Book Reviews

Book Blurb

While back in the West to attend his grandmother’s funeral, Cord Bridger uncovers two shocking revelations: his grandmother had a lesbian lover named Juanita, and he has a teenaged son named Kalin. Fate brings all three together, but to preserve his new family, Cord must leave his safe life in New York City behind to carve a living from the harsh ranch lands of Nevada.

To forge a life with Juanita and Kalin, Cord must first discover the dark secret burning a hole in Kalin’s heart. With the help of Tomeo, a handsome Japanese veterinarian, Cord travels a gut-wrenching road of triumphs and tragedies to insure his son will survive the sinister violence of his past. But as Tomeo becomes more than just a helpful friend to Cord, a new set of problems arise between Cord and Kalin that may threaten the happiness of them all.

Book Review

Using the recurring reference to a butterfly, as Alan Chin did in his quite appropriately titled book 'Butterfly's Child', was a brilliant idea; the butterfly, a universally accepted symbol of transformation, is perfect for a story about change and growth.

I loved how Alan Chin went to such lengths to show Cord Bridger's state of mind in the beginning of the story. I could feel Cord's anguish, his uniqueness, and the isolation he experienced. Music was a great vehicle with which to emphasize his great longing for a peace that he could never quite achieve. He may have had perfect pitch, but Cord was definitely hitting the wrong cord when it came to life.

When circumstances force him to move back to Bitter Creek, Nevada, Cord quickly learns that continuing to live in isolation, as he did in New York City, is not possible in Bitter Creek. Life is harsh and problems are relentless. His survival in this beautiful, but hostile land depends upon how fast he can learn to deal with the problems that arise for him and the family which he inherits along with his grandmother's farm.

'Butterfly's Child' ran me through a gamut of emotions and sometimes had me laughing and crying at the same time; it definitely had me pulling for Cord and his family as they struggled to make sense of life's confusion. The characters in 'Butterfly's Child' are well defined and multi-dimensional, each adding his or her distinct contribution to the plot, helping it mesh together quite effectively.

Of all the characters, Kalin was the one who instantly earned my admiration with his intensity and compassion, particularly as it pertains to his little brother, Jem. He fiercely defends Jem even when it means sacrificing his own well-being. Having life narrated through a seven-year-old boy's eyes was both funny and poignant, especially with the knowledge that Jem wouldn't be the carefree little boy he is if not for Kalin's intervention. Kalin's strength of character is best expressed by Cord. “...eyes that, while shrouded in anger, revealed something that a stoic and lonely life had not been able to touch. Beautiful, my son is beautiful; not merely a handsome teenager, but a conspicuously beautiful human being whose quality shines from his inside out.”

'Butterfly's Child' is suspenseful and unpredictable; it is as compelling as it is profound. If you enjoy a book that is not only entertaining but enlightening as well, reading 'Butterfly's Child' is an experience you will not want to pass up.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 280 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	03-December-2010
Price	$6.99 ebook, $16.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/butterflys-child-by-alan-chin-1816-b