{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} Sink or Swim by Jamie Canosa

Release date: July 21, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Format: Egalley
Source: Author for blog tour
Buy the book: Amazon

There are some things you just can't walk away from.

When sleeping in vacant warehouses and dark alleys becomes preferable to living at home, something is seriously wrong. But when word reaches Allie that her mother is facing a life threatening illness, she has no choice but to return to the place of nightmares. Leaving wasn't a choice, it was a necessity, and if returning hadn't been equally necessary, Allie never would have set foot back inside that hell-hole.

Dean is no stranger to hardship, but the day Allie walked out of his life, taking his heart right along with her, was hands-down the most frustrating. Six months later, she's back and Dean refuses to rest until he figures out exactly what the hell happened.

Now, Allie's drowning. Drowning in lies. Drowning in the truth. Drowning in pain, and anger, and fear. But there comes a time when every drowning person must decide whether they will . . . Sink or Swim?

Before Jamie contacted me about this blog tour, I had neither read nor heard of her books. After reading Sink or Swim, I am so, so happy that these books have been brought to my attention.

Jamie handles a terribly difficult subject with grace and respect, without exploiting her protagonist and without making Allie seem weak. Allie is, in fact, immensely strong, but she's put in a situation that seems to have no way out. She does what she believes to be best and strives to protect those she loves. Even as you see her making those decisions and know there's really no good way to go, you wish she had a better option, but you also admire her. Allie was definitely the biggest strength of the book for me. I hated to see her struggle, but I loved seeing her overcome.

Dean is exactly the kind of guy we should be reading about and swooning over in books. Not only is he handsome, he's loving, strong, and he will make any sacrifice necessary to take care of his loved ones. He doesn't talk big, but he acts big. When he does become aware of Allie's situation, he handles it perfectly and not impulsively. Dean is not too cool and not a bad boy, but he's absolutely swoon-worthy.

Sink or Swim's story is absolutely heartbreaking. (I definitely cried.) While it's technically a novella, it's really much closer to the length of a novel, and reads like one. The dual points-of-view worked well, since there is much Dean doesn't know. Even as there is not much action, the plot flows quickly and it feels like a much shorter work than it is. When it ended, I found myself wanting much more.

I am so happy that I was given a chance to read this book, and I know I will be reading the rest of the books in this series and more of Jamie's works. Not only does she write well, but her story and characters are powerful and real. She handles the most difficult of subjects with great skill and respect. Jamie Canosa and her books deserve all the praise I can give.

About the author:

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Ravena, NY with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the dog, the bird and the rabbit.

For the blog tour, Jamie is giving away a signed paperback copy of Sink or Swim to US readers and a digital copy to international readers! There are lots of ways to enter, so I'm sure absolutely everyone can find at least one! (One is to follow me on Twitter. Hint hint.) This book is absolutely worth your time. :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway