The Art of My Life

New Smyrna Beach #4

by Ann Lee Miller

Cal walked out of jail and into a second chance at winning Aly with his grandma’s beater sailboat and a reclaimed dream of sailing charters.Aly has the business smarts, strings to a startup loan, and heart he never should have broken. He’s got squat. Unless you count enough original art to stock a monster rummage sale and an affection for weed.But he’d only ever loved Aly. That had to count for something. Aly needed a guy who owned yard tools, tires worth rotating, and a voter’s registration card. He’d be that guy or die trying.For anyone who’s ever struggled to measure up. And failed.

Genres: Christian Fiction

374 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2012

About the author

Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art of My Life has become my favorite book yet, from Ann Lee Miller! Cal has had a lifetime to become as damaged and lost as he is. Never measuring up to what his mother wanted, he turned to his grandparents who accepted him as he was. Unfortunately, their lifestyle involved illegal drug use and Cal fell into that abyss. Mistake after mistake found Cal in jail, still lost. He has been in love with Aly forever, but doesn't feel he will ever be good enough for her. Aly also has her demons. After a wild and promiscuous teenage period, she has settled down and gotten her life straightened out. Aly has a career that will hold her over until she is ready to follow her dreams of owning her own business. Aly loves Cal, but he once turned down her advances and she figures he will never be interested in her.

Meanwhile, Fish and Missy are playing that same cat & mouse game. Fish has always been attracted to Missy, but she is Cal's much younger sister, who now wants marriage and a family-last thing Fish thinks he wants. Missy has had it bad for Fish since she was about fourteen, he knows it, but seems to avoid her.

As each story moves along simultaneously, they tell of the insecurities and issues each person has. No one is perfect, everyone has baggage, some heavier than others, but everyone needs the approval of those closest to them. Cal has the toughest road to travel, he has fallen down so many times, but failed to see that in trying again, he was gaining strength. Aly tries to be there for him, helping him with his business, encouraging his art. They just never seem to get on the same page at the same time. Will either of these couples finally open up and be honest with each other? Do they have what it takes to trust their heart to someone else, no holding back?

Ann Miller has done her job creating a world with flawed characters, flawed satellite characters, and worst case scenarios, just like real life. I was so connected to Cal and his issues that I wanted an hour alone with his over-critical, always disapproving mother! I guess that is a sign of a great author who knows how to put everything together!

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

***This Kindle version was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.***

My first words to describe Cal Koomer's story are pictorial and expressive. I live in Florida. The humidity, bright sunshine and intense heat for two-thirds of the year are often hard for non-Floridians to cope with. I also spent many hours as a teenager at New Smyrna beach with my friends. The author's personal memories are spot-on.

Mrs. Miller's descriptive nature, including a male POV, was very different. It works for and against the story-line. It made me feel like I was often alongside the characters which was nice. At the same time, I didn't need to know everything that was happening at every moment. I found myself straying and it made for some slow reading.

At the opening of THE ART OF MY LIFE, Cal had just been released from jail. He had tried to perform a good deed but it backfired and he was imprisoned for three months. His mom is there to see him properly settled.

He is informed that he has been given his grandma's 41 foot Catalina boat. The 'Escape' is intended to be a fresh start. His parents agree to co-sign on a loan to get him started in a charter-sailing business but his initial love will always be painting.

Cal's journey is about being raised within a dysfunctional family and learning to cope: to take responsibility for your actions. It is also about addiction and trying to manage living day-to-day. The emotional scars the characters exhibited offered poignancy and depth.

This new adult fiction is part of a series. At times, I felt out-of-the-loop because I had not read anything else by this author. It also had mild undertones of an edgy contemporary Christian romance. If you enjoy either of these themes you should like the New Smyrna Beach series. Just be sure to start with the first book.

[Melysah Bunting · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Art of My Life (New Smyrna Beach Series #2) by Ann Lee Miller is a contemporary romance story. Cal is trying to get his life together. He just got out of jail, his best friend hates him, the love of his life has moved on, his mom is always on his case, etc. Besides all that, Cal's grandmother is his drug dealer. Things are not looking so hot.

The novel is set around the New Smyrna Beach area. It involves one family's struggle with drug addiction. Cal is a talented artist with a troubled life. Can Cal get it together or will he lose everything that he has ever loved?

I am very harsh on romance novels. I either love them or hate them, so my opinion is biased. Once Cal and Aly got hijacked I was all in the story. I was all about the mystery-crime element. But the reviews on GoodReads are all great. So I know it's clearly me and not the novel.

I like the cover of the book. I also like the characters. The point of view was refreshing. It's nice to read a romance from the man's side.

I would recommend this novel to those who like to read about personal struggles. I think it's a book that many could relate to. It also has a lot of sailing and art elements. People who enjoy these pastimes would have a preference for this.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Art of My Life
Author: Ann Lee Miller
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Grade/Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Art of My Life, is a love story. If you’re looking for a messed up kinky billionaire sweeping the beautiful girl off her feet, plying her with expensive presents, and kinky sex then this isn’t the book for you. This book by Ann Lee Miller is a powerful inspiring story about love, hope, failure, forgiveness, and redemption. The story has so many facets that it sparkles and shines like a beautiful diamond.

We first meet Cal as he walks out of the Volusia county jail, after doing a couple of months time for marijuana possession with the intent to sell. He’s a 25 year old artist and a college dropout. He’s also a habitual marijuana smoker, one hell of a nice guy, and on probation. Yes, he screwed up, but he has a plan to get his life in order and get the girl, Aly, he’s loved since he was a teen. She’s on his mind as he walks out of jail and he’s decided that she’s his future and has always been the one. Cal comes from a straight laced conservative family; he’s the son of a minister and his mother, Starr, is a dance teacher. He’s the middle child and the one who never fit in. All his life, his mother has been incapable of giving him the unconditional love that he needed because of her own past and passed judgment of him.

Both Cal and his mother are both introduced in the first chapter. Rather than being concerned about her son, Starr is more worried about what the locals will think about Cal and him messing up his life. She has a plan to fix him; his grandmother Henna, has signed over her sail boat and Starr has come up with the idea of letting Cal start a charter boat business with a $40,000 loan co-signed by her husband and herself. The loan is for repairs and startup capital. They say the path to hell is paved with good intentions and Cal’s parents have very good intentions. We also find out the marijuana he was arrested for belonged to his grandparents and not to him. Yes the grandparents are both potheads, but they are also the only ones that gave Cal the unconditional love he so desperately needed. They also have enabled his addiction to marijuana as they are the growers. His grandparents have been lifelong users. Cal’s goal is to get the business up and running. His biggest concern is to become the type of person Aly would take a chance on.

Aly’s a bright wonderful loan officer in charge of Cal’s loan. She’s a college graduate with a degree in business and Cal believes that she’s out of his league. Cal’s been in love with her since he was seventeen, but for his own reasons, he’s never made a move. She too has been in love with him since she was a teen, but always sought out love in all the wrong places. Cal and Aly were also each other’s best friends. Their relationship is further complicated because they also are in-laws, as Ally’s sister is married to Cal’s brother. Ally finally admitted her love for Cal two years ago and we find out as the story unfolds, that he breaks her heart. Ally still has not recovered from that pain. In the last two years they have been polite, but distant with each other. Aly also deals with major emotional issues of abandonment and self esteem that are extremely relevant to her personality.

Another main character we meet is Cal’s best friend, Sean, and the two of them have been thick as thieves since they were boys. In fact during his senior year of high school Sean lived with Cal and his family because his family took off to Peru to start an orphanage and abandoned their son. I admit I never understood why his family did this and understood Sean’s intense anger and resentment at the abandonment. We also find out he got fired from his job because of Cal stashed joints in his work locker and that threatens his reignited political aspirations and law school. Sean has to deal with his abandonment issues, education, and his anger towards Cal. Sean also has to fight his attraction to Cal’s younger sister, Missy, who he has known all her life.

Missy is a 20 year old college student and she’s feisty, insightful, and speaks her mind. She’s also crushed on Sean since she was a kid. He’s ignored her for the past couple of years, which has bruised her heart. Missy wants the world and now that Sean has noticed her, she feels it’s too late and she’s moved on. Her brother, Cal, has disappeared from her life as he’s wrapped up in his own problems and drama. Missy has to decide what she wants out of life and may need to listen to her own advice about forgiveness.

The cast of characters is rounded out by Evie (Cal’s ex-girlfriend), Jesse (Cal’s older brother, a minister); Kallie (Jesse’s wife and Aly’s older sister) and Cal’s father. Sean’s family is also included in the book. The secondary characters with the exception of Evie, round out the family dynamics, but none of them play much of a role in the book.

The Art of My Life is a story of a family, not a picture perfect family, but a family that has its struggles and issues. What I enjoyed the most about this book is that the characters were very real. They all struggle with love and commitment, including responsibilities, spirituality, success, and failure. There were times I found myself screaming at Cal for his choices. I wanted him to get his head out of his kester and face reality. At some point along the way Cal began to self medicate with marijuana; it’s what he turns to when he’s stressed and his mother’s disapproval is a major stress point for him. I wondered why his parents thought that starting a business would be a good idea for someone newly released from jail, and evidentially had a problem with pressure and marijuana.

I then would rail against Starr for damaging her son’s self worth and at the same time I wanted to save the little girl she had been, from her own absentee parents. Physically her parents, Leaf and Henna, may have been in the house, but Starr raised herself.

I loved Aly and I wanted to track her father down for instilling her, the problems with self worth and the feelings that she was a slut. He damaged his daughter in such an unforgivable way at a very young age. Despite her choices in love, Aly is written as a girl everyone would love to have in their lives.

I liked the duel romances taking place in the book Cal/Aly and Sean/Missy, I never felt cheated that one was more developed than the other. Ms. Williams does an excellent job in outlining both of these relationships. The parent child relationship between Cal and his mother Starr and Starr and her mother Henna are both heartbreaking and in the end fulfilling. It is very realistic as neither are wrapped up in a neat package, but life is never tidy and neither are all the relationships in this book. The book is spiritual without being preachy. The name of God is invoked in prayer, but at no point does the author offer a sermon to the reader. This is not a fairy tale; these characters struggle and through their struggles they make changes and luckily they learn from their missteps. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it 4.5 stars.

Written under Literati_Lit also

[Literati Literature Lovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Star Review

The Art of My Life, is a love story. If you’re looking for a messed up kinky billionaire sweeping the beautiful girl off her feet, plying her with expensive presents, and kinky sex then this isn’t the book for you. This book by Ann Lee Miller is a powerful inspiring story about love, hope, failure, forgiveness, and redemption. The story has so many facets that it sparkles and shines like a beautiful diamond.

We first meet Cal as he walks out of the Volusia county jail, after doing a couple of months time for marijuana possession with the intent to sell. He’s a 25 year old artist and a college dropout. He’s also a habitual marijuana smoker, one hell of a nice guy, and on probation. Yes, he screwed up, but he has a plan to get his life in order and get the girl, Aly, he’s loved since he was a teen. She’s on his mind as he walks out of jail and he’s decided that she’s his future and has always been the one. Cal comes from a straight laced conservative family; he’s the son of a minister and his mother, Starr, is a dance teacher. He’s the middle child and the one who never fit in. All his life, his mother has been incapable of giving him the unconditional love that he needed because of her own past and passed judgment of him.

Both Cal and his mother are both introduced in the first chapter. Rather than being concerned about her son, Starr is more worried about what the locals will think about Cal and him messing up his life. She has a plan to fix him; his grandmother Henna, has signed over her sail boat and Starr has come up with the idea of letting Cal start a charter boat business with a $40,000 loan co-signed by her husband and herself. The loan is for repairs and startup capital. They say the path to hell is paved with good intentions and Cal’s parents have very good intentions. We also find out the marijuana he was arrested for belonged to his grandparents and not to him. Yes the grandparents are both potheads, but they are also the only ones that gave Cal the unconditional love he so desperately needed. They also have enabled his addiction to marijuana as they are the growers. His grandparents have been lifelong users. Cal’s goal is to get the business up and running. His biggest concern is to become the type of person Aly would take a chance on.

