Things Lost in the Fire by Katie Jennings – a Review
Description:
Sadie McRae grew up in the Hollywood Hills, the only daughter of two rock ‘n’ roll legends. When a violent assault on her life ends in a torrid scandal, fifteen-year-old Sadie escapes to the quiet forests of Lake Tahoe.
Unable to resist the music in her blood, she returns to Los Angeles years later and sings under an alias. When her secret is unintentionally exposed by an old friend, journalist-turned-paparazzi Brody Odell, he’ll do anything to make it up to her, including uncovering the truth about the attack from eleven years earlier.
Stardom beckons and the chance at love is within her grasp, but the horrors of her past threaten to tear everything apart. As Sadie fights for the life she deserves, a dangerous stalker begins his game, determined to bring it all to an end.
Review:
Things Lost in Fire by Katie Jennings is a beautiful story of a young lady trying to grow up in the wild life of rock n roll, with both of her parents legends. However, at 15 years old, a terrible tragedy forced young Sadie McRae to leave her only home and spend the rest of her growing up years with her grandparents.
The story begins at the time young Sadie is living with her mother, and during a wild party, the unthinkable happens and someone is murdered. To protect Sadie, she is sent away, and now in the present, 11 years later, she goes home to help her mother, who has been diagnosed with Cancer.
Sadie, when living with her grandparents, began to play music, which was in her blood. She did not want anyone to know who she was, so she used an alias and sang songs on You Tube, becoming very popular. Was this enough to satisfy her?
When she arrives in Los Angeles, her friend convinces her to sing at a local club under disguise using the alias to favorable results. But an old friend from her teenage days recognizes her. We meet Brody O’Dell, who used to be a top photo journalist, until he made a major mistake that cost him his career. Now Brody is a “paparazzi”, which is not really good for Sadie, who doesn’t want to be recognized. Brody and Sadie rekindle their friendship, even though she is afraid he will reveal her identity to make money.
What follows is multi-faceted story of Sadie trying to remember the truth about the unsolved murder years ago, and with Brody’s help, they investigate the past. Sadie must also deal with a mother, who despite her illness, will use her daughter to get herself back in the limelight. Sadie will also reconcile with her father, and their band, even performing on a one night stand, when everyone discovers who she really is. With all this going on, Sadie finds herself in danger from a stalker. Is this stalker someone from the past? You will have to read this book to find out what happens on all these things.
Katie Jennings has written a wonderful story that flows so nicely. We became invested in Sadie right at the start at the time of the tragedy, and when she came back to renew friendships, rekindle with family, start her career and fight a dangerous enemy. But most of all, we loved the chemistry between Sadie and Brody, which slowly built up, as they helped each other overcome their own fears. Things Lost in Fire is a wonderful story, with great characters.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Author
