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Forgive
Sadie knew the minute she graduated high school she had to get away. Being bullied and made fun of had worn on her self-esteem and made her feel like nothing. College was not only a place for her to create the person she wanted to be, it gave her the freedom to ignore those harsh words that broke her in high school. Life was going well until that familiar voice and face confronted her and her world shattered. Now Sadie must deal with the battle within. Can she let go of the past for good?
Matt was on a mission to show Sadie that he had changed and was asking for her to give him a chance to prove it. Will Matt accomplish the one thing he’s set out to do? Will he be able to break through the wall that she still has up after all these years? As the truth about the past unfolds, will it destroy any future those two have or will it make their forgiveness become the foundation for the future?
Matt was on a mission to show Sadie that he had changed and was asking for her to give him a chance to prove it. Will Matt accomplish the one thing he’s set out to do? Will he be able to break through the wall that she still has up after all these years? As the truth about the past unfolds, will it destroy any future those two have or will it make their forgiveness become the foundation for the future?
254 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2014
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23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 3, 2015
I remember when the author asked me what I thought of this new idea she had. What would I do if I had been bullied and humiliated in school, to the point I didn’t even want to go on. If my home life wasn’t what you would call normal and I lived with the depression of loss at home, would I tell the bullies in hopes they would back off? The biggest question, what if I met one of my bullies after I had become an adult and had a great career…….would I tell them what I thought, would I run away, would I be mature and explain the pain they caused me…….would I fall in love?
That is what Sadie is going to have to decide when the years of losing weight, changing her appearance and working her butt off to succeed in her career all comes to a halting stop the moment Matt walks into the conference room for a meeting. He thinks he recognizes her even after she denies it is her. She tries to convince herself she is nothing like that little girl either on the inside or out, but that little girl constantly reminds her that some things don’t change.
Matt was involved in the bullying, he wasn’t the leader of the abusez, but he knew how it was hurting Sadie. Now he wants a chance to make it up to her. Maybe he can help her heal the old hurts, but as he listens to her he realizes she has never had a boyfriend, been kiss, held hands. All of the things a beautiful woman should have experienced by her age, she hadn’t, all because of the bullying and feelings that she can’t recover from.
Will she let Matt be her first in all areas and will he end up saying to be her forever? I love the message in this story of recovery and forgiveness. As we know in life you can forgive a person but rebuilding trust is something that rarely happens. Get your copy now and watch Sadie as she makes the difficult choices regarding self-image, confidence and where Matt will fit in her life.
That is what Sadie is going to have to decide when the years of losing weight, changing her appearance and working her butt off to succeed in her career all comes to a halting stop the moment Matt walks into the conference room for a meeting. He thinks he recognizes her even after she denies it is her. She tries to convince herself she is nothing like that little girl either on the inside or out, but that little girl constantly reminds her that some things don’t change.
Matt was involved in the bullying, he wasn’t the leader of the abusez, but he knew how it was hurting Sadie. Now he wants a chance to make it up to her. Maybe he can help her heal the old hurts, but as he listens to her he realizes she has never had a boyfriend, been kiss, held hands. All of the things a beautiful woman should have experienced by her age, she hadn’t, all because of the bullying and feelings that she can’t recover from.
Will she let Matt be her first in all areas and will he end up saying to be her forever? I love the message in this story of recovery and forgiveness. As we know in life you can forgive a person but rebuilding trust is something that rarely happens. Get your copy now and watch Sadie as she makes the difficult choices regarding self-image, confidence and where Matt will fit in her life.
March 3, 2016
Forgive was rec'd on the amazon forums. Hero was friends with a bully who bullied the heroine when she was a teenager. The hero back then did nothing to stop the bullying. Fastword, they are adults and the hero has fallen in love with the heroine. He has to convince her that he is changed and he does.
