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The Fourteen Day Soul Detox #1-6
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox: The Complete Serial
It’s been one year since my husband Logan died.
For the last eleven months, I’ve hated Logan for how he left me.
For ten months, I’ve worked my ass off to get myself and my daughter out of the debt Logan landed us in, and we’re not close to out.
For eight months, I’ve been sleeping with Logan’s best friend, Cameron.
There’s enough blame to go around for how Logan died; we all played a part, my mother, my former best friend, Cameron, and myself. I can’t move on, and I can’t forgive.
I am a f*cking mess.
On my thirtieth birthday, everything changes. It’s like I wake up, and I don’t want to be me anymore. I give myself fourteen days to fix my life. I commit to one task each day, starting with quitting coffee and ending with breaking it off with Cameron and finding someone who isn’t entrenched in all of the b*llshit, finding a man who’s sweet and safe.
But, my life doesn’t want to let me go. The sweet and safe guy I find isn’t what he seems. The consequences of my husband’s death go deeper than I know. And, there’s a vicious stalker on my trail who believes I need to be punished.
And, then there’s Cameron.
I should have never slept with him.
Starting up with him was wrong because I knew he loved me since high school.
As my life becomes more and more dangerous, he proves he would do anything to protect me and my daughter.
And, unfortunately, I am undeniably in love with him, too.
But, to move on I have to leave him.
However, Cameron has no plans to ever let me go.
This is my story.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was originally a serial in six volumes, this is the complete story.
For the last eleven months, I’ve hated Logan for how he left me.
For ten months, I’ve worked my ass off to get myself and my daughter out of the debt Logan landed us in, and we’re not close to out.
For eight months, I’ve been sleeping with Logan’s best friend, Cameron.
There’s enough blame to go around for how Logan died; we all played a part, my mother, my former best friend, Cameron, and myself. I can’t move on, and I can’t forgive.
I am a f*cking mess.
On my thirtieth birthday, everything changes. It’s like I wake up, and I don’t want to be me anymore. I give myself fourteen days to fix my life. I commit to one task each day, starting with quitting coffee and ending with breaking it off with Cameron and finding someone who isn’t entrenched in all of the b*llshit, finding a man who’s sweet and safe.
But, my life doesn’t want to let me go. The sweet and safe guy I find isn’t what he seems. The consequences of my husband’s death go deeper than I know. And, there’s a vicious stalker on my trail who believes I need to be punished.
And, then there’s Cameron.
I should have never slept with him.
Starting up with him was wrong because I knew he loved me since high school.
As my life becomes more and more dangerous, he proves he would do anything to protect me and my daughter.
And, unfortunately, I am undeniably in love with him, too.
But, to move on I have to leave him.
However, Cameron has no plans to ever let me go.
This is my story.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was originally a serial in six volumes, this is the complete story.
- GenresWomens FictionRomance
705 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2017
6 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Rita Stradling
33 books832 followersRita Stradling is a USA Today Bestselling Author with an all-consuming addiction to popcorn.
She writes young adult and new adult romances about flawed people who find their perfect together (often these people are dragon-shifters, werewolves, or have magical powers).
Rita believes in soulmates, happily ever afters, and that love can overcome any obstacle.
She writes young adult and new adult romances about flawed people who find their perfect together (often these people are dragon-shifters, werewolves, or have magical powers).
Rita believes in soulmates, happily ever afters, and that love can overcome any obstacle.
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April 4, 2017
It’s been a year since my husband, Logan, died. My life is a mess, and I know things need to change. I give myself fourteen days to fix it. To do this, I must quit coffee, start exercising, spread my husband’s ashes, forgive the woman who killed him, and stop sleeping with her ex-husband.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was a bit of a change for me, as I don’t read a lot of women’s fiction, but the blurb piqued my interest, and having previously enjoyed Rita Stradling’s Ensnared, I was really looking forward to it. Sure, there’s no lost Faye queens, or fantastical castles, but variety is the spice of life.
The story picks up a year after the death of Jamie’s husband, Logan, and she’s still very much picking up the pieces. She’s working two jobs in order to dig herself out of the debt Logan landed her in, while taking care of her special needs daughter. She’s also in a messy, sexual relationship with Logan’s best friend, Cameron-who’s been in love with her since High School, and her neighbour is harassing her. To say Jamie is having a hard time would be an understatement.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is ultimately a story about overcoming grief and forgiveness, and Stradling does a good job of representing the journey to closure as the messy, difficult process that it is. It’s clear that Jamie is stuck, barely going through the day-to-day motions, being held down by not only her grief, but also the anger at the betrayals she’s suffered. Her refusal to address either issue means she can’t move on and is on a path of self-destruction.
When grief strikes, it’s hard to know how to do. No one really knows how to deal with it in the ‘wright way’, and sometimes it’s easier to just refuse to deal with it at all. It takes Jamie almost a year to finally accept that it’s time to move on and forgive. She begins by plotting her journey one action at a time, and The Fourteen Day Soul Detox does a brilliant job of showing how a seemingly impossible task-how do you move on from your husband’s death?-can be made manageable by breaking it down into smaller tasks as simple as giving up coffee. Now that doesn’t sound so hard, does it?
This is most certainly a character led novel. Once Jamie finally starts takes action, her life, well, comes to life. She often claims that embarking on the fourteen day soul detox has messed up her life even more, but that’s only because she’s so used to inaction. She’s used to things always being the same. She’s forgotten what it’s like to take action and have to deal with the good and bad consequences of those actions, and it’s interesting to see Jamie re-adjust.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was originally released as a six part serial, and the structure seems the reflect that. This is a long book, and it’s a slow burn, designed to stretch the action across six individual parts, but it still reads well as a whole. I never read the serials individually, so I can’t say which format fits this story better, but I found no major issues with the pacing, really.
The characters, however, are fairly bland. Those that with Jamie are downright saintly, always pleasant, always ready to help regardless of inconvenience, and it’s sickly sweet at times. Those against Jamie, are, well, ‘cheerleader evil’. Pretty, primp, and bitchy. Very few of the characters had strong, individual voices, and I didn’t warm up to Cameron for a long time. The way he kept calling Jamie ‘baby’ just grated on me. I don’t know, it just seemed so… Sleazy. If I guy calls me baby, he’s getting sucker punched. Just saying. I did like Patrick though, he had a great sense of humour and never once uttered the word ‘baby’.
The stalker plot is straight forward, and I was expecting a bigger twist that what Stradling devised, to be honest. In fact, all the ‘twists’ were relatively small in my opinion, but maybe that’s because I’m used to reading stuff with far more ambitious plots. I don’t mean that in a negative way though-Stradling’s story is down to earth and realistic, and real lives aren’t made up of mind blowing twists and turns.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is not a quick read, but it is an enjoyable one. While there aren’t any mind blowing moments, the journey Jamie embarks on is touching and beautiful. If you like your fiction 100% character led and grounded, I would recommend it. And if you’re not ready to commit to a 600+ page novel, you can always slowly tackle it one bite sized serial at a time.
This review was also posted at: The Bookworm Mummy
*I received this ARC free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was a bit of a change for me, as I don’t read a lot of women’s fiction, but the blurb piqued my interest, and having previously enjoyed Rita Stradling’s Ensnared, I was really looking forward to it. Sure, there’s no lost Faye queens, or fantastical castles, but variety is the spice of life.
The story picks up a year after the death of Jamie’s husband, Logan, and she’s still very much picking up the pieces. She’s working two jobs in order to dig herself out of the debt Logan landed her in, while taking care of her special needs daughter. She’s also in a messy, sexual relationship with Logan’s best friend, Cameron-who’s been in love with her since High School, and her neighbour is harassing her. To say Jamie is having a hard time would be an understatement.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is ultimately a story about overcoming grief and forgiveness, and Stradling does a good job of representing the journey to closure as the messy, difficult process that it is. It’s clear that Jamie is stuck, barely going through the day-to-day motions, being held down by not only her grief, but also the anger at the betrayals she’s suffered. Her refusal to address either issue means she can’t move on and is on a path of self-destruction.
When grief strikes, it’s hard to know how to do. No one really knows how to deal with it in the ‘wright way’, and sometimes it’s easier to just refuse to deal with it at all. It takes Jamie almost a year to finally accept that it’s time to move on and forgive. She begins by plotting her journey one action at a time, and The Fourteen Day Soul Detox does a brilliant job of showing how a seemingly impossible task-how do you move on from your husband’s death?-can be made manageable by breaking it down into smaller tasks as simple as giving up coffee. Now that doesn’t sound so hard, does it?
This is most certainly a character led novel. Once Jamie finally starts takes action, her life, well, comes to life. She often claims that embarking on the fourteen day soul detox has messed up her life even more, but that’s only because she’s so used to inaction. She’s used to things always being the same. She’s forgotten what it’s like to take action and have to deal with the good and bad consequences of those actions, and it’s interesting to see Jamie re-adjust.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox was originally released as a six part serial, and the structure seems the reflect that. This is a long book, and it’s a slow burn, designed to stretch the action across six individual parts, but it still reads well as a whole. I never read the serials individually, so I can’t say which format fits this story better, but I found no major issues with the pacing, really.
The characters, however, are fairly bland. Those that with Jamie are downright saintly, always pleasant, always ready to help regardless of inconvenience, and it’s sickly sweet at times. Those against Jamie, are, well, ‘cheerleader evil’. Pretty, primp, and bitchy. Very few of the characters had strong, individual voices, and I didn’t warm up to Cameron for a long time. The way he kept calling Jamie ‘baby’ just grated on me. I don’t know, it just seemed so… Sleazy. If I guy calls me baby, he’s getting sucker punched. Just saying. I did like Patrick though, he had a great sense of humour and never once uttered the word ‘baby’.
The stalker plot is straight forward, and I was expecting a bigger twist that what Stradling devised, to be honest. In fact, all the ‘twists’ were relatively small in my opinion, but maybe that’s because I’m used to reading stuff with far more ambitious plots. I don’t mean that in a negative way though-Stradling’s story is down to earth and realistic, and real lives aren’t made up of mind blowing twists and turns.
The Fourteen Day Soul Detox is not a quick read, but it is an enjoyable one. While there aren’t any mind blowing moments, the journey Jamie embarks on is touching and beautiful. If you like your fiction 100% character led and grounded, I would recommend it. And if you’re not ready to commit to a 600+ page novel, you can always slowly tackle it one bite sized serial at a time.
This review was also posted at: The Bookworm Mummy
*I received this ARC free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
March 9, 2017
For those who didn’t start Rita Stradling’s novellas when they were being released one at a time you are in luck because the complete series of 6 novellas are all published and ready for you to dive into. It’s kind of like waiting until a TV Show hits Netflix and you can binge the whole thing at once instead of being tormented by waiting for the next part in the story to trickle in a little bit at a time.
The complete arch is a refreshing tale of how to move on and if you break it into small pieces then the process not only becomes easier but you find extraordinary beauty along the way.
I’ve had good success with Stradling’s works so far and this series does not disappoint. She always creates really interesting characters who feel realistic and full of depth. They start to feel like real people you want to invest your time in and the way she writes you begin to melt into her stories almost becoming one of her characters. The characters in this series are no different particularly the way she adds a layer of complexity to the human drama unfolding.
Her plot line is more like a slow burn as she stretches the psychological impact of the stages of grief, mourning and needing to rebuild over the course of these books. The main character Jamie sort of stopped living after her husband died and I think that’s something we can all relate to in various ways. There’s plenty of tension, mystery, friendship and love along the way to keep your interest.
What really drew me in though was the main character having a special needs child since I have two. I thought she did a remarkable job showing more of the realities behind the happiness and challenges that come with having a child that needs a little extra TLC compared to others. As a parent it’s difficult enough when you have to put your focus on your child(ren) instead of yourself when you’re going through major life changes but when your child needs even more of your time and attention in comparison then how you handle both their needs and your own becomes a tightrope act which Stradling showed.
The author depicted quite well the need to find that time to grieve, let your defenses down and focus on yourself regardless of how strong you are which is something we can all understand. Using a format where the reader goes on this journey with the main character through the 14 Day Detox allows you to feel you’re a part of the story, maybe even pick up some life lessons to apply in reality. Her conversationalist dialogue and in-depth character development aids in that feeling you’re walking next to Jamie instead of being on the outside observing.
By the end of Volume 6 all the loose strings will have been tied up, not always in a predictable manner which should help your attention from wavering. Anticipation, passion, conflict and plenty of twists all the way to the end will keep the boredom away. The flashbacks further aid in creating a complete picture to understand the motivations of the characters which will add another layer to the story to fill in any holes from the previous installments. It’s impossible to not feel your heart and emotions connect with her characters by the end as she masterfully demonstrates the importance of moving on from the past in order to find a healthy future.
When you read the last word on the last page you will have gone through an exquisite, electrifying journey that provides a suitable conclusion.
The complete arch is a refreshing tale of how to move on and if you break it into small pieces then the process not only becomes easier but you find extraordinary beauty along the way.
I’ve had good success with Stradling’s works so far and this series does not disappoint. She always creates really interesting characters who feel realistic and full of depth. They start to feel like real people you want to invest your time in and the way she writes you begin to melt into her stories almost becoming one of her characters. The characters in this series are no different particularly the way she adds a layer of complexity to the human drama unfolding.
Her plot line is more like a slow burn as she stretches the psychological impact of the stages of grief, mourning and needing to rebuild over the course of these books. The main character Jamie sort of stopped living after her husband died and I think that’s something we can all relate to in various ways. There’s plenty of tension, mystery, friendship and love along the way to keep your interest.
What really drew me in though was the main character having a special needs child since I have two. I thought she did a remarkable job showing more of the realities behind the happiness and challenges that come with having a child that needs a little extra TLC compared to others. As a parent it’s difficult enough when you have to put your focus on your child(ren) instead of yourself when you’re going through major life changes but when your child needs even more of your time and attention in comparison then how you handle both their needs and your own becomes a tightrope act which Stradling showed.
The author depicted quite well the need to find that time to grieve, let your defenses down and focus on yourself regardless of how strong you are which is something we can all understand. Using a format where the reader goes on this journey with the main character through the 14 Day Detox allows you to feel you’re a part of the story, maybe even pick up some life lessons to apply in reality. Her conversationalist dialogue and in-depth character development aids in that feeling you’re walking next to Jamie instead of being on the outside observing.
By the end of Volume 6 all the loose strings will have been tied up, not always in a predictable manner which should help your attention from wavering. Anticipation, passion, conflict and plenty of twists all the way to the end will keep the boredom away. The flashbacks further aid in creating a complete picture to understand the motivations of the characters which will add another layer to the story to fill in any holes from the previous installments. It’s impossible to not feel your heart and emotions connect with her characters by the end as she masterfully demonstrates the importance of moving on from the past in order to find a healthy future.
When you read the last word on the last page you will have gone through an exquisite, electrifying journey that provides a suitable conclusion.
March 19, 2017
Review also on my blog: https://nextbookaroundthecorner.wordp...
This was my third Rita Stradling book. After Making Bad Choices (which I liked) and Ensnared (which I liked even better), I was kind of curious about this Fourteen Day Soul Detox. And yep, I liked this one best actually. Unlike Ensnared, which is more a Fantasy / Futuristic, this book is more 'down-to-earth'. I don't know how Rita does it, but she just sweeps you into the life of Jamie, who is struggling after the death of her husband Logan. You feel her despair, frustration and anguish. But you also feel the need to help her pick up the pieces of her life. Hence Beza and Susan (Logan's sister), who help her to compose a 14-day To Do list to restart living:
Body
1) Cut back on my coffee intake.
2) Gain some of my weight back.
3) Start getting some exercise again. Yoga? I don't know.
4) Sleep.
Mind
5) Take on my daughter’s school board.
6) Sell my coffee shop.
7) Go on a date.
Soul
8) Stop wearing my wedding ring.
9) Spread my husband’s ashes.
10) Forgive the woman who killed him.
11) Stop sleeping with her ex-husband.
12) Remember what love feels like.
13) Be happy
We follow Jamie through those 14 days, with her ups and downs in completing the list. Especially point 11 is very hard, since Cameron is not giving up on her. And since I really liked Cameron, I was kind of hoping Jamie would not be able to complete the list. Although Hot Dad Patrick on a date (point 7 on the list) was also a very good option.
In all, a very interesting read, with a lot of plot twists and turns. Let's not forget creepy neighbour Clarke and lovely daughter Sarah. And of course Chris, Jamie's colleague at the coffee shop and Pat, the mystery customer at the coffee shop with a hidden agenda. Yep, enough stories there in volume 1 through 6.
Four out of five stars from me. And special thanks to Rita Stradling and Netgalley for providing the ARC.
This was my third Rita Stradling book. After Making Bad Choices (which I liked) and Ensnared (which I liked even better), I was kind of curious about this Fourteen Day Soul Detox. And yep, I liked this one best actually. Unlike Ensnared, which is more a Fantasy / Futuristic, this book is more 'down-to-earth'. I don't know how Rita does it, but she just sweeps you into the life of Jamie, who is struggling after the death of her husband Logan. You feel her despair, frustration and anguish. But you also feel the need to help her pick up the pieces of her life. Hence Beza and Susan (Logan's sister), who help her to compose a 14-day To Do list to restart living:
Body
1) Cut back on my coffee intake.
2) Gain some of my weight back.
3) Start getting some exercise again. Yoga? I don't know.
4) Sleep.
Mind
5) Take on my daughter’s school board.
6) Sell my coffee shop.
7) Go on a date.
Soul
8) Stop wearing my wedding ring.
9) Spread my husband’s ashes.
10) Forgive the woman who killed him.
11) Stop sleeping with her ex-husband.
12) Remember what love feels like.
13) Be happy
We follow Jamie through those 14 days, with her ups and downs in completing the list. Especially point 11 is very hard, since Cameron is not giving up on her. And since I really liked Cameron, I was kind of hoping Jamie would not be able to complete the list. Although Hot Dad Patrick on a date (point 7 on the list) was also a very good option.
In all, a very interesting read, with a lot of plot twists and turns. Let's not forget creepy neighbour Clarke and lovely daughter Sarah. And of course Chris, Jamie's colleague at the coffee shop and Pat, the mystery customer at the coffee shop with a hidden agenda. Yep, enough stories there in volume 1 through 6.
Four out of five stars from me. And special thanks to Rita Stradling and Netgalley for providing the ARC.
May 21, 2017
Good thing this was more of the whole series. For book one, it's day one of a 14 day change your life plan from our main character. It feels long and drawn out because it takes quite a lot or many books in this case, to cover this story. Jamie plans to put her life together, and while I hope she can do that, a fast change like this rarely stays put. It just feel a bit flat for me. I wanted to like it more than I was able. It also has some language, which is often unnecessary, as well as some other issues that caused me to rate it with fewer stars.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
May 22, 2017
I have read a few of Rita Stradling's books by now, and i have to see this is not the best one. I think what annoyed me the most was Jamie.I did not care for her at all, and i think most of the things happening to her are her own fault.She comes out very unlikeable.I liked the secondary characters better. Patrick,Cameron,Suzan,Chris. It's an easy book to read,but i came at a point i just wanted it over.
June 25, 2017
WOW. A series about the everyday struggles of an independent woman who has more on her shoulders than most of us could bare to cope with. She is lucky enough to be surrounded by some pretty amazing people. This series is just written so beautifully and with so much emotion. Well done Rita.
October 1, 2017
Excellent series with intrigue, romance, tension, twists and characters that capture your heart.
April 17, 2018
Well, well, this was a deliciously messed up book!
September 17, 2017
Original post can be found on my blog at this link: https://yaguitarist.wordpress.com/201...
Firstly, I would like to thank LibraryThing and the author, Rita, for giving me the chance to read and review this arc in return for an honest review. 😀
It took me sufficiently long to finish this novel. This is also the longest novel I have ever read in my life. I remembered picking up ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ a few years back only to put it back down after reading the 1st chapter. Reading long novels isn’t really my thing but, I’m proud of myself for overcoming this hurdle. *pats on back*
This novel’s plot is pretty mundane and slow since it depicts Jamie’s everyday life. Occasionally, there will be some drama and those are the only times which keep me at the edge of my chair. Other than those occasions, it is hard for me to continue on with this novel after 200 pages in. As mention above, I don’t really enjoy reading slow-paced novels. However, I make up my mind to pull through after pulling this novel off after 2 months since I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I’m really glad I didn’t DNF The Fourteen Day Soul Detox right off the bat and to give it a chance instead. After all, I did take away some life lessons after reading this novel. 🙂
I have an enjoyable time following Jamie and the struggles she has to face as a single mother, having to raise a child with special needs after her husband, Logan, passed away in an accident. This novel is also an eye-opener for me since I’ve never read an adult women’s fiction novel before. Though I’m probably too young and naive to understand the struggles Jamie has to face as a single mother, I’m still surprised by how much life lesson I’ve gained from it. Now, it makes me see certain things in a different light.
Jamie is an ‘okay’ character. I don’t particularly love or hate her. Instead, I love secondary characters such as Cameron much more. Cameron is my bias in this novel. After all, he is willing to sacrifice so much for Jamie even though she *ahem* initially doesn’t have feelings for him. That alone is very admirable. Double thumbs up from me. XD On the other hand, Jamie made some stupid decisions but, I wouldn’t blame or diss her for making such decisions since ultimately, we are humans. We are bound to make mistakes at some point in our lives. Even so, there is something that makes me love Jamie and that is her willingness to change, apologise, and repent for those decisions she made. I should learn from her since I’m too stubborn for my own good. *ahem*
Firstly, I would like to thank LibraryThing and the author, Rita, for giving me the chance to read and review this arc in return for an honest review. 😀
It took me sufficiently long to finish this novel. This is also the longest novel I have ever read in my life. I remembered picking up ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ a few years back only to put it back down after reading the 1st chapter. Reading long novels isn’t really my thing but, I’m proud of myself for overcoming this hurdle. *pats on back*
This novel’s plot is pretty mundane and slow since it depicts Jamie’s everyday life. Occasionally, there will be some drama and those are the only times which keep me at the edge of my chair. Other than those occasions, it is hard for me to continue on with this novel after 200 pages in. As mention above, I don’t really enjoy reading slow-paced novels. However, I make up my mind to pull through after pulling this novel off after 2 months since I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I’m really glad I didn’t DNF The Fourteen Day Soul Detox right off the bat and to give it a chance instead. After all, I did take away some life lessons after reading this novel. 🙂
I have an enjoyable time following Jamie and the struggles she has to face as a single mother, having to raise a child with special needs after her husband, Logan, passed away in an accident. This novel is also an eye-opener for me since I’ve never read an adult women’s fiction novel before. Though I’m probably too young and naive to understand the struggles Jamie has to face as a single mother, I’m still surprised by how much life lesson I’ve gained from it. Now, it makes me see certain things in a different light.
Jamie is an ‘okay’ character. I don’t particularly love or hate her. Instead, I love secondary characters such as Cameron much more. Cameron is my bias in this novel. After all, he is willing to sacrifice so much for Jamie even though she *ahem* initially doesn’t have feelings for him. That alone is very admirable. Double thumbs up from me. XD On the other hand, Jamie made some stupid decisions but, I wouldn’t blame or diss her for making such decisions since ultimately, we are humans. We are bound to make mistakes at some point in our lives. Even so, there is something that makes me love Jamie and that is her willingness to change, apologise, and repent for those decisions she made. I should learn from her since I’m too stubborn for my own good. *ahem*
September 20, 2018
I read all 6 books in the Fourteen Day Soul Detox series, and it is definitely one of the best book series I have ever read. I've been recommending it to everyone I can talk to about it. It's actually inspired me to do my own soul detox. Only 4 out of 5 because there were several typos and grammar mistakes throughout the whole series and, though minor, are distracting for me.
March 16, 2017
Let me start by saying that this book takes a really long time to read. I enjoyed it, truly, but I was so ready to finish it after spending so long on it. I think it's best to read the parts individually. This is a beautiful story about sacrifice, unconditional love and overcoming grief. We all cope in our own ways, sometimes it becomes unhealthy and we never learn the proper way to cope. It's a very insightful book that teaches you how important forgiveness is, that it tends to hurt you more so than those around you. It can leave you feeling stuck and enable consistently negative thoughts.
I fell in love with Cameron instantly, he is the ideal guy, you really cannot create a better man. He loves so fiercely and is so understanding that he took my breath away. The side characters were hilarious and loving, they kept me smiling. I regret that we did not get at least a chapter of something from Logan, I would've really liked to see into his brain and felt how he did. I really do suggest giving this book a read, it can teach people a lot about so many important issues and really help to put things into perspective. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because it was way too long for me personally, but I really think it would be a 4.5 star read if you read the volumes individually.
Favorite Quotes:
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with Cameron instantly, he is the ideal guy, you really cannot create a better man. He loves so fiercely and is so understanding that he took my breath away. The side characters were hilarious and loving, they kept me smiling. I regret that we did not get at least a chapter of something from Logan, I would've really liked to see into his brain and felt how he did. I really do suggest giving this book a read, it can teach people a lot about so many important issues and really help to put things into perspective. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because it was way too long for me personally, but I really think it would be a 4.5 star read if you read the volumes individually.
Favorite Quotes:
- Everything in my life had always been chaotic, like standing in the path of the blossoms as they twirled and whirled down the street. A beautiful chaos.
- "Because from the moment I met you, I woke up each morning hoping I'd get to spend a little time with you. And even when I spent every day with you, it's never enough."
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2017
This was a great read its quite a long read but i did not mind that.It is a really lovely story about learning to live with your grief it has great characters and is very well written i would recommend these books
March 29, 2017
Read for NetGalley.
This was so good. I was very skeptical about the premise, as it seemed like a lot of things for only fourteen days, but the narrative never felt rushed, and everything seemed to work out time wise. I loved the characters, and I think Sarah is one of the cutest little girls I've ever read. This is the second book by Rita Stradling I've read, and I've loved them both, but this one will definitely be one I remember.
This was so good. I was very skeptical about the premise, as it seemed like a lot of things for only fourteen days, but the narrative never felt rushed, and everything seemed to work out time wise. I loved the characters, and I think Sarah is one of the cutest little girls I've ever read. This is the second book by Rita Stradling I've read, and I've loved them both, but this one will definitely be one I remember.
April 7, 2017
Jamie woke up with Sarah who was eight in her bed curled up next to her. It was Jamie’s birthday and she would just as soon go back to sleep. Cameron had slept on her coach last night. Cameron babysat Sarah a lot. Patrick was a handsome man and came up to say hi to Jamie and asked if his daughter Kay could have a play date with Sarah. Sarah was a special needs child as she had autism and she was in a special needs class half the day after lunch she had the same class as Kay. At night Jamie worked at her father’s bar that was why Cameron babysat so much. As Patrick and Jamie were walking a woman called out to Patrick and it was Whitney who was talking to Patrick and angering Jamie about the services she “demanded” for special needs children. Jamie told Whitney her husband had died a year ago to stop gossip and Cameron had been her husband Logan’s best friend. Jamie was meeting her sister for lunch then she seen her mother was there and wanted to walk back out. Jamie hadn’t talked to her mother in nine months. Six years ago Logan and Jamie had bought the Coffee Spot’s building. Chris was her baker and a friend and he felt that she should take the offer she had got and sell the Coffee Spot. Chris knew the Coffee Spot had been Logan’s dream. Not Jamie’s. At one time Jamie was in a pop group called Cherry Pie and they had even made a CD. Chris got a copy of the CD and gave it to Jamie for her birthday. Janie had two very good friends that were a couple Susan and Beser. Susan was Logan’s twin. Susan and Jamie made up a fourteen day soul detox list for Jamie when Susan spent the night with Jamie. Things seemed to be escalating with her neighbor Clarke and Jamie was getting really scared. Jamie found out Patrick’s father is the person who sued her a couple days after Logan had died. He had basically won and taken everything and the shop had a big lean on it that would take Jamie a long time to pay off if she didn’t sell. Jamie barely paid herself above minimum wage to manage the shop. Jamie told Patrick Sr. that she would never sell the shop to him and then she went in and told Patrick off also. Then Amy came and spent the night and then decided to make a video to get out the news the elementary school let a special needs teacher go for a full time dance teacher. Then there was an incident with Clarke. Jamie and Sarah have moved in with Cameron and Jamie decided to go ahead and sell the shop and would work for Patrick for one year. Jamie also apologized to Patrick for starting on him and they were working again on being friends.
I was so happy to read this whole serial as I had already read the first part through NetGalley when it was available but now I had the whole story I could read and I loved it!!!. My heart went out to Jamie with all she has had to endure. But then she decided to work on her life and had the fourteen day soul detox list and was doing her best to follow each step every day. She took this list seriously and grew a lot in this story as she completed day by day her list. I also felt bad what Clarke was putting her and then Cameron through too. This was realistic as far as I am concerned. I loved the plot but there was more than one thing going on in this story yet everything flowed and there was no confusion. I loved Cameron and Jamie as a couple but I felt bad when he seen her list and was hurt and angry. I also loved how the author showed a lot about autism and how an autistic child can act. I tip my hat to the author. I really can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this complete story. It was funny at times and heartbreaking at others and it felt like I was there with Cameron and Jamie. I liked that memories showed that had happened to Jamie and what she had went through I loved Cameron as the man he was and how he was there for Jamie and Sarah, This was just an excellent read. I loved the characters and the twists and turns of this story and I highly recommend.
I was so happy to read this whole serial as I had already read the first part through NetGalley when it was available but now I had the whole story I could read and I loved it!!!. My heart went out to Jamie with all she has had to endure. But then she decided to work on her life and had the fourteen day soul detox list and was doing her best to follow each step every day. She took this list seriously and grew a lot in this story as she completed day by day her list. I also felt bad what Clarke was putting her and then Cameron through too. This was realistic as far as I am concerned. I loved the plot but there was more than one thing going on in this story yet everything flowed and there was no confusion. I loved Cameron and Jamie as a couple but I felt bad when he seen her list and was hurt and angry. I also loved how the author showed a lot about autism and how an autistic child can act. I tip my hat to the author. I really can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this complete story. It was funny at times and heartbreaking at others and it felt like I was there with Cameron and Jamie. I liked that memories showed that had happened to Jamie and what she had went through I loved Cameron as the man he was and how he was there for Jamie and Sarah, This was just an excellent read. I loved the characters and the twists and turns of this story and I highly recommend.
May 2, 2017
I received a copy of this through NetGalley for my honest review
What an amazing book this was. It was long. I think it was originally published as 5 books and now put together into one. It took me forever to read it, but I really did love it. This is the story of Jamie, who feels her life really is falling apart and needs to be fixed. With the help of her crazy friend, she writes a 14 Day Soul Detox List...and she gets to cross one item of her list. She has a generally chaotic, busy, complicated life. Her husband was killed and she takes care of her young autistic daughter. She has complicated but real relationships with those around her. This woman packs more into one day of her life than I normally do in a month of mine. She is surrounded by loving friends and family, but there are some twisty-turny relationships and happenings. Oh how I wish I could give a 4.5 star rating. It really deserved it. The only half-star I would have taken away would be because she always seemed to be crying or tears streaming down her face for one reason or another and it seemed odd and overly used. This is just a really good story about life, love and the complications of relationships and trying to make your life better, but still remaining true to who you are.
What an amazing book this was. It was long. I think it was originally published as 5 books and now put together into one. It took me forever to read it, but I really did love it. This is the story of Jamie, who feels her life really is falling apart and needs to be fixed. With the help of her crazy friend, she writes a 14 Day Soul Detox List...and she gets to cross one item of her list. She has a generally chaotic, busy, complicated life. Her husband was killed and she takes care of her young autistic daughter. She has complicated but real relationships with those around her. This woman packs more into one day of her life than I normally do in a month of mine. She is surrounded by loving friends and family, but there are some twisty-turny relationships and happenings. Oh how I wish I could give a 4.5 star rating. It really deserved it. The only half-star I would have taken away would be because she always seemed to be crying or tears streaming down her face for one reason or another and it seemed odd and overly used. This is just a really good story about life, love and the complications of relationships and trying to make your life better, but still remaining true to who you are.
May 13, 2017
I loved this book! The characters were very believable and there was so much going on throughout the book, I never got bored. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!
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