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ONE SMALL VICTORY
Life can change in just an instant. That's the harsh reality that Jenny Jasik faces when her son is killed in an automobile accident, but never in her wildest dreams did she ever expect to be working undercover as a member of a drug task force. She is, after all, just a mom. But don't discount what a mom can do when the safety of her children is at stake.
This book was inspired by a true story of a woman who worked as a confidential informant and helped bring down a major drug dealer in her small town. It is an amazing story of one woman's courage.
This book was inspired by a true story of a woman who worked as a confidential informant and helped bring down a major drug dealer in her small town. It is an amazing story of one woman's courage.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2008
46 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Maryann Miller
48 books552 followersMaryann Miller writes the critically acclaimed Seasons Mystery Series that debuted with Open Season, and continued with Stalking Season, Desperate Season, and the recently released Brutal Season.
See all of her titles at her Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Miller...
Follow her there and on Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marya...
Miller has received the Page Edwards Short Story Award. Placed first in the screenwriting competition at the Houston Writer's Conference. Was a semi-finalist at Sundance and in the Chesterfield Screenwriting Competition.
For fifteen years she was the theatre director at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts, where she directed adult and youth productions and coordinated the annual Kidzz On Stage Summer Drama Camp.
Miller also likes to be onstage and has appeared in numerous productions. Her most recent role was Big Mama in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
When not working or playing on stage, Miller enjoys reading and quilting and coloring. She lives in Texas with one dog, and four cats. The cats rule.
See all of her titles at her Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Miller...
Follow her there and on Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marya...
Miller has received the Page Edwards Short Story Award. Placed first in the screenwriting competition at the Houston Writer's Conference. Was a semi-finalist at Sundance and in the Chesterfield Screenwriting Competition.
For fifteen years she was the theatre director at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts, where she directed adult and youth productions and coordinated the annual Kidzz On Stage Summer Drama Camp.
Miller also likes to be onstage and has appeared in numerous productions. Her most recent role was Big Mama in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
When not working or playing on stage, Miller enjoys reading and quilting and coloring. She lives in Texas with one dog, and four cats. The cats rule.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 26, 2013
Powerful.
Jenny is a single mom raising two sons and a daughter the best she can with no help from their father. She’s the owner of a flower shop and leads a pleasantly mundane life…until the day her oldest son dies in a car crash.
ONE SMALL VICTORY is the story of her journey from grieving mother to confident woman. Along the way she must confront her deepest fears, come to terms with the loss of her son and help her remaining son and daughter accept their changed life.
I won’t go into detail because each step along her journey is like turning a corner and meeting the unexpected, and I don’t want to ruin the emotional impact of each of those steps Jenny takes. Suffice to say, this book will grab you by the heart and hold you until the final resolution.
Jenny is a single mom raising two sons and a daughter the best she can with no help from their father. She’s the owner of a flower shop and leads a pleasantly mundane life…until the day her oldest son dies in a car crash.
ONE SMALL VICTORY is the story of her journey from grieving mother to confident woman. Along the way she must confront her deepest fears, come to terms with the loss of her son and help her remaining son and daughter accept their changed life.
I won’t go into detail because each step along her journey is like turning a corner and meeting the unexpected, and I don’t want to ruin the emotional impact of each of those steps Jenny takes. Suffice to say, this book will grab you by the heart and hold you until the final resolution.
Read
March 20, 2011When Jenny's son is killed in an auto accident, she descends into grief. Drugs are found in the car, and Jenny - a regular mom who works as a florist - goes undercover to take down the drug ring. How much will revenge cost her?
Based on a true story, Maryann Miller eloquently shows grief changing to anger, and victim to victor as Jenny struggles to figure out what's important in the life she has left.
Based on a true story, Maryann Miller eloquently shows grief changing to anger, and victim to victor as Jenny struggles to figure out what's important in the life she has left.
July 29, 2014
Well-done story of a woman leading a double life and risking both her life and her relationships to do what she thinks is right
October 23, 2012
***SPOILERS CONTAINED IN THIS REVIEW***
Being an avid reader of comics in my time (although less so these days), there has always been one aspect of the superhero genre that has interested me – the double life. It has always been a somewhat torturous aspect of many superheroes. Sure, they may get to save lives and fight the bad guys (and girls), but what about their civilian life? How does it affect the lives of those they care about? This is a theme that I think was brilliant explored in the Spider-Man comics, as Spider-Man often found himself missing an important date or other event because he had to fight a villain, and Peter Parker was often accused of being a coward when trouble started and he ran away, the public not knowing that Peter Parker was actually the one saving their lives.
This is why I was most intrigued by the storyline of One Small Victory by Maryann Miller, it may not be a superhero story in the “traditional” sense, but it does deal with the subject of a double life. But not only that, it also deals with one woman’s desire for closure and seeking justice for her son’s death.
When her son, Michael is killed in a car accident, Jenny (and her family) is torn apart. Learning that the driver of the car was involved with drugs, and realising that these were the cause of her son’s death, Jenny just can’t sit back, knowing the dangers out there. She therefore joins with a special drug task force to help track down the criminals and bring them to justice – but she never imagines the effect it would have on her life, or her family.
Jenny has to be respected as a heroine. Rather than sit around letting the loss of her son drive her into a deep depression, she makes a stand, deciding that she will prevent this happening again (or do so to the best of her ability) and do what she can to protect her own children from this horror. It may seem like a rather hasty move, joining a drug force, but her motivations are completely justified. And I also liked the fact that Jenny didn’t just get a gun and go guns blazing, killing every drug dealer she comes across Punisher style (which has been done too many times in my eyes).
Despite her best intentions, Jenny quickly realises the stress of the situation. Throughout the book, we see her leading two lives and trying to hard to keep them apart. As well as working as an undercover agent in the drug trade, she has to still be a mother to her children and do all the things a single mother has to do to protect her children (Jenny is divorced by the way). But the fact that she has to lie to her children almost tears a hole in her family, as well as eats away at her inside. Throughout the novel, we hear Jenny’s thoughts and feelings, her guilt and even her self-doubt. Whilst she puts on a strong exterior, Jenny is screaming inside and it can be really painful for her at times. But she never forgets why she is doing what she does and we, as readers, support her every step of the way.
The effects of Michael’s death truly takes the toll on the family – particularly in the younger son Scott. He becomes much more aggressive towards Jenny and is constantly harassing her for the truth. Sometimes, the situation between Jenny and Scott becomes really heated – but I can understand Scott’s anger. The family need support after Michael’s death, and Scott feels that Jenny isn’t around that much to be the strong support the family needs. Everything that Jenny does seems to make it worse, and yet if she could only tell the truth, it may make things a little easier. That’s where the tragedy of the piece comes from. It’s brilliantly written and never once ceases with the drama, making you want to carry on reading to find out whether it has a happy ending or not.
I also thought it was a nice touch to see the life of some of the drug dealers that Jenny had to “work” with and there were a few chapters that showed them doing tasks on the orders of other drug barons. Even though they were only short ones, I liked them because they actually showed you that the drug dealers weren’t necessarily the villains, they were just doing what they had to because they were dealt a bad hand – ala, The Wire. There were a couple of characters that I wished could have stayed with the story a bit longer, but overall it was good that the author did this and didn’t just go with the “drug dealers are evil” storyline.
This is a powerful story and it’s not hard to see why Maryann Miller is an award winning author. It kept my interest the whole way through and I would gladly recommend this book to anyone.
