So Much More

by Kim Holden

Love is strange. It comes out of nowhere. There’s no logic to it. It’s not methodical. It’s not scientific. It’s pure emotion and passion. And emotion and passion can be dangerous because they fuel love…and hate.

I’m now a reluctant connoisseur of both—an expert through immersion. I know them intimately.

When I fell in love with Miranda, it was swift and blind. She was the person I’d elevated to mythical status in my head, in my dreams.

Here’s the thing about dreams, they’re smoke.

They’re spun as thoughts until they become something we think we want. Something we think we need.

That was Miranda. She was smoke.

I thought I wanted her. I thought I needed her.

Over time reality crept in and slowly dissected and disemboweled my dreams like a predator, leaving behind a rotting carcass.

Reality can be a fierce bitch.

So can Miranda.

And I can be a fool...

who believes in dreams.

And people.

And love.


Note from the author: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is recommended for mature audiences only.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Emotional, Audiobook, Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 29, 2016

About the author

Some of my favorite things: reading, writing, the two coolest guys on the planet (my husband and son), my bicycle (my husband built it for me), Facebook (I'm fairly certain it's an addiction at this point), iced coffee (hazelnut), and music (LOVE Sunset Sons, the 1975, Dredg, the xx, Balance and Composure, Teenage Bottlerocket, and Manchester Orchestra). I also love dreaming, which brings me to my next point. I have one bit of advice for anyone reading this ... follow your dreams. It's never too late. Get started today ... heck get started RIGHT NOW! I wanted to write a book 20 years ago. Instead I waited. And waited. I should've been writing. But I didn't. I don't do regrets, because the past is just that, the past. But let me tell you there's nothing in the world like achieving something you've dreamt about for years and years. So, get started. Make your dreams reality.
I love to hear from other readers. Send me a message or find me on Facebook (https://facebook.com/kimholdenauthor) and tell what's up in your reading world.

Reviews

[Colleen Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kim Holden. I loved this book.
I might even have the Welcome doormat at my bookstore. If no one has stolen it.
I suck at reviews.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Read this book
You're welcome.

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED :::

Love is strange. It comes out of nowhere. There’s no logic to it. It’s not methodical. It’s not scientific. It’s pure emotion and passion. And emotion and passion can be dangerous because they fuel love… and hate.

WOW!! This book was absolutely beautiful! I've been meaning to read one of this author's books for ages so when she announced this one, I couldn't resist and... HOLY FEELS!! I mean woah. I went from swooning in love to literally shaking with anger to shedding tears and back to swooning. The writing was gorgeous and the story was captivating. I highlighted 64 favorite quotes!! It tackles, with stunning insight, topics such as marriage, divorce, love, loss, family... and at the story's heart is the overwhelmingly powerful depth of a father's devotion to his children. I guarantee that you will fall in love with this hero. It's impossible not to. He will straight-up steal your heart forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

This is a spoiler-free review but if you don't really want to know too much about it, just rest assured that this book is fully safe for you to dive in without knowing anything. It's a standalone, it has deep feels but will leave you healed, I loved everything about it, and you can pre-order a copy without reading the rest. Again, it's spoiler-free though (more my reaction TO the book) but I wanted to give you that option.

Ok. On to the review...

In a world where bad boys rule contemporary romance, Kim Holden has stepped outside the box and given us an amazing good guy hero to fall in love with — a saint among husbands and fathers.

The story has interwoven layers of emotion that you can't help but feel deep in your heart as you read, and complex character development that can make you go from hating a character to hoping for their redemption in the breadth of just a few chapters. You'll feel everything: love, hate, joy, anger, pain, healing... This book is intricately crafted and rich in detail; an emotionally intelligent story.

“That’s what life is, it’s fucking trying. You don’t get a medal for it. It’s expected, as a member of the human race, that you try.”

We begin the story in the aftermath of a divorce that tore a family apart. Miranda betrayed and left Seamus, her loving devoted husband and father to their three wonderful children. Why you might ask? You'll have to read the book to truly understand the depths of how damaged she was, but a short version could be to say because, at the time, she was incapable of compassion or love and so blinded by the desire for power that she truly didn't care who she hurt in her quest for it. Through a series of flashbacks, we're shown how their relationship first developed and how they got to be where they are. And as the story moves forward, we see the roller-coaster they go on as they find their way to new happiness and stability. When Seamus and his kids settle into their new home, Faith comes into the picture. A mysterious woman, wise beyond her 22 years, who shows him for the first time how beautiful and selfless love can be...

I found Miranda to be an absolutely fascinating character. She was warped and shaped by her childhood to harden her heart against love, and to separate herself from the world around her, stopping at nothing to reach the ends of her goals. She was so blindly devoted to building the perfect life and world for her that she was willing to sacrifice anyone and anything to get what she wanted. But the most interesting thing was that she was self aware enough to recognize how abhorent her actions were. She didn't necessarily want to be the way she was, but she felt she had to be that way to survive. It was a twisted survival mode.

I’m going to burn in hell atop the hottest pyre for all of eternity.
Because the truth, everything else aside, is that no one’s better for me than Seamus. In the deep, dark recesses of my mind, I know that… Seamus can’t be king to my queen.
Because he’s a saint.
And no one measures up to a saint.

She did things that were downright despicable, and made me shake with pure rage towards her... but if you looked beneath the surface, you could see the fear and insecurity fuelling her actions. However, there were certainly times when her actions went so far that it stopped me from being able to sympathize at all. I wanted her locked away. With the key thrown out. But mostly, I just felt incredibly sad for her. She was so damaged... so deeply damaged that it had twisted her into someone even she felt was irredeemable.

“I love him. I know I don’t love like other people do. My version of love is driven by selfish need, a little self-loathing, and some jealousy. But it feels so damn real when it beats inside my chest, and it’s starved for his touch, and his adoring stare, and his loving words, and his complete devotion. God, I miss that... I wasted years on games. I thought I was winning, most of the time I was losing. Losing him.”

The most horrible thing to me was that, damaged though she may be, she was highly functional -- sharp, intelligent, and driven. But also incapable of showing care or developing emotional attachment to anyone other than herself. Even though what she craved most in life was validation and love. She was truly tragic.

I’m waiting for his eyes to meet mine. I’m waiting for him to say something sweet. I’m waiting for him to kiss me. I would give anything to kiss him.
Anything.
But that can’t happen because he’s a saint.
And I’m a bitch.
And everyone knows it.
Including me.

Seamus on the other hand was simply too good for her. This amazing man was the most pure, kindhearted, selfless, nurturing person you can imagine -- a devoted husband and a loving father. It broke my heart to see him subject to her callous cruelty and to be so emotionally beat down by the divorce which had not only torn his family apart and robbed him of the wife he genuinely once thought he loved, but also had stolen his kids' mom away from them at an age when they were too young to fully understand why.

“You still love her?” she asks sincerely.
“She’s a bitch,” I answer solemnly. I mean it… and I don’t mean it… in equal measure.
“Bitches need love too.”

Some of my favorite parts of the book were seeing him interact with his children. Seamus is the husband every woman wishes for and the father every woman dreams of for their children. He cared on such a deep level for them and his commitment to their happiness and well being was mirrored in every one of his actions. As a father, he didn't just care for them, he was also involved in their lives. In everything. I swear, he's going to steal your heart when you meet him. He's literally the most amazing dad you can imagine.

“Parenthood isn’t genetic, it’s about love and commitment. Period.”

Like I'd mentioned above, this is where Faith comes in. After the divorce, he had to relocate himself and the children to a place he could afford and Faith was their free spirited neighbour who slowly became a part of their lives. She was, in every way, unlike anything he ever expected. A non-judgmental, openly-loving woman with secrets of her own, who showed him that he didn't have to give up on love.

“Seamus' lips told a story. A story I wanted to live in. Forever. A realistic story that was sprinkled with darkness, but that always came back to the light. A light that made me believe love exists. Pure, intentional, forgiving, enduring love.
Bone-jarringly beautiful love.”

This story has a delicious slow burn, but I was unable to put it down from the moment I started. The beautiful writing captured my heart, and the characters compelled me to keep reading.

I really have to applaud Kim Holden on her stellar characterization of Miranda. It takes great skill as a writer to portray someone as being as damaged, twisted, and even cruel as Miranda without making them out to be a senseless villain. You were made to understand her. You were shown the reasons why she did such despicable things. And even if her actions were repulsive, I couldn't help but feel overwhelming pity for such a wretched creature. It's incredibly easy to make a character be superficially unlikeable, but it takes much greater skill to make you understand their perspective and even feel remorse for them. Her character arc, development, and growth over the course of this book was a masterpiece of writing.

“Are you trying, Miranda? Is this you trying to be a parent? I want so fucking badly to believe you’re being real with me and that you’ve finally come to the realization that you have the most amazing children on the planet, and that it’s a privilege to be their mom.”

Seasmus really was the heart and soul of this book for me though. In so many ways, this father's unconditional, unwavering, and powerful love for his children filled my heart to the brim, and made it break that much more painfully to see the things he was put through. You know that feeling when you're reading a book and your heart just HURTS and you're this close to tears?? That was me for a whole chunk of this book. But not all of it! There is a lot of healing and redemption. You're taken to the lowest low point of all and then raised up again. The story comes full circle in a beautiful way and at the end, I was smiling.

“I’ve moved around a lot in my life. I’ve met a lot of people. I like your heart, Seamus.” She cups my cheek, kisses me softly on the corner of my mouth, and whispers, “My heart really likes your heart.”

In so many ways, this is a story of human resilience and undying love. Of what happens when life knocks you down as far as you can go. Do you give up? Or do you stand up once again and fight for what is right?

"I would sell my fucking soul to fight for my kids."

Ahhh. *deep sigh*
It's a life story.
It's a love story.
Life is messy.
Life is beautiful.
Love is messy.
Love is beautiful.

Beautifully written and brimming with raw honesty and emotion, this book captured my heart. You don't just read this story, you live it with these characters. I so much more than loved it.

It's definitely a Top Favorite of the year!

Rating: 5 stars. Standalone.

Pre-order SO MUCH MORE (Kindle)

__________________________

For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Twitter
✦ Subscribe by email

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!!

“Life blooms in second chances.”

Kim Holden is one of those authors I can always count on to bring the feels. If you’ve read a book from her before, you know this is true. So Much More is unlike any of her other books. It hit me in the feels in a totally different way than her others, but wow. The impact was still just as strong. I love reading books that have this much of an affect on me. I read so many books and a lot of them are great reads, but not all of them are memorable and touch me on this level. When I read one like this, I want to shout it from the rooftops- READ THIS BOOK! So yeah. If you haven’t read this one yet- READ IT!

Seamus is one of those men that are nearly perfect. He’s wonderful in most every way possible. He’s a fantastic father, a loyal husband, a good looking guy with a heart of gold.



Somehow, he’s found himself in the middle of a divorce. His soon to be ex-wife, Miranda is a piece of work. I’m serious. I can’t remember the last time a character got under my skin like she did. So much that she did was just deplorable.

Reality can be a fierce bitch. So can Miranda. And I can be a fool...who believes in dreams. And people and love.


Seamus is now living in a small apartment with his three kids. No matter what happens in his life, as long as he has his kids, he knows he will be okay. Seamus and the kid’s new apartment have a few neighbors. The couple that owns the place, a quiet lady named Hope, and a fun-loving, free spirit named Faith. All these characters have a large part in this story. I especially loved Faith and all her Free Hugs :)



This story is hard for me to review because it’s so complex. It’s much more than a romance. It’s a story of survival, of friendship, hope, learning from mistakes and yes- love. Seamus is one of the best heroes I’ve read about. There was not one thing I didn’t love about him. His strength under the circumstances of his life astounded me. As much as I completely adored Seamus, I disliked his ex-wife in equal measure. I’m still shocked beyond belief that Kim Holden- the sweetest person I’ve ever met in real life- could write a character like that. I’m still ragey over everything she did. No matter what changes she may have made, I’m still not over all the bad she did. And I’m not sure I ever will be. I will say by the end I didn’t hate her… as much.


Besides Seamus and Miranda, their children played a large part in the story. And I love my books with kids. Watching Seamus with those kids just made me love him all the more. Also, the neighbors Faith and Hope had large parts and a side story of their own which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also liked the relationship Faith and Seamus developed. He needed someone in his life to show him that he was okay and not a broken man.

“You were never broken,” she whispers, “You were always Seamus.”

So Much More was so much more than I expected when I started it. Kim did a wonderful job of writing complex and interesting characters and writing a book that was so much more than a love story. It was beyond that. It was a life story. This book was epic in so many ways a will hold a spot on my favorites list this year! 5+ stars!

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 “WE” Stars



Kim Holden delivers one creative, completely addicting read. It’s told in three POVS of three very entertaining characters. Each character is so realistically written with the addition of three wonderful kids.

"Reality can be a fierce bitch. So can Miranda. And I can be a fool...who believes in dreams. And people and love."

In this story there’s a fantastic villain. Miranda McIntyre is brilliant in her evil plotting and so enraging while I ate her POV up at every turn. Miranda explains her relationship with Seamus from dating in college then marriage and how he is a big part of her façade.

”An enviable husband and a few spawn look good for well-rounded appearance’s sake, a wolf surrounded by cute, likable, soft little sheep. Everyone loves sheep.”



Seamus McIntyre is a wonderful hero. He’s genuine good person. He's handsome, devoted and the best father to his three children. Seamus’ POV starts after his wife has remarried. His struggle to handle his illness while he continues to be the only real parent in their lives was so admirable. He’s not perfect but is so very close and so very real.

”You used to be nice, Seamus.”

“I used to be blissfully unaware. That played well into being nice. There’s a difference. You fucked me over, that changed me.”



The third POV in this story is of Faith. She's a tenant in the apartment building Seamus and his children moved into. She was like a guarded yet free spirit. A very different type of character who has a past that isn’t revealed off the bat in the story and a quest that she’s on. She falls hard for Seamus and they were just perfectly matched.

”I’ve moved around a lot in my life. I ‘ve met a lot of people. I like your heart, Seamus.” She cups my check, kisses me softly on the corner of my moth, and whispers, “My heart really likes your heart.”



The hits to Seamus by Miranda on her quest for power and her perfect façade just keep piling up as Seamus struggles to fight her. The story takes some karma forced turns and Miranda to be honest had me laughing and weirdly getting and cheering for her. The monkey bread butter scene was hilarious and equally profound was when she saw what Seamus saw in Faith.

”Her heart. It rules her. Every action, every smile, every word, every touch, is driven by it. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be on the receiving end of that?” She pulls back the sheet climbs out of the bed, immediately pulling on her night gown.

“I do.” She shrugs. “She’s you.”



There are a few other characters in the story who do play important roles in the lives of these three main characters all are well positioned and utilized. I think this story is for everyone who likes a good dramatic plot with love, distorted desires and redemption.

”Life blooms in second chances.”

[Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

** spoiler alert ** 4.5 stars

Holden has written an exceptional and emotive book and once you begin this book, you more or less are asked to throw in your lot with whom your moral compass aligns. Miranda the witch or Seamus the saint..

At a visceral level, my lot should have been with Seamus. I mean, come on, the guy is a candidate for sainthood. The great dad and breathtakingly handsome loving husband. What's not to like? On the other hand: Miranda. Terrible wife, unworthy mother, and a depiction of avarice and selfishness. What's to like?

I was fascinated by Miranda's thoughts and actions. This was one woman who gave little room to chance. She wanted a man who would adore her and she went and got one who did. Seamus. I'm guessing that we're supposed to find Miranda appalling. Yes, she was selfish and emotionally cold, but I quite liked her and felt deep compassion for a woman who was single-handedly destroying everything that should have meant the world to her. I saw beyond the bluster, she wasn't evil, just misguided and lacking in empathy. These are qualities that can be changed.

I'd hate to give the impression that I didn't like Seamus because I did, but he seemed too perfect and that irked me to no end. Moreover, why does he, a man in his 30s, not have any friends or support system.

I dare say Holden created these characters independent of the plot. Each scene was too premeditated. For one, I could predict every scene before it played out. The string holding the plot was frayed. The characters played to the puppet master's pull. The story, too perfect.

Then there's Faith. The convenient emotional crutch who seems too perfectly placed. 22-year-old, stripper-not-prostitute, who likes to give hugs.. I didn't like her and don't ask me why. I know why, but please don't ask. Okay, if you insist: HER character was too predictable. We saw this neon sign on her forehead from the very beginning: "Future Mrs Seamus".

It may seem contrary, but I loved this book and was happy that Seamus found someone who was worthy of his brand of affection; however, a better story would have been to have the newly reformed Miranda reconcile with Seamus. Now, that's a love story that would be so much more.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know all that bitching and moaning about mediocre reads I've been spewing...well this book has set me straight. Faith has been restored. Thank you, Kim Holden.

"Were you sent straight from hell to destroy my life, Miranda?

So Much More was a refreshingly, unique story - one I found myself unable to putdown. I don't want to give anything away - but let me say. The characters were fantastic, even the 'villain'. This author took a character who seemed utterly irredeemable and made me like her. WTF, right?!? It was fantastic I tell you. Seriously. FANTASTIC. Read the damn book.



I think this moment, was one of my favorites.
Never let monkey bread make you its bitch ;)
"Where's the fucking butter?"

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

MORE THAN 5 STARS <3 <3 <3

"Life blooms in second chances."

What an emotional ride!I loved every part of this story,it's beautiful and unique!!So Much More is one of the best stories I have ever read! I was so into this story that I felt every emotion! This story is So Much More!!!!!I can't stop talking about how amazing it is!!!Please guys do yourself a favor and read this book,seriously you''ll not regret it!!



Seamus is one of the best male characters I have ever read!!He is so real and I loved him more than anything!He is such an amazing person that you can't stop yourself from falling in love with him!I felt sorry for him and there were moments that I found myself crying thinking about his circumstances. Kai, Rory and Kira, his kids are all sweet and I loved them and what they added to the story. Faith is an amazing and sweet character!She comes in Seamus life when he needs her the most!She was made for him!!Miranda is so bad, really I hated from the first pages!I couldn't stand her at all, she treated Seamus and her children terribly. But close to the end I liked her a little more.The connection between Seamus and Faith is so beautiful!They are sweet and it was nice to see how they gave each other courage.



I feel bad that this is my first time reading a Kim Holden book. OMG Seriously why I haven't read any of her books????This is my biggest mistake! One I will be remedying, I need to read her other books soon!!!This a story that everyone should read!!I highly recommend it!!!

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****





Here are my overall ratings:

Hero: 5
Miranda: 1
Faith: 4
Plot: 4.5
Angst: 5
Steam: 3
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine (Faith): 4

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Multiple
Rating:




Seamus and Miranda McIntyre were married but couldn't be more opposite from each other. He was loving and understanding. She was cold and calculating. Together, they had three beautiful children that got caught in the middle, especially when their quirky neighbor Faith entered the picture. In order to move on, all of them had to learn to be so much more.



There are stories about romance and there are stories about love. This book is definitely more the latter.

Seamus can’t be the king to my queen. Because he’s a saint. And no one measures up to a saint.

It’s impossible for anyone not to feel Seamus and love him for all he was. He was almost perfect, but life threw him a curve ball. Still, he took it as gracefully as he could manage.



Miranda was the complete opposite. She was manipulative and conniving. Everything she did was for herself and she had no qualms about hurting other people for the sake of reaching her ambition.

I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul. Faith can.

It took me a while until I can pinpoint where Faith stood in this equation. I like her and her back story, but personally, I wasn’t feeling much for her.

Being a good person is partially subjective; beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. It’s whatever we deem acceptable, whatever we find ourselves worthy of.

I love books that gave me conflicting emotions. Like this one, I love Seasmus, but at the same time I wanted to shake him so we could start taking instead of just giving. And Miranda, as much as a bitch she was, I did recognize her unrelenting drive and that was quite admirable actually.

However, I did have some problem in the beginning. I felt it was too slow for my liking. It took about 60% of the book before it started moving the way I preferred.



I don’t like kids in real life (lol!), but they’re always my weak point when it comes to books. You hurt then, and I’ll break. And they broke me several times in this one. But they also made me smile and melted my cold heart.

So Much More is a heartwarming story of a family in the cusp of changes and how they deal with it while learning to be a better person.


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Tough Critic Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5~Stars

Kim Holden blazed her way into the literary world with a debut novel so good, it hurt. After Bright Side, I have literally been holding my breath in anticipation, almost fearful of what was coming. I couldn't handle another Bright Side, at least not without medication, a gallon of tequila, a fluffy pillow and Enya.

So Much More affected my emotions with the same magnitude as Bright Side but in a much different way.

It was a little hard for me to follow in the beginning, a lot was being told to me. I became restless waiting for the story to actually start. But then it did. It started. It. Started.

Then I fell apart.

There were so many parts of this book where I had to sit, digest and scream. I was angry. I was confused. I was rooting for the wrong person.

Wait....what!?

Seamus, without a doubt, is the hero of this book. He was pure, but broken. Strong, but vulnerable. Proud, but unassuming. His relationship with his kids was quite possibly the sexiest thing I have ever read in a book. He was the heart, soul and foundation of everything good in So Much More.

