🪨🥃📖 “The Rock at the Bottom” (Lorna & Tristan #3) (2023) 📖🥃🪨 – Book Review
Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Rock at the Bottom by Cynthia Hilston, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: The Rock at the Bottom A big dreamer and successful novelist carries the sins of his father and a secret that leaves him wondering if he is the author or killer of love.
Stephen feels he is marked from day one to lose the ones he loves. His mother dies giving birth to him, and his alcoholic father makes sure Stephen never forgets it. To block out his father’s hate, fists, and belt, young Stephen loses himself in his imagination. Stories become his closest companions and barricades against a family that never wanted him. Once he can look his father in the eye, Stephen swears he will never be the monster his old man is. He vows he will become a published author, if for no other reason than to prove his father wrong.PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Amazon ebook sale March 21-22 $0.99
More Books in this Series
My Review
Thank you in advance to the author, Cynthia Hilton, for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Normally I don’t read overly depressing, dark, and solemn reads. It isn’t my thing, and to be honest – it didn’t seem that way when I read the blurb, which is what drew me to the story.
And, I usually don’t start off a review with content warnings.
This is one of those novels that definitely requires a good frame of mind as well as a sort of “de-sensitivity” of certain subjects that be quite triggering. I say that because the subjects are of such a realistic nature and integral to the story that it could re-trigger trauma for some readers.
The subjects are:
🥃 Alcoholism
💥 DUI with Death (at
least 2 support characters in one accident; 1 main character and 2 “related”
characters in the second accident)
🚬 Child Abuse
🪦 Childbirth Death (the
protagonist’s mom died while giving birth to him)
💔 Bullying
🆘 Suicide Attempt
💔 Multiple Miscarriages
This is definitely not an easy, feel-good, happy type of read. It is one that definitely shows the challenges in life and how some people both lose and gain their faith.
While this is the third book in the Lorna & Tristan series, and slightly works well as a standalone, there is a LOT that is missing according to the blurbs for the first two books (Lorna versus Laura, Rocks and Flowers in a Box).
Those who’ve read the first two books already know what has or will happen between Laura/Lorna and Stephen/Tristan, so spoilers are inevitable.
This is told from Stephen/Tristan’s perspective from his childhood to Laura/Lorna’s discovery of who he really is. This is told entirely in first person from Stephen’s POV, often like a conversation and recollection.
Returning characters:
🖌️ Laura/Lorna
📖 Stephen/Tristan
💍 Macy
👩🏻 Angela
This begins with Stephen recounting his time as a 6-year-old being abused by his father. His father, and older siblings, hold him accountable for the death of his mother. She died giving birth to him.
Obviously, this sets up Stephen’s need to escape and he does so with writing.
After high school, he and his friend Ben move into an apartment together. And, as Prohibition takes hold, Ben gets alcohol (though where is NEVER revealed) and the two start going to speakeasies.
Stephen is hesitant to try the stuff because of his father, yet he soon slips into drinking – at first being able to stop when he wants to. She also meets his first wife – Julie.
She, because she wants to stay with Stephen, incurs her parents’ wrath. Rather than go back to them – she and Stephen eventually marry. And, Stephen eventually sells his first book.
Despite the Great Depression (1929-1939), Stephen and Julie are riding a financial high, but emotional lows. She is having multiple miscarriages affecting her and Stephen’s marriage. He soon turns to alcohol, despite his friend Ben and fiancée Bea dying in a DUI accident New Year’s 1931.
It is when his life starts tumbling down he retreats more to his writing, and Julie starts slipping from him. They are almost dead to each other, and wondering how to keep going.
His second book comes at a high cost. And, after his “prison term”, he turns into a recluse until he meets Lorna, who has her own tragic past, that in some ways connects with his, especially in the aftermath of a tornado.
But, each one is wondering if they can love again. Tristan soon becomes Lorna’s rock until she discovers a truth that devastates all they’ve built. This is, from beginning to end – a powerful, emotional, dramatic, intense, realistic read that highlights the realities of fiction and reality, along with escaping one’s past. And, it explores whether or not we can rebuild our lives.
Hilston definitely has a gift for a compelling story, though some polishing here or there might be needed. The story had moments where it plodded and trudged, and some moments where it moved. A character connection list and a “timeline” (say at the beginning of the chapter) would’ve been helpful in placing it. I was drawn in, but battled between wanting to walk away and wanting to keep reading to see if Stephen EVER got his HEA (happily ever after). The disconnect with his family was another missing aspect – though again, it might’ve been covered in other books.
There are some missed opportunities from the plot – Stephen’s DUI arrest, conviction, and the prison sentence. As Prohibition was repealed in 1933 and DUI deaths skyrocketed after, it would’ve been interesting to see how potential laws and evidence convicted Stephen.
One plot arc I would’ve also been interested in – Stephen’s reaction to Pearl Harbor and the U.S entering the war (December 7, 1941). As a reader, I’m drawn to the time because of my late grandfather’s service, and it is a slightly romantic time in a way – lost loves, separated families. It was such a tragedy that I am wondering how Stephen reacted to it and how it could’ve worked into his stories.
Lorna’s painting is mentioned, but never delved into once she and Tristan get together.
While this isn’t my sort of read, I was glad I read it. And, I would be interested in reading the other two books to get the entire story from beginning to end. Some parts of those books are hinted at in this one. There is an interesting plot arc about Laura/Lorna’s brother in this one that is revisited from book #2 here, but doesn’t go any further.
There are messages of the Christian faith and are more character centric than being a part of the story’s overall theme. Hilston carefully balances the theme issue of believing/not believing and gives equal credence to either side.
One interesting moment is just prior to Stephen and Julie’s wedding; Stephen and Ben are having a conversation about the church. Stephen remarks he hasn’t been in a church since he was a kid as it scared him silly, Ben replies with “Well, ain’t that what religion is supposed to do? Scare ya until ya behave yourself?”. It is a candid and charming moment. And, it is a different way of looking at it.
Those who’ve read the first two books will no doubt want
to add this to the collection.
RATING:
4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update)
About the Author
Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.
In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, shamelessly watches Hallmark movies and When Calls the Heart, pets her orange and black kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a book bundle including Lorna versus Laura, Rocks and Flowers, and The Rock at the Bottom!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 21, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 28, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your honest and in-depth review of The Rock at the Bottom, this sounds like an emotionally difficult but worthwhile book and series to read
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! -Cynthia Hilston <3
ReplyDeletethanks so much for your review
ReplyDeleteSounds really good.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like great novel!
ReplyDelete