Jaded chronicles the psychological “breaking free” of Laurie (L’oreil) from her abusive and cheating husband, Shane. Not only is the heroine breaking free from her rotten marriage, she is also breaking free from the poisonous influences of her family and community in Detroit. The novel is written in first person (Laurie’s POV). The author draws the reader into how a young woman with potential can be pressured into marriage, tolerate abuse, infidelity, and betrayal and become trapped in an insipid life.
The novel begins at the local Target department store parking lot. This is where Laurie finally makes the decision to literally drive away from her life in Detroit. She had just caught Shane having sex with someone he met on Facebook. Shane is the typical “looks good on paper” guy from a “good family”, but is actually emotionally and physically abusive behind closed doors. Distraught about how bottom barrel her life is, she turns her cell phone off and drives south until she hits Atlanta. Atlanta is where Laurie’s new life starts and the healing process begins. It is where she meets two life long friends and the love of life—Troy, a music mogul.
Troy is a patient alpha male who wants to “save” Laurie from her past– whatever that is. Laurie does not divulge much of her past back in Detroit—like the fact that she’s still married to Shane who wants her back. The author uses first person POV with Troy too. The author did a good job with the flow, dialog, and word choice of a black man from Atlanta.
Life is much better in Atlanta for the Laurie. However, trying to heal from the past while being presented with a wonderful future is no picnic. Troy suffers too because he is on the receiving end of Laurie’s fear of being controlled by a man like she was with Shane.
One of my issues with his romance is the sex scenes between Troy and Laurie. There were too many. I didn’t think that some of them added to the story because this was more of a “psychological” romance. The author did a good job at drawing in my interest and did not necessarily need all the sex to keep me reading. My other issue was the title, Jaded. It has nothing to do with the story. Perhaps “Breaking Free” or something like that would have been more appropriate.
I really enjoyed this novel because it was addressed real life issues—mental illness, marital abuse, the Black community’s playing down of the indiscretions of men, the keeping up with appearances, and the importance of letting go of people that weigh you down. I hope that someone going through being stuck in an abusive relationship or a non-supportive family/ community will read this book and be inspired.
This was an excellent read. The plot was good, and I was cheering for the heroine. The dialog was spot on and real. Troy is an alpha and wins Laurie’s love and together they will have to overcome Laurie’s past, which continues to pull at her. Since this is a series, the reader is left at a cliffhanger.
-Reviewed by Pamela
