After having read and reviewed a particularly unreadable book of short stories, a book that should have been written in invisible ink to protect potential readers from its awfulness, I scoured the internet for an antidote. I found one in Kelly Hitchcock's "The Redheaded Stepchild." By the time I got to page 4, I felt my blood pressure lower and the knot in my stomach dissipate. With wild gratitude I was reminded that yes, there are still amazing writers left in the world.

Hitchcock's power of obs More...

[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook from Kelly Hitchcock in exchange for an honest review.]

Sometimes, after reading fantasy and science fiction you lose sight of the fact that normal life makes good fiction as well. The Redheaded Stepchild is just that: a tale about normal life out in rural America, which is also applicable to rural Canada. And as someone who grew up in a very rural area, I can say with absolute certainty that Kelly Hitchcock portrays rural life incredibly well without any More...

The Redheaded Stepchild is a well written coming of age story. The characters are intriguing and the story is captivating. I enjoyed the author’s detailed descriptions throughout the book. The relationships in this story are both entertaining and devastating. Although I couldn’t put it down, I do want to say that is was a good read, but emotional as well. It reminded me of trying to read while on a roller coaster.

The story jumps back and forth in time, from the present to Cady’s memories of the More...

This review originally published in Literary Treats .

Kelly Hitchcock’s The Redheaded Stepchild is an impressive collection of short stories that moves back and forth in time to chronicle the strained relationship between Cady and her stepmother Katrina. It’s difficult to categorize Stepchild as either a novel or a short story collection — while each story stands alone, all the stories combine to form a cohesive narrative thread. I love the dual meaning in the book’s title — Cady is certainly a More...

For those of you who have never read a Kelly Hitchcock story you are going to be in for a treat. For those of you who have read one of her stories you will find this one a great read that you won't be able to put down until you finish it (and I had to read it again to make sure that I didn't miss anything).
I love Kelly's stories for the way she paints vivid pictures with her words. It's almost as though you are there, walking alongside her main character Cady as she heads back to her rural home More...

Kelly Hitchcock is a gifted writer, able to create a memorable sense of being there in the world she creates on the page, or virtual page, as I read Redheaded Stepchild on a Kindle. Her characters leap off the page, the real world problems of a step family are described in unforgettable detail. The obstacle character is a wicked stepmother giving the story the quality of a modern day fairy tale, and I personally love fairy tales. In addition, one gets a glimpse into the world of beauty pageants. More...

Catherine O'Donnell wants what we all want...to be loved. This tale made me want to wrap young Catherine in a hug and tell her it's going to be OK. Her stepmother is a character you'll love to hate as you experience those awkward teen years through the lens of a girl who just needs a mother's unconditional acceptance.

This book is for you if you loathe toddlers & tiaras. This book is for you if you know what it's like to grow up poor. This book is for you if you, like Catherine, value your s More...

As I started reading I was immediately drawn in by the narrative. I liked Cady's voice and her dry sense of humor. I enjoyed her descriptions and observations. Each chapter is a snippet of Cady's life that shows how certain people and events can shape a person as they grow. Many of the events she describes explore her family relationships, both with her natural family and her step-family. The characters and relationships seem very realistic. The story is not particularly dramatic, yet I found my More...

A well written coming of age novel which offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of beauty pageants and the often complicated relationship between step-daughter and step-mother.

I found this author's excellent detailed descriptions and realistic character depiction truly gripping. And though this story jumps back and forth in time, which I found a bit confusing at first, I still wanted to read more.

Overall, a good read if you like realistic characters and insights into life in a small town, More...

Everyone who knows me knows I love all things true and real. And what Hitchcock has created with The Redheaded Stepchild is just that. Her words are raw, and her voice unique. It doesn't take long for the reader to become Cady. To feel her pain, her joy. To laugh, to dream with her.

The collection of shorts are written at varying times of Cady's life and help to paint a picture of her past and all that she hopes to have (and escape from) in her future.

Hitchcock's novel was pure literary enjoyme More...

An excellent book from Kelly Hitchcock! I felt like I was journeying through life with Cady, feeling every emotion with her. I couldn't help but feel hopeful, yet jaded with Cady as she meets her new stepmom, and I understood the love hate relationship Cad had for her stepmom as Cady grew up. Kelly paints vivid imagery of the house Cady lived in, the town, her friends, her relationship with her Mother, and most importantly her relationship with her Father to make the story so realistic. I can't More...

Kelly Hitchcock did an excellent job with the realism and humanness of her characters in this collection of short stories. While the stories were not particularly uplifting, they give you a glimpse into the life of Cady through her teen years and a little beyond, and her somewhat complicated relationship with her stepmother in a blended family. There's an overarching sadness throughout the book, but in the end, you know Cady will be just fine.