This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle Diana Lowe will be awarding one physical book copy of Broken Roots to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (UK, Europe, US and Canada only). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
After Teisha's grandmother dies, her fractured family is replanted in rural England, where a kingpin and his clan are laying in wait. What follows is a dangerous game that brings their house to its knees, as the family's wealth begins to disappear.
When her father develops a mysterious illness, Teisha turns detective to unravel the truth. Escaping onto the streets and stumbling into the foster care system may be her only hope of survival.
This was an interesting concept. I love mysteries and this one sounded like a humdinger. It's hard enough being a teenager, but the life Teisha describes is devastating to watch. For a family who at one time appears to have been close (this would have been before the start of the book), the sudden rise to riches from her father's invention only goes to show that money can't buy happiness. In this family, the parents couldn't handle it.
The book is written in first person present sense from the POV of the teenage protagonist. It's important to remember while reading the book that what we see is how Teisha perceives things. And, admittedly, some of it is confusing. But even viewed through that filter, what Teisha went through were enough to make a strong man cry, so it's no wonder that at times, Teisha acted lost and bewildered.
There are times when Teisha steps up to the plate and attempts to take charge of her own destiny and those parts are my favorite parts of the book. She has a strength she does not know she has, and I was rooting for her to overcome her circumstances.
There's a lot teenage angst multiplied by what she discovers about her family, and it was interesting to watch the secrets unfold.
I felt like I was there with Teisha through each step of her journey and, while at times I wanted to shake some sense into her, all in all, I'm glad I made the journey. 3.5 stars.
My heart is a black, lifeless box sitting inside me. I have no feelings, no emotions, no soul. It is the 15th of November; a cold Monday evening that rattles our bones. The time is 10 o’clock precisely. I am back with Mother after being forced to sleep at an emergency foster carer’s home for thirty nights. Social services deemed it safe for me to return home, for now. Seeing that Mum has been cleared of criminal charges following the cocoa-lacing allegations and hypnosis scandal, and Dad has been institutionalised, she is classed as fit to care for me again, at least in the short-term. Believe it or not, I wished social services had let me stay with the big brash foster lady for longer. They made the wrong call by returning me to Mother. I am not safe here, like they think I am. In fact, I am in grave danger. My life hangs precariously in the balance. Mum and I are under attack, in the middle of a bloodless war. We have been living this way for two days and two nights. Our freedom, liberty and right to speak have been forcibly removed. We live in silence. We live in fear. Travers has occupied the house with others. We are under house arrest, confined to the ground floor, forced to sleep, eat and live downstairs. What goes on upstairs is only Travers’ business. He and his men have swarmed the house like deadly bees, taking it over.
Being severely bullied at primary school and experiencing family problems aged nine, I dug deep, and found that, tapping into my passion for words and writing, really helped to repair my soul and aided the healing process. Barely ten years old and a voracious reader – reading Judy Blume novels such as – Deenie, Blubber, Tiger Eyes and Are You There God It's Me Margaret?, I decided to pen my very first novel, which was around 30,000 words in length. The deep satisfaction I had when finishing it, told me that I needed, not just wanted, to be a writer. I was born to be one. Inside me, I knew I had important messages to give the world, through the power of the written word. Making this dream of becoming a published author a reality, then became my long-term goal.
In my late teens and early 20s, I studied English Literature with Philosophy at Roehampton University. Whilst doing my Bachelor of Arts degree, I felt inspired by bestselling novelists, Toni Morrison and Zadie Smith. I absorbed and was mesmerised by, their stories and experiences. As my writing style developed, the positive influences of Toni and Zadie, helped infuse culture and society into my creative work.
After graduating from university with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with Philosophy, I started working as a Children's Centre Administrator in East London, where I support families by signposting and referring them to key services.
It was in January 2015 that my first career break came. I was signed by US Publisher UrbanEdge for my debut novel UnShatter Me. In April 2016 I submitted my second novel Broken Roots to Creativia Publishing and I was signed by this publisher.
Broken Roots is my most successful novel to date. Not only has it been nominated for a Summer Indie Book Award 2017 in the category of contemporary fiction, but it was also named one of the Best Indie Books of 2016 on Read Free.ly's list. On numerous occasions, Broken Roots has been on 4 Amazon bestseller lists across three different territories, the UK, US and Canada. Furthermore, the Italian translation edition of Broken Roots is now out on Amazon. The Spanish, French and Portuguese editions will be on sale soon.
As an author with urban foundations, I feel I have a commitment to bring more diversity into all my books and into the publishing industry. In my writing, I also have a desire to raise awareness of young mental health, teenagers in foster care and help make a difference in people's lives.
When I am not writing, I love to unwind and relax by watching period dramas and blockbuster movies. I also enjoy reading books in a variety of genres.
You can visit my website for further information about me and my books: http://www.michelledianalowe.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Michelledianalowe.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Michelle_D_Lowe
Buy the book at Amazon.
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