Rating: 
Summary: Heart breaking, yet so inspiring.
Review: This book defies the sterotype that romance novels are "fluff." Reynolds writes an intelligent and heart-felt novel about two incredible people. The story of Kate and Mike broke my heart, but I could not help but be inspired by Mike's dedication and enduring love for his Kate. This book can make your stomach drop one moment, and lift your spirit the next. I can't wait for another thrilling novel from Ms. Reynolds!
Rating:
Summary: Heart breaking, yet so inspiring.
Review: This book defies the sterotype that romance novels are "fluff." Reynolds writes an intelligent and heart-felt novel about two incredible people. The story of Kate and Mike broke my heart, but I could not help but be inspired by Mike's dedication and enduring love for his Kate. This book can make your stomach drop one moment, and lift your spirit the next. I can't wait for another thrilling novel from Ms. Reynolds!
Rating:
Summary: A Tender Love Triangle Between 3 Best Friends - Very Moving
Review: This is a great, great contemporary romance novel. I really loved this book and know that I will encounter few others in which the leads interact with such tenderness and yet firm determination. It is the story of three close friends, two men and one woman. Through flashbacks, we see their high school relationship and as it matured through the years. The woman, Kate, marries one of her close friends, Paul, and the flashbacks on their tragic marriage tear your heart out. And one of the primary reasons your heart is tearing apart so much is the third friend, Mike, the second man, has loved the woman from the beginning although his best friend is married to her. Mike continues to be a very close friend to Kate and Paul and is loyal throughout their marriage. He never attempts to come between the two. The story begins when two of the three friends are 35 years old and the third friend, the husband, Paul, is dead. I cannot think of many - if any - heroes that I felt were dearer than Mike. In the beginning of the book, he is living across the street from Kate and is watching her destroy herself with alcohol and self-recrimination. He is very understanding and a strong shoulder for her. However, he is beginning to believe it is time to let her know of his feelings for her. He has decided to change his life if she is not receptive to these feelings. He is her oldest and dearest friend. His character never seems weak at all but he is subdued as he begins to attempt to bring some life back into Kate. It has been two years since her husband's death and she still stays shut away most of the time. He gently gains a more intimate door into her life. As she is attracted to him, he begins to show a much stronger side. By the end of the book, I think Mike would be described as a mature alpha male. The hero, Mike, is so - oh I don't want to say this but there is no other word - sexy! He is successful, confident, and has so, so many other great traits. He is definitely Dream Guy! Kate has remained a dear friend to Mike and has matured though the troubled years of her marriage. She is clinically depressed and sees no way out. All of her attempts to start her life again seem to meet with failure. So, she drinks yet another night and attempts to hide her actions from the world. Beneath all of her pain, we see a beautiful person. But getting Kate to see that about herself is a real challenge. She is very difficult and actually rude to anyone who cares about her. She is a little too obtuse at times. Sometimes I just wanted someone to put her in her place for her rudeness and withdrawal from life. But Mike goes gently with her and slowly begins to draw her out - making her realize she must be accountable for her actions. As their relationship develops further, he increases the pressure for her rehabilitation and places higher expectations on her. Kate has a few really stupid moments at the turning point of the book. It made me want to throw up my hands at this sudden turn of events. However, it tends to provide Kate with some gumption. She begins to show some maturity and Mike continues to demand her to do so. There are some very tough times during the last half of the book but the writing is superb and there are no big misunderstandings. The plot moves quickly, never losing your interest for a moment, and all the while, we continue to see flashbacks of Kate and Mike's pasts. There is not a boring page in the book although you do need to become accustomed to the rhythm of the flashbacks. Kate and Mike's relationship is full of emotions and verbal and non-verbal challenges. Their relationship, throughout the book, is vibrant. The sensual relationship between Mike and Kate was beautiful and rates a solid four out of five (see More About Me for rating guidelines). This is such a great book in so many different ways. As I write this, I am sad that it is over. This is another ALL TIME KEEPER that I will read again. This one, in fact, is a book I could read again right now. Annette Reynolds is a great discovery and I really look forward to her future books.
Rating:
Summary: A Tender Love Triangle Between 3 Best Friends - Very Moving
Review: This is a great, great contemporary romance novel. I really loved this book and know that I will encounter few others in which the leads interact with such tenderness and yet firm determination. It is the story of three close friends, two men and one woman. Through flashbacks, we see their high school relationship and as it matured through the years. The woman, Kate, marries one of her close friends, Paul, and the flashbacks on their tragic marriage tear your heart out. And one of the primary reasons your heart is tearing apart so much is the third friend, Mike, the second man, has loved the woman from the beginning although his best friend is married to her. Mike continues to be a very close friend to Kate and Paul and is loyal throughout their marriage. He never attempts to come between the two. The story begins when two of the three friends are 35 years old and the third friend, the husband, Paul, is dead. I cannot think of many - if any - heroes that I felt were dearer than Mike. In the beginning of the book, he is living across the street from Kate and is watching her destroy herself with alcohol and self-recrimination. He is very understanding and a strong shoulder for her. However, he is beginning to believe it is time to let her know of his feelings for her. He has decided to change his life if she is not receptive to these feelings. He is her oldest and dearest friend. His character never seems weak at all but he is subdued as he begins to attempt to bring some life back into Kate. It has been two years since her husband's death and she still stays shut away most of the time. He gently gains a more intimate door into her life. As she is attracted to him, he begins to show a much stronger side. By the end of the book, I think Mike would be described as a mature alpha male. The hero, Mike, is so - oh I don't want to say this but there is no other word - sexy! He is successful, confident, and has so, so many other great traits. He is definitely Dream Guy! Kate has remained a dear friend to Mike and has matured though the troubled years of her marriage. She is clinically depressed and sees no way out. All of her attempts to start her life again seem to meet with failure. So, she drinks yet another night and attempts to hide her actions from the world. Beneath all of her pain, we see a beautiful person. But getting Kate to see that about herself is a real challenge. She is very difficult and actually rude to anyone who cares about her. She is a little too obtuse at times. Sometimes I just wanted someone to put her in her place for her rudeness and withdrawal from life. But Mike goes gently with her and slowly begins to draw her out - making her realize she must be accountable for her actions. As their relationship develops further, he increases the pressure for her rehabilitation and places higher expectations on her. Kate has a few really stupid moments at the turning point of the book. It made me want to throw up my hands at this sudden turn of events. However, it tends to provide Kate with some gumption. She begins to show some maturity and Mike continues to demand her to do so. There are some very tough times during the last half of the book but the writing is superb and there are no big misunderstandings. The plot moves quickly, never losing your interest for a moment, and all the while, we continue to see flashbacks of Kate and Mike's pasts. There is not a boring page in the book although you do need to become accustomed to the rhythm of the flashbacks. Kate and Mike's relationship is full of emotions and verbal and non-verbal challenges. Their relationship, throughout the book, is vibrant. The sensual relationship between Mike and Kate was beautiful and rates a solid four out of five (see More About Me for rating guidelines). This is such a great book in so many different ways. As I write this, I am sad that it is over. This is another ALL TIME KEEPER that I will read again. This one, in fact, is a book I could read again right now. Annette Reynolds is a great discovery and I really look forward to her future books.
Rating:
Summary: THE GREATEST BOOK I'VE READ!!!
Review: This was a wonderful, wonderful book! The author does a tremendous job bringing the characters to life -- you relate to them from the very beginning. I read it straight through, as I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. Loved it!
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