Where There Is Life

A New Start #2

by Charlene Carr

Autumn Caparelli just married Matt Evens, the man of her dreams. The man she’s certain will transform her hopes for the future into realities … until she wakes up in a hospital bed, unable to remember how she got there or why her new husband is not by her side. As the haze clears and her memory returns, Autumn realizes none of those dreams will come true—at least not with Matt.

At home, Matt’s absence haunts Autumn, making her world seem dim. Desperate to get away from the sadness that engulfs her, she embarks on a journey to create a new life for herself, one where she can let go of the past and all the pain that threatens to destroy her—but letting go is never easy.

Only when Autumn accepts the truth of what happened can she let in the light and finally believe that as long as she has life and hope, her dreams will never die.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

194 pages, ebook

First published November 10, 2014

About the author

Charlene Carr is the youngest of four children and the only girl. Living in a house full of boys taught her to fight for what she wants and to always reach higher (you have to when everyone in your family towers above you).

She spent much of her childhood creating elaborate, multi-faceted storylines for her dolls and reading under the blankets with a flashlight when she was supposed to be asleep.

A bit of a nomad, she’s lived in four countries and seven Canadian provinces. After travelling the globe for several years and working an array of mostly writing related jobs, she decided the time had come to focus exclusively on her true love—crafting stories.

Charlene is a novelist and stay-at-home mom: her two dream jobs. She lives in Nova Scotia, Canada and loves exploring the coastline of her harbour town with her husband and young daughter.

Her upcoming novel Hold My Girl, "a tense and emotional dual narrative novel about motherhood, racial identity, loss and betrayal," perfect for "Fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty" will release Winter 2023 from HarperCollins Canada and Welbeck Publishing (UK).

Reviews

[Norma Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story about the main character, Autumn, and her struggles with a very sad event which happened in her life at the early start of the book. The author did a great job of handling the stress which we often feel when we think the world has turned upside down on us. I felt frustrated with Autumn when she refused to keep in contact with her parents and didn't call back her mother back when she was travelling, and being a mother myself, I actually became angry with her; however I know that many mothers go through the same stress when their children travel. I appreciated how the author makes her stories so real and I look forward to reading the next edition in this series.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book is a tear jerker! Following Autumn's journey back to herself, which I did. I couldn't put the book down because of it. I would read this book again. It gives anyone hope that when life gives you lemons make lemonade!

I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for an honest review

Autumn and Matt have just gotten married. They are excited to begin their life together and are off to go in their honeymoon. Then suddenly Autumn awakes to find herself in a hospital room. Why is she not on her honeymoon? Where is her husband? She starts to become more coherent and sees her parents off to the side in her hospital room. As they gently talk to her , she begins to get agitated. She demands to know where Matt is. Slowly her mind is able to comprehend that Matt is no longer alive. Her parents tell her of the accident, and she slowly starts to remember that day.

Autumn has injuries that will take her awhile to recover from. But how will her heart recover? She was Matt's wife for only twenty-four hours , but in that short time her world was happy and bliss. As she slowly recovers physically, everyone around her knows that she is just going the motions . Her deep depression is trapping her in isolation as she tells her friends and family she is fine. For Autumn her dreams died the day Matt did. She feels hopeless and just wants to exist with no real purpose.

Autumn slowly starts to get up in the morning and start to take her life back. She forbids anyone to say Matt's name and decides she will just put him in the past and move forward. She tells her family that she has decided to take a trip overseas to get away. Maybe she can start to live again, find a purpose or just deal with her grief.

The author introduced us to several characters Autumn meets on her travels. She meets a brother snd sister and soon they develop a friendship. They decide to travel together and soon it seems as though Autumn is becoming herself again. Can she find a way to let go of her hurt and pain over losing her husband?

