Review: 4.5 stars! An Author to Look Out For!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 5, 2011
I didn't know what to expect when I downloaded this book to read.  As you all know, I am more of a fantasy/paranormal type of girl and I must say, I was skeptical; not that this was going to be a boring book, but that it wouldn't be the right book for me.  Boy, was I wrong!Picture this:  You are on a long car trip with your two brothers; one is a drug addict, but is sweet and innocent and needs someone to take him in, care for him, teach him how to be a man and stand on his own; the other is an alcoholic who has held a secret grudge against you for many years.  Oh, and let's throw in an ex-fiance and your new girlfriend into this crazy train wreck, too!  Along the way, any thing that can go wrong, does, and you wind up in situations that you never dreamed you'd ever end up in.  That is what happens to the main character, Dale, in this story.As for the characters themselves, I started out feeling one way about them and by the end of the story, I saw them in a totally different light.  Each one had a past; something that happened in their lives that made me feel compassion for them, but I also couldn't stand a few of them to begin with, including the main character.  By the end of this story, most of the characters do a complete 180 and only one stays the same.  I like it when I think I have a character all figured out, only to discover that my perceptions were all wrong!  To me, that takes a lot of skill on the author's part and William G. Jones handled it as easily as a magician waving a wand and saying "Presto!"I also enjoyed the way he captured the emotions of this dysfunctional family.  The characters go through  many ups and downs and he paints a picture that makes it clear to the reader why they feel and act the way they do.  You may not agree with a character's actions or emotions, but you still get the `why'.  This book is one of those "the grass is always greener on the other side" types, but by the end, you are left wondering...is it really?  Jones ends this book well, too.  There are no loose ends and it doesn't leave you wondering, "Well, what happened to so-and-so?!"  If I could sum this book up in one word, it would be DRAMA.  I would also like to tell Mr. Jones that if he were to submit this to someone that does movies for the Lifetime network, it would be a major success!I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.  Now wait!  The only reason I say that is because I really wish the ending had just a little more information about the characters' feelings then.  You are told what happens to them, but I was left wanting a little more information about their feelings towards one other after all was said and done.  You get a little of this, but it is only from the main character's point of view.  I think that taking some of the other characters and maybe doing a short novella about each of them would be a great idea.  They are all interesting and I think readers would love to learn more about them.  Hint, hint, William!  LOL!I really enjoyed this book and I can say without a doubt that others will, too.  Take this from someone who normally doesn't read these types of stories; if it held my attention (and yes, I read it all the way through with hardly any breaks because I couldn't stand to put it down) then it will surely hold yours!  I can't wait to read more from William G. Jones and I am proud to say that it is authors like him who have made me realize that there are more genres out there to be enjoyed!