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Where We Left Off
Some memories you do your best to forget. Others you wish you simply had the opportunity to remember. Mason Everett found himself in the center of both, as he felt the warmth of an autumn sun graze his face through the tinted windows.
A successful Real-estate developer, Mason had his picture perfect life. He was young, handsome, wealthy and single. No stranger to frequent hook ups at the local night clubs he avoided relationships at all costs living tirelessly by one rule:
“Never let anyone close enough again to hurt you”
Until he found himself falling for Sydney McCail, a young woman he met at his brother’s wedding. In the midst of a developing relationship Mason’s past begins to surface causing him to push Sydney away in fear of her finding out a secret he’d kept hidden for most of his adult life. In the wake of a tragic accident she finds that what she thought she knew was only the beginning, and what happens from there leaves them both searching for answers to a single question in what turns out to be a startling outcome, Where We Left Off.
A successful Real-estate developer, Mason had his picture perfect life. He was young, handsome, wealthy and single. No stranger to frequent hook ups at the local night clubs he avoided relationships at all costs living tirelessly by one rule:
“Never let anyone close enough again to hurt you”
Until he found himself falling for Sydney McCail, a young woman he met at his brother’s wedding. In the midst of a developing relationship Mason’s past begins to surface causing him to push Sydney away in fear of her finding out a secret he’d kept hidden for most of his adult life. In the wake of a tragic accident she finds that what she thought she knew was only the beginning, and what happens from there leaves them both searching for answers to a single question in what turns out to be a startling outcome, Where We Left Off.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2012
19 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
J. Alex Blane
3 books32 followersJ. Alex Blane is an author, novelist, and self-publisher. His debut Novel “Where We Left Off” was his first break in the literary world of fiction romance, but definitely not his last as he is currently working on his second. A Multi-Media developer by trade, his creativity is fascinating. And from a number of his reviews so is his ability to draw you into his writing.
Alex is a native of Pennsylvania and graduate of Wilmington University. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a Career Counselor within the University and a Media Developer for design firm he and a friend founded in 2004. Since he could remember, it’s always been his dream to write a novel and after nearly eight years of deciding to put pen to paper he finally finished, Where We Left Off, a story that has evolved with his many life experiences into something to this day he will say he never expected.
Alex currently resides in Bear, Delaware with his wife and his two children where they share a small home just right for him to sneak off into a little corner and write more of what he loves and where he is currently at work on his next novel. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Nu Upsilon Chapter in Wilmington, Delaware, a father and a husband. Alex loves to tell a good story, but more than that he loves to make you feel as if you are right there as it’s happening.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 17, 2013
It means the worst things in life can happen to us, and when they do happen to us the way we let it dictate the rest of our lives is our choice
What a wonderful story of faith and forgiveness. It was NOT what I expected at all. It kept me turning the pages and guessing. I could not wait to find out what happened next in Mason's journey.
I love that the book included discussion questions.The questions had me in an internal debate:
To what extent do you keep a secret, whether past or present, to preserve the strength of a relationship.
Have you ever been in such a position where you felt the need to run and not look back?
This novel is about personal growth, changing for the better, forgiveness of yourself and others, and unconditional love. I closed this book and the message I took away from it was :
What a wonderful story of faith and forgiveness. It was NOT what I expected at all. It kept me turning the pages and guessing. I could not wait to find out what happened next in Mason's journey.
I love that the book included discussion questions.The questions had me in an internal debate:
To what extent do you keep a secret, whether past or present, to preserve the strength of a relationship.
Have you ever been in such a position where you felt the need to run and not look back?
This novel is about personal growth, changing for the better, forgiveness of yourself and others, and unconditional love. I closed this book and the message I took away from it was :
November 15, 2013
I hate not finishing books. Hate it. But as much as I tried I just could not get into this book! The constant change of POV between main characters and secondary characters within a sentence was just confusing! I found the writing overly and unnecessarily descriptive to the point of being downright boring and repetitive.
Sorry. Really tried to get into this given the high ratings and reviews but just couldn't do it.
Sorry. Really tried to get into this given the high ratings and reviews but just couldn't do it.
June 27, 2013
Very good love story!!! Definite page turner: first book i've read in a good 6 months or so that actually kept my interest to finish in less than a week!!! There's a new turn of events around every corner that always keeps you at the end of your seat!!!
November 10, 2013
This book was a definite page turner with a lot of twist and turns. very different from the run of the mill romances I read... but I enjoyed it!!! A definite must read!!
January 14, 2018
I bought this book years ago, trying to catch up on books I've had on my kindle, this one caught My eye.. I felt this book was long and drawn out. I was really bothered by the fact that something serious happened to mason and sydney just wanted him to brush it off. forgiving isn't easy as they were trying to play it off. Then to know I read a section and to have it come out that what I read was just a dream.. then how Sydney came to raising james.. so far out there..
November 13, 2022
Don't we all know someone
This book will remind you we all know someone with this type of personality and characteristics. It's how the life turns out that truly matters. I don't care for discussion topics being added to page count, found be a link.
This book will remind you we all know someone with this type of personality and characteristics. It's how the life turns out that truly matters. I don't care for discussion topics being added to page count, found be a link.
July 26, 2019
WHAT A GREAT STORY ... WELL WRITTEN WITH GREAT CHARACTERS ... THE STORYLINE WAS GREAT WITH SOME TWISTS ...
March 30, 2014
While I am only one of this entire group that decided to read this in one sitting the first thing I will say i it is not what I expected. This isn't a bad thing at all, but it forced me to kind of develop my expectations as I went along as it was filled with very unpredictable turn of events.
This story definitely kept me on the edge of each page. Mason, who is the main character in some ways reassembled a lot of men I knew growing up especially in college. He was a guy who took advantage of the opportunity to live the single life however disrespectful that may have seemed. Then there was Sydney who of course was the girl to change all of that but not without a few struggles along the way. Apart from the two of them, there were a few other characters that fell into necessary places to keep the story going like Mason’s brother Jackson and his I guess you can call "friend" Erika.
Okay, to the meat of the story. The flow was very captivating in that it was able to keep me literally inside of the story as it played out. The story itself was mind blowing. Like most stories centered on a romantic relationship theme, it had all of the traditional elements: A guy who didn't want to settle down, a woman who makes him change, an issue that separates them, and of course the happy ending that brings them back together. But this story -interwoven with REAL life situations developed Where We Left Off into one of those books you read that sticks with you.
I'm trying my best not to give any spoilers because it was that intense. Instead, what I will tell you is Where We Left off is a story of a man who's life had been shaped by unimaginable infliction. Despite his ability to remain sharp in his career and his life, his perceptions and his interactions were definitely results of his past. Sydney seemed to be an unexpected breath of fresh air for Mason, I think it’s fair to say that she challenged him to see beyond his situation and ultimately beyond his past. Now, his past was probably the thing that shocked me the most in this story as it's definitely not one to take lightly. The themes throughout this novel go from being traditional issues you would expect, those you would dislike but accept, all the way to those that leave your jaw dropping, your heart turning, and your soul angry. But the message that evolves from this story is one that I think makes this more than a novel based on romantic suspense. It sheds light on the depths of love, patience, and above all the ability to understand the vibrancy of forgiveness. I would have given 5 stars but there were some issues in editing but it in NO way distracted the flow and richness of it.
This story definitely kept me on the edge of each page. Mason, who is the main character in some ways reassembled a lot of men I knew growing up especially in college. He was a guy who took advantage of the opportunity to live the single life however disrespectful that may have seemed. Then there was Sydney who of course was the girl to change all of that but not without a few struggles along the way. Apart from the two of them, there were a few other characters that fell into necessary places to keep the story going like Mason’s brother Jackson and his I guess you can call "friend" Erika.
Okay, to the meat of the story. The flow was very captivating in that it was able to keep me literally inside of the story as it played out. The story itself was mind blowing. Like most stories centered on a romantic relationship theme, it had all of the traditional elements: A guy who didn't want to settle down, a woman who makes him change, an issue that separates them, and of course the happy ending that brings them back together. But this story -interwoven with REAL life situations developed Where We Left Off into one of those books you read that sticks with you.
I'm trying my best not to give any spoilers because it was that intense. Instead, what I will tell you is Where We Left off is a story of a man who's life had been shaped by unimaginable infliction. Despite his ability to remain sharp in his career and his life, his perceptions and his interactions were definitely results of his past. Sydney seemed to be an unexpected breath of fresh air for Mason, I think it’s fair to say that she challenged him to see beyond his situation and ultimately beyond his past. Now, his past was probably the thing that shocked me the most in this story as it's definitely not one to take lightly. The themes throughout this novel go from being traditional issues you would expect, those you would dislike but accept, all the way to those that leave your jaw dropping, your heart turning, and your soul angry. But the message that evolves from this story is one that I think makes this more than a novel based on romantic suspense. It sheds light on the depths of love, patience, and above all the ability to understand the vibrancy of forgiveness. I would have given 5 stars but there were some issues in editing but it in NO way distracted the flow and richness of it.
April 30, 2014
Sidne aka Reading Rendezvous Reviewz (http:sidnereading.blogspot.com)
Book Summary: A successful Real-estate developer, Mason had his picture perfect life. He was young, handsome, wealthy and single. No stranger to frequent hook ups at the local night clubs he avoided relationships at all costs living tirelessly by one rule:
“Never let anyone close enough again to hurt you”
Until he found himself falling for Sydney McCail, a young woman he met at his brother’s wedding. In the midst of a developing relationship Mason’s past begins to surface causing him to push Sydney away in fear of her finding out a secret he’d kept hidden for most of his adult life. In the wake of a tragic accident she finds that what she thought she knew was only the beginning, and what happens from there leaves them both searching for answers to a single question in what turns out to be a startling outcome, Where We Left Off.
My Review: Refreshing, is how I will describe this book. The author's descriptive writing style, unique or intricately defined characters and a central conflict that is well written into the depths of the story line left me in AWE.
Its not a plot that is staring you right in your face and neither is the negative effect a person may encounter when someone experience trauma in their life without a healing process.
In the beginning the author allows readers to marinate on the voice of the main character, Mason. His outlook about pastors, God and the church is very cold-hearted. He's a bachelor and seeks women that are not looking for commitment nor marriage.
Sydney - The woman that captures Mason heart, but she is not offering him what Mason usually receives from women he encounters.
Jackson - Mason's brother and confidant.
Erika - Exactly what Mason seek in a woman. Beauty and sexual satisfaction without commitment of any kind.
The characters are a good blend. The author did a great job with presenting the readers with a look into the heads of the secondary characters and introducing minor characters that wasn't muddled into the story line, producing a good balance.
In the story there is hope, strength, courage, forgiveness, redemption and true love. The author delivers a passionate woven romance that also spins a few twist. My reading pace was moderate as I savored each page while analyzing the story line.. It definitely held my interest. A few times I wanted to jump down a few line only because I became anxious for the outcome. I dearly enjoyed this novel. Interesting book cover design. The ending was satisfying. The book title and story line match up is a 5/5 and this book sits on my reading shelf as DEEP IN MY Soul novel with a 4.5/5 review rating. (note: editing errors)
Book Summary: A successful Real-estate developer, Mason had his picture perfect life. He was young, handsome, wealthy and single. No stranger to frequent hook ups at the local night clubs he avoided relationships at all costs living tirelessly by one rule:
“Never let anyone close enough again to hurt you”
Until he found himself falling for Sydney McCail, a young woman he met at his brother’s wedding. In the midst of a developing relationship Mason’s past begins to surface causing him to push Sydney away in fear of her finding out a secret he’d kept hidden for most of his adult life. In the wake of a tragic accident she finds that what she thought she knew was only the beginning, and what happens from there leaves them both searching for answers to a single question in what turns out to be a startling outcome, Where We Left Off.
My Review: Refreshing, is how I will describe this book. The author's descriptive writing style, unique or intricately defined characters and a central conflict that is well written into the depths of the story line left me in AWE.
Its not a plot that is staring you right in your face and neither is the negative effect a person may encounter when someone experience trauma in their life without a healing process.
In the beginning the author allows readers to marinate on the voice of the main character, Mason. His outlook about pastors, God and the church is very cold-hearted. He's a bachelor and seeks women that are not looking for commitment nor marriage.
Sydney - The woman that captures Mason heart, but she is not offering him what Mason usually receives from women he encounters.
Jackson - Mason's brother and confidant.
Erika - Exactly what Mason seek in a woman. Beauty and sexual satisfaction without commitment of any kind.
The characters are a good blend. The author did a great job with presenting the readers with a look into the heads of the secondary characters and introducing minor characters that wasn't muddled into the story line, producing a good balance.
In the story there is hope, strength, courage, forgiveness, redemption and true love. The author delivers a passionate woven romance that also spins a few twist. My reading pace was moderate as I savored each page while analyzing the story line.. It definitely held my interest. A few times I wanted to jump down a few line only because I became anxious for the outcome. I dearly enjoyed this novel. Interesting book cover design. The ending was satisfying. The book title and story line match up is a 5/5 and this book sits on my reading shelf as DEEP IN MY Soul novel with a 4.5/5 review rating. (note: editing errors)
May 1, 2014
J. Alex Blane has done a great job on his first novel. Where We Left Off is an interesting story that I found to be enjoyable and entertaining.
