Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon Amazon.com The Page Turner Category:  Action/Thriller Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN-10:  146801661X Type: Fiction Pages: 310 Copyright: July 19, 2016 ISBN-13: 9781468016611 Price: $0.99 (eBook) The coming of age story of Melanie Easton, the seventeen-year old that has never had love or nurturing. However, she chooses not to be defined by that as she sets out on a new path looking for answers and friendship in unexpected places. Seventeen-year-old Melanie Easton lives in a loveless home with her negligent, self-absorbed, and potentially dangerous mother. Consequently, she knows loneliness. Unexpectedly offered a ride with a classmate, Robert Reynolds, Melanie finds there is more to people than she ever imagined. Living in self-imposed anonymity, Melanie struggles to survive without becoming bitter and hate filled. After being befriended by Robert Reynolds, windows of opportunity open for Melanie. Accordingly, the road to discovery divulges there may be reasons for her strange home life. The reasons she never imagined until she begins unraveling the documents hidden away, until now. Out of the discovery of the secrets, lies, and deceptions, comes the possibility of exciting changes. Perhaps along with the answers, comes the opportunity for genuine happiness. A suspenseful story that will engage your heart and mind with hopefulness and admiration for Melanie's courage and willingness for self-discovery and personal growth. Excerpt The little baby girl cried in her cradle. On and on and on… No one came. In her mind, and in her heart, a sadness began to form and there was no one coming forth to prove to this little-lost child that there was the world out there that wanted her. As she grew, the sadness continued to grow and no one showed very much interest in her at all. This innocent baby, with the golden hair and bright blue eyes, had been given the name of Melanie. Once she had been given her name, it seemed as if everyone had done all that was necessary for her. Occasionally, a milk bottle, grimy and coated with dried milk from the last few feedings, would be tossed at her. A bottle that was not soothing, just filling. As if by a miracle the baby grew, and learned very early, how to survive. Perhaps out of retaliation against her mother that lavished no attention on her. Perhaps her very survival was so that in the future, she would be able to find a voice to bring attention to the level of neglect that had fallen upon her since birth. Melanie taught herself to stand while trying to escape the pen that her mother called her bed and a short time later, using the same reasoning, she taught herself to walk in an attempt to escape this neglect that people might mistakenly call her home. It was Melanie's good fortune that one of the neighbors noticed that she was left alone and called in the authorities. At this point a Social Services case worker was called in to assess the situation - with her mother assuring the concerned government employee that it was just a mistake; someone else's fault. This time she alleged that a baby sitter caused all this for her poor, unfortunate mother. Both mother and child knew that the baby sitter had never actually existed; this person was created in her mother's mind. The case worker listened intently to her story and left after speeches were given, a series of instructional classes had been scheduled, and directions forcing her mother to feed her on a regular basis, and to find a day care for her during the day were insisted upon. Melanie almost innately knew just how shallow these meaningless gestures actually were. With no other family, there was no one to intervene on her behalf. There were no Christmas festivities, no birthday celebration, and no Thanksgiving dinner. After all, there was nothing or no one to be thankful for. Melanie had survived against all odds and once she turned five the state demanded that she must be given an education. The state had, just as the neighbors had those three years before, provided a gift of freedom to Melanie

Adding this book to my UnPutDownAble shelf!
What I liked about this book was everything. It is a debut novel and some of the best books I have read are debut novels. I don't think I have ever read anything like this before. The story is mostly Melanie's point of view and told in the third person. I was hooked in the first chapter.
The author does a great job setting up the characters and building relationships that you can understand maybe identify with! I really liked the main character, Mel. This is a very uplifting story. This book made me feel good and I had a hard time putting it down.

5.0 out of 5 starsWhat a nice surprise!
I am so glad a friend encouraged me to read this. It’s not my normal genre, but this book appealed to me from the moment I was introduced to Melanie. The author does a great job in generating genuine compassion for her main character, something that is easier said than done.

Throughout the book, we see the things that make Melanie who she is, but more importantly – what she does about them. No spoilers here, but I hope others will enjoy this story of friendship, hope, and the power of the human spirit.

Great Story
Having grown up without any parental influence, Melanie uses characters from books to emulate. Their experiences color her judgment and outlook of life. Though it's sad that a mother could treat their own child with such disdain, Melanie rises above it all. After befriending a classmate named Rob, Melanie gets a part-time job at a pizza place and seems to thrive, while her mother heads deeper and deeper into darkness and instability. This was a wonderfully written story of courage and resilience of spirit. Highly recommended reading.