{Review} THE FORGOTTEN ROSES by Deborah J. Doucette

ISBN #: 978-0991121106

Page Count: 250

Copyright: February 20, 2014

Publisher: Owl Canyon Press; 1st Edition

Book Description:

(Taken from back cover)

Rebecca Griffin has everything she could ever want - or so says her big-hearted, opinionated Italian-American family. But now her marriage is unraveling and her teenage daughter is hurtling toward self-destruction. While Rebecca struggles to hang onto her husband and save her daughter, she learns of the mysterious death of a young woman long ago at a local prison. As Rebecca's mother, Eva, reveals their family's connection to the girl, Rebecca is drawn into the story - it haunts her. A search for answers takes Rebecca from her small idyllic New England town, to the congested streets of East Boston and the tight-knit Italian neighborhood where most of her family still resides. As she tries to dig up the facts of the young girl's life and violent death, the puzzle pieces in Rebecca's life begin to take shape and she faces the difficult truth about her husband, Drew. Rebecca, her troubled daughter, Dana, and an enigmatic figure from the past, unknowingly embark on a collision course one desperate autumn night when the answers they seek come to light in the most forgotten of places from the most innocent of messengers.

Charlene's Review:

All Rebecca has ever truly wanted was a family. Her husband is distant and her oldest daughter is rebelling, and all Rebecca can do is try to hold on. Focusing on her real estate job, Rebecca stumbles upon a mystery involving a local family, a family member, and a local prison. As she digs deeper into the mysterious happenings, her own life spirals out of control, until one fateful night that changes everything.

There is a lot of story within these pages. Suicide, murder, familial connections, and dysfunctional relationships. I think what I appreciated the most was the way Ms. Doucette portrayed Rebecca and her family. I felt a real connection to the ebbing and flowing of the personal relationships within their home. You can feel the tender angst of a woman that is watching her family fall apart, and seemingly, having no way to stop it. You witness the impact on the youngest daughter, an innocent bystander to the family drama, and you watch as the mystery starts to unravel and Rebecca starts to find her own way out of her isolation.

My only disappointment was the ending. There is excitement and answers in the last chapters, but so much is still left unsaid. I would have loved to know more about certain aspects, but I’ll limit my commentary to avoid any spoilers. That said, the evolution of Rebecca was well worth the read, and I would heartily look forward to reading more from Ms. Doucette. She has a fluid writing style with descriptive abilities that make her pages shine.


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