Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I wanted a little but more between Ray and Olivia but I very much liked the story
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Having seen the Hallmark movie (the only Hallmark movie I actually like) based on this book, I knew the plot well. I think Creel created a decent plot out of a fairly uneventful situation, a plot which allowed her to focus on character exploration and development. I think she did a fairly decent job with this, nothing extraordinarily good or bad. However, she let a gem of a story slip through her fingers, holding onto only the decent scraps left behind. If she had explored the ramifications of Livvy's declaration at the end of the book, I think she could have salvaged even more of the gem. Instead, she spends far too much time on the Rose and Lorelei saga and far too little on Ray and Livvy's relationship. While not bad, I hope for much better in the next fiction book I read.
I gave up on this book. she just seemed forgettable.
“At that moment, I wished with everything in my body that things could be different. I wished I could pluck out the threads of him that I didn't care for and keep the ones I liked. But then again, I knew that people couldn't be pulled apart in that way. Those severed threads would just cause the whole of him to unravel."
This book had a slow beginning, but hang in there! I almost gave up and I'm glad I didn't. I read this after watching the Hallmark movie they made of it and enjoyed the book even more! I loved the writing style of the author. She paints beautiful pictures with her words.
There are some really good lessons to be learned in reading this book. My favorite of these lessons was that love in a marriage isn't just about the physical attraction and how "head over heels" we fall in love with someone. We learn from Ray that it is about commitment, patience, forgiveness, selflessness, and kindness. It is about giving it your all, not expecting anything in return. Ray's character made me want to be a better spouse in my own marriage! There is also a really good message of forgiving others, forgiving oneself and being able to move forward with hope. I really enjoyed this read. There are a couple steamy scenes. They aren't super descriptive and are very short, but you definitely know what's going on. So just be warned.
This book had a slow beginning, but hang in there! I almost gave up and I'm glad I didn't. I read this after watching the Hallmark movie they made of it and enjoyed the book even more! I loved the writing style of the author. She paints beautiful pictures with her words.
There are some really good lessons to be learned in reading this book. My favorite of these lessons was that love in a marriage isn't just about the physical attraction and how "head over heels" we fall in love with someone. We learn from Ray that it is about commitment, patience, forgiveness, selflessness, and kindness. It is about giving it your all, not expecting anything in return. Ray's character made me want to be a better spouse in my own marriage! There is also a really good message of forgiving others, forgiving oneself and being able to move forward with hope. I really enjoyed this read. There are a couple steamy scenes. They aren't super descriptive and are very short, but you definitely know what's going on. So just be warned.
I almost stopped reading this book several times because I found myself wondering "What is it exactly that's keeping me reading?" I think it might have been the synopsis on the back of the book - I knew an event was coming that might liven the book up a bit.
The plot was refreshingly unusual. I think its languid pace and annoyingly delayed admissions didn't appeal to me. However it does describe people dealing with some very thorny issues with grace and compassion. It definitely casts judgemental people in an unfavorable light.
The first person narration effectively draws the reader into Olivia's shoes. Olivia herself extends sympathy to the characters she meets, and the narration lets the reader ride along on her sympathy toward the other characters.
In my final estimation, the book was just kind of bland. The story is, in fact, very ordinary, and I just don't think that's my cup of tea for recreational reading. I may change my mind ... there's something about how Olivia found happiness when she started really looking around her that I find haunting.
The plot was refreshingly unusual. I think its languid pace and annoyingly delayed admissions didn't appeal to me. However it does describe people dealing with some very thorny issues with grace and compassion. It definitely casts judgemental people in an unfavorable light.
The first person narration effectively draws the reader into Olivia's shoes. Olivia herself extends sympathy to the characters she meets, and the narration lets the reader ride along on her sympathy toward the other characters.
In my final estimation, the book was just kind of bland. The story is, in fact, very ordinary, and I just don't think that's my cup of tea for recreational reading. I may change my mind ... there's something about how Olivia found happiness when she started really looking around her that I find haunting.
Pros: I loved the story of gradually unfolding love. I also enjoyed following the main character as she made peace with her past and opened her heart again. Wonderfully vivid descriptions of the main character's surroundings. A great "sense of place."
Cons: I felt the author was preachy and shoehorned her own modern beliefs into a woman from the 1940's. At least she made the character a college girl to make it more believable. I also often found the main character to be arrogant and judgmental, which was annoying to me.
Cons: I felt the author was preachy and shoehorned her own modern beliefs into a woman from the 1940's. At least she made the character a college girl to make it more believable. I also often found the main character to be arrogant and judgmental, which was annoying to me.
Eh. This book was okay. I was disappointed because I thought the Japanese internment camp would be more prominently featured, but the main focus was on the protagonist's love life. My fault for not reading between the lines of the back cover copy.
