At age 22, author Amber Lehman began researching and writing what would become the novel TORN. Her writing occurred during a period when she was caring for her grandmother and so writing was often put on the back burner. It was 5 years before the novel was completed to her satisfaction. What was once an 1100 page novel was trimmed down to 404 pages. It was another 9 years before she decided to publish her work. A work of fiction, TORN also drew upon experiences from Amber's life as she observed her friends and past relationships.

A native of southern California, Amber enjoys writing and illustrating full time and looks forward to writing books in many different genres.

Krista McKinley doesn’t realize what awaits her when she’s uprooted from an Ohio convent school and placed in a California public school her ninth grade year. Carrie is the first to befriend Krista and soon after she becomes friends with the enigmatic Brandon. The three quickly form a close friendship.

But when a harmless dare to kiss Carrie on Homecoming night escalates into something beyond her expectations, Krista questions her feelings and her sexuality. Unhappy in her uncertainty and on a quest to determine her sexuality, Krista asks an unlikely question of Brandon: will he take her virginity? The experience leaves both with feelings deeper than wanted for the other.

While still struggling with her friendship with Carrie, matters become more complicated when Krista manifests an unhealthy infatuation with Daemon, a religious mentor far older than she in order to escape her desire to date the romantically unavailable Brandon. Krista and Brandon’s night together was an experiment, nothing more, and worse, an experiment that hurt and betrayed many of their closest friends.

Ultimately, Krista has to decide where her heart will lead her. Because when Brandon and Daemon both reveal their own secret feelings the week before Christmas, Krista realizes it isn’t only her heart that’s at stake.

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