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Rumor has it that Melina Druga came out of her mother’s womb with a pen in her hand. While we can neither confirm or deny this, you could say she was destined to become a writer.
Melina was so young when she began writing that she can’t remember exactly when the urge began. She does remember, however, her first novel – an historical fiction story about two sisters living in an Ohio canal town in the 1840s – that she wrote at age 10.
Music keeps Melina sane, and it has gotten to the point that she cannot write without it. It keeps her awake, alert, motivated and productive. Music has even inspired her fiction. And not just The Rock Star’s Wife series. The My Chemical Romance song “Mama” was the inspiration for her historical fiction novel Angel of Mercy.
Melina lives in the Midwest with her husband, daughter, black cat, books and CD collection.
Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite
Melina Druga presents the journal entries of Cassandra Economos in Sexual Awakening. The first book in The Rock Star’s Wife series begins with Cassandra's first interest in boys and sex at the age of fourteen. Living in a traditional Greek family, most of her relatives are neighbors and work in a restaurant in Sterling, Illinois. Cassandra’s sister Vanessa has been secretly meeting with her boyfriend, which is against the family rules. Cassandra covers for her sister and eventually chooses to date Keith in secret. After discovering Keith’s infidelity, Cassandra meets Todd and eventually has sex with him. When Todd graduates and is headed to law school, she tries to break off their relationship despite Todd professing his love for her. Cassandra continues to date while frustrating her parents with her pro-choice and anti-marriage views. The journal entries stop when Cassandra faces a major dilemma in her life.
Melina Druga creates a realistic view from the perspective of a teenager with Cassandra’s writing. Her actions are typical of the rebellious adolescent who lacks parental supervision. Out of all the people Cassandra dates, I liked Todd the most. He genuinely considered Cassandra’s feelings and never pressured her into doing anything she didn’t want to do. Her parents kept using Vanessa as a warning to Cassandra. Her cousin Maroula seems to operate in another universe. Socially, she is awkward and Cassandra tends to avoid mixing with her. The high school activities and interactions are realistic. I could easily imagine the rumors and ridicule that take place between teenage cliques. Every character is well-developed. I look forward to the sequel to see what direction Cassandra picks next. I recommend Sexual Awakening to readers who enjoy realistic stories involving young adults who are finding their paths.
