Recovering From Life - Debra McKenna (Review & Giveaway!)

5 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Recovering From Life is the story of Stephanie’s rollicking travails as she navigates her way through the heap of troubles left in the wake of her husband’s disappearance.  Her latest broken pecker-picker choice, thirty-year-old Kenny McCarthy is M.I.A., and Steph soon learns that he’s rolling down the drug gutter again.  This news catapults her into unknown territory—and into a search for her own life.  Left with no financial resources, Steph elicits the help of her best friend, moves out of her marriage home, files for divorce, gets fired from her job, starts dating, and sees the truth of her husband’s life during a misguided adventure into the crack ghetto—all without laying eyes on her errant spouse.

As the months go by, Stephanie takes giant steps forward and then back as she learns to confront reality and take care of herself, emotionally and financially.  When nearly a year has passed, Steph’s busy nursing heartbreak brought on by yet another man, Mr. Meant To Be, when she’s offered the business opportunity of a lifetime. This proposal could solve her financial woes along with myriad other problems while propelling her into the life she wants.  But her ex-husband resurfaces just as Mr. Meant To Be breaks her heart once more, and Steph has to ask herself a question: Has she finally learned to see “what is” not “what she wants it to be”?

And has she learned to do whatever it takes to fend for herself and get the life she deserves?

Spirited, bumbling, and brave, Stephanie asks for help from a couple unlikely, wily characters to get her answers.  And taking the biggest risk yet, she makes one final step forward.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

After graduating with a degree in English and completing graduate work in Creative Writing, Debra McKenna became a feature writer and editor for city magazines in Sacramento, Denver, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas for over nine years.    She has a background in recovery programs.  Recovering From Life is her first novel.

Visit her at her website - HERE

MY REVIEW -

LOVED this book! I almost read the whole book in one sitting. You know how I sometimes say that a book is like a roller-coaster with the ups and downs? Well this book was like a race car! I felt like I got in the driver seat on page one and sped at 200 mph all through the book (and I mean that in a good way!). This story was non-stop excitement.

I know I am always saying "This book should be turned into a movie" but... THIS book should seriously be turned into a movie, or a series even - I would watch it. I kept picturing Katherine Heigl (as in One for the Money) as the main character.

The character development is excellent! These two girls Stephanie and her friend Lee are awesome. I definitely want them on my side if I ever get into trouble (or if I ever want to get back at my ex). Stephanie is just a powerhouse, wonder-woman, take-no-crap, my kind of woman! I even like the "thug" she had helping her. What a riot everyone was!

Here's a few lines -

"Do you have decaf?"

Do I have decaf? I was in recovery: I "did" coffee. It was the only drug I had left. I had decaf, regular, half-caf, regular with cinnamon, decaf with vanilla, and mocha flavored. ~ Ha! my kind of gal!

"God, I thought, I should have read Divorce for Dummies. Or, more like Marriage for Dummies. If there wasn't one, maybe I could write it. I felt like the most inept woman who'd ever aimlessly wondered the earth."

"Tell me there are men out there in their forties who know what they want and aren't afraid to get it."

Lee moaned, sounding in pain again "I'm not so sure about that From what I've seen, by forty they're either bitter, emotionally dead, or twitchy. They practically have a grad mal seizure if something significant happens. That's why I was thinking of a younger man."

Now I whimpered "I just had one  of those, remember? He was the worst yet."

"Oh, we're doomed..."

This story is hilarious! I would consider this book to be Chick-Lit/Woman's fiction. This story is literally dripping with snark and sarcasm, my kind of book. I really hope the author writes more. I will be waiting in line to buy her next book!

Thank you "The Candace Group" for sending me this awesome book to read and review!

Get your copy from Amazon - HERE

GIVEAWAY -

I am giving away my copy of this book!
* To enter to win - fill out the form below.
* Please only enter once -  (I go through and delete double entries).
* Leave a comment for an extra entry.
* Winner will be chosen on 4/30/2014.
* Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond.