Release Day! Lookin' for Love by Susen Edwards ~ My Thoughts #LookingForLove

Happy Release Day!

Lookin' for Love by Susen Edwards

Fiction, 408 pages
Published October 22, 2024 by She Writes Press

Based on a compelling and sometimes tragic true story, this novel follows young mother Ava from the go-go bars of the 1970s to the heart of Florida’s drug trade to a Kenyan prison to, ultimately, a place of forgiveness, faith, and love through recovery.

Inspired by a gripping true story, Lookin’ for Love begins in 1963, when Ava, nineteen and pregnant, marries a violent alcoholic and is disowned by her abusive mother. She bears two sons, leaves her husband, and turns to go-go dancing to provide for her children, using alcohol and drugs to numb herself to the degrading work. Then she meets Mike, a charismatic drug dealer who promises to give her “a beautiful life.” They move to Florida and begin working for The Crew, one of the largest drug smuggling organizations in the country. The Crew sends Ava and Mike to Kenya to find farmers to grow marijuana—but while they’re there, their home is raided, they’re charged with international drug smuggling, and Ava is sentenced to serve time in a Kenyan prison.

After her release, Ava struggles with sobriety but soon returns to dancing, alcohol, and drugs. Eventually, she hits bottom and surrenders her will to God. Once sober, she learns the power of forgiveness, faith, and love.

My thoughts about Lookin' for Love ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"Kukaa, kukaa! Eighty-two women drop their work and sink to the ground. The Swahili word means 'sit' but in our world it means 'squat'."

I was sent this book by the publisher and I didn't know anything about it or the author. It sounded intriguing so I dove in. And then I was hooked. How on earth did this woman, Ava, find herself in this life that she was leading? 

There is so much sadness, intensity, and drama in her life and at times it was hard for me to read but if she could get through it, then so could I. What this woman went through was sometimes unbelievable. But Lookin' for Love is based on a true story so I had to keep remembering that someone's life really was like this. 

It truly is amazing that Ava was able to pull herself out of her tumultuous life and turn it around for the good. This was an amazing story of a woman's resilience through unspeakable odds. I was completely invested in the drama of her life. This was a very sobering and interesting read. Check it out!

I received an ARC of Lookin' for Love and this is my honest opinion of the book. 

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About the author

Susen Edwards is the founder and former director of Somerset School of Massage Therapy, New Jersey’s first state-approved and nationally accredited postsecondary school for massage therapy. During her tenure she was nominated by Merrill Lynch for Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. After the successful sale of the business, she became an administrator at her local community college. She is currently secretary for the board of trustees for her town library and a full-time writer. Her passions are yoga, cooking, reading, and, of course, writing. 

Susen is the author of Doctor Whisper and Nurse Willow, a children’s fantasy. What a Trip is her first adult novel. Susen lives in Middlesex, New Jersey with her husband, Bob, and her two fuzzy feline babies, Harold and Maude.

Connect with Susen

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? October 7, 2024 #IMWAYR

   

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Well, my trip to Tennessee is still on. I fly into Asheville, which is now possible at this point. The issue we will have is traffic leaving the city. Since most of the highways and bridges are still out, access in and out is limited. I am sure it will take us longer than it normally would, but I am so excited to see all my family!

Where my son lives is doing okay. They finally have water after a week. I am so proud of my son and his family for all of the volunteer work they have been involved with, helping those still in so much need. My DIL has such a compassionate heart and I know hers is breaking hearing the stories of what others are going through. Keep that area in your thoughts and prayers. 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Girl, Uncoded: A Memoir of Passion, Betrayal, and Eventual Blessings

by Brandi Dredge

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ October 22

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

audio-book from my shelves

Published June 2017

Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

e-book from my shelves/my slow read

First published July 30, 1860

What I recently finished

Lookin' for Love

by Susen Edwards

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ October 15

Echoes of Us

by Joy Jordan-Lake

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ October 8

Beneath the Carolina Sun

by Ashley Farley

(Sandy Island #2)

eARC from the author for review

Pub date ~ October 22

What I am going to read next

The Haunting of Maddy Clare

by Simone St. James

print from my TBR shelf for a challenge

Published March 2012

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? September 30, 2024 #IMWAYR

   

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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I hope everyone who's reading this and was affected by Hurricane Helene is safe. My son and his family live in eastern Tennessee where all the flooding happened. They personally are safe and at this point only have an issue with getting safe drinking water. I'm supposed to be going down to visit them in about two weeks, flying into Asheville, NC. Don't think that is going to happen now. I'll have to check to see what my options are. Stay safe everyone.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Beneath the Carolina Sun

by Ashley Farley

(Sandy Island #2)

eARC from the author for review

Pub date ~ October 22

Echoes of Us

by Joy Jordan-Lake

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ October 8

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

audio-book from my shelves

Published June 2017

Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

e-book from my shelves/my slow read

First published July 30, 1860

What I recently finished

Miss Moonchild Starbeam

(The Seaside Saga #22)

by Joanne DeMaio

e-book from author for review

Published September 17, 2024

Bring Me Back

by Paris, B.A.

audio-book from my shelves

Published March 2018

What I am going to read next

Lookin' for Love

by Susen Edwards

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ October 15

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!