The Hard Truth About Sunshine

by Sawyer Bennett, S. Bennett

This is an alternate cover edition for B01N3ADO0Z

** 2017 Kindle Book Awards WINNER - Literary Fiction **

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.

An angry, bitter amputee.
An optimist losing her eyesight.
A dying kid.
A suicidal thief.
Four people with nothing in common but their destination.

Despite having narrowly escaped death’s clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It’s only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.
What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again… can he learn to love again?
He’s about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can’t decide whether she wants to live or die.
They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss and love.
And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.
The hard truth about sunshine…

Warning: This book deals with some tough issues including suicide and sexual abuse.

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

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2017

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is heartbreaking, sad, darkly realistic, rips your heart apart and makes you punch to the wall and keep screaming! It’s so effective, heavy reading but also meaningful, memorable and my favorite book of this author!

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review



The Hard Truth About Sunshine is a raw honest portrayal of the many facets of life, happiness, sadness, second chances, vulnerability and demons. In this gripping poignant and visceral tale, Sawyer Bennett consumes you with the hard truths of her words, characters, emotions and life.

With faith, you should have no fear of what happens after.”

Sawyer introduces readers to four characters. Four strangers who are battling their own struggles, emotions, and demons. Connor is seventeen years old and is terminally ill. He only has a few months to live. Barb is a victim of sexual abuse. She is closed off emotionally and is battling with her own demons and thoughts of suicide. Christopher is angry at the world for making him half the man after a tragic IED explosion left him missing a leg and part of his hands. Jillian is trying to stay positive and optimistic even though she will slowly go blind and have a chance of heart failure. These four strangers are brought together by a community group therapy session but what happens when they are coerced to go on a bonding trip that soon turns into a bucket list of adventures?



Told in Christopher’s POV, readers are consumed with the raw emotions of what it is like to see, feel, and hear the hard truths of these four individuals. Too often we don’t stop, see and appreciate the simple things. The sun, the air, the flowers, the moon, the smell of fresh cut grass and most importantly the life we are given. And as we get to know each of them, facets of their personalities are stripped and laid bare for readers to see. Every flaw are exposed. Their sadness, their regrets, their joys, their ups and downs, their guilt, their anger, and their loss of hope.

I love when the sun comes out after a dark rain,” Jillian murmurs, her eyes still closed. “How it just brightens everything.”

This bucket list trip adventure that they embarked on is truly an emotional journey of growth, truth, understanding, and second chances. Connor can’t change the fact that he is dying. He accepted it but he has every right to be afraid. As for Barb and Christopher, their journey is what stands out the most. Your heart will ache for them as they battle their demons,emotions, and fears. And as for Jillian, she is the ray of sunshine. She is far from perfect but her positivity is what gravitated me towards this book. She and Connor kept this group grounded. She allowed them to feel and embrace the light, the warmth, and the hope.

While I understand this book is not everyone’s cup of tea, I applaud Sawyer Bennett for writing a tale that spoke volumes. This book allowed us to take a closer look on our life. Our hard truths. And the truth of the matter, life and death is one scary reality. No one wants to admit their fears and tell aloud their problems because we don’t want to burden others with our own struggles. But in truth, each and everyone of us have pieces and moments in our life that can relate to Barb, Connor, Jillian and Christopher. Though this book centers mostly on Christopher and his relationship with Jillian, I found the story of Connor and Barb to be the most honest, touching and gripping story of all. Bennett did a remarkable job as she executed a story that was written so flawlessly and touching. She may have broke our hearts but slowly she was able to piece back the broken fragments and make our hearts whole once again.



All I can say is go read this book. Feel the sunshine. Feel the friendship. Feel the loss. Feel the love. And most importantly feel the hard truth. Embrace the truth and sunshine. Welcome the reality that light will permeate through the darkness.

Sawyer Bennett

[Aestas Book Blog]

::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED :::

Author's dedication: To that wounded marine with no leg and only half a hand I met in the Orlando airport… your pain made an impression on me. Semper Fi.

HOLY WOW. I'm wiping away tears as I write here. This was one of the most heart-felt and poignant books I've experienced in a long time. It made me laugh, cry, and feel for these characters so incredibly much. It was deep and meaningful. For those of you who've read this author before, this is an entirely new side to her writing and I loved it! I knew from reading the blurb that this would be a very unique story and, while I didn't know what to expect when I started it, from the very first page, I could not put it down. I was utterly captivated by this story that was simultaneously heart-breaking and heart warming. It was raw, honest, painful, beautiful, romantic, and unforgettable!

An angry, bitter amputee.
An optimist losing her eyesight.
A dying kid.
A suicidal thief.
Four people with nothing in common but their destination.

Despite having narrowly escaped death's clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It's only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.

What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again... can he learn to love again?

He's about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can't decide whether she wants to live or die.

They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss and love.
And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.
The hard truth about sunshine...

Given the themes presented in the blurb, I began reading this book prepared for the intense heart ache and pain that I knew this story would be laden with, but what I didn't expect was the wry wit and humor that was also laced through the narrator's voice that brought an unexpected smile to my face instead of tears. Said narrator is the main hero of this story -- a depressed, disillusioned war veteran and amputee. He'd joined the army to escape his life, not out of a heartfelt need to sacrifice for his country, and the mangled body he had limped away from the desert with had left him bitter and angry at the world.

After a run in with the law, he was forced to join a 'peer-led support group for people suffering from traumatic stress and depression' and despite how much he wished he could escape it, it wasn't not a choice. Everything he cared for had been stripped from him -- his body, his girlfriend, his honor, his faith in himself, people, and life. He felt hopeless with nothing to live for and nothing more to lose. Constantly angry at the everything, he lashed out at everyone around him, until one girl saw through his pain and decided she was going to bring the real him back to life.

“God… you’re fucking weird,” I tell her with a grimace. Or is that a grin? “No one can possibly be that fucking right with the world.”
She just laughs at me and turns back to her books. Even though she’s not looking at me, her words are pointed and direct. “Stick with me, and I’ll make you right with it too.”

Said girl -- the eternal optimist in the face of her own tragedy -- showed him something he never thought possible, something he was sure had been lost forever: hope. The smallest inkling of possibility that maybe there was a way to find happiness even in the darkest, most painful of times.

The reason I made a stupid decision and came on this trip is that I’m as equally intrigued by Jillian Martel as I am repelled by her. My intrigue won out, and I agreed to this ludicrous idea of a group journey so I could be near her.
I agreed because I need to know how she does it.
How can she have such a grim future and still smile as if all is right with her world.

The book begins with and is focused on a road trip that four members of their therapy group take together -- the young amuputee war veteran, the sheltered girl losing her vision, the angry girl struggling to choose between life and death, and the terminally ill teen who didn't have any choices left. As they set out on this trip and passed state after state checking items off each of their respective bucket lists, they all learned something invaluable from each other.

Now, I'm sure a bunch of you are also wondering whether there's actually a romance in this book and YES! There absolutely is. And because the majority of my readers are romance readers, I'll just come out and say that there is a romantic HEA so despite the heart-ache, loss, and heavier themed explored in this book, you can hold onto that.

“Maybe you’re right where you’re supposed to be,” he says softly as he gives a slight nod over his shoulder. “I saw you and your girl together. Wouldn’t have met her unless you went to group therapy, and you wouldn’t have gone to group therapy if you hadn’t got your leg blown off, right?”

Prior to starting this book, I had no idea what to expect from it and I just let the story take me on it's adventure. I suppose you could call it a coming of age story, but it's much deeper than that. It's a coming of life story. It's brutally real, unapologetically honest, romantic, painful, beautiful, tragic, and healing. I feel like this was the book Sawyer Bennett was meant to write. She's written so many books to date, and I've read and enjoyed several of them. But this one is unlike anything else she's ever written before. It's different. Inspiring. There's something special about it and whether you're a long-time fan of her books or have never read her before, this is definitely a must-read!

The story really brings to light hard questions and realities of life and death. It brought me to tears, surprised me with its beauty and broke my heart with its pain. However, the overall tone of the book isn't heavy. At least for me, it wasn't a book I ugly cried through even though I was brought to tears twice near the end. I will caution that both suicide and sexual abuse (in past reference only, no graphic scenes) are mentioned but much of the story is filled with a lot of heart and is focused more on learning how to truly live after the world lets you down.

“Do you still want to die?” Jillian asks…
Barb actually gives a genuine smile in return as she nods. “Every damn day.”
None of us know what to say, so silence envelopes the table.
And then… in a voice that’s barely audible, Barb adds, “But I also want to live every damn day too. I’m just not sure which I want more.”

I could go on about the messages behind the story and what I came away from it with but I think that ultimately that is something every reader needs to experience for themselves and who knows, maybe each reader will get something different out of it. Even though it takes a lot out of you to read this kind of heavier story, I can honestly say that I love reading them. I love stories that go just a little deeper, feel just a little stronger, and stay with you just a little longer as this did. I highly recommend this to everyone looking for a powerful, meaningful story that'll truly stay with you.

Rating: 4.5+ stars! Standalone Fiction Novel (with a Romance).


Buy THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE (Kindle)
Buy THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE (Paperback)

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[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 STARS



Sawyer Bennett delivers a story very outside of what an avid reader of hers would expect with this book. It is a poignant read of four people from a therapy group who embark on a road trip together. The story had rays of sunshine held amongst each characters; Christopher, Jillian, Connor, and Barb’s pain. The story from Christopher’s pov helped a reader see how this wounded war vet went from being consumed by his own losses to actually seeing the other three characters and in return healing himself.

Christopher is taken with one of his travel mates named Jillian. Her positivity and beauty while she faces her medical diagnosis was indeed inspiring yet it’s when he truly lets her see him does he fall for her strength and in return he sees his own value and strengths.

"What makes her stronger than me?"



The characters get closer to one another as they travel and though the story has many sad spots the message overall is a hopeful one. We all will have to face things outside of our control at some point in our lives connecting and supporting others is just one way to put it all in perspective.

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still in book hangover this one!!

With The Hard Truth About Sunshine, Sawyer Bennett gives us what could be her most riveting and touching book to date. It's unlike anything I've read by her. It’s both hopeful and heartbreaking. It's gritty yet uplifting . Bennett tells a story about life and death and choices. About courage and strength. About choosing to live life to its fullest when the gift of life is given.

From the dedication and having read numerous Bennett books, you can feel she had to tell this story. I could feel the honesty of it punching me in all the feels from pain, loss, betrayal, depression, and hopelessness to acceptance, hope, friendship and love.

It's been a really long time since a book has made me ugly cry or cry at all for that matter. Some have come close, but not like this. Not the kind of cry you need a tissue box next to you while you're trying to finish a chapter and I loved every second of it. It's the kind of book movies are made of.

In spite of having survived a roadside bombing while deployed, Christopher Barlow is angry. At everything. At the country that sent him to a war that caused the loss of limbs. At his family for their lack of support. At his ex-girlfriend for abandoning him when he most needed her. He’s stuck in a cesspool of despair he doesn’t want to get out of, until he’s forced to join group therapy.

After a few weeks of sessions the beautiful and eternally cheerful woman who’s losing her eyesight and her weak heart could give out at any moment suggests a cross country road trip to help the seventeen-year-old man-boy dying from cancer with his bucket list. Voluntarily forced to join the motley crew, together with the angry abuse victim who wants to die just as much as she wants to live, Christopher sets out on a journey that will change the way he sees life forever.

I loved going on this adventure and getting the chance to meet and know him, Jillian, Connor and Barb. These fascinating characters carved a place in my heart. There were so many hard truths and touching moments while getting to know them equally even though the story is told from Christopher’s point of view and through flashbacks we get to see how he became so bitter.

I don’t want to tell you much more about this story. When it comes to authors I trust, I’ve started jumping in blind and reveled in journey. Sawyer Bennett’s writing skills give us a flowing story that made me feel all the way to my soul, complex characters whose layers were well revealed, and despite the heavier topics there’s also a very sweet and fulfilling romance.

The Hard Truth About Sunshine is a standalone contemporary romance by Sawyer Bennett. It’s emotive and irresistible and will stay with me for a very long time. It deals with difficult matters such as suicide and sexual abuse. Told from the hero’s point of view and has a happy ending.

Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2kfGzSP

* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via InkSlinger/NetGalley/PA. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *

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[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - "Hope is a wonderful thing..." Stars!

The Hard Truth About Sunshine is definitely a book where you need to leave your pre-conceived expectations of Sawyer Bennett’s typical story-telling at the opening page. This book is nothing like anything I have read by her before.

ITs LIVE! -

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jAJ31R
Paperback: http://amzn.to/2l4OenI
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Google Play: http://bit.ly/2jHejr5
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kWpkd2



There is very little sex, so if that is what you are looking for I’d move onto your next selection, but what there is, is a story about four completely different individuals coming together for an unforgettable road trip, for some the last trip of their lives, for others the lure of the road gives them the opportunity to open up and look at themselves from a different viewpoint than before.

I’ve known this group of people for a total of six weeks, since out first weekly group session.

Told solely from Veteran Christopher Barlow’s perspective. This is a book about an unhappy, angry man working his way through his own problems while experiencing the issues, emotions and revelations that the three others in the group also go through whilst on the trip. Sexy-Eyes, Goth Chick & Dead Kid all turn out to be more than the slightly callous names that he gives them upon first meeting and although he doesn’t want to, he finds himself caring about all of them in his own way, some more than others, and all differently.

"I think you’re full of self-pity and anger, and that makes you feel justified to act like a jerk. I think the only small measure of relief you get from your pain is by making others feel bad or uncomfortable. I think you’ve all but given up on the potential for good to happen in your life so you’re content to be mired in your anger…"

This book weirdly reminded me a little of the film The Breakfast Club remove Emilio Estevez’s character from the equation, and the rest of them were the faces floating through my head as I devoured this book.



There are emotions a-plenty, a few tears, but surprisingly a lot of giggles as well, but what I pulled most from this story, is that even at your darkest moment’s you are always going to find a source of light to guide you on your way, it is then a choice as to whether you want to grasp that light and hold it tight in your hand and heart and move on, or let it absorb you whether by circumstance or by choice.

"You’re a cup-half-full kind of girl… I’m a cup-half-empty kind of guy… You put us both together and we’re full."

This is certainly a book I won’t forget reading for a long while, because for all of the sad and upsetting themes that run through it, I found it a pretty heart-warming and life-affirming read.

ARC generously provided by the author via InkSlinger PR, in exchange for the above honest review.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Hard Truths Stars

Four things you should know about this book:

1.) It’s a Sawyer Bennett book, but it’s not the typical Sawyer Bennett read. If you are a fan of hers, you will be surprised but not disappointed. I promise you.

2.) This is a coming-to-age novel. You know that movie Breakfast club? The one with a bunch of misfits who hate each other and have a bunch of issues, well it’s kind of like that.

3.) This a road trip book and everyone has an issue. One is going blind, one is suicidal, one has no leg and one is dying.

4.) It’s not a hard book to read, despite the dramatic overtone. It’s a dramatic book, but it’s an uplifting one. Trust me on this.


My four points is kind of my overall feeling towards this book, but let me go more into detail.

The main character of the book is Christopher, he was hit with an IED and ever since then (after missing his leg and some fingers) he hasn’t been the same since. He’s angry and bitter against the world. I really enjoyed his character. I found him complex and likable (I really did). I guess I simply understood where he was coming from and I felt like his actions were justified. To me he was more bark than bite and he had the biggest heart out of the group.

The thing that made the book work so well was everyone’s story and the side characters. Jillian is losing her eye site, but she is the most positive person you will meet. Barb is suicidal and hates the world, maybe a little more than Christopher and Connor is a rich teenager and is dying of cancer. Each character is flawed, and each character has a story to tell.

This isn’t your typical over the top steamy read, but it is a romance book and it’s about misfits learning to let go, reflect and live. And why not do it with each other right?

The Hard Truth of Sunshine will suck you in and make you question life. When you are done reading you will feel like the world is a tiny bit brighter and there’s nothing wrong with that.

AMAZON HARDCOVER | AMAZON KINDLE

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew what to expect when I started reading THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE, but I quickly realized that I hadn't had a clue. This story had me questioning my own faith and outlook on life. Through Christopher's POV, I was guided through pain, loss, grief, betrayal, abandonment, abuse, PTSD, depression, devastation and hopelessness. I was also steered towards acceptance, optimism, friendship, freedom, hope and love.

Sawyer Bennett captured the lives of her characters (Christopher, Jillian, Barb and Connor) with reverence and beauty. I felt a connection to each and every one of them and felt a jolt of mirrored pain at each revelation. I believe the author sufficiently captured each of my emotions, whether it was my tears of joy or sobs of sorrow, and she gave an astute depiction of what each character was going through and how it effected them and those around them.

As much as this book was about a trip these four eventual friends took, I found it to be more about Christopher's journey from the darkest depths of what he viewed as his own personal hell to him learning to live on the upside of down. It was a lesson on appreciating the blessings we are given, seeking the truth from ourselves and those who surround us, and never giving up the fight. At least that's what I took from it. I especially appreciated the story the author added in the acknowledgments, of what truly sparked her to write this book. Although this was a marked departure from what we've come to expect from this author, I love how deeply this story spoke to her and how it compelled her to tell it because it definitely spoke to me.

Release Date: March 28, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Hero - 1st person
Steam: 1.5 out of 5
Book Type: Standalone

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 “make lemonade with your lemons” stars

“Listen… it’s okay if you want to sunshine your way through life and look on the bright side of things. And it’s also okay if you get scared and think the world is falling in on you. You can have both. You can have moments of great confidence in yourself, and then moments where you’re so low you don’t think you can make it another day. But the one thing you can never do is give up the belief that it will all be okay. And you’ll know it will all be okay because regardless if you’re up or down, I’ll be with you through it all.”



4 young people beaten by life;
4 young people adrift needing help to relieve their burden;
1 road trip;
1 bucket list;
Thousand feelings and a whole stack of tissues gone.
Do I have to smile or cry?

No this isn’t a riddle. It’s how I felt reading this book alternating between “I have a big lump in my throat it must be allergy” and “the big goofy smile has NOTHING to do with Miss Sunshine”.
Seriously, this book is an incredibly emotional story. So far from the naughty books written by Sawyer Benett.

I’m a real sucker for beaten heroes and sob stories so I must confess that I requested this book solely based on the blurb. I love hot stories but give me a “coming of age” story filled with broken people, a road trip and the beginning of solid friendship and I forget all about the sexy stories.

The first pages were slightly disappointing. I had a difficult time falling into the story. Christopher’s anger, attitude and his walls made it difficult to connect with him.

He has one leg and some fingers missing and he was ANGRY! “Bitter, angry and like to smoke pot” that’s how he was described in the first pages.
I do get why he would think life is unfair as he did not sign to be a hero but just to escape the mines. Worse: everyone let him down. He had to heal alone. But he pushed everyone away me included. He was all “We’ve all got sob stories but none can compare to mine, so I don’t care about theirs.” Charming personality isn’t it?

Now luckily Miss Sunshine and the misfit crew happened to him. Misfit crew aka “Sexy Eyes, Goth Chick, and Dead Kid”. All are broken and hate their lives. It’s unfair that they had to go through it and that’s what binds them together.

Forced or rather bribed to go on a road trip with them, Christopher will progressively open up to others, to hope, to life.

Once they all were on the road and began bonding my interest was picked. Who could remain unaffected by Jillian’s (Miss Sunshine) bright personality? I really loved to witness how she gave him a run for his money. She was spot on and Christopher deflated like a balloon, all anger forgotten when faced with Jillian’s kindness. I swear she was better than Prozac! So sunny that Christopher began to hope. She pierced his walls and made him see the light.
“You’re like a blaze of bright sunshine that the fucking darkest sunglasses can’t repel.”
I’ll have to try to beat my aggressors with kindness. Maybe it will work :-)

She had her (un)fair share of problems and still she was so courageous and positive!
“It’s nothing more than finding the good in a situation and appreciating it with such passion that it makes up for the loss of other things. It’s redirecting. Refocusing. Accepting. Moving on. “

Connor, Barb, Christopher and Jillian all made a very touching crew. They were all flawed and all relatable. I grew very fond of them and that’s why I hurt so much when something affected them. They hijacked my feelings and did not let me go before the very last sentence.

You will hurt. You will ponder on the fairness of life in general. You’ll rage against fate and ask “why me?”. You will hope and see that the best way to go in life is to “make lemonade with your lemons”. You will cry, smile,…you will FEEL!

One last parting quote that I loved (among so many others): “I choose to live. I choose to love. I choose to forge my path. Life is my choice.”

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[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

26-year-old Afghanistan vet Christopher has been hurt pretty badly in the war. He hasn't dealt with his pain and loss and anything really, that's why he needs to attend group therapy sessions to learn to live with his anger and hatred towards everything.

That's where he meets Jillian, Connor and Barb. All suffering their own horrors. 17-year old Connor is dying from cancer. Pierced and tattoed goth Barb is a depressed and suicidal thief who has been molested by her uncle as a teenager. And beautiful, sunny and happy Jillian is going blind - next to some other serious health problems.

A very fascinating group of people, but Christopher is not trying to make friends. He just wants to get through those horrible weeks of therapy.
And he's getting his wish, because their group leader promised him he'll be able to quit if he takes the other three on a trip to see the Pacific Ocean! Which is on Connor's bucket list.
ROAD TRIP Y'ALL!



WHAT KiND OF ADVENTURES ARE WAiTiNG FOR THIS GROUP OF SAD AND BROKEN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HATE EACH OTHER & EVERYTHiNG ELSE??
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺☺☺

══════════════════════════════





OK. Wow. This was ... intense.
You already kind of know what you're getting into when you read the blurb.
But once I started reading ...
It's all so ... sad and frustrating and serious. But there's also Jillian who's like a little sunshine unicorn spraying positive hope glitters all over everyone.



It's a story full of loss and grief and sadness and pain and fury and desperation and hate and fear and hope and by the end it was just a beautiful story about life, love and friendship.

I really enjoyed reading it. Even though I cried A LOT! ☺

Christopher is the main character here - he's telling us this story. And I really loved him. He's so sad and without any hopes and expectations for the future. He feels all alone in the world. But then he meets this beautiful girl. Nothing gets Jillian down. She's going blind, she could die any time, but she's loving life. She's living every second as if it's her last. Full of hope and laughter and sunshine.
And the other two are also helping to keep Christopher's problems in perspective.



You need to read this book. You will cry a lot, but you will also be really impressed and inspired by what those guys went through and how they're learning to deal with it, or at least how they're trying, or not....

Amazingly moving book that makes you feel and think and ... just read it!

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE takes us on such a heartbreakingly beautiful #RoadTrip ... It's a story about life, death, loss, grief, pain, fear ... and most of all ... hope, friendship and love! Run to your nearest amazon asap and please also buy a box or two of tissues! ☺

I had some tiny problems with the writing...as with every Sawyer book. It's Sawyer's and my thing ☺ It's only me who has those problems with her writing. So please don't be worried or just scroll down and don't read the following...
I have a HUGE AS problem! Sawyer always uses too much of those ☺ You know the AS's I'm talking about? The AS that could be and should be exchanged for a SINCE or BECAUSE ☺ It's a British thing (if it's a thing at all!) and it doesn't have anything to do in an american book by an american author - especially told in the POV of a 26-year-old angry war vet from the South!!!!
I really don't want to insult Sawyer. I love all her books, and maybe nobody ever told her she does that.... Sawyer....please stop doing it. But pfff who am I to tell her what to do, so just forget I said anything! It doesn't stop her books from being great!

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard but oh so good…

Going in, I heard a lot of buzz about this book. That it was different from anything the author had ever written. It was a love story but not a romance. It was about love but not in the traditional boy meet girl sense. It had all the feels – ALL the feels. Bring lots of Kleenex. And then go out and get more.

I can say that, honestly, they were all right. It was all that and much, much more. Life is all about control – whether you have any or not. Whether you make choices when you are able or choose to do nothing at all. Christopher, and his road trip companions, illustrated that in a way that spoke for so many…

Told with empathy and heart, loss of all kinds, and how we as living, breathing, fragile humans, deal with it was going to haunt these four travelers as it shaped and moved them. Sounds the farthest thing from sunshine, doesn’t it? And that is the intriguing part. It was full of sunshine. Of love and endurance. Of hope and yearning. A need for love and light. While I may have sobbed on occasion it felt right and oh so good…

This author went out on an unfamiliar limb and I know I will follow her wherever she goes. I will know to bring Kleenex next time. Just in case…

Five ‘Water-logged but happy’ Stars -Diane, 5 stars

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!




The Hard Truth About Sunshine, let me assure you, is like nothing else Sawyer Bennett has ever written (or that I've read from her). As states in the synopsis, the book revolves around a group of 'misfits.' Narrated by Christopher, a bitter, angry disabled veteran, he meets Jillian (a girl going blind), Connor (a teen with terminal cancer), and Barb (sometimes suicidal victim of child sex abuse) in therapy group for those suffering depression. When the therapist group leader offers them a chance to get out of their remaining weeks of therapy if they take a soul-cleansing road trip, Christopher volunteers to lead the trek.

But the reason I made a stupid decision and came on this trip is that I’m as equally intrigued by Jillian Martel as I am repelled by her. My intrigue won out, and I agreed to this ludicrous idea of a group journey so I could be near her.
I agreed because I need to know how she does it.
How she can have such a grim future and still smile as if all is right with her world.

A road trip that starts out with a car full of every type of coping mechanism- some healthy, some not. Christopher makes no secret he's doing this to get out of therapy but over the hours and miles between home and their next destination, his touch, bitter facade starts to crumble. Each member of their posse has a story, each member copes in their own way, yet with time spent together, each person's strength help conquer the other person's weaknesses. It's a true metamorphosis for Christopher and all-together life changing for them all.

Although the story is a bit emotionally heavy at times, it's still a fairly easy read. As the book progresses, the reader finds signs of hope amidst quite a bit of sadness and disparity. A simple road trip extends from state to state, checking off Bucket List item after item for our characters. The Hard Truth About Sunshine is about both new outlooks on life and also deals with death. It's truly emotional but not heart wrenchingly sad. There is a romantic element to the book but it's not at all the focus. This is also not a book with steam. Zilch. But it's written so eloquently, with such clarity to their sights, sounds, and inner feelings, you don't miss the steam. It also touches on spirituality and religion but I found it only added to the book and it wasn't excessive at all.

This is not the type of book I can read everyday though instead a book I'd read when looking for something touching and emotional. Sometimes it's sad, sometimes it's uplifting. I think Sawyer Bennett has something here in this type of book trope. I look forward to more from her.



Advanced copy received by author in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE.

Let’s pray for the sun to shine its warmth upon us always, so we never forget the hard truth of it.

This is my first book by Sawyer Bennett and there is a sad beauty to the book but on top of that it is a book with a hidden depth. Although told by our Hero’s POV he is an upbeat kind of guy even if he doesn’t think so. With his humor and outlook on life makes the book stand out even more for me.

I'm going with Jackass’s words here. Of all of the stupid shite he had done in his life going on a road trip with a misfit crew (like it or not Jackass you are part of the misfit crew) was apparently the worse one. It beat trying to get flowers out of his sister’s nose with a sharp object. But for him going on a road trip is one of the most ridiculous things he has done.

Our road trip group is Goth Chick, Dead Kid and Sexy Eyes. Jackass’s words here not mine.

Jackass aka Christopher Barlow is shameless. He lives life on his terms and I loved him for his shamelessness. Don't we all want to really say what we think and feel? I for one do and can only say that half the time I can't be held responsible for what comes out of my mouth. There were times where I laughed out loud and times where I put my hand in front of my mouth and thought he did not just say that but yep he did. We should all take a page of his book. Okay so maybe a tiny corner of a page.

One prime example is

She was unique and angry, and that was compelling to me. I wondered if she’d give me a blow job in return for the joint I had stashed in my cargo pocket. On second thought, she was so angry looking I was afraid she might bite my dick off and I couldn’t afford to lose anymore body parts.

The road trip is for Dead Kid. I should probably start calling them by their real names. So, pay attention for I shall only write this once. Goth Chick (Barb), Dead Kid (Connor) and Sexy Eyes (Jillian)

They are all in group therapy for one reason or another. Some are obvious. Some aren’t. Four virtual strangers set out to watch the sunset on the West Coast. The group dynamics are interesting oh what am I saying it's just bloody odd. But things slowly start to change. They start to care for one another although none of them want to get to close or to deal with the demons that they have.

For all the cracks they have also come to rely on one another. They become a tight knit group add in a bucket list and you have a great recipe for disaster it is absolutely hilarious in parts yet soul destroying in others. I could feel my heart bleeding a slow trickle to begin with that at the end I was emotionally drained. In a good way. Full emotion you want to feel and a lot of emotion you don’t.

Each with different obstacles to overcome and their problems/issues aren’t less trivial. For some it works for others it doesn’t. Jackass is fascinated by Jillian she is the light to her dark and well let’s just say that Jackass needs to get an attitude adjustment. But feelings are coming…

I swear to God she was like fucking Snow White… all tra-lah-lah, skipping though the forest and singing to the birds. I hated it and because I am a sick fuck, I wanted to see more of it at the same time.


There is a subtle HEA but it is bittersweet in comparison to what happens in the book. Thinking about it makes me want to squeeze out a tear here and there.
This book brings hope. Looking for joy where there seems to be none. You decide which side you can walk on. At times, bleak and tryst the rays of sunshine shining through and touching lives. It shows you that in the bleakest times there is a reason to live be it for love, friendship, hope and joy.

This isn't my usual type of read it also isn't Ms. Bennett's usual stomping grounds. She flawlessly hits every high note in the book as well as the deep notes.

In the end, what should we choose?

The choice to live.
The choice to love.
The choice to forge your own path.
Life should be your choice.

P.S. If you have a problem with suicide then this isn’t the book for you.

Review can also be found @http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This was really good, but honestly sadder than I anticipated. I enjoyed Christopher's voice and growth throughout the story. He wasn't the most likable at the beginning but he grew on me as the story progressed. I loved the road trip/bucket list aspect of the story and these are 4 characters I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Lance Greenfield
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 8h 48m

[Lady Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

"5 - The Sun Shines It's Warmth on Us Stars"

I would give this book 10 stars if I could!
This book is so beautifully written and the story told so well.
I got lost and fell in love with these four amazing characters.
Now I really have to think about how I want to write this review because I'm I a freaking mess right now.


Beautiful story!
** If you do take the opportunity to read his wonderful book, please take the time to read the acknowledgment at the end to see why the author was inspired to write this book.
Your an inspiration to me Ms. Sawyer just by reflecting on the situation you described that happened to you at the Orlando airport, and what you did about it.
Thank you for your insight and this story.

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" A copy of this book has been provided by InkslingerPR in exchange for an honest review"



The Hard Truth About Sunshine
By Sawyer Bennett
Release Day: March 28
Standalone


New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.


Synopsis

An angry, bitter amputee.
An optimist losing her eyesight.
A dying kid.
A suicidal thief.
Four people with nothing in common but their destination.

Despite having narrowly escaped death’s clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It’s only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.
What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again… can he learn to love again?
He’s about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can’t decide whether she wants to live or die.
They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss and love.
And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.
The hard truth about sunshine…

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Warning: This book deals with some tough issues including suicide and sexual abuse.

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...



Download The Hard Truth About Sunshine now:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jAJ31R
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.


Visit Sawyer online

Website --> www.sawyerbennett.com
Facebook --> https://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks/
Twitter --> https://twitter.com/BennettBooks
Instagram --> https://www.instagram.com/sawyerbenne...
Goodreads --> https://www.goodreads.com/Sawyer_Bennett

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ 4.25 stars ✰

“Let’s pray for the sun to shine its warmth upon us always, So we never forget the hard truth of it.”



Chirstopher Barlow, 'deformed, half a man, a total asshole...bitter, angry, a lame-ass loser' is angry - angry at the cruel hand of fate that if had stayed to work in the coal mines like the rest of his family, rather than enlisting to serve in the army, he would not have lost a part of him that the could never get back - angry at his family for abandoning when he needed them most; but most of all, he is angry at himself for allowing himself to reach the state in which he had felt that he actually had to give up on himself.

“Staring at me with raised eyebrows, Keith says, “Dude, that’s a lot of anger right there.”

“It’s why I’m in group therapy,” I say dryly, turning to look back out into the dark.

“You should be thanked,” Keith says, and I whip my head back to frown at him.

“What?”

“You should be thanked,” Keith repeats. “It was a sacrifice.”

“Bullshit,” I growl at him, and then lean in a little closer. “Losing my leg and my hand didn’t do one damn thing to help a single individual American.”

And if it would take a little bit of coercion from his therapist to act as chauffeur to a group of mis-fits from his group therapy session - each with their own heart-aches and painful struggles - on a road trip in his trusty Suburban to fulfill someone's own bucket list, for Christopher to learn a little about life and the hard truth about sunshine - that if he was angry with life, there were those who were just at much of a loss at life as he was.

“It’s an odd mixture of things that we’re doing tonight, but I’ve come to learn that this trip is nothing like I thought it was going to be.”

Heart-breaking and heart-warming, Sawyer Bennett wrote a truly beautiful and emotional book - it really tugged at my heart. Not that it was overly sad, but the unflinchingly harsh view in which Christopher narrated his story just resonated so very much with me. 😔 It's so rare for me to read a story solely told from the MMC's POV and Christopher's narrative voice was so caustic, so hurtful, so pained, and yet, so honestly raw.

He just radiated such a frustration and bitter resentment to his outlook on life - that it was as if he had blind visors against any sign of happiness - all the sunshine from his life had been sucked out. That feeling of helplessness - losing everything and everyone he cared about - not realizing his own self-worth in the world anymore - it doesn't make you pity him - rather, empathize with him, instead.

“What does that have to do with liking me?” I ask in a low voice...

“I mean… you’re an asshole. A hot asshole and it’s weird I’m attracted to that. But let’s be honest, you’re not that good of an asshole.”

“You’re like a blaze of bright sunshine that the fucking darkest sunglasses can’t repel.”

She gives me a pouty look. “That’s a compliment, right?”

I could have even lived with there not being any romance, but I understand how important it was for Christopher to see that even with his own disabilities and flaws, he was still a man capable of earning someone else's love. And in the tender soft touch that Jillian slowly made him see how much he still had to offer - that someone could still find him attractive and want to be with him, and still be so kind to him and see the good that there was - that through her soft words and tender intimacy, he was able to grow. 💕💕

And yet, even with that blossoming development of attraction, we are also reminded that this is the story of four strangers who on one unforgettable and never again attainable road trip can find comfort with each other's presence - to change something in themselves, no matter how small. That helplessness that life could be unfair and cruel, but there was no need to let that darkness define them. How strange then is it that it would be spending time with others who were experiencing their own personal pains and losses, that would eventually help Christopher see the good life still had to offer.

Because to see that there was still the possibility of happiness for him - just because he lost a part of him, DID NOT mean he had lost all of him. 💔 Those haunting thoughts of giving up on life, unable to continue with his life, as much as it was a bucket list for terminally ill, Connor, it was a way for Christopher to awaken the part of him that he had forgotten - that he had let go. That he still had something of himself to offer - that people could still care about him - that he could make something of himself, regardless of his situation.

“But she doesn’t turn fast enough that I miss the light film of moisture covering her eyes. Asshole Christopher would have called her out on it, but newly reformed and smitten Christopher lets her go with without a harsh word.

Absolutely no harsh words for any of them for showing a weakness such as sorrow or empathy, because fuck if I don’t feel like I want to cry myself right now.”

They may have been different in age - different in their own tragic experiences - different even in their outlook of accepting their situation, but what Christopher, Jillian, Barb, and Connor shared was a brief but fleeting glimpse into a friendship built on their shared feelings of life. Making memories of moments that they could capture - even if under the guise of one another - it was for each other, as well. ❤️‍🩹 Life had turned it's back on them - fate was cruel to them - but they could find a way to make something with the time they had. Christopher's relationship from the start of the story till the end changed in such a natural way - you could see each moment when the cracks slowly appeared on the walls he had built around himself, and inwardly, I was cheering. Cheering silently that he could find a way to bask in the light of the sun again. 😊

“Those losses will forever be etched upon my soul.
I choose to live.
I choose to love.
I choose to forge my path.
Life is my choice.”

It's a wonderful feeling that when you see people come together as a group - to share a bond over their tragedy and to be able to still find the goodness in it - some more than others. But, what keeps it so very believable and sadly real, is how the author did not let it entirely be a happy ending - the reality of the truth is still very much prevalent in their lives. 😢 But for that brief moment of reprieve to give someone else comfort over your own sadness - that you can learn to let go in a way that you may end up saving yourself - it was touched upon in a way that it just crept up on you, when you least expected it. When you thought that all hope was not lost, we have to still remind ourselves of the reality of it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

“Listen… it’s okay if you want to sunshine your way through life and look on the bright side of things. And it’s also okay if you get scared and think the world is falling in on you. You can
have both. You can have moments of great confidence in yourself, and then moments where you’re so low you don’t think you can make it another day.

But the one thing you can never do is give up the belief that it will all be okay. And you’ll know it will all be okay because regardless if you’re up or down, I’ll be with you through it all.”

It is not an easy book to read - it deals with a lot of heavy and sensitive issues that may not be pleasant and easy for some, that doesn't shy away from addressing the gnawing pain in a visceral and brutally honest manner. But what made it such a beautiful yet achingly tender read was the growth and feeling that each of characters felt - that despite the adversity and the challenges they would inevitably have to face, despite the eventual inescapable ending - they could still find happiness and goodness in each other and in their lives. 🌞🌞

[Darlene Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Truth is that rare gem. The one that comes to you unpolished and blemished, and yet so beautiful and raw you can't look away.

It is filled from beginning to end with truths we see every day, but are not always willing to face. They are not pretty. They are not wrapped in perfect packages. But when we stop to listen, to look, to feel ... we find hope.

Hope that each of us has the power to make an impact, to be more, to give comfort, and most of all just to listen when we're needed.

You see, we may not always be able to fix what is wrong. We may not be able to cure or to heal. But by damn, we can be there for one another. Even if it hurts. Even if it takes a part of our hearts. Even if it leaves us with the hard truth.

I know my words do not do justice to the power behind Bennett's phenomenal book, but I hope I am able to convey enough that you will grab this book and soak up all the feels. The Hard Truth About Sunshine is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Bennett brings home a masterpiece with this work, and gives her reader a reason to look beyond the everyday and find hope.

5 Brilliant & Breathtaking Stars!!!

[AC Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! WOW! OMG! I am totally speechless. This is the hardest book I read in a while – it’s emotional, sad, tear jerker for sure. I developed a huge lump in my throat the whole time reading, and I was a crying mess when I finished. This is a fair warning… The Hard Truth About Sunshine is no lovefest, rose or sunshine. It deals with some really tough issues such as suicide, sexual abuse, cancer and a little bit about war. In one particular scene I found it so gruesome I was literally gaging. I am having a hard time looking at red meat right now … I think I let my imagination run a little wild from that scene but I think it is also because I work in healthcare, taking care of veterans. I see and hear things there so I can definitely relate to what the author talks about.

Okay so I am probably scaring you by now but to be honest the whole experience is worth it to me because the story is brilliant. This book is nothing like the fun, sexy stories that I used to read from Sawyer Bennett. I see a totally different side of her and I like it a lot. Also, I am always looking for a rare and unique story – something that leaves a mark deep in my soul long after the last page is turned and this book did that for me!

Christopher is a badly damaged body and soul. He is furious at the world, at life, at his situation, at God, at everyone. He has a deep distrust for his family and his girlfriend who abandoned him when he needed them the most. Suffering from PTSD, he falls into a deep depression so much that he thinks about ending his life. But it was his drinking, drugging, and violent behavior that lands him in group therapy where he meets Jillian, Barb, and Connor. To Christopher, attending therapy sessions to talk about his feelings is worse than a death sentence. So to get out of these kumbaya sessions or face jail time Christopher volunteers to drive his four group mates across the country so that Connor can see the Pacific Ocean for the first and last time. There are four main characters - Jillian is soft spoken, beautiful, sweet, kind and she is slowly losing her sight. Barb is angry but fragile. She suffered abuse at the hands of her own family member who was someone she trusted. She cried out for help but it was no use … sometimes it just feels too much and nothing in life is worth living. Connor is a kind soul, a nice boy who was just handed a death sentence of terminal cancer. His only wish is to see the Pacific Ocean and maybe cross off a few other things on his bucket list along the way. And so, four people - all with different backgrounds and circumstances embark on an adventurous journey and within their travels they learn the truth about about love, loss, hope and life.

I cannot tell you how much this book means to me. I have taken care of the veterans for the last 16 years of my career and I understand some of the pain and suffering the veterans went through – but regretfully not in depth because most people don’t talk about it for reasons the author described. I have to be honest though I have said “thank you for your service” thousands of times over the years and not one single person has answered “I don’t want your thanks”. So, I am not sure what to make of the young man who told the author as such at the airport other than one might feel we are patronizing them. We say it but we don’t really understand what it is like to lose a limb. Either way, I cannot begin to imagine what these veterans went though, what they have seen, who they have lost. So still I’m saying “my hat is off to you and I do thank you for your service to the country”.

I don’t know what else to say other than The Truth About Sunshine is heart-breakingly beautiful, honest, poignant. I was emotionally drained but consumed and captivated all the same. But don’t fret, there are also a few humorous & cute moments and of course a sweet beautiful love story (not a typical sexy romance though so don’t expect panty dropping hot sex). This is one of those books that you have to feel though the pain and sadness. I promise in the end you will be rewarded with an overwhelming satisfaction of having read a profound, brilliant and unforgettable story that will leave a mark on your life. One of the best I read this year. Be brave and give it a try!!!!

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible! I'm not going to be able to do this justice with my review, but what I can say is this book is staying with me. I can't seem to stop thinking about the characters and the issues they are dealing with or even the marine Sawyer Bennett was inspired from to write this book.

It was a great reminder that no matter how tough my life can be, there are others out there with so much more they are dealing with. Yet, you also get the message that even though my issues may not compare, they are still struggles for me and I shouldn't take them lightly.

These characters have some major issues they are dealing with and this book touches on some very heavy subjects such as cancer and suicide, but I smiled as much as I cried. To see these angry, bitter, resigned people band together on a road trip was so inspiring and to read their triumphs was amazing.

I'm one that stays away from tragic stories because I just want to read for fun but I am so glad that didn't stop me from reading this book. I think everyone should read this book. Maybe we would all be a bit more understanding of others.

[~Stéphanie~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hard Truth about Sunshine is without a doubt not your typical Sawyer Bennett's book. I know what I'm talking about because I read more than 30 books by her and this one is the most unique story she has ever written. If you've read the blurb you already know the book is a journey. I was a little scared to read it because I'm not usually reading books that involves illness or any form of depression and it was obvious I would have it here, still I was convinced that if there as one author who could push my limits, it would be Sawyer. I love her sport romance, her books involving laws and her hot sexy male so seeing her taking a risk, there was no doubt I would read what she was willing to share with her readers.



As expected The Hard Truth about Sunshine wasn't an easy read but it wasn't terrible either. The main word I feel after reading is hope. This book shows how four people with nothing in common still find their way in this uncommon road trip they were practically forced to take. It shows that no matter what problems you faced, there's a bright side you can choose to see or not. It shows that even if you feel different all the world needs to do is accept who you are and respect the way you feel.

"Jillian makes me want to believe in the possibility of happiness, and I vow to myself that I’m going to have her show me how it’s done."

I don't even feel the need to speak about the different characters in the book, not because there are not worth it, - hell the contrary to be honest! - but because the book is powerful on his own. Each individual in the story face or faced some horrific events. Throughout their trip they will bond even if they don't want to. Each has something to learn or to teach to the others.

It was really a fantastic journey to see them be who they are, what they want, what they fear, what they need, what they love and it was such a delight to see them grow for the best or the worst.



