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Flesh and Blood
National bestselling author Allison Hobbs delivers a powerful novel about a father and son whose relationship is challenged after the son is suspected of crimes in his new neighborhood.
Ten years ago when Malik Copeland was a hopeless addict, he signed away the parental rights to his son, Phoenix. It cut him to the core when his ex-wife allowed her new husband to adopt Phoenix and give him his last name.
After getting clean and sober and moving across the country, Malik meets Sasha, a professional and business owner who is the single parent of a young child, Zoe. Together, they build a life together and Malik adopts Zoe. He is a caring stepfather and doting husband, and life couldn’t be better.
Out of the blue, Malik receives a call from the mother of his now thirteen-year-old son, telling him that the boy wants to get to know him. Malik and Phoenix establish a long-distance relationship, and after a visit during spring break, Phoenix decides that he wants to stay with his father—permanently.
Phoenix moves in and the Copelands are one big happy family. Malik’s life feels complete as he and his son continue to bond. Handsome, intelligent, and well-mannered, Phoenix is a joy to be around, and Sasha and Zoe adore him.
Over time, however, Phoenix begins to exhibit antisocial behavior, and Malik fears that his son’s congenial persona is merely a façade. And when a young child goes missing, evidence points to Phoenix and Malik has to ask himself how far he’ll go to protect his own flesh and blood.
Ten years ago when Malik Copeland was a hopeless addict, he signed away the parental rights to his son, Phoenix. It cut him to the core when his ex-wife allowed her new husband to adopt Phoenix and give him his last name.
After getting clean and sober and moving across the country, Malik meets Sasha, a professional and business owner who is the single parent of a young child, Zoe. Together, they build a life together and Malik adopts Zoe. He is a caring stepfather and doting husband, and life couldn’t be better.
Out of the blue, Malik receives a call from the mother of his now thirteen-year-old son, telling him that the boy wants to get to know him. Malik and Phoenix establish a long-distance relationship, and after a visit during spring break, Phoenix decides that he wants to stay with his father—permanently.
Phoenix moves in and the Copelands are one big happy family. Malik’s life feels complete as he and his son continue to bond. Handsome, intelligent, and well-mannered, Phoenix is a joy to be around, and Sasha and Zoe adore him.
Over time, however, Phoenix begins to exhibit antisocial behavior, and Malik fears that his son’s congenial persona is merely a façade. And when a young child goes missing, evidence points to Phoenix and Malik has to ask himself how far he’ll go to protect his own flesh and blood.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2018
7 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2020
I give this book a 3 out of 5 Star review. This story surprised me on how the plot twisted. To me the book started off going in one direction (a direction that I was of with) and turned a totally different way (a direction that changed my opinion of the book). This story deals with addiction. It shows that addiction comes in different forms. For some, when you think of addiction, you think about drug addiction, which has its place in the novel. But this novel also deals with an addiction that comes in a form of obsession. The novel shows how addiction, no matter what type, oftentimes destroys families no matter how tight knit the family is if the addiction isn’t resolved or goes unchecked. The novel also deals with family and what defines what family is or can be. Family doesn’t have to be blood and this novel shows this.
I personally like how the novel started off showing how a man that struggled with drug addiction, hit rock bottom, but was able to redeem himself with a second chance in life. The second chance required him picking up and leaving behind all that he knew and starting fresh in another state across the country, but he was able to find happiness there. His happiness didn’t last for the rest of his life, which is when his story took a turn for the worse. This turn was even worse than it was when he struggled with drug addition in the beginning of the novel. The main character was able to start a life in another state, which included: attending meetings that helped him remain clean; finding a friend in that meeting that helped him get a job, which propelled him into making good money and eventually be a business owner; getting married and being able to enjoy family life with his wife and her daughter (which he adopted and treated as his own); and living a life he never dreamed he would be able to. This was his new life, a good life, until his biological child came back into the picture. His biological child was conceived during the time of his life that he left behind. This is where the story took it’s turn and is where I personally lost my joy of the read. He thought he would never see his son again due to his ex-girlfriend decision to exclude him due to his previous addiction…boy was he wrong. His being united to his son brings about several “what ifs” from that point until the end of the novel. The story is well written, but storyline at the point of the main character’s son coming into the picture wasn’t my cup of tea. It almost turned into a suspense/horror story at this point. This part of the story dealt a lot with mental health, obsessions, and having to choose between your family post-addiction or your biological child from your time of addiction.
Overall, the book is good enough for me to tell readers to give it a try. My advice is for any reader to read the book for themselves in order to form their own opinion. The ending is shocking, but after you let the ending settle in your mind, the shock value decreases because you can actually see how it ended the way it did.
I personally like how the novel started off showing how a man that struggled with drug addiction, hit rock bottom, but was able to redeem himself with a second chance in life. The second chance required him picking up and leaving behind all that he knew and starting fresh in another state across the country, but he was able to find happiness there. His happiness didn’t last for the rest of his life, which is when his story took a turn for the worse. This turn was even worse than it was when he struggled with drug addition in the beginning of the novel. The main character was able to start a life in another state, which included: attending meetings that helped him remain clean; finding a friend in that meeting that helped him get a job, which propelled him into making good money and eventually be a business owner; getting married and being able to enjoy family life with his wife and her daughter (which he adopted and treated as his own); and living a life he never dreamed he would be able to. This was his new life, a good life, until his biological child came back into the picture. His biological child was conceived during the time of his life that he left behind. This is where the story took it’s turn and is where I personally lost my joy of the read. He thought he would never see his son again due to his ex-girlfriend decision to exclude him due to his previous addiction…boy was he wrong. His being united to his son brings about several “what ifs” from that point until the end of the novel. The story is well written, but storyline at the point of the main character’s son coming into the picture wasn’t my cup of tea. It almost turned into a suspense/horror story at this point. This part of the story dealt a lot with mental health, obsessions, and having to choose between your family post-addiction or your biological child from your time of addiction.
Overall, the book is good enough for me to tell readers to give it a try. My advice is for any reader to read the book for themselves in order to form their own opinion. The ending is shocking, but after you let the ending settle in your mind, the shock value decreases because you can actually see how it ended the way it did.
November 3, 2019
I didn't like the ending. I understand a parent wanting to do everything to protect their child, but the dad saw the signs early on and did nothing about it. I usually love her books, but I couldn't roll with this one. It was a different feel from her usual books.
January 1, 2019
Flesh and Blood!
This book is different than what I’m used to reading from Allison Hobbs but it was an entertaining offering. But then again, Allison’s work is vast and she is not stuck in one genre! It has plenty of twists, turns and surprises which I’ve come to expect from an AH work. This is about family and unconditional love which anyone and everyone who was born can identify with on one level or another.
The characters are complex with weighty issues. This was not just some whimsical and light tale. These are real people! I have to admit that I, myself was taken aback and surprised by the developments and unfolding of this story! Allison Hobbs helps me grow with her works and is my favorite author!
She is a force! Thank You Allison!
This book is different than what I’m used to reading from Allison Hobbs but it was an entertaining offering. But then again, Allison’s work is vast and she is not stuck in one genre! It has plenty of twists, turns and surprises which I’ve come to expect from an AH work. This is about family and unconditional love which anyone and everyone who was born can identify with on one level or another.
The characters are complex with weighty issues. This was not just some whimsical and light tale. These are real people! I have to admit that I, myself was taken aback and surprised by the developments and unfolding of this story! Allison Hobbs helps me grow with her works and is my favorite author!
She is a force! Thank You Allison!
November 16, 2019
A great suspense thriller. I loved how the author developed the main character. Novel had me on the edge of my seat.
August 2, 2024
Malik signed over his parental rights of his unborn child to his ex-fiancé, while serving time. He gets out and meets Sasha, a successful dentist that overlooks his past and welcomes him into her life, which includes her vibrant young daughter, Zoe. Life is going great, until Malik receives a life shattering call about his son, Phoenix.
Determined to establish a relationship with his son, Malik and his family welcome Phoenix into their home. Then, strange things begin to happen in their neighborhood and fingers begin to point to Phoenix. But, the parents don't won't to accept that their son may be a psychopath. Many secrets are revealed and Malik decided to take things into his own hands.
This book was something different from @allisonhobbsbestsellingauthor, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I would venture out and say, this is the best book that I've read by her. My favorite character is little Miss Zoe and my least favorite character was Phoenix. How could a child be so evil?!?!?
I highly recommend this book!
Determined to establish a relationship with his son, Malik and his family welcome Phoenix into their home. Then, strange things begin to happen in their neighborhood and fingers begin to point to Phoenix. But, the parents don't won't to accept that their son may be a psychopath. Many secrets are revealed and Malik decided to take things into his own hands.
This book was something different from @allisonhobbsbestsellingauthor, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I would venture out and say, this is the best book that I've read by her. My favorite character is little Miss Zoe and my least favorite character was Phoenix. How could a child be so evil?!?!?
I highly recommend this book!
February 26, 2019
Where do i start?
This book showed a parents love for his child and all he wanted was to protect him from all the bad things going on in his child head. The child played his parent's at one point and time .Malik started to come to his senses and realize Phoenix was a very troubled child that he could not save as much he tired. This book will take you into some very deep emotions. Please take your time read this book it will teach you alot .Allion Hobbs this is an amazing read .
This book showed a parents love for his child and all he wanted was to protect him from all the bad things going on in his child head. The child played his parent's at one point and time .Malik started to come to his senses and realize Phoenix was a very troubled child that he could not save as much he tired. This book will take you into some very deep emotions. Please take your time read this book it will teach you alot .Allion Hobbs this is an amazing read .
March 24, 2019
Allison Hobbs has done it again!! This book took me longer to read because the story was so real. It's well written and deals with addiction and mental issues. I don't want to give too much away about the story. I recommend to others looking for a good book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
November 8, 2018
Guess I'm the first to read this i Pre-ordered it! Great book wouldn't expect nothing less from my favorite author!
December 24, 2018
They got me with this one. It was an enjoyable fast paced read, and I was shocked by the ending. That was totally unexpected.
January 22, 2019
This novel had me on the edge of my seat page by page. . The characters were so creatively written! This is a page turner for sure. The ending is so shocking, you will never see it coming
February 23, 2021
This book had me on the edge of my seat! If it’s done right I would love to see a movie (are bookworms allowed to say that??)
November 22, 2018
A bit different from her usual novels but I enjoyed it just as much A tale of families apart and coming back together with a shocking twist thrown in for good measure. Questioning what would you if you found yourself in that situation. Shocking and thought provoking. Allison Hobbs never disappoints.
June 11, 2019
This book was so good and cray-cray at the same time! I love when a book makes me flip ahead to the end to read what's gonna happen. I did it twice with this book! LOL I really didn't see the ending happening like it did and that is what made this such a great book. This author is on my favorites list anyway and she rightfully deserves to be there.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews