The Ninth Step (2011) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“I reviewed this book for Netgalley. I gave this book a 4 star rating only because of the ending. I wanted something more.

Now onto my review:
The ninth step in the AA's 12 step program is: Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

That is the tricky part. How do you know when it will help and when it will be picking the scab off of a barely healed wound?

Cotton wants to make amends on his own terms. Sometimes that is the best way, sometimes it's not. If he only does it on his own terms not what is best for everyone involved is he really making amends?

This book to me seems so very possible. It was a story that you could see happen in real life. Alcohol is a very dangerous drug. When you mess up your life completely from alcohol you don't always just mess up your own life. There is a very real possibility that you will mess up another persons life. Of course you don't mean to but its a domino effect.

Another lesson that was learned is that love is not always enough. You can't fix something or someone simply by still loving that person.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Can a person make amends and ask forgiveness for the secrets, lies and bad choices made in their life, even if the ramifications deeply affected others? Can forgiveness and love still be found within peoples' hearts, when the one that has caused so much pain comes back to make amends? What if you have your own secrets, lies and had made bad choices, can you make amends and forgive yourself? These are the questions and dilemmas that face Livie Saunders and Cotton O'Dell in The Ninth Step.

Livie Saunders was jilted at the altar six years ago by her fiance, Cotton O'Dell. Cotton's sudden disappearance leaves Livie wondering what she did wrong to cause him to just up and leave her on their wedding day. Six years pass and Livie has gotten on with her life, she owns a successful landscaping business, and has a beautiful house in the country ... but there is still something missing in her life ... her lost love for Cotton and the deep held secrets that haunt her very being. Cotton has his own demons, for six years he has been existing in a hell of his own, until he decides that he needs to go home and make amends for the crime he committed, and ask for forgiveness from those he hurt so deeply, especially Livie. Can Livie and Cotton release the secrets and demons that haunt their lives, can they make amends and seek forgiveness from others, but most importantly from themselves? Can they attain redemption, or is it too little too late?

The Ninth Step is a hauntingly beautiful story of love, loss, heartache, secrets, forgiveness and redemption. The storyline is well-written, realistic and intriguing, it pulls the reader in from the beginning, and takes them on a roller coaster ride of emotions as they follow Livie and Cotton's emotional journey. The characters are realistic, their personalities and interactions gave the story so much depth and made it very compelling. The author weaves a gripping story that contains the themes of inner demons, secrets, alcoholism, love lost, choices made and paying the price, making amends, seeking forgiveness and redemption. This is a story that will leave the reader pondering what they would do if they were in Livie and Cotton's shoes. The Ninth Step is an unforgettable and compelling story that will grab a hold of the reader and will keep them riveted to the very end.

Disclaimer: At the request of the author, a Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.


Virtual Book Tour Event: On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, Barbara Taylor Sissel participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/author-guest-post-barbara-taylor-sissel.html

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/ninth-step-by-barbara-taylor-sissel.html

”