Catharsis, plain and simple. Good on you, Ellis... good on you.
923830
After listening to Ellis on XM and later reading this book, I am thrilled for Ellis that he was able to produce his life in words. The XM show, I know it is a great outlet for Jason. I hope he is present on the satellite airwaves for a while. I subscribed simply for the show. A great read. Ellis, this book and your radio show are truly Red Dragons...
4704401
Daniels always had an intensity about him. Theres a dominance that lingers in the way he carries himself. A threat just barely contained.

For this one you're going to need a check list.
Tissues. Check.
Comfy reading position. Check. 
No interruptions. Check. 
Requisite drink, tea, wine..... Vodka. Check. 

Daniel and Addison's story is not all sunshine and rainbows. Not by far. But it's real and raw in it's most pure form, and for that reason alone Daniels always had an intensity about him. Theres a dominance that lingers in the way he carries himself. A threat just barely contained.

For this one you're going to need a check list.
Tissues. Check.
Comfy reading position. Check. 
No interruptions. Check. 
Requisite drink, tea, wine..... Vodka. Check. 

Daniel and Addison's story is not all sunshine and rainbows. Not by far. But it's real and raw it it's most pure form, and for that reason alone it's beautiful. They both feel their own share of guilt for their own reasons, and I'm sure in some ways it's well deserved, but what they have is beyond what most people do. Addison is the light to Daniel's darkness, and the balance he needs, his calm in the storm in a sense. Daniel is Addison's strength. Her rock to lean on when she needs it. Downside, they can be the others demise. Addison can take Daniel's light and leave nothing but darkness, and Daniel can crush Addison with nothing but words. Thing about this book is, the anticipation of not knowing. Daniel is a hard man. He's had to be. For his family, the business, but when it comes to Addison he's different so it could go either way. As for Addison, her life was no cakewalk, so the smallest thing could set her to run, and then where would Daniel and they newfound love be? And would Daniel even be bothered to chase her? All questions you're going to have to find out for yourself. It's one crazy ride you won't regret. Just remember the checklist. I received this as an arc for an hour estate review and this is me honest.
3241629
Second time through, returned after reading Home and Lila. Strikes me, once again, as a spare poetic ode to human existence, to loneliness, and to the power of faith.
On top of this we are provided with an affirmation that creation is heartbreakingly beautiful and that a simple morning can be a great blessing.
3631221
Oooohhhh, yeah, that's nice and smooth.  This music just settles in around you like a nice warm blanket.  Just what I needed after a long frustrating Monday.
2983800
This is a feel good story of Zach, who plays around and fears commitment, and Aaron, who has always taken care of everybody else. To some degree it's a case of opposites attract and a definite case of insta-love.

After many years putting other people first, Aaron needs someone special in his life. Someone to be his family.

"But I'm not fine, Zach. I'm tired of taking care of myself. I'm tired of being on my own. I'm so lonely it hurts. I felt like I was barely existing until I met you. I need you, Zach. I need your energy and your light. I need someone in my life who is there for me first. I thought you wanted that too. You never said it, but I guess....I guess I thought you...you....Never mind. I was stupid."

Zach needs to face his true feelings. "It was that easy. I acted like a prick and hurt him, yet he accepted my apology without hesitation. Damn it. I wanted to be with him. I didn't want to lose the chance. No guts, no glory. Time to lay it out.

An emotional journey with a happy ending. 4.5 stars.
2547626
This is a very simple feel good book.  I am not saying that in a bad way.  It's good that the author used simple love between the two characters, and not a lot of drama to make the book move.  I know I will read more of this series.
4561984
Probably the best of all the grief titles. I bought several different titles to sooth my personal grief. Right away, I was put at ease with this particular book. Fairly easy to read and lots of empathy from the authors.
4002132
More unapologetic goodness from Mr. Stanhope.  You'll laugh a little; you'll cry a little.

You'll LEARN a little.

Buy it.
2912307
If you've lost a treasured cat and are grieving--maybe you're not even sure you can go on living without your kitty--please don't give up. Read this book, try some of its suggestions, and hang on...because you can and will be whole again.

What I like about this book is that it's a simple, easy read, and that's what we need when our grief is fresh. Nothing too complicated, nothing too overwhelming, just something we can get our confused heads around. When you read a suggestion or idea that resonates--something that gives you that sense of a little bell going off inside you somewhere--there are plenty of suggested readings that can help you delve deep into things that will help you heal. And before you rush out to get another cat, be sure you read the section on how to know if you're ready--because it's very easy to make a mistake when your mind and heart are scrambled by loss.

I speak from my own experience in all of this, having lost my soul mate kitty three years ago. This book was the life preserver that kept me afloat for months as I floundered in a sea of pain. I still miss my cat every day, and sometimes, when the tide runs too high, I turn again to the ideas in this book for stability and comfort. I continue to heal...and that healing has been greatly speeded by a recent spiritual insight in which I really understood, on a gut level, that my cat is not gone--she's still alive inside of me.

I mean that literally: I believe that the absence death seems to create is an illusion, and the truth is that there is no distance or separation between us and our "lost" kitties. And that's THE most important reason why I recommend this book. Liz Eastwood takes a rare and much-needed spiritual approach to losing your cat that I found paved the way for me to understand that my relationship with my cat really is unbroken.

My wish is that everyone who reads this review finds comfort after losing their own little bundle of fur-covered love--and I truly think this book can give you that, especially if there is no one in your life who gets what you're going through. So give it a try. You've got nothing to lose but your pain.
2262764
Ok, so I just sat down and read the new this novella.
Oh. My.
I hope this man never stops writing. How can I SOB in 76 pages? I mean I had mascara running down my cheeks. Ugly, snotty crying.
It's another magical book. I'm going to read it again. Maybe tonight.
Part of me was maybe more strongly affected because my dad suffered from Dementia and passed away 2 years ago. So I kept wondering "Did he think and feel like this??" and I'm sure the answer is "Yes". Which made me cry more. But a good, cathartic, beautiful cry.
4737630
Mom, so glad you shared our experience.  I hope your readers experience the joy Tootie brought into our lives.  Thanks Mom, begins with a smile and ends with a tear drop.  Love ya mom
2023059
Elliot helps you better understand how to respond to those around you (or even yourself) in the aftermath of a suicide of someone you love. Very basic, easy to read, logical, and enlightening.
2739250
I enjoyed the book.  I read to relax and this book did the job.  The book definitely made me feel some emotion, between wanting it to work out, dislike for some of the characters, anger at the whole situation, etc.  If you enjoy an easy read with a happy ending, this is the book for you!
3588095
Very simplistic.  Very strong. Felt it right away.
390412
Well...what can I say? I'm a sucker for Nicholas Sparks, and picked this up in paperback the other day. I finished it in about a day, it was a pretty easy read.

The characters were likeable, but the storyline felt a little lacking. Knowing that Sparks books pretty much always have a sad spin, it wasn't hard to figure out the ending. I was not surprised, it ended exactly as I figured, but the ending did seem a bit too...perfectly bittersweet.

I won't give any spoilers, just suffice to say, if you like Sparks other melancholy romances, you will enjoy this one. No surprises, but Sparks knows how to write emotions, thats for sure!
2310347
Easily read, easily enjoyed. Somewhere along the way a weight lifted off me and I am changed, undoubtedly for the better.
940944
Feeling sad, depressed, devastated, alone? If not, read this book. You will be. If so, and you want more, it's right here.

Horror, murder, tragedy, ghosts, insanity, everything you expect, and everything you don't.

We've all read this genre before and finished a little guilty because it can't happen to us. Well guess what? It can.
Grove is crushing in its understatement, which is what makes it so real. No over abundance of gore or twisted plots or evil laughter in the background. Just one man and one small town gradually falling into such a gently graded depth that you hardly realise you're almost drowning until your head's above water and you can breathe again.

I like the small scope. It lets the author take the time he needs to fill in all the spaces in a coloring book where color can't survive, and immediately leeches away. Because sometimes life is like that.