Being an avid reader of comics in my time (although less so these days), there has always been one aspect of the superhero genre that has interested me – the double life. It has always been a somewhat torturous aspect of many superheroes. Sure, they may get to save lives and fight the bad guys (and girls), but what about their civilian life? How does it affect the lives of those they care about? This is a theme that I think was brilliant explored in the Spider-Man comics, as Spider-Man often found himself missing an important date or other event because he had to fight a villain, and Peter Parker was often accused of being a coward when trouble started and he ran away, the public not knowing that Peter Parker was actually the one saving their lives.
This is why I was most intrigued by the storyline of One Small Victory by Maryann Miller, it may not be a superhero story in the “traditional” sense, but it does deal with the subject of a double life. But not only that, it also deals with one woman’s desire for closure and seeking justice for her son’s death.
When her son, Michael is killed in a car accident, Jenny (and her family) is torn apart. Learning that the driver of the car was involved with drugs, and realising that these were the cause of her son’s death, Jenny just can’t sit back, knowing the dangers out there. She therefore joins with a special drug task force to help track down the criminals and bring them to justice – but she never imagines the effect it would have on her life, or her family.
Jenny has to be respected as a heroine. Rather than sit around letting the loss of her son drive her into a deep depression, she makes a stand, deciding that she will prevent this happening again (or do so to the best of her ability) and do what she can to protect her own children from this horror. It may seem like a rather hasty move, joining a drug force, but her motivations are completely justified. And I also liked the fact that Jenny didn’t just get a gun and go guns blazing, killing every drug dealer she comes across Punisher style (which has been done too many times in my eyes).
Despite her best intentions, Jenny quickly realises the stress of the situation. Throughout the book, we see her leading two lives and trying to hard to keep them apart. As well as working as an undercover agent in the drug trade, she has to still be a mother to her children and do all the things a single mother has to do to protect her children (Jenny is divorced by the way). But the fact that she has to lie to her children almost tears a hole in her family, as well as eats away at her inside. Throughout the novel, we hear Jenny’s thoughts and feelings, her guilt and even her self-doubt. Whilst she puts on a strong exterior, Jenny is screaming inside and it can be really painful for her at times. But she never forgets why she is doing what she does and we, as readers, support her every step of the way.
The effects of Michael’s death truly takes the toll on the family – particularly in the younger son Scott. He becomes much more aggressive towards Jenny and is constantly harassing her for the truth. Sometimes, the situation between Jenny and Scott becomes really heated – but I can understand Scott’s anger. The family need support after Michael’s death, and Scott feels that Jenny isn’t around that much to be the strong support the family needs. Everything that Jenny does seems to make it worse, and yet if she could only tell the truth, it may make things a little easier. That’s where the tragedy of the piece comes from. It’s brilliantly written and never once ceases with the drama, making you want to carry on reading to find out whether it has a happy ending or not.
I also thought it was a nice touch to see the life of some of the drug dealers that Jenny had to “work” with and there were a few chapters that showed them doing tasks on the orders of other drug barons. Even though they were only short ones, I liked them because they actually showed you that the drug dealers weren’t necessarily the villains, they were just doing what they had to because they were dealt a bad hand – ala, The Wire. There were a couple of characters that I wished could have stayed with the story a bit longer, but overall it was good that the author did this and didn’t just go with the “drug dealers are evil” storyline.
This is a powerful story and it’s not hard to see why Maryann Miller is an award winning author. It kept my interest the whole way through and I would gladly recommend this book to anyone.
October 22, 2012
A First Class Thriller
Jenny is devastated when her son, Michael, is killed in a car crash. Discovering that the driver was high on drugs increases her grief and intensifies her awareness of the danger to her remaining two children. She notices the pushers hanging around outside the school with the police apparently doing nothing about it. When she later finds out the police are forming a task force to catch the dealers, she persuades them to recruit her.
She has absolutely no idea what she is letting herself in for!
I enjoyed this book very much. It is very well-written with good, accurate prose, a well-constructed plot and excellent characterisation. I was very drawn to Jenny as she gradually gets caught up in the vicious underworld of the pushers, unable to confide in her friends and family, who begin to distance themselves from her as her behaviour becomes more and more bizarre. The tension builds when Jenny’s remaining son, Scott, decides to follow her to find out what she does on her frequent absences from home. Add to the mix the increasing attraction between Jenny and Steve and the interference of her ex-husband and you have the ingredients for a first-class thriller.
This is the first book I have read by Maryann Miller. It will not be the last.
Jenny is devastated when her son, Michael, is killed in a car crash. Discovering that the driver was high on drugs increases her grief and intensifies her awareness of the danger to her remaining two children. She notices the pushers hanging around outside the school with the police apparently doing nothing about it. When she later finds out the police are forming a task force to catch the dealers, she persuades them to recruit her.
She has absolutely no idea what she is letting herself in for!
I enjoyed this book very much. It is very well-written with good, accurate prose, a well-constructed plot and excellent characterisation. I was very drawn to Jenny as she gradually gets caught up in the vicious underworld of the pushers, unable to confide in her friends and family, who begin to distance themselves from her as her behaviour becomes more and more bizarre. The tension builds when Jenny’s remaining son, Scott, decides to follow her to find out what she does on her frequent absences from home. Add to the mix the increasing attraction between Jenny and Steve and the interference of her ex-husband and you have the ingredients for a first-class thriller.
This is the first book I have read by Maryann Miller. It will not be the last.
April 26, 2017
I hesitate to give this book four stars because there were several aspects of it that I didn't appreciate, but I love the message that a "normal" person that decides to step out of their comfort zone and push themselves for a cause they believe in can accomplish great things.
The basic premise of the story is a mother who loses her teenage son to a car accident involving a driver who was using drugs decides to team up with the police and take on a major drug cartel. As a result she ends up neglecting her other children, but of course it all works out in the end.
There is more language in this book than I expected and the story line is fairly predictable, but the positive messages in the story and realism of the characters make it entertaining and enjoyable.
The basic premise of the story is a mother who loses her teenage son to a car accident involving a driver who was using drugs decides to team up with the police and take on a major drug cartel. As a result she ends up neglecting her other children, but of course it all works out in the end.
There is more language in this book than I expected and the story line is fairly predictable, but the positive messages in the story and realism of the characters make it entertaining and enjoyable.
March 5, 2013
This is one of those books that make me go back and reread passages. Not because I didn't get it the first time, but because I did. Maryann Miller's writing often made me go back to enjoy certain words or ideas again. Only my favorite authors can do that.
"One Small Victory" is a simple story. I'm going to do something, one small thing, about the local drug culture that killed my son. It turns out to be not very easy. Relationships with every person in her life become strained, but Jenny persists. Those relationships, beautifully portrayed with great insight, are what make this story become personal with the reader.
This is a book I will keep on the shelf; it will not end up in a yard sale.
"One Small Victory" is a simple story. I'm going to do something, one small thing, about the local drug culture that killed my son. It turns out to be not very easy. Relationships with every person in her life become strained, but Jenny persists. Those relationships, beautifully portrayed with great insight, are what make this story become personal with the reader.
This is a book I will keep on the shelf; it will not end up in a yard sale.
March 29, 2011
This is a heartbreaking story about one Mothers struggle to pick up the pieces of
her life after her son is killed. She in an incredible woman who fights to prevent
other senseless teen deaths. However, in trying to save the "world" she starts to lose
her other children. This story feels honest and real. I enjoyed it while it also scared me as I am a mother of 2. I highly recommend this book.
her life after her son is killed. She in an incredible woman who fights to prevent
other senseless teen deaths. However, in trying to save the "world" she starts to lose
her other children. This story feels honest and real. I enjoyed it while it also scared me as I am a mother of 2. I highly recommend this book.
August 13, 2012
After a soccer mom loses her teenaged son to a drug-related car crash, she channels her energy into cleaning up the streets of her town. The catch? She can’t tell anyone what she’s doing. Jenny’s circle of family and friends notice the changes in her, but one misstep and her entire family is at risk.
