An Invincible Summer


Fiction - Womens
364 Pages
Reviewed on 10/19/2015
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Betta Ferrendelli is the author of the award-winning Samantha Church Mystery Series, featuring The Friday Edition, Revenge is Sweet, Dead Wrong, Cold Case No. 99-5219 and On the Border, which published in April 2020.
The Friday Edition was named one of the best Indie books of 2013 by Kirkus Reviews; won the Readers' Favorite 2014 Gold Medal Award in the Fiction, Mystery, Sleuth category and earned best mystery in the 9th annual National Indie Excellence Awards for 2015.
Cold Case No. 99-5219 won the 2018 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal in the Fiction, Mystery, Murder category, and was a finalist in the 13th annual National Indie Excellence Awards, mystery category.
Betta is also the author of two award-winning contemporary women's fiction novels: An Invincible Summer and Last Things.
She has been an award-winning journalist since 1989, having worked at newspapers in Denver, Seattle and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite

An Invincible Summer By Betta Ferrendelli is a beautifully written story told with great emotion. Jaime Monroe finds herself in controversial waters when she hears that a local reporter, Leigh Roberts, plans to have her daughter, Ashleigh, forcibly sterilized to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Jaime is horrified that a parent could want such a thing for their child. She decides to quit her position in a DA’s office and represent Ashleigh. She wants nothing more than to save the child from unnecessary surgery. The question of Ashleigh being capable of such a rational decision is obviously in question; after all, she is considered retarded. But how retarded is she?

What is Ashleigh truly capable of accomplishing? Jaime wonders if anyone has cared enough to evaluate the beautiful child’s abilities. Where is her father? Does he even know what his ex-wife is planning? Leigh will find out how capable Ashleigh is due to a totally unexpected event, and one wonders will she reconsider her determination to force Ashleigh into agreeing to such invasive surgery?

The story is a wonderful mix of emotions, crucial decisions, courtroom scenes, romance and compassion. Betta Ferrendelli has captured the roller-coaster ride that Ashleigh’s vulnerable state and situation has created. Will her mother win the battle to prevent Ashleigh enduring unwanted pregnancies and what is the real reason behind her plan to do this? All these questions and more are answered in a caring and empathetic manner as the story reaches the conclusion. To discover what happens you really need to read this book. I loved the story after initially being horrified that a parent could consider such treatment for a child. However, as the story progresses, all is revealed. Great read.

Roy T. James

An Invincible Summer by Betta Ferrendelli starts with Jaime Monroe, a young prosecutor at the DA’s office, showing resolve as well as resourcefulness in cracking a case of rape and bringing the culprit to justice. Her attention falls on Ashley Roberts, a girl with disabilities, who is being pressurized by her mother to undergo sterilization. Here, too, Jaime takes on the role of a savior to produce some tense moments of court room drama, with total disregard to her personal prospects, in providing a commendable defense for Ashley. The story goes on to a convoluted and eventful ending.

Excellent narration (I never felt the pages fly) and the presence of strong characters capable of evoking our heartfelt sympathy and admiration are the high points of this book. The suspense, drama and the larger than life imagery connected with the justice department are presented with skill. All the events and protagonists are developed with a good amount of attention and care so that the reader, at no time, feels them separate from the plot. The issues related to the contentious area of eugenics are handled rather well and in an uncontroversial manner.

Tracy A. Fischer

Wow! That is the word that came to mind when I put down An Invincible Summer by author Betta Ferrendelli. This book was an absolutely fantastic read and one that I was engrossed with from the very beginning! Follow the story of young attorney Jaime Monroe, a rising star in the Denver District Attorney's office, as she is faced with a difficult issue. A local reporter is moving forward with plans to have her developmentally disabled daughter, Ashleigh Roberts, sterilized against her will. Something about the situation affects Jaime in a way she couldn't have anticipated, and she agrees to represent Ashleigh, giving up her career in the DA's office. The legal battle that the two young women are waging will change the lives of many, and the outcome couldn't have more life-impacting consequences. Readers will be glued to the pages, waiting to find out how the story will end.

I loved this book. Loved. It. Author Betta Ferrendelli has done a fabulous job in creating characters that her readers will connect with, relate to, and continue to think about long after the book is done. If that isn't the hallmark of a wonderful author, I don't know what is. Once I picked up An Invincible Summer, I simply could not put it down and read it from start to finish. The author's understanding of the workings of the legal system certainly shines through, and there were points at which I felt I was actually in the court room. Any reader who loves a great work of fiction should definitely read An Invincible Summer. I was excited by author Betta Ferrendelli's work, and can't wait to pick up the next book penned by her. If you give this book a chance, I am sure that the author's work will be on your must-read list as well!