Wednesday, August 20, 2014

TOUR STOP: Finding Keepers

ISBN: 069202249X
Pages: 305
Source: IFB Tours
Appearance:
22474371

Summary:
Starting a new life is never easy, but Alyssa Doe has turned it into an art form. Abandoned by her parents at age ten, six years in foster care has taught Alyssa how to get through life the hard way.
Now sixteen and growing desperate for a stable life, Alyssa finds herself puzzled by her newest keeper, twenty-five year old Jessica Sona. A feisty woman who won't accept no for an answer, Jessica’s insistence on safety, family, and unconditional love begin to break down Alyssa’s walls and bring her hope, a dangerous emotion.
Can such a thing as family and love exist for a girl whose birth name is Doe, or will Alyssa be forever left finding keepers?

Hey guys!! Welcome to my tour stop for the Finding Keepers book tour! As always, please check out the other tour stops by clicking the tour banner up above! :)

Alyssa Doe was abandoned as a child and has spent her life jumping for foster home to foster home. Now she's living with a woman named Jessica Sona who seems different from her other foster parents because Jessica is determined to give Alyssa a place to call home. Alyssa is used to being tossed away after her foster parents get tired of her and she's determined to not let anyone get too close. But in her new town, Alyssa might just have found a place to call home and people to call her family.

Finding Keepers deals with the topic of foster care and the trauma that can go along with it. While a lot of time we will read about the horrors of the foster care system, the doesn't seem to really raise our attention that much to the issue. Finding Keepers once again produces evidence of how those in foster care can feel, and in Alyssa's case, there is that overwhelming feeling of being unwanted. The story follows her as she grows more comfortable with Jessica and as she makes friends with the people around her, particularly Caleb and Brianna.

Caleb is classified as a "punk" but to be honest, I think it's only for show. He is one of sweetest, most kind-hearted people I've ever read about. He takes Alyssa under his wing from the very start and despite her constantly pushing him away, he's still there willing to show her that she belongs. Even with his own crap at home that he has to deal with, he puts her well-being above that in order to prove to her that they are not going to let her go.

Brianna is also pretty awesome. She's cheery on the outside with the perfect family and life, but on the inside she can't shake how down and sad she feels. I loved how Alyssa handled Brianna's depression and how as she went to raise Brianna's spirits, the girls got closer and closer. Brianna, like Caleb, refuses to leave Alyssa alone even when she lashes out and constantly reminds her that she is special and loved.

I have to mention Jessica because I absolutely love her. She's such a great person with a big heart and she truly loves Alyssa. I wish there could have been a bit more bonding time between her and Alyssa, but the moments we did have were really touching and beautiful. I hope that one day she's going to find a perfect person who is going to love her and Alyssa and they're going to be one big happy family.

Oh, I can't forget about Josh. I feel like we don't know much about him but I kind of love him anyway because he makes Alyssa happy and helps her forget the trauma of her past. As long as she's happy, he can stay in one piece.

Overall, this book was a really beautiful story about one girl's journey to discover where she belongs and finding a family who loves her. I fell in love with all the characters and do I even have say this? I definitely recommend it! :)

You are not a lost cause. You are a hawk who has had her wings clipped for so long that she had forgotten to fly. But when they fully heal and you are let out of the cage, you are going to soar, Alyssa, so high above everyone else that we will be just dots below, forever forgotten. ~Caleb

DREAM CAST
Alyssa: Emilie de Ravin
Brianna: Ashley Benson
Caleb: Dominic Sherwood
Jessica: Georgina Haig
Josh: Daren Kagasoff

GIVEAWAY
4 out of 5 stars

Foreverly Obsessed,

4 comments: