The Paper Swan

Wow! It has been ages since I've felt the urge to blog. There has been so much that has happened this year, and lately I really feel the want to get back into my book reviews. I'd like to do something a little in depth than my normal short reviews on Goodreads.com. I am starting with the most recent book that I read and hoping to work back a little bit. And forward. Here, there and everywhere....

My good book friend, Brandie over at https://bookjunkie54.wordpress.com suggested this book to me. She has never failed me when recommending a book. After all, she did introduce me to the great Colleen Hoover! I ordered this book right away after reading her review, but it sat on my counter for a good month. You see, I started a new job a few months ago, and the stress from it has greatly taken away my reading time. Which is why I have decided to get back into blogging. It will force me to read!

Moving on, I read this book pretty quickly as I couldn't put it down! 

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.
They lie.
For 21 days she held on.
But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.
Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

This book was beautifully written. It tells a story full of emotion. Lots of love, lots of anger, lots of bad things, and also a lot of good. This is Skye and Esteban's story. We meet Skye in the beginning, as she is a victim of a kidnapping and is forced to spend time on a boat in the middle of the waters with her kidnapper. Just the 2 of them. She has no idea why he's taken her or what his plan for her is. She is, however, filled with anger and disgust. 

Her kidnapper is a very dark man. He does the minimum to keep her alive: feeding her, clothing her, providing her with a bed to sleep in, a shower to clean in, and freedom to move about the boat. He is also filled with anger and disgust. 

This story weaves through time, taking us back to Skye's childhood, which was one of privileged and excess. She lives in her father's mansion and has everything her heart could ever desire. MamaLu takes care of her, and she looks to her as her mother. Esteban, Mamlu's son is Skye's protector and very best friend. He and Mamalu live a life that is the total opposite of Skye's. Though Mamalu takes care of Skye, she and Esteban live in the servant's quarters; hardly a life of privilege and excess. 

Circumstances come about and Esteban and Mamalu are taken from Skye's life, as she and her father are whisked to another location. Skye is left to wonder what has become of her mother figure and her best friend, and Esteban wonders why Skye left him. 

As the story moves on, we begin to see the beautiful friendship that these 2 had as kids, and how it has blossomed as they've grown up. 

When I started reading this book, I went into it thinking that the outcome would be completely different. From the first page to the last, there were so many twists that I didn't see coming. There were times that I felt utter disgust with both Skye and Esteban. There were moments I wanted to cheer them on. There was a lot of sadness. There was so much sadness at a couple points, that I could feel my heart break for almost every character in this book. I love the way the author painted this story. It was full of description, I could have been in the story because it was written so well.

I don't want to say too much more than this, because I don't want to give it away. This is a story that you must read. I am completely unfamiliar with this author and have to say, for my first read by her, it was really a great one!

This book is easily a 5 star read for me.