When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned!
Two tales, parallel stories separated by centuries are both taking place in New York State. Mercy Howard lived during the Revolutionary times of the 1700’s. She witnessed the loss of goods, homes and happiness when the British soldiers force themselves into all their lives. The opportunity comes for her to become a spy for George Washington, but morally, she does not believe it is right. Additionally, it is extremely dangerous, torture and hanging await those who are caught. Then, a British soldier they had been forced to board in their home, attacks Mercy’s sister. Will this be the final straw for Mercy to become a spy? If she does decide to do that, will she escape capture?
The Abbott family lives in today’s world and is faced with immense hardships due to the choices their two teenagers have made. The reader is brought into the lives of the mother and daughter as they deal with the fallout. The author enables one to feel the nightmare the Abbott’s find themselves living through.
Mercy’s story really brings to life what our Founding Fathers, along with the colonists, went through to get the freedom we enjoy today. The Abbott’s story is tragic and hard to read. It covers the emotional control a boy exerts over his girlfriend, extremely repulsive bullying that another is subjected to, as well as, rape and blackmail. Despite those volatile topics, Ms. Chiavaroli keeps the story clean, it doesn’t have explicit scenes or language. But the topic is distressing and would only be appropriate for older teens and adults. This story would have been more satisfying if it had an epilogue that tells how the Abbott’s are coping in future years. I applaud the author for writing from this 3-star story from a Christian point-of-view.
Tyndale House Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of The Hidden Side, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The Author’s Website: http://www.heidichiavaroli.com/
The Author’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeidiChiavaroli.Author/
The Author’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiChiavaroli
The Author’s Q&A: http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/The%20Hidden%20Side_AuthorQA.pdf
