Joint Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Author: Paula Hawkins
Publisher:January 2015
Date of publication: Riverhead books

A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?


This book has gotten a lot of hype and has been compared to Gone Girl. So, naturally, we had to do a joint review.  For me, it was just an OK read.  I pretty much had it figured out by the 6th disc, so there were no real surprises for me in the end. I thought it was a good debut effort, but not totally deserving of the hype it has received.

I thought the book was kind of depressing.  None of the characters are very likable and I found myself not sympathizing with them much.  That includes the dead woman.  The story waffles between the present and about a year before.  I did find the switch pretty easy to follow.  I did like that the audiobook was narrated by three different women.  I'm not sure I would recommend this one as a must read, but maybe if you have exhausted your TBR pile.

I agree with Kari's assessment of this book.  I thought it was pretty good, but not totally WOW!  I thought the whodunit was a little predictable, and the why was really pretty obvious.  The different narration and time switches were handled well and weren't too confusing, which isn't easy to pull off.

This book made me sad.  Rachel made me so frustrated.  I don't understand alcoholism and addiction, so it just drives me crazy to read about it.  I just want to go in and tell the characters to get their act together and quit drinking.  

While I thought this book was ok, I wasn't totally blown away by it.  Would I recommend it?  Maybe.  

Fiance by Friday by Catharine Bybee

Author: Catherine Bybee
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Date of publication: August 2013

Gwen Harrison:
The beautiful, high-born daughter of an English duke came to America to take over her sister-in-law’s matchmaking business. But just because she’s the boss doesn’t mean she can’t fantasize about making her own perfect match with bodyguard Neil MacBain. Will the enigmatic man who haunts her dreams cost her more than she bargained for?

Neil MacBain:
The retired Marine can’t deny the effect blue-blooded Gwen has on his troubled soul or his battle-hardened body. But as a client, Gwen is off-limits—until a threat from Neil’s past returns…and Gwen is caught in the crossfire. Now to keep her safe he will risk it all: his career, his life…and his heart. 

Fiance by Friday is the third in the Weekday Brides series.  I have been enjoying this series so far.  This installment was no exception.  Gwen has moved to America and taken over Alliance, an exclusive matchmaking firm.  Neil is her brother's bodyguard and security expert.  Gwen has known him for years and has also lusted after him for years.  Someone from Neil's past is trying to kill him and Gwen is put in danger because of it.  

I thought this was a good romance.  I liked Gwen and Neil.  He fights his attraction to her for so long and it was fun to watching him finally give in.  I enjoyed  them together because they had known each other for a while.  I like friends to lovers stories as you all know, so that made me enjoy this one even more.  This was definitely more a romantic suspense than a straight contemporary.  They have to go on the run for a while to hide from the  threat.  I was surprised at who the bad guy turned out to be.  There were also some very tense moments that added to the suspense.  

I highly recommend this series.  I have the next one, Single by Saturday on my MP3 player ready to go! So keep your eyes out for a review soon.

Blog Tour: Below the Belt by Sydney Halston

Author: Sydney Halston
Publisher: Loveswept
Date of publication: February 2015

Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?

Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.


Below the Belt is the third book in the Worth the Fight series.  It's the first one of the series I have read.  I was able to read it without having to read the first two.  It does work well as a stand alone. Below the Belt is Tony and Francesca's story.  Tony has wanted to take Francesca out for months, but she has always resisted.  One night at a wedding changes things for the both of them.  

For the most part, I liked the couple together.  They both have some major baggage to work through before they can fully trust each other. But, they defintiely bring out the better side of each other when they are together. The thing that I didn't like about the two was the way both flew off the handle too easily and automatically thought the other was cheating.  Not a good sign for a long term relationship if you ask me.  But, I found myself rooting for the couple.  I liked Tony.  For a tough fighter, he had an endearing soft side, especially when it came to Francesca.  

I definitely enjoyed this book enough to go back and read the first two books, Against the Cage and Full Contact, before the next one comes out.  

About the author:

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It” Nike, and that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and a writer second. 

When she’s not writing or reading her life is complete and utter chaos trying to balance family life with work, and writing (and reading). But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Website: http://www.sidneyhalston.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sidneyhalston
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SidneyHalston

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916557.Sidney_Halston

Goodreads

Buy links:

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iTunes/iBooks: 

Google Play
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Hard to Come By by Laura Kaye

Author: Laura Kaye
Publisher: Avon
Date of publication: November 2014

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he's become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust.

As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…

Hard to Come By is the third in the Hard Ink Series.  I have to say that this is my favorite so far of the series.  I felt like this book definitely moved the overall storyline along a lot more than the last one.  We learn a lot more about the plot against the group and who was behind everything.  There is also some hugely explosive (literally) action as well as a few surprises for the guys.  

Derek is chosen to get close to Emilie to try to gain intel on her brother.  He doesn't bargain for fall hard and fast for her.  Derek (Mars) has always been a favorite of mine.  His sense of humor and ease with life just makes him a likable guy.  He is also sexy as heck!  I loved how he fell hard and fast for Emilie. This is a couple I was really rooting to get their HEA.

I looks like Hard to Let Go comes out later this year.  I can't wait to read Beckett's story!

Spotlight: ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane

Author: Victoria Vane
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Published Date: February 3, 2015

ISBN: 9781492601159

Two wary hearts …

Janice Combes has two loves, bucking bulls and Dirk Knowlton. But Dirk only has eyes for a dazzling rodeo queen. How can Janice ever compete while mired ankle-deep in manure? Exchanging playful banter with Dirk is all Janice can expect—until the stormy night he knocks on her door dripping wet and needing a place to crash.

Different Dreams…

Dirk Knowlton is living the cowboy dream. Life should be good—roping, branding, backing broncs, riding bulls, but there's a void he can't seem to fill. After getting hung up by a bull, he wonders if this is really the life he wants. Restless and rebellious, he bolts…but there’s a certain cowgirl he can’t forget.

When a battle-scarred Dirk returns to his Montana ranch he's determined to hang on at any cost. Janice has come back home to lick her own wounds. When old dreams turn to dust, can two wary hearts take another chance on love?

Excerpt from ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane:

He looked abashed. “We didn’t just have to leave the party, we got kicked out of the hotel too.”

“Evicted from your room?”

“Yup. And there aren’t any others available in all of Casper.”

“I know,” she said. “It’s why I’m camped out here.” She paused to digest what he’d left unsaid. “So you and Rachel?”

He shook his head with a scowl “We’re done now. Quits.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. History. Case closed.”

“It’ll blow over.”

“Don’t think so. It was her idea to boot us. Said she didn’t give a shit if I had a room tonight or not. Then I couldn’t even try finding anything outside of town because my asshole brother took my keys so I wouldn’t drive. My next move was to pilfer a blanket and pillow and camp out under the stars in my truck bed, but then it started pouring on me.”

“So you came here. How’d you do that with no wheels?”

“Walked.”

“Three miles in the pouring rain? No wonder you look like something the cat dragged in.”

“Can I crash for a coupla hours? Maybe just camp out in the back seat of your dually? All I need is to get warm and dry again.”

Janice’s mouth went dry as sawdust. Dirk Knowlton. Cold. Wet. Here. Now. Wanting a bed? She’d give her right arm to warm him up. Heck yeah.

Misreading her silence he mumbled a curse. “Sorry, Janice. It’s my damned head. I’m not thinkin’ right. It’s still throbbing like hell. Haven’t been myself all night. M’pologies for being such a dumb-ass and imposing on you—” He turned to the door.

“No! Wait. It’s not that.” She grabbed his sleeve. “I was just thinking of your injuries. You don’t need to make matters worse by sleeping all cramped up in the truck.” She gnawed her lower lip and then blurted. “Y-you wanna just stay here instead?”

“Here? That’s mighty generous but there isn’t a whole lot of room for both of us.” He glanced up at the gooseneck with a frown. “If you’ll just gimme a blanket, I’ll take the floor.”

“You don’t need to do that,” she said. “The bench here flips down over the table and converts into a single. It’s really narrow and not very comfortable, but still better than the truck. Warmer anyway. Besides you need to get dry.”

“You sure about this?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “What are friends for? I’m sure I’ve got a shirt for you too.”

“Thanks, Red. That would be great.”

Red? The single syllable rippled warm and tingly, all the way to her toes. He followed up with a lopsided grin that stopped her in her tracks. She turned to the small cabinet that served a dual function as dresser and closet and shut her eyes on a sigh—but the same air stuck in her throat the minute she turned back around.

He’d shed the denim jacket. And the black tee. His bare torso with well-developed pecs and a mouthwatering six pack greeted her. He was drying his face with his discarded shirt. Janice tore her gaze away and cleared her throat. “Here.” She thrust an extra-large Dixie Chicks T-shirt into his hands, a souvenir from their Top of the World Tour. “I—I can get you a towel too.”

He eyed the shirt skeptically. “No thanks.”

“What? You don’t like female musicians?”

“Don’t like their politics. Natalie should just shut up and sing.”

“Ah.” She nodded slowly. The shirt was from the tour that caused the “incident.” A lot of her friends had since thrown out their Dixie Chicks CDs, but Janice still loved their music. “I Can Love You Better” was her favorite. The lyrics, she’s got you wrapped up in her satin and lace. Tied around her little finger…but I can love you better, perfectly summed up all the heartbreak and frustrations of unrequited love; all her secret feelings for Dirk. She only wished she could show him now that he was here. In the flesh. A big strong, blue-lipped and teeth-chattering fantasy come true.

Praise for Slow Hand by Victoria Vane:

“A “red-hot cowboy tale...their sexual chemistry crackles. Well-paced, scorching scenes and witty banter move the story along while setting the stage for Wade’s war-hero brother to find his own true love in the next installment.” – Publishers Weekly

“SLOW HAND by Victoria Vane is delightful, funny, page turning steamy sexy… I'm beginning to think Victoria could write a phone book and make it sexy.” – Unwrapping Romance

“PULL THE FIRE ALARM & STOCK UP ON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR THIS STEAMY ROMANCE!” – Avon Romance

About the author:

Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog.

Connect with Victoria Vane: Website | Facebook | @AuthorVictoriaV | Pinterest | Goodreads

Buy ROUGH RIDER by Victoria Vane here: Amazon | Apple | B&N | BAM | !ndigo | IndieBound | Kobo

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Throwback Thursday: We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Author: Lionel Shriver
First published in 2006 by Counterpoint

Eva never really wanted to be a mother and certainly not the mother of the unlovable boy who murdered seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a much-adored teacher who tried to befriend him, all two days before his sixteenth birthday. Now, two years later, it is time for her to come to terms with marriage, career, family, parenthood, and Kevin's horrific rampage in a series of startlingly direct correspondences with her estranged husband, Franklin. Uneasy with the sacrifices and social demotion of motherhood from the start, Eva fears that her alarming dislike for her own son may be responsible for driving him so nihilistically off the rails.

I read this book for my Mental Health class.  We needed to pick a movie with a character with mental illness.  I chose this movie without having read the book.  I felt very lost watching the movie, so I decided to listen to the audiobook to see if it maybe filled in some of the gaps and better explained what was going on with Kevin.  

The book is told in letter format.  Kevin's mother Eva is writing to her estranged husband Franklin about their life before "That Thursday" and her life afterwards.  Eva had been warning everyone, especially Franklin about Kevin, but no one would listen to her.  Franklin, throughout the book, made me crazy.  His constant defending of Kevin and his behavior was so mind boggling.  I felt so protective of Eva the whole time, I guess it's the mothers looking out for their own thing.  Eva was the one that Kevin so tortured throughout the story.  However, in the end Eva and Kevin were the ones that came together in the end and reconciled their differences.

This was a really rough book.  Lionel Shriver doesn't pull any punches.  So I don't necessarily recommend it to everyone.  It does have a lot of powerful messages about motherhood and I think it's an important story.    

Of Things Gone Astray by Janina Matthewson

Author: Janina Mathewson

Publisher: The Friday Project/Harpercollins

Date of publication: February 2015

On a seemingly normal morning in London, a group of people all lose something dear to them, something dear but peculiar: the front of their house, their piano keys, their sense of direction, their place of work.

Meanwhile, Jake, a young boy whose father brings him to London following his mother’s sudden death in an earthquake, finds himself strangely attracted to other people’s lost things. But little does he realize that his most valuable possession, his relationship with his dad, is slipping away from him.

Of Things Gone Astray is a magical fable about modern life and values. Perfect for fans of Andrew Kaufman and Helen Oyeyemi.

