Review: WOW!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 20, 2014
WOW! Refreshingly different, captivating and exhilarating...I LOVED Wife Number Seven - I have only had the privilege of reading one of Melissa's prior books but this one was on a whole different level. My heart was pounding and I literally was feeling anxious throughout my entire read but it was SO WORTH IT! This is my favorite of her books to date!Have you ever seen that show Sister Wives on TV and wondered how the hell people are ok being in a marriage where there are multiple wives, multiple children all sharing the same man vying for his attention and affection?! I have often wondered how people can be in this situation, knowing that they probably grew up in this lifestyle and know no other way, but have wondered nonetheless what they are thinking, what their life is like on the inside. So I am TOTALLY EXCITED to read this book and get the inside scoop on the inner workings of a polygamist marriage. I will admit that often times I do think that the man is just a disgusting cocky over confident sexist ass and I wonder if this book will prove my assumptions correct (again these are just my beliefs and opinions...this lifestyle may be ok for some, I just know that I could never be in this situation or think that this is ok because I don't like to share :)).So I will say that I will not reveal too much information other than what is already known in the blurb because THIS BOOK must be experienced fully and completely and I prefer not to ruin the read for you.  Wife Number Seven is the story of Brinley, the 7th wife to Lehi Cluff, who struggles with the society she grew up in, wanting to know real and true love and to experience life outside of her community.  I was scared and nervous for Brinley through a lot of the book because of all the secrets she was hiding, knowing that if she was found out that it could be so, so, so bad for her.  But despite this, she is one of the strongest women I have ever read about and I am so proud of her because for once she is questioning her faith and lifestyle, she is taking risks to find the life she so rightly deserves and wants and because she will prove in this book that she will stop at nothing to find her true self.  A lot of what Brinley feels throughout this book is completely normal in the "real" world and she will have a tough journey to realize this.There are a couple of people in this book who are constants in her life that will go above and beyond to protect Brinley.  And no, I won't tell you who they are.  I will say however that Brinley will find a true love that was so beautiful to experience, someone who sees her for who she really is, someone who wants her and only her.  This person, though experiencing hardships of his own and having a similar background to Brinley, will prove what true love is and will fill your heart and soul with so much love and warmth.Things I LOVED....This book is told in multiple POVs adding so many layers to the story and ultimately giving us such a complete experience. The writing and the characters were SO WELL DONE - so thoroughly researched, this to me, was such an accurate portrayal of what it would be like to live in this community and gives you so many things to think about it and then appreciate in your own life.  I truly loved this book - the suspense, the anxiety and all the emotions I felt and overall experiencing Brinley's freedom of choice, freedom to love was a magnificent thing.  This is a book that I will not easily forget and I encourage you to buy and read this book because I think you will feel the same. <3