A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon

Gina Bellamy is a very sympathetic character. I felt like the world had turned its back on her. I wanted to tell her, stop the world and get off now. There are three significant relationships in Gina's life. All three center around men. The first one is with Kit. The second one is with Stuart. The third one is with her stepfather, Terry. There is a snag in each of these relationships. Gina and Kit's time together comes to a tragic ending. An ending that would leave her feeling guilty for a long time. Gina's marriage to Stuart ends because he is a complete jerk. He begins to date a woman much younger than himself. Then, decides he no longer wants Gina. He wants a divorce. For him, all that matters is the property they shared together. Terry, Gina's wonderful stepfather dies at the wrong time. All of these problems and more leave Gina feeling a deep vulnerability. While she continues to consult about the restoration of houses, her life slowly begins to gather itself together again like laundry would magically fold itself.

Gina in A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon is a character who gives and gives and keeps giving. There are life lessons throughout the novel. For example, love is more important than who gets the guitar jacket. Life is also about living in the now and not over in tomorrow. It is also about the need for closure. In order to restart her life again, Gina must learn about her father's character. Her mother never talks about him. Gina must also come to grips with the fact that she does not know her mother. So wife and daughter constantly get in to emotional squabbles. Fox example, Gina's mother is still singing Kit's praises, but Gina has moved on and married Stuart. Frustration.

Thank goodness for Naomi, a best friend, and Buzz, the Greyhound who needs a home.It seems life is about feeling thankful for the people and pets who help restore fractured lives. Little did Gina know as she kept giving away one hundred pieces of herself to Rachel's charity store, she was getting something back in return. Her life's healing had begun. Forgiveness had come ashore. She just didn't know it.

My most favorite part of the novel is her special relationship with Nick. He works on the Magistrate house with her. Their romance is very subtle and exciting. Gina's faulty situation with Stuart makes Nick look at his relationship with Amanda, his wife. Now, there are more changes on the horizon. Change rumbles into Gina's life like an old truck. Finally, the old truck crosses a smooth, new road, and it steadies itself. People like Gina, and Greyhounds like Buzz can relax. The struggle is over for a while. All they have to do is keep walking through life no matter how many blind corners appear. Of course, they can never give up on one another. At the end of the tunnel, there will be light every time.

I will always remember the witch ball. There is a written description and a photo of the witch ball above and below.https://www.facebook.com/LucyDillonBooks Thanks to Berkley for giving a review book.

Witch-ball - a green Victorian witch-ball on along brass chain, for hanging in a hallway to lure and trap any lurking evil spirits. Photo above from Yahoo.