A genuinely flawed female heroine is given a second chance to pursue her life-long dream in Marjorie Duryea’s A Little Blues Story from the Jersey Shore. Liz has always wanted to be a full-time jazz and blues singer, a dream that she missed pursuing sixteen years ago when she was given a unique chance. Things could have been different if she never got pregnant and had to live with a horrible mother-in-law. She is deeply in love with Rocky and her twins, but when she gets a second chance at embracing her heart’s deepest desire, will she sacrifice everything for it?

This ingeniously plotted novel is brimming with humanity and it features a protagonist that is believable and genuinely flawed. Readers will love Liz, a woman who experiences emotions that are common — a strong sense of disappointment, the fear of failure, self-doubt, and love. The author writes a setting that becomes alive in the imagination of readers and a world punctuated by music. Streams of consciousness meld with the intelligent use of flashbacks to offer a dazzling portrait of Liz’s life. Her inner world is written in detail and the author’s deft handling of motivation fuels the conflict at multiple levels. Marjorie Duryea’s A Little Blues Story from the Jersey Shore offers a fascinating mix of superb characterization, the messy minutiae of everyday life, and the ache of pursuing a passion. Marjorie Duryea breathes a strong sense of life into her characters and writes scenes that are not just focused but resonant. This is one of the few books I have read through the night, hoping the protagonist lives up to expectations. You’ll be entertained and enthralled by this evenly paced, realistic fiction.