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Without Condition
Cara Vineyard lives a quiet life in rural North Carolina. She works for an emerging brewery, drives her truck late at night, and lives with her mother on a former pumpkin farm. Her mother is proud of her and keeps a wall displaying all of Cara’s accomplishments. Cara isn’t so much proud as she is bored. She’s revitalized when she meets Jackson Price, a pharmacist in Raleigh. Every day they spend together, she falls for him a little more — which in turn makes her life more complicated. When Cara goes on her late-night drives, she often picks up men. Those men tend to die. And when Cara comes back to the farm, she brings a memento for her mother to add to her wall of accomplishments. Cara’s mother loves her no matter what. But she doesn’t know if Jackson will feel the same — and she doesn’t want to find out.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2019
About the author
Sonora Taylor
29 books149 followersSonora Taylor is the award-winning author of Little Paranoias: Stories, Without Condition, The Crow’s Gift and Other Tales, Please Give, and Wither and Other Stories. Her short stories have appeared in multiple publications, including Camden Park Press’s Quoth the Raven, Kandisha Press’s Women of Horror Vol. 2: Graveyard Smash, The Sirens Call, Frozen Wavelets, Mercurial Stories, Tales to Terrify, and the Ladies of Horror fiction podcast. Her latest book, Seeing Things, is now available on Amazon. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 4, 2019
4 1/2 Stars
I fell into this dark character study from the very start and never fell out of it which is a bit of a rarity for me.
Without Condition takes its time building the story and focuses on the coming of age of a lonely little girl named Cara who lives on an isolated former pumpkin farm with only her mother and a farm hand for company. Cara looks forward to school and meeting kids her age but a bad encounter in kindergarten sets the tone for the rest of her school years. She’s bullied and whispered about and as a result she withdraws and doesn’t bother making friends with the girls. It’s easier with the boys anyway because they don’t whisper about her. But as she grows older she realizes they do something even worse. They talk and they embellish and her reputation gets trashed by everyone. Those ugly voices Cara hears whispering in her head get louder and louder until she finds an outlet to quiet them . . .
I LOVED the first half of this story. It’s a slow build but it is such an interesting tale. I was 100% invested in Cara as a character. She is most definitely “off” but it’s an understandable type of “off” because we get to know Cara intimately. She is prickly and she is intense but I never disliked her. It’s dark as hell and it doesn’t shy away from any of the viciousness dwelling within people and Cara most especially. Would she have turned out the way she did had she not been bullied and shunned and failed by the adults in her life? That’s hard to say. I thought the author did a great job creating Cara and all of the life events and complexities filling her tortured mind.
About halfway or so in the book changes focus and it becomes a dark romance. Cara meets a man named Jackson. He’s the first man that she hasn’t wanted to kill, lol, and things get very complicated in Cara’s head. Her life of work and spending time with her slightly off mom, who supports her long truck rides to “quiet” the voices, starts to morph into something else. Cara is falling in love but she has so many secrets that a normal life with Jackson may be impossible no matter how badly she now desires it. This section of the book is most definitely a romance with some wickedly dark edges. That’s my favorite kind, to be honest, so I was the perfect reader for this one. Cara isn’t the only one with painful memories in her past. Jackson is a wounded person and his head is a wee bit messed up as well but is he damaged enough to accept someone like Cara?
This is not an action packed, slice and dice type of horror novel and it’s a little slow in the middle but that worked just fine for me. The entire book is a deep dive into the tortured mind of characters deeply scarred by the words of others and I found it endlessly fascinating. The writing grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I can honestly say my heart was worried for both Cara and Jackson which lends itself to the strong character development. Without Condition is about 75% dark romance and 25% horror novel so if you enjoy the two as much as I do you’ll want to put this moody little gem on your must-read RIGHT NOW list.
I fell into this dark character study from the very start and never fell out of it which is a bit of a rarity for me.
Without Condition takes its time building the story and focuses on the coming of age of a lonely little girl named Cara who lives on an isolated former pumpkin farm with only her mother and a farm hand for company. Cara looks forward to school and meeting kids her age but a bad encounter in kindergarten sets the tone for the rest of her school years. She’s bullied and whispered about and as a result she withdraws and doesn’t bother making friends with the girls. It’s easier with the boys anyway because they don’t whisper about her. But as she grows older she realizes they do something even worse. They talk and they embellish and her reputation gets trashed by everyone. Those ugly voices Cara hears whispering in her head get louder and louder until she finds an outlet to quiet them . . .
I LOVED the first half of this story. It’s a slow build but it is such an interesting tale. I was 100% invested in Cara as a character. She is most definitely “off” but it’s an understandable type of “off” because we get to know Cara intimately. She is prickly and she is intense but I never disliked her. It’s dark as hell and it doesn’t shy away from any of the viciousness dwelling within people and Cara most especially. Would she have turned out the way she did had she not been bullied and shunned and failed by the adults in her life? That’s hard to say. I thought the author did a great job creating Cara and all of the life events and complexities filling her tortured mind.
About halfway or so in the book changes focus and it becomes a dark romance. Cara meets a man named Jackson. He’s the first man that she hasn’t wanted to kill, lol, and things get very complicated in Cara’s head. Her life of work and spending time with her slightly off mom, who supports her long truck rides to “quiet” the voices, starts to morph into something else. Cara is falling in love but she has so many secrets that a normal life with Jackson may be impossible no matter how badly she now desires it. This section of the book is most definitely a romance with some wickedly dark edges. That’s my favorite kind, to be honest, so I was the perfect reader for this one. Cara isn’t the only one with painful memories in her past. Jackson is a wounded person and his head is a wee bit messed up as well but is he damaged enough to accept someone like Cara?
This is not an action packed, slice and dice type of horror novel and it’s a little slow in the middle but that worked just fine for me. The entire book is a deep dive into the tortured mind of characters deeply scarred by the words of others and I found it endlessly fascinating. The writing grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I can honestly say my heart was worried for both Cara and Jackson which lends itself to the strong character development. Without Condition is about 75% dark romance and 25% horror novel so if you enjoy the two as much as I do you’ll want to put this moody little gem on your must-read RIGHT NOW list.
February 4, 2019
3.5 -4 stars.
I read Without Condition as part of a group read with a few of the other members of the Ladies of Horror Fiction team. We had some amazing conversations regarding some of the life issues brought up in this novel, and maybe - just maybe - some entertaining discussion covering body disposal techniques. It got dark, people.
The first chapter of this book hooked me in quickly. Cara put me in mind of a female vigilante/serial killer and I loooove books on this topic. In fact, the first 1/3 of the novel and the last few chapters had me struggling to STOP reading in order to not get ahead of the other members of the group read. Taylor has serious writing chops and her characters are so true to life and engaging; this is a huge selling point for me.
The middle third of the book lost me a bit. I think, while this book definitely includes horror, it has a bit too much romance for me as a reader. Now - it's not frilly frou-frou romance...it is DARK. I found myself wanting more of what I found in the beginning and ending thirds of the book because once I had a taste for the ruthlessness in those sections, I missed it in the middle.
I just know people are really going to dig this book. As I always say in reviews like this, I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!!
I read Without Condition as part of a group read with a few of the other members of the Ladies of Horror Fiction team. We had some amazing conversations regarding some of the life issues brought up in this novel, and maybe - just maybe - some entertaining discussion covering body disposal techniques. It got dark, people.
The first chapter of this book hooked me in quickly. Cara put me in mind of a female vigilante/serial killer and I loooove books on this topic. In fact, the first 1/3 of the novel and the last few chapters had me struggling to STOP reading in order to not get ahead of the other members of the group read. Taylor has serious writing chops and her characters are so true to life and engaging; this is a huge selling point for me.
The middle third of the book lost me a bit. I think, while this book definitely includes horror, it has a bit too much romance for me as a reader. Now - it's not frilly frou-frou romance...it is DARK. I found myself wanting more of what I found in the beginning and ending thirds of the book because once I had a taste for the ruthlessness in those sections, I missed it in the middle.
I just know people are really going to dig this book. As I always say in reviews like this, I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!!
February 12, 2019
**Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews!**
Well, I wasn’t expecting this.
When I was approached to see if I was interested in taking this on to review, I wasn’t familiar with the author or her writing style at all. I saw the synopsis and replied – ‘what genre would this be classified as?’ The author kindly replied (and I can’t find the email so this isn’t a direct quote) – ‘horror romance.’
In the recent past this would have been easily a hard no for me. I’m really open to checking anything out, but I’ve never been able to stomach romance literature. I’ve tried a few times. My mom and aunt read a ton of romance, and when I was growing up I devoured anything I could get my hands on to read, which meant I checked out a number of the romance books that were sitting around the house. I just never could find joy in reading it. If you do as a reader, that’s fantastic. Always, always read what you love and enjoy. But romance has always been a big no for me.
But sometimes you need to put aside preconceived notions or expectations and take a dive into the deep pool. Hey, I did it last year with a book of poetry and I ended up writing a short book of poetry. I can pretty much guarantee I won’t be writing a romance novel, but what I can confirm 100%, is that this book will make me work harder at developing relationships between characters in my own releases.
So, what’s this book all about? To let you get beyond the confines of considering this a romance read, I would compare this to an episode of Six Feet Under mixed with Dexter. This is a character driven read that follows Cara Vineyard. A girl growing up in a small, rural town who doesn’t fit in and prefers isolation over human interaction. She lives on a farm with her mother and we follow Cara as the years go by, up to her early twenties, when she meets Jackson. The two have an instant connection and they fall madly in love. There is romance yes, but never once was it done like a cheap B movie on late night TV.
Sonora does a magnificent job of developing all of the relationships between the various characters and this makes the ending feel so satisfying when it arrives. You know why things happen the way they happen. Very often in fiction irrational decisions can be qualified because something horrendous has occurred. In this case everything is so thorough and laid out so well that there isn’t one action or incident that feels irrational, and that speaks to the talent Sonora brings to the table.
I truly loved this story, which shocked me, and it would have been a 5 star read except for one annoyance I had with a minor character that I felt was dwelled on a bit much, and who randomly pops back up years later. But that was my take on it, it may be a highlight for other readers.
As for the horror aspect, well Cara enjoys collecting trophies. That’s all I’m going to add about that. It’s a vital part to the story but never falls into the slasher/murderous rampage category, but without it, this story would fall apart. It helps to illustrate the internal turmoil Cara struggles with.
I think this would be a fantastic read while on a train or a long flight, and I think it’s something many of you out there should definitely check out.
4.5/5
Well, I wasn’t expecting this.
When I was approached to see if I was interested in taking this on to review, I wasn’t familiar with the author or her writing style at all. I saw the synopsis and replied – ‘what genre would this be classified as?’ The author kindly replied (and I can’t find the email so this isn’t a direct quote) – ‘horror romance.’
In the recent past this would have been easily a hard no for me. I’m really open to checking anything out, but I’ve never been able to stomach romance literature. I’ve tried a few times. My mom and aunt read a ton of romance, and when I was growing up I devoured anything I could get my hands on to read, which meant I checked out a number of the romance books that were sitting around the house. I just never could find joy in reading it. If you do as a reader, that’s fantastic. Always, always read what you love and enjoy. But romance has always been a big no for me.
But sometimes you need to put aside preconceived notions or expectations and take a dive into the deep pool. Hey, I did it last year with a book of poetry and I ended up writing a short book of poetry. I can pretty much guarantee I won’t be writing a romance novel, but what I can confirm 100%, is that this book will make me work harder at developing relationships between characters in my own releases.
So, what’s this book all about? To let you get beyond the confines of considering this a romance read, I would compare this to an episode of Six Feet Under mixed with Dexter. This is a character driven read that follows Cara Vineyard. A girl growing up in a small, rural town who doesn’t fit in and prefers isolation over human interaction. She lives on a farm with her mother and we follow Cara as the years go by, up to her early twenties, when she meets Jackson. The two have an instant connection and they fall madly in love. There is romance yes, but never once was it done like a cheap B movie on late night TV.
Sonora does a magnificent job of developing all of the relationships between the various characters and this makes the ending feel so satisfying when it arrives. You know why things happen the way they happen. Very often in fiction irrational decisions can be qualified because something horrendous has occurred. In this case everything is so thorough and laid out so well that there isn’t one action or incident that feels irrational, and that speaks to the talent Sonora brings to the table.
I truly loved this story, which shocked me, and it would have been a 5 star read except for one annoyance I had with a minor character that I felt was dwelled on a bit much, and who randomly pops back up years later. But that was my take on it, it may be a highlight for other readers.
As for the horror aspect, well Cara enjoys collecting trophies. That’s all I’m going to add about that. It’s a vital part to the story but never falls into the slasher/murderous rampage category, but without it, this story would fall apart. It helps to illustrate the internal turmoil Cara struggles with.
I think this would be a fantastic read while on a train or a long flight, and I think it’s something many of you out there should definitely check out.
4.5/5
February 3, 2019
I'm continuing my Women in Horror Month reviews with Without Condition by Sonora Taylor.
This is a tough review for me only because I was the wrong audience for this one.
The character development in Without Condition was great. I read this as a group read with several of the Ladies of Horror Fiction team, and we had some really great discussions after reading about the main character's childhood and experiences with bullying.
Without Condition was also well written and a quick read.
The only reason this wasn't a huge hit with me was it was less "horror" and more "dark romance". I'm just not a romance reader.
If you enjoy dark romance and need a great read for Women in Horror Month, Without Condition might be an excellent choice for you. I am definitely open to reading more of Sonora Taylor's work in the future.
This is a tough review for me only because I was the wrong audience for this one.
The character development in Without Condition was great. I read this as a group read with several of the Ladies of Horror Fiction team, and we had some really great discussions after reading about the main character's childhood and experiences with bullying.
Without Condition was also well written and a quick read.
The only reason this wasn't a huge hit with me was it was less "horror" and more "dark romance". I'm just not a romance reader.
If you enjoy dark romance and need a great read for Women in Horror Month, Without Condition might be an excellent choice for you. I am definitely open to reading more of Sonora Taylor's work in the future.
February 4, 2019
"Nothing disrupted a whisper faster than a slit throat."
3.5⭐ - Without Condition begins with a solid opening chapter, and I was really excited since there are not a ton of female slasher books, especially ones written by women. However, while this book had horror aspects at the beginning and end, it was really more of a dark romance everywhere else. This isn't a bad thing, but I sometimes have a difficult time staying focused on romantic stories. I think it's going to be perfect for the reader who enjoys a dark love story with horror elements. Please take my review with a grain of salt - this isn't the type of book I usually seek out, but Sonora writes so well & kept me interested in the characters. I was just hoping for a lot more horror, and I wish it would have been woven throughout the story instead of mainly kept at the beginning and end.
Most of the beginning of the book is focused on Cara's back story, and I found her to be a relatable character. There's a lot of information about why she is the way that she is, and the coming of age portion of Without Condition was great. Cara reminds me of Aileen Wuornos a little bit (but not as dark and without the mental health issues on the level Aileen had). At times I got annoyed with how she treated other characters, but overall I liked Cara. The loneliness in this book is palpable, and Sonora is a talented author.
I felt like the end was a little bit far-fetched, but not enough to turn me off of the book. Even though I didn't love how everything turned out, Without Condition is an enjoyable read. If you like both romance and horror, I highly recommend this book. This would even be a good stepping stone for a romance fan checking who wants to check out horror. Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy to review! Without Condition will be out on 2/12.
3.5⭐ - Without Condition begins with a solid opening chapter, and I was really excited since there are not a ton of female slasher books, especially ones written by women. However, while this book had horror aspects at the beginning and end, it was really more of a dark romance everywhere else. This isn't a bad thing, but I sometimes have a difficult time staying focused on romantic stories. I think it's going to be perfect for the reader who enjoys a dark love story with horror elements. Please take my review with a grain of salt - this isn't the type of book I usually seek out, but Sonora writes so well & kept me interested in the characters. I was just hoping for a lot more horror, and I wish it would have been woven throughout the story instead of mainly kept at the beginning and end.
Most of the beginning of the book is focused on Cara's back story, and I found her to be a relatable character. There's a lot of information about why she is the way that she is, and the coming of age portion of Without Condition was great. Cara reminds me of Aileen Wuornos a little bit (but not as dark and without the mental health issues on the level Aileen had). At times I got annoyed with how she treated other characters, but overall I liked Cara. The loneliness in this book is palpable, and Sonora is a talented author.
I felt like the end was a little bit far-fetched, but not enough to turn me off of the book. Even though I didn't love how everything turned out, Without Condition is an enjoyable read. If you like both romance and horror, I highly recommend this book. This would even be a good stepping stone for a romance fan checking who wants to check out horror. Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy to review! Without Condition will be out on 2/12.
February 13, 2019
Without Condition by Sonora Taylor takes a look into the disturbed, twisted mind of a serial killer. And a female serial killer nonetheless. The reader gets a detailed understanding about why the protagonist has become what she has become, and what challenges come with the way she deals with her demons. This is not a horror story, but a somber and sobering look at how bullying and abuse can shape a destiny and the deadly consequences of unconditional love.