This is a gripping and at times gritty journey into the world of confidential informants. Miller keeps the tension and emotion high as she raises the stakes.
This is a gripping and at times gritty journey into the world of confidential informants. Miller keeps the tension and emotion high as she raises the stakes.
June 22, 2013
Could have been a spectacular book. unfortunately, it wasn't
April 19, 2023
Bir aksiyon değil, polisiye değil, suç değil, kara kitap değil, rom-com değil, bilemiyorum.
Bir çocuk, uyuşturucu etkisinde araç kullanan arkadaşıyla birlikte kaza geçirip ölüyor, ve anne de uyuşturucu çetesini polisle işbirliği yaparak çökertmek istiyor vs. Ama nasıl kötü bir anlatım, çeviri ve redakte!
Aşağı yukarı cümleler şöyle: bunu unutması gerekirdi… ama unutabilir miydi… tanrım keşke unutabilseydi… unutmak için şu an neler vermezdi…
Böyle :)
Bir çocuk, uyuşturucu etkisinde araç kullanan arkadaşıyla birlikte kaza geçirip ölüyor, ve anne de uyuşturucu çetesini polisle işbirliği yaparak çökertmek istiyor vs. Ama nasıl kötü bir anlatım, çeviri ve redakte!
Aşağı yukarı cümleler şöyle: bunu unutması gerekirdi… ama unutabilir miydi… tanrım keşke unutabilseydi… unutmak için şu an neler vermezdi…
Böyle :)
February 4, 2024
Fast moving
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It held my attention from beginning to the end. My eyes were leaking a bit as well.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It held my attention from beginning to the end. My eyes were leaking a bit as well.
March 18, 2017
The story reads like a documentary from a piece of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) literature. The characters take a long time to develop and so does the plot. This book might have fit better in the Inspirational genre than crime suspense except for the fact that I never really felt the pain and anguish of the players. Too much was simply told with a lack of color and brush strokes. Like I said earlier, it read more like a documentary. The passion that should have (could have) been there, isn't. Still glad that I dusted this off the back burner and gave it a read; it was overdue.
February 17, 2017
Jenny Jasik’s life is turned upside down when she loses her son in a driving accident. Her son Mike was in a car with his friend driving while high on drugs. It is a shocking news that leaves Jenny feeling helpless and with the realisation that the streets were not safe for anyone, including her two remaining children, till drugs were freely available. While grieving for her son, Jenny decides that she needs to do something to ensure that it does not happen to anyone else. Once she clears a physical test, she is able to join as an undercover agent with the drug task force. From then on her life takes a different turn. Unable to confide in anyone, Jenny starts living a dual life. But those around her are observant and know that something is amiss… Will Jenny be successful in her job as an undercover agent, or will her other life as a single working mother be in the way?
The premise of the story is just so awesome. Not the fact that a teenager was driving under the influence of drugs or the death of an innocent boy, but the idea of an average single mother taking up the responsibility of cleaning the streets free of drugs. I mean, at first you feel that the idea is just absurd – a single mother with three kids and no previous training whatsoever working as an undercover agent – too fantastical. But as you look further, you are forced to stop and think. Everyone knows that a ‘Mother’ can do anything for her child. So why would it be so surprising that a mother who has lost her son to drugs, would want to clean up the streets? On the other hand the story also revolves around about how a family deals with an untimely loss of life. While Jenny goes out hands and limbs, living a dual life, her younger son becomes possessive and rebellious to cope with it. The lies cause an increased stress level all around and while they are trying to deal with it individually, they are also trying to deal with it as a family.
The plot is complimented by the constant pace and smooth flow of narration. But Jenny is a character that actually holds everything together. Her strength, her will, her attitude and even her self-doubting moments make her a character who is easy to warm up to.
Drama, action, suspense, romance – this book has the right mix of every essential aspect of life. It’s an entertaining read that touches a chord somewhere deep.
The premise of the story is just so awesome. Not the fact that a teenager was driving under the influence of drugs or the death of an innocent boy, but the idea of an average single mother taking up the responsibility of cleaning the streets free of drugs. I mean, at first you feel that the idea is just absurd – a single mother with three kids and no previous training whatsoever working as an undercover agent – too fantastical. But as you look further, you are forced to stop and think. Everyone knows that a ‘Mother’ can do anything for her child. So why would it be so surprising that a mother who has lost her son to drugs, would want to clean up the streets? On the other hand the story also revolves around about how a family deals with an untimely loss of life. While Jenny goes out hands and limbs, living a dual life, her younger son becomes possessive and rebellious to cope with it. The lies cause an increased stress level all around and while they are trying to deal with it individually, they are also trying to deal with it as a family.
The plot is complimented by the constant pace and smooth flow of narration. But Jenny is a character that actually holds everything together. Her strength, her will, her attitude and even her self-doubting moments make her a character who is easy to warm up to.
Drama, action, suspense, romance – this book has the right mix of every essential aspect of life. It’s an entertaining read that touches a chord somewhere deep.
September 10, 2020
This is the first book of mine that was published in hardcover by Five Star/Cengage back in 2008, with the cover seen here. Then I released the e-book in 2010 with a new cover.
The story of Jenny Jasik and what she did to rid her small Texas town of drugs has always been special to me. Perhaps because I'm a mother and couldn't imagine doing what she did. Her son had just died. She was deep in grief. Yet, she found the strength and courage to be pro-active in the fight against the influx of drugs.
Now, the book has been updated and more recently re-released as an e-book, in hardcover, and paperback by Next Chapter Publishing. I'm thrilled that more people are able to read the story of this incredible woman. It was inspired by a true story, and I still marvel at that woman who channeled her grief into action.
One Small Victory: Large Print Edition
...
The story of Jenny Jasik and what she did to rid her small Texas town of drugs has always been special to me. Perhaps because I'm a mother and couldn't imagine doing what she did. Her son had just died. She was deep in grief. Yet, she found the strength and courage to be pro-active in the fight against the influx of drugs.
...
Now, the book has been updated and more recently re-released as an e-book, in hardcover, and paperback by Next Chapter Publishing. I'm thrilled that more people are able to read the story of this incredible woman. It was inspired by a true story, and I still marvel at that woman who channeled her grief into action.
...
One Small Victory: Large Print Edition
August 25, 2016
Benim beklentimin çok çok altında bir kitaptı ne yazık ki.... Arka kapağındaki yazıyı okuyunca aha dedim işte bu! Güzel bir intikam okuyacağım ama nerde ? Kitap, bir Annenin oğlunun uyuşturucu yüzünden ölmesi ve bunun sonucunda yaşadığı bunalım , polise uyuşturucu baskınında yem olarak yardım etmesini konu alıyor. Son sayfaları biraz gerilim açısından yoğundu o yüzden 2 puan veriyorum yoksa 1 verecektim. Kitabın baş karakteri çok zeki , güçlü bir kadın aslında ve oldukça cesaretli. Yazar daha farklı kurgulayabilirdi.
Belki seven olur , meraklısı okuyabilir yine de
Belki seven olur , meraklısı okuyabilir yine de
January 27, 2016
This was a nice little book, but not great. A young college boy is killed in a car accident. The driver is under the influence of drugs. The rest of the story is about the toll this death takes on the family as they try to go one. The mother becomes an undercover confidential informer for the police task force fighting drugs. An interesting story line, but I thought a bit beyond belief. Even so, I enjoyed the book. As would be expected, everything is good in the end.
November 19, 2011
Thriller about a woman who is devastated by the death of her son. Well written but I felt the plot was a bit far-fetched.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews