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Flowers for Mama
All Jane Topovic wants is a normal family, but what she has is secret shame in a violent, drug-addicted brother who bothers her for money when she’s barely getting by. Working for low pay as an aide in a special needs classroom, she is flattered when the handsome guardian of a student asks her out on a date.
The chemistry between them is intense. But she can’t be fully honest with Chalton, scared that he’ll back off fast once he knows how out of control her brother is becoming. And what she doesn’t know is that Chalton isn’t being fully honest with her either . . . and the truth is worse than anything she could imagine.
The chemistry between them is intense. But she can’t be fully honest with Chalton, scared that he’ll back off fast once he knows how out of control her brother is becoming. And what she doesn’t know is that Chalton isn’t being fully honest with her either . . . and the truth is worse than anything she could imagine.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2015
95 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 5, 2018
Very well written story, Jude though a traumatized young boy is a quiet lovable 5 year old. His Uncle Chale adopted him when his mother dies. Jane is a teachers aide in Jude’s classroom & her quiet warmth soothes him, which gradually allows him to trust her. Quite predictably Uncle Chale & Jane have a strong attachment to each other. Jane’s brother, Trevor, is an addict to whatever is available, she have been giving him $$$ but has come to realize that she is just enabling him. When she decides she’s not giving him any more $$$ he becomes violent. She’s ashamed of him & avoids telling Chale anything about him. Very emotional read.....
December 22, 2017
This was a very good read. I was hoping for soft and fluffy, but this wasn't it. Still, I found it heartwarming. Jane is a teacher's aide for young students with learning difficulties. She is still reeling from her mother's death from cancer, and trying to deal with her drug addicted brother, who is getting more erratic and violent when Jane stops supporting his habit via money "loans" and a blind eye that he is getting worse.
She is a kind person and she has good friends around her. She meets the uncle of one of her students, Jude, who is her favorite. He is autistic. Very sweet.
She and Jude's uncle start a romance, which for me, was very nicely handled. No long, descriptive sex scenes. I wanted the relationship to make it.
Both are hiding family tragedies from the other because both are afraid it would scare the other.
Like I said, this wasn't an easy read, but Jane is lovable and you want her to succeed.
She is a kind person and she has good friends around her. She meets the uncle of one of her students, Jude, who is her favorite. He is autistic. Very sweet.
She and Jude's uncle start a romance, which for me, was very nicely handled. No long, descriptive sex scenes. I wanted the relationship to make it.
Both are hiding family tragedies from the other because both are afraid it would scare the other.
Like I said, this wasn't an easy read, but Jane is lovable and you want her to succeed.
February 1, 2019
A story of a teacher aide who befriends a child in her class. Jude is an exceptional learner with a variety of problems and needs attention, love and care His uncle is there for him even after the tragedy that took place in the child's family. He and the aide learn that their family problems can only bring them closer together.
The author deals with describing these "special" children in such a realistic and knowledgable way that the reader is able to understand many of the problems involved in caring for these children.
A very intelligent read.
The author deals with describing these "special" children in such a realistic and knowledgable way that the reader is able to understand many of the problems involved in caring for these children.
A very intelligent read.
May 12, 2019
Life's real people have real problems. Well written. School systems that sometimes work and sometimes don't. People who really care about others all the way to people who don't even understand what it means to care. Parents who care about their child's development and parents who make if difficult if not impossible for their child to grow. This was a story that laid our reality but ended with hope.
January 13, 2019
Heartwarming
Being afraid of what others think of you should not play such a major toll on our lives. Acceptance from others comes from accepting ourselves. No matter how perfect a person's life looks from the outside they have their secret fears and regrets too. Special needs children are some of the most loving and accepting people you will ever be blessed to meet.
Being afraid of what others think of you should not play such a major toll on our lives. Acceptance from others comes from accepting ourselves. No matter how perfect a person's life looks from the outside they have their secret fears and regrets too. Special needs children are some of the most loving and accepting people you will ever be blessed to meet.
August 4, 2019
Sweet Romantic story
The characters in this book are realistic and down to earth . people you would meet everyday. Their lives are entwined through one special little boy. No matter if the world gets ugly there are ways to let the beauty continue to shine through.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and feel others as well.
The characters in this book are realistic and down to earth . people you would meet everyday. Their lives are entwined through one special little boy. No matter if the world gets ugly there are ways to let the beauty continue to shine through.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and feel others as well.
January 9, 2017
Captivating read
Well written characters and storylines. Life is never simple and the complexities can be overwhelming, but the strong muddle through, coming out on the other side the more gloriously.
Well written characters and storylines. Life is never simple and the complexities can be overwhelming, but the strong muddle through, coming out on the other side the more gloriously.
January 20, 2019
Jude came to the special needs class where Jane was an aide. Jane has a violent, drug-addicted brother who bothers her for money when she’s barely getting by. What a good book
April 17, 2021
This was a sweet book to read.
November 9, 2023
great story line and good good book
This book is heartwarming and contains thought provoking content. There is fodder for thought and knowledge to gain. Enjoyed it
This book is heartwarming and contains thought provoking content. There is fodder for thought and knowledge to gain. Enjoyed it
February 2, 2024
Touching
Just plain enjoyable. Predictable but pleasant. Sad, enlightening, funny , lovable. Emotions run high in some parts. Give it a try.
Just plain enjoyable. Predictable but pleasant. Sad, enlightening, funny , lovable. Emotions run high in some parts. Give it a try.
January 31, 2017
Okay so I'll start by saying it was a good read. I loved Jude a whole lot. He was just so cute and he was the main reason I wanted to finish the story. There were a couple of times throughout that I almost put down the book.
The writing was a little strange for me. For one, the dialogue needed to be broken up some. Everyone talked in long paragraphs and nonstop for a while. One conversation in the book, Chale talked for pages. There was no break up for Jane's inner thoughts or even what she was doing awhile listening to him on the phone. It was just really long paragraphs of him talking. The strange part of it is, I liked what was said. The writing itself wasn't bad, but it was too much at one time. Also, there was a lot of stuff in the book that I was wondering why it was even in there. I felt like there was no purpose for it. All the stuff with the King family, I still am unsure why that was in there. Was it entertaining? Yes. But was it necessary? I have no idea. At the end of it all, it didn't really affect Jane. It was just another kid another day.
I liked all the characters, but again there was stuff that the readers didn't really need to know about. Like Brooke's sister. Sure, the reader can know that her sister is crap, but all that dialogue that Brooke spoke just wasn't needed. Instead, we could have heard more about her, gotten to know her in the present more. About her and her boyfriend and what she majored in, what she actually wanted to do with her life, stuff like that.
I liked Jane and Chale together, but I didn't really feel their love. They just seemed like best buds or something. Maybe if the reader saw more of them together versus them just talking to each other then that would have been better. All the times that he was talking to her, it really seemed like he could have been talking to stranger and unloading his life story. Other than asking her out and telling her he loved her at one point, it didn't really seem like he was that interested in her romantically. We got to see a little bit about how she felt but even then it wasn't very passionate.
The writing was a little strange for me. For one, the dialogue needed to be broken up some. Everyone talked in long paragraphs and nonstop for a while. One conversation in the book, Chale talked for pages. There was no break up for Jane's inner thoughts or even what she was doing awhile listening to him on the phone. It was just really long paragraphs of him talking. The strange part of it is, I liked what was said. The writing itself wasn't bad, but it was too much at one time. Also, there was a lot of stuff in the book that I was wondering why it was even in there. I felt like there was no purpose for it. All the stuff with the King family, I still am unsure why that was in there. Was it entertaining? Yes. But was it necessary? I have no idea. At the end of it all, it didn't really affect Jane. It was just another kid another day.
I liked all the characters, but again there was stuff that the readers didn't really need to know about. Like Brooke's sister. Sure, the reader can know that her sister is crap, but all that dialogue that Brooke spoke just wasn't needed. Instead, we could have heard more about her, gotten to know her in the present more. About her and her boyfriend and what she majored in, what she actually wanted to do with her life, stuff like that.
I liked Jane and Chale together, but I didn't really feel their love. They just seemed like best buds or something. Maybe if the reader saw more of them together versus them just talking to each other then that would have been better. All the times that he was talking to her, it really seemed like he could have been talking to stranger and unloading his life story. Other than asking her out and telling her he loved her at one point, it didn't really seem like he was that interested in her romantically. We got to see a little bit about how she felt but even then it wasn't very passionate.
August 14, 2016
I liked this book so much that I read it in one sitting. Jane is a teacher's aide in a pre-K special education classroom. I was so interested in learning more about the challenges that some of the children faced with regards to autism and other diagnoses, as well as simply having had a traumatic home life. The parallel story lines of Jane's issues with her brother, along with Jude and his guardian Chale and their back stories, kept me really engaged. I laughed out loud at some of the lines, and finished with a tear in my eye. The romance wasn't chaste but it wasn't graphic, either. My only negative comment is that I didn't buy Chale's reasons for pulling back from Jane. The book was also extremely well edited.
December 28, 2015
What a heartbreaking but beautiful story! It's about an aide that works with ESE children and grows attached to one in particular...and his dad.
It's got some ups and downs and it is well-written and completely believable. The main character, Jane, is just trying to get through her life as best as she can. I loved reading about a completely average character, rather than one who had all of the answers all of the time or who floated through life in her perfectly little bubble.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
It's got some ups and downs and it is well-written and completely believable. The main character, Jane, is just trying to get through her life as best as she can. I loved reading about a completely average character, rather than one who had all of the answers all of the time or who floated through life in her perfectly little bubble.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
January 22, 2016
Had a hard time putting it down! Not a heavy read, but definitely an interesting one!
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December 17, 2017Awww...sweet
It's nice to see a story of people with a variety of challenges who still get happiness in the end, even when not everything is tied up Ina perfect package. Appreciated the nod to teachers, the acknowledgement of politics and patents in education, and the take on student challenges
It's nice to see a story of people with a variety of challenges who still get happiness in the end, even when not everything is tied up Ina perfect package. Appreciated the nod to teachers, the acknowledgement of politics and patents in education, and the take on student challenges
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews