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Higher Ground
Nearly a decade after leaving her tumultuous high school years and New Orleans behind, Dr. Violet Foster is thriving in Atlanta. She’s landed a job in the English Department of a prestigious school and shares a home—and her heart—with Wade Price, the love of her life. Everything’s going according to plan. Until a phone call from Violet’s younger brother thwarts her holiday plans and upends her carefully constructed life. She’s managed to avoid her hometown for years and dance around the secrets she left buried there. A wedding reception and an ailing grandmother beckon her return to The Big Easy, but as her departure nears, Violet is forced to reconcile the person she was with the woman she’s become. Even if it means losing everything she holds dear.
- GenresRomance
ebook
First published June 23, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 28, 2016
While making plans for the Christmas holiday and moving forward in her relationship with her boyfriend, Violet Foster is compelled to return to New Orleans and relive the story of Oliver, the boy who changed her life. While her story has many of the ups associated with growing up and falling in love, it's the lows that threaten to destroy her future.
Higher Ground is a stunning debut from self-published author Nan Lowe. It's a spectacular, haunting, and beautifully written journey for our lead, Violet. Her story evokes the thrill of young love, the confusion of growing up, and the fear of the secrets being revealed. Told in Violet's point of view, Nan has wonderfully captured the voice of both young and older Violet, allowing us to have a true sense of this complex yet realistic character. We feel what she feels, and it's elating and heartbreaking. Rounding out Violet's story are the supporting characters, who are supporting in name only. Each has his/her own distinct voice, something that's difficult to achieve when writing in first person, and it's these voices that help mold Violet and her journey into a powerfully moving story. The darker tone of the story pulls at your soul, creating a sensation of dread until it overflows and overtakes you. It's so smooth that you almost don't see it coming until it's too late.
This is definitely worth the read. Trust me when I say you won't regret it.
Higher Ground is a stunning debut from self-published author Nan Lowe. It's a spectacular, haunting, and beautifully written journey for our lead, Violet. Her story evokes the thrill of young love, the confusion of growing up, and the fear of the secrets being revealed. Told in Violet's point of view, Nan has wonderfully captured the voice of both young and older Violet, allowing us to have a true sense of this complex yet realistic character. We feel what she feels, and it's elating and heartbreaking. Rounding out Violet's story are the supporting characters, who are supporting in name only. Each has his/her own distinct voice, something that's difficult to achieve when writing in first person, and it's these voices that help mold Violet and her journey into a powerfully moving story. The darker tone of the story pulls at your soul, creating a sensation of dread until it overflows and overtakes you. It's so smooth that you almost don't see it coming until it's too late.
This is definitely worth the read. Trust me when I say you won't regret it.
January 23, 2021
What an emotional roller coaster. Loved this so much.
July 12, 2016
Thank you to the author for the book in exchange for a honest review.
You can see this review on www.chillreviews.blogspot.com
I had read the blurb before being asked to read this. I have read other things that this author wrote and knew I wanted read this. I was so excited to get the opportunity to read an ARC of this.
Violet is happy in her life. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a job she enjoys and friends she loves. One call from her brother telling her that she needs to come home for Christmas instead of what they usually do sends her back into the past. Remembering things and people she wanted to leave there. How rebellious she was and the mistakes she made were all in the past and were meant to stay there. She hadn't ever told her boyfriend Wade about any of it and now he's finding things out. and some of it doesn't mesh with the woman he knows and loves.
This book is told in alternating chapters of past and present. We get to see how Violet lived when she was a teenager and living her life sort of recklessly. She was kicked out of a school, spent time with a boy that smoked weed, and did other drugs and some other questionable things. Oliver seemed like a nice boy, he spent time with her and he listened to her. Oliver was nice to her brother and treated him good. Sure he did questionable things but she was having a good time, they were young and she was happy. What did it matter if he wasn't a perfect square kid? He was fun! Fun gets old though, it wears on you and things go wrong.
Violet has lived like her past and her home in New Orleans never existed. She loves her family but she never sees them in NOLA. Wade finds out things that makes him question their relationship. Sometimes though going home isn't as bad as you expect it to be.
I seriously loved the alternating chapters. I raced to read this book and I loved every minute of it. Violet is a character I myself have a hard time identifying with, but that didn't mean I didn't like her. She was open and had fun in life. I was sheltered much more than she was. It was like living a bit vicariously. There is so much that goes on in this book, so so so much. I don't want to give away anything. It was so good though, grab it up! You'll want it for sure. I look forward to more from this author, she writes amazing characters. Leave her some love in the form of a review!
You can see this review on www.chillreviews.blogspot.com
I had read the blurb before being asked to read this. I have read other things that this author wrote and knew I wanted read this. I was so excited to get the opportunity to read an ARC of this.
Violet is happy in her life. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a job she enjoys and friends she loves. One call from her brother telling her that she needs to come home for Christmas instead of what they usually do sends her back into the past. Remembering things and people she wanted to leave there. How rebellious she was and the mistakes she made were all in the past and were meant to stay there. She hadn't ever told her boyfriend Wade about any of it and now he's finding things out. and some of it doesn't mesh with the woman he knows and loves.
This book is told in alternating chapters of past and present. We get to see how Violet lived when she was a teenager and living her life sort of recklessly. She was kicked out of a school, spent time with a boy that smoked weed, and did other drugs and some other questionable things. Oliver seemed like a nice boy, he spent time with her and he listened to her. Oliver was nice to her brother and treated him good. Sure he did questionable things but she was having a good time, they were young and she was happy. What did it matter if he wasn't a perfect square kid? He was fun! Fun gets old though, it wears on you and things go wrong.
Violet has lived like her past and her home in New Orleans never existed. She loves her family but she never sees them in NOLA. Wade finds out things that makes him question their relationship. Sometimes though going home isn't as bad as you expect it to be.
I seriously loved the alternating chapters. I raced to read this book and I loved every minute of it. Violet is a character I myself have a hard time identifying with, but that didn't mean I didn't like her. She was open and had fun in life. I was sheltered much more than she was. It was like living a bit vicariously. There is so much that goes on in this book, so so so much. I don't want to give away anything. It was so good though, grab it up! You'll want it for sure. I look forward to more from this author, she writes amazing characters. Leave her some love in the form of a review!
September 8, 2016
This book was everything I hoped for and more. It made me feel nostalgic about being a teenager, the mistakes I made, and the ache of first love. It also made me so thankful for growing up, leaning from those mistakes, and finding completeness with my last love. I smiled, laughed, and gasped. My stomach bottomed out, flipped and all of the other amazing things that happen when you read an amazing book. Can't wait for Nan to write another one.
July 16, 2016
It's been a long time since I've picked up a book and loved it enough to read the whole thing in one sitting. But it's now supper time, I'm still in my pyjamas, and I've spend my whole day glued to every word Nan wrote.
While it doesn't always work for me, I loved the switch between past and present in this book. I was able to understand who Violet was, and the woman she became.
The emotions of both teenage and grownup Violet were also so well written. While reading about teenage Violet, I could easily recall my own first love and the feelings that came with it.
I also loved the relationship between Violet and Wade. It was a real and true grownup love. They trusted, respected, and genuinely liked each other.
Please, do yourself a favour and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
While it doesn't always work for me, I loved the switch between past and present in this book. I was able to understand who Violet was, and the woman she became.
The emotions of both teenage and grownup Violet were also so well written. While reading about teenage Violet, I could easily recall my own first love and the feelings that came with it.
I also loved the relationship between Violet and Wade. It was a real and true grownup love. They trusted, respected, and genuinely liked each other.
Please, do yourself a favour and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
July 13, 2016
This story has everything I love in a romance! Heat, growth, tension, touches of angst- just everything. I love that it gave us the young love flashbacks to contrast against the adult love that Violet has found. Fantastic read!
July 12, 2016
From start to finish Higher Ground by Nan Lowe pulls you in and keeps you intrigued. The characters are well developed and are engaging from page one. You can feel the emotions, turmoil and the complicity of the characters. I was completely engrossed.
May 31, 2017
Sad it's over. . . .
I chose 5stars because the book is unpredictable, I gave up trying to figure out where Vi was going considering where she had been. I liked that it isn't far fetched. I dislike . . . . Well nothing. I hated high school, hated the hurts but we all find a higher ground.
I chose 5stars because the book is unpredictable, I gave up trying to figure out where Vi was going considering where she had been. I liked that it isn't far fetched. I dislike . . . . Well nothing. I hated high school, hated the hurts but we all find a higher ground.
April 5, 2020
Wow. I think my heart just broke about a hundred different ways. I should be bitter but I’m not. I’m kind of in love with the way Nan unfolded this story - my emotions were basically all over the place toward the end and I’m really looking forward to the next book this author brings us.
July 12, 2016
This review does not contain major spoilers. It does contain fangirl moments because I adored this book!
Somewhere in each of us, there are moments when we reflect; we cast our minds back to our youth and wonder ‘what if’? What if our journey to the present had been different? Most of us wouldn’t want to go back to the drama and insecurities of those years. But with just a song on the radio, a call from an old friend, or chance encounter with the ‘first heartbreak’, our mind drifts back to that time and we wonder.
Nan Lowe, in her unique storytelling way, gives life to those very emotions. In her self-published debut, Nan’s gift of emotional imagery draws you into Violet’s past and present. Through the entire book, I grew closer to Violet and wanted to spare her from the turmoil of those yester-years.
And her love interest, Wade, let’s just say you’ll want him all for yourself. His love, strength, and compassion for Violet is so very touching.
Switching between past and present timelines, without interrupting the plot or pace of the storyline, is integral to the flow of the book. That’s hard to accomplish and Ms. Lowe does it seamlessly. Nan not only gives us a well-defined heroine (Violet) and hero (Wade), but also incorporates an array of strong supporting characters that round out Violet’s life. You get of sense of Violet’s temperament in her youth versus her maturity in later years. Some of these characters you’ll like or love. Others might make you want to throw your e-reader across the room. Violet’s Grandmother is wise and endearing. Another key player has such a dark pull on Violet’s life, you’ll feel compelled to shout out a warning. Nan’s ability to transport readers via narrative, imagery, and description gives proof to her skill and talent for weaving a fictional story into one that seems so very real.
The desire to keep reading the next chapter, and then the next, is a testimony to how invested you become in Violet’s secrets. If you’re anything like me, reading until the wee hours will have you yawning at work the next day. I chose to read this book on my own and had to comfort myself with chocolate. My suggestion to you is to make Higher Ground a book club read so you can discuss this emotional roller coaster with a group of girlfriends while sharing wine!
Higher Ground is essentially about love, trust, and healing. It’s about saving yourself when you can’t save another from their fate. Violet’s story has it all. Nan brings us from such sweet moments to such lows that hurt us on behalf of Violet and Wade. With honesty and trust in Wade, you end up cheering for Violet when she finally reaches the safety of Higher Ground.
This is exactly the kind of book you’ll want to curl up and read. Whether in a cozy corner or a sunny spot at the beach, reading Higher Ground will make you feel, think, and ponder.
I was given an ARC in return for a fair review.
Somewhere in each of us, there are moments when we reflect; we cast our minds back to our youth and wonder ‘what if’? What if our journey to the present had been different? Most of us wouldn’t want to go back to the drama and insecurities of those years. But with just a song on the radio, a call from an old friend, or chance encounter with the ‘first heartbreak’, our mind drifts back to that time and we wonder.
Nan Lowe, in her unique storytelling way, gives life to those very emotions. In her self-published debut, Nan’s gift of emotional imagery draws you into Violet’s past and present. Through the entire book, I grew closer to Violet and wanted to spare her from the turmoil of those yester-years.
And her love interest, Wade, let’s just say you’ll want him all for yourself. His love, strength, and compassion for Violet is so very touching.
Switching between past and present timelines, without interrupting the plot or pace of the storyline, is integral to the flow of the book. That’s hard to accomplish and Ms. Lowe does it seamlessly. Nan not only gives us a well-defined heroine (Violet) and hero (Wade), but also incorporates an array of strong supporting characters that round out Violet’s life. You get of sense of Violet’s temperament in her youth versus her maturity in later years. Some of these characters you’ll like or love. Others might make you want to throw your e-reader across the room. Violet’s Grandmother is wise and endearing. Another key player has such a dark pull on Violet’s life, you’ll feel compelled to shout out a warning. Nan’s ability to transport readers via narrative, imagery, and description gives proof to her skill and talent for weaving a fictional story into one that seems so very real.
The desire to keep reading the next chapter, and then the next, is a testimony to how invested you become in Violet’s secrets. If you’re anything like me, reading until the wee hours will have you yawning at work the next day. I chose to read this book on my own and had to comfort myself with chocolate. My suggestion to you is to make Higher Ground a book club read so you can discuss this emotional roller coaster with a group of girlfriends while sharing wine!
Higher Ground is essentially about love, trust, and healing. It’s about saving yourself when you can’t save another from their fate. Violet’s story has it all. Nan brings us from such sweet moments to such lows that hurt us on behalf of Violet and Wade. With honesty and trust in Wade, you end up cheering for Violet when she finally reaches the safety of Higher Ground.
This is exactly the kind of book you’ll want to curl up and read. Whether in a cozy corner or a sunny spot at the beach, reading Higher Ground will make you feel, think, and ponder.
I was given an ARC in return for a fair review.
August 1, 2016
“To Violet, the calm between my storms.”
Higher Ground
Kindle Loc. 143 of 4537
A simple, lovely inscription that carries such a punch to the gut. Much in the same way Nan Lowe’s novel, Higher Ground delivered a stunning gut punch complete with a side of heartache to this reader.
A wedding reception for a beloved sibling forces Dr. Violet Foster to leave her safe haven in Atlanta and return to her hometown of New Orleans. There, amid the lush fragrances and exotic spells that define New Orleans, Violet confronts the traumatic past that has haunted and shaped her life. Truths are revealed, regrets are laid to rest and life, for better or worse, continues.
Higher Ground is the first published offering of author Nan Lowe an it is an exceptional debut.
Told in chapters that move the action between present day and the past, Lowe weaves a story that has the reader hanging on every word, gasping at times through plot twists. It speaks to the talent of this author that even anticipated turns carried an impact — recognition of what was foreshadowed did not lessen the shock.
The four principal characters, Violet, Wade, Oliver and Van, are all expertly crafted. The ancillary characters are equally solid (truly, Miss Verity deserves, at the very least, a novella of her own). The settings so descriptive that one can feel the sultry humidity of NOLA while inhaling the aroma of coffee and beignets at the Café Du Monde.
At its core, it is the inherent truths contained in Higher Ground that set it apart — life is often hard, love is rare and precious, and sometimes, there is no shelter from the storm.
Brava, Nan Lowe!
Four and one-half stars
August 1, 2016
I Can't wait for her next book!
If this is her debut, I can't wait to see what else Nan Lowe has in store for her readers. I've been a fan of her FanFiction writing for years. Higher Ground was everything I knew it would be.
I'm a terrible reviewer. Not a writer here, so I'll just say I freaking loved it! Nan knows how to put her readers in the moment. I'm from the south. I grew up in New Orleans. Still go there every year for the holidays to visit my huge loud family. My college diploma is one of the very last that reads Memphis State University (now U of M.). So, yes I'm a southern girl. I know when a writer is getting this shit right. Nan gets it right. I feel like I'm there walking down Magazine Street, I can taste the powdered sugar on the beignets and it feels amazing.
In Higher Ground she takes us back and forth through the main character, Violet's past and present. Through her struggles as a teen that brought her to the very happy life she's living. But, it's a life that doesn't include her once beloved New Orleans or her friends from high school. Didn't we all do things in high school we would like to be able to box up and never let out again? Well, Violet certainly did. Until one day she gets a phone call from her brother, she's been able to keep that box of secrets taped up and away from her amazing boyfriend Wade. I loved Violet and Wade and so much about this story. This will definitely be reading this one again.
If this is her debut, I can't wait to see what else Nan Lowe has in store for her readers. I've been a fan of her FanFiction writing for years. Higher Ground was everything I knew it would be.
I'm a terrible reviewer. Not a writer here, so I'll just say I freaking loved it! Nan knows how to put her readers in the moment. I'm from the south. I grew up in New Orleans. Still go there every year for the holidays to visit my huge loud family. My college diploma is one of the very last that reads Memphis State University (now U of M.). So, yes I'm a southern girl. I know when a writer is getting this shit right. Nan gets it right. I feel like I'm there walking down Magazine Street, I can taste the powdered sugar on the beignets and it feels amazing.
In Higher Ground she takes us back and forth through the main character, Violet's past and present. Through her struggles as a teen that brought her to the very happy life she's living. But, it's a life that doesn't include her once beloved New Orleans or her friends from high school. Didn't we all do things in high school we would like to be able to box up and never let out again? Well, Violet certainly did. Until one day she gets a phone call from her brother, she's been able to keep that box of secrets taped up and away from her amazing boyfriend Wade. I loved Violet and Wade and so much about this story. This will definitely be reading this one again.
July 8, 2016
This book is a stunning debut, once I started I couldn't stop I carried my nook around the house and didn't sleep until I'd devoured it in its entirety.the only thing I regret is that I won't be able to experience higher ground again for the first time.
I know that I'll be revisiting higher ground over and over again.
Nan Lowe has a way of completely transporting you into the world of her characters and i truly didn't want leave. She made me laugh and cry and at times my heart ached for the characters she's so beautifully created.
This story is told from violet’s point of view and we go back and forth between her present where she's living a content and happy life in Atlanta with Wade the man who she is very much in love with,but when she gets a phone call from a member of her family we find out that she's been hiding from her past.
In the next chapter were transported into the past were violet tells wade about the summer before her senior year of high school in New Orleans, where we meet Oliver. Violet gets caught up in the magic of falling in love for the first time, but Oliver's got heartbreak written all over him.
I Loved violet so so much and her story is one that will sit with me for a long time.
November 12, 2016
I just finished reading Higher Ground by Nan Lowe and what a great read it was! Violet is a college professor who seems to have her life together with a great job and a great relationship but a call to return to her hometown to attend a family wedding turns her world upside down as she is forced to deal with things from her past that she has long ago boxed up and wrapped up.
Nan does an amazing job of writing this story by alternating the present with the past as she reveals her dark teenage experiences to her boyfriend Wade. My heart broke and many times I felt myself saying Violet stop don’t you see-but when you are a teenager and in love you often can’t see a situation clearly. The story really shows you can't really move forward if you don't reconcile your past.
In addition to the great (nail biting) plot that had me unable to stop reading I loved the characters, the setting of New Orleans and all the good food!
I look forward to Nan’s next book!
Nan does an amazing job of writing this story by alternating the present with the past as she reveals her dark teenage experiences to her boyfriend Wade. My heart broke and many times I felt myself saying Violet stop don’t you see-but when you are a teenager and in love you often can’t see a situation clearly. The story really shows you can't really move forward if you don't reconcile your past.
In addition to the great (nail biting) plot that had me unable to stop reading I loved the characters, the setting of New Orleans and all the good food!
I look forward to Nan’s next book!
July 5, 2016
Going in, I didn't know what this book was about, only that I've loved everything I've ever read by the author. It just seemed like a given that I'd love this book, too. And I was not disappointed. Higher Ground lived up to my expectations and then some.
I was on the edge of my seat until the very end, constantly asking myself 'what's going to happen?!' I stayed up reading through the night because this book refused to let my attention go. Long after I finished, the story stuck with me. It's one of those books you read over and over again because there's always little pieces you pick up that you've missed before. Do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP!
I was on the edge of my seat until the very end, constantly asking myself 'what's going to happen?!' I stayed up reading through the night because this book refused to let my attention go. Long after I finished, the story stuck with me. It's one of those books you read over and over again because there's always little pieces you pick up that you've missed before. Do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP!
September 14, 2016
Higher Ground is a special kind of wonderful. Moving back and forth between past and present, it offers just enough information to keep you expectant and on the edge until the very end. While I found Violet a tad dramatic at times (maybe that's my no nonsense Aussie attitude though), it's her relationship with Wade that kept me turning pages, wanting, needing, dying for a happy ending.
And Wade?
Yeah.
He's my kind of guy. Forget the bad boys, I've got a soft spot for the sweethearts, and Wade found that soft spot and nestled right in.
A beautiful first novel from Nan that makes me uber excited to see what the future holds for her (and for us!).
And Wade?
Yeah.
He's my kind of guy. Forget the bad boys, I've got a soft spot for the sweethearts, and Wade found that soft spot and nestled right in.
A beautiful first novel from Nan that makes me uber excited to see what the future holds for her (and for us!).
September 13, 2016
I usually don't enjoy book with flashbacks, but Nan Lowe does it in a way that doesn't overload you with information, but it leaves you begging for more breadcrumbs. Both past and future are key events into the life Violet loves and how both affects it. It was a wonderful read, heart breaking and swoon worthy. I must say I never liked Oliver, and I was dreading Wade's fate, but Ms. Lowe exceeded my expectations and knock it out of the park. Thank you for this amazing story and I look forward to reading more from you.
July 9, 2016
Beautiful story about a young woman, Violet,coming to terms and accepting the happenings of her life as a teenager and a visit/mistake/total lack of good judgement from her past,Oliver, (<------he's a fucktard) as a young adult in order to better appreciate herself and to finally learn that love really does exist and that she is worthy of it and her future. Wade ( he is so swoon worthy :), I want me one of him :) )
July 16, 2016
Full disclosure, I have been a fan of Ms. Lowe's writing prior to this original fiction. I didn't know what to expect, but I am overjoyed that I took a chance and read this wonderful story. I empathized with the main character, Violet, with her relationship struggles as a teen and as an adult. Your heart breaks along with her and to a certain extent, also with her teenage lover, Oliver. But you most definitely will root for Wade, the good guy, her true love. Really enjoyed reading!
November 30, 2016
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't even finish it. I barely made it through the first chapter.
Few authors are good at writing in present tense, and Nan Lowe is NOT one of them. I feel like she's sitting around a campfire telling me a story instead of 'showing' me what's happening between the two main characters.
As for the MCs relationship, love, passion etc it just isn't there when you're told what they feel instead of feeling it for yourself.
Few authors are good at writing in present tense, and Nan Lowe is NOT one of them. I feel like she's sitting around a campfire telling me a story instead of 'showing' me what's happening between the two main characters.
As for the MCs relationship, love, passion etc it just isn't there when you're told what they feel instead of feeling it for yourself.
August 10, 2016
Could not put this book down once I started. This book is well written and cleverly written to make me want more after each chapter, with interesting characters that never feel like they are on the side. It also leads you down a path that is unconventional among other romance stories. As the love story unfolds, I find myself falling in love too.
September 12, 2016
Not sure how to review this. I was all over the place til the end.
I loved the book. I really loved the story of Violet.
First love is a killer lol
How do you love two men throughout a book? Well, I did.
I 'but what if' even at the end.
Mrs. Varity was a wonderful lady to read.
Great book Nan!
I loved the book. I really loved the story of Violet.
First love is a killer lol
How do you love two men throughout a book? Well, I did.
I 'but what if' even at the end.
Mrs. Varity was a wonderful lady to read.
Great book Nan!
July 23, 2016
Loved this book. I loved the characters....well most of them, some of them I hated at times. Enjoyed feeling like I was back in NOLA. Well done. I can't wait to hear from you again.
July 27, 2016
Oh, the feels! What an amazing, well-told story. I loved the flashbacks and how they intertwined with the present.
I can't wait to read more!
I can't wait to read more!
July 12, 2016
Beautiful writing, as always. I couldn't put it down.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
July 24, 2016
This one really got me. Unexpected and emotional
December 12, 2016
really loved this. the plot was compelling, well fleshed out, and the characters were complicated and real feeling. had a hard time putting this down.
December 21, 2016
This is one of those books where you stop in the middle of reading and just wow...and just contemplate life.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews