4.25 Stars Source: Target
Brief Synopsis: Duchess is a 13-year-old girl forced to grow up way too fast. As her mother continues to choose alcohol over her family and make other terrible decisions, Duchess and her little brother are forced to flee their small town. Throw in an old murder mystery, shady characters, and a cop with a heart of gold, and you have yourself one heck of a tale.
Thoughts: Although a good part of the story takes place in coastal California town, this novel felt like a western to me. Duchess is a fierce, firecracker of a young girl, hell-bent on protecting her little brother and taking out anyone who gets in her way. The lonesome sheriff (well, police chief but you get the idea) will do whatever he can to keep the kids safe, even as his own health is failing him. It's not always an easy story, it definitely has it's dark moments, but overall there is a feeling of hope, and a very strong undercurrent of love. I brought this book with me on a recent vacation and ended up reading the whole thing in one day (mainly because our car broke down and we were stuck at the hotel)--it's a fantastic story.
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