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He Belongs to Me
He Belongs to Me is a second chance romance. It's a tale of betrayal and deception and of a young mother's determination to recover what belongs to her.
Forced to leave her baby and tricked into relinquishing her parental rights, four years later Catherine Boyd is back and she'll do anything to regain custody of her son--even reconcile with the husband falsely accused of killing their son's twin.
Catherine graduates from college, eager to start a new life with her six-year-old son, Drew. But when she tries to bring him home, her parents refuse to relinquish control of the grandson they'd raised.
Wrongly accused of a horrible crime, Thomas Boyd has buried himself in his career, determined to forget his painful past and the family he lost. But now, five years later, Catherine is back, requesting his help to regain custody of their son--custody he thought she had.
Though older and wiser, when courtroom battles reveal lies and secrets and generations of pain, will Thomas and Catherine find only more tragedy and loss, or will old wounds finally heal?
Forced to leave her baby and tricked into relinquishing her parental rights, four years later Catherine Boyd is back and she'll do anything to regain custody of her son--even reconcile with the husband falsely accused of killing their son's twin.
Catherine graduates from college, eager to start a new life with her six-year-old son, Drew. But when she tries to bring him home, her parents refuse to relinquish control of the grandson they'd raised.
Wrongly accused of a horrible crime, Thomas Boyd has buried himself in his career, determined to forget his painful past and the family he lost. But now, five years later, Catherine is back, requesting his help to regain custody of their son--custody he thought she had.
Though older and wiser, when courtroom battles reveal lies and secrets and generations of pain, will Thomas and Catherine find only more tragedy and loss, or will old wounds finally heal?
394 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2013
26 people are currently reading
1777 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Rizzo
8 books162 followersTheresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she now lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty-two years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 18, 2014
ARC received frpm JKS Communications through NetGalley for an honest review.
He Belongs to me by Theresa Rizzo is an emotional journey. This is not just about second chance love but is about people who makes mistakes.Some mistakes can't be fix but no one is perfect and the key is to learn from it. This book will pull on your heart strings and make you boil with rage (in good and bad way), it’s a well written novel about family hardships and a mother who will do anything in her power to be reunited with her son . I like Catherine because she has grown a ball and fought for her son but I am not sure about Thomas .I find him coward for turning his back and in the end I thought he was brave because he did something other man wouldn't knowing the consequences of being with Catherine.But the parents,oh how I hated them! My blood boil for them!The twist nearly the end of the book is a real big surprise for me .I wish there was an epilogue in the end to let us know how everything ended.If you are looking for a Romance book then this is not for you but if you want to read a book that will take you for emotional ride then you found the right one.
May 25, 2016
Okay, I've been meaning to read this book in a long time- but for some darn reason I kept putting it off. Now I feel kinda stupid, because this book is pretty amazing!
I have so many emotions running through me NOW.. He Belongs to Me is a powerful novel that spoke to me on so many different levels. I was mad, frustrated, cried... then laughed.. aroused and cried again... lol. I tried putting the book down as I needed sleep, but every time I closed my eyes- all I can think of is Catherine and Thomas. So I gave up and just finished the damn book around 4 am!
Catherine and Thomas made a lot of mistakes when they were young. At first I hated Catherine for being stupid and I couldn't believe she just gave up on her son. (who does that?!) and Thomas.. grr.. for a person who loved his family, I was pissed that he gave up easily on them. Why did he just walked away?! I don't want to give anymore spoilers but their situation was so complicated to the point that I was questioning myself on how will they fix the mess they made. Then I felt sorry for the tragedies, mistakes, hurt and was rooting for their son, family and love.
I honestly didn't have any high expectation on this book, but damn.. I was surprised as how the book just captivate me from the beginning til the end. I love when a book can make me feel the emotions, not just register them but ACTUALLY feel them too.
He Belongs to Me is emotional journey. This is not just about second chance love but also that people make mistakes.. maybe some mistakes can't be fix but no one is perfect and the key is to learned from it.
This is a must read book!! Thank you Ms. Theresa Rizzo for writing this great story and I will remember this for a very long time.
I have so many emotions running through me NOW.. He Belongs to Me is a powerful novel that spoke to me on so many different levels. I was mad, frustrated, cried... then laughed.. aroused and cried again... lol. I tried putting the book down as I needed sleep, but every time I closed my eyes- all I can think of is Catherine and Thomas. So I gave up and just finished the damn book around 4 am!
Catherine and Thomas made a lot of mistakes when they were young. At first I hated Catherine for being stupid and I couldn't believe she just gave up on her son. (who does that?!) and Thomas.. grr.. for a person who loved his family, I was pissed that he gave up easily on them. Why did he just walked away?! I don't want to give anymore spoilers but their situation was so complicated to the point that I was questioning myself on how will they fix the mess they made. Then I felt sorry for the tragedies, mistakes, hurt and was rooting for their son, family and love.
I honestly didn't have any high expectation on this book, but damn.. I was surprised as how the book just captivate me from the beginning til the end. I love when a book can make me feel the emotions, not just register them but ACTUALLY feel them too.
He Belongs to Me is emotional journey. This is not just about second chance love but also that people make mistakes.. maybe some mistakes can't be fix but no one is perfect and the key is to learned from it.
This is a must read book!! Thank you Ms. Theresa Rizzo for writing this great story and I will remember this for a very long time.
June 14, 2013
As much as I liked and enjoy this Contemporary novel, I have a hard time classifying it as Romance. For me the romance wasn’t the main part of the book, in fact I thought it had very little romance to it. Instead this is about a couple who have to deal with an issue of grandparents trying to have custody rights over their child.
I have secondhand knowledge of what it takes to go through a child custody case in the courts so I was very impressed with how this part of the story was handled and how emotional it made me feel. The characters in this book were all flawed which really gave them depth and made them feel very real.
This has a great plot and there were a few surprises along the way as secrets were revealed that I didn’t see coming. This book is very much an emotional journey and one you will want to take your time reading.
I have secondhand knowledge of what it takes to go through a child custody case in the courts so I was very impressed with how this part of the story was handled and how emotional it made me feel. The characters in this book were all flawed which really gave them depth and made them feel very real.
This has a great plot and there were a few surprises along the way as secrets were revealed that I didn’t see coming. This book is very much an emotional journey and one you will want to take your time reading.
May 16, 2013
*******2.5 stars*******
This is going to be a difficult review to write, because I honestly wanted to love this book. I was sure this was going to be a heart-wrenching love story about a devoted mother who made difficult decisions to give her son the best life possible. I think this was the goal overall, but with characters that seemed far too self-absorbed, a plot that was at times infuriating, and a lack of any truly deep emotional responses to the tumultuous events going on, I spent most of this story fuming.
As a mom, the reasons behind Catherine giving custody of her young son to her parents while she went away to school left me questioning her devotion. I mean, I empathized with what was going through her mind at the time, but for me I just kept thinking “but this is YOUR child!” It was just a jagged little pill to swallow, no matter what perspective I tried to approach it from. When Thomas came into the picture, I was optimistic that I’d see a different side of Catherine and the spark between them would win me over, and I was pleased to see that she did reveal another layer of herself as she faced her old flame after so many years. But, then I had trouble with Thomas. There really wasn’t great chemistry between him and Catherine, and his rather self-serving approach at life made it difficult to find redeeming qualities in him. He does show improvement as the story goes on, but never to the point where I felt like he was the man he should have been for Catherine all along. A shocking reveal late in the story kind of explains some of his actions, but I just wanted more from him overall.
I think what bothered me most out of everything going on here was that Catherine's parents were just despicable people. They weren't just wealthy socialites who wanted to control their daughter's life, they were a backstabbing, conniving, self-absorbed couple who put their own beliefs and desires above their daughter at every turn. It made matters worse for me that Catherine rarely reacted strongly to their behavior, allowing herself to be walked all over by the parents who had essentially blackmailed her into giving away her child. Sure, she was angry, but it was such a sedated reaction that it did nothing to convince me she was distraught over her son being kept from her. I think I was more upset than she was most of the time! I was really hoping some twist of fate would find Eric and Sarah experiencing a well-deserved "what goes around comes around", but in the end I still just wasn't satisfied that they’d received the retribution they had coming.
Suffice it to say, this was a tough read for me, but I’m not writing off this author’s work for the future. I was given a copy of this book for review on behalf of The Autumn Review.
This is going to be a difficult review to write, because I honestly wanted to love this book. I was sure this was going to be a heart-wrenching love story about a devoted mother who made difficult decisions to give her son the best life possible. I think this was the goal overall, but with characters that seemed far too self-absorbed, a plot that was at times infuriating, and a lack of any truly deep emotional responses to the tumultuous events going on, I spent most of this story fuming.
As a mom, the reasons behind Catherine giving custody of her young son to her parents while she went away to school left me questioning her devotion. I mean, I empathized with what was going through her mind at the time, but for me I just kept thinking “but this is YOUR child!” It was just a jagged little pill to swallow, no matter what perspective I tried to approach it from. When Thomas came into the picture, I was optimistic that I’d see a different side of Catherine and the spark between them would win me over, and I was pleased to see that she did reveal another layer of herself as she faced her old flame after so many years. But, then I had trouble with Thomas. There really wasn’t great chemistry between him and Catherine, and his rather self-serving approach at life made it difficult to find redeeming qualities in him. He does show improvement as the story goes on, but never to the point where I felt like he was the man he should have been for Catherine all along. A shocking reveal late in the story kind of explains some of his actions, but I just wanted more from him overall.
I think what bothered me most out of everything going on here was that Catherine's parents were just despicable people. They weren't just wealthy socialites who wanted to control their daughter's life, they were a backstabbing, conniving, self-absorbed couple who put their own beliefs and desires above their daughter at every turn. It made matters worse for me that Catherine rarely reacted strongly to their behavior, allowing herself to be walked all over by the parents who had essentially blackmailed her into giving away her child. Sure, she was angry, but it was such a sedated reaction that it did nothing to convince me she was distraught over her son being kept from her. I think I was more upset than she was most of the time! I was really hoping some twist of fate would find Eric and Sarah experiencing a well-deserved "what goes around comes around", but in the end I still just wasn't satisfied that they’d received the retribution they had coming.
Suffice it to say, this was a tough read for me, but I’m not writing off this author’s work for the future. I was given a copy of this book for review on behalf of The Autumn Review.
May 8, 2013
This novel evoked so many emotions, I felt wrung out when I was finished. It was like watching a train, knowing it was going to leave the tracks, and there is nothing you can do but watch it happen.
The story opens introducing us to Catherine Boyd, an extremely happy young woman on her graduation day from Stanford. Her graduation is not the only thing bringing her joy, she will be reunited with her son, Andrew, called Drew. He has been living with her parents in Chicago, so Catherine could concentrate on her studies full time. She has seen Drew as much as she possibly could, and they spoke by phone almost daily. Now he would be joining her in California, where she has a growing clientele for her handmade jewelry, sold in a friend's boutique . But her life is about to jump the track. Catherine's parents have decided that Drew would be better staying with them in Chicago. They can provide him with the best of everything. Catherine had signed a custody agreement , letting her parents be guardians for Drew till she was graduated and on her own. The confrontation with her Mom and Dad and further consultation with an attorney shows that the papers were never drawn up as temporary. The only solution was to move to her parents home, which was unthinkable , or find her estranged husband ( they were never divorced) and try to prove she can provide a good home for Drew.
Thomas Boyd and Catherine fell in love and married very young. Her parents disapproved, but agreed to help. After a tragic accident, Thomas was falsely accused of a crime, and pushed out of Catherine's life. They agreed to each finish school and restart their life together then. Somehow the time never came.
Thomas had graduated from the University of Michigan, and was now an up and coming financial analyst. The first time they met to discuss what to do, Catherine had an immediate reaction. "Just being with Thomas bombarded her with confusing feelings of warmth, security , happiness , misery and betrayal, all dusted with with this crackling electric attraction".
This is an amazing novel that has everything. It is an emotional roller coaster ride, and you can't put it down! So many lies, unexpected suspense and love, all in the name of a sweet little boy. I highly recommend this novel, I finished it in a day. In my opinion, this novel deserves five very bright stars!
The story opens introducing us to Catherine Boyd, an extremely happy young woman on her graduation day from Stanford. Her graduation is not the only thing bringing her joy, she will be reunited with her son, Andrew, called Drew. He has been living with her parents in Chicago, so Catherine could concentrate on her studies full time. She has seen Drew as much as she possibly could, and they spoke by phone almost daily. Now he would be joining her in California, where she has a growing clientele for her handmade jewelry, sold in a friend's boutique . But her life is about to jump the track. Catherine's parents have decided that Drew would be better staying with them in Chicago. They can provide him with the best of everything. Catherine had signed a custody agreement , letting her parents be guardians for Drew till she was graduated and on her own. The confrontation with her Mom and Dad and further consultation with an attorney shows that the papers were never drawn up as temporary. The only solution was to move to her parents home, which was unthinkable , or find her estranged husband ( they were never divorced) and try to prove she can provide a good home for Drew.
Thomas Boyd and Catherine fell in love and married very young. Her parents disapproved, but agreed to help. After a tragic accident, Thomas was falsely accused of a crime, and pushed out of Catherine's life. They agreed to each finish school and restart their life together then. Somehow the time never came.
Thomas had graduated from the University of Michigan, and was now an up and coming financial analyst. The first time they met to discuss what to do, Catherine had an immediate reaction. "Just being with Thomas bombarded her with confusing feelings of warmth, security , happiness , misery and betrayal, all dusted with with this crackling electric attraction".
This is an amazing novel that has everything. It is an emotional roller coaster ride, and you can't put it down! So many lies, unexpected suspense and love, all in the name of a sweet little boy. I highly recommend this novel, I finished it in a day. In my opinion, this novel deserves five very bright stars!
June 19, 2013
Review to come .... but I will say this ... this is a must read !!!!
review requested by author
review requested by author
June 12, 2013
3.5*s
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
See this and other reviews @ www.theromancecover.com
Ok so I'll start at the beginning......
This is a book about a young couple going through a custody battle for their young son but it is also more. It covers a lot of big issues and it covers them really well.
I'm gonna cover the characters individually.
Catherine ~ Just graduated and wants to get her son Drew back from her parents. (Horrible horrible people but i'll get to them in a bit!!) They had temporary custody of Drew while she did her degree in California. Catherine wants to stay there rather than go back home to live with him there. But her parent have other plans, they won't let Drew live with her. Did i say they were horrible already? Well they are!!
And the is where Catherine get a shock and the story begins. She has to reconcile her marriage to her estranged husband Thomas (Drew's dad) in order to get him back. That's how simple she thinks it is bit boy is she wrong.
Catherine's character was a hard one, she was tough but we got to see her in her past where she wasn't tough and I'm glad I didn't know her then cause I don't think I would have liked her. I did feel she could have showed more emotion and spoken about her feelings to Thomas a bit more throughout the book.
Thomas ~ This poor guy. He has been dealt a poor hand in life and he is a lovely guy.
He and Catherine got married when they were young and she was pregnant much to her parents disgust. But they loved each other so much they didn't care. They had the twins then one night tragedy struck and one of the twins died. Thomas is accused wrongly of killing him but is later acquitted. When he get out of jail Catherine break of their relationship and he goes off to college leaving his wife and son behind. Then 4 years later Catherine comes back into his life saying they need to reconcile their t get their son back from her parents. This is a shock to him he thought she had Drew. A lot of painful memories surround their relationship, and Thomas and Catherine have been a part ever since he was let out of jail but he agrees to it.
I think he could have done with some therapy as he has a whole bundle of issues he needs to get over.
I found him a little hard to connect with as he was so withdrawn and didn't show a whole lot of emotion.
Drew ~ I felt we could have got to know him a bit more what we did see he was a god wee character and I feel if we got to know him better it would have added much more emotion to the book. He a cute little boy and sadly used as a pawn by his grandparents.
The Grandparents (Sarah & Eric) ~ OMG!!!!!! They are horrible, rich, selfish, controlling, manipulative, nasty, unloving and I hated them instantly! They have wronged Catherine on so many things I wouldn't even know where to begin without giving away to much.
As a mum I just couldn't understand how parents could act this way.
During the court case so much was uncovered I really couldn't believe how 2 people could be so nasty to their own child.
Towards the end Sarah made my blood boil for something she did and I ended up feeling sorry for Eric but I didn't forgive him for what he'd put his own children through but felt he had completely different a possibly justified reason where as sarah was just a nasty jealous woman. .
As i said his book dealt with a few hard topics that should have had me in tears as I watched the family suffer but I felt something was missing that didn't get me connected enough to them to feel the emotion.
The court room had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and some of the things that were uncovered made me say OMG out loud then flick the pages as quick as I could read them to find out about them. The court room also made me hate her mum even more she made me feel sick as a mum at one point I would want this woman looking after my dog let alone my child.
It's hard to round up this book without giving it ways. It was a great story but I felt it slightly lacked emotion and communication from Catherine and Thomas and as a romance I felt it focused more on the issues and court battle than the relationship but still an really enjoyable read.
I also would have liked a bit more at the end of the book I felt it just kind of ended. An epilogue a few years down the line would have been really nice.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
See this and other reviews @ www.theromancecover.com
Ok so I'll start at the beginning......
This is a book about a young couple going through a custody battle for their young son but it is also more. It covers a lot of big issues and it covers them really well.
I'm gonna cover the characters individually.
Catherine ~ Just graduated and wants to get her son Drew back from her parents. (Horrible horrible people but i'll get to them in a bit!!) They had temporary custody of Drew while she did her degree in California. Catherine wants to stay there rather than go back home to live with him there. But her parent have other plans, they won't let Drew live with her. Did i say they were horrible already? Well they are!!
And the is where Catherine get a shock and the story begins. She has to reconcile her marriage to her estranged husband Thomas (Drew's dad) in order to get him back. That's how simple she thinks it is bit boy is she wrong.
Catherine's character was a hard one, she was tough but we got to see her in her past where she wasn't tough and I'm glad I didn't know her then cause I don't think I would have liked her. I did feel she could have showed more emotion and spoken about her feelings to Thomas a bit more throughout the book.
Thomas ~ This poor guy. He has been dealt a poor hand in life and he is a lovely guy.
He and Catherine got married when they were young and she was pregnant much to her parents disgust. But they loved each other so much they didn't care. They had the twins then one night tragedy struck and one of the twins died. Thomas is accused wrongly of killing him but is later acquitted. When he get out of jail Catherine break of their relationship and he goes off to college leaving his wife and son behind. Then 4 years later Catherine comes back into his life saying they need to reconcile their t get their son back from her parents. This is a shock to him he thought she had Drew. A lot of painful memories surround their relationship, and Thomas and Catherine have been a part ever since he was let out of jail but he agrees to it.
I think he could have done with some therapy as he has a whole bundle of issues he needs to get over.
I found him a little hard to connect with as he was so withdrawn and didn't show a whole lot of emotion.
Drew ~ I felt we could have got to know him a bit more what we did see he was a god wee character and I feel if we got to know him better it would have added much more emotion to the book. He a cute little boy and sadly used as a pawn by his grandparents.
The Grandparents (Sarah & Eric) ~ OMG!!!!!! They are horrible, rich, selfish, controlling, manipulative, nasty, unloving and I hated them instantly! They have wronged Catherine on so many things I wouldn't even know where to begin without giving away to much.
As a mum I just couldn't understand how parents could act this way.
During the court case so much was uncovered I really couldn't believe how 2 people could be so nasty to their own child.
Towards the end Sarah made my blood boil for something she did and I ended up feeling sorry for Eric but I didn't forgive him for what he'd put his own children through but felt he had completely different a possibly justified reason where as sarah was just a nasty jealous woman. .
As i said his book dealt with a few hard topics that should have had me in tears as I watched the family suffer but I felt something was missing that didn't get me connected enough to them to feel the emotion.
The court room had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and some of the things that were uncovered made me say OMG out loud then flick the pages as quick as I could read them to find out about them. The court room also made me hate her mum even more she made me feel sick as a mum at one point I would want this woman looking after my dog let alone my child.
It's hard to round up this book without giving it ways. It was a great story but I felt it slightly lacked emotion and communication from Catherine and Thomas and as a romance I felt it focused more on the issues and court battle than the relationship but still an really enjoyable read.
I also would have liked a bit more at the end of the book I felt it just kind of ended. An epilogue a few years down the line would have been really nice.
June 28, 2013
He Belongs To Me is an intriguing story about family secrets, deception and betrayal ... a couple's love story ... and a young mother's determination to get her son back at any cost.
Author Theresa Rizzo weaves a riveting story set in Chicago and written in the third person narrative, that engages the reader to follow the emotional journey of Catherine Boyd as she battles her parents with the help of her estranged husband Thomas to regain custody of their young son Drew.
The story opens with Catherine Boyd graduating from Stanford University. While Catherine attended college in California, she gave temporary custody of her son Drew to her parents in Chicago ... or so she thought. Now with degree in hand, Catherine is eager to reunite with Drew and begin the next phase of their lives in California. But Catherine's plans are turned upside down when she learns that the temporary custody of her son that she had signed four years earlier was in fact a permanent custody ... she has given her child away. Catherine's parents won't give up custody of their grandson, they believe that they can provide a better life for him. Faced with two options, Catherine has to decide whether to live with her parents and Drew in Chicago, or reconcile with her estranged husband Thomas and prove that they can provide a good life for their son.
Flashback to Catherine and Thomas' past ... they fell in love, Catherine became pregnant, and they married very young. After a tragic accident that took the life of Bobby, one of their twin sons, Thomas was falsely accused of causing the death of their baby boy, and is forced out of Catherine and Drew's life. Catherine and Thomas separate but vow to reunite after they finish college, but they did not stay in contact with each other over the past four years. Thomas graduated from the University of Michigan and is now a rising financial analyst.
After being estranged for four years, can Catherine and Thomas reconcile and convince the social workers and judge that they are a loving married couple capable of providing their young son a good life?
He Belongs To Me is a heart wrenching story that captivated me from the beginning, and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that left me completely spent. This story is filled with enough family secrets, lies, deception and betrayal; mixed in with riveting courtroom drama and suspenseful twists and turns; and a passionate love story that keeps the reader thoroughly engaged and turning the pages. You can't help but get drawn into Catherine and Thomas' story, the emotions are palpable and raw, you feel their loss, grief, anger, love and determination as their journey to regain custody of their son is fraught with heartbreaking trials and tribulations. And if the fight for their son isn't enough to keep the reader enthralled, their passionate love story will reel you in, their relationship is filled with so much emotion and intensity, they have been through so much, but their sexual chemistry and love for each other is undeniable.
With a cast of characters who are realistic and flawed; raw and emotional dialogue; intense and dramatic interactions; and a gut wrenching storyline that mixes the complexities of a dysfunctional family dynamic with a couple's love story; He Belongs To Me is an amazing story that will pull at your heartstrings, and prove that love can overcome the most traumatic situations in life. This is a must read story that will resonate with you for a very long time.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by JKSCommunications.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Author Theresa Rizzo weaves a riveting story set in Chicago and written in the third person narrative, that engages the reader to follow the emotional journey of Catherine Boyd as she battles her parents with the help of her estranged husband Thomas to regain custody of their young son Drew.
The story opens with Catherine Boyd graduating from Stanford University. While Catherine attended college in California, she gave temporary custody of her son Drew to her parents in Chicago ... or so she thought. Now with degree in hand, Catherine is eager to reunite with Drew and begin the next phase of their lives in California. But Catherine's plans are turned upside down when she learns that the temporary custody of her son that she had signed four years earlier was in fact a permanent custody ... she has given her child away. Catherine's parents won't give up custody of their grandson, they believe that they can provide a better life for him. Faced with two options, Catherine has to decide whether to live with her parents and Drew in Chicago, or reconcile with her estranged husband Thomas and prove that they can provide a good life for their son.
Flashback to Catherine and Thomas' past ... they fell in love, Catherine became pregnant, and they married very young. After a tragic accident that took the life of Bobby, one of their twin sons, Thomas was falsely accused of causing the death of their baby boy, and is forced out of Catherine and Drew's life. Catherine and Thomas separate but vow to reunite after they finish college, but they did not stay in contact with each other over the past four years. Thomas graduated from the University of Michigan and is now a rising financial analyst.
After being estranged for four years, can Catherine and Thomas reconcile and convince the social workers and judge that they are a loving married couple capable of providing their young son a good life?
He Belongs To Me is a heart wrenching story that captivated me from the beginning, and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that left me completely spent. This story is filled with enough family secrets, lies, deception and betrayal; mixed in with riveting courtroom drama and suspenseful twists and turns; and a passionate love story that keeps the reader thoroughly engaged and turning the pages. You can't help but get drawn into Catherine and Thomas' story, the emotions are palpable and raw, you feel their loss, grief, anger, love and determination as their journey to regain custody of their son is fraught with heartbreaking trials and tribulations. And if the fight for their son isn't enough to keep the reader enthralled, their passionate love story will reel you in, their relationship is filled with so much emotion and intensity, they have been through so much, but their sexual chemistry and love for each other is undeniable.
With a cast of characters who are realistic and flawed; raw and emotional dialogue; intense and dramatic interactions; and a gut wrenching storyline that mixes the complexities of a dysfunctional family dynamic with a couple's love story; He Belongs To Me is an amazing story that will pull at your heartstrings, and prove that love can overcome the most traumatic situations in life. This is a must read story that will resonate with you for a very long time.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by JKSCommunications.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
November 11, 2013
He Belongs to Meby Theresa Rizzo is a story of a young child caught up in a gut-wrenching custody battle between his grandparents and his natural parents, but its the journey to the resolution of that bitter fight that is the story. In a twisted plot filled with deceit, betrayals of the worst kind, and the perceived power of the almighty dollar a dysfunctional family unravels their darkest moments and shocking revelations all in the name of love. Was that love real? Was it healthy? Or was it the love of absolute control that drove young Drew’s grandparents to attempt to destroy their own daughter in order to keep their grandson? Will it be necessary for the judge to use the Wisdom of Solomon to determine where the child belongs?
I’m going to say right off, Theresa Rizzo has truly created a maze of plot twists and perfectly timed revelations that had my emotions bouncing off the walls. I did not like the two main characters in the beginning, and felt neither of them had the maturity to have custody of their son, in particular, the mother. All I could wonder was what kind of mother would leave her child for a few YEARS, with only brief visits to pursue her college education across the country and give up custody to her parents, without checking what type of custody it was? The father also disappeared, the whys were uncovered, but, still, he never forced contact, never even divorced his wife. As Ms. Rizzo peeled away each painful layer, there was so much more to this heartbreaking tale that my sympathies were most definitely with young Drew’s parents, flaws and all, although I could empathize with the grandparents and their twisted idea of love, as it seemed to be a way of atonement for old sins, a “do-over” if you will.
Did Theresa Rizzo pen an incredible read? Yes! Definitely! Her characters are not almost human; they were brutally and realistically very human. Very flawed, filled with past mistakes, poor judgment calls and all the warts of being human, some more than others, some were their own worst enemy. Is there redemption? Yes, with the possibility of more healing in the future. Was there love? Yes, some healthy, some strangely shown, but it’s in there!
So, any author that can evoke all of this turmoil in me is, in my opinion doing an awesome job! The story moved quickly from one scene to the next and there was no time to breathe in between as it raced to the final pounding of the gavel.
I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. If you're looking for a romance with some jagged edges, this would be a good choice!
Publication Date: May 15, 2013
Publisher: Theresa Rizzo
ISBN: 9780989045001
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Drama
Page Count: 392
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
I’m going to say right off, Theresa Rizzo has truly created a maze of plot twists and perfectly timed revelations that had my emotions bouncing off the walls. I did not like the two main characters in the beginning, and felt neither of them had the maturity to have custody of their son, in particular, the mother. All I could wonder was what kind of mother would leave her child for a few YEARS, with only brief visits to pursue her college education across the country and give up custody to her parents, without checking what type of custody it was? The father also disappeared, the whys were uncovered, but, still, he never forced contact, never even divorced his wife. As Ms. Rizzo peeled away each painful layer, there was so much more to this heartbreaking tale that my sympathies were most definitely with young Drew’s parents, flaws and all, although I could empathize with the grandparents and their twisted idea of love, as it seemed to be a way of atonement for old sins, a “do-over” if you will.
Did Theresa Rizzo pen an incredible read? Yes! Definitely! Her characters are not almost human; they were brutally and realistically very human. Very flawed, filled with past mistakes, poor judgment calls and all the warts of being human, some more than others, some were their own worst enemy. Is there redemption? Yes, with the possibility of more healing in the future. Was there love? Yes, some healthy, some strangely shown, but it’s in there!
So, any author that can evoke all of this turmoil in me is, in my opinion doing an awesome job! The story moved quickly from one scene to the next and there was no time to breathe in between as it raced to the final pounding of the gavel.
I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. If you're looking for a romance with some jagged edges, this would be a good choice!
Publication Date: May 15, 2013
Publisher: Theresa Rizzo
ISBN: 9780989045001
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Drama
Page Count: 392
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
June 5, 2013
posted at www.shhmomsreading.com
This was a great debut novel by Theresa Rizzo and she is definitely an author to be on the lookout for. The book was well written and I enjoyed it very much!
Catherine Boyd just graduated college and will do anything to get her son Drew back from her parents. Her parents had temporary custody of him while she finished her degree in California. Much to my surprise, because Catherine wants to stay in CA rather than move back home, her parents will not allow her son to live with her – they are controlling and manipulative and I could already sense how much I will hate them!
As a result of this, Catherine must contact her husband Thomas who she has not spoken to in 4 years. The reason for their separation is heartbreaking – you see when Drew was born, he was a twin. His brother Robert stopped breathing one night in his sleep. A lot of painful memories surround this tragedy, and Thomas and Catherine have been a part ever since. Catherine and Thomas’ first interaction after so many years is awkward – I feel bad for them and hope that this couple will be able to rekindle their love :(
Catherine and Thomas come up with a plan to get Drew back which involves them pretending to be a happily married couple so that the courts will give them custody again. Will they be able to put aside all the hurt and pain from the past to get their son back?
I have to admit that it was painful to watch Catherine’s attempts at being a wife because Thomas kept her at such a distance. And while I understand why he did it, I am hoping and wishing that these two broken people will be able to find a 2nd chance at love and be able to be a family again.
I will also insert here that the apple scene in the grocery store had me LOL :)
Will this couple be able to come together after all of these years? Will they see the importance of family and fight for their love and for their only child?
You will have to read this book to find out!
This book dealt with a couple of hard topics that had me near tears as I watched this family suffer. The court scenes had me on edge the entire time because I was hoping with all my might that the judge would be on their side. There are some ugly things that come up from Catherine’s past that have me HATING her parents while in my heart I also hope that they are able to overcome this together and be a family again. There are some heartwarming parts too that allowed me to see the hope for their future together.
I don’t want to give anything away in this book only to say that it touched a part of me, being a mother and watching this woman want to be with her child so badly. Children are your future and without them something is missing…I understood that and I felt that pain for Catherine and Thomas. I also understood from her parents side why they would think that they are doing what’s best for Catherine and Drew – though I did feel that some of what they were thinking was because they were trying to make up for the type of parents they were to Catherine growing up.
This is a great debut novel and I highly recommend it to people who are interested in reading about second chances in love and family. Theresa did a great job writing all the emotions in this book and I look forward to seeing what has for us next.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great debut novel by Theresa Rizzo and she is definitely an author to be on the lookout for. The book was well written and I enjoyed it very much!
Catherine Boyd just graduated college and will do anything to get her son Drew back from her parents. Her parents had temporary custody of him while she finished her degree in California. Much to my surprise, because Catherine wants to stay in CA rather than move back home, her parents will not allow her son to live with her – they are controlling and manipulative and I could already sense how much I will hate them!
As a result of this, Catherine must contact her husband Thomas who she has not spoken to in 4 years. The reason for their separation is heartbreaking – you see when Drew was born, he was a twin. His brother Robert stopped breathing one night in his sleep. A lot of painful memories surround this tragedy, and Thomas and Catherine have been a part ever since. Catherine and Thomas’ first interaction after so many years is awkward – I feel bad for them and hope that this couple will be able to rekindle their love :(
Catherine and Thomas come up with a plan to get Drew back which involves them pretending to be a happily married couple so that the courts will give them custody again. Will they be able to put aside all the hurt and pain from the past to get their son back?
I have to admit that it was painful to watch Catherine’s attempts at being a wife because Thomas kept her at such a distance. And while I understand why he did it, I am hoping and wishing that these two broken people will be able to find a 2nd chance at love and be able to be a family again.
I will also insert here that the apple scene in the grocery store had me LOL :)
Will this couple be able to come together after all of these years? Will they see the importance of family and fight for their love and for their only child?
You will have to read this book to find out!
This book dealt with a couple of hard topics that had me near tears as I watched this family suffer. The court scenes had me on edge the entire time because I was hoping with all my might that the judge would be on their side. There are some ugly things that come up from Catherine’s past that have me HATING her parents while in my heart I also hope that they are able to overcome this together and be a family again. There are some heartwarming parts too that allowed me to see the hope for their future together.
I don’t want to give anything away in this book only to say that it touched a part of me, being a mother and watching this woman want to be with her child so badly. Children are your future and without them something is missing…I understood that and I felt that pain for Catherine and Thomas. I also understood from her parents side why they would think that they are doing what’s best for Catherine and Drew – though I did feel that some of what they were thinking was because they were trying to make up for the type of parents they were to Catherine growing up.
This is a great debut novel and I highly recommend it to people who are interested in reading about second chances in love and family. Theresa did a great job writing all the emotions in this book and I look forward to seeing what has for us next.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2013
Honestly, I had no idea what to expect of this book. I always have a little trepedation when reading a book by a debut author. As anyone who follows my reviews, you know I'm pretty darn picky. Anyone who knows me, knows I love good issues, building and trusting relationships, and definitely forgiveness of all kinds. However, writing that kind of book is VERY difficult and I often find myself disappointed. Not so in this case.
In HE BELONGS TO ME I found issues, relationships, tragedy and triumph in spades, and none of it was won easily--none of it was tied up in a neat little bow. I was sucked in during the first chapter watching the setup play out between Catherine, her son Drew, and her parents. I was crying by the time the chapter was over. Then the involvement of her estranged husband, Thomas, and watching the ups and downs of that relationship kept me turning the pages and hoping against hope that these two young people would find a way to survive their past and move forward.
Adept strokes with characterization, description, a little humor at just the right times all conspired to make me fall in love with this book. By a third of the way through, nothing could stop me from continuing to read. This is not a light-hearted book, but it is a book with amazing heart. Ms. Rizzo slowly tears away the skin of masks, self-deception, and guilt as she takes the reader layer by layer into the families of Catherine, Thomas, and their own tragic beginning with marriage at a very young age. It is indeed a tearing of skin as each person faces up to his or her past and has to try again and again to find a way to move forward in spite of it.
This book is not a romance in the traditional sense, but the romance between Catherine and Thomas is one for the ages. Not an easy romance, but one that is so hard fought and so realistic that you truly believe they will make it for the rest of their lives. Even the dysfunctional romance of Catherine's parents is one to carefully evaluate and understand. Though I hated so many of the parents' choices, I still found myself rooting for them to recover from their own mistakes, to forgive themselves so they could move forward.
Much of the latter part of this book revolves around Catherine's court case to regain custody of her son. It is through that venue that the author chooses to reveal all of the family relationships and their myriads of interconnections, pain and tragedy--but also to provide healing. Just as in therapy one needs a third party to help see the truth, sometimes in dysfunctional families it is the court that provides that third party and allows the truth to come out. Unfortunately, learning the truth in court is one of the most difficult ways for a family to recover--many never do.
I heartily recommend HE BELONGS TO ME anyone who has the heart to cheer for three families, in all their brokenness and tragedy, to survive their pasts and somehow find a future together. As a psychological character study and a romance that becomes stronger, because of survival and forgiveness, this book is a triumph. A Very Strong 5 Stars!!!
In HE BELONGS TO ME I found issues, relationships, tragedy and triumph in spades, and none of it was won easily--none of it was tied up in a neat little bow. I was sucked in during the first chapter watching the setup play out between Catherine, her son Drew, and her parents. I was crying by the time the chapter was over. Then the involvement of her estranged husband, Thomas, and watching the ups and downs of that relationship kept me turning the pages and hoping against hope that these two young people would find a way to survive their past and move forward.
Adept strokes with characterization, description, a little humor at just the right times all conspired to make me fall in love with this book. By a third of the way through, nothing could stop me from continuing to read. This is not a light-hearted book, but it is a book with amazing heart. Ms. Rizzo slowly tears away the skin of masks, self-deception, and guilt as she takes the reader layer by layer into the families of Catherine, Thomas, and their own tragic beginning with marriage at a very young age. It is indeed a tearing of skin as each person faces up to his or her past and has to try again and again to find a way to move forward in spite of it.
This book is not a romance in the traditional sense, but the romance between Catherine and Thomas is one for the ages. Not an easy romance, but one that is so hard fought and so realistic that you truly believe they will make it for the rest of their lives. Even the dysfunctional romance of Catherine's parents is one to carefully evaluate and understand. Though I hated so many of the parents' choices, I still found myself rooting for them to recover from their own mistakes, to forgive themselves so they could move forward.
Much of the latter part of this book revolves around Catherine's court case to regain custody of her son. It is through that venue that the author chooses to reveal all of the family relationships and their myriads of interconnections, pain and tragedy--but also to provide healing. Just as in therapy one needs a third party to help see the truth, sometimes in dysfunctional families it is the court that provides that third party and allows the truth to come out. Unfortunately, learning the truth in court is one of the most difficult ways for a family to recover--many never do.
I heartily recommend HE BELONGS TO ME anyone who has the heart to cheer for three families, in all their brokenness and tragedy, to survive their pasts and somehow find a future together. As a psychological character study and a romance that becomes stronger, because of survival and forgiveness, this book is a triumph. A Very Strong 5 Stars!!!
April 5, 2014
3.5 stars
When I started reading this book, my immediate thought was that it had been a long time since I read a family drama like this one. And it turned into an emotional read that thoroughly entertained.
First Line of He Belongs To Me:
“In a life riddled with painful endings and bright beginnings too few to count, Catherine sought refuge in routine and simplicity.”
My Thoughts on He Belongs To Me:
This book is an entertaining mix up; you have the intrigue and backstabbing politics of a family court case, the romance of a love affair being rekindled and the sadness of a child caught in the middle of it all. It was high on drama and despite the heavy issues, it still felt like a light read that was perfect for my nightly wind down.
The main character is a sweet girl who has blossomed from a somewhat easily influenced teenage mum into a strong, determined woman who wants her son back with her. Her parents who have raised him over the previous 5 years are not willing to let go. So Catherine reunites with her husband and together they do battle for justice.
All the characters are believable with the exception of one who confused me. Catherine and Thomas quickly prove themselves to be more than capable of raising their son Drew and their genuine love for each other and their son shines through. Catherine’s parents are not so likeable so I quickly choose sides on who I felt should win. I think I would have preferred it, if there had been more of a moral dilemma over whom should raise Drew, as it would have heightened the tensions.
However, despite that the book was totally captivating. I was never sure what way the court case would go and I loved that element of unpredictability. The only character I found hard to believe in was Catherine’s mother. I found it hard to reconcile how distant she was a mother with how much better she was as a grandmother. I know it’s a different role but I found it difficult to pinpoint why she was able to show her emotions with Drew when she couldn’t do it with her children.
I loved the writing style; the conversations flowed naturally and felt very realistic. I also thought the character development was spot on (apart from my issue with Catherine’s mother). Initially I thought I was going to hate Catherine and Thomas for walking away from Drew as a baby but there are layers within layers here and I really believed and understood why they made I what I thought initially were unforgivable choices.
There are lots of themes discussed and dissected during the court case and I think it would make a great book for a book club as I can see some interesting debates arising.
Who should read He Belongs To Me?
I’d recommend this book to fans of chick-lit books who like lots of drama, tension and some moral ambiguity to chew over. It felt like a book that was half between Danielle Steele and Jodi Picoult so if you like either of those authors, then I think you might also enjoy this one.
Thanks to Theresa Rizzo for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
When I started reading this book, my immediate thought was that it had been a long time since I read a family drama like this one. And it turned into an emotional read that thoroughly entertained.
First Line of He Belongs To Me:
“In a life riddled with painful endings and bright beginnings too few to count, Catherine sought refuge in routine and simplicity.”
My Thoughts on He Belongs To Me:
This book is an entertaining mix up; you have the intrigue and backstabbing politics of a family court case, the romance of a love affair being rekindled and the sadness of a child caught in the middle of it all. It was high on drama and despite the heavy issues, it still felt like a light read that was perfect for my nightly wind down.
The main character is a sweet girl who has blossomed from a somewhat easily influenced teenage mum into a strong, determined woman who wants her son back with her. Her parents who have raised him over the previous 5 years are not willing to let go. So Catherine reunites with her husband and together they do battle for justice.
All the characters are believable with the exception of one who confused me. Catherine and Thomas quickly prove themselves to be more than capable of raising their son Drew and their genuine love for each other and their son shines through. Catherine’s parents are not so likeable so I quickly choose sides on who I felt should win. I think I would have preferred it, if there had been more of a moral dilemma over whom should raise Drew, as it would have heightened the tensions.
However, despite that the book was totally captivating. I was never sure what way the court case would go and I loved that element of unpredictability. The only character I found hard to believe in was Catherine’s mother. I found it hard to reconcile how distant she was a mother with how much better she was as a grandmother. I know it’s a different role but I found it difficult to pinpoint why she was able to show her emotions with Drew when she couldn’t do it with her children.
I loved the writing style; the conversations flowed naturally and felt very realistic. I also thought the character development was spot on (apart from my issue with Catherine’s mother). Initially I thought I was going to hate Catherine and Thomas for walking away from Drew as a baby but there are layers within layers here and I really believed and understood why they made I what I thought initially were unforgivable choices.
There are lots of themes discussed and dissected during the court case and I think it would make a great book for a book club as I can see some interesting debates arising.
Who should read He Belongs To Me?
I’d recommend this book to fans of chick-lit books who like lots of drama, tension and some moral ambiguity to chew over. It felt like a book that was half between Danielle Steele and Jodi Picoult so if you like either of those authors, then I think you might also enjoy this one.
Thanks to Theresa Rizzo for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
June 25, 2013
He Belongs to Me is a love story with betrayal and deception from the two people we all think we can trust - our parents. It is also the story of a young woman and her determination to do whatever it takes to regain custody of her son. This book is more than just a love story. It is a griping story a young mother, thinking she signed over temporary custody of her son into the care of her parents while she was in college, who upon graduating from college learns her parents tricked her into signing over full custody to them - and they have no intention of giving him back.
Catherine, devastated from the death of one of her babies and losing her husband, is given an order by her father - go to college. Go to Stanford and continue the family tradition. Sign your son over to us temporarily and get your degree.
Graduation day and the promise of a bright future quickly turn into the fight of Catherine's life as family secrets, long buried, are exposed in the courtroom battle forcing mother against daughter, daughter against father, as she fights for her young son.
Love does prevail, bringing Catherine and the love of her life, the father of her son, Thomas back into her life, but the road is long and hard fought.
The story line has suspense and a healthy dose of drama for its well developed characters, who despite their flaws, must figure out how to co-exist in a little boy's life. The writer has done her research on this topic and the book is not for the faint of heart.
If this author continues with quality books such as this one, I will be a long time fan. I am looking forward to reading more by Theresa Rizzo.
Book Quotes:
"In a life riddled with painful endings and bright beginnings too few to count, Catherine sought refuge in routine and simplicity. Ordinarily she would have dreaded the choreographed chaos of a graduation ceremony, but this day she embraced it with a light heart...This was it. The day she'd worked so hard for had finally arrived. Today she would graduate - with honors. Not only had she earned her degree, but more importantly, she'd earned her son."
"'You should never have gotten involved with that family. You knew what her parents were like.' He did. He'd gone into it this time with his eyes wide open. But his wife and his son needed him and he owed them. 'You don't dump someone you care about because their parents are screwed up.' Thank fully. Because if Catherine had looked too closely at her new in-laws, his sons very likely would have been born bastards. Thomas gave his brother a wry look. 'Besides, our folks are no winners either.' 'Our parents are saints compared to hers.' 'My father killed himself and our mother's a society slut. Yup, we have a lot to brag about.'"
"Her scatterbrained mother a brilliant mathematician? The only thing she was good at was playing the piano - which is often linked to strong math skills, she'd read."
Read more at http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Catherine, devastated from the death of one of her babies and losing her husband, is given an order by her father - go to college. Go to Stanford and continue the family tradition. Sign your son over to us temporarily and get your degree.
Graduation day and the promise of a bright future quickly turn into the fight of Catherine's life as family secrets, long buried, are exposed in the courtroom battle forcing mother against daughter, daughter against father, as she fights for her young son.
Love does prevail, bringing Catherine and the love of her life, the father of her son, Thomas back into her life, but the road is long and hard fought.
The story line has suspense and a healthy dose of drama for its well developed characters, who despite their flaws, must figure out how to co-exist in a little boy's life. The writer has done her research on this topic and the book is not for the faint of heart.
If this author continues with quality books such as this one, I will be a long time fan. I am looking forward to reading more by Theresa Rizzo.
Book Quotes:
"In a life riddled with painful endings and bright beginnings too few to count, Catherine sought refuge in routine and simplicity. Ordinarily she would have dreaded the choreographed chaos of a graduation ceremony, but this day she embraced it with a light heart...This was it. The day she'd worked so hard for had finally arrived. Today she would graduate - with honors. Not only had she earned her degree, but more importantly, she'd earned her son."
"'You should never have gotten involved with that family. You knew what her parents were like.' He did. He'd gone into it this time with his eyes wide open. But his wife and his son needed him and he owed them. 'You don't dump someone you care about because their parents are screwed up.' Thank fully. Because if Catherine had looked too closely at her new in-laws, his sons very likely would have been born bastards. Thomas gave his brother a wry look. 'Besides, our folks are no winners either.' 'Our parents are saints compared to hers.' 'My father killed himself and our mother's a society slut. Yup, we have a lot to brag about.'"
"Her scatterbrained mother a brilliant mathematician? The only thing she was good at was playing the piano - which is often linked to strong math skills, she'd read."
Read more at http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 16, 2013
See more reviews on my blog!! http://sparetimebookblog.blogspot.com/
I was lucky enough that the author reached out to me with an ARC to review. I can tell you that I LOVED this book! I'm afraid my review won't do it justice! This books shows the fierceness of a mother trying to get her son back. She will go to any length to get him back. Catherine has had a rough life. After the death of her son's twin brother (Bobby) her life was turned upside down. Her husband was arrested for murdering Bobby. Clearly he was falsely accused when the situation is explained. That alone is enough to make someone lose it. There are other things that happened around that time to contribute to Catherine and Thomas's relationship trouble.
Her family for one. Her parents were just awful. I think they thought they were doing the right thing for their kids when in fact they were slowly destroying them. After Bobby's death Thomas leaves his wife and family to give them some time to recover. Around this time Catherine signs temporary custody to her parents so she can attend college. Or is that really what happened??? Her family is built on secrets and lies. Many of these things come to light when Catherine is in court with against her parents to try to get her son back. Her parents were to worried about what everyone would think of them that they tried to keep things out of the public eye. Trust me, after that trial none of them will be the same. Secrets leave scars that run deep and her parents don't know the whole truth. Some seriously shocking things!!! I was like OMG no way!!
Thomas and Catherine were in love. They were married very young and after the death of Bobby they ended up apart. They have both finished college and when Catherine finds out her parents will not give her son Drew back to her she confides in her lawyer. Her lawyer thinks it would be best if her and Thomas tried to work things out and jointly seek custody. This leads to Catherine contacting Thomas and a whirlwind of a "fake" relationship. To me it was a second chance for them. They still loved each other, even after the crap in their past. It was hard in the beginning. Thomas had a lot of reservations. Time doesn't heal all wounds. I was really hoping things would work out for them. They deserve it. They were so cute together too. Their love is special. They shared secrets and pain with each other. You only find out at the end how true that is. I really loved them!!
I would highly recommend this book. It is full of great characters and a great story. Mothers will go to any length for their children. Will Catherine get Drew back? Will her life ever be the same? You'll have to read to find out!
I was lucky enough that the author reached out to me with an ARC to review. I can tell you that I LOVED this book! I'm afraid my review won't do it justice! This books shows the fierceness of a mother trying to get her son back. She will go to any length to get him back. Catherine has had a rough life. After the death of her son's twin brother (Bobby) her life was turned upside down. Her husband was arrested for murdering Bobby. Clearly he was falsely accused when the situation is explained. That alone is enough to make someone lose it. There are other things that happened around that time to contribute to Catherine and Thomas's relationship trouble.
Her family for one. Her parents were just awful. I think they thought they were doing the right thing for their kids when in fact they were slowly destroying them. After Bobby's death Thomas leaves his wife and family to give them some time to recover. Around this time Catherine signs temporary custody to her parents so she can attend college. Or is that really what happened??? Her family is built on secrets and lies. Many of these things come to light when Catherine is in court with against her parents to try to get her son back. Her parents were to worried about what everyone would think of them that they tried to keep things out of the public eye. Trust me, after that trial none of them will be the same. Secrets leave scars that run deep and her parents don't know the whole truth. Some seriously shocking things!!! I was like OMG no way!!
Thomas and Catherine were in love. They were married very young and after the death of Bobby they ended up apart. They have both finished college and when Catherine finds out her parents will not give her son Drew back to her she confides in her lawyer. Her lawyer thinks it would be best if her and Thomas tried to work things out and jointly seek custody. This leads to Catherine contacting Thomas and a whirlwind of a "fake" relationship. To me it was a second chance for them. They still loved each other, even after the crap in their past. It was hard in the beginning. Thomas had a lot of reservations. Time doesn't heal all wounds. I was really hoping things would work out for them. They deserve it. They were so cute together too. Their love is special. They shared secrets and pain with each other. You only find out at the end how true that is. I really loved them!!
I would highly recommend this book. It is full of great characters and a great story. Mothers will go to any length for their children. Will Catherine get Drew back? Will her life ever be the same? You'll have to read to find out!
June 21, 2013
When I first started reading, years ago, I loved Nora Roberts’ writing and I am pretty sure I read every book she ever wrote. Nora Roberts writes romance but she writes it with so much variety…paranormal, mystery, suspense…I love it all!! Since then I have been introduced to the Indie world and I LOVE my indies!!! But sometimes I still need that something different. You can write a romance story many different ways but a romance is still a romance and I need variety every once in a while. And when I started He belongs To Me, I got the feeling that I was in for that something different.
In He Belongs To Me, Thomas and Catherine married young and were thrown immediately into parenthood. I can honestly say from experience, marriage is hard and when you add children and a young age into it, it’s a recipe for disaster. That is what happened to Thomas and Catherine, but it actually was not their fault. They had some powerful forces up against them, that wanted to destroy their happily ever after.
This story is real and emotional. It touches on subjects of rape, death, love, trust, and betrayal. It’s not one of those angsty, hook, line and sinker books like, I usually read, but it is still sooooo good. You understand and feel every emotion Thomas and Catherine go through as they battle for their child. You stress over whether they can work out their issues and get what is theirs. I found myself on the edge of my seat a few times. And having two little boys myself, that are very close in age to their son, made this even more emotional for me.
These are some horrific situations they go through but seeing them come out on top, no matter how things work out, made me smile. I need that HEA, especially when the circumstances are real and heart wrenching, and I got it!!
“I’ve proved that I can live without you, but I don’t want to. I’d rather have you and the one beautiful child we have than a slew of children with a man I don’t love.” ~Catherine
And then what can I say about Teresa’s writing other than I loved it. Every emotion and every circumstance is explained so well. I could see it all in my mind and I could feel it all in my heart. The descriptions and the detail were excellent. Some might think it too much but I enjoyed it. It makes me think a lot of research went in to writing this book. And the ending…. what a shock to me!! This will not make sense, but it was heart breaking and heartwarming all at the same time :) Happy reading!!!
*Review copy given by the author for an honest review*
In He Belongs To Me, Thomas and Catherine married young and were thrown immediately into parenthood. I can honestly say from experience, marriage is hard and when you add children and a young age into it, it’s a recipe for disaster. That is what happened to Thomas and Catherine, but it actually was not their fault. They had some powerful forces up against them, that wanted to destroy their happily ever after.
This story is real and emotional. It touches on subjects of rape, death, love, trust, and betrayal. It’s not one of those angsty, hook, line and sinker books like, I usually read, but it is still sooooo good. You understand and feel every emotion Thomas and Catherine go through as they battle for their child. You stress over whether they can work out their issues and get what is theirs. I found myself on the edge of my seat a few times. And having two little boys myself, that are very close in age to their son, made this even more emotional for me.
These are some horrific situations they go through but seeing them come out on top, no matter how things work out, made me smile. I need that HEA, especially when the circumstances are real and heart wrenching, and I got it!!
“I’ve proved that I can live without you, but I don’t want to. I’d rather have you and the one beautiful child we have than a slew of children with a man I don’t love.” ~Catherine
And then what can I say about Teresa’s writing other than I loved it. Every emotion and every circumstance is explained so well. I could see it all in my mind and I could feel it all in my heart. The descriptions and the detail were excellent. Some might think it too much but I enjoyed it. It makes me think a lot of research went in to writing this book. And the ending…. what a shock to me!! This will not make sense, but it was heart breaking and heartwarming all at the same time :) Happy reading!!!
*Review copy given by the author for an honest review*
May 2, 2014
Caffeinated Summary:
Catherine and Thomas Boyd married young, suffered an unthinkable tragedy and separated. Catherine’s domineering parents convince her to give them “temporary custody” of her son while she gets her degree. Upon graduation Catherine is excited to finally be reunited with her son. Only her parents won’t relinquish him which forces Catherine to reunite with her estranged husband. Together they must fight to regain their son.
Caffeinated Opinions:
Characters: When I first started reading I honestly was afraid I wouldn’t be able to identify with Catherine or Thomas. As a mother, I could not fathom being separated from my child. This is where a lot of credit goes to the author. She made me understand where the characters were coming from. I rooted for them, admired their growth and wanted them to have their happily ever after. Drew, the child, caught in the middle of all this was sweet and his emotions just undid me. Catherine’s parents *shivers* were scary, powerful, controlling, cold and calculating. Yeah, I wanted to run them down with my HHR. I found myself getting angry and wanting to slap Catherine’s mother. Secondary characters added to the tale, moved the plot and helped us better understand characters.
Plot: He Belongs to Me offers a second chance romance, betrayal, family secrets and courtroom drama that had me flipping the pages. Rizzo did an excellent job of portraying both the characters and the court room battle. My heart was torn open for the child as the tension unfolded. The author realistically portrayed the characters exposing their flaws, hopes, fears and feelings. It was easy to pick sides, and I must admit I was on edge during the court case. I truly appreciated how well researched the story was and the natural ease in which it was told. From conversations to the courtroom, everything felt genuine. The plot was well paced and unpredictable with twist I honestly never saw coming.
Caffeinated Verdict:
He Belongs to Me was a captivating tale with fleshed out characters and an unpredictable plot that kept me engaged. Fans of chick-lit novels and family drama will enjoy this tale. Rizzo has a wonderful writing style and adds details and depth to her stories, making her an author whose work I would read again.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Catherine and Thomas Boyd married young, suffered an unthinkable tragedy and separated. Catherine’s domineering parents convince her to give them “temporary custody” of her son while she gets her degree. Upon graduation Catherine is excited to finally be reunited with her son. Only her parents won’t relinquish him which forces Catherine to reunite with her estranged husband. Together they must fight to regain their son.
Caffeinated Opinions:
Characters: When I first started reading I honestly was afraid I wouldn’t be able to identify with Catherine or Thomas. As a mother, I could not fathom being separated from my child. This is where a lot of credit goes to the author. She made me understand where the characters were coming from. I rooted for them, admired their growth and wanted them to have their happily ever after. Drew, the child, caught in the middle of all this was sweet and his emotions just undid me. Catherine’s parents *shivers* were scary, powerful, controlling, cold and calculating. Yeah, I wanted to run them down with my HHR. I found myself getting angry and wanting to slap Catherine’s mother. Secondary characters added to the tale, moved the plot and helped us better understand characters.
Plot: He Belongs to Me offers a second chance romance, betrayal, family secrets and courtroom drama that had me flipping the pages. Rizzo did an excellent job of portraying both the characters and the court room battle. My heart was torn open for the child as the tension unfolded. The author realistically portrayed the characters exposing their flaws, hopes, fears and feelings. It was easy to pick sides, and I must admit I was on edge during the court case. I truly appreciated how well researched the story was and the natural ease in which it was told. From conversations to the courtroom, everything felt genuine. The plot was well paced and unpredictable with twist I honestly never saw coming.
Caffeinated Verdict:
He Belongs to Me was a captivating tale with fleshed out characters and an unpredictable plot that kept me engaged. Fans of chick-lit novels and family drama will enjoy this tale. Rizzo has a wonderful writing style and adds details and depth to her stories, making her an author whose work I would read again.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
June 27, 2015
He Belongs to Me will pull on your heart strings and make you boil with rage (in a good way), it’s a well written novel about family hardships and a mother who will do anything in her power to be reunited with her son once and for all.
When I first started reading He Belongs to Me I was a tiny bit nervous, the plot just seemed to be really unbelievable. What woman would be dumb enough to accidentally sign away her parental rights to her child? Luckily, this question gets answered and actually made the story more unique than many other family drama novels that I've read. It works itself out just fine as the story progresses and makes more sense.
There are so many family secrets and issues that pop up throughout the novel between both Catherine and Thomas, the parents of Drew, the boy who everyone is trying to get custody of, and Catherine's grandparents, the ones fighting them for custody. Although I could fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces of these secrets on my own while reading, there were many that I just couldn't put my finger on until later in the book when they were revealed. This made me curious and more invested in the novel.
Catherine and Thomas are great characters. They both have their flaws, but Rizzo brought them to life. Their story is hard, romantic, crazy and everything in-between. I really loved reading about their reconciliation, it was hard for them but still playful, and some of the scenes were so sweet and funny. They were super cute. The romance aspect of this book was done really well, along with the family dynamics. As for Catherine's grandparent’s, they are perfectly evil but semi-misunderstood villains. And the little boy Drew is darling, a real heart-breaker.
The part of the novel that took place in the courtroom was awesome. I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but this book did an amazing job at the back and forth questioning between the lawyers and their clients. I was on the edge of my seat.
This is a well written novel that you should not overlook. It touches on a lot of sticky subjects so you may need to be in a certain mood to read it, but when you get there you will be glad you did.
** A big thanks to the author for giving me a free copy of this book! This in no way hindered my honest review.
When I first started reading He Belongs to Me I was a tiny bit nervous, the plot just seemed to be really unbelievable. What woman would be dumb enough to accidentally sign away her parental rights to her child? Luckily, this question gets answered and actually made the story more unique than many other family drama novels that I've read. It works itself out just fine as the story progresses and makes more sense.
There are so many family secrets and issues that pop up throughout the novel between both Catherine and Thomas, the parents of Drew, the boy who everyone is trying to get custody of, and Catherine's grandparents, the ones fighting them for custody. Although I could fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces of these secrets on my own while reading, there were many that I just couldn't put my finger on until later in the book when they were revealed. This made me curious and more invested in the novel.
Catherine and Thomas are great characters. They both have their flaws, but Rizzo brought them to life. Their story is hard, romantic, crazy and everything in-between. I really loved reading about their reconciliation, it was hard for them but still playful, and some of the scenes were so sweet and funny. They were super cute. The romance aspect of this book was done really well, along with the family dynamics. As for Catherine's grandparent’s, they are perfectly evil but semi-misunderstood villains. And the little boy Drew is darling, a real heart-breaker.
The part of the novel that took place in the courtroom was awesome. I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but this book did an amazing job at the back and forth questioning between the lawyers and their clients. I was on the edge of my seat.
This is a well written novel that you should not overlook. It touches on a lot of sticky subjects so you may need to be in a certain mood to read it, but when you get there you will be glad you did.
** A big thanks to the author for giving me a free copy of this book! This in no way hindered my honest review.
June 30, 2013
I have a soft spot for the lovers reunited trope, and this certainly qualified. After Catherine’s parents trick her into giving up custody of her young son, Catherine and her estranged husband, Thomas, are forced to pretend they’re back together so that she can regain custody. Obviously, they’re still carrying a torch for each other, and just as obviously, their make-believe reconciliation becomes a real one. Their romance mostly worked for me, but it did sometimes veer on the side of more tell than show – I think because the story unfolds over a number of months, but is covered in a relatively short number of pages.
I liked the shades of grey in this story – it would be easy to paint Catherine’s parents as the no-holds-barred villains of this story, but Ms Rizzo kept their portrayal on just the right side of realistic. The multiple POVs helped here, though I think they ended up promising a bit more drama than actually delivered. However, the other secondary characters were a bit more two-dimensional, and a number of events felt as though they were there just to set up the final courtroom battle.
Speaking of which, the author certainly came across as knowing her legal stuff (disclaimer: I know nothing about the legal system/process so could be completely wrong here) and the courtroom scenes, especially towards the end, were filled with tension. Conversely though, I felt that the level of detail sometimes got in the way of the story – it’s a fine balance between keeping the plot believable without slowing down the pace, and I think the latter won on occasion. The ending, however, was satisfying with enough redemption on all sides, and generosity in victory closing the story on a feel-good note.
I went into this story expecting some rather angst-y romance based on the blurb – however, HE BELONGS TO ME turned out to be more sedate despite the high stakes at risk, with the promise of major drama left somewhat unfulfilled.
Review based on an ARC courtesy of the author/NetGalley.
A version originally on my blog: http://bookdaze.wordpress.com/2013/06...
I liked the shades of grey in this story – it would be easy to paint Catherine’s parents as the no-holds-barred villains of this story, but Ms Rizzo kept their portrayal on just the right side of realistic. The multiple POVs helped here, though I think they ended up promising a bit more drama than actually delivered. However, the other secondary characters were a bit more two-dimensional, and a number of events felt as though they were there just to set up the final courtroom battle.
Speaking of which, the author certainly came across as knowing her legal stuff (disclaimer: I know nothing about the legal system/process so could be completely wrong here) and the courtroom scenes, especially towards the end, were filled with tension. Conversely though, I felt that the level of detail sometimes got in the way of the story – it’s a fine balance between keeping the plot believable without slowing down the pace, and I think the latter won on occasion. The ending, however, was satisfying with enough redemption on all sides, and generosity in victory closing the story on a feel-good note.
I went into this story expecting some rather angst-y romance based on the blurb – however, HE BELONGS TO ME turned out to be more sedate despite the high stakes at risk, with the promise of major drama left somewhat unfulfilled.
Review based on an ARC courtesy of the author/NetGalley.
A version originally on my blog: http://bookdaze.wordpress.com/2013/06...
October 15, 2013
This book has really touched me in a way that I don't know if I can fully describe. Being a mother and going through an almost situation as I type this is really hard. I said ALMOST not exact LOL.....Ok let me get through this and I am sorry if I cry while doing this review and I can't express the greatness of this book.
We have Catherine Boyd who was married to Thomas, 4 yrs earlier they had went their separate ways. A tragedy regarding their children. They had twins Drew and Robert (Bobby). Robert stopped breathing in his sleep one night. Just going through all this put a strain in the relationship. They were young.
All of this is hard on Catherine so she does something that she feels is best for Drew and really I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HER!! She leaves Drew in the care of her parents so that she can finish college. When she returns for her son her parents, which are far from nice will not let her have her son back....This is where I get emotional just thinking of all this because, I never knew ppl could be so cruel and evil. Especially being "family" Then things in my own personal life transpired this past week that really had me connect with this book on such a deeper level, I didn't think was possible. *deep breaths*
Catherine does what she has to in order to get her son back, contacts a lawyer to help her....gets back in contact with her ex....its not an easy road but I feel so strongly for her, she is a mother that will go and do whatever it takes to get her son back.
Thomas comes back into the picture and he and Catherine decide to errr "fake" a relationship for the courts in order to get their son back from her controlling parents. During the course of this trial things from the past are brought out. Secrets are told, deep scars re-opened and bleed out, I mean its like that train wreck you can't keep your eyes away from.
I don't really want to go into much further detail as you all know I do not do spoilers and I feel so strongly about the emotions brought forth from this book. So i would really you all read the book and find out how the story unfolds, secrets that come out, and relationships formed
We have Catherine Boyd who was married to Thomas, 4 yrs earlier they had went their separate ways. A tragedy regarding their children. They had twins Drew and Robert (Bobby). Robert stopped breathing in his sleep one night. Just going through all this put a strain in the relationship. They were young.
All of this is hard on Catherine so she does something that she feels is best for Drew and really I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HER!! She leaves Drew in the care of her parents so that she can finish college. When she returns for her son her parents, which are far from nice will not let her have her son back....This is where I get emotional just thinking of all this because, I never knew ppl could be so cruel and evil. Especially being "family" Then things in my own personal life transpired this past week that really had me connect with this book on such a deeper level, I didn't think was possible. *deep breaths*
Catherine does what she has to in order to get her son back, contacts a lawyer to help her....gets back in contact with her ex....its not an easy road but I feel so strongly for her, she is a mother that will go and do whatever it takes to get her son back.
Thomas comes back into the picture and he and Catherine decide to errr "fake" a relationship for the courts in order to get their son back from her controlling parents. During the course of this trial things from the past are brought out. Secrets are told, deep scars re-opened and bleed out, I mean its like that train wreck you can't keep your eyes away from.
I don't really want to go into much further detail as you all know I do not do spoilers and I feel so strongly about the emotions brought forth from this book. So i would really you all read the book and find out how the story unfolds, secrets that come out, and relationships formed
May 13, 2013
~4.5 Stars~
I loved this book because it was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I experienced a boatload of emotions while reading this book. In the beginning I had a love/hate relationship with the main characters. I wanted to side with Catherine and Thomas but a part of me was mad at them for not being there in the first place. As a mom I couldn’t get my head around that she didn’t take Drew with her when she went to college. I also wanted her to stand up to her parents. I also wanted to slug Thomas for making a bigger gesture to be in his son’s life. I felt in the beginning they were pretty self involved.
I understood that they needed to fix themselves before they could be the parents that Drew needed but I think it could have happened sooner. Once they realized that they did mess up I fully was on their sides. Did they both make mistakes? Yes they did but they owned up to them and tried to rectify them. It was bumpy and hard but seemed to be well worth it.
I pretty much hated Catherine’s parents with a vengeance. With every page I hated them a bit more. They sure as hell didn’t act like good parents. I thought it was pretty selfish of them to not want to give back Drew to his parents. I think on some level they wanted a second chance to be parents after seeing the mistakes they made with Catherine and her brother. I was disgusted by how cold they were to their daughter during the trail. They had no problem making her look like a horrible person even though she is extremely good parent. I think part of it had to do with the fact they didn’t like Thomas. First in their minds he wasn’t good enough for Catherine, and after Roberts’ death they needed a scapegoat and Thomas was it.
This is not a book you should pick up if you want a steamy read because there aren’t really any sex scenes. That was a different thing for me but it worked for the most part. All in all it great book if you are looking for something heavy on the plot with a great storyline.
I loved this book because it was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I experienced a boatload of emotions while reading this book. In the beginning I had a love/hate relationship with the main characters. I wanted to side with Catherine and Thomas but a part of me was mad at them for not being there in the first place. As a mom I couldn’t get my head around that she didn’t take Drew with her when she went to college. I also wanted her to stand up to her parents. I also wanted to slug Thomas for making a bigger gesture to be in his son’s life. I felt in the beginning they were pretty self involved.
I understood that they needed to fix themselves before they could be the parents that Drew needed but I think it could have happened sooner. Once they realized that they did mess up I fully was on their sides. Did they both make mistakes? Yes they did but they owned up to them and tried to rectify them. It was bumpy and hard but seemed to be well worth it.
I pretty much hated Catherine’s parents with a vengeance. With every page I hated them a bit more. They sure as hell didn’t act like good parents. I thought it was pretty selfish of them to not want to give back Drew to his parents. I think on some level they wanted a second chance to be parents after seeing the mistakes they made with Catherine and her brother. I was disgusted by how cold they were to their daughter during the trail. They had no problem making her look like a horrible person even though she is extremely good parent. I think part of it had to do with the fact they didn’t like Thomas. First in their minds he wasn’t good enough for Catherine, and after Roberts’ death they needed a scapegoat and Thomas was it.
This is not a book you should pick up if you want a steamy read because there aren’t really any sex scenes. That was a different thing for me but it worked for the most part. All in all it great book if you are looking for something heavy on the plot with a great storyline.
June 27, 2013
A tale of betrayal and deception and of a young mother's determination to recover what belongs to her.
Forced to leave her baby and tricked into relinquishing her parental rights, four years later Catherine Boyd is back and she'll do anything to regain custody of her son--even reconcile with the husband falsely accused of killing their son's twin.
All in the name of love for a little boy, generations of pain and tragedy are exposed in a courtroom drama
Received in ebook format from www.netgalley.com.
Catherine attempts to get her 4 year old son back from her parents after she passes her degree with honours, only to find her parents unwilling to give him back. Instead they use him as a pawn to get Catherine back home to Chicago from California and back under their thumb
Instead she takes her lawyers’ advice and meets up with her estranged husband Thomas to present a united front to get their son back. They have not really talked since Thomas was acquitted of killing their other son, Drew's twin, who had died of cot death.
The rest of the book is the legalities of going to court to get their child back. During this time they have to not only work out how to be a married couple but also parents, something Thomas in particular struggles with as the last time he saw his son he was three months old.
The court scenes are strong and bring out so many secrets on all sides, finally reflecting the true nature of the relationships between parents and children of each generation. There are secrets between husband and wife and parents and children, some devastating as they come out in court.
I felt we got some understanding of why Eric was the way he was, but felt Sarah as the mother was a little underdeveloped as a character - just why had she felt so disconnected from her children? Why had she given up her job as a promising mathematician? Was it simply to have the children she was expected to have, even in the 1980s?
This is certainly a very strong start from a debut author and well worth the read!
Forced to leave her baby and tricked into relinquishing her parental rights, four years later Catherine Boyd is back and she'll do anything to regain custody of her son--even reconcile with the husband falsely accused of killing their son's twin.
All in the name of love for a little boy, generations of pain and tragedy are exposed in a courtroom drama
Received in ebook format from www.netgalley.com.
Catherine attempts to get her 4 year old son back from her parents after she passes her degree with honours, only to find her parents unwilling to give him back. Instead they use him as a pawn to get Catherine back home to Chicago from California and back under their thumb
Instead she takes her lawyers’ advice and meets up with her estranged husband Thomas to present a united front to get their son back. They have not really talked since Thomas was acquitted of killing their other son, Drew's twin, who had died of cot death.
The rest of the book is the legalities of going to court to get their child back. During this time they have to not only work out how to be a married couple but also parents, something Thomas in particular struggles with as the last time he saw his son he was three months old.
The court scenes are strong and bring out so many secrets on all sides, finally reflecting the true nature of the relationships between parents and children of each generation. There are secrets between husband and wife and parents and children, some devastating as they come out in court.
I felt we got some understanding of why Eric was the way he was, but felt Sarah as the mother was a little underdeveloped as a character - just why had she felt so disconnected from her children? Why had she given up her job as a promising mathematician? Was it simply to have the children she was expected to have, even in the 1980s?
This is certainly a very strong start from a debut author and well worth the read!
June 29, 2013
He Belongs to Me is a beautiful and moving novel about a mother's love and determination. This novel by Theresa Rizzo is moving and definitely makes me eager to find and read more of her work. I thought that she captured the crisis of losing a child very well as well as the heartache of struggling to retain the child that's left.
Catherine begins the tale at her graduation ceremony. She is filled with pride after completing her degree and joy that now Drew can come and live with her. Drew is her young son who has been living with her parents while she finished school at Stanford. Drew spends some time with his mother and her roommate in California but when she goes to talk to her parents about him living with her full time is when she learns the horrible truth. In a moment of weakness and manipulation from her father what she thought was guardianship for a short time was really signing the rights of her son over to her parents.
Horrified and betrayed Catherine feels like she has no one to turn to in this hour of need. With the support of her friends in California she reaches out to her estranged husband, Thomas. They had once been madly in love until one of their twins dies in his sleep and Catherine's family accuses him of murder. Torn asunder by the horror of the situation and Catherine's manipulative father, they haven't spoken in years. Until Catherine shows up on his doorstop with a strange proposal. Can they act like man and wife in an attempt to get Drew and then if Thomas wants he can walk away.
This story's over arcing story is beautiful, the two love each other so much and life just keeps forcing them apart. In the end they realize that their love can triumph over any darkness. It is so moving and beautiful how they find love again after years as they struggle with love and children and the court case. I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys a touching love story!
Catherine begins the tale at her graduation ceremony. She is filled with pride after completing her degree and joy that now Drew can come and live with her. Drew is her young son who has been living with her parents while she finished school at Stanford. Drew spends some time with his mother and her roommate in California but when she goes to talk to her parents about him living with her full time is when she learns the horrible truth. In a moment of weakness and manipulation from her father what she thought was guardianship for a short time was really signing the rights of her son over to her parents.
Horrified and betrayed Catherine feels like she has no one to turn to in this hour of need. With the support of her friends in California she reaches out to her estranged husband, Thomas. They had once been madly in love until one of their twins dies in his sleep and Catherine's family accuses him of murder. Torn asunder by the horror of the situation and Catherine's manipulative father, they haven't spoken in years. Until Catherine shows up on his doorstop with a strange proposal. Can they act like man and wife in an attempt to get Drew and then if Thomas wants he can walk away.
This story's over arcing story is beautiful, the two love each other so much and life just keeps forcing them apart. In the end they realize that their love can triumph over any darkness. It is so moving and beautiful how they find love again after years as they struggle with love and children and the court case. I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys a touching love story!
June 13, 2013
Received ARC for an honest review
4.5 Stars
What an intense, gut wrenching, heart breaking book. I felt like I was living in this book. I didn't want to put this book down. I needed to know the outcome of the story.
Catherine is a young naive girl who finally grows a backbone. She wanted to please her dad so she would do whatever he told her to do. She met and fell in love with Thomas when she was eighteen. She got pregnant and they eloped. Her parents were livid and wanted them to get divorced. So when one of their twins died and Thomas was accused of murder her parents tried to turn her against him. When Thomas was acquitted he left the state to attend college. Catherine felt alone and gave temporary custody to her parents she she could attend Stanford college. This was a huge thing to her family. She didn't want to leave her baby, but her dad convinced her to. Does this end up being a big mistake?
Thomas has lived a rough life. He thought that he had found the good life with Catherine. They had an instant connection to each other. He knew they married too soon, but with her pregnant he wanted to do the right thing. Then he didn't know what to do after his son died and he was accused of killing him. He decided to move away for college and give Catherine and him a break. Then one day Catherine shows up on his doorstep and changes everything. What does she want? Can he relive his heartache?
This journey they go on feels so real. As I said earlier I honestly felt like I was part of the book. I wanted to give this book 5 stars, but I feel that the end was a little too rushed and ended abruptly. I needed an epilogue. I felt that something bad was going to happen with the way it ended. If you like books that tear you apart and put you back together this is a must read.
4.5 Stars
What an intense, gut wrenching, heart breaking book. I felt like I was living in this book. I didn't want to put this book down. I needed to know the outcome of the story.
Catherine is a young naive girl who finally grows a backbone. She wanted to please her dad so she would do whatever he told her to do. She met and fell in love with Thomas when she was eighteen. She got pregnant and they eloped. Her parents were livid and wanted them to get divorced. So when one of their twins died and Thomas was accused of murder her parents tried to turn her against him. When Thomas was acquitted he left the state to attend college. Catherine felt alone and gave temporary custody to her parents she she could attend Stanford college. This was a huge thing to her family. She didn't want to leave her baby, but her dad convinced her to. Does this end up being a big mistake?
Thomas has lived a rough life. He thought that he had found the good life with Catherine. They had an instant connection to each other. He knew they married too soon, but with her pregnant he wanted to do the right thing. Then he didn't know what to do after his son died and he was accused of killing him. He decided to move away for college and give Catherine and him a break. Then one day Catherine shows up on his doorstep and changes everything. What does she want? Can he relive his heartache?
This journey they go on feels so real. As I said earlier I honestly felt like I was part of the book. I wanted to give this book 5 stars, but I feel that the end was a little too rushed and ended abruptly. I needed an epilogue. I felt that something bad was going to happen with the way it ended. If you like books that tear you apart and put you back together this is a must read.
October 27, 2013
He Belongs to Me begins with Catherine graduating from Stanford and excited to be reunited with her son her parents have been taking care of since she went to college. Only when her son is expected to stay the plans have changed and Catherine realizes the custody she allowed wasn’t just temporary it was permanent and if she didn’t move back home she’d lose her son forever. In an attempt to try to fight for her son she devises a plan to reconcile with her estranged husband, Thomas. But, after four and half long years and tragedy they find it challenging to reconnect and try to be together even if its only for show. Though at first it may be a show things begin to sew back together between Catherine and Thomas. The only problem is after all this struggle and fight to get their son back it may destroy their new connection and lose what they want the most…their family back together.
This was such a wonderfully emotional read. I really enjoyed the present day story but also the flashbacks to explain some of the damage that has been done. Theresa Rizzo draws you into Catherine and Thomas’ struggles. You really feel like you are with them when they are in court when they must watch every little thing they do in their lives. But, what I thought was most wonderfully done is the biggest twist in the trial. I won’t spoil it by saying but just to tell you this you definitely won’t see it coming. There are definitely tears and smiles throughout this book. I guarantee you that you will love this story and the characters along with it. You will root for Catherine and Thomas from page one but there will be times when you wonder if it is all for naught. Overall, I would whole-heartedly recommend this book and tell you to have a box of tissues nearby.
This was such a wonderfully emotional read. I really enjoyed the present day story but also the flashbacks to explain some of the damage that has been done. Theresa Rizzo draws you into Catherine and Thomas’ struggles. You really feel like you are with them when they are in court when they must watch every little thing they do in their lives. But, what I thought was most wonderfully done is the biggest twist in the trial. I won’t spoil it by saying but just to tell you this you definitely won’t see it coming. There are definitely tears and smiles throughout this book. I guarantee you that you will love this story and the characters along with it. You will root for Catherine and Thomas from page one but there will be times when you wonder if it is all for naught. Overall, I would whole-heartedly recommend this book and tell you to have a box of tissues nearby.
May 16, 2013
This book was a little out of my normal reading genre, but I decided to give it a try and was happily surprised. Catherine's feelings and actions in regards to wanting her son were easy to relate to. I was immediately cheering for her. This was strengthened by her hideous parents, who completely misused their position for their own purposes. There was no doubt during the entire book, Catherine needs her son.
Thomas, her more or less husband, was a little bit more difficult to relate to. I think a lot of it was due to the fact that the reasons behind his feelings and behavior were dribbled in during the length of the story. It definitely kept me questioning his motives, but I would have liked to have a little bit more in the beginning to make him easier to relate to.
The story itself is compelling--a real emotional ride. The legal side was interesting and seemed realistic. It definitely kept my attention.
My biggest problem with the story (the reason I can't give it more than 4 stars) was simply that I could put it down. Some of the scenes seemed a little long, maybe a bit too pulled out. A few of Catherine's actions, as well as some of the action around her parent's and the trial, didn't make sense. I was left with several questions that were never answered.
I was also a bit surprised by the solution and found the last 'bomb' a bit thrown in--almost as if a final, surprising solution had to be grabbed out of the air to end the book with a last emotional bang.
But all in all, I enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. It's a nice read full of emotion, which will leave tears in the eyes. A perfect tale for those quiet hours!
Thomas, her more or less husband, was a little bit more difficult to relate to. I think a lot of it was due to the fact that the reasons behind his feelings and behavior were dribbled in during the length of the story. It definitely kept me questioning his motives, but I would have liked to have a little bit more in the beginning to make him easier to relate to.
The story itself is compelling--a real emotional ride. The legal side was interesting and seemed realistic. It definitely kept my attention.
My biggest problem with the story (the reason I can't give it more than 4 stars) was simply that I could put it down. Some of the scenes seemed a little long, maybe a bit too pulled out. A few of Catherine's actions, as well as some of the action around her parent's and the trial, didn't make sense. I was left with several questions that were never answered.
I was also a bit surprised by the solution and found the last 'bomb' a bit thrown in--almost as if a final, surprising solution had to be grabbed out of the air to end the book with a last emotional bang.
But all in all, I enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. It's a nice read full of emotion, which will leave tears in the eyes. A perfect tale for those quiet hours!
July 6, 2013
3.5 Stars
He Belongs to Me marks Theresa Rizzo’s debut novel and it is definitely a drama-filled one! Catherine and her husband, Thomas, married young, had twins, and when one died, their lives fell apart. They lived separate lives for almost five years, during which time, Catherine’s parents cared for their remaining child while Catherine left for college. Catherine was ready to resume her life after graduation and provide a home for her son. What ensues is a custody battle for her child because her parents don’t want to let him go. Add back in Thomas who has returned to help get Drew, their son, back and the drama level went up even further!
I was definitely caught up in the trial and the build up to it. So many secrets and hidden agendas were unveiled throughout the story that I never felt like I knew how it would finish. Catherine’s parents could be cruel and didn’t have a clue about raising their own children but they seemed exceptional with their grandson. I could see where they could have the upper hand in the situation which scared me for Drew! And there were some very sweet moments between Catherine and Thomas - she got him and his worries as a parent. I thought his fears were addressed really well. They were both still very young but had a maturity level much higher than their age.
Well-written story that was a not a quick one sitting read for me but it was certainly one that kept me wondering what bomb was going to drop next and how this tenuous situation could resolve itself for all involved.
Review copy provided for honest review. Originally posted on www.upallnightbookblog.com.
He Belongs to Me marks Theresa Rizzo’s debut novel and it is definitely a drama-filled one! Catherine and her husband, Thomas, married young, had twins, and when one died, their lives fell apart. They lived separate lives for almost five years, during which time, Catherine’s parents cared for their remaining child while Catherine left for college. Catherine was ready to resume her life after graduation and provide a home for her son. What ensues is a custody battle for her child because her parents don’t want to let him go. Add back in Thomas who has returned to help get Drew, their son, back and the drama level went up even further!
I was definitely caught up in the trial and the build up to it. So many secrets and hidden agendas were unveiled throughout the story that I never felt like I knew how it would finish. Catherine’s parents could be cruel and didn’t have a clue about raising their own children but they seemed exceptional with their grandson. I could see where they could have the upper hand in the situation which scared me for Drew! And there were some very sweet moments between Catherine and Thomas - she got him and his worries as a parent. I thought his fears were addressed really well. They were both still very young but had a maturity level much higher than their age.
Well-written story that was a not a quick one sitting read for me but it was certainly one that kept me wondering what bomb was going to drop next and how this tenuous situation could resolve itself for all involved.
Review copy provided for honest review. Originally posted on www.upallnightbookblog.com.
June 26, 2013
He Belongs To Me By Theresa Rizzo
Book starts out with Catherine graduating and she can't wait to be reunited with her young son, Drew.
The temporary custody she gave her parents years ago they have now turned into legal guardians for the boy.
She'd have to move back to Chicago to get her son and give up her whole life and reunite with her husband who's she not seen nor legally separated from.
As the book goes back in time to when Catherine and Thomas had brought the twin newborns home we find out other details...Court trials...returned letters...death.
This is a painful journey for me as my son was not returned after his father had weekend visits.
Shame you have to not only get the police involved but the court system.
She and Tom come up with a plan to get Drew back but Tom won't leave this time, if it works..
So many things come out in the trial that not many knew of and it helps explain everything.
I enjoyed reading all about the depositions and other legal things as I didn't go through any of that, interesting to find out the process and the paramedic training that comes up.
Like the romantic sex scenes...Catherine and Tom both have friends that help support them through the difficult time.
The family is so damaged I don't think they can ever recover from the harm done..but they are a forgiving group..
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest opinion
Book starts out with Catherine graduating and she can't wait to be reunited with her young son, Drew.
The temporary custody she gave her parents years ago they have now turned into legal guardians for the boy.
She'd have to move back to Chicago to get her son and give up her whole life and reunite with her husband who's she not seen nor legally separated from.
As the book goes back in time to when Catherine and Thomas had brought the twin newborns home we find out other details...Court trials...returned letters...death.
This is a painful journey for me as my son was not returned after his father had weekend visits.
Shame you have to not only get the police involved but the court system.
She and Tom come up with a plan to get Drew back but Tom won't leave this time, if it works..
So many things come out in the trial that not many knew of and it helps explain everything.
I enjoyed reading all about the depositions and other legal things as I didn't go through any of that, interesting to find out the process and the paramedic training that comes up.
Like the romantic sex scenes...Catherine and Tom both have friends that help support them through the difficult time.
The family is so damaged I don't think they can ever recover from the harm done..but they are a forgiving group..
I received this book from Library Thing via the author in exchange for my honest opinion
July 4, 2013
A love story, a mother's struggle and family dynamics are key elements in He Belongs to Me. Catherine and Thomas were blissfully married until the tragic death of one of their twin sons. Instead of facing it together, Catherine keeps secrets close to her chest and chases Thomas away. She gives temporary guardianship to her surviving son, Drew, to her wealthy parents and flees to college.
After her graduation, she wants her son to come live with her. But her parents had her sign a permanent custody paper, not temporary years earlier. Catherine knows her parents have a lot of power and wealth and would hard to beat in a courtroom, so she has another plan. She looks up her husband, Thomas, whom she hasn't seen in years. If she can convince him to play reconcile with her, then perhaps they can get their son back. What she doesn't count on is the old feelings coming back for her husband, or the dramatic court room struggle to get her son back.
Written very well, I was propelled to keep turning the pages. I didn't really connect with Catherine though. I know she is going through a lot and has gone through alot, but she's really doesn't communicate well with others, just assumes. It irritated me throughout. But, the tenacious relationship she and Thomas try to rebuild is sweet and seems relative. If you enjoy romantic suspense with court room drama, then pick up He Belongs to Me. A good solid read!
After her graduation, she wants her son to come live with her. But her parents had her sign a permanent custody paper, not temporary years earlier. Catherine knows her parents have a lot of power and wealth and would hard to beat in a courtroom, so she has another plan. She looks up her husband, Thomas, whom she hasn't seen in years. If she can convince him to play reconcile with her, then perhaps they can get their son back. What she doesn't count on is the old feelings coming back for her husband, or the dramatic court room struggle to get her son back.
Written very well, I was propelled to keep turning the pages. I didn't really connect with Catherine though. I know she is going through a lot and has gone through alot, but she's really doesn't communicate well with others, just assumes. It irritated me throughout. But, the tenacious relationship she and Thomas try to rebuild is sweet and seems relative. If you enjoy romantic suspense with court room drama, then pick up He Belongs to Me. A good solid read!
June 15, 2013
Since I became a parent, I find myself drawn to adult novels about parents and their children. I am especially enraptured with novels about parents losing a child, whether through death or kidnapping. That makes me sound quite maudlin, doesn't it? I think what draws me in about these types of stories is the ever-present fear that it could happen to me.
He Belongs to Me is about a young mother who will stop at nothing to get her son back, away from her well-meaning but controlling parents. I found the book to be a little slow to start, and slow again in the middle of the story. It really took off about halfway through, at which point there was no stopping me: I simply had to know if Catherine would be successful in her quest to obtain parental rights over her little boy.
I liked Catherine's tenacity and optimistic spirit. She was an easy character to like, and I really felt for her. My favorite part of the book was the actual courtroom battle. That's where the story really took off and I found the legal drama to be very entertaining. I also loved the ending, which was heartfelt and emotional.
There were times in the book where the characters' actions were irrational and entirely flawed. I found myself wondering "what in the world are they thinking". But, characters are human and aren't perfect, no matter how much we would want them to be.
I really enjoyed He Belongs to Me and would definitely read Theresa Rizzo again.
He Belongs to Me is about a young mother who will stop at nothing to get her son back, away from her well-meaning but controlling parents. I found the book to be a little slow to start, and slow again in the middle of the story. It really took off about halfway through, at which point there was no stopping me: I simply had to know if Catherine would be successful in her quest to obtain parental rights over her little boy.
I liked Catherine's tenacity and optimistic spirit. She was an easy character to like, and I really felt for her. My favorite part of the book was the actual courtroom battle. That's where the story really took off and I found the legal drama to be very entertaining. I also loved the ending, which was heartfelt and emotional.
There were times in the book where the characters' actions were irrational and entirely flawed. I found myself wondering "what in the world are they thinking". But, characters are human and aren't perfect, no matter how much we would want them to be.
I really enjoyed He Belongs to Me and would definitely read Theresa Rizzo again.
May 31, 2013
He Belongs to Me by Theresa Rizzo has all the makings of a good soap opera. After attending college Catherine Boyd believes she will be given back custody of the six year old son she allowed her parents to raise while away. Her parents are clearly enamored with their grandson and refuse to give Catherine back her son. With no other options left the young mother must obtain assistance from the estranged husband accused of killing Drew’s twin to fight for custody. What follows is a custody trial where secrets long kept in the dark come barreling to light and old wounds are brought back to the surface.
Although the book was a good read, I had a big issue the characters. Catherine is eighteen and Thomas, her husband, is twenty when Drew and his twin Bobby are born. When Bobby dies as a newborn the young couple is torn apart from the emotional strain that follows, leaving Drew in the care of his grandparents for almost five years. Although Catherine and Thomas may now be able to care for their son, they are really young to have to deal with such emotional issues from both their separation as well as the custody trial. This was an emotional read exploring the complex relationships among families with an ending that you didn’t see coming.
Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books
Although the book was a good read, I had a big issue the characters. Catherine is eighteen and Thomas, her husband, is twenty when Drew and his twin Bobby are born. When Bobby dies as a newborn the young couple is torn apart from the emotional strain that follows, leaving Drew in the care of his grandparents for almost five years. Although Catherine and Thomas may now be able to care for their son, they are really young to have to deal with such emotional issues from both their separation as well as the custody trial. This was an emotional read exploring the complex relationships among families with an ending that you didn’t see coming.
Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books
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