Review: A wonderful book!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 9, 2011
Angelita carries a lot of baggage around with her, and not just the ones filled with shoes.  Her mother deserted her, her father couldn't care less about her, and a pregnancy at seventeen started a chain reaction that sent her life swirling into a downward spiral.  That is, until she met Sophie.  Sophie helped her put her life back together and with a lot of hard work, they turned Angelita's shoe designs into a thriving business.  But now, her father wants a piece of that business and he's not taking no for an answer.  The only thing Angelita can think to do is run from him.  Which puts her right smack in the middle of other people's baggage.Sequoyah Falls is a small town where no one forgets the past.  Jesse is still considered the ne'er-do-well who ran out on his wife and kids; even though he's been back in town for years and has done everything he can to repair those relationships.  Kerri Ann still pines for the man she never thought she was good enough for - the man that drove her into Jesse's arms with the end result being a baby boy.  Bryce couldn't stick around and see the woman he loved with another man, but now he's back, Kerri Ann's divorced and this is his chance.  But it's been several years now, and no one knows how to get their lives back on track and go after what they want.  Until Angelita shows up.Shoe Strings is a novel that showcases how bad choices made in our youth can change the course of our lives forever.  Her characters have grown into their adulthood still clinging to the past, keeping them from seeing their bright futures.  Insecurities, emotional scars and the opinions of other people keep them from finding the right path over and over again.  But stirring up the pot a little bit can change the flavor of things.  Throw a new person in the mix who sees things in an unbiased light and new attitudes and self-confidence can have a chance to sprout roots where they never have before.In Shoe Strings, Christy Hayes transports the reader into a world in desperate need of second chances.  Her story drives home the message that ghosts from the past do not get to determine the future, and love can win over even the most disbelieving hearts.  The reader will enjoy watching these characters grow into the people they deserve to be, and will root them on every step of the way.  Christy Hayes brings to life their hopes, dreams and desires and you can't help but grin happily as everything finally comes together.I thank the author for providing me with a review copy and I give the book 5 stars.