Jailbird [Kindle Edition]

Heather Huffman (Author)

Book Description

A paradoxical blend of light and dark, Jailbird is a warm and humorous tale about the power of hope.

Neena Allen has led a tough life. Born on the reservation, raped and unjustly convicted of murdering her attacker, she survives prison - barely. When an opportunity presents itself, she doesn't hesitate to escape. Presumed dead, she stumbles into a sleepy Arkansas town where she finds refuge with a kind family and glimpses the chance for a real home, a place to belong.

But leading a double life isn't easy, especially when you fall in love with the town lawyer.

To complicate matters further, a tenacious reporter gets too close to the truth and Neena finds herself on the run again. With a manhunt under way and her newfound happiness at risk, Neena is forced to face the painful memories of her past to decide on her future. Should she fight for her new life or give up those she loves to keep them safe?

SPECIAL E-BOOK BONUS: Get a sneak preview of Conrad's story in Heather's new release, Devil in Disguise in the bonus chapters at the end of Jailbird! 

Don't miss these other great reads by Heather Huffman: Throwaway, Suddenly a Spy, Ties That Bind, Ring of Fire, Tumbleweed, and Devil in Disguise!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"You find yourself thrust directly into the action as our heroine escapes from prison and has to find a way to survive on the outside with no one to trust.  Her story comes out bit by bit and I found myself captivated, unable to put the book down because I needed to know more." - WiLoveBooks

"This book tells a very unique story and is very beautifully written." - Confessions of a Southern Mama

From the Author

I often say that Neena Allen, the main character in Jailbird, is my hero. She has a lot of traits I love: wit, perseverance and resourcefulness to name a few.

In the opening chapters of the book, she finds herself starting a new life with nothing to her name - even the clothes on her back have been swiped from a stranger's clothesline. When she settles into a sleepy Arkansas town, her only other possession besides those ill-fitting clothes is a pocket knife, which she's used for everything from cutting her hair to digging up roots to eat.

Neena isn't the kind of person to worry about what she doesn't have; she simply does a mental inventory of the situation and what's around and then turns it into something useful or positive.  
Her resourcefulness is something I aspire to in my own life, although my attempts seldom work out as well as hers.  My chicken coop is a working example of how reality differs from fantasy - it's made from recycled parts and, while functional, it looks more like modern art than a working coop. I'm sure the chickens are hoping I succeed; I have my doubts.

Maybe I'll never reach my character's level of resourcefulness, but I can still aspire to be just like Neena when I grow up.  

- Heather Huffman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 498 KB
• Print Length: 264 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Booktrope Editions (December 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006GWDUHQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,910 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend! January 12, 2012

By WiLoveBooks

Format:Kindle Edition

Jailbird opens in the middle of a jailbreak. You find yourself thrust directly into the action as our heroine escapes from prison and has to find a way to survive on the outside with no one to trust. Her story comes out bit by bit and I found myself captivated, unable to put the book down because I needed to know more. I found it to be a quick read. The story telling is very straight forward, relying more on action than description to move things along. This could have been a dark book, considering the topic, but it is filled with humor and light moments. Neena is a very strong, determined character and she spends most of her time pushing forward, doing what needs to be done, instead of dwelling on the hopelessness of her situation.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!!! February 19, 2012

By Driver

Format:Kindle Edition

This is my second book by Heather Huffman and I couldn't put it down - Heather wastes no time getting into the action! I was immediately intrigued by Neena and found myself cheering for her throughout the story as it unfolded. I highly recommend this book to people looking for a tale with strong female personality, intriguing romance and a bit of fun!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jailbird captivates October 8, 2010

By E. E. Morton

Format:Paperback

This is the first book of Heather's I ever read, and it hits the ground running from the very beginning! We meet Neena in prison where she makes a harrowing escape and ends up leading a "normal" life in a small Arkansas town. Throughout the rest of the novel we find out about Neena's past and how she landed in prison in the first place--definitely an ending you don't want to miss!! Very quick and exciting read with great characters.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Bit of a snoozer...... February 29, 2012

By Paula P. Tanner

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really wanted to like this book given all the 5-star reviews. The beginning was pretty captivating and I found myself quite curious as to what the next turn of events would be for Neena. I was really into it until the 'escaped pregnant wanted felon' decided to turn heroine and not only solve her husband's debacle with his ex-wife but also managed to rescue the blonde bully who made no qualms about disliking her so much. And really? She could eat in so many diners and stay in so many motels (with horses and a child I might add) and not be caught? I skimmed and glossed for the last 10+ chapters, not able to quit but praying for a quick ending.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-warming story for all ages June 24, 2012

By Marina

Format:Kindle Edition

The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received this book free as part of the blog tour.

Neena escaped from prison where she spent almost ten years. Officially, she was dead, eaten by the gators. Unofficially, she ran into a family of "angels". The Torres family accepted her as a part of their own without asking any questions. In the small town, she meets Charlie and his daughter Cara, and soon they become a family. Life couldn't be more happier for Neena.

But her happiness couldn't last forever. She has skeletons in the closet. Ten years ago, she was ordinary girl in a reservation. Until one day she was raped by someone who was member of a wealthy and influential family. She murdered her rapist, and sent to prison. There, she found out that she was pregnant. She couldn't raise her daughter in prison, so she gave her to her brother to raise her as his own.

Now, her past is after her. Police is after her, reporters are after her, her nine years old daughter wants to meet her, the baby is on the way. She has to survive and fight for her life and happiness.

Jailbird is a warm story for survival. A story for hope, for family and friends. For people who stand by your side no matter what. Remember that saying: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"? Your friends and family are always there for you when you need them most. Neena was all alone in that wood. She found friends and a family when she needed them most. She fought her past, for her children, all three of them, for her family, for her right for happiness.

There were also some humorous moments. Neena's daughter had to teach her how to silent the cell phone. Nine-year-olds are really smart.... There were moments of laugh and joy, but also moment of fear, fear for the future, fear from the past.

I loved the narration of the story. Easy to read, floating. Characters were very well described. You can connect with everyone of them. I loved Charlie, and Conrad, and Cara and Gabrielle. It was so easy to love them all.

I've found Neena's story very touching and inspirational. I will recommend this story for everyone. It's a heart-warming story for all ages. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Great premise, but it doesn't deliver. September 15, 2012

By Long Island Lady

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has the foundation for a good story but it missed several opportunities to pull me in emotionally. Neena has a very powerful story to tell. She's an escaped convict who was wrongfully jailed for murdering her rapist. The problem is that she never really tells it. The reader gets the gist of it through bits and pieces of conversations that she has with other characters but we never hear her full story from her.

This is also one of those books where unrealistic things magically happen that conveniently wrap up the story in a neat little package. For example, she's an escaped convict and while on the run she meets a family that take her in with absolutely no questions asked. She also meets a lawyer in town, a single father raising a young daughter, who also accepts her with no questions asked. Not only that, he marries her after a whirlwind romance (that the reader doesn't really get to see unfold). When she tells them the truth, it doesn't matter to any of them. Her 10 yr old daughter, who was born in prison and then raised by her uncle, has never seen or known her real mother. When she is reunited with her, the girl accepts her and even runs off with her to hide from the authorities. These people are a little too good to be true, in my opinion.

Then there is also the notion of how a person who is wanted is able to live such a public life for so long without being caught. I can understand being able to hide out in a small town, but she is also in constant contact with her loved ones (by cell phone and in person) and she even goes out in public to dine. I found it hard to believe that the authorities were not watching her brother and therefore would not have been led straight to her very quickly. I like the idea of redemption and love with no strings attached......but it has to be within a believable context. This was more like a fantasy. Having said all of that, one thing that I think that the book does do well is suspense. The parts where she was on the run were suspenseful and very well written. I just couldn't get past the unbelievability of the rest of the story. Read more ›

More About the Author

Heather Huffman writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense with strong female leads who refuse to lose hope. She sees her books as a way to not only entertain, but to also raise awareness of the realities of modern day slavery. She shares the passion of her resilient heroines to make a difference, and so dedicates both her time and a portion of her book royalties to organizations that fight against human trafficking.

Fans of Nora Roberts will enjoy the characters and stories that Heather creates.

Heather was born and spent her early childhood in Florida, but now calls the beautiful state of Missouri home. Her greatest joy, aside from writing, is to hit the road with her three boys for adventures unknown.

She is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Suddenly a Spy, Ring of Fire and Tumbleweed. You can find out more about her writing and charitable work on www.heatherhuffman.net.