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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
I initially picked up this book because the premise seemed to promise a lot of drama.
The main character Allie was by far the best character in the book. She is the younger of two sisters. Her older sister Tessa is (in Allie's eyes) perfect. She's tall, thin and gorgeous. She is also the first love of Allie's husband Sam.
Allie is a wonderful contradiction and that is why i think she is a great character. On the one hand she is a go-getter. She is focused, a good mother, incredibly likeable -- she simply makes things happen. However around Tessa and Sam she is mass of insecurities. In Tessa's case Allie always compares herself negatively to Tessa mainly on the basis of looks. In Sam's case she feels that she got him by default because nine years ago while Sam and Tessa had broken up after an argument, Allie slept with Sam and got pregnant.
As the book opens Allie and Sam are separated. Allie has been madly in love with Sam since she can remember and although he has been a good husband and father, she feels that something is missing -- that he is holding a part of himself back. And she has come to conclusion that she simply can't love enough for the both of them. So she wants out.
Coincidentally, Tessa is coming back to town to see their ailing grand-mother. Tessa has not been back home since Allie and Sam got married. For Allie it just means that Sam and Tessa can finally get together the way they should have all those years ago. From her perspective she had gotten in the way of fate, now she is getting out of the way and letting true nature take it's course.
I think on some level the author succeeds in showing us that Allie's perspective is skewed when it comes to those two and that it isn't quite an easy thing for a man to relegate his wife of nine years into the role of interloper. Especially when the marriage has been a pretty good one. And yet the author also succeeds -- on another level -- in showing that Sam and Tessa do have some unresolved feelings for each other that they clearly do need to work out. So what is real? Sam's nine-year marriage and his wife or his old feelings for an ex-flame?
The problem is don't think the story works through that question all that well. I wanted to see Sam clearly examine what/who he wanted. I wanted the author to show me that Sam was truly struggling with the options he was given. I don't feel that happened. There would be points in the story when I felt like the we were getting tantalizingly close to a point where the story would click and I actually feel that the tangle of feelings and emotions being grappled with. But it always slid away, just out of reach. The whole time I felt that all the characters, especially Sam and Tessa tended to talk around each other (when they could actually finish a conversation without being interrupted).
In the end, Sam does realize where his true feelings lay, but it wasn't very satisfying. Throughout the story I thought that Sam was pretty passive-aggressive., And a bit of a jerk as well, really. Allie was clear about what she wanted from him and he stubbornly refused to give it to her and yet at the same time he wonders why she is pushing for a divorce. Allie left no area for misunderstanding and yet he just didn't hear her.
Tessa comes off as pouty and entitled. She is also, imo, the least developed of the three.
The writing was excellent, I just wish the story had lived up to the dramatic promise.
The main character Allie was by far the best character in the book. She is the younger of two sisters. Her older sister Tessa is (in Allie's eyes) perfect. She's tall, thin and gorgeous. She is also the first love of Allie's husband Sam.
Allie is a wonderful contradiction and that is why i think she is a great character. On the one hand she is a go-getter. She is focused, a good mother, incredibly likeable -- she simply makes things happen. However around Tessa and Sam she is mass of insecurities. In Tessa's case Allie always compares herself negatively to Tessa mainly on the basis of looks. In Sam's case she feels that she got him by default because nine years ago while Sam and Tessa had broken up after an argument, Allie slept with Sam and got pregnant.
As the book opens Allie and Sam are separated. Allie has been madly in love with Sam since she can remember and although he has been a good husband and father, she feels that something is missing -- that he is holding a part of himself back. And she has come to conclusion that she simply can't love enough for the both of them. So she wants out.
Coincidentally, Tessa is coming back to town to see their ailing grand-mother. Tessa has not been back home since Allie and Sam got married. For Allie it just means that Sam and Tessa can finally get together the way they should have all those years ago. From her perspective she had gotten in the way of fate, now she is getting out of the way and letting true nature take it's course.
I think on some level the author succeeds in showing us that Allie's perspective is skewed when it comes to those two and that it isn't quite an easy thing for a man to relegate his wife of nine years into the role of interloper. Especially when the marriage has been a pretty good one. And yet the author also succeeds -- on another level -- in showing that Sam and Tessa do have some unresolved feelings for each other that they clearly do need to work out. So what is real? Sam's nine-year marriage and his wife or his old feelings for an ex-flame?
The problem is don't think the story works through that question all that well. I wanted to see Sam clearly examine what/who he wanted. I wanted the author to show me that Sam was truly struggling with the options he was given. I don't feel that happened. There would be points in the story when I felt like the we were getting tantalizingly close to a point where the story would click and I actually feel that the tangle of feelings and emotions being grappled with. But it always slid away, just out of reach. The whole time I felt that all the characters, especially Sam and Tessa tended to talk around each other (when they could actually finish a conversation without being interrupted).
In the end, Sam does realize where his true feelings lay, but it wasn't very satisfying. Throughout the story I thought that Sam was pretty passive-aggressive., And a bit of a jerk as well, really. Allie was clear about what she wanted from him and he stubbornly refused to give it to her and yet at the same time he wonders why she is pushing for a divorce. Allie left no area for misunderstanding and yet he just didn't hear her.
Tessa comes off as pouty and entitled. She is also, imo, the least developed of the three.
The writing was excellent, I just wish the story had lived up to the dramatic promise.
Hated Alli's woeisme attitude. Well i hated Alli altogether. Everything, everything she did was despicable and yet she did it. Her mistakes weren't mistakes at all. How do you deliberately scheme against your sister and still be an awful person to her just cause she's prettier, successful and life of the party? And rich.. she was bitter that Tessa was rich.
She stole the light right out of her sister's eyes. If she truly believed they weren't meant to last she could've waited out their relationship. But no Tessa had to lose whom she thought was the love of her life to her seriously-in-need-of-some-personality sister. And then forgo the idea of a family with that man and have a torch lit for nine fucking years. How bad of a sister can she possibly be. She was half of her remaining family.
But nope, she seduced him when he was down and drunk, just like there wasn't anything else she could do but fall on his dick and get knocked up. Add the fact both Tessa and Sam were yet to have sex with eachother as Tessa wanted to wait.
She knew he had a ring on him and fucked him anyway. And her redeeming qualities were she was a good mother and ran a small town gift shop that showcased local artists. Yea, right? What about her character redemption?
Sam, well, he was drunk and thought he could never be the part of Tessa's life and fucked someone who was so desperate for him. He was bad person but it was forgivable cause he wasn't lucid and was actively seduced but it was quite shitty that he couldn't give a strong no to Tessa. Why string her along?
And honestly though they left Tessa with a hole in her heart, good for her to achieve all that and rub it in her sister's face. She was good and i don't know why she felt like she owed them an apology or needed to hide, other than her self preservation instincts, but she wasn't wrong in the least. It wasnt like she cancelled on the Christmas party last minute. Sam was just hoping she'd choose him over the modelling gig.
Oh and the bitch kissed Jimmy too after she saw the tension between Tessa and him. There was nothing this woman did that didn't warrant a slap on her face. It was really something. No wonder she coloured her hair green once. It's the colour of jealousy, ofcourse. Scratched her sister's name out of the heart that her and her boyfriend made in their treehouse and scribbled hers over it. Truly horrible person, really.
Jimmy was good.
William deserved better.
Two stars are for Tessa and Jimmy. Could've been more if it had more of them instead this dumbfuck of a person's pov.
Imagine not being able to make people sympathize with you in your own pov cause you're such a garbage of a human being.
Gods! if she were real i would've pulled out every hair, nail, tooth and bone out of her body.
She stole the light right out of her sister's eyes. If she truly believed they weren't meant to last she could've waited out their relationship. But no Tessa had to lose whom she thought was the love of her life to her seriously-in-need-of-some-personality sister. And then forgo the idea of a family with that man and have a torch lit for nine fucking years. How bad of a sister can she possibly be. She was half of her remaining family.
But nope, she seduced him when he was down and drunk, just like there wasn't anything else she could do but fall on his dick and get knocked up. Add the fact both Tessa and Sam were yet to have sex with eachother as Tessa wanted to wait.
She knew he had a ring on him and fucked him anyway. And her redeeming qualities were she was a good mother and ran a small town gift shop that showcased local artists. Yea, right? What about her character redemption?
Sam, well, he was drunk and thought he could never be the part of Tessa's life and fucked someone who was so desperate for him. He was bad person but it was forgivable cause he wasn't lucid and was actively seduced but it was quite shitty that he couldn't give a strong no to Tessa. Why string her along?
And honestly though they left Tessa with a hole in her heart, good for her to achieve all that and rub it in her sister's face. She was good and i don't know why she felt like she owed them an apology or needed to hide, other than her self preservation instincts, but she wasn't wrong in the least. It wasnt like she cancelled on the Christmas party last minute. Sam was just hoping she'd choose him over the modelling gig.
Oh and the bitch kissed Jimmy too after she saw the tension between Tessa and him. There was nothing this woman did that didn't warrant a slap on her face. It was really something. No wonder she coloured her hair green once. It's the colour of jealousy, ofcourse. Scratched her sister's name out of the heart that her and her boyfriend made in their treehouse and scribbled hers over it. Truly horrible person, really.
Jimmy was good.
William deserved better.
Two stars are for Tessa and Jimmy. Could've been more if it had more of them instead this dumbfuck of a person's pov.
Imagine not being able to make people sympathize with you in your own pov cause you're such a garbage of a human being.
Gods! if she were real i would've pulled out every hair, nail, tooth and bone out of her body.
A strongly emotional story that explores all kinds of relationships and loves. A great read!
Liked it, didn't love it like I thought i was going to.
I was fortunate to get this book free for my Kindle earlier this week, which was awesome because it has been on my wishlist for a while now. I'm not usually a fan of contemporary romance, but I really enjoyed this book. I found myself rooting for Alli and Sam to work out their problems because I felt from the beginning that they belonged together. That's probably why I found myself disliking Tessa for so much of the book - right up to the part where she and Alli have their food fight in Phoebe's kitchen and finally talk about what happened to cause their estrangement. After that, I had a better idea of where Tessa was coming from and was able to feel more sympathetic towards her. I really liked Jimmy and felt all along that he would be a much better match for Tessa than Sam. I'm glad they ended up getting married in the epilogue.
Even though I felt all along that Alli and Sam would end up staying together, the author did a really good job of keeping me guessing until the end. Instead of the original love triangle between Tessa, Alli, and Sam, over time it expanded to include Jimmy in some sort of a love quadrangle. There were times when I suspected that the author was trying to set up an ending where Tessa and Sam ended up together while Alli ended up with Jimmy. Alli and Jimmy had a lot in common, but she wouldn't have fit into his world for the same reasons as Sam wouldn't have fit into Tessa's. Also, I think Sam really was "The One" for Alli. She had loved him for so long that I don't think she would know how to be with anyone else. Fortunately, everything worked out as it should have, with Sam and Alli together and Tessa realizing her growing feelings for Jimmy.
Even though I felt all along that Alli and Sam would end up staying together, the author did a really good job of keeping me guessing until the end. Instead of the original love triangle between Tessa, Alli, and Sam, over time it expanded to include Jimmy in some sort of a love quadrangle. There were times when I suspected that the author was trying to set up an ending where Tessa and Sam ended up together while Alli ended up with Jimmy. Alli and Jimmy had a lot in common, but she wouldn't have fit into his world for the same reasons as Sam wouldn't have fit into Tessa's. Also, I think Sam really was "The One" for Alli. She had loved him for so long that I don't think she would know how to be with anyone else. Fortunately, everything worked out as it should have, with Sam and Alli together and Tessa realizing her growing feelings for Jimmy.
I didn't expect to like Alli. And yet I did. I didn't expect to like most of the characters b/c of their flaws and the history between them all. And yet I did. The author did a good job of making the characters redeemable despite their flaws.... And it was the kind of story where I just wanted more of the epilogue, b/c I loved the characters and wanted more of the happy ending. :)
This is my perfect book - exactly how I like my stories. The only issue I have is that it dragged on in parts, and if that's the worst it comes, then that is pretty good! One of the best free books I've picked up yet! This has mademy favorite list now! Go check it out!!
Alli and Tessa haven't been together for over 9 years. Tessa is angry with Alli for stealing her boyfriend away from her, marrying him and having a child with him. Alli is angry with Tessa for treating her like a she didn't matter, for making her feel like she was always in her shadow.
Sam came home for Christmas without Tessa. Realizing that their relationship was over he got drunk and slept with Allie. As a result Alli became pregnant. Sam married Alli and they brought a beautiful baby girl into the world. Now 9 years later Alli is ready to give up her marriage because she feels that Sam doesn't want to be tied down to her anymore. But even that doesn't got smoothly. Tessa comes back to town because there grandmother is in the hospital. Phoebe had a stroke and Tessa heads back home to see her fearful that it might be the last time. Alli and Tessa grew up on the care of their grandmother after their parents were killed in a car accident. Sparks will definitely fly when the two of them will be under the same roof, but whether they will heal the relationship or not is for you to discover.
I enjoyed reading this. I think it was one of the first free Kindle books I had gotten, but it took me awhile to get around to finally reading it. It was a easy story to read. Several times I wanted to reach into the story and whack Alli or Tessa in the head. The characters where easy to get involved with and root for.
Sam came home for Christmas without Tessa. Realizing that their relationship was over he got drunk and slept with Allie. As a result Alli became pregnant. Sam married Alli and they brought a beautiful baby girl into the world. Now 9 years later Alli is ready to give up her marriage because she feels that Sam doesn't want to be tied down to her anymore. But even that doesn't got smoothly. Tessa comes back to town because there grandmother is in the hospital. Phoebe had a stroke and Tessa heads back home to see her fearful that it might be the last time. Alli and Tessa grew up on the care of their grandmother after their parents were killed in a car accident. Sparks will definitely fly when the two of them will be under the same roof, but whether they will heal the relationship or not is for you to discover.
I enjoyed reading this. I think it was one of the first free Kindle books I had gotten, but it took me awhile to get around to finally reading it. It was a easy story to read. Several times I wanted to reach into the story and whack Alli or Tessa in the head. The characters where easy to get involved with and root for.
I loved this book! I loved it so much I don't even know what to say. The characters were so easy to relate to--at times, uncomfortably so. I felt like I learned about myself as I read it. At times I wanted to cry and at others I was so happy but all the way through, I saw truth. This book was beautiful and perfect and I'm a fan of Freethy for life.