I received this book free from the author through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. This was a well-written book about the workings of the child welfare system, social workers, lawyers, and the courts when a child is removed from the home of a drug addicted mother. We see the long process of deciding whether to place the child back into the home or terminating rights and placing the child for adoption. This book brings forward the use of methadone in the rehab of a drug addict and how social workers, lawyers, and the courts feel about its use. I would have preferred less intimate details about the judge and her partner’s relationship. All in all this was an interesting and well-written book. ( )

Aggravated Circumstances is an intriguing story about the child welfare system and the affect it has on four women when an emotional circumstance within the system arises that intertwines their lives. Author Michele Shriver utilizes her legal experience to weave a fascinating and realistic tale told in the alternating first and third person narratives, that captivates the reader's attention as they follow this emotionally charged story about one drug addicted woman's attempt to get clean and reclaim her child who has been put in the child welfare system, and the three women who work within different areas of the system.

The main portion of the storyline delves into the story of Devin Lenox, a young stripper who is a relapsed drug addict. Devin has lived a hard life, the demon she fights is drug addiction. Five years ago Devin had her parental rights terminated for her first born daughter Emily. Now five years later, Devin finds herself working the system to maintain her parental rights for her twenty-two month old daughter Hannah. This time she wants to prove that she will not fail as a parent.

The three women who are brought into Devin's circumstances all work within an area of the child welfare system. As the three women walk a fine line in this new case involving Devin, each has her own demons that she is fighting.

Elisa Cahill is an attorney who has battled depression, and is slowly rebuilding her law practice. Devin asks Elisa to represent her in her drug and parental rights case.

Taylor Ross is a state social worker with the New Hampshire Division For Children, Youth and Families. Taylor has a history with Devin, she was the social worker that was called to work the original case five years ago, and is once again called to work this latest case involving Devin. Taylor's demon is that she has become jaded to the system and its process. Taylor's demanding job has left her struggling to find a balance between her work and having a social life.

Sarah Canfield is the presiding judge in the juvenile court system. Sarah has a history with Devin that causes her concern in regard to the new case that is brought before her. Sarah and her partner Kelsey used to be registered foster parents when she was an attorney. They have a nine year old adopted son named Ryan, and a five year old adopted daughter named Emily. Elisa had handled the adoption of Emily for Sarah and Kelsey after Devin's parental rights were terminated, and Taylor had been the social worker on the parental termination and adoption case.

This is a riveting story that transports the reader into the interconnected lives of these four women as they balance the process of a life altering issue within the child welfare system with their own personal affairs. I really enjoyed that the storyline alternated between Devin's first person perspective with the third person perspectives of the other three women. The reader can't help but become emotionally invested in the four women's lives as they work through their personal and professional struggles.

I think the author provides the reader with a storyline that is emotional and dramatic; with four realistic, vibrant and different women whose interconnected lives and personal stories speak to the reader's heart; and an accurate portrayal of the inner workings of the child welfare system that draws upon the reader's compassion.

Aggravated Circumstances is a compelling and touching story that will resonate with you for a long time.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/06/aggravated-circumstances-by-mi... ( )

Child welfare services are responsible to making sure that children live in a safe, healthy environment. When that isn't the case, they may remove a child from home and place the child in a safer location. In many cases, a family member is able to step in to care for the child. Others go into foster care. If the parent is able to show the ability to regain custody, the child is usually returned to the parent. If not, the child may be placed for adoption or will remain in the foster care system. Sometimes, though, a child is returned to his or her parent and may suffer further damage.
When AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES begins, 22 year-old Devin Lenox is at home with her two-year-old daughter, Hannah. Responding to a complaint from a neighbor about drug use and a child in the home, police arrive with a search warrant. They find Devin high on drugs, syringes and other drug paraphernalia littering a table, and Hannah in the corner, crying and in soiled clothes.
Taylor Ross, a social worker with the state Division for Children, Youth, and Families, is called in to take Hannah while Devin is taken into custody. Devin is very upset when she realizes what's happening; Taylor was also involved in taking her first child from her five years previously. Taylor phoned Judge Sarah Howton-Canfield to get a court order to take Hannah. There is no other family member available. The father is in jail for felonious sexual assault; Hannah was conceived through his raping Devin. Devin later explains she decided to go through with the pregnancy because she wanted to prove she could be a good mother.
When Devin gets to jail, she calls attorney Elisa Cahill to help her regain custody. Elisa and Taylor have a negative history between them which the author brings up at least half a dozen times before saying what started it. When Taylor learns that Elisa is the lawyer, she calls her to advise her that the person who adopted Devin's first child is the judge. It turned out that Elisa handled the adoption after Devin had lost her parental rights.
Taylor is very concerned about what happens to children who are bounced among foster homes; she was one of them. But she also is very concerned about returning a child to what may become a dangerous environment.
In order to regain custody, Devin finally realizes she must make major changes in her own life including getting off drugs, getting job and education, and assume responsibility for her own actions. She also must learn to trust other people as well as herself. She enters a recovery program and is put on Methadone. Unfortunately, the Methadone program takes a year to complete. The decision about permanent termination of parental rights is in six months. Some representing the state firmly believe her previous history condemns her permanently.
Sarah and her wife, Kelsey, also have a nine-year-old adopted son. While their lesbian marriage is discussed the same way it would have been for a straight marriage (while I really appreciated), one day he mentions another boy talking about him not having a dad. I would think that point would have been discussed when he was much younger.
AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES presents a window into the way the DCYF treats people and cases. It also shows how one incident can affect so many people in so many ways. It went beyond the basic story and told about the personal lives of the main characters as well in a style that added to the story. I think it was well written (except for all the comments about Taylor and Elisa's history).
I received this Early Reviewers book via LibraryThing and Smashwords. ( )