Cara Vineyard lives on a pumpkin farm with her mother in rural North Carolina. She works for a new brewing company as a truck driver. Cara's quiet, boring life is brightened when she meets Jackson Price, a pharmacist in Raleigh. As they spend more and more time together, Cara realizes she is falling in love with Jackson-which in turn makes her life more complicated. When Cara goes out on her late-night drives for the brewery, she often picks up men. And those men tend to die. When she comes home every night from one of these drives, she gives her Mother a memento from her latest victim, which her Mother proudly displays on a wall full of other trinkets Cara has brought home to her. Cara's Mother is proud of her and loves her no matter what. But will Jackson feel the same way? Cara's Mother doesn't want to find out.
So I have to say, I absolutely loved this book! It was incredibly interesting to have a female serial killer as a protagonist! The reader doesn't just get to see Cara killing people, she's not some deranged murderer on the loose. Instead, we get a very detailed backstory on Cara and her Mother, and it gives the reader a full understanding as to why Cara does what she does. We may not agree with it, but we empathize with her and feel her heartache from all of the trauma she has had to endure.
Taylor’s character building in Without Condition is 100% on point. She created an empathetic, likable serial killer. Not an easy task, but expertly done. Without going into spoiler territory, we are allowed to witness how Cara is treated by her peers from Kindergarten on up. And the older she gets, the worse the abuse and betrayal gets. Cara is full to the brim with rage, heartbreak and hate. But then she finds an outlet to let go of all of these burdens that she has been holding inside for so long and has been building for so many years. The truck driving job gives Cara the opening she needs and exacts her revenge on unsuspecting males looking for a ride. Now, is this a healthy way to deal with trauma? No. Most of us (hopefully) would go to a therapist or do yoga, maybe join a kickboxing class. But for Cara, it's going full Michael Myers on men she picks up on her nightly drives. And even though this is not how the majority of us would handle such issues, we totally get why she chose this avenue and are behind her! Hell, I found myself rooting for her, and then I had to stop and ask myself some hard questions! But that's what great character building can do!
Most of the beginning and end of Without Condition is full of Cara’s “therapy”, but Taylor changes the script in the middle section of the novel. Taylor turns from full on slasher mode to romance. Butterflies in the stomach, etc., and something I'm not a fan of. She sets her sights on Cara's budding relationship with Jackson. When the novel began to take this route I felt the novel was ruined. There go all those stars I was going to give this book. But I kept reading and realized the author did something rather brilliant. As I continued to read questions started popping up in my mind- What if this relationship gets serious? What if Cara has to quit her job as a driver to be with Jackson? How will Cara handle her rage? What if Jackson finds out? How will he react? How will Cara react to Jackson to Jackson's reaction? All of these questions and dim possibilities of where this relationship I'm now invested in could go kept bubbling up in my mind and then Boom! I realized what Taylor was doing. She's asking the question- What happens when a serial killer falls in love? Again, I'm now invested in the relationship between Cara and Jackson, and even though I like and care about Cara, I'm all of a sudden afraid for Jackson. One wrong move and Cara could be triggered and hurt him. Or is her love for Jackson stronger than her deep seeded hatred for the past?
Before I wrap this up, I have to comment on the other important character in this story, Cara's Mother. This woman is definitely odd. Keeping a trophy wall of her daughter's kills? Creepy is an understatement. However, as much as we want to damn her Mother for allowing this behavior, or not reporting her daughter to the police, we have to realize she is psychologically damaged as well. Maybe she understands what Cara has gone through more than we know. And she has seen the hurt her daughter has experienced throughout her life, and her empathy and unconditional love for her daughter outweigh any wrong doings Cara could commit-even murder. This is a display of an incredibly unhealthy relationship, and her Mother's unwavering love is not doing Cara any favors. But we do see a glimmer of common sense when Jackson enters the picture. Cara's Mother fears for Jackson because she knows what her daughter is capable of. She likes Jackson and does not want to see him hurt. But will her concern for Jackson's well-being overcome the unconditional love she has for her deeply damaged daughter?
Sonora Taylor has written an unsettling, yet somewhat tender, story of coping with abuse and the hope of being able to truly love and be loved. A tale about a sympathetic serial killer, this novel begs the questions- When does unconditional love cross a deadly line and can love be enough to change a person molded to hate? Is love enough? Is love the answer? The Beatles wrote 'All You Need is Love'. They never read Without Condition.
Cara Vineyard lives on a pumpkin farm with her mother in rural North Carolina. She works for a new brewing company as a truck driver. Cara's quiet, boring life is brightened when she meets Jackson Price, a pharmacist in Raleigh. As they spend more and more time together, Cara realizes she is falling in love with Jackson-which in turn makes her life more complicated. When Cara goes out on her late-night drives for the brewery, she often picks up men. And those men tend to die. When she comes home every night from one of these drives, she gives her Mother a memento from her latest victim, which her Mother proudly displays on a wall full of other trinkets Cara has brought home to her. Cara's Mother is proud of her and loves her no matter what. But will Jackson feel the same way? Cara's Mother doesn't want to find out.
So I have to say, I absolutely loved this book! It was incredibly interesting to have a female serial killer as a protagonist! The reader doesn't just get to see Cara killing people, she's not some deranged murderer on the loose. Instead, we get a very detailed backstory on Cara and her Mother, and it gives the reader a full understanding as to why Cara does what she does. We may not agree with it, but we empathize with her and feel her heartache from all of the trauma she has had to endure.
Taylor’s character building in Without Condition is 100% on point. She created an empathetic, likable serial killer. Not an easy task, but expertly done. Without going into spoiler territory, we are allowed to witness how Cara is treated by her peers from Kindergarten on up. And the older she gets, the worse the abuse and betrayal gets. Cara is full to the brim with rage, heartbreak and hate. But then she finds an outlet to let go of all of these burdens that she has been holding inside for so long and has been building for so many years. The truck driving job gives Cara the opening she needs and exacts her revenge on unsuspecting males looking for a ride. Now, is this a healthy way to deal with trauma? No. Most of us (hopefully) would go to a therapist or do yoga, maybe join a kickboxing class. But for Cara, it's going full Michael Myers on men she picks up on her nightly drives. And even though this is not how the majority of us would handle such issues, we totally get why she chose this avenue and are behind her! Hell, I found myself rooting for her, and then I had to stop and ask myself some hard questions! But that's what great character building can do!
Most of the beginning and end of Without Condition is full of Cara’s “therapy”, but Taylor changes the script in the middle section of the novel. Taylor turns from full on slasher mode to romance. Butterflies in the stomach, etc., and something I'm not a fan of. She sets her sights on Cara's budding relationship with Jackson. When the novel began to take this route I felt the novel was ruined. There go all those stars I was going to give this book. But I kept reading and realized the author did something rather brilliant. As I continued to read questions started popping up in my mind- What if this relationship gets serious? What if Cara has to quit her job as a driver to be with Jackson? How will Cara handle her rage? What if Jackson finds out? How will he react? How will Cara react to Jackson to Jackson's reaction? All of these questions and dim possibilities of where this relationship I'm now invested in could go kept bubbling up in my mind and then Boom! I realized what Taylor was doing. She's asking the question- What happens when a serial killer falls in love? Again, I'm now invested in the relationship between Cara and Jackson, and even though I like and care about Cara, I'm all of a sudden afraid for Jackson. One wrong move and Cara could be triggered and hurt him. Or is her love for Jackson stronger than her deep seeded hatred for the past?
Before I wrap this up, I have to comment on the other important character in this story, Cara's Mother. This woman is definitely odd. Keeping a trophy wall of her daughter's kills? Creepy is an understatement. However, as much as we want to damn her Mother for allowing this behavior, or not reporting her daughter to the police, we have to realize she is psychologically damaged as well. Maybe she understands what Cara has gone through more than we know. And she has seen the hurt her daughter has experienced throughout her life, and her empathy and unconditional love for her daughter outweigh any wrong doings Cara could commit-even murder. This is a display of an incredibly unhealthy relationship, and her Mother's unwavering love is not doing Cara any favors. But we do see a glimmer of common sense when Jackson enters the picture. Cara's Mother fears for Jackson because she knows what her daughter is capable of. She likes Jackson and does not want to see him hurt. But will her concern for Jackson's well-being overcome the unconditional love she has for her deeply damaged daughter?
Sonora Taylor has written an unsettling, yet somewhat tender, story of coping with abuse and the hope of being able to truly love and be loved. A tale about a sympathetic serial killer, this novel begs the questions- When does unconditional love cross a deadly line and can love be enough to change a person molded to hate? Is love enough? Is love the answer? The Beatles wrote 'All You Need is Love'. They never read Without Condition.
April 3, 2019
I wrote previously that Cara could be a cousin of Aileen Wuornos.
The book begins when she is a child and follows her into adulthood, but Cara isn't like other girls or women. She is slightly anit-social with a taste for murder.
I enjoyed this book because Sonora gives us a fresh female character with her sexual freedom and not conforming to make others happy. The story also makes you feel sympathic towards Cara and her family, you never know which way it is going to go for her.
Read this book if you are interested in a serial killer book with a unique new character in horror.
The book begins when she is a child and follows her into adulthood, but Cara isn't like other girls or women. She is slightly anit-social with a taste for murder.
I enjoyed this book because Sonora gives us a fresh female character with her sexual freedom and not conforming to make others happy. The story also makes you feel sympathic towards Cara and her family, you never know which way it is going to go for her.
Read this book if you are interested in a serial killer book with a unique new character in horror.
April 7, 2022
This is both a character study and a love story. It's hard to say which is darker.
The novel centers around Cara Vineyard. Sonora Taylor shows us that from a young age, Cara is different from others. She's apathetic about most things, bored in the small town life and lives with her mother to work the family Vineyard farm along with being a trucker. Cara also has a secret: she's a serial killer.
Unapologetic about this fact, Cara picks up men (who appear lecherous and boorish, but ultimately it doesn't really seem Cara cares much for 'deserving' victims) and kills them, taking trophies after the fact. This seems the only form of release in her life, a way to manifest a rage inside her, but also a way to combat the apathy she feels. Cara feels and cares little for other people, her job is just there and sex barely seems to interest her. Her first lover meant nothing to her and she barely seems proud of her killings despite her mother's pride in Cara being one of the most prolific murderers in American history. Killing is just a way for Cara to feel something, a release valve, an escape.
That all changes when she meets Jackson Price. A handsome doctor, a man of taste and refinement, Jackson turns out to be everything Cara wanted. A whirlwind romance ensues, and Taylor writes it so damn smartly.
Before I knew it, I was in Cara's head. I was cheering for a remorseless murderer with a prodigious body count because this whole thing is just that god damned well written and romantic. Jackson is not a perfect man. He has many flaws of his own, and while he initially wants to understand Cara, doing so is very difficult. Cara wants to let him in, but finds she has trouble how.
The tension and chemistry between the two absolutely crackles on page and Taylor gets one thing so right: from the start, we can understand Jackson is one of the few people Cara would never harm and she'd be horrified at the suggestion she ever would. Her little 'side hustle' becomes problematic (with her once canceling an early date due to having to finish up with a body disposal) and the sequence that follows is her kicking herself at failing to prioritize the man she's seriously crushing on.
It's well written. It's engaging. It's erotic. It's romantic. It's a terrific study of two damaged people coming together with one of the single best final lines I've read in a horror novel.
Loved it.
The novel centers around Cara Vineyard. Sonora Taylor shows us that from a young age, Cara is different from others. She's apathetic about most things, bored in the small town life and lives with her mother to work the family Vineyard farm along with being a trucker. Cara also has a secret: she's a serial killer.
Unapologetic about this fact, Cara picks up men (who appear lecherous and boorish, but ultimately it doesn't really seem Cara cares much for 'deserving' victims) and kills them, taking trophies after the fact. This seems the only form of release in her life, a way to manifest a rage inside her, but also a way to combat the apathy she feels. Cara feels and cares little for other people, her job is just there and sex barely seems to interest her. Her first lover meant nothing to her and she barely seems proud of her killings despite her mother's pride in Cara being one of the most prolific murderers in American history. Killing is just a way for Cara to feel something, a release valve, an escape.
That all changes when she meets Jackson Price. A handsome doctor, a man of taste and refinement, Jackson turns out to be everything Cara wanted. A whirlwind romance ensues, and Taylor writes it so damn smartly.
Before I knew it, I was in Cara's head. I was cheering for a remorseless murderer with a prodigious body count because this whole thing is just that god damned well written and romantic. Jackson is not a perfect man. He has many flaws of his own, and while he initially wants to understand Cara, doing so is very difficult. Cara wants to let him in, but finds she has trouble how.
The tension and chemistry between the two absolutely crackles on page and Taylor gets one thing so right: from the start, we can understand Jackson is one of the few people Cara would never harm and she'd be horrified at the suggestion she ever would. Her little 'side hustle' becomes problematic (with her once canceling an early date due to having to finish up with a body disposal) and the sequence that follows is her kicking herself at failing to prioritize the man she's seriously crushing on.
It's well written. It's engaging. It's erotic. It's romantic. It's a terrific study of two damaged people coming together with one of the single best final lines I've read in a horror novel.
Loved it.
July 31, 2019
This doesn’t line up with the handful of other stories I’ve seen that come at things from a serial killer’s point of view. It isn’t the stream-of-consciousness of an unhinged mind. It isn’t highly stylized or hyper-violent. It isn’t a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities. And it isn’t wacky humor. Instead, it turns a social outcast into a protagonist I could actually get invested in. I found myself rooting for her relationship with Jackson, wanting her to be able to trust him and be happy with him. The relationship has its ups and downs. Jackson’s friend Moira sets off some of Cara’s old triggers. Jackson also has a particularly bad relationship with his mother, which does set Cara off a bit as well. Cara’s mother also isn’t handling her new independence very well. The more time Cara spends with Jackson, the more unhappy her mother becomes. And as Cara and her mother’s relationship deteriorates, it becomes harder for Cara to remain in control of her impulses.
The story is really all about Cara as a character and about her relationships with Jackson and her mother. It isn’t a thriller and it doesn’t pit Cara against the authorities. If anything, it demystifies the serial killer compared to most media depictions, revealing her to be messed-up, but still fundamentally human. If you’re looking for a very thoughtful and unusual look into the mind of a serial killer, as well as a wonderful relationship story, this is an excellent read!
Content note: animal harm, animal death, and sexual content.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/07/r...
The story is really all about Cara as a character and about her relationships with Jackson and her mother. It isn’t a thriller and it doesn’t pit Cara against the authorities. If anything, it demystifies the serial killer compared to most media depictions, revealing her to be messed-up, but still fundamentally human. If you’re looking for a very thoughtful and unusual look into the mind of a serial killer, as well as a wonderful relationship story, this is an excellent read!
Content note: animal harm, animal death, and sexual content.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/07/r...
April 11, 2019
This book was a blast. It went from 0-60 in no time at all, and had me riveted. Cara is such a great character; she's not like the usual serial killer horror trope where the killer just kills and kills with nothing else going on. Cara is not a Jason or Michael Myers. She carries a lot of hurt and sorrow inside, and just needs to let it out the only way she knows how.
But then she meets Jackson, and things change a bit for her. Instead of wanting to kill him, she wants to be with him. She is shocked by this, but goes along with it and they fall in love. Both of them have deep secrets, though. We know hers, but what is his?
I loved how the author tied everything together and showed how Cara and Jackson work out their differences. I would have to say that Cara's mom is actually the crazy one in this story, but I guess a mother's love sometimes knows no bounds. And every kid wants their mom to be proud of them, right?
Read this book, you will love it. I look forward to many more from this author.
But then she meets Jackson, and things change a bit for her. Instead of wanting to kill him, she wants to be with him. She is shocked by this, but goes along with it and they fall in love. Both of them have deep secrets, though. We know hers, but what is his?
I loved how the author tied everything together and showed how Cara and Jackson work out their differences. I would have to say that Cara's mom is actually the crazy one in this story, but I guess a mother's love sometimes knows no bounds. And every kid wants their mom to be proud of them, right?
Read this book, you will love it. I look forward to many more from this author.
February 20, 2020
WITHOUT CONDITION by Sonora Taylor is an intense character study about a serial killer who falls in love. There are two parts to this story. First, we meet Cara. We watch her grow up and learn how she becomes a serial killer. Then, we watch her fall in love. The two parts of the book seemed disjointed to me at first, but finally came together in the best, most satisfying conclusion.
I love the way Taylor writes. She pulls me into the story and I cannot escape.
March 21, 2020
If you love a good serial killer read, this is your kind of book. It starts out with a bang and kept me turning the pages in suspense. I really liked how the author explored how Cara, our serial killer, so deeply fell for someone as she continued her rampage. It added an interesting human element to such a dark, twisted character.
July 25, 2020
I was expecting much more slicing and dicing.
This book can be described as darkly sweet.
It's really not about killing as much as it is about relationships.
The mother daughter relationship was heartbreaking. A daughter growing up wanting to be on her own, and a mother planted in her ways of staying still.
Relationships: there are relationships in this book and sex. I for one enjoy a good romance now and again and this woman can write a steamy scene. I also loved how not all the characters were heterosexual.
School: We all had different experiences with school and I feel we could at least relate to what went on in the characters school. Rumors, mean girls, and adults who don't listen. I wanted to fight a lot of the people in the flashbacks.
This has nothing to do with the plot but there is a successful black man in the book. I love seeing POC in books! I appreciate it!
Now I know you're like "Heather, it sounds perfect, how dare you give it 4 stars."
I gave it 4 just because it got a bit wordy for my liking. Things were in the book that personally I feel could have been left out.
This book can be described as darkly sweet.
It's really not about killing as much as it is about relationships.
The mother daughter relationship was heartbreaking. A daughter growing up wanting to be on her own, and a mother planted in her ways of staying still.
Relationships: there are relationships in this book and sex. I for one enjoy a good romance now and again and this woman can write a steamy scene. I also loved how not all the characters were heterosexual.
School: We all had different experiences with school and I feel we could at least relate to what went on in the characters school. Rumors, mean girls, and adults who don't listen. I wanted to fight a lot of the people in the flashbacks.
This has nothing to do with the plot but there is a successful black man in the book. I love seeing POC in books! I appreciate it!
Now I know you're like "Heather, it sounds perfect, how dare you give it 4 stars."
I gave it 4 just because it got a bit wordy for my liking. Things were in the book that personally I feel could have been left out.
August 6, 2020
I ploughed through this book in a handful of hours - I couldn’t put it down.
I’d heard a previous reviewer compare the story and the main character to Dexter - but, much as I enjoyed that series, I found *this* story more compelling, and *this* protagonist more multifaceted.
(That said: I could easily imagine Cara generating a Dexter-esque series of novels - and would happily queue up in the rain to buy them).
If you like morally-ambiguous characters with complex motivations - read this book. If shadowy deeds and serial killer stories are your thing - again, read this book.
Frankly - you should read it even if your usual fare is nothing but Harlequin romance.
You won’t regret it.
I’d heard a previous reviewer compare the story and the main character to Dexter - but, much as I enjoyed that series, I found *this* story more compelling, and *this* protagonist more multifaceted.
(That said: I could easily imagine Cara generating a Dexter-esque series of novels - and would happily queue up in the rain to buy them).
If you like morally-ambiguous characters with complex motivations - read this book. If shadowy deeds and serial killer stories are your thing - again, read this book.
Frankly - you should read it even if your usual fare is nothing but Harlequin romance.
You won’t regret it.
Read
December 3, 2018Just finished my last round of revisions, and now it's off to my beta readers. I'm still kind of processing that, on my end at least, the book is done.
March 11, 2020
I never thought I’d be reading a book with a serial killer main protagonist that I’d be rooting for, but here I am. And it’s also a sweet romance book. And just really good.
August 2, 2021
Fantastic novel by a new-to-me author. I'll definitely check out more of Sonora Taylor's work!
March 26, 2019
4.5/5
I am always a fan of authors who know the value of unrushed yet well paced character development, and from page one, Sonora Taylor delivers. Her smooth interweaving of the present and the past also simultaneously develops a plot that is creative and—disturbingly—unique.
When Horror slips into Dark Romance, the seemingly off-kilter transition first bumps, then works: how else might Cara capture the quiet of “normalcy” without this shift? There was one spot where I felt the timing/opportunity was a bit of a convenient stretch, but it wasn’t a show stopper.
Cara Vineyard is a deep well of damage. The alternating volley of compassion/antipathy is still at play inside me. (Further kudos to the author for my ongoing moral dilemma.)
“Without Condition” comes through on all fronts: a chilling and unique plot line; well developed characters; and a successful commixture of Horror and Dark Romance which I think will leave fans of both genres sated.
I am always a fan of authors who know the value of unrushed yet well paced character development, and from page one, Sonora Taylor delivers. Her smooth interweaving of the present and the past also simultaneously develops a plot that is creative and—disturbingly—unique.
When Horror slips into Dark Romance, the seemingly off-kilter transition first bumps, then works: how else might Cara capture the quiet of “normalcy” without this shift? There was one spot where I felt the timing/opportunity was a bit of a convenient stretch, but it wasn’t a show stopper.
Cara Vineyard is a deep well of damage. The alternating volley of compassion/antipathy is still at play inside me. (Further kudos to the author for my ongoing moral dilemma.)
“Without Condition” comes through on all fronts: a chilling and unique plot line; well developed characters; and a successful commixture of Horror and Dark Romance which I think will leave fans of both genres sated.
June 24, 2020
Meet Cara. Your average woman who’s a truck driver for a beer company and friendly enough to give rides to hitchhikers. It just happens that they wind up dead. Hey, everyone needs a hobby.
Cara lives with her mom, Dolores and the two have a very open and loving relationship as we see it develop over Cara’s school years.
More interestingly is how we take the time to see that Cara was bullied by girls and this was a big part of her often aloof personality.
Along the way, she meets a man named Jackson and the two hit it off well as they start dating and become a very charming couple together.
What you need to know is that this is a romance novel with two characters that are very likable without any of the tropes that the genre usually has. As both Cara and Jackson do act like real people trying out a new relationship. Even having a good use of side characters they don’t act annoying because the plot demands it.
The serial killer aspects of the book are not the biggest focus, but they do have plenty of dark elements as Cara is trying to figure out how she can be honest with her actions. I really enjoyed this and would love to see more like this.
Cara lives with her mom, Dolores and the two have a very open and loving relationship as we see it develop over Cara’s school years.
More interestingly is how we take the time to see that Cara was bullied by girls and this was a big part of her often aloof personality.
Along the way, she meets a man named Jackson and the two hit it off well as they start dating and become a very charming couple together.
What you need to know is that this is a romance novel with two characters that are very likable without any of the tropes that the genre usually has. As both Cara and Jackson do act like real people trying out a new relationship. Even having a good use of side characters they don’t act annoying because the plot demands it.
The serial killer aspects of the book are not the biggest focus, but they do have plenty of dark elements as Cara is trying to figure out how she can be honest with her actions. I really enjoyed this and would love to see more like this.
February 12, 2019
If King's Carrie had turned into a serial killer, and your setting was the backwoods country life, you'd have Without Condition. It's a murderous mayhem of revenge and fix culminating in horrifying shows of unconditional love. I'll never look at a beat-up old truck without apprehension again.
Overall this novel is a simmering read that is a character-study on the female protagonist, Cara. The novel deals with her dark side, the relationship she has with her enabling mother, and then her romance with a man she falls for (which is rare, as she really only has loved two men in her life - this new boyfriend and a past uncle who she felt abandoned her - and also gave her and taught her how to wield a knife). It's a horror novel dealing with a serial killer, but it's also dark romance, and there isn't as much action as there is fullness of story.
The novel to me deals with themes of bullying, revenge, loneliness, abandonment, and simmering rage. It also deals with love and acceptance. But don't get me wrong, Cara is not one to be messed with and so there are some violent scenes as well.
Overall this novel is a simmering read that is a character-study on the female protagonist, Cara. The novel deals with her dark side, the relationship she has with her enabling mother, and then her romance with a man she falls for (which is rare, as she really only has loved two men in her life - this new boyfriend and a past uncle who she felt abandoned her - and also gave her and taught her how to wield a knife). It's a horror novel dealing with a serial killer, but it's also dark romance, and there isn't as much action as there is fullness of story.
The novel to me deals with themes of bullying, revenge, loneliness, abandonment, and simmering rage. It also deals with love and acceptance. But don't get me wrong, Cara is not one to be messed with and so there are some violent scenes as well.
October 27, 2020
5 stars to this surprisingly heartfelt, serial killer, coming of age romance/horror novel.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this novel to be honest, and so I went into it kind of blind and I loved it. It took me a while to get into it, but once it hooked me I had a hard time putting it down.
Cara is a young woman who deals with her tormentors whispers and self doubt by killing random hitchhikers-and her mother is very proud of her. Everything changes when she meets a young pharmacist who turns her world upside down as she starts to fall for him.
I have never read a book like this, where you’re cheering on a young killer to find her happily ever after. While Cara wasn’t always a likeable character, she is one that will stay with me for quite some time. She was strong, resilient, disturbed, real, sad and complex.
If you like quiet horror, mixed with some love, sex and coming of age themes, you need to run and pick this book up now! And even if you think it may not be your cup of tea, it is well worth trying out, it will surprise you!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this novel to be honest, and so I went into it kind of blind and I loved it. It took me a while to get into it, but once it hooked me I had a hard time putting it down.
Cara is a young woman who deals with her tormentors whispers and self doubt by killing random hitchhikers-and her mother is very proud of her. Everything changes when she meets a young pharmacist who turns her world upside down as she starts to fall for him.
I have never read a book like this, where you’re cheering on a young killer to find her happily ever after. While Cara wasn’t always a likeable character, she is one that will stay with me for quite some time. She was strong, resilient, disturbed, real, sad and complex.
If you like quiet horror, mixed with some love, sex and coming of age themes, you need to run and pick this book up now! And even if you think it may not be your cup of tea, it is well worth trying out, it will surprise you!
September 30, 2021
Well, here goes the five star prediction. I am seriously baffled by how high these ratings are.
Way to unrealistic characters. Way to many unnecessary erotic scenes. What an unrealistic and predictable ending was that, please?
I am shocked, SHOCKED by these rave reviews
Way to unrealistic characters. Way to many unnecessary erotic scenes. What an unrealistic and predictable ending was that, please?
I am shocked, SHOCKED by these rave reviews
April 15, 2023
Although the first couple of chapters were brilliant, the rest of the story was let down by a lack of tight editing. Definitely falls more under the romance category than horror.
June 21, 2022
At times steamy, touching, tense, sad but always engaging.
Cara is a trucker who picks up men, said men are never seen again.
She takes a memento from every man and her mother places them on a wall along with Cara’s more mundane accomplishments (let’s just say that your mom is probably never going to be *this* proud of you). Life is alright like this, but things are about to get tense as she gets closer to Jackson and eventually has to juggle her less than savory pastimes with a budding relationship.
I like Sonora Taylor’s writing a lot and although this, on face value, is a story about a female serial killer it’s really about much more than that: It’s a story about relationships; be they romantic, or those between a mother and child. Both Jackson & Cara have complicated relationships with their mothers (massive understatement).
Although gory at times, it’s also a touching tale about acceptance and loving someone unconditionally to the extreme. Definitely worth a read😊
Cara is a trucker who picks up men, said men are never seen again.
She takes a memento from every man and her mother places them on a wall along with Cara’s more mundane accomplishments (let’s just say that your mom is probably never going to be *this* proud of you). Life is alright like this, but things are about to get tense as she gets closer to Jackson and eventually has to juggle her less than savory pastimes with a budding relationship.
I like Sonora Taylor’s writing a lot and although this, on face value, is a story about a female serial killer it’s really about much more than that: It’s a story about relationships; be they romantic, or those between a mother and child. Both Jackson & Cara have complicated relationships with their mothers (massive understatement).
Although gory at times, it’s also a touching tale about acceptance and loving someone unconditionally to the extreme. Definitely worth a read😊
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