The Favor: staying is dangerous but leaving could be much worse

The Favor by Nora Murphy is a domestic suspense novel in which staying is dangerous but leaving could be much worse. Leah and McKenna have never met but they lead parallel lives. On the outside, it would seem that they have it all. All the trappings of success, wealth, and marital bliss. But in fact, they are hopelessly trapped. Leah and McKenna don’t accidentally meet, discuss their common issues and devise a plan. Leah understands that what is hidden behind closed doors can be much more dangerous than outside in the real world. What is supposed to be a safe haven is actually a prison. Driving past McKenna’s house one night, Leah watches a scene she knows all too well. She watches and waits until one night, she decides to intervene. What Leah doesn’t know is that her actions will lead to a chain of events that threatens their lives and their freedom. 

With Strangers on a Train (1951) and The Girl on The Train (2015) vibes, The Favor is a gripping novel about abuse, alcoholism, as well as compassion and what happens when a woman is pushed to the limit and takes matters into their own hands. From the opening scene to the finale, this book gripped me and would not let go. It is powerful, suspenseful and horrifying as readers will witness psychological abuse and gaslighting as two controlling men break down their wives. Leah and McKenna aren’t stupid women. They are well educated with well respected jobs. And yet they are trapped. Slowly but surely, they find themselves in a prison with no hope of getting free. The Favor will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Ms. Murphy takes us back and forth from the present into the past to witness the slow descent into  abuse and the fight back. I highly recommend The Favor! 

The Favor is available May 31, 2022 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

Barefoot Summer: one summer can change everything

Barefoot Summer is the first book in the Chapel Springs Romance series by Denise Hunter. Madison McKinley has closed her heart for years, ever since the untimely death of her twin brother, Michael. She has struggled to put it behind her and despite the support of her tight-knit family and her satisfying job as a veterinarian in their small riverside town, the loss of her brother still haunts her. In an attempt to finally find closure, she sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. There’s one small problem...she needs to learn to sail and fast. Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league. Madison is reluctant to work with the infamous Beckett but she knows it's her only chance to meet her goal. Even though she denies it, the chemistry between them undeniable and as the summer wanes, her feelings for him grow. But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new romance. Can their new relationship survive the summer’s challenges? Will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately needs? 

Barefoot Summer is a sweet story of love, summer’s promise and the letting go of the grief which keeps us from living life to its fullest. I love small town stories and the characters who live there. Beckett is the son of the town drunk and Madison, the daughter of The Family of Chapel Springs. At one point, her father, Thomas, is described as the “Charles Ingalls of Chapel Springs.” It also deals with faith, God and coming to terms with unfathomable events. I liked how Ms. Hunter deals with these subjects by not oversimplifying them or being too complex; but presents it with real human questions, reactions and emotions. I also enjoyed how she presents the subject of alcoholism, the effects it has on the individual and his or her family and the misunderstanding and judgment of those who do not understand. I enjoyed every moment of Barefoot Summer and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend Barefoot Summer. It is a fun read with real characters and real questions. 

Barefoot Summer is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Alcoholism: a disease which touches so many

I have a love-hate relationship with alcohol. I am not a big drinker. I do enjoy a rare cocktail. My favorite drink is Rum and Coke but I don’t seek out the alcohol and often times I will turn down a drink. I am a child of alcoholics. My mom is a recovering alcohol who has seen her life turned upside down because of her drinking. She has come a long way and is currently working to help others end their alcoholism. My dad has not been able to end his drinking. Despite his consistent reassurances that he has, I know when someone is drunk by their voice. Because of this, we do not have a relationship. Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease with involves problems controlling drinking, the preoccupation with alcohol and the continued use of alcohol despite health issues. Alcoholism isn’t just a drinking problem. It becomes a life or death problem.

The symptoms of alcoholism are:

• Unable to control amount of alcohol. An alcoholic can’t have just one beer or one glass of wine. They will drink until the whole case or bottle is gone and often without realizing that they have drank so much. 
• Strong need to drink. This need is constant and irresistible urge. Thoughts of getting a drink consume everyday activities and the person will not have relief until he or she has a drink in the hand. 
• Develop tolerance which leads to the need of more alcohol to feel the same effect.
• Physical withdrawal symptoms when not drinking (i.e. nausea, sweating, and shaking)
• Experience blackouts
• Keeps alcohol in unusual places (i.e. in the bathroom, in the car, or at work)
• Legal problems, relationship issues, unemployment or financial issues due to drinking
• Loss of interest in activities and hobbies that you once loved. 

The causes of alcoholism have been researched and debated. The consensus is that alcoholism has genetic, psychological, social and environment components. It makes sense that someone who has parents and even grandparents who were alcoholics can be predisposed.  Is it a solely genetic or a combinations of the components? I think alcoholism a mixture of the social and environment components with interaction with the mental state of an individual. The risk factors of alcoholism are: 1) steady drinking overtime due to stress or an escape mechanism, 2) age at which someone begins drinking. The earlier someone starts, the higher the risk of alcoholism, 3) family history, and 4) social and cultural factors, if drinking is a part of parties and other gatherings, an individual would be more likely to drink.

The health complications from alcoholism are widespread. The most common health issue is the development of various liver aliments such as liver disease, cirrhosis and fatty liver. Alcoholism also can lead to digestive problems such as gastritis and pancreatitis. It can contribute to various heart ailments such as enlarged heart, heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke. There are hosts of other complications that alcohol can contribute to: diabetes complications (i.e. hypoglycemia), sexual and reproductive issues (erectile dysfunction in men and menstruation issue in women), eye problems, birth defects (i.e. mental retardation, organ defects, facial malformations, and impaired growth), neurological complications (i.e. dementia and short term memory loss), weakened immune system and a higher risk of cancer. Of course, death. Alcohol related deaths are the third leading cause in the U.S. In 2012, 31% of driving fatalities were alcohol related.

For me, alcohol isn’t worth it. The host of health and social problems that can arise is just not worth the alcohol. I suppose it is easy for me to avoid alcohol for various reasons: 1) majority of alcohol is not gluten-free (although manufacturers are now coming out with gluten-free options, 2) I simply don’t like how alcohol tastes or how it makes me feel and 3) alcohol is very expensive. I understand that for some people, the pull of alcohol is often too great. If you or someone you know needs help with alcohol, there are countless of organizations which can help. Alcoholics Anonymous (www.aa.org) is the most well-known. Look for your local organizations for more information and help. The first step is begins with you.

A wonderful new book: "Shadow Heart"

“Shadow Heart” by Pamela Taeuffer is a story of a young girl who is trying to overcome her dysfunctional family by working hard and earning her place at Stanford University. Nicky Young is a high school senior on her way to her dream college when she meets professional baseball player, Ryan Tilton. Ryan turns her world around and helps her experience a part of life she avoided and fear she wouldn’t fit in. There is so much I could talk about in this book but I don’t want to give away too much that I will pick a few of my favorite points.

My top 3 reasons why I love this book. First, the brutal honesty and accurate depiction of an alcoholic family. As a child of an alcoholic parents, I understand and developed many of Nicky’s defense mechanisms. I buried myself into studying and reading. Books had been my escape just as Nicky’s determination to better herself was hers. The learning to do things on your own and getting certain “information” from someone other than your parent is accurate. I also see the fear and ultimate defiance of Nicky is very real.

Second, the courting, wooing and sexual tensions between Nicky and Ryan remind me of my favorite romance writers, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and Julie Garwood. The melt your heart, burning sensation through your veins feelings is great and helped made the emerging relationship between Ryan and Nicky so real and hypnotic. I haven’t read scenes like this in a long time.

Third, the wonderful insights that the characters around Nicky give her as she enters into a world she avoided. There are several quotes that I wrote down as I read this book because I thought they were great thoughts to remember. One of my favorites is when Nicky tells Ryan: “I’m sick of being strong.” As I child of alcoholics, I understand the need and desire to show no weakness for fear of falling victim to the same vice. But being or acting strong can only go on for so long. I never learned to be weak until I met my husband and was able to completely rely on him just as Nicky is learning to do with Ryan.

My only criticisms are, first, the fact that Nicky decides to date her friend, Jerry, to play the “same game” as Ryan and with the ease she does so. And it is a game that she perceives is being played. Although I do like when Ryan confronts her about her manner of dress, he says, “Dressing like this isn’t how you make yourself an individual or become independent.” Someone who avoided boyfriends, she seemed to be comfortable with having two. Second, Ryan asks Nicky where she will live when she attends Stanford, she acts like she is leaving the state when Stanford is only about 45 minutes from San Francisco. She could commute or live on campus and Ryan could visit. I don’t understand her fear that when she starts Stanford, their relationship will be over. Unless it’s her defense mechanism again or her fear that the relationship will get in the way of school.

Despite those nitpicks, which I’m sure were dramatic devices, I really enjoyed this book and eagerly await the rest of the series. I’m curious to see if Nicky ends up with Ryan or Jerry. Personally, I hope its Ryan because Jerry seems like a player in the making. I am going to keep an eye out for the next book, “Fire Heart.” “Shadow Heart” will have a place on the “keeper” shelf on my bookcase. 

"Maine" by J. Courtney Sullivan: a review

“Maine” by J. Courtney Sullivan is the story of the Kelleher women who gather together one summer in Maine. Each woman brings with them past family issues and current family secrets. Each chapter is told from the prospective of one of the Kelleher women: Alice, Kathleen, Maggie and Ann Marie.

            Alice is the matriarch of the Kelleher. She is an old school Irish Catholic with old prejudices and deep secrets of guilt and pain. Alice hides her guilt with alcohol instead of revealing the pain and regret that she carries with her. Her alcohol problem contributes to her inability to loving raise her children. She refuses to take reasonability for her actions which has caused pain for her children. Her husband, Daniel, was the glue that kept the family together and since his death the family seems further and further apart.

            Kathleen is Alice’s oldest daughter who is divorced and a recovering alcoholic. She has deep hatred toward her mother about family incidents. Kathleen has faced her own alcoholic demons and has done well to move on with her life. She is considered the black sheep of the family. The one who got divorced, moved in with her boyfriend and started a worm fertilizer farm in California. Despite being very successful, the family makes fun her new endeavor.

            Maggie is Kathleen’s daughter. A young woman who is writer for a magazine and is working on her first novel. She is pregnant and has yet to tell anyone. She is the typical oldest child of a divorce family. She has learned to be the peacemaker and wants to get to the bottom of every conflict despite the family’s desires to brush it under the rug. She struggles with the realization that she will be raising her child on her own and she drives into the preparation with determination and excitement.

            Ann Marie is Alice’s daughter-in-law, married to Alice’s only son and favorite child, Patrick. Ann Marie is the daughter Alice always wanted. She, too, had secrets of her own and desires that go beyond her husband and the life they now have. She has found success building dollhouses which her husband does not take seriously even when she gets a very big surprise about one of her dollhouses.

            The story begins with Alice cleaning out the beach house in Cape Neddick, Maine. She is remembering how she and her husband had acquired the beach property and built their home there. Each chapter deals with a segment of the woman’s past as a part of the family and away from the family. Slowly, each chapter reveals a bit of the secret that Alice refuses to tell anyone. Although the reader does find out Alice’s deep secret, the characters do not. I can’t reveal too much because it will give away the surprises in the book. As each secret is revealed, the bitterness and guilt of Alice will become clearer.

            I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and their various issues felt real and don’t resolve in a nice little bow. I find myself relating the Maggie because I, too, am the oldest child in a divorced family and I took on many of the roles that Maggie does. I was the peacemaker and tried to make everyone happy so there was peace in our house. I highly recommend “Maine” by J. Courtney Sullivan. It keeps your attention without being overly dramatic and it’s true to real life problems and family issues.