{Review} Raising Wild Ginger by Tara Woolpy

ISBN #: 978-0983203322

Page Count: 217

Copyright: June 11, 2012

Publisher: Bats in the Boathouse Press

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Parenting is hard.

That's what Edward Rosenberg has always assumed, although his only experience with children has been as the drunken uncle. Now the love of his life, Sam DaCosta, is yearning for fatherhood. Edward's been sober for years. He and Sam are in a good place. Why rock the boat? On the other hand, how can he deny Sam his dream of a family?

Then they met Ginger. At twelve she's been through more than either Edward or Sam can imagine. She's seductive, secretive and dishonest. But somewhere between stealing his cash and alienating Sam, Ginger manages to wind herself into Edward's heart.

Can the three of them create a family? Or will Ginger blow them all apart?

Mandy's Review:

This is the second book in the Lacland Stories series. The first, Releasing Gillian's Wolves, was reviewed by me on August 1, 2011. You can click here to read that review.

Quick quirky mention: Did you notice that the first and second books have the same initials, just in a different order? RGW and RWG. Sorry, I notice things like this.

Back to the review ...

My heart breaks for Ginger. This girl has been through a tremendous amount of physical, and ultimately emotional, abuse. She wants so bad to be a normal girl, but her "daddy" has ruined that for her ... or has he?

Edward and Sam, who were introduced in Releasing Gillian's Wolves, are happily cohabitating. Sam has some delusions about how his life was growing up and wants to have a family of his own. Edward is hesitant, but agrees when his AA/NA sponsor tells him about Ginger. How hard could a 12-year-old be? Surely, it wouldn't be as difficult as having a newborn.

Having Ginger in their home has Edward and Sam at each other's throats. The change has taken more of an effect than they thought it would. They struggle to remember that Ginger had been abused and acting out is part of her learned behavior.

Can they all adjust to the changes and live happily ever after or will Edward and Sam decide that being adoptive parents is too much of a strain?

Emotional and touching, Raising Wild Ginger needs to be added to all fiction-lovers' bookshelves. Even though it's the second book in a series, this book can be read and understood on its own merits.


*A paperback copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.