The Devil’s Playground by Eliza Freed
(The Faraway Series, #1)
Publication date: November 10th 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary,
Former U.S. Attorney, Meredith Walsh, took some time off to raise her children. But the time took away everything she once trusted about herself. She’s lost within the mundane confines of her children’s schedules of lacrosse, soccer, Cub Scouts, and math facts. Desperate for a sliver of her former passion, and isolated in the small town her corporate husband relocated her to, she counsels herself on risking her family for the rush of a fling.
But Vincent Pratt, the local chief of police, weakens Meredith’s abhorrence of affairs and her dedication to her family. With him, she finds a new version of herself, one capable of contributing in her new world, and thriving in her lonely home. In spite of the fact, she’s not the kind of woman who has an affair.
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REVIEW
This book was very different from what I was expecting, and it did not disappoint one bit. It was a breathtaking but somewhat shocking look into the lives of two individuals who find everything they are looking for in each other, the only problem being that they've already made lives with other people. I don't condone cheating, but I could also see how Meredith and Vince gravitated toward each other. Sometimes, people come into our lives at the most unexpected moments, in this case, these two amazing people found each other too late, but at the perfect time.
Vince seemed to uplift Meredith, making her feel more than she had in a very long time. I loved her inner battle over right and wrong. There was a constant turmoil; a fight over her emotions, and it reeled me in, making me want to know everything about her. She was stuck in an emotional rut and Vince pulled her from it, and no matter what anyone says, I believe it had nothing to do with her being a bored housewife. In fact, even though she complained from time to time, her job as a mother kept her busier than her own husband could even comprehend, and the fact that she always thought of how her actions would affect her children only made me like her all the more.
Some may call her selfish, but after everything she had to endure over the years, she deserved a bit of freedom. Her relationship with Vince was the ultimate taboo, but that's what made this story all the more exciting. Would they be discovered? By whom? What would happen if they were discovered? And then there were the times they were forced to interact with each other outside of their little love bubble...or should that be cabin??...with the secret hanging heavily over them, I feared Meredith would crumble at these times, but again she showed her strength and resilience.
Vince was sweet and so amazing in every way. Even though he was cheating on his wife, again, I kinda couldn't fault him for that. I know so many people who settle because it's the easier thing to do, because it's comfortable, and that's exactly what he was doing - until Meredith. I applauded him for wanting to do things the right way in the end, and I was hoping he'd help Meredith see that maybe, just maybe, there could be more for them in the future.
Apart from Meredith and Vince's affair, I loved meeting the other characters whom she spent her time with...Liv was, well, awesome, of course...and even the other not so favorable characters added a little something to this story, giving it an authenticity that seems to be very rare in many books these days.
The final moments of this story shattered my heart and left me gasping for breath. I need to know what happens next. Will Meredith and Vince finally find a way to be together without shattering the lives of those they hold dearest, or will Brad be their downfall?
Vince seemed to uplift Meredith, making her feel more than she had in a very long time. I loved her inner battle over right and wrong. There was a constant turmoil; a fight over her emotions, and it reeled me in, making me want to know everything about her. She was stuck in an emotional rut and Vince pulled her from it, and no matter what anyone says, I believe it had nothing to do with her being a bored housewife. In fact, even though she complained from time to time, her job as a mother kept her busier than her own husband could even comprehend, and the fact that she always thought of how her actions would affect her children only made me like her all the more.
Some may call her selfish, but after everything she had to endure over the years, she deserved a bit of freedom. Her relationship with Vince was the ultimate taboo, but that's what made this story all the more exciting. Would they be discovered? By whom? What would happen if they were discovered? And then there were the times they were forced to interact with each other outside of their little love bubble...or should that be cabin??...with the secret hanging heavily over them, I feared Meredith would crumble at these times, but again she showed her strength and resilience.
Vince was sweet and so amazing in every way. Even though he was cheating on his wife, again, I kinda couldn't fault him for that. I know so many people who settle because it's the easier thing to do, because it's comfortable, and that's exactly what he was doing - until Meredith. I applauded him for wanting to do things the right way in the end, and I was hoping he'd help Meredith see that maybe, just maybe, there could be more for them in the future.
Apart from Meredith and Vince's affair, I loved meeting the other characters whom she spent her time with...Liv was, well, awesome, of course...and even the other not so favorable characters added a little something to this story, giving it an authenticity that seems to be very rare in many books these days.
The final moments of this story shattered my heart and left me gasping for breath. I need to know what happens next. Will Meredith and Vince finally find a way to be together without shattering the lives of those they hold dearest, or will Brad be their downfall?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eliza Freed graduated from Rutgers University and returned to her hometown in rural South Jersey. Her mother encouraged her to take some time and find herself. After three months of searching, she began to bounce checks and her neighbors began to talk; her mother told her to find a job.She settled into Corporate America, learning systems and practices and the bureaucracy that slows them. Eliza quickly discovered her creativity and gift for story telling as a corporate trainer and spent years perfecting her presentation skills and studying diversity. It’s during this time she became an avid observer of the characters we meet and the heartaches we endure. Her years of study have taught her laughter is the key to survival, even when it’s completely inappropriate.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her family and a misbehaving beagle named Odin. An avid swimmer, if Eliza is not with her family and friends, she’d rather be underwater. While she enjoys many genres, she has always been a sucker for a love story…the more screwed up the better.
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Giveaway
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
- 2 Signed Copies of THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND
- 5 eBooks of THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND (nook or kindle)
Great review, Roxy! This sounds liek a very well written read and even with the touchy subject, it sounds like you get to understand what they've been through and why they chose this route, you know. Glad you liked it! :)
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