Kate Vale deftly creates a heartwarming story about another real life issue – adoption, and a reunion of a birthmother and her daughter twenty years later. Bella has grown up far beyond the young woman who struggled with the decision to give up her child and is delighted at now getting to know her daughter as a young adult. Bella carefully navigates the sometimes rough waters with Destiny’s mother who is distrustful of Bella’s motives. Fortunately Nolan Harris, Destiny’s father is much more encouraging of this budding relationship between Destiny and her birth mother.
Gavin Cambridge’s first trip to Evergreen was purely obligatory as Henry’s nephew, but what he finds there in beautiful Bella helps him take on the project of sorting out his uncle’s bookstore while reconsidering his career across the state. When Destiny finally does come to visit Bella she fits beautifully into Bella’s world and friendships and the beloved Henry’s bookstore as if her presence in the same place as her birth mother was truly meant to be.
Then there’s the tear-inducing ending and how Bella and Gavin resolve their relationship.
I liked the book overall. Melanie is in the process of divorcing her ex-husband. That is enough to deal with by itself...but as a result, her older children start to act out. To add to that, Melanie also starts developing feelings for the cop, Sam as they constantly seem to cross paths.
As I was reading I was thinking how Melanie's older son's reaction to the whole divorce issue was completely believable and her daughters reaction was almost believable although the whole strip club scene may have been a bit forced. I also really liked how the relationship between Sam and Melanie played out and how she gradually introduced him into her family. I found the ending to be enjoyable.
What happens when a piece of your heart is somewhere else? As a sixteen
year old, Bella was awkward and unpopular, but bright enough to be tutoring
football players at her school. When one of them convinced her that he
loved her, the resulting sex created Destiny. Bella loved her coming baby
though her parents refused to help her with anything but finding an adoptive
family for her precious unborn daughter.
Seeking a form of open-adoption, where Bella could get pictures and send
letters twice every year, Bella settled on the Harrises. Giving up her baby
broke her heart, and beautiful Destiny took parts of it with her on her
third day of life. When Mrs. Harris decided to stop sending letters when
Destiny was five and the family moved away, Bella was heartsick, wondering
if Destiny was still alive and well.
Push forward to Destiny's twenty-first birthday, when Mr. Harris wrote to
Bella with Destiny's contact information. Will these two hearts, who were
missing something, be able to love fully again, or will trust issues that
have developed from the past build a wedge between everyone involved? Can a
child have too many people who love them? When does the child become old
enough and responsible enough to make her own life decisions?
Kate Vale has taken a number of serious issues revolving around adoptions,
and created a beautifully written and creative love story. And I haven't
even said anything about the hunky Gavin. Nor the elderly bookstore owner,
Henry. Not even mentioned is this story's intriguing connection to book
stores and libraries. This is a winsome and enthralling romance, where four
generations of broken hearts melt to create resplendent meaningful lives
full of love in all of its many forms.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. This in no way affects my following review.
Safe Beside You was a bit of an emotional ride for me, but I have to say I enjoyed seeing it through! I will say from the beginning it's not for everyone - there are elements of abuse, and there is a resulting effect from the abuse in this book that some readers may be particularly sensitive to. What really sold this book for me was the relationships and the characters - the main focus of the story. I wasn't always thrilled with what was going on but I could understand it.
Carrie and Brian made for a wonderful lead couple. Carrie's personality was strong, competent, confident and intelligent. Despite everything that was going on Carrie could take the lead, didn't panic or whine or complain which I appreciated. As the book went on and she returned to civilization, her character changed to suit the circumstances. I didn't like who she was when she was with Quentin. She began to question him, herself and what she thought she wanted and I just wanted so badly for her to see what the people around her could. But you can't make someone in an unhealthy relationship see the truth before they're ready. They have to realize the truth on their own, this in particularly stood out for me because something similar happened with my brother (except without the physical abuse, he was with a particularly controlling, jealous woman for about a year before finally ending it). Carrie's strength starts showing itself again towards the end after Quentin takes things too far. Brian, was a great guy, he and Carrie were perfect for each other. Brian struggled with his feelings for Carrie because of her 'taken' status. Driven, kind and supportive he was a great male lead. Watching his relationships with Carrie was both very sweet and kind of painful - especially when she was still with her fiance. It really makes a difference when you really love someone as to what you're willing to do - as it showed with the very distinct differences we saw with Carrie/Quentin and Carrie/Brian.
Baron - the beautiful black and white siberian husky was wonderful. He didn't play as big a part in the story as I thought he would but I was always happy to see him (I admit to having wanted to see him take a piece out of Quentin). There was also some wonderful side characters like Sofie & Woody (Carrie's neighbor/best friend and her husband), Carrie's Aunt Harriet, and even Brian's roommates - particularly Blake. Quentin was awful and got off far easier than I would've liked, but I have a vivid imagination and am already picturing what possible fate awaits him in prison.
The conflict of the story was (mostly) internal, among the characters and played out well. The only thing I would have changed is the pacing/focus of parts of the story. It was a strong start, but in the middle it lagged a little. I would've preferred slightly less focus on when Carrie was with Quentin and more on the aftermath of that relationship as she healed, but that may just be me.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from this author.
I love this book, many funny moments andd well written! A perfect book to read when you need to get you mind "off things". It is nice to read a romance story about a middle aged woman for once.
"Choices" by Kate Vale is a contemporary romance story set in small town USA about a seemingly perfect family that ends up experiencing the harder side of life. The story is heart wrenching, but it is ultimately inspiring even though it deals with divorce, infidelity, and relationships. This novel uniquely shows the gritty and often ignored side of what families with kids go through when a marriage breaks apart.
Melanie, the main character, finds herself in a position that no mother or wife ever expects or wants: her husband has just walked out on their family and she is left alone to pick up the pieces. She finds herself having to support her three children by herself and her kids are blaming her for their dad's disappearance from their lives.
The reader is dropped right into the heart of the story from the very beginning when Melanie is confronted by her estranged husband telling her he wants "out" of their marriage. He declares couples counseling was simply a waste of his time and he wants the marriage to be over so he can move on with his life. Self-doubt creeps through Melanie's mind and she wonders why her husband would want to leave after sixteen years of a seemingly good marriage and what she could have done differently.
It's not long after her husband deserts her and their children that she re-meets Sam. Sam, the detective, the single detective who is smitten with Melanie from the get-go. He immediately takes to her kids and wonders what it would be like to have the full life of a family, house and all the trimmings. He carefully pursues Melanie in hopes of a life with her and her children.
But Sam and Melanie aren't prepared for the troubled times ahead of them. Melanie finds herself with two angry and troubled teens, both acting out and getting themselves into some frightening situations. Sam finds work colliding with his personal life and his attempts to court Melanie. And Melanie's ex-husband has become jealous and angry at the thought of another man stepping into his role as husband and father.
Can Sam, Melanie, and her children be there for each other and help each other when tragedy strikes and life gets even harder?
Vale's "Choices" sincerely explores the pain and anger that can come with a messy divorce in a realistic and honest way. This is a novel that everyone who has experienced the sting of divorce and troubled teens can relate to.
"Choices" by Kate Vale is a sweet romance novel with a truly heart-warming ending. Each character grows and changes from beginning to end in this novel, making it not only a great read, but an inspiring one as well. Vale wrote a page turning story that I wouldn't hesitate to read again!
"Choices" by Kate Vale received the Chatelaine Grand Prize Award 2013 for Romantic Fiction, a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions.
This was such a great story. Cecilia was such a sweet little girl & she and Marcus really hit it off. Carlton, the guy who shared an office with Amanda, seems to want to be friends with Cecilia too. Amanda & Marcus's relationship gets closer and well...Some crazy twists and turns in this book but so worth the read!!!
This book got on my nerves!!! I believe that many men cheat on their wives. And for some reason that I cannot comprehend, they expect their wives to just get over it...in the blink of an eye!!! This H was real wrong, and to invite his wife to the scene of the crime (so to speak), knowing that he had fresh open wounds on his back left there by the OW.....well I think on some level he wanted to be caught. She gave him a few significant physical blows and of course was very angry, then appeared to be getting over it. Then she began to beat him up by throwing the woman up at him over, and over, and over, AND OVER AGAIN, until I felt she should just go ahead and beat him up some more or find the woman and beat her up. This book got interesting when the therapists were called. They saved this book. Mostly I want to say that the signs and symptoms for chronic depression as given by this author is totally accurate. This author enables you by reading this very well written book, to use this info to assist you to know if this is happening to someone you love. I have suffered from this illness for over 40 years and I know this information to be accurate.
Sometimes melding injured hearts can cause much needed healing. When trust is broken by parents or foster parents, and injuries come instead of protection, it take a special kind of love and patience to rebuild a child's emotions and belief that there can be trust again. Can a surviving adult fit that need?
Gretchen is a middle school teacher who rose above some very difficult years before she found a job that she loves. Now, 12 year old, Laine, and 5 year old, Nettie, both need a healthy and safe home. Gretchen took then in for a night of emergence care and fell in love with them. As the adoption process begins, a DNA test seems to put a potential wrench into the situation. Chris, the children's school counselor gets involved too. Just how involved is he willing to be, and where will his heart lead him?
This highly emotional story tackles some real life difficult issues in a reasonable and hopeful way. I think it's important to read stories where injured people become survivors rather than victims.
This is also a love story that goes way beyond the typical "lust" love story that I see so much of today. Excellent writing too.
I read this book before and thoroughly loved it. I loved it more reading it a second time. The Book Description is a good one. I won't add more to than what the Book Description gave. I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone else reading this book. I loved Paul and Sally's story with its ups and downs. They both had serious problems to overcome. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It's a book that I plan on reading again sometime in the future.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!