Roxy's Story

<a href="https://readasaurus.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1459070464i/18565492.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alwaysbeebooked/" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/NeniaCampbell" rel="nofollow noopener">Twitter</a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aficionenias/" rel="nofollow noopener">Facebook</a> || <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nenia-Campbell/e/B00AWVRKMS" rel="nofollow noopener">Amazon</a> || <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mightbeamisprin/" rel="nofollow noopener">Pinterest</a><br><br><br><b>DNF @ p.77</b> <br><br><br><br>I wasn't expecting a story about a teen escort written by Andrew Neiderman posing as V.C. Andrews to be good... but man, this was really not good. I blame Trash Nenia, of course. Trash Nenia and Drunk Nenia are responsible for 99% of my bad purchasing decisions. Trash Nenia buys dumb books "because it could be fun" and Drunk Nenia goes shopping on Amazon while drinking wine, which means I end up with way too many books like these.<br><br><br><br>ROXY'S STORY is about the eponymous Roxy, a sixteen-year-old girl who gets kicked out of her house by her militant father after he's had the last straw with her stealing, acting out in school, and raising hell with the boys. She ends up going to live in the slums where she catches the attention of a sleazy scout who likes that she's part French and thinks she's the prettiest girl he's ever seen and would be great for-- you guessed it-- escort work. Gag. And yes, he knows how old she is, and doesn't care. Double gag.<br><br><br><br>This is terribly written. Roxy talks like a fast-talking jaded dame in a film noir, and not at all like a teenager. It has a pulp fiction vibe-- not pulp fiction like the movie, but pulp fiction like the actual mass-produced novels from the 50s and 60s that were drowning in sleaze. I guess if you're into those types of books, you might enjoy this, but they were always too trashy even for me and my bodice-ripper-loving ass. I'm calling it quits now because I'm starting to get annoyed with this whole hot mess. The only thing this has in common with V.C. Andrews is the irrationally douchebag parents and the doormat mom. Family saga, this is not.<br><br><br><br>1 star

Bleh.<br /><br />That pretty much sums up this series, another desperate money-making attempt to cash in on a long-dead woman's name. V.C. Andrews only completed 8 books in her lifetime (including her sci-fi novel) and started several more that the ghostwriter finished.<br /><br />Now there are over 70 books under her name. So this means 90 percent of these titles are the ghostwriter's. If this is not overkill, I don't know what is. The poor woman has been dead for over 25 years and some ignorant readers still think she is alive/writing these, which is a disgrace as the current books (and these written in the last decade) do not even begin to compare to Ms. Andrew's own work, or even the ghostwriter's early work (the Cutler series)<br /><br />Where do I even begin? VCA was known for her family sagas, and for a while the ghostwriter continued that tradition. I genuinely enjoyed the Cutler and Landry series, and even the Logan series. What made VCA so compelling was the twists and turns and family secrets, and how an innocent person could be profoundly affected by dark family legacies.<br /><br />No more. The recent books, these since the Logan series, have been nothing but tween garbage, with a rare decent/so-so book here and there (i.e. Broken Wings) and many, many GOD-AWFUL books (Midnight Flight, Broken Flower series, April Shadows series, Heavenstone series, the Kindred series, the Secrets in the Attic series, Into the Darkness)<br /><br />This Forbidden series has been a wee bit better, but it is still extremely lackluster even compared to the ghostwriter's own work, let alone Ms. Andrews' work. This book leaves much unanswered. It was kind of interesting reading about Roxy's dealings with her father and her escape from home and her getting into the lifestyle of an escort, but Neiderman, as always, fails to do research, or if he did any, it was woefully inadequate, and the characters are flat. Not only that, but the family dynamics are never really explored here.<br /><br />We never really get to understand why Mr. Wilcox was such a jerk, and what was really disappointing about this series was that there was never any real resolution to these family issues, because in the first book, Mr. Wilcox dies before anything is really brought to light or resolved. On top of that, Mrs. Wilcox gets cancer and chooses to not undergo treatment even after she was reunited with Roxy, making her a completely unlovable character, it's hard to feel sorry for someone who is so spineless. I mean, seriously, you're not going to TRY to fight for your daughters? This stupid woman literally stood aside and let her husband throw her elder daughter out of the house, without lifting a finger of resistance, pretty much. Eff you, Mrs. Wilcox, and good riddance because you're not fit to live anyway.<br /><br />I didn't mind reading about Roxy's life becoming an escort, but I really wish there had been more of a backstory here with her parents so that we could understand the story better. There is frequent antagonism between Roxy and her father, and I have to admit, if I were in her place, I would probably have acted the same because Mr. Wilcox is a utterly unlikeable d-bag, but we never really learn or understand WHY he is such a jerk. In the earlier series, we got to see how and why people became villains, so while it did not excuse the bad things they did, it helped us to understand them better.<br /><br />While it was nice having a story from Roxy's POV so we could see things from her, like I said before, the series does not offer much in the way of depth, and we are still left with plenty of questions and things hanging. And as has been the trend of the ghostwriter's books, the ending is really cliched and rushed.<br /><br />All in all a very uninspiring, lackluster series, and one I can't recommend because it will just leave you feeling unfulfilled. Stick with the original series written by VCA. Don't let the blurb on the cover fool you, it is a BLATANT lie as this woman has been dead since 1986 and her name has just become a cash cow (one whose milk is running dry)

thought this book was okay it wasn't as good as VC Andrews other books

<a href="http://elleayess.blogspot.com/2014/04/VCAForbiddenSeries.html" rel="nofollow noopener">My Original Post</a><br /><br /><b> Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD! </b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have read and reread everything that VCA has put out. Both the works she wrote herself and that written by ghostwriter Andrew Niederman. It's certainly true that even the real VCA wrote trash, but I have to say that slowly, each book has managed to outrank the last with it's absolute awfulness (If that is even a word. If it's not, I am making it one).<br /><br />Since I have restricted myself to only reading books that I have never read before and now allowing myself any rereads for all of 2014, I decided to get a hold of all the VCA books that I have been behind on; starting with Daughter of Light (the sequel to Daughter of Darkness). The Forbidden series did not disappoint me because I went into it expecting nothing but desperation and randomness with a splash of garbage thrown in. <br /><br />I wanted this series to be good. I really did. But it just failed on so many levels. <br /><br />Starting out with the story of a girl who has been raised as an only child (despite having an older sister), I felt like I could relate to our main character and narrator Emmie. She tells her story of a overbearing father who threw out said older sister because she was a wild child who broke the rules, failed at every subject in school, got arrested for shoplifting and had a lot of premarital sex. I was taken back to the mid to late 90's when teenage boot camps were all the rage for parent's looking to punish their unruly teens with a does of "tough love". <br /><br />As Emmie tells us of how she has no friends, lives like a grunt in a boot camp (but with nicer clothes, a loving french mother and access to a lot of wine), and wonders daily about her mysterious older sister, I waited for the "big secret" to be revealed. Maybe this secret sister was actually Emmie's mother and she had been raped. Maybe her father had raped his own daughter and Emmie was the result. Or maybe there would be some other really fun "OMG!" moment. That moment never came. <br /><br />Instead both of Emmie's parents die and her secret sister steps up to the plate and decides to take on the responsibility of raising her teenage sister in her hotel/apartment. Meanwhile, this forbidden sister reveals that she is a high class call girl and will be making Emmie leave and stay hidden when she has "clients" over to their apartment to entertain. <br /><br />When I finally got to Roxy's Story, I was just as unimpressed, still expecting major plot secrets to be revealed. Maybe the evil father wanted her out because he had been molesting her. Maybe she would be raped by some random street rat. Instead I got a story of a teenage girl who got a lucky break when an aging madame takes her on and improves her so she can become said high class call girl. Oh, and she doesn't have to have sex with her clients unless she wants to. Talk about softening the blow. <br /><br />I can't even comment on the - in my opinion - unfinished work that is The Forbidden Heart. <br /><br />VCA had no problems being politically incorrect and I think that is why people adored Flowers in the Attic along with the rest of her work. After she died, a few decent series came out with family secrets galore. Somewhere down the lie, Andrew lost the spark that made him fall in love with VCA and decided that secrets weren't worth reading. <br /><br />Take this series as you wold the last few: with a grain of salt and a large glass of wine,. You'll need the salt to give flavor where there is none and the wine to forget everything you just read. <br />

I was a huge fan of VC Andrews back in the day and I've read most of her stuff (even though I knew it was a ghostwriter) over the years. Each one gets worse and worse yet I still keep reading them. This one was beyond awful.<br /><br />I didn't realize this was the second book in a series but I don't think I will bother with reading the first one. If the writing is any indication of what I will expect I will pass as I can't get back the 2 hours I spent reading this book. If you can call it reading as I skimmed through most of it.<br /><br />Maybe I'm just getting old but the teenage angst storylines are wearing thin.<br />Usually the VC Andrews books have a wicked mother but this one has a wicked dad who kicks her out. And she deserved to be kicked out, IMO. She became an escort which I'm guessing is supposed to be shocking but to me really wasn't. Perhaps if the writing was a little better (has the ghostwriter gotten a ghostwriter?) it might've pulled me in more and I would've skimmed less.<br /><br />I would've given more of a review if I could remember any highlights. Unfortunately, there were none.

<a href="http://bookandbroadway.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow noopener">Blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/bookedj" rel="nofollow noopener">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/jessicabeckett" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a><br /><br />Review also found <a href="http://bookandbroadway.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-roxys-story-by-vc-andrews.html" rel="nofollow noopener">here</a>. <b>(*1.5 stars)</b> Although the second book in <i>The Forbidden</i> series, a prequel leading into the end of <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/15801684.Forbidden_Sister__The_Forbidden___1_" title="Forbidden Sister (The Forbidden, #1) by V.C. Andrews" rel="noopener">Forbidden Sister</a>'s central plot-line, is immensely better than its (highly dull) predecessor it is still a deeply flawed and sloppy attempt at a novel. Roxy is far more fascinating to read about than Emmie, this much is true, tripping over itself on multiple occasions. I had a lot of problems about it--the pacing, the lack of actual development, the shortage of anything remotely campy beyond the escort plot. <br /><br />Needless to say, I wasn't a fan. Another problem I had with this book was its excessive use of 'what-ever' which, I have no actual problem with such a mundane phrase and say it frequently myself. It just felt like it was constantly thrown about in the conversations and not just characters who were younger. I wouldn't think twice if it was merely Roxy consistently tossing it about but it was literally every character, including the professional ones who were apparently meant to be much more eloquent than they were. But, if you were wondering, this was irrelevant to the central points of the story and are neither here nor there at the end of the day.<br /><br />That being said, I can't stress enough how bland this era of V.C. Andrews* is. I'm not going to stop saying things like, hey, maybe we should stop using her name as a property when she is long dead. I don't have the energy to continue saying this. There were times in <i>Roxy's Story</i> that felt all too familiar and generic; there were times when it felt like a classic spin on V.C. Andrews' lush and creepy, campy dramatics, but for the most part this was one of the worst novels I've read this year. I had moments where I was truly invested in it (Roxy's training, her relationship/friendship with Mrs. Brittany and her ill granddaughter) but for the most part it was utterly forgettable and not only lacked any coherency, it was just pointless. <br /><br />If you're going to flesh out a character--the only one from the series who has even the smallest bit of intrigue to them--you shouldn't half-ass it. Ultimately, that's all <i>Roxy's Story</i> was: a half ass attempt at an origin story.

This book was disappointing-totally unbelievable storyline. Finished only because I felt the need to see the authors conclusion- won't be reading any more of the current V. C. Andrews books.

<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1545747102ra/26807414.gif" width="250" height="200" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Possible Spoilers Ahead<br><pre>I LISTENED TO THE AUDIOBOOK AND THE NARRATOR WAS INCREDIBLE</pre><br><br>I am a huge fan of VC Andrews' books. I even read all the ghostwriter's and most are pretty good if not great. But I find this one to be a little ridiculous. Of course none of them are overly realistic, as they are fiction, but this one is just so off that it was annoying. I felt like I was rolling my eyes through every chapter. Here are my thoughts:<br><br>Roxy is only 17 when the story starts and a typical cynical brat. She is still in HS committing silly crimes, mouthing off to teachers, and sleeping around. She gets kicked out by her (broodingly handsome * domineering) Father due to all of this. She then ends up at Madam Brittany's High Class Escort Service due to being discovered for her beauty and potential.<br><br>Then, in a matter of days, she is revered by the toughest French woman on the Planet. She hasn't even graduated High School yet and is expecting her first upper-class Frenchman John to propose. Even though she makes childish sarcastic statements left and right (Odd that he even liked her as much as he did). Why is she even of thinking of marriage in 12th grade? Especially after stating that she faked it for all the boys she slept with because she just didn't care. And she did not want to turn out like her submissive mother. So yes, let's go for an older Sugar Daddy type to avoid that future. Especially when your job requirement is to sit down, shut up, and listen. Sure, we can all be swept off of our feet. But it is a very rare for even an old fashioned type girl to want to be married to an older man while still a High School Senior. They may fantasize about it for their future goals but not then and there at such a young age. Especially a girl who is verging on Feminist.<br><br><pre>My mind kept drifting (just like in this review :) during the entire book. I found myself going off on tangents every time Roxy praised herself. Her cooing about all the awe she inspired from every character she came across.</pre><br><br>And of course there always has to be a physically handicapped beauty in the Andrews' books. And again another oddity that this innocent (or not so innocent) girl chooses this beyotchy girl to latch onto and admire. Out of ALL the other escorts. <br><br>Had Roxy been more likable and humble I may have liked it more. Just being beautiful and raised wealthy by an elegant French Woman does not make the world infatuated with you. But a man wrote this so who knows? Maybe they have a different take on what a woman requires to be considered incredible. I just don't buy that Madame Brittany would think so. Once she started to bow at Roxy's feet I lost respect for her.<br><br>I think her getting kicked out (I was partially on the father's side on this one) due to being an immature, disrespectful, spoiled, teenager was unnecessary. Had she ran away (or graduated and moved out) due to her overbearing father and been naive and "Sweet Audrina-ish" it would have been more believable to me. Perhaps if he threatened to disown her and she just wanted to try it on her own. Instead it was like Megan Fox (In <i>Jennifer's Body</i>) turning into a tame, vulnerable, elegant, sophisticated woman. It was just too hard for me to swallow. You may feel differently and if so this could be your book. <br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1545750025i/26807637.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="9c6cdaca-97fc-42ff-8f4a-2a3e84a1fd52" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="9c6cdaca-97fc-42ff-8f4a-2a3e84a1fd52">Murderous Boyfriend Stealer</label><br><br>To me the entire thing is not in line with even the Ghostwriters' books. But I gave it a 3 because I still finished it and it held my interest.<br><br><b>Wah Wah</b></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

Boring as batshit. You'd think a novel about a professional escort to the rich &amp; famous would at least be entertaining (because let's be honest: nobody reads VCA to wallow in finely crafted feasts of language), but nope. This was so fucking dull. <br /><br />The Ghostwriter had a legit chance to harken back to Quality VCA like Heaven, Dawn, or Ruby with sexual politics &amp; mid-20s heroines, but nope. Instead Roxy spends the entire book 17 years old, sitting around at a beautification/elocution bootcamp run by an aging madam, &amp; makes friends with a crippled girl. Then, somewhere around pg 250/370, she meets the love of her life, &amp; they sit around in France until pg 330/370, at which point Roxy summarizes her career &amp; the entire plot of Emmie's book before devoting 3 pages (literally) to close her tale &amp; reunite with her Twu Wuv. ? WTF IS THIS? I couldn't even figure why Roxy needed to be tutored; everything she said, did, &amp; knew was highly praised by every instructor as proof of the innately superior being her French mother's blood created. Puh-lease. <br /><br />This whole Forbidden Sister duo has been sadly disappointing. The idea was a great one, but the new-style Ghostwriter books (read: generic YA crap about whiny teenagers &amp; kissing) are totally insufficient to carry the type of plots long-time VCA readers expect. The Ghostwriter's age &amp; lazy story-crafting have totally ruined the amusing soapy legacy of the VCA brand, &amp; I won't be reading any more of the ones that were published after they retired the 5-book format. Out of the 7 (I think?) new-breed VCAs I've read, I've given only one 4 stars, &amp; that was because I rounded up. It's just not worth the effort.

Very typical VC Andrews fluff, but much better than the last few I've read. I find that I don't have high expectations of these books after 25 years of reading them, but I cannot stop myself from buying them when I see a new paperback in a CVS or a grocery store. And then I devour them in a day or so. I do think whomever the ghost writer for this book is did a much better job than most of the others in the last four years or so. Roxy's world is described w/ typical opulence enough so that it keeps you reading. I was actually surprised that there wasn't more viciousness anywhere in this story. Her father's is an unlikable jerk, but usually there are more sinister characters in a VC Andrews story, and considering the scenario of a modern-day geisha/high priced escort service, there seems like there should have been a lot more opportunity for true conflict/ horror elements to the plot. So, "it was ok", and two stars is a very on-the-mark rating for this novel.