Welcome Back to Reality
345808
There is something relaxing about picking up colors and filling between the lines just like grade school. The images in this book are complex, and the results are quite beautiful. Does it work to relieve stress? I'd have to say it does, but maybe the big thing is that while you're occupied with this, you aren't looking at an artificial screen for a couple hours. It's easy to forget just how much of our day goes by staring at things that don't even exist--pixilated images. Just seeing bits of wax ball up on a piece of paper is somehow reassuring.
914899
What a great little return to the world! As some who made a goal a few years back to read all Meg Cabot wrote, I'm happy to see one of my favorite book couples finally get a happy ending they earned! Highly recommend you check out this series from book 1 and follow this journey !
3754866
So happy to be with these creatures again. A great read! Great to revisit these people and places. I love this book
2063582
I really enjoyed this return to one of my favourite story lines. Its like being reunited with old friends. I always wondered what happened to the Fool and whether Fitz and Molly finally managed to have a few happy years together.  Can't wait for the next book
2041018
Enjoyed getting back to basics I missed in the past.  Will consider continuing in this project.  My daughters trip inspired me.
1940365
Say goodbye to all of the lies that have held you back from happiness. Welcome to your new happy life
2603720
When life happens and you must revamp all you know to the unfamiliar, that's when you find out who you really are. The change from Washington DC to the small doctor's office where you don't understand all that is happening right in front of your eyes can be a huge change in your life perspectives. A good dose of reality can happen to you in these circumstances. I loved the heart surgery! What a way to gain real understanding of life in an unusual way. I loved all the character descriptions and the detail used to describe her perceptions of situations as they happened. A wonderful read!
692057
WOW! What a blast from the past. Super Kool Thanks It's nice to take that step back once in a while so we don't forget how far we've come.
1950081
A lovely trip through peace, freedom from fear, lonliness and anguish. Launching a new life with new friends is something that will thrill and bring back laughter and love
23155
Reality comes back to life in this book by touching on loneliness, self-awareness, and surviving in a world where domestic violence is all-too-real. There's a lot of raw material in here that could be considered triggering for some though I do not believe it is nearly as 'dark' a read as the first book in the series, Saving Ella, though it does contain dark subject matter including a violent attack on our female protagonist.

There are some mixed feelings about whether or not one needs to have read Saving Ella to read Fighting Back and I feel that I got more out of it from having read the first book prior to picking up this one. It is not essential that you read it to enjoy this story though. I read it through while trying to imagine how I would feel if I had only been given this book to read as a stand-alone rather than both books to get the full scope of the series and yes, I could have easily enjoyed this story without having read about Ella and Jax first.

This book is perfectly capable of standing on its own. The story is about characters connected to those found in Saving Ella, but the reader is introduced to those characters again in a way that makes it easy to figure out who relates to who and in what ways. I liked having read the first book before starting this one only because it was like getting to become reacquainted with old friends again. I got to say a new hello to Jax and Ella -this book does take place immediately after the end of Saving Ella- as well as Rebecca and Charlie who we met in that first story. Many other characters crop up in the book too who are made more charming because they are recurring characters in this shared world.

I'd recommend reading them in sequence for that reason alone.

That being said, I feel that the writing in this book is more solid on a technical level. It's got that same maturity to it that Saving Ella had without any of the construct issues that tossed me out of the story.

I read this one in one sitting, too!

Character-wise, I absolutely adore Rebecca. She's charming, funny, and enough of an Every-Woman that readers of all ages can relate to her. All her quirks make her memorable in a way that I think is fabulous to see when it's so sad that our female characters often get washed away into the same molds over and over again in favor of making a more interesting male hero for the reader to adore. I love it when I can say that I liked the female protagonist more than the leading man! It makes me smile all over my face. She's my favorite pin-up girl now and I love that I thought of her as Betty Boop before hearing Charlie call her that.

Speaking of Charlie!

Charlie -our leading man- is also a really funny, unique blend of Alpha male and Every-Man which made it impossible for me not to love him. I never found him too overbearing or too much of anything really. He was just this great guy who has enough swagger to make you want to watch the way he works it! I would have let him sweep me off my feet...or potentially beat the you-know-what out of someone for me. I could go for either option where he's concerned.

There was so much chemistry between them that it felt as if I were reading a very natural relationship progression. It's more fast-paced than its predecessor in that sense though these characters carry different baggage than Jax and Ella. They also already had a past that came with them from the first book which made sense for them to move faster.

For me, the ending was perfect. I loved it. There was all that mess and madness I'd been missing. I didn't mind at all that it left me wanting more. I read so that I can be inspired to dream and what's more inspiring than being dared to ask "What happens next?"

I'd recommend this book highly since it's an obvious labor of love with just the right mix of drama and passion to fall into for a good read.

*Review based on a free copy provided for an honest opinion.*

Originally reviewed on behalf of This Redhead LOVES Books Blog.
581989
I enjoyed how well they made Walter's daydreams come to life and how he transitions from daydreams to reality...gives you the feeling that all the daydreams you have everyday don't really have to be dreams...go live your life!
1519955
Glad to see that Bernie is back.  This new one and 'The Burglar in the Library' are a great read.
1683815
This series brings me back to good times in my life. Watching over again over 3 decades later doesn't seem possible. It is so good to see Blake and Crystal and don't forget the ever glamorous ALEXIS"" nothing but trouble making on her
mind. Nice going home'' again.  Thank you.
4406869
This a amazing way to relive stress. You need to try this.
1086316
The Telos books are like coming home.  They are written in a warm and loving way and if you connect with them they are a breath of fresh air.  Enjoy the ride!
1801419
I love the return to family values.  I watched this with my wife and felt like I did when I was a child.  I really miss programming that returns you to a better time.
3411129
Alli knows how to bring me back to reality in this book. Life can be full without being over-bearing. Plenty of practical wisdom to walk away with and start acting on in each chapter.