available in print & Kindle editions from Amazon
reviewed by Tannia Ortiz-Lopès
Inheritance, by Lisa Barker, is the dramatic story of the troubled alcoholic and sex addict Joe Taylor and the neglected but strong-willed Wendy Masten.
Joe Taylor has been single and sober for four years despite the lack of support from his family. But this year on his birthday, unable to control his loneliness and rapidly increasing lust, he attends Trish Masten’s bacchanalia, held to celebrate her impending marriage to David. At his former lover’s home, he would free the wild party animal locked up inside him.
On the same night, Trish’s younger sister Wendy arrives unexpectedly to announce the death of their grandmother. Wendy is not welcomed at Trish’s home by David and is sent to the guest room during their engagement party. Wendy feels rejected by her only living relative and disappointed at Trish’s lack of affection for her. After hearing loud voices, arguments and a fight, Wendy is scared and nervous. She decides to seek shelter elsewhere.
As she leaves Trish’s house, Wendy meets Joe, who is extremely drunk and incapable of getting himself home. Out of pity she drives him home and cares for him all night long. This marks the beginning of a new life for the two of them.
Having suffered a relapse, Joe must earn back his family’s trust. At the same time, he must learn to control his addictions to conquer the heart of the woman he loves. For her part, Wendy has to deal with discrimination by Joe’s relatives for her relationship to Trish.
Joe’s and Wendy’s traumatic childhoods left deep wounds in them. As a result, they blamed God for their misfortune and abandoned the Church. But, it is through His Divine Mercy that Joe and Wendy find the peace and stability they so desperately seek and need.
I have been reviewing books for several years and must confess that I am always skeptical about the quality of self-published books that use venues like lulu.com. However, Lisa Barker has produced a professional quality book without any of the problems often associated with self publishing. The first item that captured my attention was the simple but profound symbolism of the book cover. She chose a picture of a single white lily on a dark background. Lilies are a symbol of redemption and rebirth while black is a symbol of death and evil. It is the perfect image to summarize the story’s plot.
Although the author rated her book R for mature topics, language and some brief sexual depictions, I never felt uncomfortable with the explicit scenes. All of them were tastefully written. The author’s depiction of the characters’ struggles, soul searching and family relationships will keep the reader engaged throughout the story.
I highly recommend Inheritance to anyone who enjoy a great novel with a real-life story and lively characters. Although the book is fictional, the characters’ dilemmas and how they are resolved will seem very authentic to anyone struggling with addictions. For them, Lisa Barker does more than tell a good story; she brings a glimmer of hope.
- Paperback: 278 pages
- Publisher: lulu.com (May 31, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1257376268
- ISBN-13: 978-1257376261