Where I adored Seamus, I became absolutely fascinated with Miranda. I became obsessed with her redemption. The more bad Kim Holden told me about her, the more I wanted her to be good. I rationalized and justified every action with an aching hope that it could all be excused by something out of her control. I felt for Miranda. I sympathized with her. I didn't see a villain, I saw a broken woman manipulated by her past.

I knew it was wrong, so wrong, but I wanted her to win Seamus back.

I felt so manipulated.

I was manipulated.

I felt sick.

But I loved it.

The writing in this book is absolutely amazing. Kim Holden's words were the tinder that ignited every single emotion. It's the type of book that from the very start, sits right in the pit of your stomach.

My only negative, and it's definitely a "it's not you it's me" situation, was Faith. I lacked the emotional connection I had with Seamus and Miranda, and to be harshly honest, I really did't like her. It's so completely messed up. Faith gave me every reason to like her, she deserved for me to like her, but I didn't. I liked Miranda!? This is insane. I'm insane!?

I also didn't feel the love between Faith and Seamus. I knew it was there, but I didn't feel it. To be honest, it was probably more about me and my bias. I could't help but to want things to end up how I wanted them to end up.

I almost love that they didn't, just as much as if they did.

It's the conflict and indifference that had this book on my mind for several days after I had finished.

If you want emotion. This book is for you.

If you finally want an excuse to use your highlight function. This book is for you.

If you love being pissed off, happy, sad, and then pissed off again. This book is for you.

Whether you end up loving or hating. This book is for you.

READ ON!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Holden, always delivers the feels and this book had me feeling until the very end. I swear my heart is still hurting.

I will do a full review when I have had a minute to process my crazy emotions!

[TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%



I haven’t read this author before, and with the glowing reviews she’s received for her other books I was excited to start this. But as I read all I could think was maybe I’m missing the sensitive gene or something because I have seen reviews stating how emotional this got everyone. But I just couldn’t connect to any of this.

It started off really good, and Miranda’s feisty bitch attitude reminded me of Leah from the Love Me With Lies series so I was sure this was going to be really entertaining.

But then 10 % came and went..

Then 20%…

Then 30%..

And I was waiting for something to happen that would keep me interested. I know Miranda's deceptions were supposed to add shock value but I was still indifferent to it all. I did find the moments with the kids sad and also touching. But when I start skimming a book, it’s like the kiss of death for me and I just need to throw in the towel.

I want to make it clear there was nothing wrong with this book, just wasn't MY cup of tea. Maybe wrong book wrong time, who knows? I do think it's clear she is a good writer and I am sure others will enjoy this much much more than I did. But I wasn’t feeling this and I’m not exactly sure why, since I’ve read books even slower paced than this. Maybe it was the plot that I couldn't connect to, but for whatever reason I just didn't care to continue.




Find Me On:
Instagram ★ FB ★ Blog

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 so much more stars!

I literally just finished this book and my thoughts are all over the place I'm going for a quick review here maybe later I can do a well deserved one.

This was an emotional read, heartbreaking but at the same time full of hope, love and forgiveness. As usually with the beautiful Kim Holden's writing, my gosh her words just have a way of pulling you into a roller coaster of emotions.

Seamus, you are an incredible man, such a good father and have most forgiven heart and I admire you for that.

Miranda, I hated you so much, you caused so much damage. By the end I didn't love you, but I respected you for taking advantage of your second chance.

Faith, the sweetness and light Seamus needed, a huger (literally) a breath of fresh air. But also strong for battling your own demons.

Love explained:

Miranda
Love is real
It's my children
And choices...
❤️
Seamus
I'm an enthusiastic connoisseur of love -an expert through immersion. I know it intimately....
❤️
Faith
love is instinct,
driven, heart over mind.
It can be defined. Bone-jarringly beautiful....
❤️

[Linda ❤️ Sassy, Classy && a Little Bit of Nasty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Kim Holden book! Yay!!!! :D



4.5 'Second Chance' Stars



Kim Holden definitely drew some emotions out of me that I didn't expect going into this book. She made me fall in love (that's almost a given with Kim Holden), she made me hate, and most unexpectedly, and she made me merciful (albeit reluctantly at first).



I found this story to be so realistic. The emotions were so raw and the callousness so remorseless. The tale is told through three different POV's, alternating from past to present. Each POV held it's own truth and while some were more appealing than others, I can't deny that they all equally penetrated my heart. Whether negatively or not, it happened.



Seamus is the purest and most kind-hearted hero I've read in a long time. His love for his children goes beyond bounds and his passion for them bleeds from his pores. There is absolutely no way you can NOT fall in love with Seamus, he's completely endearing. His strength was incredible and he was too considerate for his own good.


"Reality can be a fierce bitch"......"And I can be a fool..who believes in dreams. And people. And love."




Miranda, Miranda, Miranda.
When Miranda was first introduced, I was hoping against all hell that this wasn't going to be a second chance novel for her. She was completely vile. Her selfishness was unimaginable and I swore I saw red reading about her and from her POV. "There surely can't be a person this corrupt!" I kept telling myself. But then again, this is where the real comes into to play; shit like this happens in real life everyday. We just turn the blind eye and choose not to see it if we have the choice. I never found myself 100% sold on Miranda. I'd have to get more of her to see redemption. She's done too much for me to look at her in a different light after a few chapters. All this is to say, Kim Holden has conjured an impeccable villain.


"Only fools believe in love. And I am no fool."




Faith is completely happy-natured. She believes in second chances and believes there's an answer to be sought for every question. She comes into Seamus' life at the perfect time and offers him the best thing she can offer; herself. Whether it be her company, her ear, or the best thing of all, her hugs , she's there.


"I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul."




Every one of these characters were developed very well. Right down to the children who had a thing or two to teach their parents. I loved that the attraction between Faith and Seamus didn't overtake, or even take away, from the story in itself. The main focus of this story was not the love, but the heart.


“Life blooms in second chances."

[Katy Loves Romance ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++++ Beautiful Stars



I want that someday, bone-jarring beautiful

I met this author at the weekend, her name is Kim she's one of the most beautiful, caring and loving human beings I've ever met. I mean her soul is just so so GIVING! How do I know this? I've read her books and yes I've now read three and so she will always always be a go to author for me, this girl can write. She has a way to grab you, pull you in and take ahold of your heart.. So instead of reviewing this the normal way per-se I'm going to write Kim a letter from me and explain how and why the characters in this story touched my heart..



So in no further ado..

Dearest Kim,

Thank you so very much for giving us Seamus, he touched me in more ways that one. Because he is a dad, he saw his children as the most important people In his life. He was a creature of comfort and you know what I am a creature of comfort. I have three children, I know what it's like to fight for my kids every damn day. What it's like to comfort them, read them stories and all in all put them before anything else.. Seamsus gah is alllll that HE IS LOVE. He has MS and he is an independent strong man, he knew his own body, he wasn't his illness he was HIM I'll forever love his character. He was truly the sole of the story for me.

Miranda, how Kim how can kind, sweet, soul deep Kim write a character that's built on HATE, come from you?? LMAO! Anyhoo this story is a tad complicated in a way that is about a wife who soon becomes an Ex- a well deserved -Ex! Let me tell you I don't mind annoying heroines most of the time. That said here, here Miranda pushes ALLLLL my buttons I was stomping, and wanted to throw my kindle at points.. I was like OMG get out get out of my kindle hahaha yet unbelievably YOU KIM found a way for me to feel for her, I felt for the BITCH. I felt something and I felt sorry for her, so yep mastermind comes to mind here, no no genius.. But if you haven't read this know, she is A character I Love to hate.



And then there's Faith..
The most beautiful, Exquisite woman and if you've read Brightside then this is another version of Kate in my opinion. Not in a bad morbid way but in a giving loving way. She gave, she was a humble character that gave herself to others and put herself last. She taught others how to love and how to hug.. #FreeHugs

And lastly the kids, what this story balls down to is love and them. And the children, I love books on children and this one sure is on the top line. They are adorable, loving and above all a unit.



If your scared to read Brightside then I'd highly recommend this one.. Kim's writing is just something else. She knows how to make her characters shine, she knows how to write about people. And she knows how to write love. She writes the most beautiful quotes that I highlighted all over the shop and I'll definitely continue to cherish and read her work in the future.

This is so much more, so much more than love, so much more than people, so much more than words. It's just so much more.

Thank you Xoxo

For more reviews and blog posts

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!



This one was SO MUCH MORE than I had expected. It was my first read by this author and I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed her writing style and her storytelling. This book simply blew me away. I honestly couldn’t put it down. It was sooo different from what I had expected. This story will hit you right in the feels, it will make you reflect, it will touch your heart. A very unique, refreshing read, 'So Much More' was a story about love, family, friendship, second chances and so much more.

“Seamus can’t be the king to my queen. Because he’s a saint. And no one measures up to a saint.“

'So Much More' fallows the story of Seamus, a thirty something man whose life changes when he finds himself in the middle of a divorce. He has three children he loves with all his heart and he would do pretty much anything for them. Unlike Seamus, Miranda, Seamus’s wife and later ex-wife doesn’t care about the kids at all. Well…at least at first. While Seamus struggle with his illness and tries to raise healthy, happy kids, Miranda continues to be herself – an evil b*tch without a heart, trying to destroy Seamus’s happiness.

“She’s contrast. She shines effortlessly, unknowingly imploring me to take notice. It’s an attraction I wholeheartedly feel but have unconsciously tried to deny.”

Seamus’s life changes for the better when he meets Faith, a gentle soul who seems to understand him like no other. She’s a tenant in the apartment building Seamus and his children moved into. Faith is Miranda’s opposite in every way. She’s good and caring and she feels like a breath of fresh air not only for Seamus, but also for the kids.

"I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul. Faith can."

I loved this one! Like I previously mentioned – it was a very refreshing read, not exactly your usual contemporary romance story. As a reader, I love when a book makes me fell and this one really did. Trust me when I say at times my emotions were all over the place. The author did a fantastic job telling this story because you will feel everything there is to feel. I guarantee it!

The story is told in multiple POVs which I really enjoyed. Each one of these POVs were well done and I enjoyed them all for one reason or another. However, my favorite one was Seamus’s.

“Thank God for my kids. They’re my life. They’re my purpose. They’re my everything.”

Seamus was such a great character. I swear he can easily win the award for the perfect hero. A handsome man, a devoted husband, a fantastic father, Seamus was pure and simply wonderful. He was vividly portrayed and so endearing from start to finish.

While I found Seamus’s character to be the most endearing character in the story, I found Miranda’s character to be the more fascinating. Her character was fantastically portrayed. Miranda was one of the most despicable characters I’ve read in a while. This woman was such a b*tch. Needless to say most of the time I wanted to throttle her, punch her in the face and then throttle her some her. Trust me when I say that she deserved it. As the story progresses we get to meet a “new Miranda”. She didn’t won me over at all. For some reason I couldn’t sympathize with her at all. Maybe because her redemption wasn’t totally believable to me.

“I like your heart, Seamus.” She cups my cheek, kisses me softly on the corner of my mouth, and whispers, “My heart really likes your heart.”

Faith was a likeable character from the moment she was introduced. I like her and her role in the story. She was perfect for Seamus in every way, kind and loving she tried to show our hero that he’s so much more than he thinks, that not everyone else is and loves like Miranda, that he doesn’t have to give up on love.

All these characters were so well developed and every single one of them felt so real. Each POV felt honest in their own way and like I mentioned above you will feel all kinds of emotions reading their story.

The romance aspect of the story between Seamus and Faith was not the most important, but I have to say I really liked it. The slow burn romance between these two was well done, simply lovely and really heartwarming.

Overall, this was a very good read, well written with a “healthy” dose of drama, entertaining characters and a well developed plot.

"Life blooms in second chances."

[Dee Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS*****

What can I say, it's a Kim Holden book.!!!! Poignant and beautiful. No review can make justice to the depth and the beauty of this story.

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

So Much More by Kim Holden
5 stars!!!!

“Hope your day is as awesome as you are. Love, Dad.”

Kim Holden never fails to batter my heart with her emotional writing, whether it be All of It, Brightside or Gus the tears have fallen in various quantities and now we can add So Much More to the list too. However, the biggest emotion evoked from me in So Much More was anger…yes, quiet, timid, Kim Holden has created a character I hated with a passion, I never knew she had it in her.

While So Much More was emotional in places this is nothing like her previous books, this book centres around the love a father has for his children, this is a book about an extremely selfish woman and an extremely selfless man. Two total opposites of the spectrum who fell in love, got married and made the most amazing children. A family created from love, or at least that was what Seamus believed. Miranda…there are just no words…

“And my heart shatters for the second time today. It’s blown apart into so many pieces, the shrapnel spread so far and wide, I know what remains will never fit back together again. Puzzles don’t work when you only have half of the pieces. Same goes for hearts.”

Seamus McIntyre should be the role model for all fathers, despite having his own issues his love for his children never, ever faltered, his love for them held no bounds, they were his biggest priority and his hugest achievement and while they didn’t have much, they always had each other.

Miranda McIntyre was a selfish, self-absorbed charlatan. She manipulated people for her own self-importance and for her own gain, no matter the consequences. She was a grade A bitch that only ever looked out for numero uno. She was a woman that didn’t deserve what she had and throughout this whole book I was pleading for karma and I hoped that she got a huge dose of it. She was a character that instantly got under my skin and no matter how hard I tried to understand her logic and her actions, I couldn’t…so it was official…she was just a bitch. As much as her back story tried to explain her actions I just couldn’t justify them, she was sick in her own way, but she was intelligent and extremely manipulative, she knew what she was frankly and quite frankly just didn’t care.

“We’re immature teenagers emotionally, both bankrupt in the ability to love and care for another. That doesn’t bode well for matrimony or even monogamy.”

Faith lived in the same apartment block as Seamus and his kids, with Miranda gone he was on his own and was making the best out of a bad situation. Faith was a free spirit that had her own issues but she had a heart of gold and soon strikes up a friendship with Seamus and his kids. Faith rallied around helping when needed and was a great support to Seamus. I loved the way her past was slowly revealed so that you really understood her and where she was coming from. She was deep and introspective but she was pure, she just needed to be set free.

“I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul. Faith can.”

This story was a father’s fight to keep his kids, a father that knew he was the better parent and would sacrifice everything to prove that point. He was a man on a mission and no matter the hurt and pain he went through, he just had one end goal…the best for his children. With every shot that Miranda fired my heart broke, with every battle she won…my heart broke some more and with every round Kim Holden really delivered a story that was captivating and hard to put down.

“Life blooms in second chances.”

This book though was “real” it took real life situations and explored them emotionally, it showed you the consequences and for every action there is a reaction. It is easy to dismiss a father’s love, outsiders looking in always deem the mother the suitable parent and this really hammered home that looks can be deceiving and never trust a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“…it’s my future façade. An enviable husband and a few spawn look good for well-rounded appearance’s sake, a wolf surrounded by cute, likable, soft little sheep. Everyone loves sheep.”

But, as with any Kim Holden book there is that undercurrent of love and friendship and this book will make you look at the bigger picture…anyone want a hug? The simplest act can have the hugest effects, there is always someone worse off than you and sometimes the simplest hello can make someone smile and you will have made their day. This book will leave you wanting to be a better person and if you are a mother will give you the biggest lesson in how not to be one. Anyone can be a mother, but it takes someone special to be a mum.

“Ask one hundred people to explain love. And you’ll get one hundred different answers. Because Love is like art, it’s subjective. Fluid. Ever-changing. Evolving.”

www.theromancecover.com

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 ★'s

You know when you choose a Kim Holden book to read that you're going to get some intense, emotional subject matter. She always brings such depth to her characters that her writing makes them come alive.

The problem is that you may not always agree with what the characters do and that's certainly the case with Miranda. She is one of the "witchiest" characters I've ever read. I hated her!! Even to the extent that I wanted no redemption for her AT. ALL.

On the other hand, you can't help but love Seamus. My heart went out to him "so much more". It was really hard reading some of the events that happened to him. Thank goodness for Faith.



She's his new neighbor and she's a godsend because Seamus has become very bitter and she is the opposite of that. However, Faith does have her own journey to go through and it is very intriguing...and maybe a little too convenient?

Miranda had a bit of a tough life growing up and she based her life model on her very strong grandmother. The problem is her grandmother died when Miranda was eighteen and Miranda never really grasp the concept of being loving and giving love in return. She's power hunger and selfish and she gets what she deserves.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and had a hard time putting it down even though I felt some things were a bit unrealistic. And I would like to know more about Miranda and the woman in room 400!

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading So Much More yesterday evening and before I knew it the sun was rising. I simply had to finish it so I got zero sleep. And you know what? It’s worth the yawns, puffy eyes, and dark circles I’m suffering today because once again Kim Holden has slain me with a fascinating story that has all the feels and then some.

“I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul.”

I don’t want to talk about the plot or even the relationship between the characters because I feel the book is best enjoyed through blind submersion. I will say that Kim Holden has crafted an interesting and diverse group of characters and assembled them in complex plot that deeply affected me on many levels.

My heart ached for Seamus who is vulnerable, wounded yet strong, and noble. Faith is a positive-thinking free spirit who is so easy to adore and admire. She is insightful beyond her years. Her free hugs are infectious, and her innate goodness is touching.

“Every day when I wake up, I remind myself that present is possibility, and the past is a lesson.”

Contrast that with Miranda, who I’m pretty sure is the Anti-Christ. I don’t think I’ve ever loathed a character more, and, boy, did I love to hate her and her ruthless calculations.

“My vagina is a weapon in my arsenal, and any stiff cock can be defeated by it. Weakened. Vanquished. It’s a tool to concur.”

On an angst scale from one to ten, this book is about a fifteen, which is right up my alley when done with such a skillful hand. You will find a dose of humor here and there to help ease the tension, along with many inspiring moments that will tug on your heartstrings.

Kim Holden is an astonishing storyteller who breathes emotion, discernment, and poetry onto every page. So Much More is an incredibly powerful story about selfless love, discovery, resilience, and forgiveness. Do yourself a favor and read this amazing book.

Recommended for fans of:
Scheming villains
Angst
Second chances

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I truly do have a stone cold heart because I didn't shed a tear. I don't know what everyone is talking about because yes this book is sad in a "oh that's so sad" kind of way but it most definitely is not in the "omg my heart is dying' kind of way that everyone is making this book out to be.
You guys lied 😑😑 this book didn't make me cry and I needed a good book cry. Humph!

[Christine (Shh Moms Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG guys! I am on a reading HIGH right now! This book tortured my heart...it made me cry..it made me mad! THE FEELS WERE KILLING ME! But in the end, I was so happy...so in love..with these characters..with this author...another TOP FAVE of 2016 - full review to come!
I am not even sure what to pick up next because its just too soon to move on!!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Much More is a standalone novel. The narrators are Seamus, Miranda and Faith. The book goes back and forth between the present and the past.

I am not familiar with the name Seamus. But apparently it is pronounced Shay-mus. Oops I was pronouncing it See-mus.

I have read Bright Side and Gus, but did not read the book blurb for So Much More prior to reading the book. The story actually really took me by surprise. I guess I was expecting a sweet sappy love story. But instead I was put into the mind of the devil (Miranda). This woman was so self-absorbed. I hated her. She was horrible, cruel, and I was shocked that she was the narrator.

The other main narrator was Seamus. He was a really kind man. And I could not see at all how he could have liked Miranda. She was so unlikable. I was really curious if she could be redeemed.

Even though the book was not what i was expecting, I still found it riveting. I could not put it down. It was emotional. Parts of it were absolutely heartbreaking. It really made me feel.

I am not exactly sure what category to put this book in. There is romance. But to me it didn't guide the story. Also I really liked Faith. She was a lovely person. But I really didn't dig the love story aspect with her and Seamus. They were cute together. And I was okay with them being together. But I wasn't very invested in them as a couple.

Final spoiler thoughts: I really thought that there was no possible way that Miranda could be redeemed. I really cannot remember a narrator being such a horrible person. I definitely did not want her to get Seamus. But I think that it was quite interesting how she finally decided to be a mom to those kids. The development towards the end with Kai was super emotional. But I actually sort of liked Miranda by the end of the story. So bravo to the author for that one!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was different than I expected. But it was emotional, compelling and a very captivating read.

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I’ve been so up and down with this read that I’m dizzy. It has made me feel a lot of negative emotions, mostly hate, sadness and irritation. I hated Miranda and I know I was supposed to, the ‘redemption’ didn’t work for me. My issues with this book were the pure fucking hopelessness for much of the story. Everything that could possibly go wrong, did to the power of 10. I feel pretty wrung out. I will give Kim Holden props for writing Cruella DeVille incarnate. So glad it’s over.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn the FEELS in this book. This was one of those unforgettable reads that everyone should experience. This was my first book by Kim Holden and I can say that it will not be my last. I'm very excited to read more by her.

There are three main characters here and the story is told from each of their POVs woven together. Each character made me feel so much whether it was anger, love, hate, happiness, or sympathy.



