J. A. Owenby

Going into this book I thought I was ready for all the dark and twisted emotions that it would pull from me, but I wasn’t prepared for all it had to offer leaving me in a state of wow. Kane and Brie are incredible characters that at times you love, and other times want to shake them, but overall, they are so strong. The emotions had me all over the place with my heart hurting for them and wanting to console them to pride for them gaining themselves back. I know this is a vague write up but trust me when I say this is an experience that everyone needs to go in blindly because a few twists you may see coming but there’s plenty that you don’t, and it smacks you in the face with intensity. Kane and Brie are incredibly hot together and I loved them, flaws and all. Towards the ending, at times a few things seemed a tad rushed, and I would love to have had more time with certain situations but overall, this story with all its secrets, ups and downs was more than what I was expecting.… (mais)

--Read my full review of the book at seriesousbookreviews.com! Spoiler Free!

**I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

I had really high hopes for this novel and in the end I have some mixed feelings about it.

This book is really about setting up the story for future novels. It establishes Lacey home life really well in addition to her various relationships so you get a great feel for the situation at hand.

But what I really wanted to see was how Lacey deals with learning about her mother's mental condition--and we don't get that here...yet. Given how everything ends here, I can only assume that the focus will shift to dealing with the mental illness her mother suffers from in the sequel. So if anything, this book made me really excited to read the sequel.

The romance was a little lacklustre for me as well. While it does provide some great unexpected drama, it happened a little too "instantly" for my tastes. However, I wasn't picking this book up for a great romance: I wanted to see Lacey's reaction to discovering her mom's mental illness.

Given that most of the dramatic plot twists happen in the last few chapters, I can't wait to see what happens in the next novel!

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-1IR
Actual Rating: 3/5


… (mais)

*The author gifted me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review which follows*

This is an entertaining short read that really takes your breath away. Mental Illness can be debilitating to a family’s structure and Lacey’s family is no exception. I won’t kid you, there are some scenes in this story that will affect you deeply.

I found the characters to be well thought out and totally realistic. I felt great empathy with Lacey as a teenager trying to cope with her mother’s religious obsessions which she forced on everyone, near and far, all symptoms of a deepening mental illness burgeoning out of control.

The one salvation for Lacey was Patsy, her mother’s lover who had bought the house with her mother years ago. Their relationship hints at a deep friendship and emotional alliance against the shame and humiliation forced upon them from the ravages of the mother’s mental illness.

All books start somewhere and J. A. Owenby shared with me that she wrote this short story in 2011. She worked with an editor from Writer’s Digest and decided to put it on Amazon a few years later. Jen said that after her short story was published she had many people reach out and ask for a full novel, that she finally wrote it.

Her novel will be released later this year and called, “The Truth She Knew.” The book will include Lacey, Mama, and Patsy from the short story, and additional characters. Jen adds that she addresses issues in the novel including mental illness, mental/physical abuse, and religious manipulation. Lacy falls in love for the first time in the novel and is able to summon all her strength to make some very difficult decisions.

As of the date of this review, Jen was not sure of a publication date for the novel. I understand it is in the hands of her editor. However, I am sure if you connect with her on her blog or social media you will be able to follow the novel’s progress.

This is one you won’t want to miss!

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 4
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 4.5 out of 5 stars… (mais)

*The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which follows*

Eighteen-year-old Lacey has reached the point in her life where she is ready to strike out on her own. The stars are shining down upon her and independence is within reach. She is a beautiful girl with a job and friends that mean the world to her. Her life is wide open. That is, except for her family.

Lacey belongs to a family where she is an outcast. Her overbearing mother reminds her on a daily basis that she wishes she had never been born. To Lacey, this is the normality of her life. She has learned to watch for the subtle signals from her mother that alert her to the changes in her personality. Always on the lookout for acceptance from her mother, but seldom finding it, Lacey finds it is easier to hide in the sanctuary of her room when the tirades begin. She lives a lonely existence.

One night, after she sneaked away to attend a friend's party, Lacey has a chance encounter with a handsome guy named, Walker. There is an immediate attraction between the two of them. Once the sparks begin to fly, Lacey knows she is falling in love. Their resulting affair left me breathless! Beware. There is sex in this novel, however, I found it to be realistic and between two loving individuals.

As Lacey's family life becomes more violent, she revels in the strong arms of Walker. His belief in her leads her to the safety she seeks. It is through his love that Lacey starts to learn that her life is not normal. Finally, things spiral out of control when her mother interferes in her life one last time, endangering her relationship with Walker.

I read and reviewed the short story called Tears in the Sun, also penned by J. A. Owenby, which was the basis for this novel. You can find that review on http://silverthreading.com.

Just so you know… I could not put this novel down! Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster ride and have the box of tissues handy. J. A. Owenby depicts Lacey as someone you want to help and protect. I cried at the horrors she was forced to endure. Mental illness figures predominantly in the writing, exposing the reader to a world filled with dread. Lacey haunted my dreams for a few nights after I finished the book.

This is the first book in the series and it does end on a bit of cliff-hanger. The Truth She Knew, has not been released yet. It has an expected publication date of September 16, 2016. I also know the author is working on the second novel, so there should not be a long wait in between publication.

Do you like the kind of novels that lead you on a journey of self-discovery, recovery, and independence? If so, this is the book for you. I loved it and I know you will too! I look forward to finding how Lacey copes with her dysfunctional family.

MY Rating:

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars… (mais)