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Böhme #3
quintessence.
Think about a time in your life when everything was perfect, and it felt as though nothing could go wrong. Life fell into planned alignment. All of the ideas and hopes held most important organized as books on a shelf. Each book held a title bearing a phase in life and within its pages laid the plan for the future.
Now imagine life throwing something at that shelf—everything planned, everything hoped for, everything organized, now turning over as the shelf falls to the floor.
Fear of the unknown replaces the hope for a perfect future.
Karl Samson is not a stranger to roadblocks and disruptions in life. Having for a time let them consume his thoughts, he now lives life learning from his trials. He is the guy everyone thinks is a little off, even though his friends love him for it. He is the one helping others. He didn’t set out one day to find love—he was doing what he usually did.
Maggie Presley achieves, and that is what she is known for—her determination to move ahead. Then, she is faced with something even the most meticulous planner could not foresee. Maggie believed she knew what life held for her because she could create her future. However, life had other plans, and she learns that even the worst of circumstances have unexpected outcomes after you are reminded of life’s beauty. This is a story of life and how sometimes it takes a reorganization of shelves to find the future. It’s a story of love found even during the darkest points in life.
Now imagine life throwing something at that shelf—everything planned, everything hoped for, everything organized, now turning over as the shelf falls to the floor.
Fear of the unknown replaces the hope for a perfect future.
Karl Samson is not a stranger to roadblocks and disruptions in life. Having for a time let them consume his thoughts, he now lives life learning from his trials. He is the guy everyone thinks is a little off, even though his friends love him for it. He is the one helping others. He didn’t set out one day to find love—he was doing what he usually did.
Maggie Presley achieves, and that is what she is known for—her determination to move ahead. Then, she is faced with something even the most meticulous planner could not foresee. Maggie believed she knew what life held for her because she could create her future. However, life had other plans, and she learns that even the worst of circumstances have unexpected outcomes after you are reminded of life’s beauty. This is a story of life and how sometimes it takes a reorganization of shelves to find the future. It’s a story of love found even during the darkest points in life.
- GenresContemporary Romance
Unknown Binding
First published May 11, 2015
3 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Buhl
7 books61 followersSarah Buhl. Sci-fi lover. Self-professed TV and IMDB guru. Gamer. Dreamer. Mother. Wife. Friend. Author of novels.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 26, 2015
This is going to be a bit more serious than my normal sarcastic review, but that’s because this book IS serious. It’s also seriously great.
While reading this my feelings slammed around my chest causing this incredible sense of peace combined with the worst sense of ache. Talk about an all consuming love. I could feel the love: it’s innocence, how it transcended all other things and how it wrapped it’s hands around Karl and Maggie to push them together. Their love was beautiful, heartbreaking and so fucking pure. Not in the virgin kind of way, but in the clean and whole kind of way.
This is a story about two people who are suffering but who choose not to suffer. That’s sort of awesome, right? I mean, these people have some seriously heavy shit hanging around them but refuse to get pulled into the depths of it. Instead, they choose to look around them and be thankful. They choose to fall in love. They choose each other.
This isn’t one of those she leaves him or he leaves her books because one of them said something stupid and then they go for weeks angry based on some stupid misunderstanding. No. You feel the love building for these two in this amazing way into a crescendo. There’s not a pinnacle dramatic moment, it’s a lot of little dramatic moments.
You should know that if you can’t handle reading about the realities of what veterans go through, then don’t read this book. [gets on soapbox] But you should. You really fucking should. [gets off soapbox]. Karl’s a veteran and he’s trying to figure out how to coincide the person he once was with the person he now is. This is raw. This is real. This is truth. This book gives some of the best insight into the inner workings of a veteran’s mind than I ever could. I know this because I could see my husband in Karl. In every heartbreaking, beautiful word.
Karl’s journey intertwines with Maggie’s as if they were presented to each other at the perfect time in their lives. They soon discover that they simply work better together. Some may think that this book is too much in that it talks about feelings a whole fucking lot. But I don’t think we see this type of love enough. I love a book about a quick fuck as much as the next girl, but this book entered my veins and made me feel.
Karl is steadfast and amazing while Maggie is determined and strong. They balance each other when they need balancing and they hold each other when they need holding. It’s good. It’s so so fucking good. There’s not a ton of sex, but there’s more love than you can imagine. Some of the writing felt a little stilted to me, but on the whole I succumbed to All The Feels while reading this, which is why it gets 4.75 stars. This book is gorgeous.
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
This review looks prettier on my blog: http://obsessedwithmyshelf.com/2015/0...
While reading this my feelings slammed around my chest causing this incredible sense of peace combined with the worst sense of ache. Talk about an all consuming love. I could feel the love: it’s innocence, how it transcended all other things and how it wrapped it’s hands around Karl and Maggie to push them together. Their love was beautiful, heartbreaking and so fucking pure. Not in the virgin kind of way, but in the clean and whole kind of way.
This is a story about two people who are suffering but who choose not to suffer. That’s sort of awesome, right? I mean, these people have some seriously heavy shit hanging around them but refuse to get pulled into the depths of it. Instead, they choose to look around them and be thankful. They choose to fall in love. They choose each other.
This isn’t one of those she leaves him or he leaves her books because one of them said something stupid and then they go for weeks angry based on some stupid misunderstanding. No. You feel the love building for these two in this amazing way into a crescendo. There’s not a pinnacle dramatic moment, it’s a lot of little dramatic moments.
You should know that if you can’t handle reading about the realities of what veterans go through, then don’t read this book. [gets on soapbox] But you should. You really fucking should. [gets off soapbox]. Karl’s a veteran and he’s trying to figure out how to coincide the person he once was with the person he now is. This is raw. This is real. This is truth. This book gives some of the best insight into the inner workings of a veteran’s mind than I ever could. I know this because I could see my husband in Karl. In every heartbreaking, beautiful word.
Karl’s journey intertwines with Maggie’s as if they were presented to each other at the perfect time in their lives. They soon discover that they simply work better together. Some may think that this book is too much in that it talks about feelings a whole fucking lot. But I don’t think we see this type of love enough. I love a book about a quick fuck as much as the next girl, but this book entered my veins and made me feel.
Karl is steadfast and amazing while Maggie is determined and strong. They balance each other when they need balancing and they hold each other when they need holding. It’s good. It’s so so fucking good. There’s not a ton of sex, but there’s more love than you can imagine. Some of the writing felt a little stilted to me, but on the whole I succumbed to All The Feels while reading this, which is why it gets 4.75 stars. This book is gorgeous.
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
This review looks prettier on my blog: http://obsessedwithmyshelf.com/2015/0...
April 18, 2015
I received this as an ARC and was never asked to do a review. It blew me away and I just had to one anyway.
Every now and then you come across a book that grips you from the moment you see the cover, it speaks to you and it's in that moment you know you were meant to read it. That's what happened with the first book, "Penance." I fell in love with the characters and Sarah's writing from the second I started reading it. As I progressed through the series every book just got better, the characters have become an extended family and I am absolutely in awe of Sarah's ability to bring a story to life.
This story is so beautifully written, her words are poetry in motion. This book reached inside me right down to my very soul and awakened something deep inside of me. It shook me. It touched every part of me. Her words give you pause, they hover, they breathe, and they have a pulse. They are freaking magic. They are music. They are everything. They are the world and everything in it and you, the reader feel like an intruder as you watch them do an intricate dance across the pages. They are just that beautiful. It alters you, changes your perception and inspires you.
These two are both fighting for something, for something more and then they realize what they have together is far more than they ever expected. You watch them struggle, you watch them fight, you watch them grow and by the end of the book you are not the same.
This book, this story, and her writing will raise your expectations, surpass all your hopes and dreams for these characters and your heart...your heart will be so happy it will hurt. Oh man, does it hurt so good. You will be so full of possibilities, hope, and love. By the end you'll have smiles a mile long and a humbleness that breathes new life into the heart of you. The title says it all, it's the quintessence of life, love and pain. We all have wounds, in some way or another we all experience pain. This book will wound you and heal you, but most of all it will inspire you. Read it, I dare you.
I dare you to feel.
I dare you to live.
I dare you to dream.
Every now and then you come across a book that grips you from the moment you see the cover, it speaks to you and it's in that moment you know you were meant to read it. That's what happened with the first book, "Penance." I fell in love with the characters and Sarah's writing from the second I started reading it. As I progressed through the series every book just got better, the characters have become an extended family and I am absolutely in awe of Sarah's ability to bring a story to life.
This story is so beautifully written, her words are poetry in motion. This book reached inside me right down to my very soul and awakened something deep inside of me. It shook me. It touched every part of me. Her words give you pause, they hover, they breathe, and they have a pulse. They are freaking magic. They are music. They are everything. They are the world and everything in it and you, the reader feel like an intruder as you watch them do an intricate dance across the pages. They are just that beautiful. It alters you, changes your perception and inspires you.
These two are both fighting for something, for something more and then they realize what they have together is far more than they ever expected. You watch them struggle, you watch them fight, you watch them grow and by the end of the book you are not the same.
This book, this story, and her writing will raise your expectations, surpass all your hopes and dreams for these characters and your heart...your heart will be so happy it will hurt. Oh man, does it hurt so good. You will be so full of possibilities, hope, and love. By the end you'll have smiles a mile long and a humbleness that breathes new life into the heart of you. The title says it all, it's the quintessence of life, love and pain. We all have wounds, in some way or another we all experience pain. This book will wound you and heal you, but most of all it will inspire you. Read it, I dare you.
I dare you to feel.
I dare you to live.
I dare you to dream.
June 8, 2015
4.5 stars
A beautifully written that was so much more than your typical love story.
I loved quintessence. I fell in love with Sarah Buhl's writing after reading Penance and then dissonance. So different and refreshing, I look forward to reading more from her.
A beautifully written that was so much more than your typical love story.
I loved quintessence. I fell in love with Sarah Buhl's writing after reading Penance and then dissonance. So different and refreshing, I look forward to reading more from her.
January 26, 2020
What I have been waiting for
As a person with MS, I love it when I can find books that center around a character with MS. They are few and far between which is why I could not wait to read this book. The author does an excellent job at describing the emotions involved when you start your journey to being diagnosed. She also excellently captures what it feels like when you live in the present as an MSer and what it means to fight this disease while still having to manage life.
As a person with MS, I love it when I can find books that center around a character with MS. They are few and far between which is why I could not wait to read this book. The author does an excellent job at describing the emotions involved when you start your journey to being diagnosed. She also excellently captures what it feels like when you live in the present as an MSer and what it means to fight this disease while still having to manage life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2015
This is the third novel in the Böhme series and it surely is as beautiful as the first one. This is the story about Maggie and Karl, two characters we've met in the first two books. And although all books can be read as stand-alones, I highly recommend you to read those two before starting this one. It doesn't only makes sense, but you'll also be able to get to know all the other characters that return in this story.
The story between Maggie and Karl was beautiful, yet raw and real. They are both two beautiful souls, and if it's even possible, the love they share is even more beautiful. They are beautiful together. It's pure. It's honest. It's warm. The road to their relationship wasn't easy, they both had to deal with certain events, some from the past, some in the present.
But in the end, every decision they made, was the right one. For themselves, and for each other.
And it goes without saying, the writing of the author is superb!
There's a little snippet from the next book in the Böhme series at the end, and I can't wait to read more! I love this family. Thank you for sharing their stories, and yours, with us, Mrs Buhl!
The story between Maggie and Karl was beautiful, yet raw and real. They are both two beautiful souls, and if it's even possible, the love they share is even more beautiful. They are beautiful together. It's pure. It's honest. It's warm. The road to their relationship wasn't easy, they both had to deal with certain events, some from the past, some in the present.
"I forgot about all the things that came before. They were part of me, but they weren't the wounds anymore. They were scars, but they were healing. They were making a new gathering of skin that was still tender to the touch, but was no longer open to air."
But in the end, every decision they made, was the right one. For themselves, and for each other.
"I could stay right there with her on that dance floor and she could change over a thousand times, and I'd never know the tune. Because there was one tune and one dance - us."
And it goes without saying, the writing of the author is superb!
There's a little snippet from the next book in the Böhme series at the end, and I can't wait to read more! I love this family. Thank you for sharing their stories, and yours, with us, Mrs Buhl!
May 13, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review in exchange for an honest review.
With the very 1st Bohem novel I fell in love with Mrs. Buhl honesty and heart wrecking writing style. With sentences like “I was always giving the wrong parts away. I was giving the bet parts of me to the worst parts in the hope I could reach the height I thought I needed. “and “ Trials remind us we’re human. We aren’t just consumers that go about gathering items and gaining status. Trails toss us back into the facts of life- we exist, we are present, we breathe, and we love.” How can you not be drawn and torn asunder all at the same time. Mrs. Buhl has a way of creating the perfect love story that is so raw and in your face that you feel your life is improved for having read her stories. Not to mention that she must be a proud nerd with her libel use of all things pop cultural geekiness and used correctly. My inner nerd loves her for this alone. Quintessence is a story that touched my heart and reminded me why it is better to see the good in people then the mask they show most the world. Looks can be deceiving after all. Karl has a way of seeing the best in everyone that makes me want to strive to me like him, while Maggie has a love so honest you much love her for it. I cannot praise this book enough. Thank you for sharing this wonderful character Mrs. Buhl.
With the very 1st Bohem novel I fell in love with Mrs. Buhl honesty and heart wrecking writing style. With sentences like “I was always giving the wrong parts away. I was giving the bet parts of me to the worst parts in the hope I could reach the height I thought I needed. “and “ Trials remind us we’re human. We aren’t just consumers that go about gathering items and gaining status. Trails toss us back into the facts of life- we exist, we are present, we breathe, and we love.” How can you not be drawn and torn asunder all at the same time. Mrs. Buhl has a way of creating the perfect love story that is so raw and in your face that you feel your life is improved for having read her stories. Not to mention that she must be a proud nerd with her libel use of all things pop cultural geekiness and used correctly. My inner nerd loves her for this alone. Quintessence is a story that touched my heart and reminded me why it is better to see the good in people then the mask they show most the world. Looks can be deceiving after all. Karl has a way of seeing the best in everyone that makes me want to strive to me like him, while Maggie has a love so honest you much love her for it. I cannot praise this book enough. Thank you for sharing this wonderful character Mrs. Buhl.
May 26, 2015
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review..... I actually started reading this while I was getting my wrist tattoo. I needed to get my mind off the pain & sucked into a good book. And boy did I get sucked in! This is such a heartbreaking yet uplifting story. Both main characters Maggie & Karl have some heavy baggage & suffering to contend with but both decide not to let it tear them down. They really built each other up & helped each other heal. I just loved the innocence of this story. The love, the friendships..... it was all so beautifully written. Can't wait for Mason's book!! I know that Gabe's book is coming first but I'm holding out for Mason :)
May 14, 2015
Loved! To begin a book and feel like you know the characters is like going home. I have loved all 3 books in this series, getting to know each set of characters a little more each time, becoming a part of their lives. I was intrigued by Karl when he was first introduced in a previous book, and was pleased to get to know his background... More importantly, why his art is in boxes! I've loved Maggie since the first book, Penance, and enjoyed following her in her journey through discovery, this time with her as a major character. The way Sarah ties this group of people together, yet keeps them as such unique individuals is awe inspiring. I can't wait to read more about this group of friends!
June 3, 2015
This series has kept me waiting for the next book. I loved this third installment. Each of the books can be read as a stand alone and this one is not an exception to that. They are all related but you don't need to read the others to be able to know what is going on in this one.
The story of Maggie and Karl is one that is filled with obstacles and insecurities. To watch as the two of them fight for what they want and are able to overcome everything that is thrown at them is very inspiring. They both fight against very real and difficult things in life and I was happy to see that the author did not gently touch on those but dove right in and showed how they can affect a person's life.
The story of Maggie and Karl is one that is filled with obstacles and insecurities. To watch as the two of them fight for what they want and are able to overcome everything that is thrown at them is very inspiring. They both fight against very real and difficult things in life and I was happy to see that the author did not gently touch on those but dove right in and showed how they can affect a person's life.
May 14, 2015
This is the story of Karl and Maggie, two characters that unexpectedly find themselves meeting by chance during Maggie's quest for answers about her health. Previous interactions between the two have not been positive or memorable; in fact, these two are not who you would 'put' together.
This is a book about a journey through a diagnosis, and a journey to finding your soul mate. I do not believe in giving out too much info in a review, but I am going to say this. Everyone needs to find their Karl. I can highly recommend this as a read that will help you renew your ideals about love.
This is a book about a journey through a diagnosis, and a journey to finding your soul mate. I do not believe in giving out too much info in a review, but I am going to say this. Everyone needs to find their Karl. I can highly recommend this as a read that will help you renew your ideals about love.
March 16, 2020
Excellent book that everyone can relate to, and be inspired!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews