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The Sweet Surrender
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This isn't a love story. It's a story about love.
This story of love starts with a failed life plan and a sick father. That's how Helen Whicker finds herself back in her hometown of Portstown, Illinois, living with her parents and working as an obit writer for the town paper. Throw in a car accident and a neurotic sister-in-law, and Helen's life is pretty much a disaster.
Benson McCormick is just what she needs to turn things around. He's funny, uses foul language even more than she does, and he can't seem to get enough of Helen. But they live in different cities, and they both have family drama and relationship baggage.
Helen's gotten used to life on her own, but as she faces her worst fears, she wonders if she's really been living at all. The more she gets to know Benson, the more she believes that falling in love is the sweetest possible surrender. She just has to decide if she's strong enough to survive the fall.
This isn't a love story. It's a story about love.
This story of love starts with a failed life plan and a sick father. That's how Helen Whicker finds herself back in her hometown of Portstown, Illinois, living with her parents and working as an obit writer for the town paper. Throw in a car accident and a neurotic sister-in-law, and Helen's life is pretty much a disaster.
Benson McCormick is just what she needs to turn things around. He's funny, uses foul language even more than she does, and he can't seem to get enough of Helen. But they live in different cities, and they both have family drama and relationship baggage.
Helen's gotten used to life on her own, but as she faces her worst fears, she wonders if she's really been living at all. The more she gets to know Benson, the more she believes that falling in love is the sweetest possible surrender. She just has to decide if she's strong enough to survive the fall.
220 pages, ebook
First published May 26, 2014
171 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Hunter J. Keane
39 books34 followersHunter J. Keane lives in Chicago where she surrounds herself with good food, great books and fantastic friends.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 30, 2016
This had a great start but it ending felt flat and weak.
On her way to her parent's house, Helen gets into an accident with Benson. Helen is going to home to stay with her family because her father is sick. Benson is in the same town as Helen because his sister in-law is sick. Helen and Benson begin a relationship which I think is very sweet and romantic. It is insta-attraction, but not insta-love. It had points in a story that I love, but it failed me.
My issues were that after Helen sees Benson holding his pregnant ex-wife's hand in the auditorium, there is no big explanation. The kid is not his. Helen may have originally run, but I felt like she was the one asking for them to get back together. I still have no idea why he was holding his ex's hand. Benson said it was not what it seemed...whatever that means. I like some angst, but with the angst must come some groveling and there really was none. I don't think he even said I am sorry when he came to her house. My opinion of Helen changed at that point.
Also, I felt as if the first 8% of the book was a lot of unnecessary detail. The ending felt rushed and epilogue was weak. I barely read the epilogue. I lost my connection when I felt Helen was the one accepting things without a clear explanation. This is the way I perceived the story. You may have seen it a different way. Reading is subjective. You may love this book.
On her way to her parent's house, Helen gets into an accident with Benson. Helen is going to home to stay with her family because her father is sick. Benson is in the same town as Helen because his sister in-law is sick. Helen and Benson begin a relationship which I think is very sweet and romantic. It is insta-attraction, but not insta-love. It had points in a story that I love, but it failed me.
My issues were that after Helen sees Benson holding his pregnant ex-wife's hand in the auditorium, there is no big explanation. The kid is not his. Helen may have originally run, but I felt like she was the one asking for them to get back together. I still have no idea why he was holding his ex's hand. Benson said it was not what it seemed...whatever that means. I like some angst, but with the angst must come some groveling and there really was none. I don't think he even said I am sorry when he came to her house. My opinion of Helen changed at that point.
Also, I felt as if the first 8% of the book was a lot of unnecessary detail. The ending felt rushed and epilogue was weak. I barely read the epilogue. I lost my connection when I felt Helen was the one accepting things without a clear explanation. This is the way I perceived the story. You may have seen it a different way. Reading is subjective. You may love this book.
May 24, 2017
I stopped reading at 36% when I already had 12 bookmarks of things that irritated me. I wont post them all here but these are the ones that made me stop and go…wtf??
On page 16, Helen is walking up the drive to her parents house when she trips and ‘went flying’. Bad enough, but here sister is standing at the front of the house, laughing at her. LAUGHING???
Helen has only just avoided bashing her face on the floor and has hurt her hands … My palms were a bit bloody And her sister just laughs. Unbeliveable. And, if someone has cut their hands, chances are they have also cut their knees.
At this point I was waiting for a huge family argument - Helen getting upset that she is hurt and her sister just laughs (which to me was an appalling thing to do) but, no, it’s as if nothing has happened.
And while we are on the topic of bloody palms - Helen was loaned a pair of leather gloves earlier on in the evening and was wearing them. There has been no mention of her taking them off and putting them somewhere safe so she could return them to their owner, so I assumed she was still wearing them and she gets skinned palms?? Proof-reading?
Later on we discover that Helen’s brother and family are coming to her parents house for dinner.
This doesn’t ‘work’ for me - Helen is apparently only going home because her father is very ill and her mother needs Helen to help her look after the father until summer, when my brother and sister would be available to help out. Why can they help out in summer and not now, and yet they can come over for dinner (which the mother has to make)???
There was an undercurrent of nastiness beneath a lot of the relationships. And a whole lot of rather – no… VERY – depressing details about her father’s heart condition. In the end I could take no more of the bitching and unpleasantness and I bailed out.
I read books for pleasure, and a good book gets me ‘involved’ in the characters. I like to be ‘there’ with them, I like to ‘live’ the story and get a sense that the author knows her/his characters and is there in the story with them. There was none of that connection here. I doubt if the author has ever fallen over and skinned her hands as an adult and had someone standing there laughing at them.
That scene, more than any other in the story, angered me intensely. These were 2D characters - unreal and shallow.
On page 16, Helen is walking up the drive to her parents house when she trips and ‘went flying’. Bad enough, but here sister is standing at the front of the house, laughing at her. LAUGHING???
Helen has only just avoided bashing her face on the floor and has hurt her hands … My palms were a bit bloody And her sister just laughs. Unbeliveable. And, if someone has cut their hands, chances are they have also cut their knees.
At this point I was waiting for a huge family argument - Helen getting upset that she is hurt and her sister just laughs (which to me was an appalling thing to do) but, no, it’s as if nothing has happened.
And while we are on the topic of bloody palms - Helen was loaned a pair of leather gloves earlier on in the evening and was wearing them. There has been no mention of her taking them off and putting them somewhere safe so she could return them to their owner, so I assumed she was still wearing them and she gets skinned palms?? Proof-reading?
Later on we discover that Helen’s brother and family are coming to her parents house for dinner.
This doesn’t ‘work’ for me - Helen is apparently only going home because her father is very ill and her mother needs Helen to help her look after the father until summer, when my brother and sister would be available to help out. Why can they help out in summer and not now, and yet they can come over for dinner (which the mother has to make)???
There was an undercurrent of nastiness beneath a lot of the relationships. And a whole lot of rather – no… VERY – depressing details about her father’s heart condition. In the end I could take no more of the bitching and unpleasantness and I bailed out.
I read books for pleasure, and a good book gets me ‘involved’ in the characters. I like to be ‘there’ with them, I like to ‘live’ the story and get a sense that the author knows her/his characters and is there in the story with them. There was none of that connection here. I doubt if the author has ever fallen over and skinned her hands as an adult and had someone standing there laughing at them.
That scene, more than any other in the story, angered me intensely. These were 2D characters - unreal and shallow.
January 27, 2015
Way to rushed, lot's of potential but didn't have enough feels for me.
July 26, 2017
Tough book to review
I'm a bit torn about how to review this one.
I really liked the snarky dialogue between the main characters at the beginning of the story. Helen was a fun character. She and Benson were an interesting couple. I also liked the descriptions of small town life. I found myself smiling along with many of the descriptions.
Then came the second half of the book...
There were several things that happened which were completely depressing and mostly unnecessary to the story. I almost felt like I was reading a different book. It sort of felt like the author forgot about the rest of her story line in order to make a "point". Why, oh why is it so hard to find stories with good endings? Merely tacking on an epilogue at the end does not take the place of a proper ending.
I'm a bit torn about how to review this one.
I really liked the snarky dialogue between the main characters at the beginning of the story. Helen was a fun character. She and Benson were an interesting couple. I also liked the descriptions of small town life. I found myself smiling along with many of the descriptions.
Then came the second half of the book...
There were several things that happened which were completely depressing and mostly unnecessary to the story. I almost felt like I was reading a different book. It sort of felt like the author forgot about the rest of her story line in order to make a "point". Why, oh why is it so hard to find stories with good endings? Merely tacking on an epilogue at the end does not take the place of a proper ending.
May 30, 2017
I didn't love it but I didn't hate it.
Wasn't really a fan of Helen but I liked Benson. Still trying to understand why she felt the way she did about going home. She basically says her childhood was horrible but that her family was a typical loving family. It didn't make any sense to me. She spent a lot of the book complaining and putting down everyone in her head for no obvious reason.
Benson and the rest of the characters seem pretty great and I kinf of wish we had gotten to know them.
There also was a lot of hospital scenes for no longer than this was and not for the reason you would think. Plus the unanswered question of what happened to her mom.
Overall it was just a quick story about a woman falling in love.
Wasn't really a fan of Helen but I liked Benson. Still trying to understand why she felt the way she did about going home. She basically says her childhood was horrible but that her family was a typical loving family. It didn't make any sense to me. She spent a lot of the book complaining and putting down everyone in her head for no obvious reason.
Benson and the rest of the characters seem pretty great and I kinf of wish we had gotten to know them.
There also was a lot of hospital scenes for no longer than this was and not for the reason you would think. Plus the unanswered question of what happened to her mom.
Overall it was just a quick story about a woman falling in love.
March 22, 2018
Short but thought provoking
Helen has had a lot of hard depressing lessons learned in her short life but it’s not until her father is facing death, does she realize the lessons. She’s been unlucky in love, lost friendships and is losing her father, which brings her to moving back home.
An accident on the highway back to her hometown has her meeting the most important person for her future.
Benson is in a similar plight in his life as Helen but he seems more grounded and a lot less scattered as Helen.
This is a really good story with several life lessons. Wish it could have been just a little more in depth overall.
Helen has had a lot of hard depressing lessons learned in her short life but it’s not until her father is facing death, does she realize the lessons. She’s been unlucky in love, lost friendships and is losing her father, which brings her to moving back home.
An accident on the highway back to her hometown has her meeting the most important person for her future.
Benson is in a similar plight in his life as Helen but he seems more grounded and a lot less scattered as Helen.
This is a really good story with several life lessons. Wish it could have been just a little more in depth overall.
January 16, 2023
Just an ok read. Helen did a lot of complaining with no real reason, this made her a weak whiny character in my eyes. I have no idea why she preferred Chicago to her home town, there was no explanation just that she dreaded going home. Benson was a little better, but he seemed to be too nice and just took whatever was handed to him. There were also too many freak accidents to be believed and I am not sure the author has ever actually been immersed in small town life.
August 21, 2017
I liked parts of it but the ending feels a bit rushed with loose ends left.
June 29, 2017
Good old fashion love story.
November 6, 2017
Just could not get into this story.
May 25, 2018
Very touching
This is a very touching and heartwarming romance. It touches on every feeling that you ever have. I recommend this book.
This is a very touching and heartwarming romance. It touches on every feeling that you ever have. I recommend this book.
May 30, 2021
A nice little love story.
September 17, 2021
Accidentally in love
A good story of grief and love. Very well written easy to read. Worth passing on for others to read
A good story of grief and love. Very well written easy to read. Worth passing on for others to read
May 30, 2016
Emotional
This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It is funny, quirky, happy, sad, and depressing. It made me laugh, and I shed a few sad tears. It is about life, love, and living each day with no regrets.
I want sure I wanted to read it at the beginning, but it sucked me right in. Some of the dry whit; the sarcastic dialogue, and the life lessons carried me through until the last page.
Bottom line, this is a book about life. I absolutely recommend it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
****SPOILER ALERT, sort of******
If you have recently lost a loved you, this book may be a little difficult for you. It was for me, but it was still a good read.
This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It is funny, quirky, happy, sad, and depressing. It made me laugh, and I shed a few sad tears. It is about life, love, and living each day with no regrets.
I want sure I wanted to read it at the beginning, but it sucked me right in. Some of the dry whit; the sarcastic dialogue, and the life lessons carried me through until the last page.
Bottom line, this is a book about life. I absolutely recommend it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
****SPOILER ALERT, sort of******
If you have recently lost a loved you, this book may be a little difficult for you. It was for me, but it was still a good read.
July 20, 2014
Well another free read I found on Amazon well worth the read. Both Helen and Benton have had struggles with love and they have a funny meet. They run into each other again in Helen's hometown where she is home helping take care of her sick father. Benton is in town helping his brother with his sick wife. There are some tears and tragedy in this book but it is truly about love- love of your family and falling in love with someone when you least expect it. Truly a great read.
January 31, 2016
Keane does it again! Another nice read
I enjoyed this book. After reading Searching for Glory, I decided to check out this book. It was another quick read. Good story about Love and family and finding that moment of sweet surrender. Would definitely recommend this book and author.
I enjoyed this book. After reading Searching for Glory, I decided to check out this book. It was another quick read. Good story about Love and family and finding that moment of sweet surrender. Would definitely recommend this book and author.
June 11, 2014
Couldn't put it down!!
Couldn't put it down!!
This book pulled me in from the first chapter! I loved the main character and her personality! The supporting characters are so real that they could have been my own family.
Couldn't put it down!!
This book pulled me in from the first chapter! I loved the main character and her personality! The supporting characters are so real that they could have been my own family.
January 1, 2017
Hunter Keane is a wonderful author. I fell in love with the story almost from the very beginning. It wasn't long before I was grinning like a fool. By the end of the book, I wanted to cry. All in all, a book worth keeping and re-reading.
November 26, 2015
A beautiful story
This had me laughing, crying, and just happy. I could read this book over and over. It's such a beautiful story of life and love.
This had me laughing, crying, and just happy. I could read this book over and over. It's such a beautiful story of life and love.
October 30, 2016
Loved it
It's nice to read a book that's not completely predictable. I like this one and would definitely read a sequence to it. Her sisters story would be good.
It's nice to read a book that's not completely predictable. I like this one and would definitely read a sequence to it. Her sisters story would be good.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews