Set in the heart of Louisiana, Amy Conner’s spellbinding new novel tells of a young woman yearning for a better existence—and of the secret longings that will change the lives of all those around her.
Eighteen-year-old Lireinne Hooten has always been on the lowest rung of the ladder. Abandoned by her mother, Lireinne lives with her stepfather in an old trailer on Million Dollar Road. Every day she walks the long mile, through a canopy of live oaks, to her job at the world’s largest alligator farm. Shy and overweight in high school, Lireinne has become lean and resilient from months of hosing out the huge cement barns. And just like Snowball—the enormous, all-white alligator she feeds illicit treats every day—she’s hungry to be free.
Lireinne’s boss, Con Costello, is powerful, attractive, and used to getting exactly what he desires. Now that he’s noticed Lireinne’s haunting beauty, he wants her too. But unlike Con’s needy second wife, Lizzie, or Emma, his still heartbroken ex, Lireinne isn’t interested. Undeterred, Con’s growing obsession will upend all their lives—compelling Lizzie to confront the hard truth about her marriage, pushing Emma past her self-imposed isolation and back into the world. And for Lireinne, it will lead to an unexpected chance to redefine herself, far away from her past and from Million Dollar Road.
Insightful and atmospheric, Million Dollar Road is a richly observed novel of our most keenly felt appetites—for love, acceptance, and a place to belong.
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication:
May 26th 2015
by Kensington
Terri's Thoughts
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 26 2015**
I found this to be an interesting book for all sorts of reasons. The first is the main characters name. Now I hope not to offend anyone who may actually have this name but I dare anyone to try to say it out loud without a hillbilly drawl. Right off the bat I had a mental picture of her based on this. Fortunately it was not far from the mark. A pretty girl who is uneducated and not overly smart who dreams of greater things than her current circumstance.
Then there was Lizzie who came from the same type of background however had turned it around to make something of her life....only to drown it in bitterness and a bottle. A girl who didn't remember where she came from and only had an eye on where she could go.
Emma with her broken heart and fear of putting herself out there. I actually wish her relationship with Lireinne was developed more during the story as I think it would have added a little more depth to the stories.
Lastly there was Con. I have really nothing good to say about him. In fact it is with him that the story sort of fell apart. His obsession with Lireinne was a little unbelievable to me. Yes I can see him being attracted to her and fantasizing about her. To actively make plans to be with her? Highly unlikely even for a man as vain as him.
What started out as a compelling story started to fall apart for me at the point that Con had his confrontation with Snowball and the trip to Paris. Events just really became a little far fetched and convenient for me. For all of the multiple storylines to wrap up the way they did seemed like the easy way out for me. I shall not divulge details as I do not want to give spoilers.
Overall this was an interesting yet slightly far fetched story for me.
About the Author
Website: http://www.amyconnerbooks.com
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