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Letting Go #1
All for Anna
If guilt is a prison; Victoria Sales has given herself a life sentence. Held captive by regret, 23 year-old trauma RN, Tori Sales, has seen the reality of many nightmares. But there is one nightmare she will never wake from—her last memory of Anna. Her efforts to save the little girl were not enough; she was not enough. After a year of living alone, Tori is forced to return home—a place where heartache, loss, and broken relationships lurk around every corner. Isolation is her only solace; running is her only escape. But she cannot outrun the truth forever. When a handsome, compassionate stranger enters her world, Tori is inspired to deal with her past and focus on the future—one she never believed possible. But before her quest for closure is complete, a new revelation surfaces, tainting her world yet again. Will she accept the recovery she so desperately needs? Or will she choose the escape she knows best...
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2013
534 people are currently reading
3757 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Deese
19 books2,169 followersNicole Deese is a Christy and Carol Award-winning, bestselling author of hope-filled, humorous, and heartfelt contemporary romance novels. When she's not sorting out character arcs and story plots of her own, she can usually be found listening to an audiobook and multitasking at least four different chores at once. She’s a hoarder of sparkling water, a lover of long walks and even longer talks with friends, and a seeker of fun and adventure at all times.
She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
To learn more, visit www.nicoledeese.com.
She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
To learn more, visit www.nicoledeese.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
March 3, 2013
I think there is a very specific need for Christian fiction. Lots of people want to read romance without the smut, cursing, vices, etc. I am so on board with that. However, I have a problem with reading a sample of a book, liking what I see, purchasing the book, and then a few chapters later, finding out that the book is a Christian romance.
In the same way that a Christian wouldn't want to read an erotica novel advertised as romance (which is why most book descriptions now carry age/content disclaimers), an agnostic/atheist/believer of another faith would be pretty peeved to be tricked into buying a Christian book. It isn't false advertising, but it is very disingenuous to not put that label in the book synopsis.
Anyway, let's move on to Tori Sales, Kai, and the story that is "All For Anna." The book is about a young trauma nurse, an accident that changed her life, and her recovery from that event. She is supported by a cast of family members and friends, along with her love interest, a handsome Samoan EMT named Kai. Being Samoan myself, I was very excited to see a Polynesian man cast as something other than a wrestler (The Rock) or a football player (Manti Te'o). Kai is sensitive, patient, and reserved, traits that are usually not associated with Samoan men. TONS of kudos to Mrs. Deese for her nuanced portrayal of Kai.
The rest of the good stuff: Tori is a brave, smart, strong, capable woman, the Dallas and ER settings are written with great clarity and authenticity, the therapy sessions are convincing and enlightening, and the interpersonal conflicts are realistic. There's a lot of blame and anger associated with PTSD, and it was handled in a respectful manner throughout the book.
The not so good: Way too many improbable accidents. There were at least four major dramatic incidents that resulted in injuries and life-saving procedures. The fact that the two main characters are trained medical professionals was far too convenient. We could have done without being reminded constantly that our hero and heroine are both super emergency responders.
My biggest complaint: The random moments of God talking directly to Tori. I was seriously starting to refer to her as Joan of Arc. Also, I thought it was incredibly immature to imply that an adult woman sleeping in her boyfriend's tent while camping was something to be ashamed of and embarrassed about. There was something very Moral Police shame-y about that entire section, and it came off as preachy and judgmental.
This is a solid book that will do better when it is marketed to the correct audience.
In the same way that a Christian wouldn't want to read an erotica novel advertised as romance (which is why most book descriptions now carry age/content disclaimers), an agnostic/atheist/believer of another faith would be pretty peeved to be tricked into buying a Christian book. It isn't false advertising, but it is very disingenuous to not put that label in the book synopsis.
Anyway, let's move on to Tori Sales, Kai, and the story that is "All For Anna." The book is about a young trauma nurse, an accident that changed her life, and her recovery from that event. She is supported by a cast of family members and friends, along with her love interest, a handsome Samoan EMT named Kai. Being Samoan myself, I was very excited to see a Polynesian man cast as something other than a wrestler (The Rock) or a football player (Manti Te'o). Kai is sensitive, patient, and reserved, traits that are usually not associated with Samoan men. TONS of kudos to Mrs. Deese for her nuanced portrayal of Kai.
The rest of the good stuff: Tori is a brave, smart, strong, capable woman, the Dallas and ER settings are written with great clarity and authenticity, the therapy sessions are convincing and enlightening, and the interpersonal conflicts are realistic. There's a lot of blame and anger associated with PTSD, and it was handled in a respectful manner throughout the book.
The not so good: Way too many improbable accidents. There were at least four major dramatic incidents that resulted in injuries and life-saving procedures. The fact that the two main characters are trained medical professionals was far too convenient. We could have done without being reminded constantly that our hero and heroine are both super emergency responders.
My biggest complaint: The random moments of God talking directly to Tori. I was seriously starting to refer to her as Joan of Arc. Also, I thought it was incredibly immature to imply that an adult woman sleeping in her boyfriend's tent while camping was something to be ashamed of and embarrassed about. There was something very Moral Police shame-y about that entire section, and it came off as preachy and judgmental.
This is a solid book that will do better when it is marketed to the correct audience.
February 1, 2013
This was an amazing read. This book was a love story but it was also so much more then that. It was a journey of one woman to over come a tragic event from her past. Tori was a fabulous heroine, she didn't annoy me once in this book. Her journey to find love, friendship, and most of all forgiveness was very well written. This book touched on the subject of PTSD and showed the reader that it isn't just something veterans deal with but everyday people also. It showed the long and tiring journey one must go through to overcome PTSD. I truly enjoyed reading about Kai and Tori's relationship. It was a wonderful journey from friendship into love and forgiveness. I felt he was an amazing support for Tori. This book also showed how having a little
FAITH
can help you get through many things. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who is looking for an outstanding story about love and forgiveness.
January 26, 2013
I felt something good after reading this tonight. Something moved inside me and touched me to the deepest soul I have inside myself. For Tori whose been guilt after that incident, who is always running away from everything and she is seems to content living all by herself. It reaches to the moment she doesn't feel God's presence anymore. And for Kai he is truly God's amazing tool to help out Tori's life. Kai is everybody's dreamed guy. His faith is unbelievable and its truly amazing to witness that. He never gave up after a year and half he is still looking for Tori. AS for Tori's they really wonderful people. At the end I'm glad Tori's finally stop running away from the people loved her and finally moving forward without feeling the guilt over Ana's!
Thank you Nicole! I really loved reading this. You've touched me in so many ways. Words are not enough to describe how grateful I am reading this.
Thank you Nicole! I really loved reading this. You've touched me in so many ways. Words are not enough to describe how grateful I am reading this.
March 8, 2013
Ok another pet peeve that I've been trying to get over is reading the first quarter of a book, loving it, and then getting Christian romance thrown in your face. I'm not saying that these books books are terrible but I would like a heads up as to what I'm reading. Unfortunately, the book description didn't explain this and when I finally did get to the Christian parts it seemed very forced. The whole thing just aggregated me especially since I was really into the whole PTSD plot. From there it seemed to completely veer from the original plot.
However- I will say I did enjoy the character development as well as the mental health issues presented.
However- I will say I did enjoy the character development as well as the mental health issues presented.
January 23, 2013
This was such a gift to read. The story is full of emotions that pull you in, and make you not want to stop reading! All for Anna is a compelling and wonderful journey. Deese is smart, witty, and she is able to be pretty hilarious at times, even with a story that has many hardships. She knows how to create characters that stick in your head all day. I highly recommend this and can't wait for book two!
January 4, 2013
I was given this book to preview. I love to read and I love all kinds of books. All for Anna is much more than entertainment. Its real, its funny at times, and it speaks to your soul. I usually do not shed tears in books. This book was among some of my crying exceptions. When I closed the last page I felt like I had read something that was meaningful. It wasn't just about escape or entertainment. Deese is full of courage, humor and talent. She expresses all of these in her book. I would recommend this book to lovers of all genres.
January 5, 2013
The level if emotions I felt while reading this book moved me to want to live my life differently. I connected to the characters in this story much more than just a book to read. I cried with them, laughed and celebrated with them. Nicole Deese writes well beyond entertainment value. She writes with a purpose! What an awesome story to add to my collection. This is a stand out book that everyone owes it yo themselves to read
February 17, 2013
All for Anna was a really great debut novel.
Victoria 'Toria' Sales is living a life full of regret, guilt and loneliness. A wonderful trauma nurse with a haunting past. 18 months ago she was involved in a car accident that resulted in the death of a little girl, despite everybody telling her otherwise, she has forever blamed herself. Living with this guilt has caused major changes for Toria - she moved away to start a new job in a new town away from anybody that knows her and has closed off to any promise of a friendship or relationship. All she sees herself as is the girl who ruined somebody else's life with absolutely no way out of the mess and hurt that is now her life.
All for Anna is a story about forgiveness, learning to lose the guilt and finding Faith again. I found the story a little heavy on the religion side which I hadn't expected at all. Toria's family are largely in to their faith and going to church, as is her love interest - Kai. Along the way, since the accident, Toria has lost her faith and can't believe in her God anymore. How could such tragic things happen in the hands of Him? Toria really isn't sure anymore.
A year in to her new life, Toria finds herself travelling back home to live with her pregnant sister. How will she cope coming face to face with the life that has haunted her memories for so long now? Will she over come it or finally break? A welcome home party thrown by her overbearing parents starts that recovery journey, she comes face to face with a man who will come to mean more to her than she ever thought possible - Kai.
Kai was a lovely character. I am all for the bad boy, tattooed rockers but sometimes a change is needed and that is exactly what Kai was. He was nice, honest, compassionate and just exactly what Toria needed in her life. From the moment he met Toria he knew there was something about her, he just had to know her and have her in his life.
Toria's journey of rebuilding her life was so wonderful to read about, she thought she was broken beyond repair but from that first meeting with Kai she could finally see a different life for herself.
The book was emotional and I did find myself in tears at points, the author had a really great way of making you feel. There were a few twists and turns along the way to keep it interesting, I did guess them but it didn't make it any less exciting when I found out the truth.
I recommend this read, it wasn't too much on the heavy side but there certainly was a lot of emotion. Congratulations Nicole on your first novel.
Victoria 'Toria' Sales is living a life full of regret, guilt and loneliness. A wonderful trauma nurse with a haunting past. 18 months ago she was involved in a car accident that resulted in the death of a little girl, despite everybody telling her otherwise, she has forever blamed herself. Living with this guilt has caused major changes for Toria - she moved away to start a new job in a new town away from anybody that knows her and has closed off to any promise of a friendship or relationship. All she sees herself as is the girl who ruined somebody else's life with absolutely no way out of the mess and hurt that is now her life.
"Give it up, Stace. You'll never figure me out. I can't even do that."
All for Anna is a story about forgiveness, learning to lose the guilt and finding Faith again. I found the story a little heavy on the religion side which I hadn't expected at all. Toria's family are largely in to their faith and going to church, as is her love interest - Kai. Along the way, since the accident, Toria has lost her faith and can't believe in her God anymore. How could such tragic things happen in the hands of Him? Toria really isn't sure anymore.
A year in to her new life, Toria finds herself travelling back home to live with her pregnant sister. How will she cope coming face to face with the life that has haunted her memories for so long now? Will she over come it or finally break? A welcome home party thrown by her overbearing parents starts that recovery journey, she comes face to face with a man who will come to mean more to her than she ever thought possible - Kai.
"Victoria, right?" he asked, with a voice that was as rich and smooth as decadent chocolate.
Kai was a lovely character. I am all for the bad boy, tattooed rockers but sometimes a change is needed and that is exactly what Kai was. He was nice, honest, compassionate and just exactly what Toria needed in her life. From the moment he met Toria he knew there was something about her, he just had to know her and have her in his life.
Toria's journey of rebuilding her life was so wonderful to read about, she thought she was broken beyond repair but from that first meeting with Kai she could finally see a different life for herself.
"If the walls in my mind had been built up, then I would have to tear them down, piece by piece. If isolation and withdrawal had cemented my stubborn will of self-reliance then I'd slowly have to open up my circle of influence.
The book was emotional and I did find myself in tears at points, the author had a really great way of making you feel. There were a few twists and turns along the way to keep it interesting, I did guess them but it didn't make it any less exciting when I found out the truth.
I recommend this read, it wasn't too much on the heavy side but there certainly was a lot of emotion. Congratulations Nicole on your first novel.
September 24, 2024
Wow...I really like this book. Very, very well written, intelligent, sensitive, detailed and a bit of romance, which was a surprise to our female lead, Tori. Kai was a sweetheart from day one. Who couldn’t love him?
Kai was a gifted paramedic, who unbeknownst to Tori, was there the day of the fatefulness accident when no attempt to save "Anna" was possible. An accident that left Tori a walking zombie-like a person who shut off all aspects of a normal life by being focused on work. Work and running until her feet were raw were healthier ways to cope than drinking, she supposed.
A different kind of death had claimed her that night. It was the kind of death that no pulse could conquer, the kind of death that stalked its prey like a dark, hungry shadow.
A relationship was just getting started when Tori found out something she couldn’t think to forgive, some thing about Kai. Personally I didn’t think it was any big deal, Kai had showed her innumerable times how much he cared for her and would never hurt her. So when she went off the rails I couldn’t relate at all. Complete overreaction. But the writing within the overreaction was wonderful. Loved the therapy sessions. Loved learning all about CMT’s and paramedics.
"...our basic EMT certification so we can assist with the basic needs of people in crisis like CPR, or administering asthma treatments, or giving out glucose…that type of thing. Really the simple difference is that paramedics can break the skin and a basic EMT cannot,”
Some of what happened to Tori made her hesitant to share her past trauma, to bring it out in the open, and learn to "feel" anything, especially what needs changing to be healthy once again. She had a great therapist, and part of her recovery was a handsome Samoan with the voice of an angel.
Enjoy it!!
Kai was a gifted paramedic, who unbeknownst to Tori, was there the day of the fatefulness accident when no attempt to save "Anna" was possible. An accident that left Tori a walking zombie-like a person who shut off all aspects of a normal life by being focused on work. Work and running until her feet were raw were healthier ways to cope than drinking, she supposed.
A different kind of death had claimed her that night. It was the kind of death that no pulse could conquer, the kind of death that stalked its prey like a dark, hungry shadow.
A relationship was just getting started when Tori found out something she couldn’t think to forgive, some thing about Kai. Personally I didn’t think it was any big deal, Kai had showed her innumerable times how much he cared for her and would never hurt her. So when she went off the rails I couldn’t relate at all. Complete overreaction. But the writing within the overreaction was wonderful. Loved the therapy sessions. Loved learning all about CMT’s and paramedics.
"...our basic EMT certification so we can assist with the basic needs of people in crisis like CPR, or administering asthma treatments, or giving out glucose…that type of thing. Really the simple difference is that paramedics can break the skin and a basic EMT cannot,”
Some of what happened to Tori made her hesitant to share her past trauma, to bring it out in the open, and learn to "feel" anything, especially what needs changing to be healthy once again. She had a great therapist, and part of her recovery was a handsome Samoan with the voice of an angel.
Enjoy it!!
February 4, 2013
Buddy read w/ Bethany and Jennifer
This was a wonderful and very clean read. I appreciated how clean it was, which is very rare these days.
Tori was a woman who needed to feel again in many aspects of her life. She needed to learn that she can rely on God, her family and friends once she figured out that running from everything wasn't going to solve her issues.
She blames herself for a traumatic tragedy she had no power over. She then leads a very isolated life and struggles to learn how to cope. What she doesn't realize is that she has PTSD. Once she learns how to deal with her PTSD, lets others in to her isolated world, things start opening up in a major way for her. Not just with her self, her family, and job but also in the dating department. This is where Kai comes in.
I really loved Kai, aka: Tree Man. One of my favorite parts is when they meet a "second" time and she looks up and says: "Tree Man?" He says a few things to her before he says: "Did you just call me Tree Man?" Ha! Loved it.
All For Anna flowed beautifully together. I appreciated how the author talked about God and wasn't ashamed to use it as a theme in her story line. Kai was a great believer in his faith and was never ashamed to put that out there. I appreciated how the author dealt with Tori's PTSD as well. I felt it was nicely done.
I loved how Kai and Tori built their relationship as well; starting as friends, dating and so on. I love how clean yet still sweet and special their private moments together were. Kai was a very sweet, nice, respectable guy who didn't compromise who he was or his standards.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who dares to step off their normal path to read something outside the box. :)
This was a wonderful and very clean read. I appreciated how clean it was, which is very rare these days.
Tori was a woman who needed to feel again in many aspects of her life. She needed to learn that she can rely on God, her family and friends once she figured out that running from everything wasn't going to solve her issues.
She blames herself for a traumatic tragedy she had no power over. She then leads a very isolated life and struggles to learn how to cope. What she doesn't realize is that she has PTSD. Once she learns how to deal with her PTSD, lets others in to her isolated world, things start opening up in a major way for her. Not just with her self, her family, and job but also in the dating department. This is where Kai comes in.
I really loved Kai, aka: Tree Man. One of my favorite parts is when they meet a "second" time and she looks up and says: "Tree Man?" He says a few things to her before he says: "Did you just call me Tree Man?" Ha! Loved it.
All For Anna flowed beautifully together. I appreciated how the author talked about God and wasn't ashamed to use it as a theme in her story line. Kai was a great believer in his faith and was never ashamed to put that out there. I appreciated how the author dealt with Tori's PTSD as well. I felt it was nicely done.
I loved how Kai and Tori built their relationship as well; starting as friends, dating and so on. I love how clean yet still sweet and special their private moments together were. Kai was a very sweet, nice, respectable guy who didn't compromise who he was or his standards.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who dares to step off their normal path to read something outside the box. :)
January 17, 2021
This was an exceptional debut by Nicole Deese.
“There are only two paths we can be on with God: moving forward or moving away.”
Victoria is running from a traumatic accident. She cannot forgive herself for not saving a child in an auto wreck. Yet she puts herself in the position of a nurse in the emergency room. Tori moves in with her pregnant sister, Stacie, while her husband, Jack, is out of the country for work. Back in Dallas from a year away in Phoenix, she is forced to confront the people and situations that made her flee.
Tori meets Kai, an EMT who is friends with Jack. Kai is the perfect hero. He has a strong faith, makes a great friend, is loyal and very capable and kind.
Tori makes great progress until she feels betrayed. All the time she hears God prompting her.
“I had spent so much time and energy questioning God’s goodness, questioning His will, but today I saw Him with fresh eyes. God didn’t cause tragedy, but God could make beauty from the ashes of our lives.”
This was a very emotional story. It shows some steps to overcoming trauma to healing. The narrative flows seamlessly.
*I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.”
“There are only two paths we can be on with God: moving forward or moving away.”
Victoria is running from a traumatic accident. She cannot forgive herself for not saving a child in an auto wreck. Yet she puts herself in the position of a nurse in the emergency room. Tori moves in with her pregnant sister, Stacie, while her husband, Jack, is out of the country for work. Back in Dallas from a year away in Phoenix, she is forced to confront the people and situations that made her flee.
Tori meets Kai, an EMT who is friends with Jack. Kai is the perfect hero. He has a strong faith, makes a great friend, is loyal and very capable and kind.
Tori makes great progress until she feels betrayed. All the time she hears God prompting her.
“I had spent so much time and energy questioning God’s goodness, questioning His will, but today I saw Him with fresh eyes. God didn’t cause tragedy, but God could make beauty from the ashes of our lives.”
This was a very emotional story. It shows some steps to overcoming trauma to healing. The narrative flows seamlessly.
*I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.”
January 3, 2024
WOAH!! I was not expecting.... all of this!! i mean i LOVED it but there was times I was smiling so much and times i was literally about to completely lose it!! the mmc was like literally SO SWEET AND NOW IM RAISING STANDARDS WAY TOO HIGH CUZ MOST REAL GUYS ARENT LIKE THIS!!! and some of the things he said... ohmygosh!! so i will be posting way to many things he said (sorry to all my book besties) Not to mention I read this from about midnight (right after i finished another 5 star read) to 7:08 am!! ONE SITTING BOOK!!! 2024 is off to a great start!! Alright imma get about three hours of sleep now!!
March 28, 2013
I gave it a 3.5 stars. My opinion of this book was more of a woman who was looking for her inner self; Trying to figure what life can give to her after a traumatic accident that occurred and placed her own self in a Cocoon. This is my first Christian book, it was interesting. But there were some chapters that I just wanted to WAKE HER UP! And for her to see her surrounding to see what the lord has given to give thanks. Like I said for me it just went Haywired. The letters to Anna, were very nice. But felt that at the end it still feel that she was still not fully recovered. I apologize to the Author, for my review. Thank you.
January 4, 2013
A moving story! I was completely hooked at the first paragraph and couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!
December 22, 2017
Just as good the second time around
June 28, 2014
This book is a very refreshing book in a time when the highly sexualized books are so popular. It really makes a point about actually developing a relationship with the people around the character. It follows this woman that has PTSD on her journey to healing and recovery. It shows how one incident has affected the relationships all around her.
One of the most beautiful parts of this book was how she came to terms with her relationship with her parents, especially her mom. Then how it took her to honestly admit what she was going through and to work her family problems out to then be able to have a healthy relationship with Kai.
Most imporantly she is on her journey to work things out with God. After a traumatic incident one night she became lost and questioned her beliefs and her family. It's a book about healing, sacrifice, family, and about facing problems head on instead of running from them.
I highly recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
-Jen
One of the most beautiful parts of this book was how she came to terms with her relationship with her parents, especially her mom. Then how it took her to honestly admit what she was going through and to work her family problems out to then be able to have a healthy relationship with Kai.
Most imporantly she is on her journey to work things out with God. After a traumatic incident one night she became lost and questioned her beliefs and her family. It's a book about healing, sacrifice, family, and about facing problems head on instead of running from them.
I highly recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
-Jen
January 28, 2013
All for Anna is a wonderfully written story of a young woman's journey to healing and redemption. The author has wonderful talent for bringing characters alive in the mind of the reader allowing the reader to identify pieces of themselves within each character. The storyline had me smiling, laughing out loud, and occasionally almost in tears. The story of redemption and forgiveness is gripping and powerful. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light at the end of a long tunnel or is just looking for a good uplifting read.
January 29, 2013
This story had me laughing, crying, and falling in love with each and every character. The ultimate portrait of redemption. I could hardly put it down and finished it in just 3 readings.
This story was real, honest, heartfelt, funny, romantic, and above all else rang with a truth everyone needs to hear. So many times I had to pinch myself to realize that this was written by a dear friend and not just some unknown author. I will definately be sharing this with as many people as possible. Love, love, loved it!!
This story was real, honest, heartfelt, funny, romantic, and above all else rang with a truth everyone needs to hear. So many times I had to pinch myself to realize that this was written by a dear friend and not just some unknown author. I will definately be sharing this with as many people as possible. Love, love, loved it!!
January 25, 2013
This is not your typical love story. It's sad, happy and uplifting. Author did a great job in expressing emotions. Was a very good read.
March 5, 2022
I loved this book from page 1 to the last. Hard for it to end. I have read later books by this author and enjoyed them all, but this book was the BEST. I normally get books from my library, but when I realized this was part of a series, I immediately ordered the next book from Amazon for my Kindle so I could begin reading. I did note a few grammatical errors, but this is the author's debut book so I am sure there will be better proofing as more books are written.
Recommend!
Recommend!
January 21, 2024
What a great book. I really enjoyed the story of Tori and this new to me author! It will not be the last book I read of hers. Tori is a trauma nurse and has a significant trauma occurred in her life. She is dealing with the demons from that tragic accident. She moved back to her home town to help her sister Stacie through her pregnancy, while her husband is working in Australia. Such a good book and a great read!
January 9, 2024
OH MY GOODNESS!! Go read this book now!!! I love the characters and also where can I find me a man like him?? ;) also this is a really clean Christian book…so why wouldn’t you want to read it anyways?
May 9, 2013
All for Anna was unlike any book I have ever read. It has grief, loss, acceptance, hope, and religion.
I want to start off this review by saying this book discusses religion, God, faith, & praying quite extensively. I only mention this because the synopsis does not mention this & it caught many other readers off guard. I have never read a book that discusses religion beyond the brief mention of attending church, but I really enjoyed the main character's loss of faith & questioning of 'why bad things happen?' But I understand that because of this book's theme of religion it may not be for everyone.
All for Anna was about Tori, a trauma RN, who is moving back to her hometown in Texas after running away over a year ago following a tragic car accident that ended with a fatality. Tori is still carrying the guilt and burden of the accident. She has built walls & distanced herself from the rest of the world. She isn't living - she is simply attempting to cope & survive.
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I didn't expect this book to hold so much emotion. I felt Tori's pain & guilt. I loved watching her open up and let down her walls.
Kai was my favorite character in this book & is probably in my top 10 of favorite male characters ever. He was kind and confident. He knew who he was and what he wanted. Kai pushed Tori farther when he knew she could handle the growth but also gave her distance when she was close to breaking down. Their connection and ability to read each other was so adorable. Though Tori was broken, I never stopped rooting for the two of them.
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Kai <3
I took so many important messages away from this book but two of my favorite are the importance of forgiveness. Not only is it important to forgive others, it is also important to forgive yourself.
"Even in the darkness there can be light, and even in the hardest circumstances we face, there can be hope."
I want to start off this review by saying this book discusses religion, God, faith, & praying quite extensively. I only mention this because the synopsis does not mention this & it caught many other readers off guard. I have never read a book that discusses religion beyond the brief mention of attending church, but I really enjoyed the main character's loss of faith & questioning of 'why bad things happen?' But I understand that because of this book's theme of religion it may not be for everyone.
"For the first time in over a year and a half, I prayed."
All for Anna was about Tori, a trauma RN, who is moving back to her hometown in Texas after running away over a year ago following a tragic car accident that ended with a fatality. Tori is still carrying the guilt and burden of the accident. She has built walls & distanced herself from the rest of the world. She isn't living - she is simply attempting to cope & survive.
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I didn't expect this book to hold so much emotion. I felt Tori's pain & guilt. I loved watching her open up and let down her walls.
Kai was my favorite character in this book & is probably in my top 10 of favorite male characters ever. He was kind and confident. He knew who he was and what he wanted. Kai pushed Tori farther when he knew she could handle the growth but also gave her distance when she was close to breaking down. Their connection and ability to read each other was so adorable. Though Tori was broken, I never stopped rooting for the two of them.
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Kai <3
I took so many important messages away from this book but two of my favorite are the importance of forgiveness. Not only is it important to forgive others, it is also important to forgive yourself.
The second message that I loved from this story is that you are not your past, everyday is a new day to be who you want to be.
I really enjoyed this book & am on the edge of my seat waiting for her next book.
June 13, 2015
All for Anna is not at all my typical kind of read, but I figured I'd give it a chance. I liked it in the beginning. Tori has just moved back home and accepted a job as a trauma nurse. She never thought she'd return, since a little over a year ago she was involved in an accident that killed a little girl. Tori hasn't dealt with her grief at all, and she's recommended for therapy, which is the only way she can take on overtime shifts (part of her coping mechanism other than running until she's exhausted). But then she meets Kai, and is finally opening up to someone again after having shut her emotions down for so long.
I knew All for Anna was Christian Fiction going into it, but I was glad that there wasn't too much talk of church and God in the beginning. Tori actually stopped going to church after the accident because she couldn't believe that God would take a child like that. But then about a third in, Kai is trying to convince her to renew her relationship with God and that it'll help her with her PTSD. Sorry, but what? God does not cure PTSD! I have no doubt that maybe faith could help her cope better than running herself ragged, but it's not going to cure her. Then she starts hearing voices, which at first seemed to be part of her hallucinations and flashbacks, but nope. It's God. Like, literally. Tori is hearing the voice of God, and he says the one thing that snaps her back to reality and she's magically fixed. No.
All for Anna is all about Tori healing after this tragedy, but there's one thing that really bothered me since no one mentions it. Ever. Tori is beating herself up because she shouldn't have been driving in the storm, so it's all her fault. But, obviously someone else was driving in the storm, otherwise she wouldn't have been in the accident. Maybe Anna's mother shouldn't have been driving in that storm either! I totally get that she's upset about the accident and the outcome, but how could no one bring this up? They all tell her not to blame herself, but no one points out an obvious flaw in her blame game logic.
I was also very annoyed with the ending. I was scared that this was going to be a saved by the power of love story, since Tori is struggling with PTSD and finds love in the process. Thankfully it didn't, but once again God butts in and ruins everything. Tori decides that she wants to do something, gets the paperwork all filled out, and everyone is in an uproar about it! Her sister yells at her about keeping secrets, when she literally had just found about her acceptance. Kai walks out on her, but says he'll wait for her. Then God is like nope, don't do it. So she doesn't do it. I think this thing would have been good for her! Who's to say that she needs to stay at home in order to heal? She could find purpose and use her passion! But noooo, everyone and God (literally) tell her no. Whatever.
All for Anna was just not for me. The romance was sweet, but I did see that twist coming from the beginning. It's not subtle or surprising at all. I probably would have been alright with the God aspects if he wasn't literally speaking to her for most of the book.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
I knew All for Anna was Christian Fiction going into it, but I was glad that there wasn't too much talk of church and God in the beginning. Tori actually stopped going to church after the accident because she couldn't believe that God would take a child like that. But then about a third in, Kai is trying to convince her to renew her relationship with God and that it'll help her with her PTSD. Sorry, but what? God does not cure PTSD! I have no doubt that maybe faith could help her cope better than running herself ragged, but it's not going to cure her. Then she starts hearing voices, which at first seemed to be part of her hallucinations and flashbacks, but nope. It's God. Like, literally. Tori is hearing the voice of God, and he says the one thing that snaps her back to reality and she's magically fixed. No.
All for Anna is all about Tori healing after this tragedy, but there's one thing that really bothered me since no one mentions it. Ever. Tori is beating herself up because she shouldn't have been driving in the storm, so it's all her fault. But, obviously someone else was driving in the storm, otherwise she wouldn't have been in the accident. Maybe Anna's mother shouldn't have been driving in that storm either! I totally get that she's upset about the accident and the outcome, but how could no one bring this up? They all tell her not to blame herself, but no one points out an obvious flaw in her blame game logic.
I was also very annoyed with the ending. I was scared that this was going to be a saved by the power of love story, since Tori is struggling with PTSD and finds love in the process. Thankfully it didn't, but once again God butts in and ruins everything. Tori decides that she wants to do something, gets the paperwork all filled out, and everyone is in an uproar about it! Her sister yells at her about keeping secrets, when she literally had just found about her acceptance. Kai walks out on her, but says he'll wait for her. Then God is like nope, don't do it. So she doesn't do it. I think this thing would have been good for her! Who's to say that she needs to stay at home in order to heal? She could find purpose and use her passion! But noooo, everyone and God (literally) tell her no. Whatever.
All for Anna was just not for me. The romance was sweet, but I did see that twist coming from the beginning. It's not subtle or surprising at all. I probably would have been alright with the God aspects if he wasn't literally speaking to her for most of the book.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
March 1, 2016
Have you ever had something happen that has made you feel guilty and because of that guilt, you felt like you shouldn't live or be able to enjoy your life ? One fateful night is all it took for Victoria's life to fall apart , as she decided to drive home one wet night and an accident occured which lead to a six year old girl named Anna dying in Victoria's arms . That night, her life fell apart and she ran away for a year , now circumstances have caused her to come back home and she has gotten a job as a trauma nurse in the local hospital. Due to her past though, Victoria has to commit to sessions with the hospital's shrink before she can do any extra hours or be on-call. Meanwhile , Victoria has caught the eye of one of the local paramedics and family friend Kai - he's Samoan which I loved that the author had inputed the Pacific Island culture into the novel which made it a little closer to home for me as living in New Zealand we have quite a few Pacific Islanders living here and we have in the past had Samoan friends. Can Victoria learn to let people in or will she continue to close herself off to the world with the thoughts that she doesn't deserve to be alive ? When Victoria runs into Anna's mother can she learn to forgie herself as she learns that no-one except herself blames her for that evening when Anna died ?
All for Anna was quite an Emotional read and had a few tissue moments as the book is raw as we process what the guilt did and caused Victoria to feel and experience. The other thing I enjoyed about this book was that it not only has that Medical theme which I lately have been enjoying Code Black and Chicago Med , but also has a Christian thread to the story as the characters attend church and in the end God speaks to Victoria.
I am now looking forward to reading the rest of the series Letting Go.
All for Anna was quite an Emotional read and had a few tissue moments as the book is raw as we process what the guilt did and caused Victoria to feel and experience. The other thing I enjoyed about this book was that it not only has that Medical theme which I lately have been enjoying Code Black and Chicago Med , but also has a Christian thread to the story as the characters attend church and in the end God speaks to Victoria.
I am now looking forward to reading the rest of the series Letting Go.
March 12, 2013
All for Anna by Nicole Deese is a story about one person’s road to recovery after enduring a personal tragedy. The main character, Victoria Sales, was in a car crash whose sole victim was a 6 year old girl that she, Tori (an RN,) could not save. Tori’s pent up guilt and grief have grew into a case of PTSD and she can’t stop herself from running away from the pain.
The thing I like most about this book is that it looked closely at how people process memories. How does our past affect our future? And what part of that is personal choice? It made me wonder if there are things in my past that I have let have power over my future. How have I processed loss, pain, and failure in my own life and how have I been able to overcome it and forgive others/myself?
There were certainly many instances where I wanted to jump through the pages and tell Tori she was being a dope but aside from the blaring mistakes she makes and the frustration I felt as a reader, the ability to reflect upon the ‘why’ of each situation is what I enjoyed. Of course, there was also a love story interwoven in Tori’s story of recovery. More than a romance, this was Tori’s path to hope and faith. Again, I found myself reflecting on my own relationships and wondering who is my rock? Who gives me hope and faith and helps me be a stronger person? All For Anna was a great way for me to take some time to think about the people in my life that I cherish and to think about the type of person I’d like to be in return.
The thing I like most about this book is that it looked closely at how people process memories. How does our past affect our future? And what part of that is personal choice? It made me wonder if there are things in my past that I have let have power over my future. How have I processed loss, pain, and failure in my own life and how have I been able to overcome it and forgive others/myself?
There were certainly many instances where I wanted to jump through the pages and tell Tori she was being a dope but aside from the blaring mistakes she makes and the frustration I felt as a reader, the ability to reflect upon the ‘why’ of each situation is what I enjoyed. Of course, there was also a love story interwoven in Tori’s story of recovery. More than a romance, this was Tori’s path to hope and faith. Again, I found myself reflecting on my own relationships and wondering who is my rock? Who gives me hope and faith and helps me be a stronger person? All For Anna was a great way for me to take some time to think about the people in my life that I cherish and to think about the type of person I’d like to be in return.
January 14, 2013
So, I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. My heart broke for tori and I looooved Kai. I foundit soooooo refreshing to read a romance that wasn't full of smut. But I did wish there would have been a bit more romance. I found myself rushing through parts to get to the sections with Kai in them. My other complaint was the abruptness of the ending. I felt like there was all this build up and she was leaving for Africa and they hadn't seen each other in weeks..... And he left her standing there in the hospital and she just shows up at his work and she is taken back by him and he proposes? That could have been a whole other chapter and we got like 2 paragraphs! S that is what keeps it from 5 stars for me. I was not fully satisfied with the abrupt ending. But I loved the authors writing and the connection I felt to the characters. I'm excited to read the next in the series. I'm hoping it is about Briggs:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2013
I totally loved this book that contained love, God, faith, family, romance, heartbreak, even death. It's so nice to find good fictional books that have romance without it being trashy or even anger with out vulgarity. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because she really never went back to her doc to inform her of any new decisions. . Although I really anticipated them naming the baby Anna, I see that would have been predictable. That is why I am a reader not a writer. It was such a beautiful love story. I can't wait for the next release in April. Thank you to the author for making people see that you can make a story believable without using curse words or other things that people try to tell me are necessary to make it realistic.
#1 You proved them wrong. #2 It's fiction people. #3 Maybe it's nice to escape from our nutty world that has become numb to obscene language and sex everywhere instead of love. Congratulations Miss Dress beautiful writing.
#1 You proved them wrong. #2 It's fiction people. #3 Maybe it's nice to escape from our nutty world that has become numb to obscene language and sex everywhere instead of love. Congratulations Miss Dress beautiful writing.
December 8, 2013
I don't think I've ever cheered for or yelled at a character (aloud) as much as I did Tori. What a gorgeous story of forgiveness, redemption, love, and healing.
Tori loses herself when a tragic accident leaves a young girl dead. She runs away...literally and figuratively. But we can't run from our pain. It follows us wherever we go. After returning to her hometown, Tori meets the irresistible Kai. Can any man be so smart, kind, good looking and giving all in one? Can Tori learn to forgive herself in order to be open to love?
She's hardened her heart to a lot of things and turned her back on God. Everyone continues to tell her that He hasn't turned His back on her. How can that be true if He'd allow a tragic accident to happen like the one that changed her life forever? Deese writes a beautiful tale of how, no matter how far we've gone, we can find our way back to God and He'll always be there for us with open arms.
I can't wait to share this book with my friends!
Tori loses herself when a tragic accident leaves a young girl dead. She runs away...literally and figuratively. But we can't run from our pain. It follows us wherever we go. After returning to her hometown, Tori meets the irresistible Kai. Can any man be so smart, kind, good looking and giving all in one? Can Tori learn to forgive herself in order to be open to love?
She's hardened her heart to a lot of things and turned her back on God. Everyone continues to tell her that He hasn't turned His back on her. How can that be true if He'd allow a tragic accident to happen like the one that changed her life forever? Deese writes a beautiful tale of how, no matter how far we've gone, we can find our way back to God and He'll always be there for us with open arms.
I can't wait to share this book with my friends!
January 6, 2014
A book that's a balm to the heart and the soul, All for Anna explores the delicate bond between life and death - focusing on the tales of the ones left behind.
All for Anna is heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Pieced together in a beautiful tapestry of painful memories, family ties and faith, it is a story that truly connects. It connects with the reader on a deeper level, slowly revealing the world around us - painting it in a different light.
It's time to stop running and to look back.
Forgiveness starts in our hearts...and with ourselves. All for Anna is an amazing tribute to NA fiction, which doesn't try too hard to decorate the story with meaningless parties, bad-boys and sexual encounters.
Instead it gives readers a meaningful message, wrapped up in layers of trust, hope, steadfast men and the kind of love that endures...the kind of love that will weather the storm no matter how hard it blows.
All for Anna is heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Pieced together in a beautiful tapestry of painful memories, family ties and faith, it is a story that truly connects. It connects with the reader on a deeper level, slowly revealing the world around us - painting it in a different light.
It's time to stop running and to look back.
Forgiveness starts in our hearts...and with ourselves. All for Anna is an amazing tribute to NA fiction, which doesn't try too hard to decorate the story with meaningless parties, bad-boys and sexual encounters.
Instead it gives readers a meaningful message, wrapped up in layers of trust, hope, steadfast men and the kind of love that endures...the kind of love that will weather the storm no matter how hard it blows.
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