Review: Leaving Haven by Kathleen McCleary

Leaving Haven by Kathleen McCleary

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Georgia Bing and Alice Kinnaird have always been there for each other. Eager to help her best friend have another baby after several miscarriages, Alice donates one of her eggs. When Georgia learns she's going to have the baby boy she's always wanted, she's thrilled—until a devastating discovery destroys her dreams.

While Alice is happy to help her friend get pregnant, she also feels a twinge of disappointment that her own life is missing something . . . something she desperately craves. On the surface, Alice has everything—a busy social life, a great job, a faithful husband, an amazing teenage daughter. But her well-ordered world is knocked off its axis when she's tempted by a forbidden passion that threatens the bonds of friendship, marriage, and motherhood that sustain her.

As the safety of their past is shattered, Georgia and Alice must embark on journeys of self-discovery—odysseys filled with surprising challenges that will test them and force them to confront the truth about their lives . . . and the choices they've made.

Kritters Thoughts:  Two women that are best friends and would do anything for each other end up twisted up in drama and controversy, but it is the way this story is told that was unique and special.  Georgia and Alice are both happily married, but Georgia has been trying to have a second child for years and years.  Alice will lend her friend an egg, so Georgia can have the one thing she has been yearning for for years.  

The way this story was told was fantastic.  The first part had Georgia and Alice each telling their stories in their own chapters, but one was going back in time and one started later and was going forward.  They eventually converged on a monumental date and the second part had them both moving forward from that date - it was awesome!  I wouldn't recommend reading this on an ereader because I had to go back a few times just to check my dates.  

There is quite a plot point that isn't in the synopsis (thank goodness) that takes this story to the next level.  All I can say is, I will now read anything that Kathleen McCleary comes out with, without reading the synopsis!

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The tour schedule:

Tuesday, October 1st: Sweet Southern Home

Wednesday, October 2nd: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Thursday, October 3rd: Kritters Ramblings

Monday, October 7th: Book-alicious Mama

Tuesday, October 8th: Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World

Wednesday, October 9th: BookNAround

Thursday, October 10th: Seaside Book Corner

Monday, October 14th: bookchickdi

Wednesday, October 16th:  A Novel Review

Tuesday, October 22nd: Reading Lark