Aly’s a bright wonderful loan officer in charge of Cal’s loan. She’s a college graduate with a degree in business and Cal believes that she’s out of his league. Cal’s been in love with her since he was seventeen, but for his own reasons, he’s never made a move. She too has been in love with him since she was a teen, but always sought out love in all the wrong places. Cal and Aly were also each other’s best friends. Their relationship is further complicated because they also are in-laws, as Ally’s sister is married to Cal’s brother. Ally finally admitted her love for Cal two years ago and we find out as the story unfolds, that he breaks her heart. Ally still has not recovered from that pain. In the last two years they have been polite, but distant with each other. Aly also deals with major emotional issues of abandonment and self esteem that are extremely relevant to her personality.

Another main character we meet is Cal’s best friend, Sean, and the two of them have been thick as thieves since they were boys. In fact during his senior year of high school Sean lived with Cal and his family because his family took off to Peru to start an orphanage and abandoned their son. I admit I never understood why his family did this and understood Sean’s intense anger and resentment at the abandonment. We also find out he got fired from his job because of Cal stashed joints in his work locker and that threatens his reignited political aspirations and law school. Sean has to deal with his abandonment issues, education, and his anger towards Cal. Sean also has to fight his attraction to Cal’s younger sister, Missy, who he has known all her life.

Missy is a 20 year old college student and she’s feisty, insightful, and speaks her mind. She’s also crushed on Sean since she was a kid. He’s ignored her for the past couple of years, which has bruised her heart. Missy wants the world and now that Sean has noticed her, she feels it’s too late and she’s moved on. Her brother, Cal, has disappeared from her life as he’s wrapped up in his own problems and drama. Missy has to decide what she wants out of life and may need to listen to her own advice about forgiveness.

The cast of characters is rounded out by Evie (Cal’s ex-girlfriend), Jesse (Cal’s older brother, a minister); Kallie (Jesse’s wife and Aly’s older sister) and Cal’s father. Sean’s family is also included in the book. The secondary characters with the exception of Evie, round out the family dynamics, but none of them play much of a role in the book.

The Art of My Life is a story of a family, not a picture perfect family, but a family that has its struggles and issues. What I enjoyed the most about this book is that the characters were very real. They all struggle with love and commitment, including responsibilities, spirituality, success, and failure. There were times I found myself screaming at Cal for his choices. I wanted him to get his head out of his kester and face reality. At some point along the way Cal began to self medicate with marijuana; it’s what he turns to when he’s stressed and his mother’s disapproval is a major stress point for him. I wondered why his parents thought that starting a business would be a good idea for someone newly released from jail, and evidentially had a problem with pressure and marijuana.

I then would rail against Starr for damaging her son’s self worth and at the same time I wanted to save the little girl she had been, from her own absentee parents. Physically her parents, Leaf and Henna, may have been in the house, but Starr raised herself.

I loved Aly and I wanted to track her father down for instilling her, the problems with self worth and the feelings that she was a slut. He damaged his daughter in such an unforgivable way at a very young age. Despite her choices in love, Aly is written as a girl everyone would love to have in their lives.

I liked the duel romances taking place in the book Cal/Aly and Sean/Missy, I never felt cheated that one was more developed than the other. Ms. Williams does an excellent job in outlining both of these relationships. The parent child relationship between Cal and his mother Starr and Starr and her mother Henna are both heartbreaking and in the end fulfilling. It is very realistic as neither are wrapped up in a neat package, but life is never tidy and neither are all the relationships in this book. The book is spiritual without being preachy. The name of God is invoked in prayer, but at no point does the author offer a sermon to the reader. This is not a fairy tale; these characters struggle and through their struggles they make changes and luckily they learn from their missteps. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it 4.5 stars.

[Julie Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

We met Cal and Aly in KICKING ETERNITY, this is their story. Cal is just being released from a 3 month stint in jail where he was serving a sentence for carrying marijuana. Taking the rap for his grandparents, Cal neglects to tell anyone that detail. After all, Cal can do no right in his mother's eyes anyway so why bother sharing.

When his grandparents give him their boat Cal hopes to open a charter business. In order to get the boat in working order though he is in need of a bank loan. Aly is now working as a loan officer in the local bank. Taking a chance on Cal, Aly grants him the loan. Cal finds that he needs more from Aly than just a loan. One of Aly's dreams has been to own her own business before she was 25. Cal convinces Aly to quit her job and go in the charter business with him.

Cal and Aly have always been attracted to each other. But both have goals they want to reach before they act on that attraction. Cal still suffers from the idea that he can never measure up to his mother's expectations, he gives up on ideas and relationships too easily. Aly suffers from abandonment issues and the consequences of bad choices. Will the two of them be able to work together as friends and begin healing their wounded lives?

THE ART OF MY LIFE deals with so many issues. There is addiction, there is guilt, there is insecurity, there is anger, there is friendship, there is love, there is misunderstanding and there is forgiveness and restoration. Let me see if I can explain those a little better:



Addiction: Cal is addicted to pot. He uses it when life overwhelms him. He doesn't think he has a problem, but it really is the root of all of his relationship issues.



Guilt: Aly has slept around. There are consequences to that behavior.



Insecurity: Both Cal and Aly are insecure people. They have been hurt by others and have acted out in their own ways to combat that hurt. Branching out, even Cal's mother experiences insecurity in that the way she behaves has been dictated by her desire to look well in front of others.



Anger: Fish is Cal's best friend. He's dealing with anger at his family for leaving him, and Cal for stashing his pot in Fish's locker that could ruin Fish's chances in the political arena he has dreamed about.



Friendship: Fish finds that you can't turn off a lifelong friendship even if you want to. Cal and Aly's friendship has lasted as well, always there for each other.



Love: Uh oh, Fish finally notices Cal's younger sister Missy! Sparks fly between the two of them. Cal and Aly have always loved each other, they have just taken a round about way getting there. And then there is the love of parents for their children.



Misunderstanding: So many of the characters feelings are hidden from each other that assumptions are made. Those misunderstandings lead to more hurt and heartache.



Forgiveness: Friendships cannot be mended without forgiveness. Cal's relationship with his mother cannot be mended without forgiveness. Aly and Cal's relationship cannot be mended without forgiveness. Forgiveness brings freedom and I think the characters find that out in their relationships.



Restoration: Restored relationships are definitely a product of forgiveness.



So what did I think about The Art Of My Life? I liked it. The angst between characters was true to life. The feelings and emotions seemed real and well written. Would I consider this a Christian novel? Not necessarily. While there are elements of faith in the book, and God is mentioned a couple of times there really is no foundation of faith throughout. The characters stumble about, and cry out to God now and then when things get bad, but God is not the central theme of the characters lives. Is that a bad thing for the book? Maybe. If the book is marketed as a Christian book then yes, I would have definite issues with the content. There is drug use, sensuality and profanity. If the book is marketed as a more secular book then no it isn't a bad thing. The book shows the reality and consequences of bad choices we make, but it also shows the beauty of forgiveness and the restoration of relationships. I enjoyed the characters, I was invested in their hurts and triumphs.

**Warning** There is some strong profanity in the book(including the use of the "f" word once) and may not be appropriate for a reader if they are adverse to the use of profanity in their reading material. The author warned me beforehand of the use of profanity so I was prepared. I'm not here to argue about the rightness or wrongness of profanity in writing, but because most of the material I read is "clean" I always put the warning.

[The Book Tart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on The Book Tart http://thebooktart.com/book-review/re...

I just finished this book, literally like 30 minutes ago. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer and then… hmmm maybe like I was put in a dryer and with a snuggle dryer sheet. This story is intensely emotional. It’s about 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances, it’s about acceptance and love and hope, it’s a beautiful story!

The Art of my Life still has a Christian world view but it’s not as overt as in Kicking Eternity and to me it felt more natural. Some of the characters have a relationship with God, but they aren’t being preachy about it, it’s just part of their life.

The hero of the story, Cal, doesn’t see himself as a hero. He views himself as a pothead ex-con and not worth anything. I loved Cal. The book starts when he’s released from jail for possession of marijuana. It was actually his hippie grandparents supply. His grandmother, maybe from guilt, deeds him their boat. So Cal, has a boat and nothing more except his failed dreams and his art. While he was in jail he had time to think about what he wanted from life and he decided that he is going to try to fix things with Aly, the girl he’s been in love with since he was a teenager.

Aly is a very sympathetic character. I was so happy this was her story because I fell in love with her in Kicking Eternity. She has HUGE daddy issues and lived recklessly as a teenager and slept around seeking acceptance. Cal was always there for her as her best friend. He was there when she had a pregnancy scare and helped her see that she was seeking love from guys she didn’t even care about and she was worth more. She’s single now and working in a bank as a loan officer saving towards her dream of owning her own business someday.

Cal gets a loan through her bank and tries to turn his boat into a charter business. They begin to rebuild their friendship and have to deal with baggage on both sides. Her insecurities and his feelings of inadequacy and the looming threat of him sabotaging his future and returning to jail. I wanted to hug them both and tell them they have value and are worthy of love. I was rooting for them. My stomach was in knots and I almost cried during some of the heartbreaking scenes. I wanted Cal to stop using drugs as a crutch when he wanted to avoid the messes he made with his life and was feeling like garbage. I wanted Aly to trust that she was was worthy of being loved. I was thrilled as they began to believe in the power of love and forgiveness and 2nd chances at life.

I also loved how Ann painted the secondary characters in Cal and Aly’s life. I felt like Fish, Missy and Cal’s mom Starr were so fully drawn that I might recognise them on the street. I enjoyed the storyline of Fish and Missy especially.

Here are just a few of my favs lines

♦ Cut off. Alone. Starved for her. He’d always love Aly. The best he could hope for was that she would be happy. At least one of them would be.

♦ Do you ever feel like you’re facing a day that could change the course of your life forever? How do you prepare for a day like that? Eat Wheaties, floss, pray, clean house?

♦ “My God, Aly. I’ve wanted you since I met you. I wanted you on Christmas when I showed you my tattoo. I’ve wanted you every day since you got caught in a thunder storm and spent that first night on the Escape. How could you think I didn’t want you?”

♦ He’d bled paint every day in the month since torching Henna’s garden till the picture on canvas finally matched the one stuck in his head. It was his crowning work, yet it was more. The vision had kept him sober. True. But pieces of his life had wrestled into place…

♦ Cal said God forgave, but people—not so much. Now she understood.

♦ Cal’s lips claimed hers, and he forgot for long minutes he’d promised not to kiss her less than a week ago; the business hadn’t actually broken even yet. He forgot the tick of the cuckoo clock on the wall—everything but the scent of mint growing deep in a forest that clung to her, Aly’s fresh baked bread taste, Aly melded to his heart.

I recommend The Art of my Life if you are open to a romance that has a faith based, but not pushy, world view and a heart wrenching story about love and forgiveness and 2nd chances.

(((hugs))) Kat

The Queen of Tarts

[Nikole Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of My Life by Ann Lee Miller challenges the Christian reader with its sometimes explicit content. The novel thoroughly explores the relationship between Cal and Aly and Cal’s addiction to pot.

In her last novel, Kicking Eternity, Cal submitted to his addiction to pot after being rejected by Raine for someone else. Aly is angry because Cal slept with Evie, a drama queen and pot addict. Cal has spent several months in jail and in The Art of My Life he is determined to lead a straight life to earn Aly’s love. Aly is now a bank loan officer and living as a Christian. Her past reputation continues to haunt her mind and others reminders of her mistakes hurt.

To interrupt the story is the budding romance between Fish and Missy. That story was distracting. I really didn’t like Missy or Fish. Fish was truly an unpleasant character and while necessary to the storyline, I wish he didn’t have his own point of view. Other people will probably disagree. Ann did a great job in presenting each character with individual personalities and voices. That’s not an easy talent to achieve as sometimes every character no matter the inflection of voice in dialogue can sound like the author.

Ann’s novel is unique, getting into the uglier side of the life of an addict and the temptations involved in once having been sexually active. For those under sixteen years old, the novel is too explicit.

While Ann doesn’t write in the traditions of secular romance scenes, the scenes depicted do take a step past the edge where it’s too visual. I’m not sure how I feel about it since I do appreciate the struggle being illustrated there. Too often Christian novels don’t touch upon sexual temptation. To successfully, show rather than tell of the struggles a young girl might endure means getting into the dirty side of life. Ann does this, but I’m not sure I like how far she goes with it.

In the Christian world, her novel would probably be criticized because of this content and the heavy drug use illustrated, but in the secular world this would be considered tame.

I liked the flow of her last novel, but I felt the flow in The Art of My Life kept getting interrupted by Fish and Missy’s issues. I would have rather seen no point of view from Fish or Missy, and focused on Cal, Aly, and Cal’s mom and grandparents. Ann is probably going to use Missy and Fish in her next novel, if I were to hazard a guess by how much time these characters received in The Art of My Life.

The danger Aly and Cal faced towards the end of the novel escalated the conflict and the necessity of Cal getting rid of his pot addiction. Ann shows us the side of weed that most people who promote the so-called benefits of try to hide. Her writing of this story almost reflects a personal experience possibly with people who had this addiction. There’s a passion behind her words as she wrote Aly and Cal’s story. The nice thing about each chapter were the snippets of Aly’s “blog,” that give us a little more of Aly’s thoughts.

Overall, I struggled to come up with a rating for her novel and hovered between a three and four. A couple of grammar and/or typos were not distracting, but because of how well she showed pot’s addictive nature and the damaging effects it can have on families, I gave The Art of My Life four stars. The story of the weed’s dangerous effects on people and family upstaged Cal and Aly’s love story.

*Book given by author to review.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This was a good book that just kept getting better. As I kept reading I kept liking it more and more. This is a suspenseful love story, I would call it. It had all the great components - a great guy, a great gal, great friends and family, drug addiction, jail, the ocean, a sailboat, a bad guy, a gun, and love! Sound like a good combo?

This book starts off two years after "Kicking Eternity" (the first book, reviewed - HERE). I think I actually liked this one better. It was way more suspenseful. And in the first book I said that the characters seemed young to me not the college age they should be. In this book, the author hit it spot on!

The character development was great - I loved Cal even with all his flaws. I just kept rooting for him. His heart was in the right place, and I never gave up on him and thought Aly shouldn't either. I also loved Aly. She was a smart, sweet, funny, but also a strong young woman who knows what she wants and can stand up for herself.

In the beginning of each chapter there is a journal entry from Aly's blog. I really loved this idea! here's one -

"Nov. 24 - Sometimes I feel like I've gotten caught in the vortex of life. I'm spinning and spinning out of control. If I am the artist of life, I need to regain control of the palette and brush. Who is in charge when I abdicate? I can't let life happen to me. I need to make choices. Good ones. or I will only have myself to blame when I get hurt." - I didn't know what abdicate meant, so I looked it up. - to give up or renounce (authority, duties, etc.)

I got into reading these just as much as reading the story itself.

Here is a couple more quotes I love -

"A picture of God's palm cradling Aly, keeping her afloat, protecting her on every side illumined the screen of his mind - like a prayer God put in his head to steady him." - this also shows you how suspenseful this is!

"I'm on my way to a party, and I'm going to get kissed. I'm going to find The One by the time I graduate at the end of the semester - like Where's Waldo, only in real life." - haha cute!

"You need a man who wants you, who works hard to get what he wants, then spends the rest of his life grateful he got you." - Amen to that!


THE ALL-IN-ALL -
All in all this is a nice Christian based (but not preachy at all!) suspenseful love story. Has plenty to keep you reading. No swearing, no sex.

[Marilou George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cal has just been released from jail after an arrest for possession of marijuana and his ultimate goal is to make something of his life and to earn the love of Aly, the only girl he has ever loved. He is faced with many hurdles as he attempts to re-gain his life and mend relationships that have been damaged. He struggles with his addiction as he learns to love and respect himself and appreciate the talent he has as an artist. There is a great deal of family history and drama he must deal with in order to make the way clear for his success.

Cal is a character that I really had a great deal of empathy for and the portrayal of him by the author hits a nerve that readers can relate to when dealing with families and friends. Cal struggles with himself and his addiction but always at the heart is his great desire to make his journey a successful one. He is a very gifted artist and learns that his art is a gift to be cherished. Cal must first learn to love and respect himself because only then can he earn the love and respect he desperately needs from others.

The other characters in this book are also memorable and bring a sense or realness and drama to the story. Aly was abandoned by her father at a young age and has her own issues to deal with as she struggles with facing her own fears and forging a relationship with Cal. I feel that Cal’s mother was a pivotal character in that she loves her son deeply and struggles with her inability to communicate with him which related to the way she was raised by her own parents. The remaining characters all play an important part in the story as their lives and backgrounds are revealed.

This is a story about love, families, friendship and overcoming not only life’s obstacles but overcoming the perceptions that people have about you and building a meaningful life for yourself. Everyone deserves a second chance and this book shows that the determination and struggles encountered along the way must be dealt with in a positive and courageous way.

This story has a great message delivered in a skillful way by Ann Lee Miller. It is a story that flows easily and makes you think about your own life and the decisions you have made.

On a personal note, I loved all the places described in this book because I live in the area and can say that they are accurate and detailed and contribute a great deal to the feel of the story.

[Tracy Krauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art of My Life is the second book by author Ann Lee Miller that I’ve read, and with it, she has officially been placed in my ‘favorite authors’ file. We met the main characters Aly and Cal in a previous book by Miller called Kicking Eternity, (which made my top five list for 2012). Aly is a self deprecating nymphomaniac on a path of destruction while Cal is an eccentric artist and surfer; the rogue son of a pastor. They have both grown and changed since book one, Cal through spending some time in prison for possession, and Aly through self imposed celibacy. Friends in the past, they come together again along with a cast of interesting characters, including Cal’s hippy, marijuana smoking grandparents. Cal wants to start over with his own boat tour business and Aly’s dream is to open a gallery. Too many obstacles seem to thwart them at every turn however, sometimes through the actions of well meaning family and friends. Partly romance, partly self discovery, this book is beautifully written and kept me riveted until the last page.

Ann Lee Miller has a way of weaving a story together at just the right pace. It’s like savoring a good meal. There is plenty of time for character development as the plot steadily moves forward. The characters are so real, full of raw emotion and human frailty, and sometimes their issues aren’t pretty. The main characters are already endeared to us from book one, so it’s easy to forgive their flaws and root for their success. I know these people: the guy addicted to too much weed: the pastor’s wife trying to deal with her own dysfunctional upbringing; the Christian girl obsessed with sex like a forbidden toy.
Miller’s writing style is superb. Her use of metaphor is unique and skillful – and never cliché. Her descriptions are vivid, skillfully woven into the fabric of the story as to not overwhelm but at the same time paint a vivid picture in the mind.

I enjoyed this book even more than the previous book Kicking Eternity, (and that’s saying a lot!) It is perhaps edgier than the first book in both the language and the situations the characters find themselves in, however the use of profanity wasn’t over the top in my view, even for a Christian book. It was exactly enough to make it authentic.
For those who like Christian fiction with an edge, this one is excellent.

[Nona King · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a common malady, that sequels pale in comparison with their primary counterparts. Not so with The Art of My Life, by Ann Lee Miller. Kicking Eternity, book 1, introduced the characters of Cal and Aly, a somewhat star-crossed couple who had been friends for years and never been lucky enough to move past that point. Add into that Cal’s tendency toward addiction to marijuana, Aly’s addiction to sex, and they were delightfully flawed individuals whom tugged at your heartstrings.

In The Art of My Life, the story circles around Cal and Aly, Cal’s sister Missy and his best friend Fish, and a few other delinquent relationships (Cal’s mother, her relationship with her parents, an ex, an absent family….). I grant you, there were a lot of things going on, hearts to be mended and relationships to be prepared, but TAoML didn’t lose me; that is, the story and conflicts were written and spun in such a way that it kept me not only engrossed, but intrigued and interested. I felt the characters’ desire, their passion, their pain and frustration. I couldn’t help but fall in love with all of them and wish them the best, learning from their pain and seeing how similar it rang with challenges from my own past.

Dealing with such addictions as marijuana and sex is something you don’t read often in Christian romances, and I was pleasantly surprised by not only the subject matter and material, but with the class Ann Lee Miller displayed in her weaving of these tales. Yes, there were places where it seemed the characters were being a little ridiculously blind, but haven’t we all looked back on our lives in hindsight and wondered “What the heck was I thinking?”

If I could request one thing be changed, it would be that more time dedicated (or a separate book) to the relationship of Missy and Fish. But, at the same time I believe the amount presented was best. Inject anything more and you risk subtracting from the succinct and sweet storyline TAoML presented.

Overall, the book was a tremendous success, the only other Christian romance with just enough spice being The Covering by Dana Pratola.

Overall Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Would I read it again: yes

Would I recommend it to others: a definite yes!

[Anne Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Ann Lee Miller. I was impressed by your first book, Kicking Eternity, but this one has the first one beat. Thank you so much for the privilege of being one of your first reviewers.
Ann is an amazingly talented writer. If you have read Kicking Eternity (which by the way, you can download for free), you know what I'm talking about. She grips you on the first page of both the first one and this one (The Art of My Life) and won't let you go EVEN AT THE END. I can't wait for the next book!
Do you remember Cal, the beach bum who makes all sorts of stupid decisions in Kicking Eternity? And yet you glimpse his caring heart?
And how about Aly, whose choices and actions were not exactly aboveboard either? Remember how at the end of Kicking Eternity she knew she loved Cal and thought maybe, just maybe, he thought of her more than just as a sister? And then she catches him with another girl?
This book is about Cal and Aly. Cal had gone to jail for drug possession. Aly had straightened out her life, at least somewhat. At least now she acknowledges that God exists. Cal does, too. But neither of them realize just how much God loves them--He's just the life jacket in case of emergency.
Cal's best friend Fish dumped him because Cal stuffed some weed into Fish's locker--and the authorities found it and he lost his job and his career aim of becoming a US senator all in one fell swoop. And any chance of making time with Cal's sister.
Aly is stiff-arming Cal for obvious reasons. But she's willing to fund a chance for him to make good at a charter sailing business and becomes his partner in the venture.
Cal's mother wants a new and better relationship with her son, but Cal stiff-arms her. He doesn't want to face any more criticism from her.
And then, along comes this shady-looking guy, Vic, who wants a ride to Grand Bahama, now! and hands Cal a check. Aly doesn't like it--she wants cash. Vic promises cash upon reaching his destination. And stiffs them. And then shows up demanding another ride, this time with a sawed-off shotgun.
Sorry folks, that's all I'm telling. Buy the book if you want the rest of the story. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
You can buy The Art of My Life on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Smashwords.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art Of My Life by Ann Lee Miller
Smyrna Beach Series Book 2
John Calvin Koomer, who goes by the name Cal as in Calvin and Hobbs, because he was always more restless and into things like the mischievous cartoon character. Rather than follow the guidance of his father, Pastor Jackson Koomer, he related more to his hippie type grandparents Henna and Leaf, who provided him with all the pot he wanted. Cal has cared for Aly for some time but really messed up a few years ago by hanging out with Evie. Now he wants Aly….is it too late?

Aly Logan hasn't lived a very good life these first twenty some years. Her abandonment issues from her father leaving when she was only seven has stuck with her. The pain of seeing Cal on the beach with Evie two years ago hurt even worse. She has lived a different life since then and plans on owning her own business one day. When Cal enters her life again she struggles with her feelings for him, which are still strong, but the trust is weak.

Sean Fisher 'Fish' has a few chips on his shoulder. When his parents left to open an orphanage in Peru his senior year he chose to stay behind and live with the Koomers. He always had a special place in his heart for Cal's younger sister, Missy. Now that she is twenty he sees her as more than the little girl she was….but she wants marriage and family. He don’t. He also has anger issues with Cal, who cost him a job and possibly the political career he always dreamed up.

We met Cal and Aly in the first book, Kicking Eternity. We get to know them much better in this book and also meet some new and unique characters. This book is much more sensual than the first. You have young adults who have been promiscuous and are now fighting against those feelings to build more of a relationship than one built on sex alone. I really enjoyed this book. I found the struggles to be so realistic. The battles these young people fight against are real as are the some of the mistakes made by parents.
**Sensual situations and language.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...#

[Lynn Worton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 6******

I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic romance! But it is also a story of one man's chance to turn his life around.

Cal is a fantastic character. He is a wonderful artist, but he has a problem; he is a marijuana addict. He has always loved Aly, but feels she deserves someone better.

Aly is also a wonderful character. She also loves Cal, but doesn't believe that she has a chance with Cal. By going into business with him, she hopes that she can show Cal what he is missing.

