Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

When I began this book, I felt some concern about the cavalier way a new widower handed his 6 year old daughter into the care of a woman with two 16 year old sons, but I assumed that author Johnson found this necessary to the storyline. I was even more uncomfortable as the story continued with the woman having little to do with the day to day care of the little girl and putting her boys, along with their 16 year old neighbor boy in charge of the girl's care ...including having the little girl sleep in their bedroom. The boys were typical teens with crude language and an avid interest in the opposite sex and cigarettes. At times their interaction with the little girl, named Baby, was paternal, protective and innocent. At other times, the physical rough housing and constant fingering or brushing of her hair was inappropriate and awkward. Ten years pass, and the now 16 year old virgin is still playing with the 26 year old men and I'm skimming the pages. One of them beats her up badly and another rapes her; no penetration takes place that first time except with his fingers, but she kept telling him she wanted to stop and he didn't stop. At 16, she has a miscarriage due to the beating and the 26 year old "boyfriend" asks her if she wants more babies..."dozens of babies". She asks, "Can I finish High School first?" He smiles at her and replies, "Maybe, maybe not." At this point I'm ready to vomit all over the book. Baby misses senior prom because she's pregnant again and the author seems to want me to think, ah, isn't that sweet, they're so in love they can't wait. DISTURBING is the kindest word I can come up with to describe this book. The story had the potential for an interesting plot but took a wrong turn! It seemed to me the author was trying to convince readers that something sordid and sleazy, not to mention illegal, could be beautiful and sweet. I'll never try a book by Johnson again.