Blowback

by Bev Prescott

Meghan Blaney comes from a long line of self-sufficient, gritty Maine lobstermen. She knows a thing or two about hard work, loyalty, and sacrifice. When she put off going to culinary school so she could take care of her aging father, she never expected to be schlepping pancakes at a local diner a decade later. Nor did she plan to be living in an old house that was too small for her partner, Lauren, and her cantankerous father.

Meghan's life becomes even more complicated when she agrees to let her ex-con brother, Scott, stay with them. He unwittingly brings the sordid underbelly of the fishing industry and one troublesome gun into their lives. Meghan quickly learns the hard way, despite everyone's best intentions, having a gun comes with its own unintended blowback.

Genres: LGBT, Audiobook

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2014

About the author

Bev Prescott grew up in the Midwest. Shortly after high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. She considers it one of the best decisions she ever made because it exposed her to a world of possibilities and experiences that, otherwise, a blue-collar kid from Indiana could only dream of. The only decision she considers even wiser was marrying her partner of 20 years. Bev is an environmental attorney. She and K.C. and their clever calico cat, Lilliput, share a home in New England. Bev writes stories about everyday lesbian heroines who make a difference. (from the publisher's website)

Reviews

[Agirlcandream · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ownership of hand guns in the US is a polarizing debate. The constitution gives every American the right to bear arms. Many insist that owning a gun to protect their loved ones is their right. Many others feel the presence of a gun in the room endangers all it surrounds.

Kudos to Bev Prescott for having the courage to write this story. While many characters populate this tale, the story revolves around the travels of a gun and it's eventual owner. She presents both sides of the gun debate with thoughtful fairness.

This is not a romance but there is a romantic relationship pushed to the brink by family needs. Meghan's need to care for her father, her wayward brother Scott and her nephew clouds her judgement and puts her relationship with Lauren in peril.

Scott, just released from prison feels the pressure to pay off his debt to his dad for the lobster boat and be a good father to his son. That pressure and some local thugs lead him to make some bad decisions.

The story is difficult to put down right from the excellent prologue through the train wreck that is the lives of some of her characters. You want to know what will happen next. You can sense it may not be good, but you are hopeful just the same.

[Carleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meghan Blaney comes from a long line of self-sufficient, gritty Maine lobstermen.  She knows a thing or two about hard work, loyalty, and sacrifice.  When she put off going to culinary school  so she could take care of her aging father, she never expected to be schlepping pancakes at a local diner a decade later.  Nor did she plan to be living in an old house that was too small for her partner, Lauren, and her cantankerous father.

Meghan’s life becomes even more complicated when she agrees to let her ex-con  brother, Scott, stay with them.  He unwittingly brings the sordid underbelly of the fishing industry and one troublesome gun into their lives. Meghan quickly learns the hard way, despite everyone’s best intentions, having a gun comes with its own unintended blowback.

I've been sitting here trying to find my way into this review.  This is a first for me.  Usually, I finish a book, take a break from it to jot down some notes, maybe get a bite to eat or watch the news, and then sit down to write the review.  But, this time, that's not working for me.

Pen in hand.  Notebook open.  But there's no ink on the page.

Stand at the refrigerator door.  Eyes roam over the possibilities.  Door closes without making a selection.

Turn on the TV.  Flip through some channels.  Put the sound on mute.

Sit back at the computer.  Stare at the screen.  The blinking cursor is mocking me.

I did this three times.  Yes.  Three times.  My routine wasn't working for me.  So, I broke my routine.

I vacuumed, dusted, and loaded the dishwasher.  That seemed to help.

Blowback (Bedazzled Ink) is a rich, complex novel.  Prescott has given us a mystery/thriller that is at once hard to read and nearly impossible to put down.  I did have to put it down a couple of times - life sort of creeps in sometimes and requires it - but it stayed with me.  It gnawed at me.  It made me think.  It made me flinch.  It made me reexamine my own perspectives.  And it made me deal with "life" more quickly than I usually would, just so I could get back to the story.

It's difficult to say too much about Blowback without giving away the story.  So, I won't delve into a lot of detail regarding subject, plotlines, etc.  What I can tell you is that the book is solidly written, the story is undeniably realistic, and it will stay with the reader for quite some time.

Prescott does a really nice job of writing a compelling, tightly-woven narrative.  Her prose is precise - every word was chosen for a particular reason.  The dialogue is natural and believable - I could hear it being spoken in my head.  Her descriptions of Maine are detailed and vivid.  Rather than being superfluous descriptions that distract the reader from the story itself, they are instead an essential part of the book.  Maine becomes another character in Blowback.  Meghan, her father, her brother and others are all very clearly rooted in Maine and are affected by it in various ways.

Sadly, the story that is told is far too based in reality.  Prescott has said that Blowback is not a romance.  While I did find elements of romance in the story, I have to agree with her.  This is most definitely a mystery/thriller.   But, as Prescott herself writes in the Afterword to the novel, it is a cautionary tale.  The gun-control debate is argued often and vehemently in the United States.  And what is so frightening, is that the events in this novel could, potentially, happen to any of us.  It could be my story.  It could be your story.  It could be anyone's story.  What makes Blowback so unique in my mind is how Prescott handles the debate throughout the novel.  She doesn't preachify.  She doesn't take sides.  She argues both sides of the debate with intelligence and heart.  Rather than telling the reader to be pro- or anti- gun control, she leaves it to us to examine our own views, our own beliefs, our own convictions.  And she lets us decide.  And she does so in a way that makes it very easy for the reader to relate to the issues.   We're not bogged down by laws and politics throughout the story.   The story is told at a personal level, which makes it that much more powerful.

Without a doubt, I will be thinking about this novel for a long, long time.  It has already taken over my thoughts.  Everything seems to bring me back to Meghan and Lauren and Scott and Jared and Midge. These characters and their experiences will live with me.  It may take me a while, but I will return to this book and read it again.   (I might have to read a few of my "fluffy romance comfort books" first.)  Blowback is a novel that, in my opinion, would be so beneficial to college courses - in all sorts of disciplines.  It opens discussions surrounding an important, highly-contested issue in our society and it does so in a way that brings the reader directly into the debate.   Will someone who is staunchly anti-gun control suddenly do a one-eighty and lobby for the banishment of all guns?  Probably not.  Will someone who has lobbied for harsh gun control laws go right out to purchase guns while declaring Second Amendment rights?  Doubt it.  But will it make both of those people think?  I believe so.  Will it make them examine their reasons for being so firmly on one side or the other of the issue?  I'm sure of it.  Will it make them move to a more moderate position and work together to "fix" these problems.  Gosh, I hope so.

I won't lie to you, Blowback isn't always easy to read.  Anything that makes us reexamine ourselves can be difficult to take.  Especially when it's so steeped in realism.  But I will tell you this: Blowback is worth reading - every, single word.

Do NOT miss out on reading this book.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book a lot. I think Bev did a tremendous job of presenting a story revolving around a tough issue.

This isn't a romance and shouldn't be gone into with that expectation. This is a book dealing with a very dark time in a family's life. The main character, Meghan, grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I couldn't get her out of my head. There aren't many books that have characters that I respond to like that.

The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that there were way too many places where the editing team dropped the ball. Most are smallish things that most likely won't bother most people. Unfortunately for me, I'm one of those readers who is pulled out of the story over the smallest things. So, to me, I was ticked that typos or inconsistencies were missed.

Bottom line for me is this: the author told a difficult story in an engaging and moving way. If you're looking for a darker book that's not easy to predict (I was right on some things and wrong on some) and deals with serious issues, read this one. And then think about it for a bit.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I delayed reading this book as I knew it dealt with guns and shootings. As a communications supervisor for a small town police department I have a see-saw of feelings and views on guns. Some days I see the need, other days I see them as senseless and harmful. I grew up around guns and I am not afraid of them, but I have seen the dangerous side of them. I am glad that this book keeps the topic in the forefront and therefore the discussion continues. I don't want to start a debate or be part of one, so that's all I'm going to say on the topic. However, I will say to Ms. Prescott, you wrote this perfectly.

[Velvet Lounger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blowback - Bev PrescottBlowback is an interesting, challenging read. In it we have a family of hard working lobstermen who struggle with all the normal challenges of hard jobs, low incomes, overcrowded living space and family expectations which we will all recognise.

The characters are strong. well drawn, gritty, realistic.

There is a large cast of family and friends centred around Meghan, her girlfriend Lauren and brother Scott. Sub-plots revolve around many but central is the relationship between Meghan and Lauren, fighting to breathe under the weight of responsibilities and the crush of bodies in the house. Meghan and Scott’s relationship is also complex, older sister, mentor, carer, replacement mother for a man whose father undermines him at every step.



Interwoven is the backdrop of Maine, fishery, cafe, small town living that many will recognise. The sights and sounds, smells and textures of a tough life lived by careworn people. Cafe owner Midge and the older lobstermen represent lives spent in hard labour and lived out in a cafe and at the bar which form a focal core of the community.

But all of these elements are secondary in importance to the central figure of the novel. A Glock 9mm called WM. WM opens the story, and closes it. WM is the driver, the actor and the focal point of the tale. for without the gun this would not be a story. It is impossible to explain the tragedy without spoiling, but suffice it to say that WM has a large part to play.



The polarisation of American opinions on gun ownership is obvious and complete. What Bev Prescott has tried to do is show how good people with the best of intentions can end up in the most tragic of circumstances despite being good, sensible, caring gun owners. She has presented characters who are for and against and is asking the reader to consider the consequences. A brave position which will, no doubt, garner some anger.



But what the book should do is make you think, question, discuss. And I suspect that is the highest compliment Ms Prescott would ask for.

[Maria Ciletti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blowback is a story about what can happen when bad things happen to good people and the bad decisions those people can make in desperation to get their lives back on track. The characters in the story are hard- working people, just trying to make a living and take care of their families.- they could be you or me or your next door neighbor. I truly felt for the characters. I viscerally felt their fear, loss and the struggles they endured to get their lives back. I also felt the strong bond of the Blaney family. Meghan's loyalty to her brother ran deep. Meghan's loyalty to her brother is the center of controversy in the story causing her to make some very difficult decisions. Meghan loves her family and her partner, Lauren, who seems to be placed on the back burner in order for Meghan to deal with her family's issues. But the love she feels for Lauren comes across loud and clear as well. I truly enjoyed reading this story- loved the New England setting.
Gun ownership is a controversial topic and I am sure it was difficult to write about. Blowback has a message to present and the author presents it well. This is a controversial topic and I am sure it was difficult to write. As a gun owner, it made me think. It made me even more aware of the need for scrupulous gun safety to avoid such horrible, unnecessary tragedies

[Amy Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blowback is the most assured offering from Bev Prescott yet, never has her writing been more crisp and driven. I literally could not put it down. I commend her for taking on the difficult topic of gun ownership in America. She succeeds in approaching the issue with nuance and compassion. As to the plot itself, I think she does a terrific job interweaving the relationship troubles of her main character, Meghan, with the story of Meghan's brother who just can't seem to catch a break. The implications of personal choice are paramount here and though it can be hard to watch, Prescott makes brave and bold authorial decisions and I applaud her for that. If you like Jodi Picoult novels, you are bound to take a lot away from Blowback.

[Elaine Burnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that will stick with me (especially with each new tragic headline). I found the story riveting. Though some typos and clunky repetitions in the beginning slowed me down, those either went away or I got so involved I didn't notice. There's writing, which is important, but can't overcome a poorly told story, and there's storytelling, and this an excellent story. There's no one answer, or question for that matter. Read it and decide for yourself how you feel about it. You might be surprised.

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blowback by Bev Prescott: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid... 2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)