Skewered Halo: Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Skewered Halo
Author: Brenda Youngerman
Genre: General Fiction/Women's Fiction
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing



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Description:

Skewered Halo is like no other story you have ever read! Diane Montrose wakes up one morning to find out that her entire life has been based upon lies and treachery. Everything she thought she knows… she doesn’t!

It’s bad enough that as a young girl her older sister informed Diane that she was placed on her parents’ doorstep and that she was nothing better than garbage. But when, at the age of eighteen, she finally informed her parents of the story they denied the whole thing, yet still sided with the treacherous sister. To make matters worse her sister managed to dictate everything in Diane’s life even though she didn’t know it! 

Follow along as the lies, treachery and mystery surrounding Diane are uncovered….. or are they??

Review:

In her novel, Skewered Halo, author Brenda Youngerman allows the reader a look into the heart and soul of a woman whose past consistently haunts her. She has been told her entire life that she doesn't belong - that she is unloved; a piece of garbage. All this is being told to her by her older sister. Even after she has grown up and moved out of her parent's house, her emotional scars define her and she has to deal with several trying situations. 

Youngerman's characters, especially Diane, are written with empathy and understanding. The story is well written and has a nice even flow to it, which makes the book go quite fast. I am not a huge women's fiction fan, but I liked the bit of mystery that was woven into the story, as well as seeing how Diane would finally overcome her circumstances. It's a deep novel concerning family, lies, love, and loss and is a wonderful novel for lovers of women's fiction and general fiction alike.

 

Excerpt:

She slowly wound herself down the hall to the bedrooms. The first door on the right was her son’s room. Tyler had been an angel from the moment he was born. Nothing and no one could ever put out his light. Just watching his wonderment at life could crack even the hardest of shells. No one ever walked away from Tyler without a smile on their face.

When Kyle came along a year later, Tyler welcomed him with open arms, and the boys were inseparable. The room for one immediately became a room for two. Bath time became playtime. She crossed the hall to the tiny bathroom and could picture the two of them playing in the tub. Tears crept into her eyes, and she just let them fall.

She continued her journey to the next bedroom. The bed was made with a pink-ruffled spread, and there were animals waiting on the pillow. Those animals were going to have to wait for a very long time. Diane could see the tiny silhouette of her daughter drawing. “Look, Mommy, I made a pretty picture for you!” She had just smiled at her and said it was nice; she was too busy to take notice. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she went into the master bedroom and reminisced about the day they’d bought the house.

“I hate this bathroom, Gary,” she’d told him. “It’s ridiculous.”

“I know, hon, we’ll get it fixed right away,” he’d promised. That never happened.

Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, she said, “Gary Montrose! I hope you’re rotting in hell!”

About the Author:

Brenda Youngerman writes about stories that matter. A southern California native coming from a very large family where she never felt like she fit in. “I was the youngest member of a huge family and I never really felt like I belonged there.” 

Her first novel, Private Scars, was an expose of what happens to a victim of domestic abuse when they have never been exposed to it. From the moment the first review came out Youngerman realized her calling… that of the voice of the victims.. those who don’t have the strength to speak for themselves. Since Private Scars (2006), Youngerman has published a novel a year, each one exposing another social issue that those in power choose not to discuss. “If one person is helped by one of my novels, that is a good day.”

Skewered Halo takes a look at the filth behind sibling rivalry that goes unnoticed by inattentive parents. Brenda is currently at work at her eighth and ninth novel (simultaneously). 

Connect with Brenda:

Website

Blog

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*