Harsh Reality: The Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and Giveaway of Six Years and a Quarter Way Through
About the Book
Author: Cassandre Brissot
Genre: Christian Romance, Coming of Age
Release Date: April 19, 2019
Six Years and a Quarter Way Through is a story about a young woman who’s lost her way. Like many of us, Leah believed that the vision supersedes the process until, at age twenty-six, she stops believing in the vision and the one who gave it to her. Leah has lost her faith, her job, her confidence, and maybe her mind. Utterly defeated and without hope that her dreams to become a star would come true, she meets Trenton Shaw, a rich, powerful, handsome, hot-shot producer who has spent the last six years of his life trying to find her. Leah is weary of Trenton initially, particularly since he is adamant about enlisting her for a new reality show that he is putting together called “Star Quality.” However, after reasoning that she has nothing left to lose, she consents. If she wins the show, she will receive a cash prize, an agent, and most importantly a part in a brand-new feature film; even if she loses, people would still know her name.
Trent and Leah quickly fall for each other, forming an intense and sometimes volatile relationship, which only gets more complicated after she moves into the house she’ll be sharing with her costars and meets Brice. Frightened awake from a nightmare, Leah stumbles into the living room, where she finds Brice looking as haunted as she feels; he confides in her about his dead fiancée, and she in him about her nightmares and anxiety attacks. Her nightmares recur, worsening with each night as the competition intensifies and her relationship with Trent deepens. Gradually it becomes apparent that Leah’s way of getting everything she’s ever wanted may have taken her on a road she should not have traveled.
At its core, this is a story about the journey we all must take: What do we believe? How strongly do we believe it? Will that belief be steadfast in the face of temptation? Although everyone’s story is different, you only either chose to do it God’s way or your own.
Click here to get your copy!
Book Review
I’m not sure exactly what I expected when I started reading
this book, but by the time I was finished with it, I felt like it had more than
exceeded my expectations.
Leah’s character is lost. She’s not where she wants to be in
life, her faith is wavering, she suffers from anxiety, and she’s desperate to get
her life back on track. Honestly, I found her inner conflicts to be relatable.
When we all are desperate, when we all have lost our way, we cling to everything
we can that we think will make us stable again. And that’s exactly what Leah
did. She agrees to be on a reality TV show and ends up in a toxic relationship.
All I wanted to do when reading the book was yell at Leah through the pages and
tell her to break up with Trent.
I personally have been in a toxic friendship before-I know
the signs, and I saw them from the moment Leah met Trent. A lot of what Trent
said to Leah hit way too close to home. And my heart broke for Leah as I watched
her go through that manipulation and pain.
I loved Brice’s character. He was sweet, always looking out
for Leah, and always making sure he was there for her, no matter what. He’s still
dealing with his past, but he uses his pain to help Leah.
Without a doubt, I give this book five stars and would
highly recommend it. It’s relatable and has a lot of good faith messages. I
will certainly be reading more books by Cassandre Brissot.
I had received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate
Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.
About the Author
Cassandre Brissot is the author of debut novel, Six Years And A Quarter Way Through. She completed her bachelor of fine arts in Television and Radio production at the City University of New York Brooklyn College. She then went on to work as a TV production assistant until becoming a flight attendant in 2014, which is the same year she was crowned Miss Black New York USA. Nowadays, she can still be found on set but in front of the cameras, though mostly as an extra, thus far. When she’s not on a set, she’s writing for her blog. She also enjoys dance parties with her young nieces and karaoke, very much.
More from Cassandre
I received my college diploma with a dangerous amount of pride. I was certain that after one of the best years of my life, which included interning at a prominent television network, success on the pageant circuit, and getting cast in and shooting a great pilot, that the world was my oyster. I had the talent, ambition, drive, and connections. Not to mention, I knew God. Why wouldn’t things work out for me?
Nearly two years passed before I was able to gain employment-as a sales associate, in a small boutique. No one would hire me let alone cast me in a project. The pilot I’d banked all my hopes on was never picked up. Each day that went by brought me to new lows. The successes of my friends and former classmates made the pain all the more acute. I was depressed, making terrible decisions in every area of my life, and loosing it. Thinking about my shattered hopes gave me an anxious feeling in the pit of my gut. Often that feeling turned into a full-blown anxiety attack. I was fledgling and inconsolable until The Holy Spirit spoke to me. What’s more important, He asked, the fame and the money or a relationship with Him?
It’s ironic, I called myself a Christian but I never consulted Christ about my life. I prayed for better but never did I ask God what His will was for me. I wanted what I wanted. I didn’t stop there. I wanted God to bless my endeavors regardless of whether it was His will for me or not because it was mine. Everything I’d done to that point answered the question loudly and clearly. I’d lived in yearning for things not Christ. It was heartbreaking coming to terms with that, however it was also the wake up call I needed. I finally understood I couldn’t serve two masters at the same time. I decided to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and the rest of the things would come in His divine time.
The Holy Spirit taught me a lot of things during that season of my life: who you are-your character-is more important to The Lord than where you’re trying to go. Sometimes God will allow you to falter for the sake of truly finding Him, and perhaps most prominently, that nothing matters more than a true relationship with Christ. Six Years And A Quarter Way Through, was born of those lessons and the desire to honor Christ as a witness to His redemptive power and love.
Leah Albanese is a young woman who chooses the things-including the boy who is offering them-over God, but she soon learns that even when you give up on God He doesn’t give up on you.
Blog Stops
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 1
Rebecca Tews, August 2
Splashes of Joy, August 3 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, August 3
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 4
Inklings and notions, August 5
Simple Harvest Reads, August 6 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, August 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Texas Book-aholic, August 8
A Baker’s Perspective, August 9 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 10
For Him and My Family, August 11
For the Love of Literature, August 12 (Author Interview)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 13
Pause for Tales, August 14
Giveaway
Wonderful review, Rebecca! Sounds like one not to miss. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletethank you for such a thoughtful and heartfelt review! If I hadn't wrote it I definitely would read it!!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate getting to hear about your book. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI know what it's like to falter and I I can't wait to read this. It sounds like a great read.
ReplyDelete