In this story Seamus is blindsided when his wife of twelve years serves him with divorce papers. This leaves him and his three kids moving into a small apartment while Miranda is moving on fast, getting what she wants. Faith is one of the neighbors and quickly shows Seamus what true love looks like.

“Life blooms in second chances."

As the story is told, we get to learn more from each character. In the beginning, I agreed with Seamus that Miranda was a bitch. She even admits it, but I did admire the drive she had so young. Then as I learned more about her, I became furious at her for what she did to Seamus. How can someone be so unfeeling? I don't understand it. She dis some really despicable things. And to mess with kids like that...kids she didn't even want. Grrrr! My heart hurt so badly.

"Thank God for my kids. They’re my life. They’re my purpose. They’re my everything.”

Seamus...oh what an awesome character. I loved him so much. He is such an amazing man. He gave everything in his marriage and never complained. He was such an amazing father. Miranda never once had to lift a finger. He was happy to do everything for his children. When he smiled, I smiled. When he hurt, I hurt. Miranda really left him feeling 'broken' and not sure if he would ever find love again.

“You can’t miss what you never had, right? That holds true for everything in my life, except one. Love.”

Then there was Faith. As I mentioned she is the neighbor who lives below Seamus and his family. You couldn't help but like her from the moment she showed up in their doorstep with a mango. She has her own demons to battle, but she doesn't let them change her. She's looking for her happy ending too. I thought she and Seamus were perfect for one another. Without much effort, she helped Seamus get over his bitterness. She taught him compassion. And she gave out free hugs which I also loved. I guess you never really think about hugs until you are really touched by one.

“I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul. Faith can.”

This was such a beautiful, powerful story filled with love, loss, starting over, compassion, faith, hope, friendship, family and so much more. This is a book that I would highly recommend. Definitely a favorite for me.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start?

How about how I think I need Monkey Bread? What the hell even is it?

How about I tell you how I love Hope? Every day folks like her, live next door to you and I. We don't bother them, they don't bother us. We think ignorance is bliss, when we should exchange a smile, a nod, a touch?

How about I tell you how I love Benito? He's the secondary character like the lovely Mrs Randolph from Gus. His part may be fleeting but it is pivotal. Right man. Right place. Right on dude!

How about I tell you how I hated Miranda? She reminded me very much of Dirty Red - Leah, the total bitch I will never,ever forgive (Tarryn Fisher by the way).

That leads me to another how. How can the most friendly, huggy, emotional, best mum, best wife in the history of all of the world - write about a bitch to rival said Leah who, up until now is the best bitch the world has ever known? Leah v Miranda fight, I would buy tickets for that. Ringside!

Seamus, I don't need YouTube lessons in pronunciation, I've got this. I love a man who is unafraid to show emotion. What a beautiful soul. My heart really liked his heart. My heart really loved his kids too. Thoughtful Kai. English speaking Rory (hi Rory, I know your alter-ego and he is smashing), wild at heart Kira. Now, he would get best dad points. Read it - believe it. My PJ is actually just like that. He hugs them every day, loves them unconditionally. So proud of them - even the one who is not his blood.

How about I tell you about Rainbow Bright? Life blooms in second chances. She is the poster child of hugs. Faith. I am team Faith. Life is sometimes a bit shit, and people come along who pull you out. They might have been there before and know where the steps are.

Kim Holden has written a beautiful book. It challenges perception. It makes you think of being a better person. Well done. It was so much more.

A Karen Cundy review would not be so much more if it didn't have quotes. I highlighted a lot - no sticky notes involved this time:

"Divorce. How can a word so benign become uglier every time I turn it over in my head? It's just a word, seven little letters. Letters should be harmless. But those seven letters have ganged up on me and every time I think about them, it feels like an attack. An attack on my heart. An attack on my children. An attack that's muddied my soul."

"I didn't know people could hug your soul with their soul."

"Bitterness has me standing at the edge of sanity looking down into the deep, dark pit of future regret."

"Compassion is something we should all be willing to show. Treating people badly in reaction to how they treat us plays into the ugliness in the world and perpetuates it. Treating people well, not in the hopes that they'll change, because sometimes people never change, keeps our hearts free from the ugliness."

"Every day is a new opportunity to be the person you've always wanted to be. Some days your heart will be in it, and some days you'll fake it, but eventually it will become a habit and without thinking about it, you will be changed anew. A new attitude. A new outlook. A new perspective. The human mind is a wonderful thing to grant us that kind of change."

"Every day when I wake up, I remind myself that the present is possibility, and the past is a lesson."

Unlike Leah, I sort of warmed to Miranda, because she accepted her faults and failures and in her own Monkey Bread way tried to make it taste better.

[Cristal]

Aching and sweet, a love story, a life story, that’s uniquely Holden in which I’m left with hopefulness that fills me.

“People are what make life worth living. Sacrifice. Love. Compassion. It’s pretty goddamn beautiful. Who knew?”

Kim Holden never fails to turn my cynical heart to marshmallow. She never fails to inspire me, and she never fails to make me fall in love with her uniquely endearing characters. But, she did something new this time around; she did more. She made me love a character that I despised. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; she's got that magic.

“The dark ugliness of hate peeks through the recesses and blots out the light of decency. I wonder how long it will be before I transform completely into my hate. I’m fighting it for my kids.”

So Much More centers around three characters, Seamus, Miranda, and Faith. Seamus is a single dad raising his three children and they're his whole heart. It's clear that they're his life and I absolutely adored this man. He may be my favorite Kim Holden hero yet. When we meet Seamus, he's very much emotionally shattered after the end of his 12-year marriage. Family means everything to him, and his heart breaks when he learns the truth about the woman he pledged his life to.

“I want to cling to his soft heart, but I don’t want his softness to seep into my hard heart. Because softness will get me nowhere.”

Miranda is a despicable character and my hatred for her knew no bounds. She's conniving, selfishly ambitious, and there were times when I questioned if she had a soul. She's bad blood, and what she puts Seamus and his family through is unforgivable. Miranda made it hard for me to read this story sometimes, as I had to pause to catch my breath. But she does add a layer of realness and ugliness that gives depth to the story, and cuts through some of the overly sweet moments.

“Your presence eases a tension inside me that I’ve carried all my life. You make me hurt less."

Faith is the hope of a future, and she meets Seamus at exactly the time he needs her to fuel that hope, and exactly the time that she needs him to ignite her own faith. Reminiscent of Kate from Bright Side (minus the tragic circumstances), Faith is beauty and positivity that my skeptical self would usually see as false, but Kim Holden makes me believe it. She always does.

“You can’t miss what you never had right? That holds true for everything in my life, except one. Love. I miss it, even though we’ve never met.”

So Much More is written in alternating moments from past to present in these three characters’ points of view, until they converge and Seamus, Miranda, and Faith are irrevocably intertwined in each other's lives. Though sometimes the transition between POVs frustrated me, I loved how the story developed. Don’t be particular if you dislike love triangles, because this isn’t that. This is a romance, but it’s not what is important. This is a story about family, love in all its forms, second chances, and forgiveness.

“Nothing, and no one, will destroy me.”

Kim Holden showcases her best writing in this emotional tale, her words strong and meaningful. This story is so much more than what I was expecting. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, since the synopsis barely hinted at the story, but this wasn't it. I didn’t expect to feel such a range of emotions, most of them contradictory. I didn’t expect to feel such fire one moment, and then soothed the next. I didn’t expect my feelings to evolve so drastically that I went from loathing to compassion in the short span of a few hours. That’s not me; I’m unforgiving. But I experienced it all, and I won't forget it. This is a good one, and I absolutely loved reading it. I definitely recommend that you read it too.

“Life blooms in second chances.”

Originally posted on Three Little Birds Book Blog

[Katerina · Rating 1 out of 5]

So much more has been raved about for months. I really did want to give it a try since I hated Bright Side and hoped it would open up my options into reading the author's books. Well, So much More was the anti-thesis of Bright side, in some ways.

Miranda has an agenda: to climb up the corporate social ladder. She is an unfeeling, empty vessel who sucks on the blood of her loved ones like a leech, taking from those who give, in particularly her husband Seamus. She cheats with dozens of men, she bullies and neglects her family, embodying the epitome of the "selfish bitch" in every book you read. She's a fake - through and through in terms of both looks and personality.

Seamus is a gorgeous man, a giver, a carer, an intellectual, an empathiser. He falls into Miranda's trap, marries her, loves her, has three kids with her. Then he gets MS (a neurological disease). The book spans across a good twelve years- briefly looking at the start of their relationship to its decline to the pits of hell when she asks him for a divorce and marries another man. It focusses on his struggle with his disease and the loss of his children due to a custody battle.

I detested Miranda. She was emotionally manipulative, draining, a disgusting unfeeling excuse of a human. And frankly I didn't understand her agenda. She wants money and respect, and to be at the top of the banks yet how did that justifying her having three children with a man she didn't love and who wasn't exactly earning like a rich sugar daddy. There's no link or purpose or explanation. What the hell did she want? That's where the book failed and lacked in my opinion. It was almost pointless. I understand why she fucks people at work, so her climb can continue but Seamus? "Let me have babies with a really good looking man who I secretly think is a complete bum but he is intoxicated with my love." Um... Okay?

It painted her in a light in which no human being could truly be. A divorcee. A manipulator. A cheater. A bitch. A woman who resents her husband and hates/is jealous her kids with a superiority complex. The book really wrings out the turmoil she puts Seamus through especially when she claims full custody of their children and fails to look after or care for any one of them simply needing them for her family image. No one was looking at her image to be completely honest. There was just no point to anything she chose to do. She just inflicted unnecessary problems so it was really annoying to read something so stretched out. NO PURPOSE.

Then there's Faith. I hated Faith. I shouldn't have but I did- equally to Miranda. Faith is mother fucking Teresa. Just like the main girl from Bright Side. Seamus is a good 34/5 years old. Faith is only 23. There's more than a decade between them and this age difference wasn't discussed but it does matter. Age is not "just" a number. When Miranda abandons her kids after the divorce, Seamus begins to like his neighbour. Sure- okay. Faith has her whole life ahead of her yet has no career goals or purpose or drive. It's all good being spiritual and optimistic, giving out free hugs, being a stripper and having dreadlocks but being in love with a divorced MS father (who will likely lose his eyesight and feeling in his leg any day now) and taking on the position of a subordinate mother to his kids was...again something I saw a lack of anything in. She's barely come out of foster care herself. Gimme a break. A young woman doesn't exactly want to get in a relationship with a man who still 50% loathes/50% loves his ex wife.

We have an evil narcissist mother blinded by her insecurities and a saint. I hated both. Seamus was boring. A father through and through. There was no real exciting character in him. I would have preferred no Faith and a Miranda who did love her husband. I love it when our protagonists are self-sabotaging and cruel, but they thaw for the person they love, even if they are frayed around the edges. As opposites, I thought Miranda and Seamus were more edgy, and had she not been the biggest evil bitch in the world, and thought all the shit she did, and do all the shit she did i.e. cheat, their chemistry and fights and love could have conquered into something beautiful. He could have brought out the softer side of her. They contrast one another. He's too good and she's too bad. I love that dynamic but instead we got the good ol' my evil ex wife, my new younger traded model of a girlfriend, blah blah.

Disappointed.

1*

[Lacy Words we love by · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 million stars
Magic
Pure emotional ride
The best roller coaster ride
SO .MUCH.MORE
God how do I even begin to review this book . I feel helpless. So many words in the English language and none of them would cover how much I loved this book .
This is one of those book that you carry with you all of your life . Like the little prince and bright side . I mean I knew it was Kim Holden and you can never go wrong with her but she outdid herself with this one . It's a lesson of life . And life my friends "life blooms in second chances"
This book is about love, family, life in its pure and utter ugliness and at the same time in its most vivid shade of beauty.

There is no cancer or death But the emotional roller coaster is just as strong

As I was 11% I told my self that as much as Kim can write loving caring extremely genuine and kindhearted human being and she absolutely created some amazing ones in this book GAH Seamus and faith trampled Kate , she could as well write the most despicable evil creatures ... And she did in this book . It was so hard for me to read this character I hate Miranda's guts . Wanted to kill her with my bare hands . But Kim would manage some magical shit afterwards ... I won't tell you more

There is no reprieve or rest or a couple of pages steady NO it's fast pace and twist on every page and pieces of a cleverly puzzle are being revealed down each and every chap . The swing past present is so excellently put together it's flash forward form the past related to the situations at hand in the present . genius ! I loved it .


Now the writing .... Absolute and utter beauty ... The words she used are so simple and yet so deep and beautiful . "My heart likes your heart" . But then again this is Kim Holden she'll capture your heart with such simplicity and coax you into handing her every single emotions of yours willingly ... She is one of those writers whose words seep through the cracks of your heart and hug you soul slowly at first and then before you know it she would've carved her name into you heart forever .

Within the confines of this story lies some real life issues and I love how Kim tackled them . Issues you'd never see the same way and the message behind it is so strong it'll make your vision on life that much different

Besides the story which exceptionally wonderful Kim creates such outstanding Charachters that will stay forever with you Charachters you will look up too . Those charchaters become a part of you soul and stay with you forever I carry all of hers with me . That's how strong they are . They feel real and genuine and so much more .

Gosh the simplicity of the words and their depths . Kim makes the smallest thing special . The way she'd writes would say "an unbelievably beautiful circumstance he could be in with you" instead of "he could fall in love with you" . Or instead of I love you "my heart really likes your heart " It touched my heart and made me smile with happiness . So beautiful it took my breath away .

I could go on on about this book and never tell you how much I loved it and how much it's beautiful . So I'm going to do this :

I'm on my knees begging you as a reader to pick up this book it'll change your life in the best possible way

[özlem (mommy's lib) · Rating 5 out of 5]

hani demiştim ya anamı ağlattın Kim diye. onlara ailemin diğer üyeleri de katılmış olabilir sanırım...

Gün Işığım ve Gus'ın yerine geçemedi elbette ama yazarın kalemi beni bir kere daha yanıltmadı. daha detaylı bir yorum girmek istiyorum ama henüz değil... xo biçız 👇