Exceeding Expectations by Lisa April Smith
* I received this book from the author. No promise of a review was given. No compensation was received.*
From the author:
It’s 1961 and Palm Beach socialite, irresistible rascal and devoted father Jack Morgan encounters genuine danger while staging his suicide to shield his beloved daughters from disgrace. Next, meet his daughter Charlotte (Charlie), an over-indulged 23 year-old struggling to cope with the traumatizing loss of her beloved father, her sister’s resulting mental breakdown and the discovery that she’s now penniless. Fortunately Raul, an admiring young attorney, appears to offer assistance. As terrified as she is about daily survival, Charlie soon realizes that she has to learn what drove her father to kill himself. With Raul’s much needed ego-bolstering and new-found determination, Charlie discovers a practical use for her lanky 5’ 11” frame. This career will not only finance her sister’s costly treatment, but an ocean-spanning journey that leads to disturbing truths about her father, a family she doesn’t know, crimes great and small, a diabolical villain and a fireworks of surprise endings. My Opinion:
What if within a few weeks you lost your father to suicide, you lost your home, your sister, your way of life? What if you then discovered you were not who you are? Your sister does not have the same father as you? Your father was not the man you believed him to be? What if you didn't know what really happened to your mother? If these questions intrigue you, you will want to read this book.
I read and loved Lisa Smith's first novel, Dangerous Lies. Frankly, I was wondering if she would be able to maintain the level of writing in future books. When your first book is a 5 star read, it is hard to go up. Ms. Smith easily handled it. Lisa April Smith has proven herself to be a master story teller. She spins a web and you are happily content to be stuck on it. I was engrossed from the beginning of Exceeding Expectations. Ms Smith writes well thought out stories. I believe she researches and knows her subject matter. She brings to the shelf a book she can be proud of and one we can get lost in. Exceeding Expectations does exactly that. Ms Smith handled writing a story that goes from one location to another, one generation to another without dropping the ball. I am a person who looks at the cover for first indication as to my level of interest. I'm not fond of the cover, although I do understand's relevance. If you are also not fond of the cover, remember to not judge a book by it's cover, even if it fits. Which it does in the way that art is involved in this story, bad art by a man who hides his true identity from everyone. Perhaps even his self, as I imagine each time he is reinventing himself he is losing more of who he is. An intriguing thought. Perhaps one that will become more apparent in the sequel to this book, Paradise Misplaced. A sequel I am greatly anticipating.
If you haven't read it, Lisa also wrote:
A captivating book telling the story of a mob mistress. My review can be read here.
You can find Lisa on her website at http://www.lisaaprilsmith.com/
She is someone to follow on Twitter where she does answer you back. https://twitter.com/#!/LisaAprilSmith
Of course she is a Good Reads Author: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5118989.Lisa_April_Smith
Friend her on FaceBook http://facebook.com/LisaApril.smith
If you are looking for compelling well written books, Lisa Smith is your author! Every month she has a giveaway of one of her books on her website. Be sure to check that out. I am sure you will like her! I know she would be thrilled to hear from you.
Comments Always Welcome!
