Family Portrait

The Kingsley Family #1

by Rebecca Paulinyi

A true family isn’t always the one you’re born with.

Imogen Meyer’s life has not run smoothly so far. When she’s adopted by the seemingly perfect Ella Kingsley, Imogen thinks she is in for a dull, irritating but hopefully stable life for her and her little sister.

She soon learns that no family is quite as perfect or as simple as it seems – and there are benefits to living with the Kingsleys that she had never considered, in the form of the gorgeous bad-boy Zach Monroe who lives down the road.

When the tragic events of Imogen’s past catch up with her, can she keep her old life from destroying her new life? Or will she never be able to live like a normal teenage girl?

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2018

About the author

Rebecca Paulinyi was born in the South West of England in February 1992. She has been writing since she was a child, starting with short stories and poems that rarely got finished. Her weekly school assignment of writing a diary about the weekend provided a perfect platform to be inventive, with Rebecca's stories revolving around the aliens living on Planet Odd.

Writing has been her passion for years, and the unfinished stories became full length novels as she became a teenager. At eighteen she left home to go to York University, studying English Language and Linguistics, and following her graduation qualified as a teacher. Alongside writing two stand alone novels and a series, Rebecca teaches in a primary school in Bristol, where she lives with her husband and dog.

More information and updates on her writing progress can be found at rebeccapaulinyi.com

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "Oh Brother" Ms Paulinyi's other book and really enjoyed it. This book is about a 14 year old orphaned girl and her 3 year old sister who are adopted by a woman who shares a house with her brother and his fiance and both family's other children (biological and adopted). It is very slow moving and doesn't end with much of a conclusion. I was very disappointed in the young character's drinking with friends and just after her 15th birthday starting a sexual relationship with her boyfriend who is two years older. I don't believe you should encourage this behavior in young people by making it seem normal. Rated PG15

[Judith Jagoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I would recommend this book to young girls from 15 to 80. Unfortunately many youngsters in the foster care system never find a forever family and wind up aged out and alone. On the other hand this story gives hope and encourages appreciation to those who have a loving family of any combination of humans. As an 80 year old I enjoyed the read and can appreciate the personal struggles of each f the characters. Looking forward to book two in the series.

[Madison Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imogene's character will bring tears to your eyes, especially in the beginning. Recently orphaned she struggles to find place in her new world. She's adopted by what she thinks is the perfect family, only to find out there really is no such thing as a perfect family.

Great character development. The story keeps you interested from the beginning!