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Falling Forward
Cancer stole her parents. It consumed her career. And in an unexpected twist, cancer finally taught her how to live... and love. Dr. Olivia Garvin’s life turned upside down on her 42nd birthday. The man she loved and trusted for nearly 20 years proved to be unfaithful. On a whirlwind trip to Hawaii to escape the embarrassment of her husband’s arrest, she meets a younger man and her life is forever changed. Kalani Kaleo helps Olivia in her struggles to understand her old life; and teaches her what’s really important in life. They both know they shouldn't get involved, but they can't fight the fateful attraction. Together, in thos beautifully written story, they learn the true meaning of healing, the limitations of modern medicine, and the importance of the soul.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2013
16 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Black
39 books24 followersAuthor of contemporary romance and young adult novels Falling Forward, The Program, Mulligan, and the upcoming children's holiday story The Return of Knecht Ruprecht.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 5, 2016
Falling Forward by Olivia Black captures your attention from page one. With chapter one titled "Dead at 42," how can you not immediately be hooked. I enjoyed reading this title and would recommend it to everyone to read at least once in a lifetime.
Olivia, on her 42nd birthday, was thrown for a loop when she came home after a run and found her husband of 17 years being arrested. She never would have thought this would be happening to her, but through a little research she eventually found that he had been cheating on her as well! Let's just say, this birthday was not going as planned.
Not knowing what to do from here, she seeks out her best friend Michelle to help her find the next step in life and Michelle plans an impromptu trip to Hawaii. While there, Olivia has the chance to figure out who she is as a person and quickly meets Kalani, a cute Hawaiian guy who seems to be just as interested in her as she is in him.
The lead character makes for a great character that the reader can easily relate to as well as sympathize for. For one, what happens to Olivia could easily happen to anyone and that makes it all the better. I have read quite a few books recently that have not been able to help me relate to the characters, but Falling Forward had no such issue.
This book has many great messages and I loved working my way through every page. The writing style was fantastic and kept the story moving quickly, while also being detailed and exciting. Watching everything unfold made for a great time. I would read this again in a heartbeat.
Overall, I rate this title with 4 stars!
Olivia, on her 42nd birthday, was thrown for a loop when she came home after a run and found her husband of 17 years being arrested. She never would have thought this would be happening to her, but through a little research she eventually found that he had been cheating on her as well! Let's just say, this birthday was not going as planned.
Not knowing what to do from here, she seeks out her best friend Michelle to help her find the next step in life and Michelle plans an impromptu trip to Hawaii. While there, Olivia has the chance to figure out who she is as a person and quickly meets Kalani, a cute Hawaiian guy who seems to be just as interested in her as she is in him.
The lead character makes for a great character that the reader can easily relate to as well as sympathize for. For one, what happens to Olivia could easily happen to anyone and that makes it all the better. I have read quite a few books recently that have not been able to help me relate to the characters, but Falling Forward had no such issue.
This book has many great messages and I loved working my way through every page. The writing style was fantastic and kept the story moving quickly, while also being detailed and exciting. Watching everything unfold made for a great time. I would read this again in a heartbeat.
Overall, I rate this title with 4 stars!
August 7, 2013
I must admit, I LOVED the story of Liv and Kalani. LOVED IT! But I think I loved it even more because it reminded me of me. I saw so much of myself in Liv that it was scary. I was her -- just going about my daily routine, in a marriage that I didn't really want to be in, with a man I don't think I ever really loved. My situation wasn't quite as dramatic, but still, the parallels were ironic.
Liv's husband can't seem to keep it in his pants, and eventually, he gets caught with his pants down (sort of literally). I liked that there was no real discussion of the affair - this book picks up immediately after Liv finds out about it. A friend carts her off to Hawaii for a dream vacation to let things settle down. Liv is still in shock, but she manages to collect herself enough to find out who's hiding inside her -- the real Liv. She meets a man who's in tune with her, and they reluctantly hit it off. She needed him, and I have to believe, I want to believe, that he needed her. The scenes are beautifully described, and their love affair is, well, surprisingly graphically depicted. It's a short scene, but it's real. It's gritty. It's human.
What's wonderful is that Liv is strong. She's determined. She's realistic. And she ultimately wins the battle, despite a heart-wrenching twist or two at the end.
I wished it were longer! This is one of those books I wished would never end. I love Liv. She's my hero. Great read, definitely recommend for any woman. Can't wait for the next one.
Liv's husband can't seem to keep it in his pants, and eventually, he gets caught with his pants down (sort of literally). I liked that there was no real discussion of the affair - this book picks up immediately after Liv finds out about it. A friend carts her off to Hawaii for a dream vacation to let things settle down. Liv is still in shock, but she manages to collect herself enough to find out who's hiding inside her -- the real Liv. She meets a man who's in tune with her, and they reluctantly hit it off. She needed him, and I have to believe, I want to believe, that he needed her. The scenes are beautifully described, and their love affair is, well, surprisingly graphically depicted. It's a short scene, but it's real. It's gritty. It's human.
What's wonderful is that Liv is strong. She's determined. She's realistic. And she ultimately wins the battle, despite a heart-wrenching twist or two at the end.
I wished it were longer! This is one of those books I wished would never end. I love Liv. She's my hero. Great read, definitely recommend for any woman. Can't wait for the next one.
August 3, 2013
Wow... I initially didn't expect much from this book. I thought it would be some kind of typical thriller featuring a scorned woman taking revenge on her idiot husband. But Falling Forward is much so smarter than that. After finding out about the affair (which really isn't relived in this book, thank goodness) Liv takes a journey with her friend to Hawaii to get away from it all. She's accurately disappointed that Oahu wasn't the movie-Hawaii that we've all seen. And having been there, it certainly isn't. There's an accidental meeting between Liv and a Hawaiian surf instructor named Kalani in which they become soul... well, soul-friends. The whole story takes place over a week, so their relationship is developed long distance after she returns home. But that one week with Kalani was enough to break Liv from her sleepwalking bubble and discover who she is and what she really wants out of life, and that's truly the magic of this story. I don't want to spoil it for you, but there is a surprise ending, and you might need some tissues. Don't worry, it's a happily ever after. It's a fairly quick read which moves along nicely, perfect for a summer day on the beach.
August 4, 2013
Amazing story! I was caught up in it after reading the first two paragraphs. The story starts on Liv’s birthday. She finds out that day her husband has been having an affair. She immediately leaves with her best friend on an adventure that takes her to Hawaii. By chance, she meets a man who immediately connects with her. This book is filled with a full range of emotions with surprises along the way and unexpected twists.
February 27, 2020
Great book
I really enjoyed this book. Truly a love story I will.remember forever. I am currently fighting the battle of cancer myself so it even had even a more special meaning. Luckily I've been blessed with a long time love with my husband John. We've been married 42 years. Reading this book made me appreciate him all that more. Love is special, especially when you have that special one to share it with. I enjoyed the description the author out into the sites of Hawaii, it made you feel you were there.
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars, was because of the language that was used. There was no reason to use profanity in this story, it just cheapens the book and love between the characters. It will probably also limit who reads this book.
Hesustains
I really enjoyed this book. Truly a love story I will.remember forever. I am currently fighting the battle of cancer myself so it even had even a more special meaning. Luckily I've been blessed with a long time love with my husband John. We've been married 42 years. Reading this book made me appreciate him all that more. Love is special, especially when you have that special one to share it with. I enjoyed the description the author out into the sites of Hawaii, it made you feel you were there.
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars, was because of the language that was used. There was no reason to use profanity in this story, it just cheapens the book and love between the characters. It will probably also limit who reads this book.
Hesustains
October 8, 2018
Not a fan
First, I didn’t like the heroine, and I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters. The book was poorly edited; it was full of word and punctuation errors. The storyline was ok, but all in all, I thought it was poorly executed.
First, I didn’t like the heroine, and I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters. The book was poorly edited; it was full of word and punctuation errors. The storyline was ok, but all in all, I thought it was poorly executed.
December 23, 2018
5* for sure. It was Liv’s 42nd birthday. She finds out that day her husband has been having an affair. She immediately leaves with her best friend on an adventure that takes her to Hawaii. By chance, she meets a man who immediately connects with her.
January 30, 2015
Bittersweet and Beautiful!
I Fell in Love with the book with the first chapter: Dead at 42! Well – actually the title hooked and drew me in . . . it was the story that followed which began a love affair – I won’t soon forget.
As it turned out the death was metaphorical – but the meaning was all too real a death of one’s very existence, an existence that had been based upon sleepwalking lies that resulted in the death of one’s soul – that was ultimately their salvation with the rebirth that followed.
In a word – unforgetable!
Not all great love affairs last forever – the great ones don’t need to in order to shake your foundation to the core – as Falling Forward shook mine.
One of my favorite passages:
“Love is painfully thin with distinct lines in her face, but her gut is an inevitable chasm you and everyone you know will helplessly fall into at some point in your life . Very few people escape . Love has got bright green eyes that in a single momentary glance can captivate any red-blooded person and make you believe whatever she says. She has wild red hair that flows like a perfect fire. Her voice is sometimes soft and sultry, yet at times as raspy as a cigarette smoker and as loud as a carnival barker. She resides in your heart, no matter how physically impossible that may be according to any neurologist. If you’ve ever fallen in or out of love, you’ve felt that sympathetic metaphysical connection directly in the left side of your chest. And you know those tugs are more than just your imagination. Writers write about her. Singers sing about her. Lovers breathe through her. Psychiatrists help you get over her, and double-dip as they help you learn how to get into her again. No matter how hard you think you are, you cannot ignore her. She is innately omnipresent.”
Falling Forward by Olivia Black is triumphant in love’s lessons . . . so easily learned with her relaxed writing style: love lost, learning to love yourself through the pain of betrayal and ignorance, love found, love lost again . . . with all the glorious and wrenching moments in-between. And just as love does . . . she leaves you with bittersweet memories – to last a lifetime!
Simply wonderful!
I Fell in Love with the book with the first chapter: Dead at 42! Well – actually the title hooked and drew me in . . . it was the story that followed which began a love affair – I won’t soon forget.
As it turned out the death was metaphorical – but the meaning was all too real a death of one’s very existence, an existence that had been based upon sleepwalking lies that resulted in the death of one’s soul – that was ultimately their salvation with the rebirth that followed.
In a word – unforgetable!
Not all great love affairs last forever – the great ones don’t need to in order to shake your foundation to the core – as Falling Forward shook mine.
One of my favorite passages:
“Love is painfully thin with distinct lines in her face, but her gut is an inevitable chasm you and everyone you know will helplessly fall into at some point in your life . Very few people escape . Love has got bright green eyes that in a single momentary glance can captivate any red-blooded person and make you believe whatever she says. She has wild red hair that flows like a perfect fire. Her voice is sometimes soft and sultry, yet at times as raspy as a cigarette smoker and as loud as a carnival barker. She resides in your heart, no matter how physically impossible that may be according to any neurologist. If you’ve ever fallen in or out of love, you’ve felt that sympathetic metaphysical connection directly in the left side of your chest. And you know those tugs are more than just your imagination. Writers write about her. Singers sing about her. Lovers breathe through her. Psychiatrists help you get over her, and double-dip as they help you learn how to get into her again. No matter how hard you think you are, you cannot ignore her. She is innately omnipresent.”
Falling Forward by Olivia Black is triumphant in love’s lessons . . . so easily learned with her relaxed writing style: love lost, learning to love yourself through the pain of betrayal and ignorance, love found, love lost again . . . with all the glorious and wrenching moments in-between. And just as love does . . . she leaves you with bittersweet memories – to last a lifetime!
Simply wonderful!
September 5, 2013
Wow… I initially didn’t expect much from this book. I thought it would be some kind of typical thriller featuring a scorned woman taking revenge on her idiot husband. But Falling Forward is much so smarter than that. After finding out about the affair (which really isn’t relived in this book, thank goodness) Liv takes a journey with her friend to Hawaii to get away from it all. She’s accurately disappointed that Oahu wasn’t the movie-Hawaii that we’ve all seen. And having been there, it certainly isn’t. There’s an accidental meeting between Liv and a Hawaiian surf instructor named Kalani in which they become soul… well, soul-friends. The whole story takes place over a week, so their relationship is developed long distance after she returns home. But that one week with Kalani was enough to break Liv from her sleepwalking bubble and discover who she is and what she really wants out of life, and that’s truly the magic of this story. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but there is a surprise ending, and you might need some tissues. Don’t worry, it’s a happily ever after. It’s a fairly quick read which moves along nicely, perfect for a summer day on the beach.
September 6, 2013
No fair - you made me cry! And I’m not a cryer. I have no idea who Olivia Black is, but apparently, I should. I thought she was that mess from Pawn Stars, but it’s not the same person. I picked this up on a recommendation from a friend who fixes Ms. Black’s computers. She’s a local author who has been writing advertising and blogs for years. Falling Forward is her first work of fiction. Honey -- you need to quit your day job and write some more fiction! What a wonderful, uplifting, genuine, and original story. A brief summary: Olivia (the character, not the author), is a successful oncologist. She has a husband who’s been a bad boy. She finds out, the cops come, and there’s simply no going back. A friend fulfills a broken promise and takes Olivia to Hawaii to regain her mental stability. Olivia meets a surf instructor who teaches her a few things. One of those things offers some pretty explicit and steamy detail. Olivia finds herself, and ultimately finds her happiness. Falling Forward sure did open my eyes. Anxiously awaiting more from author Olivia Black.
September 6, 2013
Once in a while, you sit down to read a book and it grabs your attention from the first paragraph. That’s how I felt as I started reading “Falling Forward” by Olivia Black. This new up-and-coming author has great potential. She does an excellent job of setting the stage and drawing you in. From the get-go, you are trying to figure out why the main characters obituary is in the second paragraph. The book starts off on Liv’s 42nd birthday. She finds out that day her husband has been having an affair and witnesses him being arrested for trying to have his mistress killed. She doesn’t stick around to find out the details. She turns to her best friend who immediately books them on a trip to Hawaii. In Hawaii she meets a local surfing celebrity who shows her the island and helps her discover who she really is. She learns to stand up for herself and to take her life into her own hands. Emotions run from anger to sadness and a feeling of complete being. Give this book a read. It’s worth your time.
September 5, 2013
Terrific book recommended to me by a close friend! I was captivated from the beginning and found myself unable to put it down. The main character, Liv, is married to a man she discovers she really doesn’t know. After finding out he’s been having an affair for quite some time, she turns to her best friend and they take off on an adventure to clear her head. In Hawaii, she’s not able to forget her problems at home but with the help of Kalani, a friendly Hawaiian surf instructor, she’s able to see a little clearer. Liv spends most of the week with Kalani who helps her more than she realizes at the time and opens her eyes to discover herself. This book brings on a range of emotions and an ending you don’t expect but makes you smile. Not to give it away, but a tissue or two may be needed along the way. Definitely a book worth reading.
September 6, 2013
Love! Love! Loved this book! Olivia Black nailed it on her first novel. “Falling Forward” is a captivating story about a woman, Liv, whose husband is arrested at their home on her 42nd birthday for attempting to have his mistress killed. She didn’t even know he was having an affair! Liv thought the man she was married to had had planned a much needed Hawaii vacation for the two of them and later finds out it was for him and “her.” To escape the embarrassment of what he’s done, she runs off to Hawaii with her best friend. It’s on this trip she meets a friend, Kalani, who makes her feel things she hasn’t in years. He teaches her to look inside and helps her discover what she wants out of life. There is a happy ending but you’re going to need some tissues along the way. I’m looking forward to reading more from Olivia Black.
August 4, 2013
Still wiping the tears away -- tears of sadness, and then tears of joy. Someone get me a bucket! This is the story of a physician; a cancer doctor; who falls for someone she can't save. In her brief experience with this obviously less educated person, she learns more about herself than she ever learned about anything. It's a chance meeting that's very smartly played out. There is a brief sexy scene, but nothing I would consider overtly pornographic. Overall, Falling Forward is a smartly written emotional journey many people can relate to.
August 5, 2013
The author does a skillful job in immersing the reader in a book that is exquisitely written with intelligent dialogue, descriptive adjectives and vivid imagery.
The story deals with terminal illness of loved ones, betrayal, and renewal.
The pacing is fluid, making you not wanting to put it down.
There is a twist at the end making the surprise ending even more engaging.
The story deals with terminal illness of loved ones, betrayal, and renewal.
The pacing is fluid, making you not wanting to put it down.
There is a twist at the end making the surprise ending even more engaging.
August 12, 2014
Read my full review on my blog! http://bit.ly/VfCmRG ~Happy Reading :)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews