For Roger

by Laura Drake

Joan Merritt lives a charmed life. Happily married to her soulmate, she delights in following rules, her heart and her passion—advocating for women.

When her husband Roger is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, he asks Joan to help him end his life peacefully. But how can she miss one moment of their remaining time together? She refuses.

Roger takes his fate into his own hands, and on a Saturday morning bicycle ride, flies down a hill into oncoming traffic. He survives but has multiple fractures and a head injury that causes a crippling stroke.
His daughter, a devout preacher’s wife, comes to be by his side. Bee, only three years younger than Joan, has always resented her stepmother, and those feelings intensify as months drag on and Roger’s health and will to live deteriorate.
Joan faces an impossible How much is she prepared to risk to grant her husband the peace he desperately wants and needs? When Roger dies, Bee has her own answer, and it leads straight to the police.

A story of love, truth and family that shines a light on the shadow between justice and mercy.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 24, 2023

About the author

Laura Drake is a city girl who never grew out of her tomboy ways or a serious cowboy crush. She writes Women’s Fiction, Romance and Thrillers.

Her pro bull riding series, Sweet on a Cowboy is published by Grand Central. The Sweet Spot, Nothing Sweeter, and Sweet on You. The Sweet Spot won the 2014 RITA award for Best First Book.

Her Widow's Grove small town series is published by Harlequin's Superromance line. Her Road Home, Reasons to Stay, Twice in a Blue Moon, and Against the Odds.

The Chestnut Creek Series was published with Grand Central - The Last True Cowboy, December 2018. Home at Chestnut Creek, July 2019, and Cowboy for Keeps, December 2019.

Laura has since branched out into Women's Fiction with Days Made of Glass, The Road to Me, Amazing Gracie and For Roger.

In 2025, Laura released her first domestic suspense/thriller, The Devil She Didn't Know.

Laura finally realized a long time dream of moving to Texas, and is currently working on her accent. She gave up a Corporate CFO gig to write full time. She's wife, grandmother and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.

Reviews

[Liz Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I meant to fix dinner. Really, I did. But when I had about 25 percent of the book left to read, my husband brought me an egg sandwich because dinner wasn't going to happen. There are so many questions in the story of Joan and Bee and Roger, so much tenderness, and so much anger. You're left wondering what you would have done in their circumstances and being able to imagine being there. I loved everyone, even the recalcitrant Bee and wonderful new-ager Breeze. In my estimation there were no real bad guys (well, maybe one--you'll know him when you see him), only people whose approaches varied. In truth, Laura Drake's voice is a favorite with me; the other truth is I was afraid to read this book because it was going to be different than the ones that have come before. Yet another truth--don't miss FOR ROGER. I've read some great books this year. This one was the best.

[Lainey Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Roger is a thought-provoking, heart-breaking, hopeful novel you don’t want to miss!

Joan Merritt has what we all pine for – a soulmate who understands and loves her. She’d wants nothing other than to spend the rest of her life with him, despite friction with Bee, his daughter from before Joan and Roger met.

But fate has different plans. Roger develops Lou Gehrig’s disease, and he can’t stand the idea of degenerating in front of Joan. After a failed attempt to end his life, he asks her again to help.

At first Joan says no, she wants every minute the universe will allow her to spend with Roger. But she eventually realizes his wishes count, and despite her pain and loss, what he's asking is the greatest gift she could give.

Unfortunately, the law in Texas, and her devout step daughter don’t see it that way. Joan will have to face the consequences of her decision.

Laura Drake takes on a topic that most authors wouldn’t be equipped to touch, and she does it with grace and humor.

She pairs a protagonist who adores her husband and is a true rule follower with the ultimate dilemma. What if your own moral compass and the law disagree?

For Roger portrays how far we’ll go for love, and the realistic collision of family with different perspectives.

Plus, no-one knows how to tear your heart out like Laura Drake. The way the author describes the pain of watching your loved one degenerate feels deeply personal and we are right there on the journey with Joan. I cried several times reading this book, but in a good way.

The result is a heartbreaking, thought-provoking, high tension read. I noticed several reviews mentioned that once they started, they had to reschedule their day and make time to continue reading. I couldn’t agree more because that was my experience too!

A perfect book club choice, hitting on heavy themes around the right to die and whether those who help their loved ones with their wishes should be prosecuted. Controversial in all the right ways, the novel takes an insider view and makes you ask “What if it was me?”.

If you want an emotional read, For Roger is guaranteed to give you that – but also make you smile, at the soulmate bond of love portrayed between Joan and Roger. Thoroughly recommend!

[Linda Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! Laura Drake drew me into this very important, well-crafted story from the first page and never let go. She had me dig into myself and wonder what I would do in the same situation the protagonist finds herself in. It’s brilliant how she wove together so many emotions in only 300 pages - sympathy, horror, anger, sadness, pride. It’s a must read.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

If You Only Read One 2023 Release, Make It This One. Wow. Phenomenal. I'm writing this review roughly 12 hrs after finishing the book, and I am still in awe of what Drake was able to do here. When I first encountered her books, Drake was writing cowboy romances. She's extended into women's fiction more recently and done a great job with it, and this one I would assume would mostly classify within that space as well.

But let me be clear: This book has a LOT going on, a lot that places Drake writing about very serious issues and very different spaces. We get medical discussions and specifically discussions around terminal illness, suicide, assisted suicide, and related issues. We get a legal courtroom thriller that dives deep into questions of justice vs mercy vs the letter of the law and even into what are laws and why do we have them. We get open discussions of how to make different spaces better and more responsive, and in these areas Drake shows several practical ideas that could genuinely work - even though this is a fictional tale. Throughout all of this. Drake proves herself capable of at minimum holding her own with even the masters of these spaces who only write explicitly within them, such as John Grisham's legal thrillers.

And then there are the more traditional women's fiction aspects, the relationships that make this book truly sing throughout all the heaviness of the above discussions. The loving wife who is barely older than her stepdaughter, despite being in absolute love with her husband. The stepdaughter who resents the stepmother being so very close to her own age. The brilliant husband who dearly loves his wife *and* daughter. The best friend who happens to be the Governor of Texas, with all the behind the scenes politicking that entails. The mother who loves her daughter no matter what. The misunderstood older sister. And yes, in a nod to Drake's real life (as anyone who follows her socials will know), a mischievous and nearly scene-stealing cat named Boomer.

In telling such a moving story, Drake truly masters bringing in such difficult discussions that *need* to be held at every level and in every corner of this great land.

Issues of how to handle terminal illness within a marriage - how far is each willing to go? What is the loving thing to do? Do the local statutes matter when it comes to trying to make the right decision? What *is* the right decision?

Issues of criminal justice as it relates to terminal illness, echoing at a societal level the same types of questions every relationship needs to answer within itself.

Issues of what we expect from our penal system - can people be rehabilitated, or should they be exclusively punished? Is there a difference between someone committing suicide, their spouse helping them, their doctor helping them, another person outside of a legally protected relationship helping them? Does the situation itself matter, and if it does, what do we condemn and what do we excuse?

All of this and so much more, Drake crafts into a moving and poignant tale of one particular family struggling to navigate these very complicated and delicate issues.

Read this book. Think about how *you* would handle these things. Think about how *we* should handle these things...

Or not. Maybe you jus need to cry, or even bawl your eyes out. Maybe these issues aren't theoretical for you - maybe they're as real for you as they are for the characters in this book. Maybe you're just trying to find answers yourself.

Read this book too. And may you find comfort within its words even in the midst of your own storm.

But read this book, regardless. Very much recommended.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed Laura Drake's books and was ready to read this one as soon as it arrived on my Kindle.
Once again she gave her readers characters that they could connect with along with an emotional plot about assisted suicide that had me wondering what I would do if I was in the same situation as the main character.

Joan and Roger are head over heels in love after 12 years of marriage. Roger had been a widower when he met Joan and even though she is much younger (almost the same age as his daughter), they were true soul mates. Roger is an award winning scientist and a professor and Joan has just gotten an offer to work with a group that helps empower women. Roger's daughter Bee, doesn't really approve of Joan and is a very religious woman who is married to a devout preacher. Roger's world is turned upside down when he receives a diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease. He understands what he has to face in the future and he asks Joan to help him end his life before the disease takes so much away from him. She refuses because she wants to spend every minute possible with him. He decides to take matters into his own hands and has a bicycle accident and flies down a hill into oncoming traffic. He survives but has multiple fractures and a head injury that causes a crippling stroke. His daughter comes to help out with her father but the animosity between the two women continues. Joan is still able to communicate with Roger and knows that he still wants her to help him commit suicide. Can she help give her husband the peace that he wants? When he dies, Bee is convinced that Joan helped him die and she goes to the police to report an assisted suicide and Joan goes to trial for Roger's death.
This book is extremely emotional and I found the section when Joan is deciding what to do about Roger's request to be difficult to read. She loves him but how fair is it to keep him alive when he is in so much pain?

Assisted suicide is a controversial subject in society right now but looking at it from the standpoint that the author presents, makes it easier to understand the ultimate decision. No matter how you feel about the subject, this is a book that you don't want to miss. It's about family and love, pain and sickness but most importantly it's a look at how far someone will go to help the person they love that shines a light on the shadow between justice and mercy. And after you finish the book, you'll be asking yourself what you would do in a similar situation.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

“FOR ROGER” by Laura Drake is a poignant narrative that delves deep into the complex layers of family, love, and ethical dilemmas. At its core, the novel explores the tumultuous relationship between Joan and her stepdaughter Bee, set against the backdrop of Roger’s terminal illness and consequential choices. The story is beautifully set in Austin, Texas, enriching the narrative with its historical and cultural nuances.

Joan and Roger’s relationship, with its significant age difference, is portrayed with sensitivity and depth, presenting a convincing picture of soulmates caught in extraordinary circumstances. Roger, a molecular biologist, is faced with ALS—a premise that steers the novel into the exploration of euthanasia and the moral complexities surrounding it.

The tension between science and faith is another strong theme, epitomized by the contrast between Roger’s belief in Darwin and Bee’s adherence to her fundamentalist views. This conflict is brought to a head with Roger’s drastic decision to end his suffering, which does not go as planned and leads to severe consequences for him and his family.

Drake’s handling of the aftermath of Roger’s failed suicide attempt is both tragic and compelling. The depiction of his condition, the family dynamics, and the shifting responsibilities show a deep understanding of human emotions and relationships. Joan’s internal conflict and her eventual heartbreaking decision to aid Roger’s final wish are handled with dignity and provoke the reader to think about what they would do in her shoes.

The courtroom drama and the subsequent civil suit add an additional layer of tension and highlight the societal and legal challenges surrounding assisted suicide. Joan’s journey through grief, legal battles, and eventual reconciliation with Bee provides a comprehensive arc that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

The novel does an excellent job of addressing serious topics such as terminal illness, suicide, and the clash between personal beliefs and the beliefs of loved ones. The characters are well-crafted, and their evolution throughout the story feels real and impactful.

In conclusion, “FOR ROGER” is a moving and thoughtfully written book that tackles difficult questions about life, love, and morality with grace and empathy. It is a compelling read for anyone interested in stories that challenge both the heart and mind.

[Jennifer Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Roger is a deeply moving novel about the lengths a woman will go to for the love of her husband.

Joan Merritt, a woman in her mid-thirties, is happily married to her older professor husband, Roger. When he is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease—also known as ALS—Roger asks Joan to do the impossible and help him end his life with dignity. Joan declines, wanting to cherish every last moment she has with her husband until he does the unthinkable and tries to take his life. In a bicycle accident gone wrong, Roger winds up living but causing himself more harm with multiple bone fractures and a head injury that leads him to have a stroke.

Rushing to her father’s side is Bee, Roger’s adult daughter, who has always resented her young stepmother—being that they are only a few years apart in age. Joan and Bee learn to coexist for Roger's sake. Bee—a preacher's wife—lives her life in line with the Bible. When Joan explains Roger tried to take his own life, Bee refuses to believe her father would do such, believing it to be a sin against God’s will that would send him directly to the fiery depths of hell.

As months drag on and Roger’s condition worsens, he again asks Joan to do the unthinkable. With love at the forefront of both options, she is torn between wanting to hold on to her husband for as long as possible and releasing him from his misery. Joan must make the hardest decision of her life—one that will have consequences that she never could have imagined.

For Roger dives into the very real dilemma many people face each day, which is assisted suicide or mercy killing in the wake of being diagnosed with a terminal illness. How should we respond when a loved one with a terminal illness wants to die with dignity? Do we support their decision to die on their terms or force them to hang on, watching their life get more challenging and painful until they die at the hands of their illness? It’s a tough spot to be in, and one big factor is that many countries and states view it as illegal. But is it? All these questions come into play in big ways for Joan throughout the novel.

Laura is a master at writing emotion into each page. I felt like I was in Joan's shoes and going on this emotional journey instead of her. This book is heavy, but it is such an important read! I highly recommend For Roger, especially for book clubs! This book makes you think about what you would do in Joan’s and Roger’s positions. I could see this igniting excellent book club discussions!

Thank you, Laura Drake, for the gifted copy!

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Roger is a thought-provoking and beautifully written story about love and the choices we make in the name of it. It's also a heavy, yet realistic, look into a bitter-sweet conversation about death and how we choose to depart. I've sat with this story for days after reading trying to arrange my thoughts. I think when you're a person midway through life you start to think in different terms of what love and compassion are. For Roger is a tough conversation. It brings up religion, individual state laws, political agendas, and life experiences. Ultimately, the ability to choose the most loving and human way to exit this world with dignity and grace.

Thank you, Laura, for sharing your work with the world. It's cherished and needed.
~Tanja


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[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I brought a kindle copy and paperback copy of "For Roger" by Laura Drake. I am not going to tell you the story, but I am going to tell you the reason I think you need to read this book. This book is about a very conversational subject, assisted suicide. There are always going to be two different view points to this subject. The side that says no, you have no right and your damned for even thinking of doing this. Then there the other side that says, a person has a right to die with dignity. To make a decision after a horrible diagnosis, that they can die the way they lived. Where the waters get really murky is like what happen with Roger and Joan. Roger wanted to die as he lived on his own terms and when his plan to achieve this doesn't go as planned, it ends up being up to Joan to decide if she can grant the man she loves the peace he so desperately wants. But, at what cost? Do, I agree with what Joan did yes, I do. I know alot Iot you just grasp! "Saying how dare she she? Unless, you have ever been in a position where you had to make the decision to let someone go you will never understand it. Laura Drake took a taboo subject and pulled the it in to the light where everyone can and will be talking about it. Even if you don't believe in it or think it is wrong, after reading it you might just come away having a little more understanding of what the other side feels. If you come away with nothing else I hope you can understand why Joan did what she did. If this book does nothing else I hope it does that and also makes everyone realize that you must have a DNR and make what you want when the time comes known. Once again Laura Drake has written a book that will make you feel, think and have empathy for these characters. Which isn't what a great book is suppose to do?

[Goodlittlewitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of For Roger: (*****)
I finished For Roger faster than I've read almost any other book this year. Why? Because Laura Drake magically weaves together a story that engenders sympathy, horror, anger, sadness and pride, all within less than 300 pages. And it's nearly impossible to put down.

In For Roger, Laura Drake examines the ethical question of assisted suicide. It is a Jodi Picoult-level quandry and rollercoaster ride of emotional engagement, involving faith in an almighty power, lack of that same faith, the power of love, the power of selfishness, and ultimately, the power of self-definition. All of the characters are richly drawn, but I was most charmed by Roger himself, and by Martha/Breeze, who started out being irritating to me and ultimately became one of my favorites. My feelings about her echoed Joan's, and it the skill of this author that she imbued me with the same emotions that her main character was experiencing. Ms. Drake shows us grief and anger as acutely as she does joy and contentment.

I am using this book as a textbook on putting emotion on the page in my own work in progress, and recommending it everywhere I can. Do not miss this book. No matter how difficult and passionate this subject matter may be for you, the book ultimately ends on a hopeful and positive note.

If I have any criticism at all of the book it is with the cover art, which I don't think adequately expresses the depth of the material and skill of this author.

[Lynne Spreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan and Roger are very happily married. He was a widower until falling in love with her, a much younger woman, but the two of them are soulmates. They have over a dozen happy years together, but then he gets a deadly diagnosis: ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. Aware there's nothing but suffering ahead, he tries to end it all but fails in the attempt, making their situation worse. When he asks Joan to help him die, at first she resists, but then relents. It's a beautiful, heartbreaking, scene, an act of absolute love. But this is Texas, where apparently assisted suicide is illegal, and Roger's hateful, extremist daughter--only three years younger than Joan and bitter about the marriage--reports her to the authorities, and Joan is tried for murder.

This is the story of two women coming to understand themselves as they are forced by adversity to grow and change, and about family and community. I love Laura Drake's books for the strength of her characters, the wit and humor, and for the overall great storytelling. Recommended.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

FOR ROGER is a powerful, beautifully-written novel about a devoted young wife facing an impossible decision.

When Joan's husband is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, he asks her to help him die. Joan refuses. But after Roger takes matters into his own hands and makes the situation far, far worse, Joan begins to question her moral compass.

How far is she prepared to go to end her husband's suffering? Where should the line be drawn between mercy and 'thou shalt not kill'? And is Joan prepared to risk own freedom for Roger? And what are the implications for her relationship with his deeply religious daughter?

I loved watched Joan, a strong woman, rise beyond the expectations of others, including the father she worshipped, to rewrite her life. I loved watching her grapple with right and wrong as she finds peace of mind and learns to embrace a future that is hers to shape. Ultimately, only one voice matters: her own. From that comes an incredible strength that's a gift to others.

Out of tragedy, Joan creates hope. That's the true message of this inspiring novel.

[Eileen Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a hard book to read, not because I didn't like it, I did. It was hard because my heart kept breaking, over and over.
Roger and Joan are the golden couple of Austin society; smart, good-looking, and so happy in their marriage. Roger is an award winning scientist and professor, Joan is a expert in insurance fraud investigation. She gets an offer to work with a commission to raise women up. When Roger receives a devastating diagnosis, the bubble bursts for them. He tries to take matters into his own hands, failing miserably.
Their new reality doesn't last long; Roger is hopeless, so he asks Joan to go against everything she believes in and do the unthinkable. Help him.
Joan's life spirals down until she feels she's hit bottom. Then, her instinct to help other women comes back, leading her to a new life.
Laura Drake has written a gut wrenching, beautiful story. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Roger by Laura Drake is such a powerful book addressing a tough subject matter. It is the story of Joan and Roger Merritt. Alternating points of view between Roger, Roger’s journal, and Joan, it is the story of their love, marriage, and family dynamics. After Roger is diagnosed with ALS, the couple faces great adversity leading to the tough question of assisted suicide. What follows the diagnosis are difficult discussions, decisions, and consequences. The story addresses the morality and legality surrounding assisted suicide, the turmoil associated with the decision, and the impact felt when other family members disagree with the decision reached. Great storyline covering after the decision is reached and how everyone moves forward. This is an impactful and thought provoking story with great characters.

[Carlyn Engstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by author Laura Drake, and wow, what a book it was! It's a story of deep love that is tested by the heartbreaking diagnosis of a terminal illness. For Roger is one of the best books I've ever read.

What would you do if your terminally ill spouse asked you to help him die? Do you love your spouse enough and are you strong enough to honor his request? Do you love your spouse so much you refuse to let him go? Are you prepared to accept the consequences of whichever decision you make?

This was a tough topic and a heart-wrenching story. Touching on every emotion, it was worth every single smile, laugh, and tear I experienced while reading it. Without a doubt, this was a 5-star read for me.

[Barbara Conrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book held me in its grip from the first page and didn’t release me until the end. Who am I kidding? I’m still in its grip.

This is a story of love. Of doing the right thing even when doing so goes against everything you believe in. Everything you want.

Written in typical Drake style, where every word pulls its weight, you will fly through the pages until you stumble upon a sentence or a phrase written so beautifully—like I said, typical Drake style—that you stop to breathe in the beauty of her writing.

For Roger is a perfect book club book. I can see the “What would you do?” questions lasting for hours.

This is your next read.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a battle of beliefs, an emotional choice, and a "walk a mile in my shoes" and then talk to me about right and wrong.
How much suffering is acceptable for a person who is terminal and the caregiver?
Is "assistance" to end this pain ok?
I have no doubt that as I applaud Joan Merritt and her difficult decision for the love of her life, that some will not agree. They will side with her step-daughter's feelings and beliefs.
You decide for yourself.

It's a beautiful novel of love, grief, fear and acceptance as Joan takes on the consequences of her actions head on.
I will be thinking of this book for a long time and highly recommend it! Well done!

[Jacqueline Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the worst possible position to put a spouse in—asking them to help you die. Joan Merritt’s husband tries to take the decision from her by riding his bike into traffic. That leaves him broken as a terrible disease is destroying his body. Joan's situation is complicated by Roger's daughter, who's never accepted Joan in her father's life. And when she accuses Joan of murder, the story takes another twist. Laura Drake’s characters and descriptions of their motivation drive this well-thought-out plot. It’s a remarkable novel about justice and mercy, and decisions many of us hope we’ll never have to make.

[Winona Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of 2024. The characters are all multi-dimensional and true to their character, but Roger and Sierra portray a couple so profoundly in love despite an age difference that the rest of the world is left in awe, or in the case of Roger's daughter disgust.

I want to spill all of the beans, but that would be unfair to those who haven't read this remarkable book. It is crafted to deal with love, religion, devastating illnesses, suicide, legal ramifications, and what a person will do or endure for the person they love.

Readers will certainly find themselves lost in the words yet asking fundamental questions about life choices.

[Rebecca Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this amazing book by Laura Drake, Joan Merritt is faced with the most difficult decision imaginable. Her much-loved husband is terminally ill, unable to take action, and asking for help, but his situation forces Joan to choose between mercy and the law. Can she grant him the peace he desperately wants and needs? With empathy and a keen understanding of all points of view, this is a story about family, love, and acceptance of tough consequences. A beautifully written book you will long remember—a book I highly recommend.

[Vicki Carbone · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do for love? Joan Merritt discovers what she is willing to do in this wonderful novel. The unintended, un-thought-of consequences take her out of her comfortable life and into new territory in every possible way: physically, financially, emotionally. She discovers again who can be counted upon, with a number of surprises along the way. I read this book in two sittings; it was so good I found it difficult to put down. The characters come alive on the page, so you are left wondering what happens next. Laura Drake -- I need a sequel.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read I had to keep telling myself to slow down. Ms. Drake's prose are beautiful, her analogies are so good, and the structure and pacing of the book is right on. As an author, I am envious of her skill!

In terms of the substance of the book, it's thought provoking and genuine. The characters are fully realized, the relationships flawed and interesting, and the medical information well presented. As someone who struggles with a neurological condition, I was impressed at the compassion expressed from page one until the end.

Nicely done!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I did not know how much I would love this book!
When Roger is diagnosed with ALS he and he younger wife Joan are crushed by the heaviness of this horrid disease. Roger decides to go out his way and takes matters into his own hands.
Meanwhile, his nasty daughter Bee continues to ignore and irritate Joan at every turn. I won’t say anymore but, I couldn’t stop reading to see what happened! Well done!

[Kimberley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding story that touches both sides of assisted death controversy, an impossible dilemma. The story of Roger’s illness impacted me personally as we struggle to find answers for my husband’s decline, and search for diagnosis. At times it was hard reading & looked at symptoms and such. Emotional and thought provoking reading. Complicated family relationships brought together by crisis. A story that will stay with me.

[Beth Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in a book that will touch all of your emotions, make you angry at characters, and make you think and put yourself into difficult situations…this is the book for you. As usual an amazing book by Laura Drake. I appreciate the strength of Joan, though all of the changes good and bad.

[Susan Gromis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It will take a while to come down from all the feels of this story! Heart wrenching, and emotionally drained. This book has all the great stuff: believable characters and dialogue, swift plot, and is a sure winner. The subject of right-to-die is difficult to tackle, but Laura Drake hit every mark. Highly recommended!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that you do not want to miss. It explores the love between Joan and Roger and how far she will go to help the man she loves and does not want to lose. It is a story about the love of family and the pain they endure because of illness, past mistakes and the consequences of choices made.

This story will stay with me for an extraordinarily long time. I highly recommend!!

[Erika Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and it gives a great perspective of a caregiver. It does remind me of another movie or book I read but this one had a different plot and ending. I kinda wish there was a follow up to her story as well as the daughter.

[Anita Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! I won’t post synopsis- that is easily found- but this is a book I didn’t want to finish and will have to sit with a while. I know it isn’t for everyone-very heavy content- but I can’t recommend it enough.

[Marianne McGinnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Drake has done it again! A complex relationship between a wife, her husband, and a stepdaughter just 3 years younger than the husband's wife is a recipe for a suspensful outcome. Roger, the husband, is diagnosed with ALS. The outcome of this diagnosis, and the actions that follow will hold the reader captive as the two central women find themselves embroiled in controversy, and finally a decision is made that was unexpected. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!