Those Secrets We Keep by Emily Liebert

Release Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Penguin Group/NAL
Author Website: http://emilyliebert.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Sloane possessed the perfect life. She lived in a great neighborhood, married to a successful husband and had a beautiful daughter. However, she felt something missing after the passing of her sister that nothing seemed to fill. Needing time away to think, she and Hillary, her best friend, took the offer to stay a few weeks at Lake George where Sloane's aunt kept a house.

When Sloane's oldest and closest friend from college invited herself along for the vacation, old wounds and new hurts came out. These left the women broken from the weight of their own secrets and seeking healing comfort from whatever source they could find. Would these three women be able to pick up the pieces of their lives? Would others pay the price for their decisions?


Review:
I tend to search through NetGalley's offerings whenever I can't sleep at night.  That was how I found the latest offering by the author. Something about the premise of women not happy with having the security that most crave tugged at my mind. When I read the first chapter, I related with Sloane's quest to fill the gaping hole that recent events created in her life. Not because I have a beautiful daughter or a great husband ready to do anything I asked, but because the sting of losing someone closest to me turned my own life upside down.

Most of the book centered around Sloane and her two best friends, Hillary and Georgina. Each women carried the weight of a secret on their shoulders as they joined together for two weeks at a beautiful vacation home in St. George. Interestingly enough, both Hillary and Georgina embodied the attributes that Sloane desired most. Hillary was calm, rational and provided guidance whenever the events of the book spiraled out of Sloane's control. On the other hand, Georgina was carefree, wild and ambitious - everything that Sloane thought was missing in her life. As the story went on, the women found that their similarities tied them together much more than their differences. The author didn't let the women hog the spotlight. The men in their lives also spent part of the time coming to terms with their own issues and inadequacies while the women were at the vacation home. This introspection on the men's part helped give the book a balanced feel.

There was a smooth buildup in the book's pacing, easing me into the middle of Sloane's life. By setting the book in modern times, the author created a seamless transition from the reader's reality to the that of the Sloane and her friends. Using the natural settings of the shoreline, rocky alcoves, and lush green areas also brought the story to life and added a sense of calm though much of the women's lives fell apart. As the secrets bubbled to the surface, they became characters themselves and drove the story forward until the women were forced to deal with the secrets or run. What the women couldn't outrun were the consequences of their secrets and their choices. Whether they came clean or chose to harbor the secrets longer, the payment for that choice was clearly laid out for them.

Overall, I liked this story because it was easy to put myself into Sloane's, Hillary's or even Georgina's shoes and carry their respective secrets. While I can't imagine making the same choices, I could understand why the women did with the way the author structured the timing of the book. The contrast between the perceived reality of Sloane's perfect world and the true reality of her crumbling world view drove home the point that a person can never really know another person simply by looking in from the outside. People are truly complex creatures that always find a way to surprise a reader by doing the opposite of rational thinking when emotions and beliefs are put into play as well. This book should definitely be on your TBR if you're looking for an examination of friendship, love and relationship or simply love a great story about longing in all its forms.

Those Secrets We Keep by Emily Liebert is currently available in either paperback or digital (Kindle) forms at several online retailers. The following link provides the book's Amazon page for purchase.
Those Secrets We Keep by Emily Liebert

The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft

Release Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Author Website:  http://www.kathryncraft.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
With two young boys weighing on her mind, Ronnie Farnham fought to keep her marriage together despite how bad things continued to get. She reached her breaking point when his downward spiral began impacting the children, and forced her husband, Jeff, to pick a day to move out of the family home. Her anxiety grew as the day arrived. What she didn't expect was for Jeff to barricade himself inside their barn with a shotgun.

For 12 nerve-wracking hours the community of their small town waited for a resolution. The police secreted Ronnie, her two boys and her mother away as they surrounded the barn in order to talk Jeff from the barn without harming himself. As they waited, Jeff's mother arrived and joined the women in their vigil. Can the women come together as secrets unveil themselves? Will the police be able to bring Jeff out safely?


Review:
After reading the author's previous book, I was excited to receive an invitation to read this book through NetGalley. Events in the characters' lives took place within a twelve hour period of time, beginning with Ronnie waking and getting the kids ready for school until the final chapter. As each hour passed, the story became more complex and the characters delved deeper into their own fears and relationships. I found it very interesting when the pressure began to weigh heavily on each woman the longer the standoff continued. No matter the various differences, they were all mothers who had children that she wanted to protect from bad things the world would bring to their doorsteps.

Ronnie was the typical middle-aged woman who wanted nothing more than to be successful, married and to complete the picture with a few kids. She rediscovered a connection to Jeff when she went out on the town with her mother. Seeing an older man fall for a younger woman wasn't out of the ordinary, but the subtle ways Jeff would shift Ronnie into their own little world made the story more than an ordinary tale. The author made sure each of the characters were well-rounded and had their own set of flaws. These made them all easy to relate to - including Jeff. Not only did the author present how the characters viewed themselves, but as the story went along, each character was given a chance to know how others saw them as well.

The book opened with a typical setting and ordinary things to do. All that made the beginning chapter a little slow for me. However, the pace picked up by the next few chapters and kept steadily revealing things that hadn't been said for years. Hour by hour fears, feelings, and accusations created walls of anxiety and hurt between Ronnie, her mother and Jeff's mother. Even as their concern for Jeff and the two little ones swirled around them, they had to find a way through all the muck in order to come together. Now, what I didn't expect was the author shining such a light on Jeff's depression, how it drove him to do and say things that he might not have otherwise, and how easily he sunk to a point where there seemed to be only one way out of his particular situation.

Overall, the book quickly became one that I couldn't put down. The author didn't create a world for me to settle in while I read what the characters said or did. She used the world around us and slipped these characters inside everyday situations instead. After I finished reading the book, I discovered that portions of this book were inspired by the author's own real life experience with a standoff involving her husband at the time. It was no wonder that she could bring so many emotions and accusations to life. I have to admit that my own emotions got away from me a time or two (okay, many times). This book is on my to-buy list. If you're looking for an interesting examination of family dynamics or a peek into the darkness of depression, this book is one you need to consider.

The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft is currently available at several online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in a variety of formats including paperback, audio-book and digital (Kindle) from the book's Amazon link below.
The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft

Mom on the Road: A Novel by Allyson Ochs Primack

Release Date: February 13, 2015
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Author Website:  www.momontour.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Maggie Stevens lived the typical, modern American life. She went to college, got married and had children. Leaving behind her own dreams to focus on what needed to be done, she suddenly found herself staring into the face of someone she barely recognized. When her young son had a chance to tour the country with an Broadway production company, she took a deep breath and got on the tour bus along with him.

Through trial and error she faced her fears and found parts of herself she had put away so long ago. Adventure, mishaps and hilarity ensued as mother and son learned the life of an on-tour actor, suffering the highs with brilliant performances and the lows of long travel times in cramped spaces. The book was inspired by the author's own journey with her son as he toured the country and was documented in her blog, www.momontour.com.

Review:
The author contacted me, asking for an honest and fair review of her book. When I read the synopsis and saw that it was inspired by events in the author's real life, I was immediately intrigued. One might think this book would be a simple retelling of how the tour came about and the adventures that ensued. That's partially correct. There were also moments of self-discovery, reconnecting with one's dreams and letting go of fear to enjoy life and all it offered. Now, I must issue one note of warning. The book was filled with the honesty of a nearly 40 year-old woman, so adult language and situations were present throughout the pages. But that was who Maggie Stevens was.

Told through the eyes of Maggie Stevens, her life before the tour was recounted in the first few chapters. She let us know all the hopes and dreams she held as a child and how those precious dreams  of freedom and travel were pushed aside for more pressing events such as college, working as an attorney and living life as a wife and mother. There was a brash honesty to what Maggie told about her home life and how she felt something lacking. When her son, Matt, was chosen to share the part in "The Munsters Musical", a different set of fears were laid bare, but they didn't stop the family from rearranging their lives in order to give Matt the opportunity of a lifetime. Spending more than half a year with the crew and actors, relationships on all levels were formed despite the awkward stiffness of those first few days. Each of the players were given an introduction in the book, their first impressions recorded as Maggie experienced them. As the tour gained a rhythm after each production, these impressions shifted as they all became familiar with one another. It was pretty interesting to watch the dynamics of the relationships change as time went on.

Though the start was a little slow for me, I was hooked by the honesty that Maggie presented. She didn't hide anything from the glare of the spotlight and included her own flaws, bad habits and hidden desires. The pace picked up shortly after she found herself out of college, married and a little one on the way. When she wrote about raising three kids, maintaining a home and working part-time as an attorney, I felt exhausted for her! Several moments made me smile or laugh aloud. Her son's joy at seeing New York City for the first time, the tearful first goodbye as mother and son set off on the journey, and the first show were all powerful moments in the book for me. Of course, hilarity ensued as rushed from one city to the next, spent long hours trapped on a bus together, and shared hotel rooms which provided little to no privacy. It all added up to a roller coaster ride of emotions, events and experiences.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I'm very glad that I had the opportunity to read and review this book. Because of Maggie's honesty and the balance of both good and bad times within the story, I felt like I was right there with them through the bus rides, the after-show parties and the loneliness that the road induced. At the very heart of the story, both mother and son discovered both who they truly were and the acceptance to be that very person. Chasing your dream didn't have to end simply because your circumstanced did. Be brave and step back into the race. You never know what may be waiting around the corner. Maggie took that big step forward and found her passion rekindled and a deeper level of contentment with her family and friends. If you're looking for a comedy-filled, adult coming-of-age story or have ever had the desire to break out of the box, then this book is the one you need to read.

Mom on the Road: A Novel by Allyson Ochs Primack is currently available at various online retailers in both paperback and digital (Kindle) formats. Follow the link below to the book's Amazon page to purchase.
Mom on the Road: A Novel by Allyson Ochs Primack

Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs

Release Date: November 10, 2014
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Author Website: http://aprilmarielibs.com 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Avery Lawson's life was perfect in her eyes. She married her sweetheart, Mitchel, and had a smart, precious little girl, Hannah. In one fateful night her life was changed, leaving her lost and broken in so many ways. As she fought her way back from the edge, she took solace in her daughter. But life wasn't through with her and once again, Avery found herself nearly losing the last ray of sunshine in her life.

Pediatric neurologist, Dr. Nathan Banst, wasn't going to let anything happen to Hannah on his watch. As he and Avery's small support circle helped to put the broken pieces back together, Avery and Nathan grew closer than either of them anticipated. Was she really ready to love again so soon after losing Mitchel? Would she be betraying all their memories and their love by going with her heart?

Review:
Though I read a large variety of books by authors of all types, one of my favorite aspects of having this blog has always been giving a previously unknown or little-known author a platform to get their works out there. When the author of this particular book contacted me, I was happy to read the novel in exchange for an honest and fair review. Now, I did have some reservations about the book due to the women's fiction/romance aspects - only because I'm still fairly new to reading books within those genres. However, those disappeared within the first few chapters as the author made certain that this book was much more than the simple love story we've all come to expect.

Quite simply, the book described Avery's journey through some of the most horrifying events that could take place in a person's life. Her world was a typical one, full of friends and family, good times and magical moments that she thought would last forever. Within moments that life became a dream as her husband was taken from her, leaving her to struggle to find meaning in what was left. In her grief she discovered a small circle of people who became the lifelines she needed to regain control of her world. Her daughter, Hannah, and neighbors, Rebecca, Tom and Max, helped to make her life meaningful once again. Of course, life has a funny way of making you think everything's okay before it pulls the carpet from under your feet. And that's the point where Avery met Dr. Nathan Banst, pediatric neurologist at the local hospital.

Much of the first few chapters dealt with revealing Avery's world and the tragedy she overcame. I found the pace of the novel slow to start, but ramped up as the book continued. There were equal moments of sadness and comedy that kept me turning the pages. Now and then I felt that a few of the scenes were predictable in such a novel, but overall I think the author did a good job in keeping a fair balance of the ups and downs that are typical of life nowadays. For me, the meat of the story took place shortly after Avery found her spirit again right before another devastating accident threatened to break her heart once and for all. At that moment, the book took hold and I wanted to see the characters succeed instead of fail. It was easy to get caught up in the story and root for them.

In the end I have to say that I enjoyed the book a lot more than I initially thought. There were plenty of times when the sadness of the book weighed heavily, but then Hannah came in and brought her charismatic rays of sunshine with her. While a little of the book was predictable, the reactions of the characters differed from my expectation. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While this was the author's debut novel, it didn't read that way to me. If you're looking for a novel with nearly true-to-life characters experiencing all the ups and downs that life can throw their way, this is the novel you should be reading!

Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs is currently available at several online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It can be purchased in digital format. The following link will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs
  

The Search for Anne Perry: The Hidden Life of a Bestselling Crime Writer by Joanne Drayton

Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Arcade Publishing
  
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
From the beginning of the book, the journey of Anne Perry's publishing career was chronicled from the rocky start which left her destitute at times to the peak of her success. Everything in between was also examined, including the plots to her various series of books and the intimate friendships which grew out of her advance in the publishing world. What no one expected was that an incident from Anne's past would put everything into jeopardy once again.

In her youth Anne was known as Juliet Hulme, one half of a teenage duo that was involved in a scandalous murder in New Zealand during the 1950s. As this part of her history came under scrutiny, everything she'd worked so hard to attain and change within herself threatened to fall apart once again. The book examined the aftermath of this revelation as well as Anne's reaction to her darkest secret being laid out for everyone to see.

Review:
This book was another good find from OHFB and kept me entertained through another round of the flu. I honestly didn't know anything about the author, Anne Perry, or her various crime novels before I began this book. However, I did know some basic facts of the murder case which took place in New Zealand decades prior. It was a little hard at first to reconcile the fact that the crime writer was the same young girl who committed such a crime. The author not only attempted to show the stark differences between the adult Anne and the teenage Juliet, but she also explored the years shortly after the murder took place and the imprisonment of both girls. For most people, the case usually ended with the verdict and little thought was given to what comes after it.

Though the book began with the bombshell revelation about her past to her publisher, the central figure in the book was definitely Anne Perry. From her quiet second beginning and finding herself among the Mormon faith to the rocky start of her writing career, it was apparent that she was very much removed from the teenager who had made a grievous mistake. She safeguarded that dark secret as much as possible, more to protect those she loved than to protect herself. It was stated in several places that the anxiety about her past drove her to delve deeper into her comfort zones and explore things through her writing whenever possible. Mixed with the examinations of both past and present were the various plots of her books. Though they obviously were included to show a correlation between Anne's thoughts and feelings of her past with those of her future, there were quite a few times when I became lost reading about the plot of her books and distracted from the life of Anne herself!

For me the book had moments where the pacing was steady and I was always ready to keep turning those pages. However, there were also bits of the chapters were I felt like a lot of time had been given to the characters in her books instead of Anne, her colleagues, friends or family. I was glad to see that when the author wrote about the crime, the trial which followed and the imprisonment of both girls, she didn't sensationalize any of the events which took place. In fact, the author offered views from both sides of the aisle as well as the girls' own thoughts about what was taking place. It was quite clear that the author spent a lot of time researching and going through the various documents as she investigated the life and times of Anne Perry.

Overall, I quite liked the book. There was a message of hope and redemption through much of the trials and tribulations that Anne often wrote about in her own novels. She truly tried to be a person deserving of the second chance that she'd been granted after her release from prison. She also didn't try to invalidate the gravity of murder and the harm it caused for many people after the fact. She accepted responsibility for her actions time and again over the years. By the end of the book, one was left with a sense that the girl who found herself involved with something that escaped her grasp and comprehension wasn't the woman who began writing novels as a way to right social wrongs and spread a message of hope.

The Search for Anne Perry: The Hidden Life of a Bestselling Crime Writer by Joanne Drayton is currently available at many retailers. Copies can be purchased in various formats including hardcover, paperback, audio-book and Kindle. The following link will take you to the book's page at Amazon.
The Search for Anne Perry: The Hidden Life of a Bestselling Crime Writer by Joanne Drayton

Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell

Release Date: May 28, 2014
Publisher: Holly Leaf Press
Series: Toronto series, Book 14

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After failing to achieve her lifelong dream, Corinne took some time to create a new, deeply detailed life plan for herself before putting it into action. Nearly three months later she was enjoying a long overdue time of relaxtion on a cruise. Her intention to study her books and go over her future plans vanished the moment she laid eyes on Austin. His easy-on-the-eyes looks and carefree attitude excited her, but also sent shivers of terror through her. His presence threatened to derail every bit of her plans.

Warm, sunny days and beautiful, star-filled nights made it too easy for Corinne to drop her guard around Austin. The more time they spent together, the more she questioned her decisions. As they neared the end of the cruise, a heavily hidden truth revealed itself and sent Corinne reeling for a second time in her life. Months of changes followed the cruise. So did the lingering questions. Should she give up her methodically planned life for something more exciting? Will she ever let go of the past enough to have a future?

Review:
I was offered the chance to read this title by the author herself in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book followed the last two books by Heather Wardell that I reviewed (Everybody's Got a Story and Fifty Million Reasons). It's also the long-awaited sequel to All at Sea which chronicled the events between a portion of the key characters which frequently appeared throughout this novel. This story stood well on its own, but the author did a wonderful job weaving in the events of the previous one without shifting the focus away from the main character of this story, Corinne.

Oh, Corinne. The poor woman's world crumbled the moment she failed to achieve a dream that had been the driving force of her life for over a decade, maybe longer. The weight of that failure drove her to the other extreme and led to what many would consider to be a life-altering decision. I was a little taken aback by what she did because her behavior at the start of the novel didn't lead me to believe that she'd do something like that. Then again, I could understand it as the story progressed. Most of the characters in this novel had easygoing natures which made a lot of the book a fun read. Each of them kept their individuality while blending well when grouped together, especially during the cruise segments of the book.

As I mentioned before, some of the characters were introduced in an earlier book. Nick, Mel and Austin all had their histories and reasons explored in more depth in it, but the author was able to weave in the important events during conversations and other small ways. Not only did it help to me understand the reasons why they said or did something, each instance helped to advance the plot in a way that kept me interested. The pace of the story was fairly consistent from beginning to end, allowing me to enjoy the story but also helped keep those pages turning.

In the end I found myself enjoying this book for a couple of reasons. The main reason was the fact I could relate to Corinne in the way she perceived herself for not achieving what was her lifelong dream. I've been there myself. I've also met a man similar to Austin in a lot of ways. Though he's not as well off as the character, it was a treat to read a book and see similarities in one's own life. Now, I will admit that I found a couple of the plot devices as easy to guess. However, the chapters before the ending really hit the nail on the head in regards to realizing what life was all about. It made the ride worthwhile for me. If you're looking for a book about an instant connection, dealing with the shards of broken dreams, or coming to terms with life and its scorn of plans, then this is the book you'll want to add to your collection.

Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell is currently available for purchase at many online retailers including Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble. It can be found in either paperback and Kindle formats. Below is the book's Amazon page.
Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell

Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell

Release Date: November 28, 2013
Publisher: Holly Leaf Press
Series: Toronto series, Book #13

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Who hasn't dreamed about hitting the big jackpot of a lottery drawing and what he or she would do with the winnings? Angela played the same numbers for years, never winning more than a few bucks here or there. When she least expected her life to change, she became the winner of Toronto's largest jackpot - fifty million dollars.

From the moment her winning ticket was confirmed, her life changed. People she didn't know and others she trusted were among those with their hands out. It was clear from the beginning that the plans she'd always dreamed of weren't the best in reality. Would she be able to whether the storm of such an affluent life? What would she be willing to sacrifice in the process?


Review:
After reading a previous title offered at NetGalley (Everybody's Got a Story: Toronto #12) by the same author, I was really happy to see this title available as well and eagerly put it on my TBR list. Because I enjoyed the previous book, my expectations for this title were a little higher than usual. However, I'm happy to report that this book fulfilled those expectations with ease. Though the book was part of a larger collection concerning the city of Toronto, it stood well on its own while including a bit of the history from the previous titles.

The book opened with the main character, Angela, sharing a secret with her neighbor's son, Zack, as they pay the bill for a person behind them in the drive-thru lane. This interaction revealed a lot about Angela's character and the easy-going relationship that she shared with a number of the supporting characters in the story. As events began to take place, it wasn't hard to see how easily a person's life and thoughts can change when presented with such a life-altering situation. Throughout her struggles with coming into a vast sum of money, Angela tried to not let it change who she was at her core. A lot of the incidents in the book between she and strangers, even some family members, were pretty close to what I would expect from the world in which we currently live. I was a bit surprised at how far a few people went to get at her money but not completely shocked.

It was such a wild ride from the moment Angela realized that she was a winner to the very end when many of the issues were resolved. For me this book was one that I could have read all the way through in a matter of hours if it weren't for prior obligations. I really felt for Angela who seemed to be a good-hearted person that only wanted to do right for the people in her life. There were a few moments were I was beating my head against the wall because of the stubbornness of a few characters. Without spoiling the book, let's just say that there were a time or two where a slap upside the head may have done the trick to wake him or her up a bit. Despite these feelings of mine, the book moved smoothly from chapter to the chapter and left the story at a natural conclusion.

Overall, I really liked the book. I could relate to Angela in her everyday life before the big win and often found myself doing the same type of daydreaming about spending the jackpot. The way in which she did spend the money was really a smart way to go about it and I'll have to keep it in mind if my numbers ever do win. The author did a great job of presenting strong female and male characters in this story which made it better, in my opinion. Not your usual romance, this book gives you a real world glimpse of what happens when the blue-collar struggling type suddenly becomes Ms. Multi-millionaire. If you're looking for an almost real romance with a few million tossed in for excitement, pick up a copy of this book today!

Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell is now available at many online retailers and local bookstores. You can find a copy in either paperback or Kindle formats. Click the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell

Everybody's Got a Story (Toronto #12) by Heather Wardell

Release Date: July 4, 2013
Publisher: Heather Wardell
Series: Toronto Series

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
For two years, Alexa battled the stigma of being a victim after she was confined and brutally assualted over a thirty-six hour period by her boyfriend, Christophe. She held strong during the trial, but the weight of the memories grew too strong. With the help of her boss, Alexa took a chance for a new life in Toronto and began the process of reclaiming her life one step at a time.

But she soon found herself facing down the very thoughts from which she ran. Everywhere she turned, something brought a newer dimension to the hurt and terror she felt. With few places to turn, she was able to find one source of strength, but can she really trust again? Can she ever love again?


Review:
I requested this title from NetGalley for two reasons. One, the premise of the story really hooked me from the description provided. Two, it involved someone who loved books almost as much as I do. What I thought was going to be a run-of-the-mill type of inspirational, overcoming type of story turned out to be so much more. This was my first time reading a book in this series or by the author, something I am going to rectify quickly.

The moment I read the first word, I knew that I was in the thick of it and would only know as much as Alexa, the main character would allow me to know. In complete contrast to how she felt throughout the story, she delivered the facts, feelings, reactions and more in her own time. Once you combine this with the trauma she suffered at the hands of someone who professed to love her to death (and it nearly was), the growth the character underwent was that much more spectacular, in my opinion. I can't really say that there was the usual slow build in pacing with this story because it started right out of the gate and kept the pace it set until the end. Yes, there were quite a few twists and points at which I actually felt for the characters. These kept the story moving instead of weighing it down.

Alexa wasn't the only character that I was rooting for by the end of the book. Some of her coworkers, new friends and even family were written well. Many of their reactions and personalities seemed so real that I could pick out people from my own life that reminded me of them. There were a few that grated on my nerves and I know they were meant to be that way. I still wanted to reach through the page, smack some sense into them, and maybe get a different outcome by the last word. It was the sincerity and honesty from the characters that put this novel on another level for me.

I was surprised to see that this book was a part of a series. I've said before that jumping into the middle of a series wasn't always pleasant because the reader can feel out of place without knowing what went on before. This novel stood on its own pages from the very beginning. I must admit that I'm now curious to know how the other books play into a series around the city of Toronto.

Overall, this novel really moved me from one emotion to the other. I was wondering a lot of the same things Alexa was over the course of the book. There wasn't a realistic way to get all of the answers but I was happy to see her get many by the end. Although the book had a growth/feel-good type of energy to it, there were also a number of educational moments that I applaud the author for writing. It was written many times that people only have as much power over us as we let them have. To witness someone, even a fictional character, regaining that power and making decisions was really awe-inspiring. If you're looking for a book that takes you from one side to the other of the emotional scale with everything in between, then this is the book for you.

Everybody's Got a Story (Toronto #12) by Heather Wardell is available at a number of retailers as well as online. It can be purchased in either paperback or Kindle forms. You can pick up a copy from Amazon by clicking the link below.
Everybody's Got a Story (Toronto #12) by Heather Wardell

Etched on Me: A Novel by Jenn Crowell

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Washington Square Press


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


Synopsis:
After escaping the hellish torment of an abusive father and disinterested mother, Lesley Halloway found refuge in the Child Protective Services, which gave her the freedom she longed for. However, being a teenager on her own with responsibilities of work and school, Lesley soon found the weight to be unbearable and turned to self-harming as a way to cope with the nightmares and pressure. She spent time in several psychiatric facilities and learned the tools necessary to live a productive, happy life.

Conquering her fears and triggers, Lesley pushed herself past her limits to make something of herself. All was well until she found herself unexpectedly pregnant. Lesley's past called into question her ability to care for a child and the same agency that helped to save her life was now trying to take her child. Will Lesley be able to her bad habits in the past? Will she be able to be the mother she dreamt of being?


Review:
As I was looking through the titles at NetGalley one day, this book stood out from the rest on the page. I felt that the subject matter discussed within the book was very much relevant to the lives of many people in the world today. Given the amount of people inhabiting the Earth this minute, it wasn't a stretch to think that a similar situation had taken place. Though the story is set in the UK, it could very well happen any place where the stigma of mental illness and self-harm resonated loudly.

From the first introduction into Lesley's world, it became very clear that she was strong, determined and resourceful. These traits were her saving grace as well as her downfall as her mental ill spiraled out of control once she was out of the abusive situation and into a relatively safe environment. The author made it quite easy for the reader to feel a connection with Leslie, both cheering her on as she made strides to correct her path and emphasizing with her when she made mistakes.

At times the story seemed more like a memoir than a fictional tale. The authenticity of the characters' reactions, thoughts and emotions lent a different kind of realness to the story that I found both enjoyable and heart-breaking. With almost seamless transitions between scenes, the pacing of the book was steady and natural in its progression from the beginning of Lesley's journey to the end of the court battle. Though we, the readers, weren't privy to a lot of the information behind the scenes, we were given front row seats to life as Lesley knew it, felt it, and learned to deal with it.

Witnessing everything that Lesley had to endure was difficult at times, but each experience also led her to create a support system that was loving and nothing like she endured at home. I was both happy and appalled at how the system which readily helped her as a child became the source of further pain and torment during her adult years after touting her successes. Unfortunately that turn of events has played out many times within my own country as I'm sure it has in other countries as well. There are several lessons within this book that would be beneficial to many people if they heed them, myself included.

Overall, I enjoyed this book because it seemed very much like a memoir. It thrust a spotlight on the double standard in certain fields that leaves many people feeling as though they are worthless and have no hopes or aspirations. Try as they might, they were always falling short of the goal because the goal was being moved further away from them. Instead of letting that system continue its behavior, Lesley and others fought back. With beautifully flawed yet approachable characters, the author used a fictional story as a launching pad for discussion and debate that could very well lead to positive changes. If you're looking for an endearing, hauntingly real tale that gives as much as it takes, I would highly recommend this book.

Etched on Me: A Novel by Jenn Crowell will be available for purchase at many online retailers in February 2014. You can pre-order a copy from Amazon in either paperback or Kindle format by clicking the link below.
Etched on Me: A Novel by Jenn Crowell