There are actually two romance stories in this book, but the main focus is on Cal and Aly as they start a charter business. This is a fantastic book filled with some danger and a lot of weed! It is also Cal's journey to find himself and what he really needs and wants.
I really felt for him. His journey is not an easy one, but I applaud him for trying. It takes guts to admit that he has a drug problem and do something about it. He is a fantastic artist, but like everyone, has insecurities and doubts.
There are a lot of nautical terms used in this book, but there is an index if you are not used to them. Luckily I didn't need to use it, as I have been sailing before and knew what the terms meant.
The story flowed well, and at the beginning of every chapter there was either an observation or comment by Aly from her blog. It made the characters come alive. Ann Lee Miller's descriptions were such that I would love to see Cal's art for real.

I do not recommend this book for younger readers due to the mention of drugs (marijuana) and sex (which was neither explicit nor erotic). However, if you are looking for a fantastic romance then I highly recommend this book that had me hooked from the first page. - Lynn Worton (WaAR)

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.


After reading Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller and enjoying it I thought that I would like to read some of her other works. For those who have read Tattered Innocence you will find this story has many themes similar from the opening with the different sailing terms to the story based around a sailboat.


The main theme of this read is about forgiveness. Each of the characters had some kind of indiscretion that they were trying to overcome and felt that they were not worthy of love as a result. The only way to move forward is to forgive themselves and those around them.


I liked the fact that there were essentially two storylines running in parallel. The one involving Cal and Aly and the secondary story involving his sister and best friend. It gives the reader more than one character to hold on to and invest in. I found Cal particularly interesting in the fact that he expressed his true feelings through his art and his real feelings for Aly were exposed through it.


One thing I was frustrated with in the story was the fact that love did not seem to be enough. If two people love each other than why do they create all these walls to keep them apart. I guess if they admitted it from the get go it would have been a very short story. The reader also would not have been taken on the journey of forgiveness with each of the character. I just found it took a little long to get to the resolution of the story


This is the second story I have read by Ann Lee Miller and just like the first one I truly enjoyed her work. Her writing style was easy to read and the character richly developed. I will be following her work for some time to come.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art of My Life by Ann Lee Miller reminded me of books by Christian Romance author, Grace Livingston Hill. Like Hill, Miller’s story deals with real problems that readers face everyday.

Miller uses all the senses to describe this tossed salad called life for the young characters who have problems with marijuana addiction, abandonment issues, spending time in jail, being hijacked and running from themselves. Drizzle this with the dreams of owning one’s business, passion, love, and forgiveness and you find a story of which shows the characters are typical twenty-something young men (Cal and Fish) and women (Aly and Missy) who are trying to find their true path in this world.

Miller’s writing flows smoothly and keeps the reader on edge from one suspenseful event to another. A Christian Romance, The Art of My Life lets the reader see how “free will” plays a role in the life of individuals. It also shows how those choices can either steer a person to the starboard side or put them at the helm. And it shows, with God, anything is possible.

This book has two wonderful bonuses. Miller begins each chapter with a quote from Aly’s blog, a real blog that showcases the art work of her friends and art work that could be Cal’s if one imagined it so. Miller also included a glossary of sailing terms at the beginning of the book for those who are not familiar with sailing the deep blue sea.

I give this book 5 stars.

I would recommend The Art of My Life for anyone looking for a fresh romance novel to read.

[Sara Palacios · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Art Of My Life in exchange for an honest review.

The Art Of My Life by Ann Lee Miller begins as main character Cal is released from jail after being arrested for possession of marijuana. His ultimate goal in life is to become a better man and to have Aly, his life long love, return the feeling. Throughout the course of the book, Cal is faced with many obstacles and he must learn to overcome them if he ever wants to move on and make something of himself. He jumps through hoops to restart his life but nothing compares to what he does for Aly. In an attempt to finally win her over, he uses his grandmother’s old sailing boat to try to lure her in. Will his attempt at starting over be enough to win her over? Or will he never be enough to measure up to the man that she wants?

I really enjoyed reading this story about love, friendship, families, and the path for redemption. I truly believe that everyone deserves a second chance and I was so glad to see Cal trying for his. My heart ached for him throughout most of the story because he definitely paid the price (and then some) for his past mistakes, but it was good to see his determination to succeed and his will to make it all happen. I really enjoyed the characters and I especially appreciated the back story that the author allowed us to visit. Overall, Ann Lee Miller did a great job at creating a solid story about redemption and the power to succeed. It definitely made me think and evaluate my own decisions. A really solid read.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book. It was well written, with a plot that kept me wanting to read. The only things keeping this from going from a book I liked to a book I loved were the characters.

Again, it’s not that the characters weren’t well-written. Quite the contrary – I thought they were well developed and consistent. The problem was that I just didn’t much care for them as people. This is more of a personal thing on my end, though, because of the religious traits of the characters. I’m not a religious person, and so I found myself getting annoyed – or full-out angry, in some cases – with some of the things the characters would do and/or say. I also had a bit of an issue with how the characters saw Cal’s relationship with marijuana throughout the book. I wasn’t a fan of how often the idea of Cal being addicted to pot was presented; I would have preferred if the idea of Cal being addicted to the feelings it gave him were explored more.
Those personality traits, however, were really the only things holding me back from loving the book. As I said, I thought the plot was good. I wanted to know what happened to the characters, whether they could get past the problems – both external and internal – that they each faced. And I like the style of the writing, in particular the way the author was able to give a different voice to each point of view presented in the book.

So, overall, I would recommend this book to others, as long as I know those others don’t hold the same views on religion and marijuana that I do.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while on a cruise in Cocoa Beach Florida, which I thought was funny because I was only an hour away from New Smyrna Beach where the story takes place. I find that all of Anne Lee Miller's books are relatable in some way, but personally I loved The Art of My Life the most because it was the most relatable to my personal life. There is just something about Miller's writing that makes me never want the story to end.
The characters are the driving force behind the plot and are extremely real. This was not a story that you could never picture happening, because too many families it is real. Cal has not been dealt the best deck of cards, but he does nothing to turn his life around before he is arrested.
Miller introduces the idea that Cal is never good enough for his mother, which I think may be a common thought in many young adults and teenagers. It is as much a great story for a child to accept their mother, but for a mother to accept their child.
Aly is really the driving force at Cal changing. While he has always had it in the back of his mind he needed to change, what really pushed him over the edge was realizing she was not going to visit him in jail. The feeling of never wanting to miss her again was the motivation Cal needed.
I really loved this book, it was the best in the new Smyrna Beach Series in my opinion. Truly a perfectly written story that captures readers and is real. It is a story that can and does happen to many people, making it reach to a wide audience.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this continuing story of Cal and Aly. I really looked forward to reading this book after Kicking Eternity. Ann Lee Miller has a way of taking you back in time to those early young adult years. This story brings Cal and Aly back together again after Cal finds himself, yet again, in the turmoil of bad decisions he continues to make. Even though you want to just shake him into reality, it becomes clear as the story progresses that his mistakes are not quite what they seem. You see growth with Cal, Starr (Cal's mother), and Henna (Cal's grandmother) that reflects the pattern that is handed down through the generations. Decision making seems to be a weak point for these generations. Aly too, becomes aware of her mistakes and learns from them.

The author amazes me with her detailed descriptions that make you feel like a character in the book rather than just a reader. Flashbacks of young love go through your mind and bring you back to those years when dating and fun were most important. You see her characters develop into mature, appreciating adults who find more than self gratification as a focus.

I loved this book but took a half star off for one reason. I felt that the book needed an epilogue. The ending pages just didn't quite get me there. Yes, I imagine that Cal and Aly are doing fine but I wanted to be told that outright! LOL! An epilogue from a couple years forward would have been nice. Needless to say, I love the stories of this author. :o)

[Cathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

It was fun to read book #4 in the New Smyrna Beach Series. I had read book #3 a while back and it was great to find out what happens to the people I got to know in book 3.

In this book Cal is just released from jail after taking the fall for his grandparents pot dealing. He has good intentions in making things better and clean up his act. He wants to prove to Ally that he has changed and that he is good enough to be her boyfriend and husband. Cal struggles as he has a hard time dealing with life and frustrations and always resorts to getting high so he doesn't have to. Along the way, as Cal deals with his drug addiction struggle he comes to realize that he has the ability to be a man and be responsible.

Ally is also struggling with her past and feels guilt for the men she has slept with while looking for the love she lacks. She has a hard time with trust and learns to let go of the past and look at the people around her that love her and think she is special.

I was happy to read that Cal and Ally got through their issues and find their way to each other. It was also great to read that Fish and Missy find their way to loving each other.

I want to thank the author for gifting me with a copy of this touching read. I will definitely add Avra's God to my TBR list.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Art of My Life” is the second book I have read by Ann Lee Miller. I give this book four stars (the same as I gave “Avra’s God”) although, personally I preferred “Avra’s God,” I don’t think this book deserves anything less than four stars.

“The Art of My Life” tells the tale of Cal and Ali who to begin with are clearly very different people. The book begins with Cal leaving jail. He’s given a chance to ‘restart’ life but will it be different the second time around?

The story line of this book is like that of pretty much every other chick-lit/romance book. Guy likes girl but can he win her heart? Although the story line is good I just couldn’t connect to it. From what I can see both Cal and Ali liked each other from the start and I found the story line a bit ‘flat,’ but that’s just me.

Ann Lee Miller has a good writing style that flows well and makes you want to know what’s going to happen next without dragging it out too much. There are minimal typing/proof-reading errors which makes this an easy read. A good book for any teenager/young adult who enjoys romance.

I received my copy of “The Art of My Life” from the author for my honest review.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read the summary of the plot above, so I'll merely add that I loved reading The Art of My Life. My biggest complaint is that Ann writes her characters too realistically. I expect to stroll down Smyrna Beach and see them at the docks. I find myself mentally giving them advice and encouragement when they're floundering--and then realize I'm actually giving myself advice and encouragement.

Most of us can relate to feeling unable to measure up despite our best efforts. Or feeling like the people who mattered most to our hearts just didn't want to or try to understand us--and then discovering that we haven't understood them either. This is why this beautifully written book is a great read for both young adults and adults.

There is profanity throughout, for those who are sensitive to that sort of thing, since Cal is lost and on his way to being found.

[Ginger Solomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Art of My Life" by Ann Lee Miller. This is a sequel to "Kicking Eternity", which you will need to read to understand all the backstory/issues.

I enjoyed reading this story, but be forewarned there are tough subjects covered--seeking sex to compensate for a lack of love, and using drugs to "escape reality"--and a fair amount of foul words. Ann uses the first two effectively to show us the pitfalls of these vices, and how much God loves all of us, despite our sins.

All in all, I thought "The Art of My Life" was a thought-provoking book that helped me see things from a different perspective.

***I received this book from the publisher/author for the purpose of review. The above is my honest opinion.***

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well written story that explores overcoming sin and and dysfunctional families. Some of these characters have had a really rough life. Whether they brought in on themselves or they are a victim of circumstance becomes less important than how they move on and make the most of their lives. I am always impressed with a story that deals with overcoming one's weaknesses in a positive manner, especially by turning to God. I did have some difficulty relating to these characters. Probably only because my life has been so different from theirs. Due to the nature of these characters there is some swearing and quick glimpses of nudity. For these reasons I took my rating down to three stars. The book is very well written and does lend a positive light to overcoming trials.

[Katie Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about The Art of My Life? This book was amazing. Before reading this book, the first and only thing that I read by Ann Lee Miller was Kicking Eternity, which I enjoyed so much. The Art of My Life blew it right out of the water! Reading about the internal struggles between so many of the characters introduced in the prior New Smyrna Beach books, it truly feels like you get to know each of them and find yourself rooting for them all in their own struggles, with whatever it may be. I personally haven’t read many Christian books (this being my second), but it wasn’t drenched in spirituality and theology. I will recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read!!!

[WiLoveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cal is pretty much at rock bottom when the story begins. He is not perfect has made a lot of mistakes. Now he is ready to get his life back together and attempt to win back the woman he loves. This book is full of flawed characters making bad choices and trying to find their way, just like real life. Overall the story is about hope and forgiveness and, of course, love. I loved it and highly recommend.

This is the second book in the New Smyrna Beach series. I haven't read the first. Events from that book are referred to, but it is not necessary to have read it.

[Anne Dreher · Rating 3 out of 5]

On September 5, 2014 I was notified I won this book. I never received it. Contacted the author at her website to no avail. I never received the book and never received a response from the author.
If you're going to have a giveaway on Goodreads then I suggest actually making a commitment to send the book to winners!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about drug addiction & love. Dragged at times but overall I liked it.