Review: It is not your fault!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2013
The first few chapters of this book were some of the hardest for me to get through ever, and I seriously considered stopping as it was so hard, but I am very glad that I didn't. The situation is difficult to read about, however, these are things that unfortunately happen everyday to people all over the world. Riviera may be a fictional character, but her situation is real, and it is ugly and brutal, and it does not always turn out the way it did for Riviera, she is one of the lucky ones who got out.The characters in this book are some of the most believable I have ever read, from the ugly disturbed ones, to the ones that are there to help and have no other intentions than to just be there for Riviera and help her through. I think my favourite character was Amie, she turned out to be one of the most stabilizing influences for Riviera, and she is one of those friends that we all need, she is there when you need to talk, gives you shit when you need it, and is there for a hug when it is really needed.The other part of this book that I loved (besides Shan of course!) was Riviera's paintings, I could picture them vividly in my head, the author was able to write about them and how they are created so brilliantly, and one day I hope to own a home and have a mural on my wall as well.The relationship that builds between Riviera and Shan was done very well as she did not fall for him instantly, and if she had I don't think I could have gone on with the book, because of her past she needed time to warm up to someone, especially of the male gender. Shan knows that something is wrong the first time they meet, however, he has no idea to what extent that really goes. He stands for all the good men/women out there that are not going to give up on someone because of their past, but are going to stick around and help them through it, and I loved that!Overall I give this book a 4/5, the pacing was very well done, loved most of the characters, and it is a very heavy subject, but the author did not try to sugar coat anything or make anything seem not as bad as it was, and I liked that. Again, this is not an easy subject to read or write about I am sure, but I think it needs to be done as it gives the rest of us who are fortunate enough not to be in that situation ourselves things to look for in our family/friends that may help us to understand that something is happening that that person needs help with.