Mason Everett is the very typical playboy leading the rich playboy lifestyle. He's quite content running his successful business and spending time with the ladies. When he meets Sydney McCail at his brother's wedding something changes in him. All of a sudden Mason finds himself wanting to spend time with just Sydney and he wants to spend a lot of time with her. Their relationship moves slowly, so much unlike his normal relationships with woman. I enjoyed watching Mason take his time to get to know Sydney and fall in love. This is one of those relationships that is just special right from the start.
I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you that there is some drama that plays out that really kept me turning pages. I could not help but wonder what was going to happen next.
I really liked Sydney, she a sweet girl that has not had a lot of male relationships in her life. She has been too busy with everything else. She has a lot of faith in life and God.
Mason has a troubled past that is just heartbreaking. I'm not going to tell you about this part but I will tell you that is explains a few things about his behavior. It also shows how his faith has been shaken.
As I write this review I feel so many things I would like to share with you but then I would spoil this interesting story for you. If you enjoy stories about bad boys finding the right girls then I think you will enjoy this story. Also if you enjoy stories of true love honestly being able to withstand just about anything I think you will enjoy Where We Left Off. I truly enjoyed this story and found myself with a few tears now and then while reading. I also found a few moments of joy and a nice feeling at the end.
I was given the opportunity to read this book so that I may share my thoughts with you during a blog tour. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Where We Left Off.
Mason Everett is the very typical playboy leading the rich playboy lifestyle. He's quite content running his successful business and spending time with the ladies. When he meets Sydney McCail at his brother's wedding something changes in him. All of a sudden Mason finds himself wanting to spend time with just Sydney and he wants to spend a lot of time with her. Their relationship moves slowly, so much unlike his normal relationships with woman. I enjoyed watching Mason take his time to get to know Sydney and fall in love. This is one of those relationships that is just special right from the start.
I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you that there is some drama that plays out that really kept me turning pages. I could not help but wonder what was going to happen next.
I really liked Sydney, she a sweet girl that has not had a lot of male relationships in her life. She has been too busy with everything else. She has a lot of faith in life and God.
Mason has a troubled past that is just heartbreaking. I'm not going to tell you about this part but I will tell you that is explains a few things about his behavior. It also shows how his faith has been shaken.
As I write this review I feel so many things I would like to share with you but then I would spoil this interesting story for you. If you enjoy stories about bad boys finding the right girls then I think you will enjoy this story. Also if you enjoy stories of true love honestly being able to withstand just about anything I think you will enjoy Where We Left Off. I truly enjoyed this story and found myself with a few tears now and then while reading. I also found a few moments of joy and a nice feeling at the end.
I was given the opportunity to read this book so that I may share my thoughts with you during a blog tour. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Where We Left Off.
March 31, 2014
To me this book was simply unacceptable. I will not go into my regular synopsis this time because there is so much that troubled me, I would be typing for hours. A man-whore, abuse, irresponsible behavior, drunkenness, and so much more.
First, I must say that this book needs a good editor. Usually that does not bother me unless there are missing words and you cannot understand the meaning of a sentence or a paragraph, continually rereading to try and piece it together. It was unrelenting. Second, the timeline was all over the place and did not make sense in many instances. Third, I thought I was a young girl again watching Dallas on TV, you know, the one where the whole season was just Bobby's dream. As I read this book I suspected this was not the work of a female romance novelist and it was not. Not that men are poor writers, they just don't do love and romance near as well. Yes, I am sure there are exceptions but not in this case. There were unresolved issues, leaving information sketchy at best. The ending was very disappointing to put it mildly. In this book I believed the hero was at least mid to late thirties...maybe close to forty. When I later found out he was in his twenties it just did not fit his persona. This book left me feeling unfulfilled and questioning what the heck did I just read. It was confusing and, at times, hard to keep up and follow along. It was so all over the place.
I am sorry to say that I cannot recommend this book. It was disturbing and left you wondering.
SPOILER ALERT
How on this earth can a mother let her child be sexually abused on a regular basis and not do anything. That is akin to saying yes, go right ahead and molest my son...it's okay. I don't love you so I will let him have his way with you??? REALLY. That makes me furious.
