Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Finding Abigail by Christina Smith

Title:  Finding Abigail
Author:  Christina Smith
Published:  first published December 20th 2012
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Abby Watson thought she'd know a monster if she ever saw one. It's what she does for a living, writing children's fantasy books. But what she didn't realize is that monsters are not always fiction, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

She wasn't really looking for her Prince Charming; her family and friends were doing that enough for her. In her line of work she is immersed in the fantasy world and fairy tales. Then one day she meets a man in a shiny police uniform. He is attentive and showers her with compliments and gifts—he is the perfect man. Or is he? When he shows his true colors, she realizes he might not be her Prince Charming after all.

After a traumatic year, Abby loses who she once was. She hides herself from the world and stops doing what she loves the most—writing.

Will she give up looking for love because of one toad, or will she open herself up to new things, and in doing so find herself, and a man worthy of her love?

Due to violence and language, this book is recommended for 17+ – Adult Contemporary romance.

My Review:

Intense. That is the first word that popped into my mind when I finished reading this book. By the end I was feeling simultaneously emotionally battered, empowered, and heart-warmed. Smith took a very emotionally charged and extremely volatile topic and turned it into an eye-opening read that you cannot put down. It is so very different from many other stories of its genre that you cannot guess what is going to happen next.

The symbolism that Smith uses while describing her characters gives you insights into their character that become more and more prominent throughout the story. At the beginning there are warning signs in the behavior of one of the characters if you look for them, but they are so subtly and realistically portrayed in the story that you never once find yourself wondering how the main character ended up in her situation or what in the world she was thinking. I love the fact that the main character is a fighter, but is also a stereotypical victim of abuse dealing with real issues and fears. From the beginning she wants to escape her circumstances, it just takes her a while to determine how to do so. She does everything that she can to protect those that she cares for while extracting herself from such a volatile environment. She also manages to overcome her fears and move on with her life. I also must admit that I share the main character’s aversion to high heels so knew exactly what she was talking about.

The terms that each character uses when describing things are always fitting to the character. She uses technical terms to describe things in her narrative and with characters that would typically use them. She also uses quite creative terms when the character would not know the technical terms. And what she does is just that, describes the action or event (ie//he buckled the horse in from someone who had never seen a horse up close before).  

This novel is a real eye-opener. It makes you realise that something like this doesn’t end for those involved. It is a lifelong battle. It’s a continuous struggle to continue living a normal and fulfilling life.

Find your copy online here today!



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