3 out of 4 stars
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Sometimes it doesn't matter how adequate of a parent you are or how protective you are of your children, horrible things can still happen to them. Unfortunately, this world is full of wolves in sheep's clothing. That is exactly what Kathryn Ferris learns in the non-fiction book Not One More by Carrie Andrews. Kathryn is a working single mother of three (Danny, Kristi, and Patti) that loves her children profoundly and would do anything to protect them. However, that all changes when she decides to date her long-time best friend, Wayne. He seems like the perfect man in numerous ways and Kathryn believes he is a gift from God. Wayne not only loves her deeply, but he is a phenomenal father-figure to her children. Also, Danny, Kristi, and Patti harmonize easily with Wayne's children since they are about the same age. After six years, the family falls apart dramatically. Kathryn must decide how to protect Danny while making sure justice is served. How far would you go to protect your child? Are some actions completely unforgivable?
Carrie Andrews uses the first portion of her book to develop the characters. She does a fantastic job at showing the raw emotion of each character. I loved reading about her history with Wayne because it undoubtedly makes the climax of the story even more emotional and traumatizing. One memory I enjoyed was when Kathryn and Wayne embark on an annual kayaking trip in Michigan with Kathryn's friends. During the trip, the author emphasizes the trust, love, and care they possess for each other. Their relationship thrives and so does the relationship between Wayne and Danny. Equally important, the book is professionally written and did not contain any errors.
On the other hand, I felt like the book slowly progressed following the climax of the story. Also, I felt like some of the conversations should have been excluded from the book such as the conversation between Kathryn and her ex-mother-in-law. It did not pertain to the book and did not affect the outcome. Furthermore, the letter Kathryn wrote to her ex-husband and ex-mother-in-law were not important either.
I give Not One More by Carrie Andrews a 3 out of 4. I would have happily given the book a four out of four if the book had progressed more smoothly. However, the book deserves at least a rating of three, since I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Furthermore, the author did a fantastic job of developing the characters. Since I am also a mother of three children, I had a connection with Kathryn and could certainly feel her emotion.
I do not believe this book was written for a specific audience. On the other hand, I would not recommend it to a young reader due to the sexual circumstances. Also, I believe a parent would appreciate this book more than someone who is not a mother or father. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of eighteen.
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Not One More
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