Guest Review- The Gifted Ones- A Memoir by Lisa Vaughn

Title- The Gifted Ones- A Memoir
Author- Lisa Vaughn
Released- April 19th 2011
Publisher- CreateSpace
Guest Reviewer- Michelle Mesics

Blurb- Lisa was conservatively raised in a Catholic family in no-where middle America, where excitement is scarce and dreams are for sleeping. Little did she know, at age thirteen, she would suddenly find herself on a totally different path. Through an unlikely chance meeting of a fellow classmate, she's surprisingly mesmerized, almost consumed, to befriend a girl who is obviously from the other side of the tracks...the cool side. Lisa does whatever she has to just to be accepted into this small club of coolness. Little did she realize, she was signing up for a lot more than social status. The two best friends find themselves innocently taking their relationship to a foreign level neither had experienced or saw coming. A rollercoaster ride littered with choices and challenges Lisa never fathomed facing, especially in no-where middle America. She will find out what she is made of as she faces the consequences and struggles that come along with going against the grain. Throughout their six year relationship, you will witness a touching story of human nature at it's best...and at it's worst. Showing just how far the human spirit can be challenged and pushed to a point where your “fight or flight” instincts naturally kick in. Struggling just to survive in a world where you are not like everyone else, but at the same time you really are. The daily struggles- both internal and external- are exhausting, yet necessary in their quest for one simple human need....love. Finally breaking through all constraints that hold them back, reaching levels of one-ness that few actually obtain in a lifetime with their partner...only to find once they've reached that special place, it's not quite the right fit...for one of them, at least. This contemporary story will lead the reader through highs and lows, giving insight to the every day challenges of the socially unaccepted, which will no doubt leave them rooting for the underdog. Appealing to a wide variety of audiences, both homosexual and heterosexual, as the true message is not sexually based. A true story of human resilience and the power of love...plain and simple.

Review- I just want to start out by thanking Renee and Stacey for asking to write a review for the blog, I’m very honoured !! ( Sorry it took so long!)

I really enjoy reading autobiographies and real life stories as much as novels, especially when they are well written like Lisa Vaughn’s memoir. Lisa is a fantastic writer, and the start of her memoir draws you in straight away because she starts it with every teenage girl’s worse nightmare: her parents finding her diary!! You just have to keep reading to find out what was written in that diary and to find out the repercussions of her parents reading it !! Her memoir is mainly about her teenage/ early adult years and about her falling in love for the first time. Lisa’s writings about her antics as a teenager really brought back memories and had me smiling. From how she got along with some teachers and not with others, and especially the story about telling her parents she was going bowling but really going elsewhere to party with her friends! Who hasn’t done that?? ( Not me Mum, honest !! ) I really loved the way Lisa describes her romance, especially the early days when they were so caught up in their own world and did everything they could to spend as much time together as they could. It was wonderful, and I’m sure it will make everyone remember what that feeling was like, as I know it did for me. Her descriptions of what life was like growing up in the early 70’s and early 80’s with strict religious parents was great, a lot of people will be able to relate to that. It makes you very sympathetic to Lisa, you feel sad when things go bad for her and very happy when things are going well. The way she describes the other people in her life was great, you could almost picture them in your head and it felt like you knew them personally.

Overall this is just a really great book.Lisa’s writing style makes you just want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I totally recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her.

Shell xo

For more information head to The Gifted Ones BLOGSPOT

And to purchase your copy head to AMAZON or SMASHWORDS

I would just like to thank Shell for taking time to help us out with our reviews. You did an amazing job!

Renee and Stacey