Lulu's Loves

by Barbara S. Stewart

Lulu Welk is learning about love.

She’ll learn that love is not the same for everyone, and no two loves are alike. She will live through all the feelings that come with each love she experiences. Great loss will begin her path and she will navigate her way through the trials and lessons of love with her greatest love. She will learn that love can hurt – physically and mentally – but she will go on. She will learn that love can be beautiful… and confusing, but she will go on. She will learn that once trust is broken you can forgive, but it's much harder to forget. But she will go on. She will learn that love can be devastating and that as hard as you try, sometimes that pain and devastation floor you. But she will go on. And she will learn that you never forget your first real love.

Take a walk with Lulu and learn about love.

Genres: Contemporary Romance

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2015

About the author

I'm Barbara, I read. I write. I come from the northeast, born in Havre de Grace, MD, and grew up in Pennsylvania. In my teens we moved to the Space Coast area of Florida. Now I live in Middleburg, Florida (Jacksonville area) with my husband, Gene.

I've worked in the electronics industry, and most recently in healthcare. I give back by volunteering whenever I can, and in 2009, I received The American Cancer Society's HOPE Award for volunteerism.

The stories I write come from my heart. I'm never sure where they are going until I get there. Most often, a song begins to paint a picture that becomes a love story. Sprinkled through my stories are humor and sadness based on real life experiences shared with family and friends. I write with emotion, pulling from memories and events that made me who I am. My readers tell me they feel like they know the characters I share with them. I like to call my writing 'the sound-track of my life.'

A reviewer on Amazon recently said, "This isn't a romance, it's a love story." (readingmaven)

As a writer, I hope you continue this journey, travel with me, see what song inspires me next, and I hope that you see more growth with each page you turn.

I love to read; it's a gift that was shared with me by my mom - Alis. She introduced me to her favorites like Little Women, Christy, and the Nancy Drew books. Books are an escape, a journey into new and different places and I've been many places I never dreamed of. My favorite genre is romance. I to explore and support other authors who paint a picture through words that allow me to feel the story. Some of my favorites are Adriana Trigiani, Maggi Myers, and Nora Roberts.

You can reach Barbara by email bsswrites@yahoo.com
http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-S-Stewa...

Reviews

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! With a Barbara Stewart book I always know I am going to get a beautifully written, romantic, angsty book and that is exactly what she delivered. This was Lulu's journey through life, the first love, the mistakes, the lessons, marriage and all the ups and downs that go with it. This was LuLu's story. I had many tears...Barbara Stewart always manages to make me cry and this one had me in tears a fair few times.

Our love lives very rarely run smoothly and just when you think you have it all sorted life throws you curve balls, LuLu had her fair share and Barbara recounts an honest and truthful story of love from high school to your late 30's. Beautiful and a roller coaster, just what Barbara does best. (Full review to come)

[Kathleen R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Lulu's Loves
Author: Barbara S Stewart
Series: --
Publisher: Bsswrites/Createspace
Release Date: December 17th, 2015
Genre(s): Romance
Page Count: 232 pages
Heat Level: # 4 flames out of 5
Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Lulu Welk is learning about love.

She’ll learn that love is not the same for everyone, and no two loves are alike. She will live through all the feelings that come with each love she experiences. Great loss will begin her path and she will navigate her way through the trials and lessons of love with her greatest love. She will learn that love can hurt – physically and mentally – but she will go on. She will learn that love can be beautiful… and confusing, but she will go on. She will learn that once trust is broken you can forgive, but it's much harder to forget. But she will go on. She will learn that love can be devastating and that as hard as you try, sometimes that pain and devastation floor you. But she will go on. And she will learn that you never forget your first real love.

Take a walk with Lulu and learn about love

I can still remember the day that I first saw him in the hallway in high school, how he took my hand and kissed the top of it and introduced himself, leaving with my heart. Then I can still remember the day that I met the man that would eventually be the father of my beautiful daughter - how I was speechless when he spoke, blushed when he complimented me and even the arguments with my father over the fact that he was not the right man for me or he was too old. Or at least I thought I did. I honestly believed I remembered these moments as though they were yesterday but reading Barbara Steward's Lulu's Loves made me ralize just how much I had forgotten about the little things - how the things these loves hurt when I had to leave my high school sweet heart, how the simplest e-mails and the words he used to write would make me think back to the moments he spoke of; and most of all the sights and smells. This novel was as beautiful as it was touching, and Lulu goes through every stage of life and relationships - whether they are with her parents, friends, lovers or those that are purely platonic, but Barbara Stewart brings us through the wringer. I can't count the number of times that I've felt like crying, laughing or getting angry at the characters for one thing or another. If there's one thing that can be said of Lulu's Loves and Barbara Stewart: it's that you will come to see and appreciate relationships in a whole new light. As a first time reader of Barbara Stewart, I was glad that I had chosen this one, since the emotional tug of war had me whipped and glued to my kindle from the very beginning.

PLOT: 4/5
CHEMISTRY: 4/5
PACING: 5/5
ENDING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5






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ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen from Alpha Book Club

[Jen Wildner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay first I need to say- AH! I cried like THREE times!!! I NEVER cry!!!!!!! I can probably count on my hand the books that made me cry.. Okay, next - I feel like I was meant to read this book. There were so many things that were connected me and that is so weird!! I connected right away and I felt like Barbara wrote this book for me. I absolutely loved every word. I laughed, I CRIED, I got so mad, and at the end I was exhausted. This story has stuck with me for weeks after I read it. Lulu’s Loves was the first book I’ve read by Barbara and definitely won’t be the last, I will be grabbing the rest and reading very soon.

[Diane Barthel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading this book in BETA form. I was thrilled about the leap of "faith" Barbara Seaman Stewart took with this writing.
Last night I finished my autographed copy of the real deal. I once again felt a lot of parallels with my life. It took me up and spun me down and then........ I cried and chuckled many many times. This is an author who gets it, she knows what will keep us suspended and then does it. Kudos to an amazing Author and her newest project!

[Angelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written story with detailed characters and a beautifully woven story line that follows Lulu from high school to adulthood. Ms. Stewart's writing has a way of tugging at my emotions, I laughed and cried and just all around loved Lulu!
I would highly recommend this book.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I did tear up a few times. I like it and I would definitely recommend this book!

[Karen Hrdlicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had recently read another book by Ms. Stewart, Tate, and found that I could not put that book down.I love the authors style. She weaves a story that pulls readers in and grabs them by the heartstrings, refusing to let them go. I was so excited to read her newest book, Lulu's Loves. This book is unlike any other book I have ever read. The story chronicles one woman's love life from high school through adulthood to an eventual HEA. To say Lulu had a rocky love life would be an understatement. Just when the reader thinks things are on an even keel, poor Lulu faces devastating events on more than one occasion.
I love the deep connections Ms. Stewart makes between her characters. Lulu and her father share a very special bond because her mother died when she was young. Her father focused his life on raising a strong, smart, independent woman. Lulu stole my heart because she chose to major in English in college, not always a popular major. Throughout her journey Lulu encounters several relationships that test her strength and force her to move on to the next stage of her life. Each relationship tests her mettle and give her courage to move on, which is not always easy. I was pulled deeply into her story, hoping against hope that one relationship would work out for Lulu, and just when I thought it had, her world imploded.
This book makes me want to go and read the author's entire backlist. Her style flows and her narrative is well written. The characters are well developed and their relationships with each other natural and likable. I highly recommend Lulu's Loves to anyone looking for a well told story with great characters.

[Dayreader Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book and to be honest the way this book was formatted had me a little confused, but I am glad I kept reading!! Lulu is this young woman, who at a young age had gone through a horrible loss. She lost her mother at a young age, leaving her with her dad to take care of them two. Lulu and her dad had this relationship I know all too well, and that is what made this book hit home for me.

Lulu had some loves and some she thought were love; Jason, Keelin, Robbie, Thom and Micah. These men had so many different pulls I could tell why Lulu would be drawn to them! My heart belonged to Micah, the sexy strong construction man who brought her back to life after some hurt. Jason was high school and I could see how your very first love could be the love of her life. Keelin I felt could’ve been more under different circumstances, a different life. Robbie was a chance meeting on her birthday where he brought out new beginnings. Thom was the sexy older man, who was what she considered at a time a weekend fling!

Reading Lulu’s Loves pulled at my heart and emotions all the way from being so excited about new beginnings to sad about another loss and I even felt my heartbreak for her every time I knew she was hurting. I connected on a different level with Lulu than I have in the past with certain characters. She grew into this incredible woman who became herself through loss after loss.

I honestly think this is a MUST READ! Thank you for the opportunity to read such a touching story! Lulu’s Loves by Barbara S. Stewart is a 5 star heart melting and heart soaring read!!

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is a journey sprinkled with love

In this story, Louisa Welk, Lulu, comes of age. She is a young woman searching for a center; one she hasn't prepared for nor does she know when she's found it. We immerse ourselves in her life. Hoping she will find her true north. Her loves each teach her. We learn and grow with her. We cheer her accomplishments and join her in sadness at her disappointments.
Barbara has weaved a story that will draw you into Lulu's life and allow you to feel as though you've met her characters in real life. Her writing, with this release, has grown. Her sexy scenes are filled with the building of desire and its sweet release. You will find yourself picturing her locations and breathing in the air and listening for the blissful quiet appreciation of nature. Lulu comes alive in this 5-star must read.

[Virginia Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has weave a wonderful journey of a young women growing into herself. You can feel the heartache she is going through her life. The heartache losing a parent so young in life, that can leave scars. We meet some wonderful characters in Lulu life that have made a strong impression on her. When you think you know what going to happen next, you are thrown of a cliff with surprise. This is a must read book, you will fall in love with all the characters.
How would you describe the plot of this book? some twist
Which of these words best describes the mood? suspenful
How would you describe the pace? steady
How would you describe the characters? developed
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking story of a young woman's journey through the many loves of her life ~ from her mother who died when she was a little girl to her father who raised her alone and then the men who came into her life. All who had their place and purpose until the time was right for her to settle down with THE ONE.

Lulu is someone we can all relate to as she lives her life and tries to learn and grow from all the experiences it throws at her ~ good and bad. You might even see a bit of yourself/your own life as you experience Lulu's with her.

A must read if you enjoy a novel that makes you feel.

Add this one to your "To Be Read" list!!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think of this book as four romance novels in one. The author follows the four serious relationships of Louisa Welk, from young love to maturity, while experiencing true love, lust and loss from her teens to her mid thirties. I think most women can relate to dating at least one of these men and hopefully we've learned something when the relationship ends. Ms. Stewart does an excellent job of building the characters and showing us the true closeness she shares with her father, Keelin, Micah and Thom. She just gets better and better as a writer. I can't wait until the next book.

[Maria Metsikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story that had me crying like a baby.
A story based on the trials of love for one woman had me hooked from the beginning, and I read this in one day as I couldn't put it down.
The author has a way with grabbing your attention from the get go.
I can't even write a proper review that will do this book justice.
Well done Barbara, you did it again. Another gem under your belt!!

[Susan Bevins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finish reading the book today. I was so glad that Barbara took a chance and venture to a different path of writing. I felt the book was really good, I laughed, cry and felt like I knew all the people that were in the book. So happy the book ended the way I wanted it too.

[gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique

This is a wonderful book,every woman should because love does have many ups and downs and it's all in how you handle those.

[Amy M. (Amy Loves Reading Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! Cried like a baby for some parts!!

[Francine Petro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a long time Barbara S. Stewart fan and this book cements it for me as to why I am! Lulu's Loves is a departure from her previous writings but in a good way! She's taken her writing to the next level! The character of Lulu, like all of her female leads, is written as a strong and independent woman who takes nothing from no one! However, she's also someone who isn't afraid to ask for support when she needs it. Her "Loves" all have a story to tell, some you cry over ( and you WILL cry! ), and some make you angry thst you want to throw your your iPad (not that I would actually do that!) and some will definitely make you laugh out loud! You will also experience things that you didn't see coming but upon finishing will make perfect sense! Like me, you might even be rooting for one of her loves! I HIGHLY recommend Lulu's Loves, you won't regret it!