The Bridges Before Us

by Christine Ardigo

Another page-turner by Christine Ardigo!

Samantha's About to Learn that It's Not About Changing Yourself to get Others to Like You, But About Being Yourself and Finding People that Like You For Whom You Are.

Frustrated with her uneventful life as a Registered Dietitian at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Samantha's failed attempts at bringing some excitement into her days, entices her to take a walk on the wild side. Intrigued by the scandalous lifestyle of her dynamic co-worker Cara, Samantha tries to transform herself into Cara’s sinful image. But when she finds her new path meaningless, not to mention dangerous, she looks for someone with better judgment to steer her in the right direction and it’s someone she least expects. Can Samantha trust the newly hired employee in the Nutrition Department? A man who seems to hate everything about her? Or is he the only one that sees beneath her bad girl façade and can teach her to embrace who she really is?

Samantha's journey through self-improvement and growth makes us evaluate our own values and direction in life. The Bridges Before Us is a captivating, roller coaster ride of drama, humor, and love, guaranteed to make you wonder if you have everything figured out in your life.

**Can be read as a Stand Alone or part of The Fix It or Get Out Series**

Genres: Contemporary Romance

276 pages, ebook

First published January 28, 2016

About the author

Christine Ardigo is a Registered Dietitian/Personal Trainer who writes contemporary romance novels in her spare time. When weight lifting, rock climbing, white-water rafting, and jumping out of airplanes wasn’t enough, she decided to fulfill a dream she had as a child: to write a book.

She's lived in New York her entire life and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She has the beaches, the bay and the city, all a half hour away. She's built memories here with her husband, two silly daughters and a bunch of crazy friends, all whom she loves very much.

Reviews

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[Sheila Kell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally spellbinding…what readers have come to expect from this talented author.

The Bridges Before Us is an endearing love story that Christine Ardigo wrote straight from the heart. I had the pleasure of reading an ARC and can say this has become my go-to read for its reality and heart. Her love story begins with Samantha struggling to love herself before she can love the right man and ends with the reader sighing in pleasure.

Samantha Hart has been an intriguing character in the Fix It or Get Out series, and this book explains everything. Her story jumps off the page as she gets help from (unknowingly) the wrong person to 'act' like who she wants to be, who she thinks is the person men want. This isn't a person we want her to be, a person we like so much, but think of this - at some point, we've made a wrong turn or found something about ourselves we didn't like - so forgiving Sam for her dirty deeds became easier. And, after some unfortunate bumps in the road, she learns who she truly is, the person living within her heart. Once she is able to love herself, she is able to realize love in its pure form with the man standing in front of her.

Ms. Ardigo wrote another love story that pulls at the heartstrings and has one thinking over their own experiences, making this a real story for everyone. Don't add this to your TBR list - one-click and read it today!

[Ariella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine Ardigo grabs you into the world of her characters from the first page and doesn't let go. The Bridges Before Us is an enjoyable read and I found Samantha, the main character, to be easy to connect with. I think all of is have a little of Samantha in us at one time or another. Or maybe we wish we did! She goes through a metamorphosis complete with angst and tension that had me genuinely caring about what came next. When an author can have you emotionally invested in her character's life choices, she has done a good job.The author uses real-life details to enrich the story...things like brand names, memories and local Long Island flavor. Highly recommend!

[Angelica Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as amazing as the two before them and it captured me just as quick as the other two books this. The story is really well developed and felt really real and it was easy to follow. The mix between love, pain and being a strong women is just the perfect combination. The language drives the story forward and drags the reader in, with the story. Just as the two book before this one is funny and sad and strong and everything at once without being to little or to much. The balance is really good and you are on a emotional roller coaster during the read but I dont want it in any other way.

I am happy I found this series and this book is a little bit of my favorite in the series even if I love all 3 of them. The story is in many ways unique but also well known. The reader get to experience new things, feel and question its own believes just like I think all good books do. And just like after reading a really good book, I got the feeling of "what shall I do with my life now" when i had finished this series. I didnt know what to feel or think and I couldnt pick up another book becaues this books made me think and still makes me think. I go back and think about situations in the books and in this book and wonder if I have everything figured out in my life or if I can learn something from this books, and now we are talking fiction and not "help yourself books" even if I sort off feel that this book is good for you and for your soul.

So obviously I cant do anything other than give all three books top reviews and 5 starts but sometimes I wish I could give more because some other 5 star books feels weak compared to this series. I read them as e-book and now I have to save money so I can buy them as paperbacks because they are really awesome and I can see myself going back and reread them more than once so I want them as paperback so I can see them and love them all the time. I read the entire series in one day, it really captured me and I think more readers will feel the same so pick them up and read them. This last one can be read as a stand alone just as the second one even if they are in a series. I often say that people should read a book but this is not a "should read book" or "put on my to read list" this is a book and series you should read NOW because it is one of the best conteperary, romance, funny, sad, books and series I have read in a very long time.

[Sahara Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Ms. Ardigo's third, and last, book in The Fix It or Get Out Series,. and like the other two stories, this one is filled with memorable, well-developed characters. Samantha Hart's character was very relatable to me, as I also grew up with low self-esteem. The unwanted child in a family. But Sam also had the burden of still living with a mother who inflicted nothing but guilt on her daughter.
Questioning her pathetic existence, envying her supposedly best friend's life, Sam starts emulating Cara's lifestyle, which leads her into some really bad choices. Like Lou and Bruce, you’re typical one-night stand mentalities. Thinking sex is the only path to love, Sam ultimately realizes her decisions have led to a bad reputation, and she's just as unhappy if not more, than she was before. Deep down inside, she knows she's not being true to herself.
Then Cooper gets hired as the manager for the hospital’s kitchen where Sam works. I really liked his character too, as he also had his own baggage, trying to please everyone but himself. His concept of what bridges mean was quite inspirational.
Every good story must have conflict, and this one has plenty. Between Lou, Bruce, Cara, Cooper, Rosyln, and her mother, Sam is always butting heads, trying to find her place. But her worst enemy is herself. Cara is a strong secondary character. I came to hate her, pity her and then wept for her at the end.
What I didn't like: sometimes there were antics Sam did I just couldn't see someone her age doing. Like stuffing her face full of food and taping her mouth shut. To me, these seemed contrived and unrealistic.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves chick lit and lots of drama. I give it 4 feathers.

[Denise Liebig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read by Ms. Ardigo, and I have to say that it’s my favorite. The author has a talent for presenting characters that are relatable underdogs. I can’t help but root for them. In “The Bridges before Us,” Samantha is just such a character. Her job, social life, and living situation are less than ideal, and she hides behind her outward appearance, getting lost somewhere in the shuffle. What I enjoyed most is how the author shows the characters from the inside out—the rationale behind their actions, as well as how others perceive them. The misunderstandings and subsequent judgment calls made, create page-turning tension throughout the story. Then insert a love interest or two, and the story easily goes to the next level. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to others by Ms. Ardigo!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I learned the third book in the "Fix It or Get Out" series by Christine Ardigo was coming out, and was delighted to be given an ARC so that I could be among the first to read this next book in the series. All of her books feature women who are metamorphosing into who they want to be and should be, and the inevitable struggles that go along with that are so well written by Ms. Ardigo. What makes her characters come alive--and our main character in the book, Samantha, is no exception--is the humanity she brings to each one, along with the humor, the stupidity, the cleverness, the insecurity, and the claiming of self amid self-doubt. These are women we can relate to--so realistically written, warts and beauty marks both on display.

Samantha is a woman who easily trips on guilt, especially guilt laid out by her narcissistic mother. She knows her life is in the doldrums, and she tries different ways to change that status. She admires the beautiful, raucous, and self-assured co-worker Cara, and her night-clubbing, fast-paced life that has Cara with her pick of men swirling around. But Samantha isn't Cara, her heart wants true love, not a one-night stand, and her head tells her she deserves better. Her journey through self-improvement and growth made me want to bop her in her head at times, because she made some bad decisions--but then, don't we all make bad decisions along the way? It's how we grow, how we change our perceptions, and how we follow our hearts that leads us to where we are meant to go. That's where Christine Ardigo's talent in character development shines through; because even as Samantha makes mistakes, she is doing the work, giving us reason to cheer for her. The author keeps the story moving at a pace that made me want to keep turning the pages, to see if Samantha goes off the rails or flies right. The way Ms. Ardigo writes kept me engrossed in the story and invested in all of the characters' lives. Another winner!

[Medavis66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall enjoyable book. Realistic in many ways, especially the young insecurities that go along with that age. Samantha can't seem to please her mother or do anything right in her mother's eyes. She volunteers her time, has a steady job, and still lives at home - helping out all the time, but it is never enough. She decides to reinvent herself after seeing others having fun all the time. She decides to become more like her co-worker, Cara. Cara wears slinky clothes and seems to go out a lot and enjoy male company constantly. Sam wants a little bit of that. Everything changes - her wardrobe, makeup, and even her drink (no more beer). She ends up hooking up with an idiot, Lou, and eventually finds she isn't really happy with the new her. She is slowly getting to know her co-worker Cooper, who never seems to have a nice thing to say and is very critical of her. She wonders why she even cares. My opinions: I love Cooper. Sam is just okay - a bit too whiny and insecure, which gets old. I actually don't like the majority of the secondary characters, so Cooper was a God-send to this story for me and kept me reading. I didn't like the 'new' Sam. I laughed at Ralph and wish he was in the story longer. What happens with Cooper and Samantha I do like a great deal. I am very pleased with how Cara's situations are resolved.

ARC provided in exchange for honest review.

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it has been said by other reviewers but this book is full of very well developed characters, particularly the central character Samantha. When I came to review this book I reread the beginning which made me reflect on how far she came through the book. It isn't always a clear road though and I liked the way she was allowed to make some really bad, but very believable mistakes, that didn't feel contrived (I didn't believe she was actually going to have sex behind a dumpster, and then she did!). She was made to review the direction her life was going on more than one occasion and find a new way forward.

I also felt that Cooper was a great love interest for her and I enjoyed the way the relationship unfolded. I will say though, that they really were surrounded by quite the cast of awful human beings! The thought of working in that hospital truly turns my stomach!

The author takes time to describe settings/events/characters in quite some detail, and although this felt flowery for the first few pages I quickly adapted and began to enjoy the rich description.

So, all in all, I really enjoyed this book and might even be tempted to push it up to 4.5 stars. My first time reading a book by Christine Ardigo, and I'm glad I gave it a go. I received this book as a gift from the author in return for an honest review.

[Fiction Vixens Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time that I have read anything by Christine Ardigo and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this great story. The author has given us a story that grabs you and holds you in it's pages from start to finish and will leave you wanting more. Samantha who's the main character is well developed, and the secondary characters help make this story flow smoothly. Samantha is a young woman who trips really easily on guilt that is laid by her mother who seem to like making her daughter feel low. Samantha's life is inactive and she's trying to change it in different ways, she really admires her co-worker Cara and how her night clubbing .And how Cara has her pick of men that swirling all around her.But Samantha isn't Cara ,all she wants is true love,not just a one night stand. Because all Sam's head keepers telling is that she really deserves better then that. Sometimes when I was reading Samantha make me mad and all I wanted to do was slap her upside her head and say stop doing all the stupid stuff ,but then I though that could be any of us doing that same stuff at sometime in our life also. I could go on and tell you more about this great story ,but that would spoil it for you. I highly recommend that you read this great story , because you won't be disappointed.

[Debbi Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another book from this author that draws you in from page one!!! The Bridges Before Us is the third book in this series. I have to be honest that after reading the first two books in the series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. Christine Ardigo has done it again. She really knows how to capture her audience. What impressed me the most about this book is her ability make you feel what the character is feeling. Its if you are standing right there experiencing all the emotions right there. You feel the pain, the anger, the love, the anguish.
Samantha is a woman who is trying to find herself. She makes mistakes along the way, but she is such a lovable character, you can't help but hope that she finds the right path.
This is one of those books, that make you laugh, cry, cheer . I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[Tealover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accidentally deleted my review!!!

All I can say is that I love this book or the whole series. It made me happy, sad and in pain. The story was depicted in a real-life-like atmosphere (does that make sense?hahaha!), it will make you feel that you're one of the characters. For those who love contemporary stories that are easy to read (it's not a short story though), you should check this or the whole series.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I get the idea of this story, and it's a good one, so much of it was a struggle for me to get through. I realize that it's young adult and the story comes with all the mistakes of that age of growing into your own skin, but nothing goes right for this character. Seriously, nothing. Maybe I'm a little too far past that age to appreciate Samantha's journey, but I became so frustrated with her that I considered not finishing the book more than once. I did push through in hopes that Samantha would eventually learn from her many mistakes, but she continues to move from one bad decision to the next. Granted, some things that happen to her are beyond her control and her low self-esteem is understandable, but this girl seemed to be a magnet for users who treated her like a doormat. I think the thing that pushed it over the top for me lay in the number of coworkers who were just toxic to be around. It started to feel like Samantha was the only person working in that department with any redeemable qualities and it's like they all had it in for her. Even Cooper, who does eventually redeem himself, had his moments of treating Samantha badly. While there are always some in any workplace who work harder at making someone else miserable than actually doing their job, to think that everybody this woman worked closely with was that way is just ridiculous. Even worse is the fact that Samantha realizes that she's making bad choices on more than one occasion, but continues down the same path. What it boils down to is our main character is a follower and continuously chooses the wrong people to follow. In the end, while we do get some satisfaction in the conclusion, most of this one was just frustrating for me.

[Shermaine Dowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was rather difficult to read up through about the first third of the book. Samantha, a 20-something young woman who still lived at home with her depressing, nasty-spirited mother, had little to no self-esteem or self-confidence. She was an enchanting young woman who volunteered at a local Library singing and reading to children, but even that resulted in a total disaster. She worked as a dietician or dietary aide in a local hospital, but every character introduced with whom she worked was such a dark, nasty, dysfunctional person that it made me never ever want to work in a hospital. Samantha did not seem to care or have the ability to change the horrible way her co-workers and men with whom she "dated" treated her. Her life was a mess, and the book in my mind was a mess. As a grammar nut, it was riddled with the usual (affect/effect, their/they're, through/threw, etc.) grammatical errors, but it was the heaviness of hopelessness and despair that made the first half such a difficult read for me. Things began to get a little better midway, and the book did have a nice HEA, for which I applaud the author because the book definitely needed lightening up. I have not read any other books in this series.

[Samantha Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good concept but too many fillers.

I liked the concept of the story but the approach was a little off. It felt like there was some info that we didn't need. Cara and samantha's mother are raging bitches. I didn't like them at all. Samantha is a little naive. This is the first book by this author I have read so it will be interesting to see if the writing improves in another book.

[Neha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC to provide an honest review

It is an unusual story. The lead character Samantha is a nice girl, who gets treated very badly by others. She decides to be like someone else who is easy going and is not caring about what she is doing and the consequences. She lands in very bad situations and thinks it is how it should be. This book is about her salvation.