REVIEW by Lorna: Dear Emily (Forever Family #1) by Trudy Stiles (@TrudyStiles , @Mollykatie112)

Two women. Carly and Tabitha. They each have suffered life-altering events that have left them both traumatically damaged.

Carly Sloan’s life was perfect until her security and innocence was torn from her. The vast repercussions from these events threaten to destroy her stability and her chances for a happily ever after. Kyle Finnegan comes into Carly’s life at the height of her turmoil. Can he help her find what she desires most?

Tabitha Fletcher has constantly suffered from a very young age. She has been hiding from her past, which was full of sadness, loss and abuse. She has been so brutally damaged that she has very little hope for redemption. The revolving door of men only leads her deeper into misery.

What circumstance brings these two women together and can they help each other heal? And will they each find what they need?

Redemption.

Love.

Family.

Dear Emily
by Trudy Stiles

Series
Forever Family #1

Genre
Contemporary Romance
New Adult

Publisher
Independent

Publication Date
December 12, 2013

Over three months ago I found this book on a blog I follow and bought it. Now I am kicking myself for not reading it until now. If it looks like just another contemporary romance, that couldn’t be more wrong. There is of course, a romance but this book is so much more than just a romance.

Carly and her husband Kyle have tried everything to get pregnant to no avail. When they decide to adopt, they go on a journey filled with it’s share of angst, but that’s nothing compared to what Carly went through during her freshman year of college. Tabitha is broken and pregnant. She has the foster home background, but she also has horrible events in her recent past that has ruined her both physically and mentally. Open adoptions? A good thing or not-that is just one things that is explored in this heart wrenching and emotional story.

This story takes place in both the present and the past, and also tells both women’s stories in these time periods. For me the past is the more compelling story for both women, Carly’s story in particular. That’s not to say that Tabitha hasn’t had a bad time of it, because she really has.

I had forgotten what this book was about when I picked it up to read last night. At the beginning the reader is warned that this book is not suitable for young readers, and is 18+ only. That’s due to sexual situations, non-consensual sex, and violence. And that’s as close as I want to come to telling what exactly happens. I had no idea, so I was horrified at some points, and alternatively happy or sad for the characters as events unfolded.

I am not trying to warn anyone away from this read because it deserves to be read. I read it in just a few hours because of how good it is. It was so well written that this author is going on my list of must read writers. Characters almost jump off the page as the reader is taken on their journey, both during the good and the bad times. This is book one of three, and I will be reading the next one as soon as I possibly can. I did like the way it ended, but it also made it just that much more important for me to read the next one.

If we still gave out stars, this would definitely be a 5 star read. Excellently told story-Highly Recommended!

The review copy of this book was purchased by the reviewer.

About Trudy Stiles

Trudy Stiles is a New Adult author, mom to two beautiful children, and married to the love of her life. She’s the author of the bestselling Forever Family series including “Dear Emily,” “Dear Tabitha,” and now “Dear Juliet.” She plans to write many more stories about some of the characters you’ve already met, and maybe a few new ones. The Epic Fail series will begin in the Summer of 2015.

Trudy is a music junkie and you’ll know that she’s writing when you see her plugged into her laptop with her earbuds in. Her playlist is unique and is a must for her writing sprints.

When she’s not writing, she’s carting her children to their various activities while avoiding any kind of laundry or housework. She also loves to run along the boardwalk of the beautiful New Jersey shore.

She celebrates Wine Wednesday almost every day.

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