Surviving Emma

by Jen Atkinson

"An amazing story of growth, love, and devotion, served up with a side of sass and humor. A thoroughly satisfying read with a whole lot of heart." -Julie Wright, author of Lies Jane Austen Told MeSometimes life doesn’t go as planned. Sometimes it’s a complete disaster. A beautiful, unpredictable, life-changing disaster. Life had chosen to pummel Emma Sunday. She didn’t have a choice in her non-existent mother or her cruel drunk of a father. She didn’t mean to get pregnant at seventeen. She didn’t plan on being a single mom. It all just happened.Seven years later, life is still beating Emma. Life can abuse her all it wants though, the only thing Emma cares about is her Dakota. Her girl is brilliant and kind. She deserves the life that Emma couldn’t have. Dakota will be happy and successful—Emma will make sure of it.But Emma never planned on Dakota’s happy and successful life including nosy Aiden Carter, who despises Emma but adores Dakota. The new Deputy has done everything in his power to let Emma know he doesn't like her… until he unexpectedly begins to like her.Carter tries to help Emma believe in herself and to live for more than just her daughter. But it’s hard for Emma to believe in anything but Dakota. And it feels impossible for her to trust her plagued life when her heart begins to fall for Carter. She’s never had anything go her way—so why would this be any different? Will Emma give Carter or herself a chance?**Note from the author-Emma isn’t your typical romantic comedy protagonist. Her heart has been hardened and she makes a lot of poor choices. But this is a story about growth and change. And those mistakes and angry decisions make her change so much more beautiful.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2020

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Emma from the moment I read the first line of this book. She has so much energy, is so vivacious, and I couldn’t help but love her in all her forms. You don’t want to miss this new chick-lit book by author Jen Atkinson! She weaves the stories of her characters in such a way that I feel I am friends with them, that I could run into them on the street.

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving Emma
by: Jen Atkinson
@authorjenatkinson

-I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned. Sometimes it’s a complete disaster. A beautiful, unpredictable, life-changing disaster…

-Surviving Emma, is a dear moving story with all the feels. It has the ability to take you on a journey because real life has been very hard for Emma Sunday. You see, she didn’t have a choice in her non-existent mother or her cruel drunk of a father. She didn’t mean to get pregnant at seventeen. She didn’t plan on being a single mom. It all just happened… 7 years later, life is still so hard for Emma. Yet, the only thing Emma cares about is her sweet daughter, Dakota. Her girl is such a beautiful gift, who deserves the life that Emma couldn’t have. Dakota will be happy and successful because Emma will make sure of it. Emma is a layered character who completely gives up all she has and could have had to protect her broken heart, what’s left of her dignity and most importantly, her sweet little daughter, Dakota. She isn’t always likable and can be a force to be reckoned. Despite the hard, there is beauty, growth, love, hope, devotion, and heart. Thank you @authorjenatkinson for making Emma so uniquely beautiful underneath the many layers she has. Rereading Emma’s story this weekend had me grateful that her story is about great growth and the power of change, making Emma be even more beautiful! This moving story is worth reading and adding to your own library!📚👌❤️

“Cracking Emma’s hard shell to find the softness she kept hidden had been one of the best things l’d ever had a chance to do. I didn’t even know l’d want to do it or that l’a be able to. But somehow, I chiseled away and she allowed me to. Beneath her hard exterior, I had found all sorts of gems.”

•Content: mild language, realities of life as a single mother, heartache, loss, death, mild moments of danger/anger, drunk/verbal abusive father, hard life.

“Aiden Carter stayed when things got hard and he loved us the best he could. And that has made all the difference.”

#survivingemma
#authorjenatkinson
#allaboutthebestreads

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atkinson takes us to the rough and raw side of Wyoming and of emotion. Emma is a mama bear, a grizzly at that. She gives up all she has and could have had to protect her heart, what's left of her dignity and, most importantly, her sweet little Dakota. What I love about Atkinson's books is the complexity of the characters. Some books have a lot going on with multiple story lines or a lot of events happening to one character. In these books, the complexities come within the characters themselves. The stories explore multiple facets, repercussions and relationships affected by the choices they make. You really feel like you really get to know them and want to go out for appetizers with them sometime. Emma may rub you the wrong way (or even scare you a bit) but she is genuine and her journey is a powerful one!

[My_every_day_chilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant drama showing how tough life can get for a single mother.

