Book Summary
For all her adult life, Roxy suppressed the impact of two traumatic events—being abandoned by her mother at the age of twelve and being raped by her boyfriend, Spider, at eighteen. She never told anyone but her best friend about the rape. Though happily married to Carl, they both long to be out from under the thumb of Carl’s domineering father, for whom they both work. And she’s convinced that her first play—being staged at the community theater with her movie-star friend from high school in the lead role—is the ticket to that better life.
But now Spider is back, a successful land developer with a proposal to revitalize the town and solve the theater’s financial woes. When he takes an interest in Jewel, Roxy’s eldest daughter whose paternity she’s not entirely sure of, and engineers a big win for Carl in a private poker game, Roxy knows he’s up to his old tricks. She’s determined to expose him before he can harm her family or her beloved theater.
Karen E. Osborne traces the treacherous path between good intentions and poor decisions rooted in the shame of toxic secrets.
Editorial Review
by Michael Beas
5 Star Review
In her remarkable novel, "Reckonings," Karen E. Osborne presents readers with a gripping and superbly written tale that delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, personal struggles, and the resilience of the human spirit. Set against a backdrop of traumatic memories and present-day hardships, this fast-paced, tightly knit family drama introduces a courageous female protagonist who confronts life's challenges head-on.
At the heart of the story is Roxy, a woman who has spent her adult life suppressing the impact of two deeply traumatic events. Abandoned by her mother at the tender age of twelve and later subjected to a horrific act of violence when she was just eighteen, Roxy has carried the weight of these experiences in silence. Only her best friend was privy to her painful secret.
Married to Carl, Roxy yearns for independence from the suffocating clutch of Carl's domineering father, under whose influence both she and her husband work. Roxy believes that her first play, featuring a childhood friend turned movie-star in the lead role and staged at the community theater, will be the catalyst for a brighter future.
However, Roxy's past comes crashing back into her life when Spider, her former boyfriend and perpetrator of her assault, resurfaces as a successful land developer. Seizing the opportunity to revitalize the town and resolve the theater's financial woes, Spider takes an unsettling interest in Jewel, Roxy's eldest daughter, whose paternity remains uncertain. As he engineers a significant win for Carl in a private poker game, Roxy recognizes Spider's manipulative tactics. She becomes determined to expose his true intentions before he can harm her family or the cherished theater that holds a special place in her heart.
Through skillful storytelling, Karen E. Osborne navigates the treacherous path between good intentions and poor decisions born from the shame of toxic secrets. Roxy's journey becomes an emotional roller coaster, compelling readers to confront the complexities of trauma, the power of resilience, and the pursuit of redemption. Osborne's well-developed characters and the unexpected plot twists and turns ensure that "Reckonings" is a story that will resonate long after the final page is turned.
In praise of the novel, Helen Trepelkov, author of "Post Graduate Studies in Motherhood," describes it as a vibrant and superbly written tale that captures the essence of a fast-paced, tightly knit family drama. Gail Olmstead, author of "Landscape of a Marriage," commends the book's fast pace, well-developed characters, and its ability to leave an indelible mark on readers' hearts.
"Reckonings" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores the profound impact of our past on our present, while illuminating the unwavering strength of the human spirit. Karen E. Osborne has crafted an extraordinary narrative that reminds us of the importance of confronting our demons and finding the courage to rebuild our lives on our own terms.
Purchase Your Copy of Reckonings TODAY!
Click HERE
About Author Karen E. Osborne
I’ve been writing since the age of twelve and making up stories for as long as I can remember.
As a kid in the Bronx, I kept my friends enthralled with fake adventures I pretended to have experienced. In middle school (junior high back then), I submitted book reports on fiction I created in my head. Gave them titles and authors. Never got caught. Under my photo in my high school yearbook next to “Ambition” it read “Writer.”
Marriage, children, and a wonderful career, first as an academic administrator and then co-owner of The Osborne Group consulting and training firm, sidelined serious writing. Until one day Kara, my protagonist in my first novel, began speaking to me.
I wrote the first draft of Getting It Right (Akashic Books) on airplanes, in the Delta Sky Club, and in hotel rooms around the world.
Next came Tangled Lies (Black Rose Writing), 2021. Reckonings (BRW) released June 16, 2022, and True Grace, my first historical novel, drops September 7, 2023. Thank you, new and returning readers.
Native New Yorkers, Bob and I have two grown children and three grandsons. We now live in Port Saint Lucie, FL.
For More Information on Karen Visit https://www.kareneosborne.com
Comments