Night Road    by Kristin Hannah Order:  USA  Can St. Martin's, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Joan Burton Fourteen year old Lexie Baill has been in and out of foster care numerous times as her mother is a drug addict. Shortly after her mother's death, Lexie's elderly Aunt Eva comes forward to offer Lexie a home with her. Aunt Eva is far from wealthy, living in a trailer park and making ends meet working at the local WalMart. She can provide love, stability, and a safe place to live. On the first day of school Lexie meets Mia Faraday and they become the best of friends. Mia comes from the rich side of town, but she is shy and insecure, not fitting in well with others. Mia's twin brother Zach, however, is popular and outgoing. Jude and Miles Faraday welcome Lexi into their home and life, treating her like one of their own. The three become inseperable, and before long Lexi and Zach begin dating. Jude is a stay at home mom who is very overprotective. The Faradays have a big beautiful home and it is always filled with teens after school and on weekends. Jude likes to know where her children are at all times and to control their every move. In their senior year of high school, the twins grow more rebellious against their mother. She has strict rules and curfews for them which they don't like. They go to parties where they drink and stay out late. They do things of which Jude would not approve. Coming home from a party, there is a tragic accident and the Faradays' world is torn apart. Lexi accepts full blame and not only loses the boy she loves, but her best friend, and her place in their family. When Lexi is sent off to serve her time in prison, she leaves behind all that she loves. Years later she returns to fight for what is rightfully hers. Jude has become stricken with grief, not living, just existing. The family is no longer close but drifting further and further away from each other. Instead of bringing them together, the tragedy is tearing them apart. Jude has written Lexi out of their lives and becomes revengeful. There is one good thing that is connecting Lexi to the Faraday family and when buried feelings resurface, Jude must decide to forgive Lexi and start living again, or remain the broken shell she has become. Night Road is a heartwrenching story about love and loss, and how it affects each member of a family. It is told with detailed emotion and you will be turning the pages as fast as you can to reach the dramatic conclusion. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews