Stacy's Story

By John J Blenkush

Fiction
Stacy’s Story
John J. Blenkush
2011
246 pages

In John J. Blenkush’s latest novel, Stacy’s Story, the lives of a young married couple are irreparably damaged and changed by one man attempting to cover up a crime. What begins as a two week hiking and camping vacation in Taylor Lake, California quickly turns into a nightmare. Love, survival, and retribution are the main themes of this tale of good vs. evil. In this book, Blenkush exploits the full range of the human experience, from abject fear to unrelenting courage.

Blenkush begins Stacy Freeman’s story near its end: She is in the hospital after giving birth to her son. Even though the nurses and her family encourage her to feed her unnamed baby boy, Stacy refuses to acknowledge him. She is waiting for the results of a DNA test that will reveal the father of her son: her late husband or the monster that held her hostage for five days nine months prior to her son’s birth. From this starting point, the author plunges the reader into the tragedy that changes Stacy’s life forever.

After months of planning their get-away to the Feather River Canyon, Stacy and her husband Cory are faced with the destruction that a major fire has caused to over 44,000 acres of the area. Cory refuses to postpone their expedition and finds an alternative trail at Taylor Lake. The day after their arrival, the couple begins the task of climbing the mountain. When Stacy is unable to make the climb, Cory, an experienced climber and hiker, finds a trail that leads them to the Kettle Rock Summit. As they near the top, Stacy injures her ankle. Cory goes ahead to seek help from the ranger stationed at the fire tower. Stacy makes her slow way up to the lookout, and the couple goes inside the tower, where they meet Brock Tillotson. Brock has no useful first aid material to offer Stacy; plus, his strange, detached behavior gives Cory a bad feeling, so the couple leaves. Brock tells them to stay on the trail as they descend the mountain. Because of his uneasy feeling about Brock, Cory guides his wife off of the trail. It turns outs out to be a fatal decision.

A gun shot changes the course of Stacy’s life during the five terrifying days that Brock holds Stacy captive. The physical and psychological terror he inflicts upon the young nurse forces her to relinquish her dependent nature and take on the hard, callous perspective of a cold blooded criminal in order to save her life. As the days pass, Stacy develops a toughness that morphs into super human courage and a burning desire for revenge.

This story is powerful and emotionally overwhelming. Blenkush stresses his protagonist in every possible way, down to the heartbreaking battle she wages against her maternal instinct in the days before she learns who her son’s father is. And yet, she survives it all. The greatest take away from this book for me is that, even though the main character is a woman, Blenkush allows her to adapt and grow throughout her horrible experience using every resource she comes with as an individual. He does not portray her gender as a hindrance. Stacy is simply a human being doing everything within her power to survive.

Stacy’s Story is an incredible story. I highly recommend it.

Independent Professional Book Reviewers

• Language: English
• Publisher: John J Blenkush
• Release date: Apr 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452414461

John J Blenkush

About the Author John J Blenkush is the author of the critically-acclaimed thrillers; REDDITION. ("an excellent legal thriller" "well-written" "readers will be guessing the outcome until the book's satisfying conclusion" ~ Kirkus Reviews) ("a labyrinth of mysterious characters and unexpected plot twists that will take readers on a wild ride" ~ Independent Professional Book Reviewers) and STACY'S STORY, (“The pages fly by. Stacy’s Story holds the reader in its terrifying, suspenseful grip from the first day the couple sets up their campsite all the way to the explosive climax. With Stacy, Blenkush has created a memorable protagonist who’s appealingly courageous and strong-willed. ~ Kirkus Reviews) ("powerful" "emotionally overwhelming" "an incredible story" ~ Independent Professional Book Reviewers) John is also penning the SOLSTICE SERIES (OF THE HEART, SACRIFICE, BLACK MOON RISING, SONGLINE, and NEW WORLD ("These books are in far better taste and more enjoyable than the popular 'vampire' stories on the market at present. There is intrigue, romance, morals, and encouragement in full in these books. The story grips and does not let go! ~ Patricia M) (Your writing is brilliant. I've never been "addicted" to a book series like yours before!!! I can't wait til the next book is ready. ~ Sarah L) John is currently working on the continuation of the SOLSTICE SERIES, a five-book epic tale of two star-crossed-lovers and the legend of Mount Shasta. He lives in Northern California and loves spending time in the great outdoors. For more information or to become a fan: www.jblenkush.com www.facebook.com/SolsticeSeries