First, I must say that this book needs a good editor. Usually that does not bother me unless there are missing words and you cannot understand the meaning of a sentence or a paragraph, continually rereading to try and piece it together. It was unrelenting. Second, the timeline was all over the place and did not make sense in many instances. Third, I thought I was a young girl again watching Dallas on TV, you know, the one where the whole season was just Bobby's dream. As I read this book I suspected this was not the work of a female romance novelist and it was not. Not that men are poor writers, they just don't do love and romance near as well. Yes, I am sure there are exceptions but not in this case. There were unresolved issues, leaving information sketchy at best. The ending was very disappointing to put it mildly. In this book I believed the hero was at least mid to late thirties...maybe close to forty. When I later found out he was in his twenties it just did not fit his persona. This book left me feeling unfulfilled and questioning what the heck did I just read. It was confusing and, at times, hard to keep up and follow along. It was so all over the place.
I am sorry to say that I cannot recommend this book. It was disturbing and left you wondering.
SPOILER ALERT
How on this earth can a mother let her child be sexually abused on a regular basis and not do anything. That is akin to saying yes, go right ahead and molest my son...it's okay. I don't love you so I will let him have his way with you??? REALLY. That makes me furious.
April 23, 2014
I was given this book for an honest review.
In the beginning we are introduced to Mason and James and as you read along you find something amiss in the story with no idea where they fit into the story. Then all of a sudden, we are at a bachelor’s party where we meet Jackson, Mason’s eldest brother; it’s a very intense party where everything was allowed and to celebrate the groom’s last night of singleness.
Mason was not very interested in the party as such, but was waiting for a phone call to slip away to a secret rendezvous with Erika. This is a very strange arrangement, but we will leave it there.
On the wedding day Jackson asked Mason to give something to Reign just before the wedding started and while doing it Mason saw this amazing woman and made a point to see her later. He got to know her name and he learned that she wasn’t so easy to flatter and not willing to fall for his charm; he had to work at it, which was a first for him.
Sydney was no one-night stand lady and this lady’s man found himself intrigued with her. Both of them had some issues and hurt to work through at the time. As they become closer to each other a lot of things happened and at some point Mason was blinded with unforgiveness; he jumped on his motorbike and ended up in an accident, which left him in a coma. What happened next will give this book a very good twist which makes this a beautiful love story at the end. You will have to read the book to find out more.
This is really a good story with strong and believable characters; many times you could feel and share their heart ache as you get lost within the plot.
At the end all the pieces fell together and you could understand the story.
Well done J Alex Blane
In the beginning we are introduced to Mason and James and as you read along you find something amiss in the story with no idea where they fit into the story. Then all of a sudden, we are at a bachelor’s party where we meet Jackson, Mason’s eldest brother; it’s a very intense party where everything was allowed and to celebrate the groom’s last night of singleness.
Mason was not very interested in the party as such, but was waiting for a phone call to slip away to a secret rendezvous with Erika. This is a very strange arrangement, but we will leave it there.
On the wedding day Jackson asked Mason to give something to Reign just before the wedding started and while doing it Mason saw this amazing woman and made a point to see her later. He got to know her name and he learned that she wasn’t so easy to flatter and not willing to fall for his charm; he had to work at it, which was a first for him.
Sydney was no one-night stand lady and this lady’s man found himself intrigued with her. Both of them had some issues and hurt to work through at the time. As they become closer to each other a lot of things happened and at some point Mason was blinded with unforgiveness; he jumped on his motorbike and ended up in an accident, which left him in a coma. What happened next will give this book a very good twist which makes this a beautiful love story at the end. You will have to read the book to find out more.
This is really a good story with strong and believable characters; many times you could feel and share their heart ache as you get lost within the plot.
At the end all the pieces fell together and you could understand the story.
Well done J Alex Blane
December 7, 2013
I want to make sure I give you the most honest feedback possible. Let me start by saying I LOVED the book. It kept me wanting to know more and was definitely a page turner.
There were so many unexpected twists it just added to the suspense of the book and kept you reading. I don’t want to give away anything in this review so I will just say, “you’ll be caught off guard”.
The characters were perfectly thought out and complimented each other well and I love the main character. Your description made me feel like I've met this man before. Who knows...I may have! Ha ha ha!!! The visual picture that you painted of each character allowed you to mentally be there with them, see them and feel like you knew them.
If your intent was to keep us wanting more than mission accomplished. I'm ready to read the sequel!!!! I loved the book and definitely plan on getting an autographed copy as well for my personal book collection! You are an awesome author! I loved that there was an underlying message of faith, hope and love, also of God.
You managed to write a book that was graphic but not inappropriate. You felt the anger of the main character without using profanity and for some authors that's hard to do so my hat goes off to you sir! Great author, great book and a great reading experience! Thank you for giving your KMF family wives the opportunity to read and review. We will always remember this when you get big! Lol!! And you will be extremely successful in the business if you want to. Just be encouraged and know you can clearly do all things through Christ who strengthens you....cause you already have!!
There were so many unexpected twists it just added to the suspense of the book and kept you reading. I don’t want to give away anything in this review so I will just say, “you’ll be caught off guard”.
The characters were perfectly thought out and complimented each other well and I love the main character. Your description made me feel like I've met this man before. Who knows...I may have! Ha ha ha!!! The visual picture that you painted of each character allowed you to mentally be there with them, see them and feel like you knew them.
If your intent was to keep us wanting more than mission accomplished. I'm ready to read the sequel!!!! I loved the book and definitely plan on getting an autographed copy as well for my personal book collection! You are an awesome author! I loved that there was an underlying message of faith, hope and love, also of God.
You managed to write a book that was graphic but not inappropriate. You felt the anger of the main character without using profanity and for some authors that's hard to do so my hat goes off to you sir! Great author, great book and a great reading experience! Thank you for giving your KMF family wives the opportunity to read and review. We will always remember this when you get big! Lol!! And you will be extremely successful in the business if you want to. Just be encouraged and know you can clearly do all things through Christ who strengthens you....cause you already have!!
May 1, 2014
I note some reviewers saying about certain topics that they didn't agree with, well, the character in the book was a bit of a player to my mind, he didn't want to get 'involved' if he did that, it lead to all kinds of things he didn't want to open in his life.......Until......he met Sydney.
Mason [the main character] he was used to getting what he wanted from women. I'm not saying he was an altogether nice bloke either....
Then....
we get glimpses of his past which all tie in together.
There is a LOT in this story, a lot.
Someone mentioned Child abuse and how could a Mother 'allow' that to go on. I did find this hard to deal with, there is NEVER any witnesses to child abuse! This in the story was horrific.
Some of the topics are horrific, but there is something in this read that sticks in your gut, in a good way; some in a bad way.
I can only say that the book was good, interesting, kept my attention. Something for me to think about, so on that merit I give it 3. There is a need for some editing though. The book is too tightly packed.
Not sure if I would term it a romance though. It is between the guy and the woman, but there are so many issues I struggled with, the abuse not being taken seriously, other things too, like surviving, does that mean trying to commit suicide?
I'd say, read this book for yourself and judge it.
Mason [the main character] he was used to getting what he wanted from women. I'm not saying he was an altogether nice bloke either....
Then....
we get glimpses of his past which all tie in together.
There is a LOT in this story, a lot.
Someone mentioned Child abuse and how could a Mother 'allow' that to go on. I did find this hard to deal with, there is NEVER any witnesses to child abuse! This in the story was horrific.
Some of the topics are horrific, but there is something in this read that sticks in your gut, in a good way; some in a bad way.
I can only say that the book was good, interesting, kept my attention. Something for me to think about, so on that merit I give it 3. There is a need for some editing though. The book is too tightly packed.
Not sure if I would term it a romance though. It is between the guy and the woman, but there are so many issues I struggled with, the abuse not being taken seriously, other things too, like surviving, does that mean trying to commit suicide?
I'd say, read this book for yourself and judge it.
May 14, 2014
What do you do when you meet that one person that puts butterflies in your stomach? You ask them out on a date, which is exactly what Mason Everett does in Where We Left Off by J. Alex Blane. Mason is a real-estate developer that has a wall covering his heart. Mason dates but makes a point to not get close to any women until her meets Sydney McCall.
Sydney meets Mason at his brother’s wedding and they begin to see each other. As their relationship progresses, Mason’s secrets start to reveal themselves and soon Mason fears he will lose the one woman he is able to fall in love with. Sydney becomes confused believing that Mason was different, but now everything isn’t as it seems and Sydney must decide if she wants to take the ride.
Where We Left off was an intimate look at a man’s ability to love again only to have it jeopardized by his past endeavors. I love reading about these characters that I could relate to and understand. The author does a wonderful job making the reader care about Mason and Sydney as they develop a beautiful relationship. This book had some suspense, drama and was an overall enjoyable book to read. I look forward to more of this author’s work and definitely recommend Where We Left Off to others.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
Sydney meets Mason at his brother’s wedding and they begin to see each other. As their relationship progresses, Mason’s secrets start to reveal themselves and soon Mason fears he will lose the one woman he is able to fall in love with. Sydney becomes confused believing that Mason was different, but now everything isn’t as it seems and Sydney must decide if she wants to take the ride.
Where We Left off was an intimate look at a man’s ability to love again only to have it jeopardized by his past endeavors. I love reading about these characters that I could relate to and understand. The author does a wonderful job making the reader care about Mason and Sydney as they develop a beautiful relationship. This book had some suspense, drama and was an overall enjoyable book to read. I look forward to more of this author’s work and definitely recommend Where We Left Off to others.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
March 2, 2014
I'll start off by saying this -there's an entertainment side to reading. I read for the story, or for the break from my crazy wild life. Then there's a side to reading where a story just pulls you out of your world and into the one written in the pages that you can't stop turning. This book was that for me. I don't know when but all I knew was after the story really got going I couldn't stop reading.
After I finished the book I had to take a step back and just say wow. I didn't think I was going to leave a review which is something that "unfortunately" I don't do enough but this book made me want to, mainly because I couldn't get it out of my thoughts.
This was far beyond a romantic love story type of novel ...it was REAL. And that's what I took from it. It was a real.... up and down, laugh and cry, get mad get happy type of novel. The ended was breathtaking. I know I cried a little but luckily I was in my own personal time so no one saw.
I will end with this, take a step outside of yourself and what you know to be the traditional path of relationships and all that comes with it when you read this book. There is so much you can take away if you let yourself.
After I finished the book I had to take a step back and just say wow. I didn't think I was going to leave a review which is something that "unfortunately" I don't do enough but this book made me want to, mainly because I couldn't get it out of my thoughts.
This was far beyond a romantic love story type of novel ...it was REAL. And that's what I took from it. It was a real.... up and down, laugh and cry, get mad get happy type of novel. The ended was breathtaking. I know I cried a little but luckily I was in my own personal time so no one saw.
I will end with this, take a step outside of yourself and what you know to be the traditional path of relationships and all that comes with it when you read this book. There is so much you can take away if you let yourself.
April 30, 2014
As an avid reader and writer you look for three things to keep you hooked on a new authors work : voice, unforgettable characters, and to be emotionally moved by the story. Where We Left Off delivers on every accord. Modern day handsome Realtor Mason is no stranger to love and all it's trimmings. When Mason meets Sydney there's a connection that his heart simply won't deny. But, sometimes our past holds us back from moving forward into a rewarding future. With a beautiful intricately woven romance novel with a crisp sweetness of Christian fiction. Blane pulls the reader in with his delicate way of allowing the characters to evolve and not rush into what modern day romances have become. Readers will find themselves cheering for Mason and Sydney's love while closely analyzing those they hold near and dear to there own hearts. Where We Left Off is a must read for the reader whom believes in the beauty of love and the faith that God restores us from a brutal past. Blane is definitely an author to watch!!
March 2, 2014
My husband and I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Blane in person at an event last November. It was awesome. I'd never been to a book signing and this was so nice. He read a few excerpts from his novel and opened the floor for a q&a, and boy was that a discussion. It took me a little while in between planning a wedding, going to school and taking care of the little ones but I finally found some time to read it. This story was so moving, sooooo good. There's a lot in this story and its nothing like the traditional path of romance novels. At every point I thought I knew what was going on I'd turn the page and realize I was completely wrong. Mr. Blane did a great job of keeping things unpredictable with this novel. It's hard to give a full review without giving the story away and to be honest I can't think of where to start all I will say is I really enjoyed reading this book.
November 15, 2013
Wow!!! So I purchased this back in January and finally sat down to read it and I am so upset that I waited so long. This Book was phenomenal! I think I read one of the reviews that said this was so much more than a romance and they were absolutely right. This was one of the most well written stories I've ever read with characters that seemed more real than fiction. I can't say enough about this book other than I can't wait for the next one. It's rare that you find a story that has all the elements of REAL life, real relationships, real issues and in the end have you close the book and take a close look at yourself. Like I said this book was phenomenal !!!!!!!!!!! I highly highly highly recommend this novel.
December 21, 2017
I am really surprised that I was able to finish this book. This author desperately needs an editor. While the story was okay, it was poorly written. It was really hard to enjoy with all other grammatical errors. This book has so many unanswered questions.
SPOILER ALERT
One unanswered question I have is what is the significance of Reign? And what was in the letter that Jackson gave to Mason to give to her the day of his wedding?
I did give this book 2 stars because I loved these 2 quotes.
1)"At some point you have to realize that what you have with a person is worth more than the fear of them becoming the one that once hurt you."
2) "Don’t let where you’ve been hurt dictate where you can be happy."
SPOILER ALERT
One unanswered question I have is what is the significance of Reign? And what was in the letter that Jackson gave to Mason to give to her the day of his wedding?
I did give this book 2 stars because I loved these 2 quotes.
1)"At some point you have to realize that what you have with a person is worth more than the fear of them becoming the one that once hurt you."
2) "Don’t let where you’ve been hurt dictate where you can be happy."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2013
A great read. I must say, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.
I love the way the author laid the story out. He is able to make you feel like a fly on the wall, watching as the story unfolds.
What most would take as a lag midway into the story is in my opinion, the authors way of bringing each of the characters alive for the reader. In my way of putting it, " a lag with a purpose."
There are twists and turns that made me not want to put it down.
The ending was fabulous, as I found myself smiling while reading.
My only complaint would be spelling/grammar errors, none of which take away from a great piece of work.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I love the way the author laid the story out. He is able to make you feel like a fly on the wall, watching as the story unfolds.
What most would take as a lag midway into the story is in my opinion, the authors way of bringing each of the characters alive for the reader. In my way of putting it, " a lag with a purpose."
There are twists and turns that made me not want to put it down.
The ending was fabulous, as I found myself smiling while reading.
My only complaint would be spelling/grammar errors, none of which take away from a great piece of work.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 7, 2013
I really enjoyed the book. I looove to read and i really was able to visualize the story as i read it. I felt like the fly on the wall with these charecters.. i enjoyed how i got to know Mason and Sydney so that made it more interesting to follow their journey. I would have liked to have learned more about if her parents feelings about how everything turned out. I also liked how you showed that Mason had issues with God but it did not end with the predictable ending of him letting go of his anger 100% you still left him human with issues to work thru I truly enjoyed it and am waiting on the next chapter!
November 19, 2013
There are very few words that can actually express all of what I felt reading this book. But the words that stands out the most are BEAUTIFUL, Heart wrenching, unbelievable, powerful. I've never read a love story with so many twist. If this is the authors first novel he now has a fan for life. I can only imagine how creative he had to be to get into the characters and express such emotion and realism. I didn't know what to expect reading this novel but I'm glad I did.
December 3, 2013
I received this from Goodreads First Reads program. I liked the overall plot and pretty much all of the characters. It was got a little confusing at the end, and the switching view points made it difficult to follow occasionally which is why I didn't rate this higher. I enjoyed not being able to tell where the story was going to go which is unusual in romance novels. I'm looking forward to reading more from J. Alex Blane.
December 7, 2013
Based on title and cover i had my preconcieved thoughts, my my what an emotional rollercoastrer ride the twists and turn which leave you at Awe, no it can't be!! Jay does a wonderful job of shocking you out of the surface of what appears to be as opposed to what really is. Couldn't believe the epilogue only to leave me expecting a continuum.
November 21, 2013
A very interesting read. I must say I don't think I was prepared for the direction it took but I think it was well done. I try to find something in every book I read that I can take with me, something that's good hopefully, and this novel did just that. I took a lot from it. A recommended read!
November 29, 2013
I won this book through First Reads. Wasn't really sure what to expect.. Took me a little while to really get into it. Once I did - I stayed up half the night finishing it. AWESOME book - Definitely a page-turner. Can't wait to read more from the author!
December 7, 2013
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book being free. I was sucked in from the beginning. A couple of the twists were a little bit of a stretch for me. Totally my issue and really took nothing away from the story.
I can't wait to see what comes next from this author :)
I can't wait to see what comes next from this author :)
January 9, 2014
I just finished this book. It was very riveting!!! I can only imagine how powerful this story would be if it were taken on the road. People need to hear stories like this. Stories of forgivness, redemtption and restoration. All I can say is Wow!
April 9, 2014
A heartbreaking but loving story of how Mason comes to terms with what he wants in life. He always thought being single and meeting whoever at the bars was easy. Having sex with no long term commitment is easy right? Until someone you see but can't read catches your eye.
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