Review: The Finger Lakes inspire all kinds of self-healing and romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 24, 2014
I was drawn to this book simply from the the blurb. I grew up in the world of AA, because my father sponsored dozens of young men throughout my childhood. It was like having a ton of older brothers. I admire the courage of people who work hard at overcoming their addictions and usually enjoy reading stories about them. A bonus when I started reading was the setting. It takes place along the gorgeous Finger Lakes in Upstate New York. In the acknowledgments in the beginning of the book, author Katie O'Boyle thanks people from Writers and Books in Rochester, which is two minutes from my house. I also noticed that the publishing house is in Macedon, which is one of our suburbs. That local connection made me appreciate it even more and helped me to envision where characters were. If you're going to find yourself again and fall in love, spending time along the lakes is a great place to do it.Manda has problems. She has been abused by one of her trusted professors, who is also her employer, and who is determined to hurt or kill her. Her drinking problem has escalated to the point where she admits that she is an alcoholic. She has managed to fly under the radar at school, somehow still getting her work done on time. Joel manages to find out about her problems, recognizing a bit of himself in her, and takes her under his wing. He doesn't take over her life by enabling her. Instead, he gives her little boosts of assistance to get her back on track to being the strong and independent woman that she really is.It doesn't hurt that he is also attracted to her. In AA, they recommend waiting at least one year before getting romantically involved with someone. You have to take care of YOU, first. Chances are you were in a detrimental relationship before you joined, or perhaps are currently in one. You have to heal yourself before you can open yourself up to a new, healthy relationship. Joel knows this and tries very hard to curb his attraction and actions. Manda seems to love having a positive male presence in her life and being appreciated for who she is. They are naturally drawn together, actually helping each other to become better people along their journey.It isn't a perfect romance by any means. Both of them are struggling with their own demons. Manda is under a threat. But they show that love can help to conquer all. It's an inspirational story that debuts what could be a warm and fuzzy series taking place practically in my own backyard. I look forward to more installments and will probably read at least one lakeside!