Valerie Williamson is known as the Anti-social Social Worker by her colleagues at Lawrenceville Regional Hospital. After a traumatic event, she closed off her world sixteen years ago to everyone, except her cat, Gabriel. She is more comfortable with the dead than the living and her job as a deceased patient coordinator keeps her content. Everything changes when she is forced to start a trauma … trauma support group. How can she comfort people with trauma, when she can’t even talk about her past? And then, the death of 19-year-old Carmen Davidson leaves questions that eat away at her every thought. With her walls down, she let the detective she’s been pushing away get close to her. With all of this, can Valerie keep her boundaries from blurring?
“It’s heavy yet inspiring; it’s dark but it’s beautiful, equipped with the right pacing, angst, and a bit of comedy.” -Risah Salazar for Readers’ Favorite
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I was immediately hooked into Boundaries (Scope of Practice Book 1) by Jessica Aiken-Hall. Because I am a survivor. Even though Val is the star of this show, Maggie’s story was similar to my own. This book can seem quite raw for those that have never faced these ghosts, but people cannot write about things they do not know. You should know you are not alone. If you are a survivor this story will resonate with you. I had to keep checking myself to make sure I remembered who I am today. A survivor. Great book, it will make you think.
5 Star
Boundaries (Scope of Practice Book 1) by Jessica Aiken-Hall is a fast past mystery that once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. My emotions were all over the place I felt like I was right there with them. Valerie is a woman who has had trauma in her life. She’s a Social worker and is actually more comfortable with the dead than living. She’s been asked to run a trauma support group. She finds her boundaries are tested . Find out what happens next in this absolute must read. I truly enjoyed this Book and look forward to reading more from this Author.
Boundaries by Jessica Aiken-Hall
Four Stars
Boundaries is the first book in the Scope of Practice series by Jessica Aiken-Hall. This is the first book I have read by this author, but definitely won’t be the the last. The story flowed and the characters were relatable. I was suck right in from the very first page and didn’t put the book down until the last. This story was full of suspense and has many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I love a mystery that is predictable and this really hit the spot. Valerie Williamson is a very original character that I found very interesting. I look forward to reading what comes next by Ms.Aiken-Hall. If you like a good mystery this is a great book.
Boundaries (Scope of Practice)
by Jessica Aiken-Hall
This book took some unexpected turns and had me hooked early on. Valerie is a social worker, who keeps people at a distance because of things that happened to her in her past. She does have a cat that she is very close to. She is told she has to run a trauma support group and she finds herself apprehensive in her ability to this. This story deals with some serious issues that might be difficult for some people. There are also other characters in this book that help bring this story to life. Valerie finds that some boundaries are getting blurred in certain situations. I don’t want to give anything away so I will just say that this is a must read and I cannot wait to find out what’s coming next. This is a well written story that has your emotions going up and down throughout the story. I highly recommend this book.
Boundaries is the opening act to Jessica Aiken-Hall’s Scope of Practice series that will haunt you for a very long time and you will look for the next one in the series, impatiently. I had read Jessica’s debut story when I picked up Boundaries so I prepared myself … She touches upon topics that are very painful, it tears your heart out and leaves you questioning the humanity.
Boundaries gives us a social worker Valerie Williamson, who is introverted and overworked and … you so totally get her ways once you know what demons she battles herself. Her boss tells her to start a trauma support group and she doesn’t have a choice and of course the traumas the women in her group have experienced… well, yes, I have no issues with her breaking some of the boundaries that ordinary should not be broken … sometimes justice is simply not delivered … I hope Jessica does not keep us waiting too long as there are so many threads to be wove into a thrilling tapestry!
Boundaries (Scope of Practice Book 1) by Jessica Aiken-Hall
5 of 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in Aiken-Hall’s new series, ‘Scope of Practice’. Valerie Williamson works at Lawrenceville Regional Hospital and is known as the ‘Anti-social Social Worker’ by her colleagues. Having experienced a traumatic event sixteen years ago Valerie has closed herself off from everyone, except for Gabriel, her cat. Valerie’s job as a deceased patient coordinator makes her more comfortable with the dead than the living. However when she is asked to start up a trauma support group, she wonders how she can comfort people with trauma, when she can’t even talk about her own past. When the death of a nineteen year old, Carmen Davidson plays on Valerie’s mind she lets the detective, Tim that she’s been pushing away get closer to her as they try to get to the bottom of Carmen’s death. Valerie is concerned that her boundaries are blurring.
