Tuesday, September 29, 2009

An Accidental Life by Laurel-Rain Snow

An Accidental Life by Laurel-Rain Snow -

From Amazon:
Product Description
Summertime is hot and dull in the Central Valley of California and four teenage girls from very different families are determined to spice it up. With a single-mindedness that foretells disaster, they push aside all the rules and explore the underbelly of valley life. Drugs, sex, alcohol, adventure, anything to challenge the norm, yet all experienced without the benefit of maturity. As the girls become increasingly uncontrollable, their mothers-from dramatically diverse social castes-are forced to work together to save their daughters. Like a tornado moving across the landscape, lives are wrenched from their foundations. Page after page, and over a period of two years, the author introduces characters who struggle to support and defeat the dreams of what began as four innocent girls desiring to taste the forbidden fruit. Laurel-Rain Snow's An Accidental Life is a fascinating look into not only the lives of very diverse family systems, but the mechanism that drives a cross-section of an all-American community.
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The story tells of four teenage girls, each coming from a difficult home life. 
 
Bridget, living with her Mom Karin, who is divorced and is a social worker. Bridget's a quiet girl, with one friend, Fawn who is out of town visiting with her father for the summer. Feeling lonely, decides to go to the mall, something her and Fawn used to do together. 
At the mall she is confronted by two girls from school, Wendy and Bree. 
Wendy, who lives with her mom Donna and two younger brothers. Donna's had a tough life trying to support 3 children by herself, working nights in a bar while Wendy takes care of her brothers. 
Bree also living with her mom Sara. Sara's had some ups and downs involving loser men, drugs and alcohol. 
After shopping in the mall, Bree and Wendy talk Bridget into going with them to hang out. Bridget's shy and feeling sort of nervous, decides she wants to have some fun this summer so leaving a note with her mom, heads out to the lake with Bree and Wendy. 
Everyone is having fun, smoking, drinking, Bridget still feeling overwhelmed. Savannah, another girl from school, meets them, hands Bridget a joint. Bridget's never done this before and after inhaling it, starts coughing. Everyone laughs but feeling the effects, she starts laughing to. 
Savannah who also comes from a broken family. A brother Tommy, her mom, Mary, a druggy and alcoholic,her dad, in prison for drug possession. 
These four girls continue to hang out, calling themselves the Four Musketeers but along the way, making poor choices, and their lives drastically change. 
 
The story also introduces the girls social workers and how their lives are affected by their job and how they live. With some surprising twists and turns!
 
The author , who is a retired social worker, adds her expertise in the field which leaves you wondering, what is truth and what is fiction?
 
Enjoyed reading this story and I highly recommend it.
 
 


About the author: 
A retired social worker, specializing in child welfare services, Laurel-Rain Snow has fictionalized many personal and professional experiences into her five novels: "An Accidental Life," "Embrace the Whirlwind," "Chasing Stardust," "Miles to Go," and "Web of Tyranny."
Born and raised in California's Central Valley, Ms. Snow has four grown children and seven grandchildren.

Her hobbies include reading, writing, collecting, traveling, and going to the movies.
(photo from Amazon site)



She also has quite a few blogs!! Here are some of the links:  

Laurel-Rain Snows Collections
A Rainy Snowy Day
Rainy Days and Mondays
Embrace the Whirlwind with Laurel-Rain Snow
Miles to Go with Laurel-Rain Snow
Laurel-Rain Snows Accidental Life

She has a few more blogs with beautiful writings about her fun treasures, her home and her life.


18 comments:

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Wow, Natalie! Sounds like you enjoyed the book, and thanks for the great review and links to blogs, etc.

I came over here, thinking you would share a couple of teaser sentences, and imagine my surprise to find the complete review.

Lisa said...

New look! Took me a minute to realize where I had landed!

Anonymous said...

Great review and hello to Laurel! :) How fun that you read her book!

Natalie W said...

Thanks so much Laurel! Your very welcome and i enjoyed it very much. Looking forward to reading your others!

And thank you Lisa & Bookjourney!

Sassy Brit @ Alternative-Read.com said...

Hi, Nats,

I met Laurel through you, so I was pleased to see your review of her book. Glad you liked it!!

I didn't realise you were once a social worker, Laurel-Rain, does that mean you believe in the 'write what you know' saying? It would certainly make sense.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I like your new blog look!

Great review. This would not be a book I'd enjoy, but I'm glad u liked it.

Natalie W said...

Thanks Diane!

Alyce said...

Sounds like a good read!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

I came back to visit, and enjoyed reading others' reactions!

Your new blog look is intriguing!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Hey, Natalie! Just thought I'd drop by and tell you about my "Accidental Life" blog changes.

I kind of did a makeover!

Tell me what you think.

Natalie W said...

Oh thats great Laurel! THanks for stopping by and I'll have to check out your site!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Hey, Natalie! I have the Dragon award for you over on my Reflections blog...http://laurel-rainsnowsreflections.blogspot.com/

Congratulations!

Christine said...

Wonderful review. I am going to have to move Laurel's book up on my TBR pile.

Sassy Brit @ Alternative-Read.com said...

Hey there!

I have an award for you, TOO, on my site!

Hope you are well,

Sassy
:)

HERE!

HAPPY WRITING!

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to stop by and let you know I have something for you:
http://booktumbling.com/2009/10/04/a-few-more-awards/

Missy B. said...

Awesome review....another book to add to my wish list! Thanks, Natalie!

Wendi said...

Great review. My mom actually got her Master's Degree in Socail Work, and has been working with people ever since. She would probably really enjoy reading this book. :)

Thanks for stopping by and participating in Thingers last week! I've got the post up for this week. ~ Wendi

Rose DesRochers said...

Thank you for another great post.
I look forward to many more entries with high quality info.