The only reason this isn't a 5 star romance is the way the bully was dealt with at the end. See the bully is gay and bullied the heroine as cover for being in the closet as a teenager. Somehow the bully is made to be sympathetic when he still showed his bully tendencies when he meet the heroine again as an adult. That really angered me. Being in the closet gay was no excuse for what the bully did yet it became one and the heroine was easier on the adult bully than the hero. It took her much longer to forgive the hero. That wasn't right, imo
The only reason this isn't a 5 star romance is the way the bully was dealt with at the end. See the bully is gay and bullied the heroine as cover for being in the closet as a teenager. Somehow the bully is made to be sympathetic when he still showed his bully tendencies when he meet the heroine again as an adult. That really angered me. Being in the closet gay was no excuse for what the bully did yet it became one and the heroine was easier on the adult bully than the hero. It took her much longer to forgive the hero. That wasn't right, imo
May 14, 2015
If it were possible to reach through this screen and hug author Mandee Mae I think I would. You have no idea how much your book touched me. As a girl who was and still is the chubby girl, thank you from the bottom of my heart. While I wasn’t teased and ridiculed as much as poor Sadie, I was exposed to this on occasion in high school. I am not a shy girl so I faired a little better than Sadie did, but the words still haunt me today. Now… back to the book after my public service announcement
Sadie is the broken down and battered little girl who faced bullying every single day in high school from a trio of the popular guys in school. Tom, their ringleader, and his two silent followers Matt and Toby. Tom was relentless in his bullying of Sadie, while Toby and Matt stood by saying nothing. Years later, Sadie has learned to live on her far away from the nightmares of her past and hometown. She’s successful in her career and finally has found a form of peace in her life. Life was as good as it could be expected for her until she walks into a meeting for work… there sits Matt at the head of the table. Memories and nightmares of her torture coming rushing back to her. Yet, Matt isn’t the guy she thought he was. He had secrets of his own with her bullying in school. She wants to move on from the past, but it floods her dreams. Sadie’s strong walls are tested when Matt wants to give her more than an apology. Can her heart take the memories both new and old or will she run into the night away from forgiveness?
Forgive highlights a few things that I think we need to read about more often, bullying of all forms and the effects of bullied kids. Every day in the news, there is another report about a young kid who’s taken their life because of the bullies in their school or life. These kids needed love and support, but we only given harsh words and hopelessness. That is the case for Sadie as a character. She runs screaming into the night to get away from the pain, never looking back on her hometown. She’s had to live with the fears instilled in her by her bullies her entire life. These guys effected every single decision she’s ever made and would have continued to do so should she not have had a chance meeting with Matt. Sadie’s story is one of forgiving, healing, and finding love in the ashes of the past. Mandee Mae broke my heart so many times in this book that I had to put it down and take an emotional breather. This well-written, emotion book needs to be on everyone’s TBR pile not because it is a good story, but because of the causes it highlights. Thank you Mandee for not shying away from the hard stuff and laying it all out there for your readers. I can’t wait to read more!
May 14, 2015
If it were possible to reach through this screen and hug author Mandee Mae I think I would. You have no idea how much your book touched me. As a girl who was and still is the chubby girl, thank you from the bottom of my heart. While I wasn’t teased and ridiculed as much as poor Sadie, I was exposed to this on occasion in high school. I am not a shy girl so I faired a little better than Sadie did, but the words still haunt me today. Now… back to the book after my public service announcement
Sadie is the broken down and battered little girl who faced bullying every single day in high school from a trio of the popular guys in school. Tom, their ringleader, and his two silent followers Matt and Toby. Tom was relentless in his bullying of Sadie, while Toby and Matt stood by saying nothing. Years later, Sadie has learned to live on her far away from the nightmares of her past and hometown. She’s successful in her career and finally has found a form of peace in her life. Life was as good as it could be expected for her until she walks into a meeting for work… there sits Matt at the head of the table. Memories and nightmares of her torture coming rushing back to her. Yet, Matt isn’t the guy she thought he was. He had secrets of his own with her bullying in school. She wants to move on from the past, but it floods her dreams. Sadie’s strong walls are tested when Matt wants to give her more than an apology. Can her heart take the memories both new and old or will she run into the night away from forgiveness?
Forgive highlights a few things that I think we need to read about more often, bullying of all forms and the effects of bullied kids. Every day in the news, there is another report about a young kid who’s taken their life because of the bullies in their school or life. These kids needed love and support, but we only given harsh words and hopelessness. That is the case for Sadie as a character. She runs screaming into the night to get away from the pain, never looking back on her hometown. She’s had to live with the fears instilled in her by her bullies her entire life. These guys effected every single decision she’s ever made and would have continued to do so should she not have had a chance meeting with Matt. Sadie’s story is one of forgiving, healing, and finding love in the ashes of the past. Mandee Mae broke my heart so many times in this book that I had to put it down and take an emotional breather. This well-written, emotion book needs to be on everyone’s TBR pile not because it is a good story, but because of the causes it highlights. Thank you Mandee for not shying away from the hard stuff and laying it all out there for your readers. I can’t wait to read more!
January 7, 2015
I really like that the author chose an important issue that children and adults both have to try to deal with and move past, if they find the strength to or support. Being a young teenage girl is not easy with all the changes that they go through but add to that being overweight, glasses and untamed hair just adds more problems. Sadie is a girl, that sadly, too many of us can relate to at least at one point or another in our lives. There are so many ways that people are bullied whether the act is acknowledged to be bullying or not.
Many people hold grudges whether a healthy or unhealthy thing to do. Being mistreated (bullied) is one that many cannot move past and will not interact with those who have done the mistreating. Sadie ends up, not intentionally, coming in contact with one of the boys that used to hang with the Tom the bully, who was just plain mean to Sadie for nothing she did. Matt wasn't sure if Sadie was in fact the girl he had known in high school because the decade that had gone by had seen changes in both of them. Matt was not a bully himself and never engaged in the name calling but he never stepped up to try to prevent the bullying from happening. Peer pressure is a tough thing and you don't want to feel the repercussions if you go against those deemed popular or bullies. You don't want to draw unwanted attention to yourself.
Sadie tries to stay under his radar for him not to realize that she in fact is the Sadie he went to school with. Once he realizes she is, he wants to apologize as best he can to make Sadie understand how much he has thought of his part in the bullying and not stepping up to stop it from happening. Will Sadie give him the chance to explain his part and realize that maybe his apology could be sincere? If Sadie lets him speak his peace with he seek forgiveness and will she be able to move past the pain she has suffered with all her life or will she not forgive him.
I recommend that you read this book. Whether you have been the victim and/or the bully, I think there are lessons to be learned on both sides. There are different sides as to how things are viewed but also what impacts one's life to act the way they do or not. This book is a great read!
Many people hold grudges whether a healthy or unhealthy thing to do. Being mistreated (bullied) is one that many cannot move past and will not interact with those who have done the mistreating. Sadie ends up, not intentionally, coming in contact with one of the boys that used to hang with the Tom the bully, who was just plain mean to Sadie for nothing she did. Matt wasn't sure if Sadie was in fact the girl he had known in high school because the decade that had gone by had seen changes in both of them. Matt was not a bully himself and never engaged in the name calling but he never stepped up to try to prevent the bullying from happening. Peer pressure is a tough thing and you don't want to feel the repercussions if you go against those deemed popular or bullies. You don't want to draw unwanted attention to yourself.
Sadie tries to stay under his radar for him not to realize that she in fact is the Sadie he went to school with. Once he realizes she is, he wants to apologize as best he can to make Sadie understand how much he has thought of his part in the bullying and not stepping up to stop it from happening. Will Sadie give him the chance to explain his part and realize that maybe his apology could be sincere? If Sadie lets him speak his peace with he seek forgiveness and will she be able to move past the pain she has suffered with all her life or will she not forgive him.
I recommend that you read this book. Whether you have been the victim and/or the bully, I think there are lessons to be learned on both sides. There are different sides as to how things are viewed but also what impacts one's life to act the way they do or not. This book is a great read!
October 6, 2014
This is my first read by Mandee, but it will not be my last! I cannot wait to download her other books on my Kindle and get to reading! She writes a beautifully heartbreaking and heartwarming story based on a young girl dealing with bullying in high school. The terror three boys put her through. But she overcame her insecurities and reinvented herself. She lost weight, took better care of herself and finished college. She landed a great job and is feeling good about her life. She has never had a relationship with a man. But she has wonderful friends and is quite happy.
Then, unexpectedly. Matt walks back into her life. Better looking than ever. Even though she has become a different person, he recognizes Sadie and convinces her to give him a chance to show her he has changed. Matt only wants to right all the wrongs that Sadie endured while she was only a young girl. But trying to forgive someone who was a partner to the horrible things that were done to her is not easily forgiven. Sadie is not sure she can ever have a meaningful relationship with a man, let alone Matt. Matt is not sure he can ever get Sadie to forgive him, but he makes it his mission to try to make it up to her.
Then, unexpectedly. Matt walks back into her life. Better looking than ever. Even though she has become a different person, he recognizes Sadie and convinces her to give him a chance to show her he has changed. Matt only wants to right all the wrongs that Sadie endured while she was only a young girl. But trying to forgive someone who was a partner to the horrible things that were done to her is not easily forgiven. Sadie is not sure she can ever have a meaningful relationship with a man, let alone Matt. Matt is not sure he can ever get Sadie to forgive him, but he makes it his mission to try to make it up to her.
June 3, 2015
This is the fairytale every woman wants after being broken. To find someone so understanding, loving, patient and willing to try and on top of that help you grow to a stronger person...is better than to find a Prince Charming. I can't say I identified a lot with the characters but even then the book had good moments when i would cheer for them.
July 5, 2015
High school probs!
I think we were all bullied in school but we rarely know the impact it has on those around us. This was a good story of bullies, those who were bullied, and what happens as we grow older. I loved the story, but wished it didn't end so abruptly. I want to know what happened to Mark, Tom, Matt, and Sadie...
I think we were all bullied in school but we rarely know the impact it has on those around us. This was a good story of bullies, those who were bullied, and what happens as we grow older. I loved the story, but wished it didn't end so abruptly. I want to know what happened to Mark, Tom, Matt, and Sadie...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews