An emotional journey of love, friendship, and life.
592541
OMG!!! That Baby was an emotional Rollercoaster.  It starts out happy with Phillip and Jadyn discovering that they are pregnant. The couple is happy and announce it a way that only Jadyn and Phillip could. The middle of the book is tense. Lori and Danny aren't exactly the perfect couple anymore. The towards the end of the book is when your heart gets ripped out,  stomped on, thrown across the floor, and revived. You will laugh, mostly because Jadyn is still adorably quirky.  You will want to scream because friendships are tested. You will cry because if you know what its like to experience devastating loss, you then you will know the feelings here.

Also if you read The Keatyn Chronicles and Captive Films series, you will love the cameo in here.

One last thing: GO BIG RED!!!
3362925
This was such an emotional book. The lines are blurred between gay, straight, bisexual and everything in between. A beautiful story of self exploration and friends becoming lovers. It's far from an easy journey but it is worth it in the end.
3851411
This is a story of friendship, love, and second chances. Mack and Francesca were college friends. They seemed like opposites, but developed a true friendship and gradually more unresolved feelings for the other. She was shy, awkward, quirky, nerdy, and her anxiety affected her interactions with people. Mack was bold, unfiltered, cocky, and gorgeous. He challenged her to step out of her comfort zone, take chances, and be who she wanted to be. She grounded him. He struggled due to factors in his life not easily changed. And eventually, circumstances made them lose touch.

But now eight years later, he is back. He has managed to get his son into her first grade class. Part of it is for his son and part of it is because of their unfinished business. He wants her back in his life...and he hopes he does not have to settle for just friendship. The older Mack is still funny, outspoken, and incredibly hot, but he is also caring, protective, and vulnerable. He is the most sought after DILF at the school, but he has his own agenda. He knows what it is like to lose someone he cares about and is fearful of not being able to change it. And other worries in his life add more stress.

Frankie has matured into a strong woman and role model. She is honest, caring, and was living a good, stable, and happy life. But Mack coming back threatens to breaks down walls she put up a long time ago.

Their lives are no less complicated now...maybe even more so. There are other people involved, some who do not want to see them happy. And he has to keep his son a priority.

This is humorous, passionate, angsty, frustrating, and emotional. These two had a truly rocky road while trying to find their way to happiness and it was easy to lose hope. I cold feel the strong connection, need, and longing between these two, but it seemed like they would take one step forward and two steps back. I got frustrated with each of them at times due to their choices, and also at the problems they faced.

It was told in dual points of view in present and flashbacks. The past is gradually revealed to us as they are reuniting in the present. There were antagonists that made my blood boil and some side characters that had me grinning. Mack was quite entertaining during a lot of the book with his sense of humor and big mouth. But he was also emotional, tender, and protective, so he really touched my heart. Situations in his life kept trying to chip away at any bit of happiness he could find. Frankie was confused and torn between the life she was living and a promise of something different. But Mack would be the biggest risk of her life.

It's about timing, soul mates, true love, and navigating life. The characters were flawed. Their circumstances were far from perfect. Taking risks, fighting for what you want, and choosing the person alongside you is so important. There were some surprises and twists. There are some tough subjects and choices. It was a bit different having a story where the main characters had significant others when the story took place--him in the past and her in the present. There were a few things that I would have liked handled differently, and sometimes there seemed to be so much going on that it was a bit overwhelming.

Overall, it was full of tension, drama, and emotional turmoil, but also humor, fun, and intense feelings. In other words, it was quite a roller coaster ride, but it was also entertaining and intense along the way.
3193219
Sam's life journey is a road of twists and turns, love and loss, poverty and wealth.

Sam grew up on the South side of Chicago, and after the loss of his parents Sam is sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle. He hears their whispers in the night and knows that they can hardly afford to raise another mouth to feed. He works part-time jobs sweeping barbershop floors and running barefoot down coal tar streets delivering flowers, trying to ease the financial burden on his Aunt and Uncle.

When a position working in the church becomes available, Sam moves into the basement, and his little cot beside the furnace becomes his sanctuary. He devours all the books scattered about the church in search of the Light to end the darkness that he feels in his soul. But instead of filling his soul with peace it just awakens more questions.

Sam's search for Truth takes him down various paths, many religions and beliefs, and he meets many people, all of whom turn out to be messengers in his life. He studies all of the religious denominations; Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and discovers that the answers can't be found from just one religion.

Sam's poverty turns to riches when he becomes a stock broker. He is surrounded by many friends and enjoys the luxuries of all that life has to give him. He marries the love of his life, but loses her when he becomes more absorbed in his work than his home life. The shallowness of his life makes him realize that there must be more.

Sam is faced with a couple of tragedies in his life that remind him of his quest for peace in his soul. "Black Monday" wipes out Sam's savings, and the California earthquake claims his home that sat on the hillside. But his life changes direction when he takes a job as an electrical engineer and he meets Sohrab, a man who would play a very significant role in his life. Through Sohrab and his wife, Sam again meets his soul mate and after twenty years he is re-united with his true love. Sam's journey to finding Truth is a journey of life; we follow him from his childhood of poverty and loss; through his early adulthood where he questions his life purpose; through his years as a parent with a child and a loving wife, to his years as a grandparent holding his grandchild on his lap and feeling the completeness of the cycle of life.

I enjoyed this book, and especially liked the short parables that Sohrab uses to show Sam the answers that he is searching for. The best one is the story of the angel looking for fire in hell to light his pipe and can't find any. Instead he finds tormented souls who feel that they have wasted their lives and are looking back in regret. Sohrab teaches Sam that those who look for peace and happiness often go about it backwards. And though Sam had been looking for peace and happiness in his life, the more he looked the more it evaded him. In the end Sam finally experiences the oneness of mankind and the Universe and he finds peace and love in his life.

The parallelism of the author's life and this story seems obvious as he uses his own name and the names of his wife and daughter in the story, maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but in any case the story is wonderful.

The Journey to Truth is a wonderful, light-hearted book that will make you stop and examine your own journey.
3551510
A well written story will bring you along on a journey.  Hero takes readers on that journey.  It is powerful and moving.

When the story begins we meet Lydia Decker and her two children. They are preparing a party to celebrate her husband's promotion to detective.  That evening Lydia also plans to share the happy news they are expecting their third child.

Fast forward a three years and we meet Colby Morgan the eldest sibling of the Morgan clan.  Colby has a condo, a dog, and doesn't keep girlfriends around long especially when said girlfriend begins pushing for a commitment.

Lydia and Colby meet when Lydia is assigned to be his physical therapist. Colby is hospitalized due to a work injury. He cannot speak, but that doesn't prevent him from shamelessly flirting with Lydia.

This is a love story with challenges, and a few twists.
New to Lauren Rowe's Morgan brothers?  This is a good story to introduce you the big, crazy, happy Morgan family.
1434340
of friendship and love,set within a time turmoil, war and approaching blight. It takes the reader to an engaging, mystical time.
1386283
Two years of a platonic but intense friendship blisters into declarations of love for Aidan Morgan and Ethan Ashworth on their high school graduation day. An unspoken desire erupts into a sexual explosion of youthful lovemaking held in check all those years. But there is no happy ending for the two boy/men who planned to leave town the next day to begin a life together. Instead, the following day Ethan discovers his best friend and new lover has left town without a word. The hurt and betrayal runs deep and when Aidan returns 13 years later the boy he once knew is now a man who cannot forget that painful betrayal.

  I really liked this story even though I had a major problem with it. Aidan is gone from the town of Redemption for 13 years. Why did he leave? Well that would be a spoiler and I won't give that away. That element of the story is believable. What isn't believable for me is that Aidan never tries to reach his "best friend" and lover in all of those 13 years to explain what happened; especially since his two siblings remained in town with his parents. The sight of them in a small town with no word from Aidan would be a constant reminder of rejection for Ethan. Who wouldn't be hurt and bitter? That being said, this was really a well told tale of youthful mistakes and a love two men have for the each other that has not dimmed over time. As they find their way back to each other there is salacious sex that will curl your toes, but it's not gratuitous and not always joyous in the aftermath. These are real men with raw emotions that sex can't bandage.

  Cameron Dane's main gift for me is the ability to make the characters true to life. This is not only displayed through the emotions and actions of the two main characters but in the supporting cast as well. The critical life situation that triggers a turning point in Ethan's life is very poignant and realistic further heightening the emotional turmoil of the characters.
2253126
Without you is a story of Ananya, who has fallen head over heels with Arjun, who is not only a doctor but also an heir to an empire whose mother, unfortunately, favors a grand alliance so that business can be expanded further. The book is a journey of their union which no doubt is through lots of tears, heartbreaks, a particular spirit that guides her through it. Love unites in the end with a happily ever after thus, making it a light recommended read.
3412035
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mehendi Tides takes you on a journey over a decade of friendship, that spans years, different continents, and various hardships along the way. Perhaps an unlikely trio, Kate, a white woman, Nasreen a Muslim-American, and Krishna a Hindu-American, grow from children to young adult women together. They navigate the new developments and stages in life separately, yet together. They each have their own struggles with trying to meet the expectations of their family while trying to lead a life they want to live for themselves. These expectations they are trying to meet range from what career they will pursue in college, religious expectations, and even who they are expected to love. The girls often lean on each other and use each other for sounding boards, to vent their frustrations and to test their ideas. As much as they rely upon each other, they have their secrets as well. As they face hardships and make decisions, these secrets find their way out. The girls are put in a situation that causes them to evaluate their friendships, wondering why there were secrets between them, and having to decide if they can look past these secrets and continue their friendships.

As a white American woman, who has never been outside of my own country, I felt the descriptions of the trip to India were thoroughly descriptive and made it easy to envision being there with the girls. Everything is described from what is seen, heard, smelled, and felt along the way. I also have limited experience with religions outside of Christianity, so I really enjoyed getting a look into the religious traditions and attire as described in the story. I have always enjoyed learning about other cultures, and this was no exception. It was well written and makes me want to learn more.
490411
I love reading coming of age stories and when I do, I like to be reminded of what it felt like to experience the teenage years. Wrestling With Desire has touched to many points of growing up gay, of being a teenager and struggling with identity, on self-love and loving others.  Add to the mix friendship, being honest with family members, and being able to juggle the many demands that require our attention on a daily basis and this book manages to carry you on a wonderful journey which is at once complex and yet simple in it's delivery of real-life experiences.

Derek and Scott are lovable characters. Both strong of mind and body, they forge a love that is sweet and strong. As they circle towards discovering their feelings, DH Starr has manages to capture the doubts that go along with wondering if your feelings will be returned and the fear of rejection and embarrassment. These two seniors convincingly send signals which are subtle enough to protect them from blatant exposure of their sexuality, yet open enough to open the door to true love.

Set in the high school setting, the boys are on the varsity wrestling team and they are working towards winning the division championship.  While the love story is the central theme of the story, the plot is propelled as wrestling season approaches and then occurs. As the tension and anxiety plays out in their personal lives, it is reflected in their concentration on the mat. And, as they work through their emotional difficulties, their ability to focus on the physical aspect of the wrestling improves as well.

I personally loved Derek's best friend, Beck, a brash young woman who is the lead female in the drama club. She has a penchant for threatening harmful damage to the male anatomy when she becomes overly dramatic, which is quite often, but she is also the sweet shoulder of a best friend at a time of need.

The scene between the boys and their parents reveal the very real fears that gay youth experience as they admit to themselves who they are...and then, hopefully admit to their parents who they are. But Starr never pushes the issue. Instead, it unfolds, some parents more open to acceptance and others unwilling to engage in conversation. Again, believable.

Given the current rash of teen suicide due to bullying around sexuality, I felt this book portrayed that love does not see gender, it sees what's more important, your heart and mind. To see such a positive example of two young men in love is something I think all youth and adults should see.

A lovely read, fluent writing style, good humor, and poignant issues. I will certainly be looking for more works by this author.
1441992
This book takes you on an emotional journey. From the very first time you read the title, you understand it is not going to be a simple story. The book delivers much more than that. Youre hooked on to it from the first chapter and don't want to put it down till you have read the last page. And even after that you cannot stop thinking about the characters or the story.  Feel free to keep a box of tissues handy as you may need it. Ok, that may be a little exaggerated but be prepared to be moist and teary eyed sometimes as there are twists that the story takes; you soon start connecting with the characters and start feeling some of the pain, hope and emotion. That goes a great way to say that the writer has done an incredible job of not just beautifully weaving a story together but also the style of writing is brilliant.

This book is a good read for everyone in the family.  There are beautiful relationships described in the story.  The theme of the book revolves around life and expectations and how at times it turns up to be completely different than what you desired or the way you saw or thought of it. There is love, romance, hope and betrayal in so many shades described very eloquently through beautiful words and poetry.

I loved this book and cannot recall the last time I felt so connected to a fictional story. I would definitely recommend this book. It is well worth your time and money.
2763156
Wow, this book really makes you stop and appreciate all your blessings.  It's a beautiful story of love and friendship and the value of helping one another.  You know it can't have a really happy ending but it is a wonderful journey.
2882962
Where oh where do I begin? This book is life. It encompasses all those moments in life that help shape us into the people we are. It is first love. It is friendship. It is heartbreak. It is betrayal. It is trust. It is life and it is unconditional. Ultimately, it is the journey to discovering what are you willing to fight for and what you are willing to let go. It is the joy of love juxtaposed with the agony of that comes from heartbreak.

I knew going into this book that I was going to be in for a bumpy ride especially since the cover said, "He loved me; he loved her too." Holy titfire. I knew that I better get the kleenex out pronto because this author is known to tear my heart out and make it bleed. Ella writes with such a mesmerizing style that sets her apart from so many of her peers. There is grace and emotion and it is written with such fluidity that you cannot help but feel the words she spills onto the pages. Instead of using paint and a canvas the words are her paint and the pages are her canvas. If I close my eyes I can picture every facet of what she is saying and at times I am certain that if I reach out I can touch or even smell what she is describing. Her love and passion for writing comes through in every way especially in the dynamics of character development. This book showcases that talent with some of the best characters that I have ever read.

Daisy and Quinn. We first meet them as young children and get to see how this love grew. They are each other's sun and moon. Their connection is pure and shows the beautiful side of love through its innocence. It reminds me of Melanie and Jake from Sweet Home Alabama (one of my favorite movies). There is steam but it not as much as normal. It is secondary in this story. If anything it is as if to show that love is so much more than just the physical aspect of a relationship. While it is important there still needs to be a spark of something more.

I could write so much more but I am stopping myself because I do not want to give away any part of the story. It would not be fair because if I did then you would miss the amazing journey. Trust me on this. Just go in blind and enjoy.

This book is magic. Plain and Simple. It touched my heart. It made me melancholy for that period of my life. It made me thankful for the journey I have been on in my life because it reminded me that sometimes we need a bumpy ride to make us appreciate what we have or sometimes we are where we are because of things that might or might not have happened in the past. The Universe always seems to guide us and have a plan.

Kudos to the author for another fantastic book. Keep writing all the words and I will continue to follow you down the rabbit hole
4217241
A story about bullying, friendship, and forgiveness.
2418029
In this emotionally charged novel, Toni Morrison weaves together the lives of several intricate and painfully human characters.  Sula, the title character, and Nel have been best friends since they were young, though they come from drastically different families.  Despite growing up together in their small African American town in the 1920s and 30s, they develop into quite different women. Sula, after moving away for a decade, becomes an agonizing combination of her mother's intense sexual nature and her grandmother's arrogance, while Nel follows the path of most women in her town.  She marries young, only to be left for another woman - Sula.  This painful, yet often heartwarming relationship is set against the backdrop of Sula's disturbing and unconventional family, the secret of an accidental death, and other eccentricities of their home, the Bottom.  Although sometimes hard to take, Sula manages to captivate the reader in its tangled webs of anger, lust and lifelong friendship.

Two so different

One friendship to make them whole

Together one mind

Gone away for years

Now home, everything changes

But it's all the same

Nel watched Chicken die

Just like Sula watched her mom

Two girls of one mind
2205057
A creative and moving  masterpiece about finding family and love and friendship just when you need them most .
639176
Friendship, Love, and a Good Cause.  What more could you ask for in a book.