Description:
In this compelling and poignant debut novel, a woman skilled at caring for animals must learn to mend the broken relationships in her family.…
For veterinarian Geneva Novak, animals can be easier to understand than people. They’re also easier to forgive. But when her mother, Helen, is injured in a vodka-fueled accident, it’s up to Geneva to give her the care she needs.
Since her teens, Geneva has kept her self-destructive mother at arm’s length. Now, with two slippery teenagers of her own at home, the last thing she wants is to add Helen to the mix. But Geneva’s husband convinces her that letting Helen live with them could be her golden chance to repair their relationship.
Geneva isn’t expecting her mother to change anytime soon, but she may finally get answers to the questions she’s been asking for so long. As the truth about her family unfolds, however, Geneva may find secrets too painful to bear and too terrible to forgive.
CONVERSATION GUIDE INCLUDED
MY TAKE:
5 STARS!!!
You are looking into the adorable face of Buddy up there, on the cover of this book. He is the family dog! Geneva is a Veterinarian and an Animal Behaviorist. Sometimes Geneva can understand animals better than people, but that's a given after her profession and especially after being raised by her mother, Helen, who happens to love bottles with long necks on them and start with a "V" more than her children at times. Geneva remembers this for as far back as she can during her childhood. That bottle always came first. At first, this is what comes between the two of them, then, other things come into play as well, things they just don't see eye to eye on, especially after Helen's husband, Geneva's father, had passed away when she was a young girl.
In addition to Geneva's animal practice and being a daughter, she is also a wife to Tom, and mother to two pretty darned good teenagers, but like all teens, they do try her patience through a few seriously harrowing issues fueled by her own mother! Yes, Geneva's mother, Helen, can be extremely cunning and sneaky! Helen, does come to live with them for a while after she breaks her leg and can't make it on her own in that condition while living alone. It is at times like this that Geneva feels she is the only responsible sibling between the three of them, a brother named Dublin and a sister named Paris. Sometimes this grinds her nerves at times, especially with Paris who never seems to come around, but someone has to step up and do it, and Geneva's husband is a joy to her, helping her to get her head back on straight after Helen pulls her little, but huge stunts on everyone in the family. There is a lot behind what drives this in Helen, and we learn this about her in the book. There is a lot that drives this behavior that makes you feel sorry for her.
This book was so very enjoyable to read. Helen, Geneva's mother, was a riot at times, with her southern views and the way they came out verbally at times! I was laughing SO hard a few times that this is what makes me LOVE southern based fiction! The way they come up with things at times, and the things they say! I can assure you you won't be the same after reading this book!
This book does get into some pretty heavy issues. Helen, the grandmother, has really suffered for years over an issue she wasn't so sure about, but even though not 100% sure, she was pretty close to being sure. Sounds a little confusing, but if you read this book, you'll understand, She goes through a lot as she moves from her home to Helen's home five hundred miles away. (Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? LOL! Not exactly in this case!)
This is truly a story that will pull at your heartstrings, shock you, but you'll also agree with the way things turn out, too. It is very surprising as you never know what to expect with Helen. Geneva never knows what to expect from her own mother, and this is good and bad. The grandkids never know what to expect at times, either!
This is a beautifully written book, and one you won't soon forget. I was able to remember every little detail of this book even after having finished it several weeks ago. I couldn't write the review right away because I lost my own dog right around the same time I was finishing this book. Now that I'm feeling better about the loss of my dog, and knowing we did the right thing by ending her suffering, I am able to write this now. You will enjoy reading about Geneva's work with some of the animals at times, and others will shock you.
For this debut author, this is one book that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Thank you to this author, Sonja Yoerg, for giving me this book, the opportunity to read and review her first published work of fiction! May I say congratulations to an incredible story she has writen! I look forward to MANY MORE to come! Congratulations, Sonja! I can't wait for MORE books to come!
House Broken by Sonja Yoerg
ebook: $ 7.99
print: $12.02
GIVEAWAY!!!!!
Want to win my copy of this gently read book? Please leave your name and email
in the comments below, written stretched out so a robot can't come along and grab your email address, here is an example of my email - - > laurieisreading at gmail dot com, or however you would like to write it, and on
FRIDAY, JUNE 5th, I WILL DRAW A NAME/NUMBER, A WINNER! In my regular weekly column that is published by NOON every Sunday of the "NYTimes Bestsellers plus Blog Updates", I will list the winner! I will then contact you by email and we'll figure out how to get this book to you!
Thanks!
Laurie
love that cover :) thanks for the great review! This is the first I've com across this book and it's definitely caught my attention~
ReplyDeleteI have read several reviews of this book but yours is the one that pushed me over the edge of 'should I read this or not' - now its a definite YES. donaroad at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteHi Susan!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and entering this giveaway!
I'm glad my review helped you decide to want to read this book! I will definitely let the author, Sonja Yoerg know! She will be elated! I am, too! I'm so glad it helped! Thank you! I'll give you one more little secret about this book. There is one thing that is the driving force that causes the behavior of her mother and also interferes with the mother/daughter relationship. I didn't want to write that part into the review, afraid of giving too much away. You'll end up loving this story, and it is still with me today! When a book's story still sticks with me several weeks/a month long, I am not going to ever forget it! It's definitely a book worth reading! You're going to love it!
Best of luck! Again, thanks for coming by!
Laurie
This looks like such a fabulous read. It is an adorable cover. The 5 stars is impressive.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I just finished reading Avalon: A True Cat Story last night and cried. The author tells the story of her cat, Avalon, and how their bond helped her find herself. So miving and wonderful. This would be a lovely story to follow up with!
ReplyDeletelaurathomas61@att.net
Sounds like a very interesting read!! Would love to get a copy~
ReplyDeleteann [dot] m [dot] vuong [at] gmail [dot] com
I've wanted to read this one for some time now, but never seem to be able to get a copy. Great review!
ReplyDeletemeredithfl at gmail dot com
CONGRATULATIONS, MEREDITH!!! "YOU" are the winner!! You have your copy now! I will be mailing it out in about 2 weeks! In the meantime, I will be contacting you by your email address to let you know there, as well! Thanks for coming by AND entering this Giveaway! Wishing you ALL the best! Thanking EVERYONE who entered!
DeleteLaurie
I have been wanting to read this for so long! Awesome review! xx
ReplyDeletebethanyclark2014 (at) gmail (dot) com