This novel has a fast paced storyline with plenty of suspense, mystery, action, and great characters. Valerie is a very realistic character who you can relate to and I liked how her relationship with Tim developed during the story. Although the book does deal with issues surrounding mental health, trauma and grief it is dealt with honestly and sensitively. The narrative also has plenty of humour along with the drama. I was hooked from page one and found myself completely immersed in the story. I look forward to future books in this series.
Wow this book is an amazing story about trauma in a person’s life and how it has a lasting effect on the person.
Val is a social worker at the hospital. When her boss wants her to set up a trauma support group Val isn’t happy about it. The reason Val has suffered trauma in her life and she doesn’t want to relive it.
However the group gets formed and as time grows and she hears the stories of the ladies there she begins to open up and share her own story.
At the same time a young woman turns up at the hospital as a suicide however Val doesn’t believe thats the case and can’t shake the feeling something more happened.
This book is full of hurt, and pain as the women tell their stories, it got romance as Val finally let’s the walls down with Tim and its got revenge.
The question becomes when and if she crosses the boundaries between professional and personal and what the consequences are if she does.
Boundaries, by Jessica Aiken-Hall, is the first book in the Scope of Practice series.
The story follows Valerie Williamson. Val is a social worker who is much more comfortable working with the dead than she is with the living. But, when she is told to start a trauma support group, alongside helping to deal with the suspected overdose of a 19 year old girl, Val is forced to confront feelings and emotions she hasn’t had to face for a long time. Boundaries are pushed and the outcome is surprising.
This story is full of twists and turns, and several surprises along the way.
The main character is a complex one, she’s been through a lot of trauma herself and finds it challenging to find the best way to deal with other people’s issues. This is why she sets her boundaries and tries not to get too close to other people, but that’s all about to change. As the book progresses you hope that Val will find happiness after all that she has had to deal with.
I found the story a little jumpy, and difficult to follow in places. But, that being said, I would still recommend it….especially if you enjoy a story with surprises!
4 Stars
“Everyone at work teased me. They called me the “anti-social social worker.” They were not too far from the truth. My office, just two doors away from the morgue, is where I spend most of my time. They said I spent more time with the dead than the living. I liked it that way. Death was a big part of my job. Maybe, my favorite.”
“After hours of researching support groups and trauma, I was drawn into the cause. The more I looked, the more I found. One click led to another. Trauma affected far more people than I had ever imagined. Sexual abuse, sexual assault, physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, domestic violence, the death of a loved one; the list was endless. The more information I found, the more I wanted. This assignment awoke something in me, it made me feel things I had not felt in a long time.”
Boundaries is the first book in the Scope of Practice series by Jessica Aiken-Hall. This is an intriguing, thought-provoking, and suspenseful mystery crime novel- full of drama, twists and turns, and emotion.
Valerie Williamson isn’t your typical social worker- she has solid boundaries which make her seem a little distant and unapproachable. Her barriers stem from her past and has earned her the reputation of being the ‘anti-social social worker’. So, when she is forced to organize and lead a trauma support group- little does Valerie realise how many boundaries would be crossed, and just how far out of her comfort zone she will be pushed. Valerie is about to discover a lot more than she bargained for- that’s for sure.
Looking forward to seeing what’s in store for us, and Valerie, in book two!
Thank you, Jessica Aiken-Hall!”
I didn’t know what to expect with this novel, Boundaries: Scope of Practice Book 1 by Jessica Aiken-Hall. I have never read her work prior to this but the cover, blurb, and teasers sold me on this book pretty darn fast and I am very happy that I decided to delve in. I was thrown for a loop with this one and didn’t know what to think or feel most of the time as I read it. It was a book that managed to take some seriously heavy material and make it readable and relatable for some. I loved how I was so consumed by these words that I found myself devouring this in one sitting. I know for sure I will be back for more in book two as soon as it is available.
This book is a difficult one to review without ruining, in my opinion. I am comfortable giving the smallest tidbits and that is it. We find the main character Valerie as a social worker consumed by the past traumas of herself and others as she works her way through a difficult murder case. The detective that she is paired with on that one will make her question her own boundaries over and over. Will she find the answers she is looking for? Can she stand in her boundaries with conviction or will she find a way to bend the rules? I know this is one that any crime novel junkie will wanna devour soon so if that is your thing this is a book you have to have! I can’t wait to see what we will get next!
This excellent book left me wanting more pages to read. It was just an incredibly heart wrenching and emotional journey and I loved (and hated, in a good way) every page. This author has such a strong voice and perspective. I cannot wait to read more from her.
This book was so good. I honestly don’t remember where the time went while I read it. There are definitely some good things going on. I don’t want to spoil this book, but I really am looking forward to more in this series.
This started out great then got a bit slow so I struggled with this one. The story is different. I haven’t read one like this before. I liked the idea of her job and her being positioned by the morgue. The story doesn’t really elaborate on it. It takes more of an evil turn. The characters are ok. They just didn’t seem to jump off the pages at me. Not sure why but I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. Overall It just left me with an unsettled feeling.
I really enjoyed this book. It is written very well and in great detail. It has everything you want mystery, suspense and lots of twist and turns. This story goes deep into mental health and its effects. Boundaries are tested during this time.
This book had a hold on me from the start to finish and peaked my interest just by the summary alone. Once you delve into it, you won’t be able to put it down. Social worker, Valerie Williamson, is about to come a whole lot closer to understanding her clients. She’s compelled to start a support group and the death of 19-year-old Carmen Davidson. Carmen’s death has pushed her to throw all of her principles out the window and the group members’ stories push her to ignite the fire from her past. Pushing the boundaries in her career and in her life, she has to fight for what’s right.
I thoroughly enjoyed every single thing about this book and was quite surprised at how much I loved Valerie who is like a superhero and a personal inspiration to me as I’m attempting to do the same thing in my life with my career. This is one of my favorite books to date. Great book and it will not disappoint!
Boundaries (Scope of Practice Book 1) by Jessica Aiken-Hall
5-Stars
Boundaries (Scope of Practice Book 1) by Jessica Aiken-Hall was way more than I expected. Holy cow! Wow! This book was exciting, heartbreaking, and oh so emotional. It was thrilling and the crimes were calculating. The main character Val was my favorite and I was shocked at the trauma she went through. The ending of this book was not what I expected. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Excellent read!
This a fast-paced story that I devoured in one sitting. Valerie is a social worker that has past dram in her life that has prevented her from opening up to those around her. However, when she is asked to start a trauma support group, she finds the stories of those around her inspiring and have her wanting to delve into her own past. As she is also working on a murder case, she finds herself opening up to a detective that she has pushed away previously. The boundaries that she has set for herself are becoming blurred and you will have to read the story to see how it all works out.
I enjoyed this book and read it all the way through. There were a lot of ups and downs, emotionally, and there are definitely some triggers that could affect some readers. I found myself okay with them and able to read through the story. This isn’t a genre I usually gravitate to…but this story kept my interest and I may check out other books from this author.
Boundaries (Scope of Practice Book 1) by Jessica Aiken-Hall
5 Stars
You talk about feelings and thoughts being all knotted up after reading a story…This one definitely had me all confused about how I felt after reading the last page.
Not sure how to review this book, do not want to give anything away but know that I really enjoyed it, there were times I couldn’t read it fast enough. I love how the story weaved around with a few different moving parts. I love how there were times it was a bit dark and then there were times I actually smiled. I loved the character development and wasn’t too sure about Valerie at first, as it didn’t really seem she was too sure about herself, but as her story came out and relationships started forming, I found myself completely connected to her and weirdly understanding all that happened in this book.
I really love this author and how she is able to make me feel what the characters are feeling and getting so wrapt up in my reading that nothing outside the book really registers till I’m done.
Awesome and I can not wait for more from this author!
Boundaries by Jessica Aiken-Hall is the first book in the Scope of Practice series. This is a fast paced book that keeps you entertained.
I found it really easy to get into this book. The author has created an exciting story with plenty of twists and turns to keep that pace going. This was backed up with strong characters that were engaging.
This is a strong start to a series and I am definitely looking forward to what is next.
I enjoyed this book. It is a mystery, suspenseful story that is engaging and fast paced. It is a well written story that has characters that I had no issues connecting with. They made the story realistic. They are strong and supportive to each other. The twists and turns kept me turning pages to the end. This story is about Valarie. She is a social worker that has had trauma in her past. She is more comfortable with the dead than the living. What will happen when she is asked to run a trauma support group? Her boundaries are tested, will she find herself letting down walls she has built up? I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the story. I highly recommend this book.