I enjoyed one of the stops Autumn makes in her journey when she meets Dominic. His family is old school Italian, rich in culture. I loved it when Autumn smashes the grapes for wine with her feet. It made me think of a great scene from "I Love Lucy," where Lucy is trying to keep up with the other women who are smashing grapes with their feet and laughing at Lucy as she tries to keep up. The author wrote an amazing , happy time that Autumn experienced with people who liked her and she began to feel part of the family. She found herself enjoying being around people again and having fun.

The story shares with the readers how one woman goes through loss, pain and finding herself again. It captures the emotions of a lost love and a woman who is determined to move forward and find peace. I loved the writing by the author that gave Autumn raw emotions as she journeys to see her hopes and dreams come to pass. This is a story you will remember for a long time as the words flow so beautifully across the pages.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book takes one to so many places! While the main character, Autumn, tries to "find herself" after going through a very emotional trauma in her life, she tries to escape from all the people who love her and all the memories which are wearing her down. During this time, the author takes us to different geographical places and also many emotional places. The story covers many of the issues that we all will face in our life at some time or other.

You will enjoy reading this book. It is well worth the read.

Here are two quotes from the book: "Maybe where we are doesn't have a whole lot to do with general contentment, you know? Maybe it's more about how we choose to look at the things in our lives. Maybe I could get everything I've ever thought I wanted and at the end of the day it won't have made that much difference. Maybe there are things back home that could have done for you what all these experiences have done. Maybe there are things back home for me too."

"Farfar's words come to mind --as long as there is life, there is hope. As long as there is hope, life."

We all deal with trauma in our lives in different ways, and I think readers will truly enjoy reading what Autumn went through as she dealt with her trauma and eventually found "life" once again.

[Stephanie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where there is life by Charlene Carr could be a stand alone novel but preferably not. Book one Skinny Me draws you into the story of Autumn and leaves you wanting to know her on a more personal level while diving into different aspects of her life as a secondary character.

Where there is life is nothing short of a must-read, although the ending has you yearning for more and could have delved just a bit deeper it does wrap up nicely with no loose ends in sight.

This book will have you shedding tears, laughing out loud and bursting at the seams to know more. Tragedy, love and family unity carry you through to the end.

Autumn’s life takes a turn for the worse and her family watches as she struggles to cope. Everything gone in an instant, her dreams, her future… everything.

How lost can a soul become before there is no turning back? And how far will one go to run from the hand that life has dealt?

Stephanie M Nason - Author (Vampire Whisperer) and Book Reviewer (Accepting Requests)
www.authorsopinions.wordpress.com

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story! This is a great addition to the series of books. I was immediately right there with Autumn as she faced the hardest thing ever in her life...the loss of her new husband. What a testimony of a book! It was as real as it gets, with Autumn running away from her grief. It's an interesting journey as she travels overseas to Italy and England and meets new friends that accept her and help her get through the upheaval in her life. After she tries to avoid all thought of the man she loved, Autumn begins the healing process as time goes on. It's an intense, emotional journey, and you find yourself shedding tears along with her. The story is a very moving, real series of events that Autumn goes through, and I really enjoyed getting to know all of her friends and family in a deeper way throughout the book. I highly recommend this book...looking forward to more. Thanks to the author and goodreads for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the second of a series. This book starts with tragedy and goes through the process of working through it and getting on with your life. It shows the ugly side of when bad things happen, it had me rooting for the main character, wanting her to find a new side of her life after tragedy struck. I liked the main character of this book from the beginning, as I got to "know" her in the first book. A big difference from the first book of the series, where I found the main character (Jennifer) to have a bad attitude, was that I really liked Autumn. There were times I got frustrated with her, but overall I wanted her to find her "new happy" and be able to live a full life not dwelling on the past or as she tried to do, act like it never happened. I see there is a third book in the series, I'll have to check that one out now.

[Linda Oleniuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free book , thank you Charlene Carr and it was an easy read.
It is nice to read books from young Canadian authors and it is comparable to Nicolas Sparks type of writing.

One suggestion, it would be nice to have a setting, a place where your story is happening.
Goodreads asked in a recent survey where would you be if you were transported to the place the book you are currently reading.
I have no idea where Charlene's characters are based but I assumed somewhere in Canada because there was mention of needing a work visa and not having a problem getting a Canadian one.

As with Skinny Me there is a lesson to this story and I am guessing Charlene's books are geared to young adults.
Charlene refreshingly includes inter racial relationships with ease, something unheard of 30 years ago.
I would love to read more of Charlene's books.
Keep writing.

[Gina Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story started out as a very run of the mill story for me. I felt Autumn's pain just as i would have felt Jennifer's pain the first story but there really did not seem to be anything new.

I am not sure when that changed but I felt myself slowly getting sucked into Autumn's story and wondering about what was going to happen next and it turned out to be a very thoughtful and insightful read so much that I was sorry when the story ended.

Like Jennifer in the first novel. I like where the author has left the story - Autumn isn't perfect but she is OK. Her personal tragedy has taught her alot - not only about life and love but also about herself. Very meaningful and moving.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what an emotional book! Charlene Carr is really exploring the darkness that grief can bring to someone's life. Autumn played an important role in the first book in this series, it even ended at her wedding. This book picks up just after that. While each book could be read as a stand alone, I feel that you get a much better picture of Autumn by reading Skinny Me first. You can see the stark contrast between Autumn from book one and what she becomes.
Once again, I really enjoyed the conclusion of this book. I felt that Autumn had come through the worst of her grief and was making strides toward a new self discovery. I can't wait to read the next book.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. If you read Skinny Me, the first book in the series, you will remember Autumn. Many of the characters are familiar, which I really enjoy about the series. Each book focuses on one of the friends introduced in Skinny Me. Where There Is Life focuses on Autumn's personal journey. The story is touching and uplifting. Make sure to keep the tissue box close!

Charlene Carr's characters feel like familiar friends and it is easy to get wrapped up in their stories. I highly recommend this book as well as the others in the series!

[Erma MacInnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very frustrating in the beginning when the unexpected tragedy happened, but I continued reading as I really liked Autumn and I wanted to know how her life would turn out in the end. There were some parts in the middle of the book which I found a bit slow, especially around the wine making adventures. I was happy that Autumn resolved her family problems in the end.

[Carla Wilks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I could really feel for the character, Autumn, and her reaction to what happened was a very realistic grief reaction. I appreciated that she didn't just have an "aha" moment necessarily, but that her awakening was a gradual one. I look forward to learning more about this family!

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! In reading the first book, I was thrilled to see things through Autumn's eyes. What a heartbreaking introduction. For anyone who has suffered a loss or not, you will tear up with the struggles & life lessons in this edition. There are moments of sadness, joy and it will make you laugh out loud...it had everything I needed.

[Lyndsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this much better than the first book in the series. I feel like it was easier to relate to the character and she was less irritating as she worked through her problems.

I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.

[Jacintha Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

these books had me hooked from the second I started and I immediately had to download the second and then the third to find out what happened!
well written and a great easy read-ideal for a summers day to sit outside with a glass of wine and lose yourself in this book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, enjoyed it very much. This was an emotional journey for the main character but relatable to anyone that has experienced a devastating loss.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow up to Skinny Me. The characters are relatable and is a fun read. Highly recommend.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the story of finding yourself after a tragedy that changes who you always thought you were. Very gripping until the very end

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the series focuses on Jennifer's cousin, Autumn, who we meet in the first book (Skinny Me). At the end of that book, she had just married the love of her life, Matt, and she was looking forward to their life together. What she didn't expect was for her life to drastically change in the worst way imaginable...

At first, it was difficult for me to truly get lost in this sequel. It begins with a devastating tragedy that comes out of nowhere. I was heartbroken for Autumn and what she had to endure, and the memories and opportunities that were ripped away from her so early in her life. But she also frustrated the hell out of me, at times. Her process of dealing with the grief was dysfunctional and flawed, and the story explores that extensively. She runs away to Europe, with the intention of 'finding herself' again, and fortunately, she encounters an Italian family that ends up changing her perspective in the best possible way.

"This whole being alone thing doesn’t seem to be working for me. With people, I have someone to hold up the facade for—pretending I’m alright. And I even believe it a lot of the time." -pg 150

And yet, sometimes, there were moments where I completely related to Autumn on a personal level, such as in the quote above. While I have never experienced such a devastating loss as hers, my nightmare is a traumatic situation that left me feeling emotionally damaged and broken for the last decade and more. It was difficult to read at times, because of how close to home that particular aspect of the book hit for me. But I did enjoy seeing how she finally overcomes her grief and chooses to move on with her life, in the right way.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to love this but.....

I read to escape, to learn, to be whisked away into others lives and for pure enjoyment of the written word. This author is a talented writer, there is no denying that but this book was crumby. I hated the lead character... I understand the need to portray a flawed and selfish individual but there was no growth and I didn't actually care at the end what happened to her. There was so much potential for this book to be beautiful and poignant but it was miserable and didn't appear heartfelt. I could have loved the character had she developed or grown. I am sorry for the harsh review and will try the next book in the series as the actual writing was beautifully crafted, just missed the mark on what could've been a gorgeous story about love, family, connections and grief.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I reread the paperback copy of this book again this week and, if possible, I enjoyed it even more this time around. These are a few quotes which really caught my attention:

"Hmmm." He nods and, behind the boyish glint, his eyes hold something more serious. "All of our lives are a book, one we only get to co-author. Some people think we can wipe the slates clean, but we never can. Not really. Our past shapes our story, to be sure. It can't be erased, but the blessing is it doesn't have to define the rest of the tale."

She looks at me then shrugs, smiles that disarming smile she has. "Well, okay. Just know if you ever want to remember that past with someone, I've got two listening ears. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our past refuses to stay there. Sometimes it's good to hold it up again, you know?"

Where There Is Life, by Charlene Carr

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free so that I could give an honest review. The beginning was a bit slow and unfeeling, but it really became interesting and emotional as I got into it. A great way to dive into someone else's life, learn about French culture and entertain some deep questions about life experiences.
Charlene has done her research in tackling these first two books in this series. I feel each book can be read on it's own because each story delves into different aspects of different characters' life experiences, yet if you were to read these in order, it creates the feeling that you already know the character from previous stories.
Thank you Charlene!

[Dana Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This honestly was a book I didn't know I needed to read until I started reading it. A book of heartache, finding yourself, and learning you can't outrun the past or your troubles.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and I thought Autumn was someone you could relate to in many aspects.

This is part of a series, but could be read by itself. The story does refer back to some events/characters that you meet in the first book, but the author does a pretty good job giving you enough information to continue the current book.

[Carolynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! This story was so wonderful. Sad and heartbreaking, but beautifully written. To go through such a loss through the eyes of the main character was beyond moving. However, sometimes the actions of the main character were cringeworthy, but it’s all real world problems. Who knows how to react in such heartbreak and loss. I hope I never have to go through anything like it. Beautiful book. It was a great read!

[Melinda Fulford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Of course I don't know what I'd feel in her situation so I don't think I can comment on her reaction to everything, but the writing is good. The style keeps you hooked in to whatever is going on in the story. At times it was easier to remember it was only a story. I always wanted to keep reading. I would like to read something else written by this author at the end of the day.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcoming Loss

I received this book free from the author for an honest review. The story starts out sad but ends up good. I couldn't put it down after I started reading it. It was a tear jerker at times, but the author did a great job of easing the pain the reader feels for Autumn through her journey of grief. I highly recommend this book.

[Tania Gresham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Charlene Carr's books. I am only on the 2nd of 5 but can't wait to start another. My husband did not die, but we separated and I was able to feel Autumn's pain all the same. It was great walking through the journey with her. KUDOS to Charlene Carr.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by this author. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about all the tragedies the characters were experiencing, as this is a sequel to another book. But the lessons that are taught make it so real and beautiful!

[Angie crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, heartbreaking book about loss and figuring out how to go on.