First Chapter Review: The Art of My Life by Ann Lee Miller

I had the chance to review the first chapter of Kicking Eternity by Ann Lee Miller, which is a prequel of this next book, The Art of My Life. When Ann told me she was going on tour with this new one, I offered to post a  First Chapter Review. Make sure you catch our interview where she talks about her writing and The Art of My Life.

BLURB:  Cal walked out of jail and into a second chance at winning Aly with his grandma’s beater sailboat and a reclaimed dream of sailing charters.

Aly has the business smarts, strings to a startup loan, and heart he never should have broken. He’s got squat. Unless you count enough original art to stock a monster rummage sale and an affection for weed.

But he’d only ever loved Aly. That had to count for something. Aly needed a guy who owned yard tools, tires worth rotating, and a voter’s registration card. He’d be that guy or die trying.

For anyone who’s ever struggled to measure up. And failed.

COVER: Not only does this cover capture the essence of the story, it is a great match for the cover from its prequel, Kicking Eternity. I love the dog, which you'll meet in the first chapter.

FIRST CHAPTER: Cal has just been released from jail, where he spent the past three months for marijuana possession. His straight-laced mother arrives to pick him up. Their reunion is tense, but she tells Cal that his grandma has given him her boat, so he can hopefully start over. His arrest managed to alienate some people he cared about, but doesn't seem to deter the one person he wishes would just go away. He's always loved Aly, and he hopes he can convince her to help him out.

KEEP READING: If you like a story that starts out with tons of conflict, you'll definitely find it in The Art of My Life. Cal's life is a mess. He is just out of jail and has to deal with his perfectionist mother, who thinks she can solve all his problems. He's now owner of a boat, but doesn't have a job. What he does have is his painting and his faithful dog, Van Gogh.

As she did with Kicking Eternity, Miller instantly creates a story filled with characters who tug at your heart, make you angry, or hope they will go away. Because of this strong first chapter, you want to continue to see if Cal can pull it all together.


File Size: 590 KB
Print Length: 280 pages
Publisher: Ann Lee Miller (September 15, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B009BICC2G
SRP: $4.99

I received the first chapter of this book from the author. This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, for which I was not compensated in any way.