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Gifts From The Past
Following Expectations and What Money Can’t Buy, the third novel in the Taylor Twins series, Gifts from the Past, finds the twins, Chris and Matt Taylor, immersed in the greatest challenges of their lives—parenthood. Chris and Aiden are raising their adopted daughter and their special needs son, who struggles with physical and emotional challenges daily. Matt, on the other hand, has a beautiful and happy baby girl. However, his fiancée, Carley, has gone from overemotional to abusive and Matt needs to decide his best course of action. When Ally, Chris's college girlfriend, comes back into the twins' lives, everything becomes complicated. Especially for Matt.
Gifts from the Past is a novel redefining love, family, loyalty, and ultimately survival. Sometimes, taking the best from your past moves you forward through the present, creating a brighter future for you and your family.
Gifts from the Past is a novel redefining love, family, loyalty, and ultimately survival. Sometimes, taking the best from your past moves you forward through the present, creating a brighter future for you and your family.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2012
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Liz Borino
22 books77 followersLiz Borino transcribes the world inside her head onto the page, and share it with the people who are stuck in the “real world” to makes their lives a little more interesting. Because in her world, heroes fall and stand up again with the help of their partners and friends. Liz’s world is littered with formidable obstacles, which her heroes overcome with a fire of courage and passion. The beauty of love between two men is celebrated. Who wouldn’t want to live there?
When not with her heroes, Liz enjoys exploring cities, working toward social justice, and editing for other authors. Liz is less than three months from obtaining her Masters’ degree in English and published nine books since 2010.
When not with her heroes, Liz enjoys exploring cities, working toward social justice, and editing for other authors. Liz is less than three months from obtaining her Masters’ degree in English and published nine books since 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 16, 2012
Gifts from the Past: Expectations Bk 3
By Liz Bornio
Wow, it was nice to be back with the Taylor Twins and their families. Their first book caught me by the throat and has kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen next in their lives.
Gifts from the Past opens up pretty much where What Money Can’t Buy left off.
Let me tell you, the children really stole the spotlight in this book, but then, it was their book (in this reviews option). Brandon is getting better at trusting people, his language usage is getting better, and he starts to stand by himself with Chris and Aiden’s gentle loving care. Allison is a happy baby at almost a year; she crawls and toddles, speaks certain words and is convinced the world revolves around her. Except when there is something wrong with her brother, then she is the picture of compassion to him, helping Chris or Aiden calm him down, holding cold compresses on his forehead if he has a fever, whatever she can to help. Then we have young Dorothea, new born, and as a safe and content as any new born should be. She is unsure of her mother, because Carley is unsure of her.
Aiden and Chris enjoy their new family, Chris enjoys being a stay at home father and husband, tending the house and caring for the children. He is growing as a person with these new responsibilities. He also is starting to learn to trust his father a little more, as Robert recovers from his stroke is truly trying to understand his sons, their choices and their lifestyles. The choices are so different from the ones he made. He reconnects with Cyndi, Matt’s business partner and remembered her as the only woman he had ever loved. They picked their relationship back up, retiring to the bedroom and staying in each other’s company as much as possible.
Aiden never let’s Chris forget that he is loved and that he appreciates all that Chris does for their family allowing him to go out and teach his dance. The love between these two men keeps growing, and they keep getting closer. Each hurdle they meet they work together to overcome it and keep their family intact. His need to protect his sister, she is so young in his eyes, and he hadn’t seen her for long, does lead to conflict when she starts dating a very controlling older man that is married with children.
Meghan wants to stretch her wings and find love. Her self-worth is not high because of all the abuse she took at her father’s hands, and she thinks she has found safety in the arms of the older doctor. He is controlling, yes, but with him she knows exactly what to expect, the rules are all laid out. After moving in with him and his wife and children, under the guise of maid/nanny, she does learn the difference and manages to find new friends that give her the option when she goes back to Ireland with Aiden and the family, to reach for a love that has been waiting 18 years for her.
Matt and Carley started classes at the local Catholic parish, Carley thinking it was ultra-conservative because the first priest she had talked to was very old. The priest that was teaching Matt and giving them counseling was much younger and understood about Chris’s lifestyle and importance in Matt’s life. The teacher for their pre-marriage classes ended up being Sarah, the nurse from the last book that had helped get Matt hooked on the wrong drugs for his headaches. How she managed to convince Father Patrick, the old priest that she was ready for such a job in two months is a testament to her manipulation abilities.
Sarah manages to pull Carley in so that she goes from hating her for trying to take Matt away from her two months ago, to relying on her as the authority on what a good Christian wife should be. As Carley’s mood swings get worse causing Matt to leave her after she throws a glass at him while he is holding Dorothea, Sarah offers her a prescription for something for the postpartum depression. Matt makes her go into a real doctor, where they find out she has Bi-polar disorder; putting her on the correct medication.
Matt goes to a retreat put on by the Church to finalize his break up with Carley, while there his headache gets much worse and he drops into unconsciousness. Chris knows the instant Matt loses consciousness, and goes to find him. He sees Carley and Sarah in handcuffs before he finds out that his brother’s headaches are not migraines, but something more serious.
Ally Warner has come back to town, Chris old girlfriend that had more of a relationship with Matt than Chris, and agrees to have Aiden and Chris’s child. Matt and she slipped into their friendship role easily as soon as they see each other. Matt realizes that he had always loved Ally and wasn’t going to let her go now. She stays by his side through the operation that saves it, and was the only person that he allowed to care for him. The only person besides Chris that he couldn’t lie too about how he was feeling, and he never wanted to ever lie to Ally about anything. After he recovered from his surgery they got married.
This reviewer is thinking a long marriage based on their friendship, similar to Chris and Aiden’s that will go the distance. This book had so many sudden climaxes, and then you are thrown into another that I was always wondering what else could happen in the small sleepy town of Hartford to our Taylor twins that wanted nothing more than be left in peace to live and love. Excellent book, a must read if you like family dramas. This story is very sensual and erotic with both a male/male couple and a male/female couple. The best of the series yet, can’t wait for the next…. Oh, did I mention that on Allison’s fifth birthday her Brandon’s biological father escapes from prison and is on a killing spree heading straight for Hartford and the Taylor clan?
By Liz Bornio
Wow, it was nice to be back with the Taylor Twins and their families. Their first book caught me by the throat and has kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen next in their lives.
Gifts from the Past opens up pretty much where What Money Can’t Buy left off.
Let me tell you, the children really stole the spotlight in this book, but then, it was their book (in this reviews option). Brandon is getting better at trusting people, his language usage is getting better, and he starts to stand by himself with Chris and Aiden’s gentle loving care. Allison is a happy baby at almost a year; she crawls and toddles, speaks certain words and is convinced the world revolves around her. Except when there is something wrong with her brother, then she is the picture of compassion to him, helping Chris or Aiden calm him down, holding cold compresses on his forehead if he has a fever, whatever she can to help. Then we have young Dorothea, new born, and as a safe and content as any new born should be. She is unsure of her mother, because Carley is unsure of her.
Aiden and Chris enjoy their new family, Chris enjoys being a stay at home father and husband, tending the house and caring for the children. He is growing as a person with these new responsibilities. He also is starting to learn to trust his father a little more, as Robert recovers from his stroke is truly trying to understand his sons, their choices and their lifestyles. The choices are so different from the ones he made. He reconnects with Cyndi, Matt’s business partner and remembered her as the only woman he had ever loved. They picked their relationship back up, retiring to the bedroom and staying in each other’s company as much as possible.
Aiden never let’s Chris forget that he is loved and that he appreciates all that Chris does for their family allowing him to go out and teach his dance. The love between these two men keeps growing, and they keep getting closer. Each hurdle they meet they work together to overcome it and keep their family intact. His need to protect his sister, she is so young in his eyes, and he hadn’t seen her for long, does lead to conflict when she starts dating a very controlling older man that is married with children.
Meghan wants to stretch her wings and find love. Her self-worth is not high because of all the abuse she took at her father’s hands, and she thinks she has found safety in the arms of the older doctor. He is controlling, yes, but with him she knows exactly what to expect, the rules are all laid out. After moving in with him and his wife and children, under the guise of maid/nanny, she does learn the difference and manages to find new friends that give her the option when she goes back to Ireland with Aiden and the family, to reach for a love that has been waiting 18 years for her.
Matt and Carley started classes at the local Catholic parish, Carley thinking it was ultra-conservative because the first priest she had talked to was very old. The priest that was teaching Matt and giving them counseling was much younger and understood about Chris’s lifestyle and importance in Matt’s life. The teacher for their pre-marriage classes ended up being Sarah, the nurse from the last book that had helped get Matt hooked on the wrong drugs for his headaches. How she managed to convince Father Patrick, the old priest that she was ready for such a job in two months is a testament to her manipulation abilities.
Sarah manages to pull Carley in so that she goes from hating her for trying to take Matt away from her two months ago, to relying on her as the authority on what a good Christian wife should be. As Carley’s mood swings get worse causing Matt to leave her after she throws a glass at him while he is holding Dorothea, Sarah offers her a prescription for something for the postpartum depression. Matt makes her go into a real doctor, where they find out she has Bi-polar disorder; putting her on the correct medication.
Matt goes to a retreat put on by the Church to finalize his break up with Carley, while there his headache gets much worse and he drops into unconsciousness. Chris knows the instant Matt loses consciousness, and goes to find him. He sees Carley and Sarah in handcuffs before he finds out that his brother’s headaches are not migraines, but something more serious.
Ally Warner has come back to town, Chris old girlfriend that had more of a relationship with Matt than Chris, and agrees to have Aiden and Chris’s child. Matt and she slipped into their friendship role easily as soon as they see each other. Matt realizes that he had always loved Ally and wasn’t going to let her go now. She stays by his side through the operation that saves it, and was the only person that he allowed to care for him. The only person besides Chris that he couldn’t lie too about how he was feeling, and he never wanted to ever lie to Ally about anything. After he recovered from his surgery they got married.
This reviewer is thinking a long marriage based on their friendship, similar to Chris and Aiden’s that will go the distance. This book had so many sudden climaxes, and then you are thrown into another that I was always wondering what else could happen in the small sleepy town of Hartford to our Taylor twins that wanted nothing more than be left in peace to live and love. Excellent book, a must read if you like family dramas. This story is very sensual and erotic with both a male/male couple and a male/female couple. The best of the series yet, can’t wait for the next…. Oh, did I mention that on Allison’s fifth birthday her Brandon’s biological father escapes from prison and is on a killing spree heading straight for Hartford and the Taylor clan?
August 26, 2016
Gifts from the Past is the third installment of Liz Borino’s Taylor Twins series, continuing our look into the family lives of Matt and Chris Taylor after What Money Can’t Buy.
As we watch Matt try to juggle not only a newborn daughter, a budding business, and his apparent unstable fiancée, we can’t help but wonder how much more he can take when the reappearance of someone he thought was long gone makes his life more complicated and stretches his self-control to its limits.
Chis and Aiden’s relationship continues to grow as they raise their children and balance their lives. However, a past encounter brings the possibility of a shorter future to their front door, leaving them to rely on each other for strength even as their fears of what this could mean for them, and those around them, threatens to be all-consuming.
While that would be enough for any one book, Ms. Borino manages to pack in more surprises for us until we’re wondering what is going to happen next. As the story unfolds, it brings us through a full range of emotions and we’re either cheering, ranting, or crying for the parties involved, often forgetting that we’re not part of this tight nit group.
Even though the ending jumps a bit to the future, it also caused my heart to falter as the shock hit me of just what this cliffhanger could really mean. Being already invested in this family, I can only hope that the next installment will be released soon so the most important question can be answered, “Who is it?!?”
As we watch Matt try to juggle not only a newborn daughter, a budding business, and his apparent unstable fiancée, we can’t help but wonder how much more he can take when the reappearance of someone he thought was long gone makes his life more complicated and stretches his self-control to its limits.
Chis and Aiden’s relationship continues to grow as they raise their children and balance their lives. However, a past encounter brings the possibility of a shorter future to their front door, leaving them to rely on each other for strength even as their fears of what this could mean for them, and those around them, threatens to be all-consuming.
While that would be enough for any one book, Ms. Borino manages to pack in more surprises for us until we’re wondering what is going to happen next. As the story unfolds, it brings us through a full range of emotions and we’re either cheering, ranting, or crying for the parties involved, often forgetting that we’re not part of this tight nit group.
Even though the ending jumps a bit to the future, it also caused my heart to falter as the shock hit me of just what this cliffhanger could really mean. Being already invested in this family, I can only hope that the next installment will be released soon so the most important question can be answered, “Who is it?!?”
February 2, 2012
Back for a third time with the likeable trio of twins Matt and Chris and Chris's husband Aiden. Back with a vengeance!
The three young men are as engaging as always – the bond between the identical twins is just as strong and Aiden and Chris just as in love as they ever were.
A new set of challenges, hurdles, loves and losses find their way into their lives. There are touch-and-go moments, moments of intense passion and tenderness, moments of pathos, moments of joy, sympathy and achievement.
Liz's style continues to be engaging and compelling – these three main characters have always, throughout books one and two, represented people whom you wished you had as neighbours or good friends and in book three remain so, if not even more. It is quite a feat to be able to make a fictional character someone you would wish to meet and Liz manages this not only with one, but with three of hers.
I don't want to say too much more of the story – it would spoil it for this excellent sequel. What I can say is that you will enjoy and be engulfed with what life holds for our three friends and Liz's crowning glory at the end leaves you wanting for more.
The three young men are as engaging as always – the bond between the identical twins is just as strong and Aiden and Chris just as in love as they ever were.
A new set of challenges, hurdles, loves and losses find their way into their lives. There are touch-and-go moments, moments of intense passion and tenderness, moments of pathos, moments of joy, sympathy and achievement.
Liz's style continues to be engaging and compelling – these three main characters have always, throughout books one and two, represented people whom you wished you had as neighbours or good friends and in book three remain so, if not even more. It is quite a feat to be able to make a fictional character someone you would wish to meet and Liz manages this not only with one, but with three of hers.
I don't want to say too much more of the story – it would spoil it for this excellent sequel. What I can say is that you will enjoy and be engulfed with what life holds for our three friends and Liz's crowning glory at the end leaves you wanting for more.
February 17, 2012
I have had to let this book simmer a little bit, before writing the review. I was completely blown away by this installment in the lives of Chris and Matt Taylor.
Being book three, if you made it this far . . you have clearly invested yourself to the series. You have already made your cries out loud when something isn't going your way or you have gasped when the unthinkable happens.
Gifts from the Past, continues that reader behavior. As we walk with the Taylor brothers through their daily life, we feel their struggles and celebrate their triumphs.
Yet for me, it was an eerie read at times. Only because it's was like art imitating life (my life). Things that were happening were so real, because I could pull pieces of my life and lay them side by side to compare. No I'm not saying it was 100% carbon copy my life, but it was so close . . I often wondered if the author had me followed, had my phone lines tapped.
Since book one (Expectations), I have finished each book eagerly awaiting the next to come out. I will now sit back and patiently wait what happens next. Since the author did leave the book in cliffhanger mode.
Great series, that I highly recommend.
Being book three, if you made it this far . . you have clearly invested yourself to the series. You have already made your cries out loud when something isn't going your way or you have gasped when the unthinkable happens.
Gifts from the Past, continues that reader behavior. As we walk with the Taylor brothers through their daily life, we feel their struggles and celebrate their triumphs.
Yet for me, it was an eerie read at times. Only because it's was like art imitating life (my life). Things that were happening were so real, because I could pull pieces of my life and lay them side by side to compare. No I'm not saying it was 100% carbon copy my life, but it was so close . . I often wondered if the author had me followed, had my phone lines tapped.
Since book one (Expectations), I have finished each book eagerly awaiting the next to come out. I will now sit back and patiently wait what happens next. Since the author did leave the book in cliffhanger mode.
Great series, that I highly recommend.
September 9, 2012
This was the first book of this series that I have read and while I was confused initially by the complex relationships of the characters, I was still rather pleased that Ms. Bonino did not retell the entire backstories but instead left a trail of breadcrumbs that allowed a new reader to catch up enough to follow this story and its characters. If you enjoy stories about families that are not perfect but whose members are trying their best to be good people and good parents, this is the book for you. However, if you like your stories wrapped up with a pretty bow at the end, Ms. Borino’s thrilling cliff-hanger may leave you wanting more, which is, I believe, the point. I’m glad I have time to go back to read the first books so I’m better prepared for the next one and whatever is happening to, well, to whom?
Please see my complete review on 9/13/12 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Please see my complete review on 9/13/12 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
February 16, 2012
This whole series has been one emotion after another. Now the ending is almost to much to bare in this one! Hope the next book comes out soon.
June 7, 2012
Beautifully written I love the interactions with the kids and I was glad to see their father come around. I can hardly wait for the next installment of this series.
July 8, 2012
loved it couldnt put it down cant wait for the next one the ending has me on my toes so tell me the next book is gonna be out realllll sooooonnnn lol
January 31, 2012
Official review coming soon!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews