REVIEW: Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Title: Renhala
Series: none
Author: Amy Joy Lutchen
Published Date: September 27, 2012
Publisher:self-published by author
Format: ebook
Pages: 406 (although in my nook it was much longer at over 500)
ISBN13: 9780988281509
Copy provided by: author
Genre: fantasy
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis: Kailey Rooke, timid accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.
A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey's history for her liking, opens Kailey's eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew existed: Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.
She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a "giver"), falls into an unexpected love triangle, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon. 
On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she'll run from the deadly meeples: small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey's realm shortens all life spans.
As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.

My review: I'd like to thank the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 
The beginning of the book I will admit was confusing as all heck and a little slow. I think maybe opening the book with a flashback to the attack would have drawn the reader in immediately. Overall, the writing was excellent. The story line was a little long. In fact, with a little more detail and a good cliff hanger, this could have easily been broken down into two books. With the story line being so long, there were times when it felt slow and draggy. 
The love triangle, did it ever really get resolved? At the very end it did, but I didn't like how Kailey couldn't decide till the very end, she was so wishy-washy about the two guys. I wanted to slap her a few times. On the other hand, I did like how there was no insta-love. 
So basically: great writing style, the storyline was long and draggy at times, but, ultimately, a great read.