ABOUT THE BOOK
Blessing Savage barely remembers who she was before the unexpected death of her father, Pastor Savage. These days she clings desperately to the party girl persona she’s created for her second year of college, living with a new group of friends, joining their sorority, and partying non-stop. There’s only one thing that can kill her perpetual buzz, and his name is Camden Holbrook, the boy she’s pined for for nearly a decade.
Camden credits Blessing’s father for saving him when he was a child, giving him a place to stay when his mother abandoned him and setting him back on the right track. So when Pastor Savage asked a promise of Camden before dying – to look out for Blessing – he made a vow and meant it. Protecting Blessing has always come easily. Loving her has not. Not for someone who’s learned time and time again that love and loss are intricately interwoven.
After years of Camden keeping her at arm’s length, the last thing Blessing wants is him barging into her life. But new Blessing refuses to let Cam play knight-in-shining-armor, not when she knows – from one starry summer’s night slip-up – how he really feels about her. This time around, Blessing’s intent on pushing Camden’s limits, and she’s got some sexy new tricks up her sleeve to take him past them. Then maybe he’ll admit the truth of his feelings. Maybe the person who’s always known her best can help her find a way back to herself. Maybe she can prove to Camden that love doesn’t always destroy a person. Sometimes, it’s the only thing that can start putting them back together.
MY REVIEW
I adore this story. Ms. Campbell creates a beautiful coming-of-age tale that explores the heartbreak of unrequited love and the journey of finding oneself after tragedy.
The story is told from Camden and Blessing’s views and in the past and present which is a tough writing style to pull off, but the author does it well.
Camden Holbrook is a pivotal character with his tragic life growing up with a drug-addicted mother, searching for food, searching for normal, and searching for love. Despite these hardships, he is a good person and has a great sense of responsibility for Blessing’s family. Her father, Pastor Savage, was the only father figure he ever had and his promise to keep Blessing safe is tearing him apart. In his experience, love and loss go hand-in-hand so he can’t give in to his feelings for Blessing.
Blessing Savage is perfectly flawed. She feels and loves strongly. After that tragic call from Camden that shattered her world, she has been adrift without an anchor. The more she reaches for Camden’s support, the more he backs away. So the preacher’s daughter recklessly rebels by joining a sorority by drinking and partying to excess. Her anger at Camden’s constant vigil of judging her and interfering with her life only confuses her until the unforgivable happens and she sends him away.
Observing the two characters meet as children in Blessing’s father’s church eating elephant animal crackers and then seeing them fall apart as young adults after a tragic loss is so heartrending. Their struggles are genuine and believable and their self-discovery is painful, but it is worth waiting to see Camden and Blessing grow and become the incredible adults they are meant to be.
A Blessing and a Curse is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt the pain of loss. The story is filled with raw emotion and authentic characters that leave a lasting impression on this reader.
Thank you to Ms. Campbell for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
- $10 Starbucks gift card & a pencil set from Long Hand Pencils
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Campbell has traditionally published several stories for teens over the years under a different pen name. Anna Campbell stories are mature YA/NA angsty stories about beatiful broken people who love hard and still believe in happy endings.
Follow Anna on Instagram and Goodreads.
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