Father Figure by James J. Cudney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First, full disclosure, I was given a reader-copy by the author. This in no way alters my review. Second, James Cudney’s novel “Father Figure” is far outside my normal reading genre. Regardless, I enjoyed the story, and was glad for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

“Father Figure” is a story of intersecting lives. It is a tale of two teenage girls, two different times, one family. There are family secrets, big family secrets, and the search for the truth. The plot moves back and forth between the two stories, one of a mother’s past, the other of her daughter’s present. As the novel progresses, the two stories intertwine. I am a big fan of intersecting stories, so that was a plus for this novel.

I admit to struggling, at first, to hear the writer’s voice. Not far into the novel, however, the storyline pulled me in. I mean this as no discredit to the author. As I said, I am very far outside my normal genre with this novel. Once I settled in, I became engaged with the characters. I cared about what happened to them. As a reader, that is fundamentally important to me.

This is a tale of women. Strong women characters carry the plot line. It is a compliment to Mr. Cudney that he is able to craft a convincing female point of view. There was no point in the novel where I thought “This is a man writing about women.” Well done indeed. The male characters in the novel, with a few exceptions, do not shine so brightly.

“Father Figure” is a family saga, made no less a saga because the family is a single mother and her daughter. The past and present collide, often with unforeseen results. The author addresses the issues of family secrets, sexuality, and yearning for the truth. One character locks away the past, the other seeks to uncover the truth of the past. This yearning for an identity, for a family landmark, carries the story forward.

I wish to extend my thanks to Jay for trusting me to read his work. I enjoyed “Father Figure” and look forward to other works by the author.

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