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Title: Daddy's Girl
Author: Linda D. Wattley
Publisher: Angel Press Publishing
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 0977664902
Pages: 210
Reviewer: Lynda Schab
Available From: The Author's Website http://lindawattley.com
Amazon http://www.amazon.com
I have to admit that when I saw the topic that Daddy's Girl was addressing, I was apprehensive. Having a nine-year-old daughter myself, sexual abuse isn't something I look forward to reading about.
Author Linda D. Wattley draws us into the world of Leona Tillard, a miracle baby who is abandoned by her mother, Brenda, and is left to be raised by her father, Bruce. At a very young age, Leona is sexually abused by her father, although she doesn't really understand what is being done to her, or that it is wrong. When her father remarries a woman with three children of her own, Leona quickly befriends Sarah, one of her step-sisters, who is close in age. Leona soon realizes that she isn't the only one her father has turned his affections toward.
In this coming-of-age story, Leona searches for who she is amidst erroneous sexual messages, misguided information, and horrendous acts being committed against her; acts she misinterprets as love.
Daddy's Girl begins with the background on Leona's parents, Brenda and Bruce Tillard--how they met and their rocky relationship. The first couple of chapters were written in third person, supposedly with Leona narrating. They didn't flow as well as they could have, as parts of the story were choppy and confusing, especially with the introduction of new characters. But in chapter three, when Leona takes over in first person, the story finally takes shape and becomes more engaging. A few changes in point of view pop up here and there, but Leona's story is not difficult to follow overall.
Daddy's Girl touches on a difficult subject with honesty and realism, something that is much needed in today's society. It offers no easy answers and no pat ending, but leaves readers with food for thought. If nothing else, it provides awareness of the emotional confusion and dysfunction that results from sexual abuse and may encourage victims to seek help, or convince them that it's never too late to do so. If this book does that for even one person, it will have served its purpose.
On the negative side, the dialogue was a little weak, and the characters were not as fully developed as the reader may hope. There were some editing issues, and a few areas seemed redundant. At times, Leona's age was hard to follow, and her "voice" periodically changed from too old to too young. The plot seemed a bit predictable in places, and this reviewer was left with the impression that the author had overly focused on the idea that a person's value was defined by their virginity.
For all that, Daddy's Girl has a strong message, although definitely not appropriate for young readers. The content is explicit and sexual references abound. The language is blunt and the author doesn't mince words, but that's exactly what makes this story work. The reader can't help getting drawn into Leona's world and cheering for her as she discovers just who she is and what her purpose is in life.
The author's hope was to address this topic in such a way that it brings hope and healing to those who have been the victims of sexual abuse. For those who have been through such a traumatic experience, Daddy's Girl may provide an open door to do just that.
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