  Of Things Gone Astray is definitely very different from anything I have read lately. This is kind of a hard book to review.  It's one of those that you really have to experience for yourself.  The story is told through the eyes of several different people.  Each person has lost something.  Literally lost something.  Mrs. Featherby has lost the front of her house.  Robert's job has completely disappeared. Delia has lost her sense of direction, in that she can't find her way anywhere anymore. 

I will admit that I almost gave up on it, but as I kept reading, it drew me into it's magic.  I have had a few days to process this book. and I can say that I did ultimately like it.  What I liked about the book was watching each person deal with their loss; each in their own way.  For some, it opens up new possibilities and for others, it holds them back even more.  I really struggled because I am a reader who hates loose ends.  The ending wasn't tied up in a neat bow and I felt a lot of things were uncertain. But after thinking on it, I realized that I really liked the ending.  Life isn't neat and a lot of the future is uncertain. Loss happens all the time and it's how we deal with it that makes the difference.

I do recommend this book.  I urge everyone to give it a chance. In fact, check out this book excerpt behind the book interview with the author.  It's Ms. Mattherson's debut book.  I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

About Janina Matthewson 

Janina Matthewson is a writer and trained actress from Christchurch, New Zealand. She now lives in London. Of Things Gone Astray is her first full-length novel.

Find out more about Janina at her website, and connect with her on Twitter.

 Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Janina’s Tour Stops

Wednesday, February 4th: Bibliophiliac

Thursday, February 5th: Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, February 6th: 5 Minutes for Books

Tuesday, February 10th: More Than Just Magic

Wednesday, February 11th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, February 12th: A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall

Monday, February 16th: The Gilmore Guide to Books

Tuesday, February 17th: Spiced Latte Reads

Tuesday, February 17th: Based On a True Story

Wednesday, February 18th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Thursday, February 19th: Read Her Like An Open Book

Friday, February 20th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

TBD: Doing Dewey

For All Time by Jude Devereaux

Author: Jude Devereaux
Publisher: Ballantine
Date of publication: July 2014

The wedding of Alix Madsen and Jared Montgomery is a glorious affair at an elegant little chapel in the woods, followed by dinner and dancing, all while moonlight blankets the festivities in a romantic glow. While most guests are fixed on the happy couple, Jared’s cousin Graydon can’t look away from a bridesmaid, Toby Wyndam. It’s not just her quiet beauty that enthralls him or the way she makes him laugh. Toby possesses the truly remarkable ability of being able to distinguish Graydon from his identical twin brother, Rory. According to family legend, such a gift marks her as Graydon’s True Love.

But Graydon knows there is no possible way that they can ever be together, for he is heir to the Lanconian throne and is to marry a noble woman who has been chosen for him. Yet, intrigued by Toby, he asks her to help him hide on Nantuck for a week away from regal responsibilities. In exchange, he’ll assist her with planning acclaimed novelist Victoria Madsen’s lavish wedding. Since they both know their union is impossible, the pair promises that they will never be more than just friends.

But there’s more going on between Graydon and Toby than her unique power to tell him apart from his twin. At work are forces beyond their control, which are ruled by time itself. Combine that with the magical island of Nantucket, and a seductive spell is cast over Graydon and Toby. If they are to be together, they must change what once was, as well as what will be. 

For All Time is the second book in the Nantucket Brides Trilogy.  I really liked the first book, so I was happy when I was able to get the audio for this one at my library.  For All Time picks up right where True Love left off, at the wedding of Alix and Jared.  At the end of that book,  Toby gets mad at Graydon because he tried to pass himself off as his identical twin brother, Rory.  This stuns Graydon as no one can tell them apart.  There is a legend that the one woman who can is his true love.  The problem is that Graydon is a prince and is about to become engaged in an arranged marriage to a woman who will help his country financially.

The whole plot is a little convoluted so I'll just say that there is time travel, ghosts, wedding planning and two friends falling in love.  It was so fun to watch these two fall in love.  It was also heart wrenching because you know through the whole book that they can't really ever be together...or can they?  I won't spoil how it happens, but their HEA is very sweet.

My only complaint about the book was that we never get to see Lexi's or Rory's own HEA.  We know it happens, but never get the stories.  Maybe the author could give us a couple of novellas?  I look forward to the next book!

The Perfectionists by Sara Shephard

Authors: Sara Shephard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date of publication: October 2014

In Beacon Heights, Washington, five girls—Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker—know that you don’t have to be good to be perfect. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they realize that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss, who’s done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect way to kill him—a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s just a joke...until Nolan turns up dead, in exactly the way they planned. Only, they didn’t do it. And unless they find the real killer, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them. 

This is a new series by the author of Pretty Little Liars.  I actually was pleasantly surprised by the book.  The book definitely has shadows of PLLs, but I thought the author came up with a good and fresh story line.  The five girls have all been wronged by the same boy in some way.  they plot to give him a taste of his own medicine.  But he shows up dead the next day.  The girls know it wasn't them, but all of the evidence puts doubts in the minds of the police.  

I felt like this book was less about the mystery and more about setting up the characters.   I was able to really get a sense of who each girl was and where she was coming from.  They may be in a school that demands perfection, but they are all less than perfect. I didn't really get the snob vibe from any of them.  In fact, I liked them all.   The book ends in a cliffhanger much like the end of a season cliffhanger would on a television show.  That was a little frustrating.  I am hoping that in the next book, there will be more mystery and sleuthing.  

I would probably keep this to the over 15 crowd. I did feel like there were some sensitive subjects that wouldn't be appropriate for tweens.  I look forward to the next book, The Good Girls, which comes out in June.

Better When He's Bold by Jay Crownover

Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: February 2015

Welcome to the Point...

In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has to be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them.

Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like the Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself?

Brysen Carter has always seen her best friend's brother for what he is--too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous to touch. Basking in Race's golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she'd eventually get burned.

When she starts receiving threatening texts and someone tries to take her out in parking lot, the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can't allow herself to have.

Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him? 

Better When He's Bold is the second in the "Welcome to the Point" series.  This is Race and Brysen's story.  Race has taken over running the Point from the evil Novak.  His hope is that with him calling the shots, the Point won't ever be ruled by a man like Novak again.  He also finds he can't get his mind off His sister's friend, Brysen,  Can he do his job and still be there to protect her?

In the first book, Better When He's Bad, I had a hard time reconciling the life that these characters live.  I always want my heroes to be good men.  But as I read Better When He's Bold, I began to see that sometimes you have to get your hands a little dirty in order to survive.  There are people who are evil and just plain bad seeds and then there are people like Race who has to be a little bad to bring the good and better to the world.   I felt like that came across a lot clearer in this book than in the first.  

I loved Brysen and Race together.  Their relationship really steamed up the pages.  But more than that, I really felt like they brought a balance to each other's lives.  Brysen just can't seem to catch a break.  She has given up a lot to make sure her sister makes it to college and will sacrifice anything to protect her.  I admired that about her.  Anyone who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the ones she loves is a strong person in my book.

There is a mystery in this.  Someone is stalking Brysen and Race is desperate to find out who and why.  There is also someone who is trying to sabotage Race and his partner Nassir's business in the Point.  That story seems to be an arc that will carry over into the next book.  Hopefully, they will find some resolution soon.  

Titus's book, Better When He's Brave, is up next.  I can't wait to see how the cop's story plays out!

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

by:  Jennifer Brown
published by:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
publish date:  May 6, 2014

Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the Midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have prepared for this.

When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows-family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy?

Have you seen the movie Into the Storm?  Or those shows on The Weather Channel about tornadoes when people relive their experiences?  This is what this book was like.  
Jersey is left at home alone while her sister and mother head off to dance class when the tornado hits.  After surviving a direct hit by the tornado, Jersey is left to fend for herself for day before she find out that her mother and sister have been killed.  Only her stepfather survived and he is so overcome with grief that he can barely take care of himself, let alone his teenage stepdaughter.  She gets sent to her biological father that she's never met only find herself in a horrible place with people that don't want her.  Jersey's life is spiraling out of control, and she doesn't think there will be anyone left to take care of her.  

This was a great book.  Torn Away was one of the few books that I wanted to go tell my kids to read.  That sounds terrible, but they're not big readers and I think they would really like this one.  It was exciting and heartbreaking, but ultimately had a satisfying conclusion.  I would definitely recommend Torn Away!