Tre's Review: Drew in Blue

Title:  Drew in Blue

Author:  J.M. Kelley

Series:  No

Published by:  Lady Day Publishing

First Printing:  2011

Digital ISBN: 9781612580098
Print ISBN: 1612580092

Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble   OmniLit

Concept: 

Drew Doyle’s done a lot of stupid things in his life, but the biggest mistake by far was not paying attention to that 2% failure rate listed on the back of the condom box.

Drew In Blue is the story of a thirty-seven year old loner unexpectedly saddled with the task of raising a baby while trying to sort out his mess of a life. Problem is, he just keeps making things worse for himself. It’s a running theme in Drew’s life, considering he never does anything the easy way. The River’s View, Pennsylvania gossip mill is watching each misstep as Drew juggles a price-gouging babysitter, a major case of artist’s block, and a best friend with an opinion to share on every bungled choice he makes.

Drew’s love life isn’t faring much better. Despite a long history of relationships that never really get off the ground, he falls head over heels for someone new, hoping that she might be the one to end his romantic bad luck streak. After a few abysmally bad false starts, things finally start looking up for Drew. That is, until he finds out (the hard way, naturally) that this new love interest isn’t the one for him after all. Turns out, it’s actually lifelong pal, and high school girlfriend, Kristina Moser.

Drew’s feelings for Kris intensify as he witnesses her growing bond with his son, and he finally realizes where he belongs. Now all he has to do is convince Kris he’s right… and she’s just not buying it.

About the Author:

J.M. Kelley, born and raised in Pennsylvania, is a writer of love stories, a painter, a painfully bad knitter, and a photographer – if the pursuit is artistic, chances are she’s dabbled in it.

J.M. Kelley is quite the joiner. She's a member of the Romance Writers of America (PRO), The International Women's Writing Guild, Pennwriters, and the South Carolina Writers Workshop.

Her short story, Killing Me Softly, earned a first place finish in the In Other Words Competition at the 2010 Pennwriters Conference, and her non-fiction piece, Anniversary, won a second-place prize in the Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Awards at the 2010 South Carolina Writers Workshop Conference.

Review: 

IF you are looking for a thrill a minute, crash bang shoot them up of a story, you're looking in the wrong place. However, IF you are looking a story that is achingly real, then this is the book for you.  Drew in Blue is like taking a walk along the beach on a cool spring day. Although it may start off as a slow read and tempt you to put it down, I say do what I did, keep reading. You'll start enjoying the figurative cool breeze of the words painting the portrait of Drew's days. Slowly and surely ((and quite sneakily I might add,)) you end up pulled thorougly into the life of Drew Doyle.  He begins to worm his way straight into your heart, along with his son Nick as they travel the not so smooth path of life.  Life is all about what you make it and it includes the rocky screw it all up kind of moments. Through it all though, you grow stronger and you end up learning just how wonderful a formerly bad situation is really a miracle in disguise.

Is there romance in this story? You betcha, and I don't just mean the dating perils, or erotic moments of the adults. The BEST romance in this book is all about a man, who grew up never knowing what family is, finding out what loving a kid is all about.

Read it. You'll enjoy it. I did.

Rating:
J.M. Kelley, These feathers are for you :)

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