Saturday, April 3, 2010

'Small Town Odds' by Jason Headley **Spoilers**

I read a 2nd book in the last couple of weeks.   I'm on a good path.  I really like reading.

I just read a book called 'Small Town Odds'.   Our main character is Eric Mercer, an intelligent former high school football hero who had big dreams of leaving the town of Pinely, West Virginia, the small town he lived in his entire life.  His dreams included Brown Univerisity with Jill Dupree, the love of his life,     Instead a drunken night with his childhood crush Gina leaves him facing fatherhood and his dreams shattered.   Jill is heartbroken and leaves him behind. 

Six years later, Eric works at the the funeral home by day and tends bar at the American Legion by night,   He hangs out with his childhood friends, drinks too much and does his best to take care of his little girl Tess and maintain a working parental relationship with Gina.    Basically, his life is going nowhere. 

When Jill comes home for her father's funeral, Eric falls head first into "what could have been".   Her appearance makes him think about leaving his hometown and Tess to follow what he thinks he wants.  Interactions with hs parents, friends, Jill and Gina & Tess leave him realizing that worrying about what if has kept him from living his life in the now.  When he says goodbye to Jill, he says hello to his present life.

I really liked Eric and want to know more.

This is Jason Headley's only published book,.  I say that because on his website, he has a link to his 2nd book, which was rejected by publishers and he now has the full book online and invites you to print and read it for free,   It's not a sequal, so no Eric but I will for sure be checking it out.

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