Blurred Fates by Anastasia Zadeik

 

Kate Whittier has a life she could only dream about as a child.  She has a loving husband, two healthy and happy kids and a gorgeous home in Southern California.  Money isn't an issue as her husband, Jacob, not only comes from money but is incredibly successful in his career.  Growing up, Kate's mother died as she was entering her teenage years.  Her father promptly disappeared into a bottle and she was sexually abused by her brother and his friends for years, a fact she has never told anyone.

Then Kate's life encounters issues that change it in a second.  Jacob confesses to a drunken encounter with a woman.  Trust is the biggest requirement in Kate's life so she is immediately sickened and sure that the marriage is over.  Soon Kate and Jacob are separated and the children are moving back and forth between houses.  Kate's father is about to die and her brother has found her again and is making threatening phone calls.  Luckily, Kate still has Ryan, who is the couple's best friend.  Ryan was Jacob's best friend growing up and when he met Kate, he included her in their circle of friends.  He spoils their kids between assignments as a photographer all over the world.  Ryan is the only person Kate can talk to outside of her therapist.  He is willing to listen to both of the estranged couple and act as a go between.  But is life through throwing obstacles and challenges at Kate?

Blurred Fates is a debut novel and the author, Anastasia Zadeik, is off to a fantastic start.  Her ability to create characters the reader can instantly relate to propels the action in the novel.  Kate is so damaged by her childhood that she will never be fully whole until she comes to terms with her abuse.  She has been betrayed by everyone in her life and she must find ways to rebuild trust and learn to forgive small wrongs without cutting individuals from her life.  Jacob is a fundamentally good man, incredulous how quickly he lost everything he cared about.  Ryan is an intriguing character, a world traveler who still finds time to support the friendships he has built over the years.  The author explores the issues of the longevity of the aftermath of sexual abuse, how important trust is to build and how quickly it can be destroyed and how we all need someone to support us in life.  I look forward to seeing Zadeik's next novel.  This book is recommended to readers of women's fiction.