Under An Adirondack Sky

Under An Adirondack Sky

by Karen Rock

My Review

This is one of the most touching, emotional, wonderful reads you will find. There were times my heart was in my mouth, other times I had a tear in my eye and times when I really laughed or smiled. Two families have lost so much both wanting to do the best and be the best they can be. Being a family can bring you so much happiness but so much sorrow when you feel so alone even in a crowd. Sometimes life gets in the way making us change are plan and our dream putting family first and ourselves last. There are times when what we think is the best might not be and other times when we think we are doing our best but we are not. You get blindsided or tunnel vision and cannot see what is right in front of your eyes. What Ms. Rock does is bring normal family issues to the front going head first at a run trying to bring these families back together giving them their hopes and dreams back in a very touching read.

She gives you a few stories in side a story with Aiden taking over running the family bar, help raising he many brothers and sisters with no time left over for him. Rebecca doing her best to help a group of teens fined their way. Along with a group of teens that are lost where family has put other things before they put them. Both Aiden and Rebecca have had a hard lonely life. It wasn’t always this way things changed when the ones they loved the most, those who loved them the most died leaving them all alone one living life by herself and the other taking over the family.

Connor Aiden’s brother who is acting out and about to get kicked out of school. He is driving his brother crazy leaving Aiden at his wits ends. Connor see things one way and of course his brother another which leaves a riff between the two wider than the Grand Cannon. Rebecca walks into to Connor’s life as she works with him he is learning to say how he feels working on his other issues. Will she pull him out of his shell in time to save him and give him back his life or will he turn to the life of crime, drugs and lord knows what else.

Aiden is doing everything for his family from taking care of his mother, feeding and raising all his younger brothers and sisters. It seems he is going around and around and not getting everywhere. He is trying so hard but there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get it all done. Now with his brother acting out he is about to throw his hands up. When a beautiful lady walks into the bar she throws him for a spin. There is no way he could fit her into his schedule even if he wanted to.

Rebecca has given her time and life to wayward teens trying to bring them back from the edge before they fall off it. She has alot more at stake on this trip than just working out the teens issues. If things do not work out she has a lot more to lose. When it comes to Connor he reminds her of someone very close to her. One wrong move his life could be over and she would be to blame. She puts forth a plan to get all the teens and their guardians to go on a wilderness trip where they will get back to nature why learning how to deal with their issue in hopes of teaching them how to deal with their lives and bring their families closer together.

An added twist is the other teens and their issues as the trip takes of things get out of hand, tempters flare. Things to not go as planned. Can Rebecca bring these wild teens around, giving them back their respect, love and a new way of looking at things or will they will they turn their backs and walk out?

What I really loved about this book was the interaction between the teachers, the students, the humor and the pain that you see each character go through.  You see the problems as your heart goes out to each of them wanting so much to jump right in the pages and give a helping hand. It isn’t just the students that have issues or feel insecure each member has a fear of their own as you go through the story they really touch your heart as their pain becomes yours. This was just a very emotional read where Ms. Rock brings you different side to each character and their story. Not everything is as it seems nor everyone as they seem. What this wonderful author gives you is a very compelling read that has you so invested in the story you find you have raced through it and still want more. Just when you think nothing good will come of this you find yourself laughing out loud as you rub the sweat off you forehead thinking wow that was a close one.  That doesn’t mean its all humor or sorrow there is a wonderful mix that really reaches in and touches you heart. I loved the attraction between Aiden and Rebecca which at times is a love hate relationship. They see a different side of each other which you can almost feel. There are a few surprises you won’t see coming as you turn the pages of this delightful read to find out just where it is going and at times leaving you with your mouth wide open. This is a rollercoaster ride with a little bit of everything that you don’t want to miss.

Ms. Rock has a talent for pulling her readers in taking your heart and giving it a squeeze as she fills you mind with some very vivid scenes that have you holding your breath. You feel like you are right there taking the ride the characters are.  This is a story about respect not only for the adults but for the teens, talking, finding time, giving back, loving with words and action, understanding, reaching out, taking help and finding another way to get your point across beside fighting and yelling. Before you close the last page you will find there isn’t a character you have not had compassion for at some point, there isn’t a character you do not like, and you have fell in love not only with the characters but with this author. Ms. Rock has her own style which gives you a very heartwarming, tear jerking, along with humor that will keep you laughing. I hope each of you will pick this up and be taking back into your own teen years where you really understand these teens and your adult life where you really feel for the adults dealing with these teens. This is one story where you can relate to every aspect of it. This is a wonderful love story but it is so much more. I really recommend you pick this up for one of the most heartwarming reads you will read this year. 

 

Buy Links

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

Overview

Can he juggle everything…including her?

After raising his siblings and running the family pub for more than a decade, Aiden Walsh has set his own dreams aside. Until the most beautiful woman he's ever seen stumbles into his bar, and his arms. Too bad Rebecca Day is the school psychologist in charge of his brother's future. Who's he kidding? He doesn't have room in his full life for romance anyway. But forced to join Rebecca and her group of troubled teens on an Adirondack wilderness adventure, he realizes keeping his family afloat isn't enough for him…not by a long shot.