About the Book

Book: A Thousand Lies

Author: Kathy Cassel

Genre: YA

Release date: June 19, 2022

For talented teen photographer Bailey Collins, small-town life is good if predictable. Great friends. Loving if overly-protective parents. Academic and artistic success. An amazing new boyfriend.

Until a school field trip to a Chicago photography exhibit turns upside-down everything Bailey has believed about her life. Why are the baby pictures missing from her own past exhibited under another child’s name? Who is this elusive artist whose own identity appears as much a mystery as her exhibit? Or the hostile stranger bizarrely claiming to be Bailey’s birth father?

Above all, if everything about Bailey’s life is a lie, who are the people she has always called Mom and Dad? And if they can’t be trusted, how can she trust the loving God in whom they’ve taught her to place her faith? As a mountain of unraveling lies place both Bailey and those she cares about in danger, she sets out on a peril-filled quest to expose the truth. Will uncovering her true identity bring the closure and purpose Bailey seeks—or turn out to be the worst mistake of her life?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Kathy Cassel is author of more a dozen fiction and non-fiction titles for preteens and teens, including 2021 Selah Award finalist Freerunnerand the iParenting award winner Christian Girls Guide series. Kathy has lived on three different continents with her USAF husband, has eight children, five adopted from Haiti and the United States, and six grandchildren. To better relate to her characters, she enjoys learning their skills such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving, and riding a motorcycle, but draws the line at sky diving.

More from Kathy

A book begins in my head long before the actual writing starts. For A Thousand Lies I had a vague idea in my mind of a girl discovering her parents weren’t her actual birth parents and setting out on a journey to find the truth.

I kicked the idea around in my mind for longer than I’d like to admit before writing A Thousand Lies. I chose three teens for main characters, Bailey, Reese, and Draya, and I chose NYC as the alternative setting because I fell in love with the city after my first visit there a few years ago.

After several drafts, I felt the story was a strong one and ready for publication. But as I lay watching my clock go around one night, a thought hit me. “What if the birthfather didn’t die in prison? What if he’s alive and free and comes after both Bailey and her birthmom?” And that started a rewrite that led to the completed YA novel A Thousand Lies.

I hope that my readers will find both the characters and the plot compelling as they join Bailey’s quest to find out her true identity.

MY REVIEW

I enjoyed reading this book that has danger, mystery and valuable life lessons. It is a great look at a young teen who suddenly doesn’t really know who she is. Everything her parents have told her is a lie and Bailey is on a quest to find out the truth. As I read the book I thought of this saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” What would it be like to suddenly find out your parents weren’t your real biological parents and the name you have always gone by is suddenly not the name you were given at birth? 

The author delivers great characters that are relatable. Bailey is a very determined person and I admired her for stepping out of her comfort zone to find answers. However I do think it was a bit unwise for her to travel by herself to a city that is crowded and at  times unsafe.  Draya is definitely a good friend and helps Bailey even though their methods were a little on the shady side. Getting a fake ID and giving Bailey a lot  of  money wasn’t the best idea they had. It put Bailey in a position where she lied to her parents, her boyfriend and took off to a big city all alone. 

What did shine in the story were  friends who were there when you needed them and finding God in the midst of danger. I loved the part where Bailey finds herself at a church. The encounter between her and the pastor is really what the story represents. Bailey has been searching for her identity but never realized that God had a plan for her life. As she finds herself in danger God was there to protect her.

 This may be defined as a young  adult book but I think adults would enjoy reading it as well. The ending is very emotional and delivers a message of forgiveness and second chances. Never give up hope and continue to seek God’s wisdom as you face trials. Bailey is someone who many will discover was lost but now is saved.

“Choose to believe you were created as a masterpiece even when you don’t feel like it.” 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Books, Books, and More Books, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

The Book Club Network, October 8

Inklings and notions, October 9

deb’s Book Review, October 10

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 15

Blogging With Carol, October 16

For Him and My Family, October 17

SusanLovesBooks, October 18

Book Zone Reviews, October 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize of a $40 Books-A-Million Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/21e03/a-thousand-lies-celebration-tour-giveaway