BOUND BY GUILT by C.J. Darlington

This was a great sequel to this author's debut story, "Thicker Than Blood"!  I loved how the author continues to use the "antiquarian" book world in her story line and picks up where her first book left off, although the main characters are all new to this story.  I also love whoever does her book covers.  Although this story doesn't have a lot of "happy moments", it is very well done and shows the real world of some foster care children and the heartache and longing they have for a real loving family.

Roxi Gold is a teenager who has been moved around in foster care until a relative finally takes her in.  But her new "family" travels the country stealing rare books from bookstores and Roxi tries her best to fit in and do what she can to help them so that maybe she will be accepted, loved and cared for.  But something goes tragically wrong and Roxi finds herself taking off and fleeing her family.  Where she ends up and what she finally finds is very heartwarming.  Don't want to spoil anything, but this was a great story of forgiveness and unconditional love.

This was a story with a lot of intense moments.  It was hard to put down and walk away from.  The author did a great job of bringing this story to a great ending.  The Biblical aspect of love and the ability to provide forgiveness even under the worst of tragedies was very well done and precious to read about.   I appreciate the author's thoughts at the end of the book, how she came up with the unusual story line and how her characters become real to her as she writes.  Great job!  I look forward to the next book in this series.