Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes

I realize I've been quite MIA for a while now - things got a bit crazy with my sister's wedding last month and I was fairly consumed with all the preparations, travel and all that goes along with it. But I'm back now and ready to pick up where I left off and hopefully able to somewhat achieve my goal of reading 35 books this year!!

Even though I am a massive fan of The Memory Child by Ms. Holmes, I do admit I struggled to get through Stillwater Rising.  I don't know if it's because I had difficulty relating to the subject at hand or what - but I just wasn't all that connected to the characters.  Even still, I thought it was a hugely interesting story and really appreciated the perspective surrounding the shooter's mother.  We hear about these horrible school shootings and tragedies and always sympathize with the victim's families and their losses, but we don't often think about how hard it must be for the shooter's family to deal with the guilt or weight of responsibility that they must feel at being the perpetrator's parent or loved one.  \

This is the first book in the Stillwater Bay series, but I'm not sure if I'm all that interested in continuing on with the following books.  This one was already quite predictable and I'm pretty satisfied with how it all ended. 

There are 2 covers for this book that was printed - the picture above and then this one below.  I seriously can't decide which one I like better, they're just both so beautiful!

NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing (um crazy, back from my hometown Seattle!) graciously allowed me the opportunity to read Stillwater  Rising by Steena Holmes, for which I am still insanely grateful for!  You can pre-order a Kindle copy from Amazon for $5 right now by clicking here!  Stillwater Rising releases on Nov. 11th.

Description: After losing her son in an elementary school shooting that devastates the tight-knit community of Stillwater Bay, Jennifer Crowne finds herself unable to settle back into her role of perfect stay-at-home mom and committee organizer. Meanwhile, her best friend, Mayor Charlotte Stone, struggles to keep the town together, and Charlotte s husband, the school principal, may not be the hero everyone thinks him to be.

As they try to heal from this irrevocable trauma, Jenn and Charlotte find themselves at a crossroads within the town and within their friendship. For Jenn, broken and grieving, there is no going back, and she demands that the school be closed so that she can bury the past. Yet Charlotte is equally desperate to hold the town together, fighting the school closure and helping the shooter s mother regain her place in the community. Jenn and Charlotte s relationship is put to the ultimate test as each weighs her own interests against the bonds of their friendship."

Rating: ***

Recommend:  I still think this is a great read and I for sure recommend!