense/mystery romance but Wow what a complex, and suspenseful thriller it was. It will keep you turning pages far into the night. . I started and finished This book all in one day.I was shocked to learn that this is only the authors second book. It Caught my attention from the very first page and i could not turn the pages fast enough. I read mystery,crime & psychological thrillers all the time and this one kept me guessing right to the end. The characters are well developed, the plot well done and fast paced. The ending was totally mind blowing. Left me in total shock. I can not wait to read more books by this author. This is a book that every every single woman should read before they go on a date. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !Thank you to NetGalley ,the Author , and The Wild Rose Press, for the chance to read and review this amazing 5 star read for an honest review !
The Rebound Effect

[Kelly-Jo Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be a romantic suspense novel, as I think that's what it was listed as on NetGalley. It isn't. I think it's actually a shame that it's been listed as romantic suspense as there are plenty of people who would enjoy this thriller who might be put off the idea of it being a romance.
Our main character Teresa has terrible taste in men. She has a broken marriage behind her (where she was married to someone who couldn't cope with the fact that their son was deaf) then she has an ex-boyfriend who cheated on her when he got the sack from his job. Now a new man comes dancing on the scene with more red flags than if he was called Mr A. Busive. He goes from the first date to telling her that he loves her and that they should get married in about thirty seconds. He is controlling and she finds herself swept along with him. She could, of course, told him where to go but she does like him. She also, although I don't think that this is explicitly stated, doesn't want to upset him. (I'm not going to go into a rant about how women are conditioned to do that, but she very much falls into that category.)
As I mentioned before, this is a thriller, not a romance, there is little romantic about Teresa's interactions with any of the men in her life. I don't know if it was intended that Frank would appear nice to begin with, but I didn't like him from the start. It didn't start well when he told her how much her earnt and then was trying to control her from there on in as he could afford things that she couldn't. (That said, I am aware that the talking about how much you earn could be just a cultural difference. I can't imagine anything crasser, but I believe that it's not rude in the US.)
This was a good read. It did finish a little abruptly. There were hints that suggested a link between the main storyline and events that were happening in the community, but it was never clear if that really was the case. It was still a good read and once I got into it and saw where this story was going and that it was a thriller rather than a romance, I really enjoyed it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kameron · Rating 1 out of 5]

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)

Warning: Spoilers included!

Frank McAllister was a controlling a-hole!

He proclaimed he didn’t want to push Teresa but that’s exactly what he kept on doing.

Date 1: He asked to meet her son and kept asking even though she said it was too early. He repeatedly brought up her exes despite how uncomfortable she was regarding the topic. He also offered to help her financially because money means nothing to him since he had a lot of it.

Date 2: He paid the babysitter despite Teresa stating firmly “No — that’s my job!” He tried to convince her to have sex with him and again brought up her ex when she repeatedly declined his advances.

Date 3: He asked to take her and Aiden away from the weekend. She said no. He then said just the two of them could go. As a parent, I would never leave my child with a sitter for the entire weekend. Maybe some single parents would if they were dating a person for a long while but definitely not after only a few dates.

Weekend trip: Again, Frank was a pushy a-hole. She didn’t want a new cell phone. Teresa didn’t want Aiden to have a cell phone since he was only 6 but her protests meant nothing to Frank. He also insulted her best friend Alix and Alix’s daughter.


I could’ve expressed my feelings regarding the other dates but it’s obvious I am not a fan of Frank. Really, I can’t fathom why Teresa agreed to a second date or a third date, etcetera, etcetera. Seriously, it doesn’t take a genius to realize Frank is unhinged, mentally unstable. However, it did take a lot of willpower to continue reading this book. Sadly to say, I didn’t find it entertaining and I wasn’t surprised by what became of Frank.

The only bright spot of The Rebound Effect was Aiden, Teresa’s son. He was adorable and proved extremely helpful when it mattered most.


Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)

[Susie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much of life doesn’t have a happily ever after ending, and candidly, I find the concept in a novel unrealistic. So, most romantic suspense stories leave me annoyed. The Rebound Effect is more a psychological thriller than a romantic suspense story. The plot is tightly written, the dialog sharp, and the pace is fast; bordering on frenetic. This book is a real page-turner; albeit one I turned with trepidation, fearful as to what might happen next.
Teresa, the main character, is a single mother of a deaf young son. A victim of betrayal by her long-term lover, Teresa is on the rebound and vulnerable when she is swept off her feet by hunky SWAT cop Frank. Despite her reservations, she allows the overpowering Frank to make decisions for her, rush the relationship to a level she is not ready for, and after a very short time, she agrees to marry him even as she is alarmed by some of his behavior. This story evoked strong emotions from this reader. Frank scared the heck out of me, I wanted to reach into the book and smack Teresa upside her head, and shake her ex-boyfriend Brett for screwing up so badly.
My favorite part? The author threw a couple of red herrings that took my eye off the ball and I got the ending wrong. The Rebound Effect is one book that every woman in a relationship she’s questioning should read.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no way in a million years that I would have guessed how this story was going to end. For that reason alone this book is worth the time to read. It is more of a psychological thriller romance than a suspense/mystery romance.
The synopsis does a really good job giving you an idea what this book is about. What it doesn’t tell you is that the reader isn’t left with a typical happily ever after. There is a twist that left me feeling like a pretzel with no book boyfriend to dream about. However, the story was uniquely refreshing.

The story was a well written attention-gripping page turner from beginning to end. Given the circumstances I will say that the heroine, Teresa, was really the only character that I related to with out giving away spoilers. She was the one consistent character through out the book.

I can say that this book is like no other that I’ve read. I’m pretty sure this is the shortest review that I’ve ever written but I’m limited to what I can say because I don’t want to spoil anything. Just go pick up a copy and find out for yourself why this book is one of a kind.

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Cranky stars


A very well written book but I found it a bit slow going.


Teresa lives in a small town with her deaf son. She had a long term relationship with Brett but he had got drunk one night and cheated on her. She will not forgive him, but he keeps trying. Frank came into town after bodies had been found he was a confident SWAT officer who had his eye on Teresa from the start. He tried to sweep her off her feet in a whirlwind relationship, she was not having it after last time and kept telling him to slow down.


But what happened about those bodies that were found?

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although, i thought this was more of a romance (small town girl finds love), it didnt seem to take long to figure out the domestice thriller angle. and while I can recognize that the dynamic between Frank and his victim can exist as written, I felt that the character development of Theresa away from Frank made her interactions with him somewhat unbelievable and improbable. He would have needed a lot more time and subtlety to control her. I enjoyed the relationship between Theresa and Aiden (which showcased her strong female character). Sasha added some humor and the best line in the book, "holy shakes". As one who wants to see the good guys win and bad guys go to jail, I was very happy with the ending.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to start by what??? I’m all about protecting my children especially since I have a special needs son. This book has a mother who divorced her husband and left a cheating boyfriend to protect her deaf son. But then attracts an attractive, swat officer. And let me tell you things go great who wouldn’t want to be pampered and spoiled and cared about. Then it gets bad. Women are disappearing, and things are heating up in the small town.

I’m just not even sure how to review this book. I liked it, enjoyed the change of pace, and spins. I just don’t know how to describe it. I’m not sure if I’m mad at how the SWAT guy is or the cheater or what. It was good though.

[tattoo blogger (Amanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

Won a signed copy through Goodreads giveaway. Linda griffin can really tell a story.

Story blurb: Teresa has bad luck with men. She has a son who has hearing problems and a best friend who owns a bar. She falls for a SWAT cop who seems perfect after last guy hurt her. Hers her story and how it went from bad to good to bad to good again. There suspense , death, heartbreak, heated scenes a little bit for everyone.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your looking for a page turner.. whoa!! You’ve found it. I could not put it down. I couldn’t fit the life of me guess what would happen and oh boy… that ending was worth the wait. If your looking for a psychological thriller pick this one ASAP!!

[susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not a fan of this story

[Beth Ann Garcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - Can't get past the 2 pushy, "won't take no for an answer" men in this story, to even get to the plot.

[Within The Pages Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

A psychological thriller that has the potential to be a page turner. The story is intriguing and some may find the characters relatable. I found Theresa to be very frustrating and a character that I couldn’t connect with. I couldn’t get into this and struggled through. This book just was not for me. However, I encourage others to give it a shot because it may be just what you are looking for.