Title: Throwaway
Author: Heather Huffman
First published July 8, 2010
274 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780557543533 (ISBN10: 0557543533)
Rating: 3.67
Overview
When life threw her curveballs and labeled her as “useless,” Jessie refused to give up on her dreams. But everything changes when she meets a man that ignites a spark within her unlike any other.
What begins as an innocent attraction spirals into a wild adventure they never could have predicted. From the bustling streets of New York City to the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains, Jessie battles the odds and her own insecurities to uncover a mystery that’s been buried for decades.
Can she take on corrupt forces and come out on top, or will she be another victim of the system? Join Jessie on her journey to prove that anyone can rise above their circumstances and make a difference in the world.
About the Author
Meet Heather Huffman – a skilled author who dabbles in various genres like contemporary romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction, and a new cozy mystery line set to release in summer 2021. Her personality can be described as quirky and optimistic, with a love for adventure.
Heather is passionate about social justice and women’s issues and has worked with several charities over the past decade to fight poverty, empower women, and combat human trafficking. Her world revolves around her three grown sons, her Australian Shepherd, and a pampered puppy that she can’t resist sharing pictures of.
To learn more about Heather, visit her website at heatherhuffman.com.
Editoral Review
In Throwaway, Heather Huffman masterfully explores themes of poverty, addiction, and redemption. Huffman is an American author who has written multiple books in the romance and literary fiction genres.
Published in July 2010, Throwaway combines Huffman’s signature romance with a social justice narrative that exposes readers to the harsh realities faced by impoverished individuals in America. The novel’s plot centers around Abby, a young woman from a small town in Missouri.
Despite struggling with addiction and poverty, Abby manages to find love in the form of Jack, a local rancher. But Abby’s happy ending is cut short when she is wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to prison.
The novel follows Abby’s journey as she tries to survive in prison while longing to be reunited with Jack and her daughter. One of the most striking aspects of Throwaway is the way in which Huffman incorporates social issues into the plot without feeling preachy or patronizing.
Huffman’s writing style is engaging and emotional without being melodramatic, and the reader can tell that she has done her research. Huffman’s insights into the American criminal justice system are spot on, and she exposes not only the flaws in the system but also the ways in which it disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized.
The characters in Throwaway are another strong point. Abby is a compelling and sympathetic protagonist who is easy to root for.
Jack is a supportive and caring love interest, and Abby’s fellow inmates are fully-realized characters who add depth and nuance to the story. Huffman’s ability to create well-rounded and believable characters is a testament to her skill as a writer.
In terms of weaknesses, there are a few moments in the plot that feel contrived or overly coincidental. Additionally, some readers may find the romance plotline to be overly predictable or clich.
However, these flaws are minor in the grand scheme of the novel and do not detract from its overall quality. Overall, Throwaway is a well-written and emotionally resonant novel that is sure to appeal to fans of romance and social justice narratives.
Heather Huffman’s skills as a writer shine through in this novel, and she handles difficult topics with sensitivity and skill. I highly recommend Throwaway to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.
I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.