kim_j_dare 's review for:

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

4.0

---

For the past twelve years, Callie's world has revolved around her mother, who abducted her when she was five. Veronica suffers from bipolar disorder, and has perfected the art of living on the run. Her past catches up with her during a routine traffic stop, though, and Veronica's arrest means that Callie is reunited with a father she barely remembers. Greg is thrilled to welcome Callie into the large extended Greek family along the gulf coast of Florida. But twelve years of looking after herself and her mother have made Callie hesitant to trust others. While her cousin Kat has fond memories of the two of them being best friends as toddlers, Callie has never lived in one place long enough to form a real friendship, and they get off to a bumpy start. Callie suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her mother's boyfriend when she was younger, and while she feels a strong attraction to sponge-diver Alex, she has no real concept of where sex fits into a healthy relationship. Complicating matters further, Veronica is out on bail and secretly seeing Callie, making her feel guilty about her new relationships and ever more sure that her mother is not going to be able to manage without her. It's a lot to handle, but Doller portrays the different relationships and Callie's torn loyalties beautifully. The ending manages to be hopeful for all of the characters without tying everything up too neatly. Some fairly graphic sexual scenes make this a story more suitable for high school students.