Drama: 5/5
Romance: 1/5
Chemistry: 3/5
Spice: 0/5 (it's a clean on y'all)
Humor: 1/5
Cry factor: 2/5
Suspense: 0/5

Positive thoughts:
- I love emotional reads, this one was just up my alley. Emma is so misunderstood by Carter that it actually hurts. She couldn't control her temper when he makes things worse, but when Carter finds out the truth and what she has been through he grovels like a man should!
- Some may not like how unlikable Emma is, she is grumpy, angry. But I love her, she has gone through so much, life has not shown her "easy" and that's how she has survived.
- I love how attached Carter gets to her daughter, and how he thinks he's only growing attached to the daughter, but deep down he's want to be near Emma.
- I love Kotes character, she is the adorable daughter, that will make you eat crushed worm pie over dog-hair pie any day!
- I love how Emma survives her life and everything it throws at her, never giving up. And then comes Carter who gives her hope that life can be better, there can be another way of life without suffering and hardships.

Negative thoughts:
- It ended! I always want more from this author. I love her writing so much I don't want it to end. I would have loved an extra chapter or two with them together - I'm a sucker for seeing the couple together especially after seeing them battle the whole book.

Overall:
- This is a drama filled story with growth and finding love. I cannot put this in entirely the romance category, when you write about how hard life as a single mother is, it's a drama, not a fluffy romance. Even if in the end she does get together with her prince charming.
- It's a fast paced read, but may not be an easy read for some, like I said Emma goes through a lot, so check out those TWs.
- It's tragic, it's hard, but it's beautiful. Somewhere in between all the hardships our main characters the strength they need to be courageous and find happiness and love.

TW: poor family, drunk father, abusive father, verbal abuse, hard life

Tropes:
- Drama
- Banter
- Single mom
- Deputy MMC
- Abusive father
- FMC with rough life
- Adorable daughter
- Misunderstood FMC
- Grumpy FMC, sunshine MMC

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know where to begin with this book. I started reading it during a time I was just as stubborn as Emma.

She lives for Kotes. She takes the abuse from her drunken father but knows that she has to do all she can for her daughter...she’s a single, young mom.

Then she meets Deputy Carter. She’s not too pleased with the Florida guy trying to survive Dubois, Wyoming. If you have never been there, it’s a town where everyone knows everyone and their business.

Then she learns a little more about this Deputy and how much he has longed to be a father...

However, along comes someone else who could possibly rock Emma and Dakota’s world!

But it comes down to Emma and Carter both Surviving Emma.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely my new favorite book by Jen Atkinson! The story reached out and grabbed me from the very beginning. I fell in love with the characters (or hated them as the case may be!) and found myself rooting for them every step of the way. They were so real and vulnerable and I couldn't get enough. I laughed out loud, cried and swooned my way through this entire book. I wholeheartedly recommend devouring this clean romance. Your heart will thank me!

[Aimee Blackard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story!

So much to say about this book! It was wonderful! I admit, at first, I had a hard time with Emma and I almost wanted her not to be with Carter, but I realized how awful her life had been and no matter what, Carter wouldn't leave her or Dakota! I think this might be my favorite book so far! I love using Kindle Unlimited and I am grateful for finding this book there, but honestly, it's a keeper! Worth buying! I highly recommend reading it!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!
This is a sweet clean romance. Emma has a lot of fire and strength that gets her through some tough situations. But when deputy Carter comes into town and softens her up he changes both her and her daughter's lives. I love the small town that Emma lives in and the people that support and love her and Dakota.

[Ruth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story

I loved this story of Aiden and Emma I was so happy that Aiden stayed the course and helped Emma to see her worth. Dakota was so lucky to have Emma as a mother. I definitely recommend this book.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read! Emma is rough and raw and lives a hard life. She has a lot to overcome and develop. I loved how this book deals with harsh realities yet I still could escape my real life as I became friends with her!

[Kara Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this book. I loved every bit of it, and yes I cried. Emma’s story was such a good reminder that even when we feel unlovable it doesn’t mean we are! Sometimes we can’t see the good in ourselves and we need others to help us see it. Dakota (Emma’s daughter) was adorable, and I loved the way Carter treated both her and Emma. The heavy topics in this book were handled so well and the romance was delightful! I cannot wait to read more of Jen’s Books!

💙Contemporary Romance
💙Closed Door
💙Mild Infrequent Swearing (no F words)
💙CW: Alcoholism, Verbal Abuse, Death