{Blog Tour} Review: A Life, Forward by Tracy Hewitt Meyer

 

Hey guys! I'm here today on the A Life, Freed blog tour. I'll be reviewing the second book in the series, and then will be back on Tuesday with my review of the third book. You can read my review of the first book, A Life, Redefined here.

Title: A Life, Forward

Author: Tracy Hewitt Meyer

Series: Rowan Slone, #2

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Her father is gone. Her mother is in jail. And Rowan Slone has left her dysfunctional, violent past behind. With college looming on the horizon, she has a new job that she loves, and a safe place to call home. She is close to achieving everything she ever wanted-a sense of family, a sense of purpose, and a sense of self.
But there are cracks in Rowan's life that threaten to send her future crumbling to the ground. When her relationship begins to suffer, her father returns and her long-held secret is discovered, Rowan must find the courage to fight for the most important thing yet-herself.

I enjoyed this book. I liked Rowan in the previous book because of what a strong complex character she was, however, I did not see that as much in this one. Rowan has been through some horrible things, but she is trying to move on and get through them. Which is a long process. But Rowan makes it through and by the end, I was happy.

My biggest issue, I think, how Rowan was so obsessed with Mike. Like, she always needed him. And I get it, the long distance is hard and she never gets to see him. And I know how much he helped, how much he meant in the last book. But her neediness bordered on unhealthy, and prevented Rowan from finding herself.

To make things worse, her sister Trina is acting up, her friend Jess shares some shocking news, Rowan is starting to feel like an outsider in the Anderson's home... and then her father comes back. And wants to see her. I did feel like there were maybe too many things thrown in this one, but it wasn't overpowering.

I was riveted, though, always needing to know what happened next. And I loved how Rowan grows and changes with this one. How she learns to find herself and live her own life. Outside of her screwed up family, outside of Mike. Rowan has spent a lot of time, I felt like, looking to the circumstances to make her feel whole and complete, but she finally gets that only she can do so.

Coming off of what Rowan has been through is a healing process, and I do think that was showcased. Rowan constantly feels like she's not making any progress, but she learns that's just how it goes. She isn't completely better by the end of the book, but she's getting there.

This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster. And I can't wait for the next book.

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Book 3:

On her own for the first time, Rowan Slone is no longer waiting for the future. She’s living in the present, and relishing every minute of it. She has a new boyfriend. She is helping best friend, Jess, raise her five-month-old son, Jacob. And she continues to work as Assistant Manager at the animal shelter-all while settling into her first semester of college. Rowan’s stars are aligned and she’s not looking back.

But all is not as golden as it seems. Being a young mother is too much for Jess to handle, leaving Rowan to shoulder much of the burden of raising Jacob. Trina becomes involved in a religious cult causing Rowan to fear she may have lost her sister forever. And her mother has a new psychiatrist whose goal is to get Rowan into therapy, forcing her to deal with her mother, and the past, once and for all.

Adding to the rising turmoil, Rowan’s first love, Mike Anderson, returns, and wants to see her. She is surprised how much she wants to see him too. But his sudden reappearance makes her wonder if there is room in her future for the boy with the pine-colored eyes or is it too little, too late?

As the winds begin to stir, threatening to send Rowan’s carefully-built life into a tailspin, she must search deep inside herself to discover what she truly wants. Will soul-searching help her achieve that elusive sense of peace and family she’s always craved or will the pain of the past prove too great?

The Author:

Tracy Hewitt Meyer:
 

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Tracy Hewitt Meyer is a multi-genre, multi-published author of new adult fiction as well as adult paranormal and contemporary romance. She has a B.A. in English and a Master of Social Work, both of which feed her true passion-a love of writing. Born and raised in the beautiful state of West Virginia, Tracy now lives in the mid-east with her family, a goldendoodle, and a bearded dragon.

(5) ebook copies of A Life, Redefined (Book 1) by Tracy Hewitt Meyer

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