Jailbird, by Heather Huffman

The book opens with the main character, Kali Langston, making her escape from prison.  So your attention is immediately demanded and easily kept throughout the story.  I will try not to include too many spoilers for those who plan to read this book, but I can’t make any promises!  So now is your chance to stop reading!

The back story is that Kali is incarcerated for murdering a very rich and powerful man from an equally rich and powerful family.  You will later find out in the book the reason that she murdered this man and the reason that she feels her actions were justified.  As I’ve already said, the book opens with Kali making her break from the prison in which she has just spent 10 long years of her life.  It’s very dramatic to say the least.  As the story continues she makes her way through the woods squatting and hiding until she stumbles upon a group of Hispanic workers laboring and decides to join them.  Taking on the name “Neena,” she is invited into the home of one of the families and they take her under their wing.  They do not know her past and don’t ask her any questions.  She begins working with them on their farm to make a small living while sleeping on their couch. 

It is through this family that she also meets the town lawyer, Charlie.  This is where the story takes a turn.  Neena (Kali) and Charlie are falling in love, but Charlie doesn’t know who Neena really is and this haunts Neena and scares her to death.  When Neena is forced to tell Charlie who she really is the story really gets interesting!  Does she get to live in that small town and live out her dreams of having a family and a normal life with Charlie and does she end up back in prison?

This book tells a very unique story and is very beautifully written.  I enjoyed the style that the writer uses and was pleased with the pace of the story.  I didn’t feel that the writer rushed the story at all, but the timing was perfectly played out so that you didn’t lose interest while the characters were being built.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more novels from this author.