Title: Around The Bend Author: Britney King Book Blitz: January 5-7 Hosted by: SBB Promotions Add to Goodreads
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Around the Bend by Britney King is a 2014 Hot Banana Press publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this book was nothing at all like I expected it would be. I have to be honest and say this is a really good book, but I will have to put on my critical thinking cap for this one because it will be difficult not to step on certain plot landmines that could give too much away. I will also confess there are a few developments in the story I had a hard time with , but I can't really expound on those in the review. So, here goes...
Jess is wealthy, fairly comfortable with her marriage and the mother of two wonderful children. The only sad thing in her life was her father's dementia and dealing with that was very difficult. But, in an instant her life veared off course and was never, ever the same again.
Six months pass and Jess's husband decides to leave her alone while he takes an extended business trip, when she needs him the most. Due to a horrific situation, Jess becomes addicted to pills and alcohol and her children are being raised by the help. It is obvious that someone needs to be there for her. Enter Myles. A Navy SEAL who is hired to watch over Jess, who has no idea what his assignment will involve. When he arrives to start his new job he finds a woman deep into her addictions and having suicidal thoughts. This plumb assignment may be the biggest challenge Myles ever faced.
From the moment Myles enters Jess's life things begin to improve for her. Myles was tough on her and at times I didn't know if I liked him or not. But, he takes charge of her and opens her eyes and forces her to face her addictions, her marital state and the neglect of her children. She has setbacks and many trials, but slowly begins to grow as a person, to face life's issues without a drink, to stand up to her rat of a husband, and to become a real mother to her children, and maybe find true love in the midst of all that.
This novel was as heartbreaking as it was inspirational. Now, I have already told you there were developments in the story I could have done without. I did understand what the author was going for and in some ways this book put me in mind of a classic movie I saw once. However, despite the vast progress our female protagonist makes , the independence she forges and confidence she gains, there was still an imprint of sadness left behind and I would have rather have had things work out a different way.
So my final thought are this:
This author can really write a good story. This book is placed in the Romantic Suspense category and yes, it does belong in this genre, but this book is much more than that. It's a story of courage, faith, growth and the grit and determination a person found within themselves to climb back up from rock bottom and do something with her life. Jess is a true hero in some ways and should give inspiration to anyone going through a rough patch in life. Life is hard and Jess didn't ask for any of the things that happened to her. Although she got handed a big bag of life's lemons and she sucked on their bitterness for a while, with the help of a good, strong man who never gave up on her, she saw her way out of her bleak situation and learned to stand on her own two feet and take control of her life. She came out on the other side a stronger and better person and that was what made this book so good. I recommend this to romantic suspense lovers, but also to contemporary fiction and literary fiction readers as well. 4 stars
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