I think everyone who would read it will just keep this story close because truthfully The Hard Truth about Sunshine is one of those books, you can't ignore and I'm so glad I had the courage to read it.

“You’re a cup-half-full kind of girl.”
She nods with a smirk. “True.”
“I’m a cup-half-empty kind of guy,” I add.
“Also true.”
“Both of our cups are still missing something.”

~ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review~

[Bj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this audiobook an A- for both the story and narration at AudioGals.

Narration by Lance Greenfield

What a unique book. Think of  The Hard Truth About Sunshine  as the “Breakfast Club” (as in the 1980s teenage movie hit) but instead of a bunch of high school students from different social circles being the members, we have four characters, two female and two male, that are in group therapy together. Each of the four main characters in this book is part of a therapy group that meets with a counselor to try and work out the different reasons for needing the therapy. One woman (Jillian) is losing her eyesight due to a rare condition (and also has heart problems). One young man (Connor) is terminally ill and has only about six months to live. Another woman (Barb) is suicidal due to the sexual abuse she endured as a young teen at the hands of a family member. And the last character (Christopher), whose POV the story is told in, is a veteran who lost a leg, several fingers, and a friend at war when an IED exploded under a Humvee he was driving. What is so engaging about this story is that though each one of these people has different reasons for being depressed, they don’t all react and view life the same. Instead, how each one copes with their own adversity is an interesting experiment in how the human can manifest itself so differently, and their interactions with one another prove that these differing points of view have a way of influencing others (both positively and negatively).

Christopher didn’t go to war for the typical reasons. It wasn’t about serving his country or a sense of patriotism, but more his way to escape the coal mines that were the only real source of employment in his small town. Therefore, he never really envisioned potentially giving up his life or being disabled at war. Moreover, his fiancée leaves him after the accident, being unable to cope with his injuries and leading to an overwhelming amount of anger on Christopher’s part. This volcano of emotions eventually leads to a downward spiral where Christopher assaults a man and the judge rules that he either must complete six weeks of group therapy or go to jail. Christopher, of course, picks group therapy but despises being there (his internal sarcastic monologues early on in the book about each of the other characters is quite telling). However, when Jillian proposes to the group therapy’s leader an alternative that involves taking the therapy group on a cross-country road trip as an alternative to Christopher having to complete the remaining weeks of his group therapy, Christopher jumps at the chance to get rid of these “losers” earlier than the sentenced six weeks and even volunteers to drive the group on their excursion.

What ensues is episode after episode of Connor’s, and to a lesser extent the other characters’, bucket lists (things like egging a house, skydiving, seeing the sunset on the other side of the country). As each episode transpires, the gang becomes closer and closer to one another, gaining a better understanding of how each one of their disparate personalities are coping with their own adversities. Of most interest to romance lovers is Jillian, who seems eternally happy. She is a person that sees everything as the “glass half full”. Christopher is the most intrigued by Jillian. He just can’t understand how she could always be as happy as “sunshine” – nonetheless, her optimism is infectious and as the trip moves on, you see Christopher’s character slowly becoming more optimistic and slowly falling in love with Jillian – a love that Jillian returns.

However, the truth about Jillian is not as easy as it initially seems, and when additional things are revealed, not to mention a new adversity which plagues the group, Jillian’s optimistic view of life and her positive effect on the group will be challenged. Will this trip end up helping or hurting the group and what effect will it have on each individual member? And moreover, could there possibly be a HEA for Christopher and Jillian?

See the full review at AudioGals.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Wow, this book took me by surprise. Something very different from Sawyer Bennett, but a beautiful, raw, heartbreaking, heartwarming and profound story that is still lots of fun, and that sucked me in from start to finish.

In a feel reminiscent to The Breakfast Club, we have a mis-matched group of misfits thrown together in a road-trip across the country as part of their group therapy.

The book is written from the sole POV of Christopher Barlow. An ex-soldier, he is struggling to come to terms with a tragic incident while on deployment that killed his friend and left him permanently disabled. He is angry and bitter at the world, and it practically oozes out of him, and his bad mood and quick temper landed him in therapy for his anger management – hence his current predicament.

Along for the ride are – as Christopher dubs them – “Goth Chick”, “Dead Kid” and “Sexy Eyes”. Barb the Goth is suicidal, a loner, and buried under a mound of baggage. Connor is a sweet 17 year old who is dying of cancer, and he is the reason they are travelling together as he ticks items off his bucket list. Sexy Eyes is Jillian, a gorgeous, eternal optimist who is slowly going blind.

The reason I made a stupid decision and came on this trip is that I’m as equally intrigued by Jillian Martel as I am repelled by her. My intrigue won out, and I agreed to this ludicrous idea of a group journey so I could be near her.
I agreed because I need to know how she does it.
How can she have such a grim future and still smile as if all is right with her world.

It’s a unique group, each with their unique issues, and the dynamics are absolutely fantastic as we are thrown into their journey. Each of them have their reasons for being on that trip, and I loved getting to know them as, through Christopher’s eyes, their layers are revealed, and they begin to impact each other’s lives in a way that none of them expected.

It’s not always easy reading and there are some very serious issues discussed so beware of triggers suicide, terminal illness, death, grief, sexual abuse (off the page), but know that even though it’s heartbreaking at times, the subject matter is sensitively handled with emotion and realism, and it brings light to very relevant issues.

“Do you still want to die?” Jillian asks…
Barb actually gives a genuine smile in return as she nods. “Every damn day.”
None of us know what to say, so silence envelopes the table.
And then… in a voice that’s barely audible, Barb adds, “But I also want to live every damn day too. I’m just not sure which I want more.”

But there is an underlying message of hope which is beautifully written.

“I love when the sun comes out after a dark rain … How it just brightens everything.”

Jillian makes me want to believe in the possibility of happiness, and I vow to myself that I’m going to have her show me how it’s done.

And through it all there is a gorgeous message of friendship and love as their trip forces the four of them to open up, share, and experience life in a way that they haven’t done before. It sets the scene for lots of deep and meaningful conversations, but also some laugh-out-loud moments, adventure and fun, and it was all blended together really well.

“The one thing you can never do is give up the belief that it will all be okay. And you’ll know it will all be okay because regardless if you’re up or down, I’ll be with you through it all.”

Christopher is a wonderful narrator. He is candid and unfiltered, and I loved how his distorted view of the world gives us a unique perspective on these characters, and then slowly begins to change as he does too. It’s really well done, and I’m glad that we got his side of the story from start to finish, showing us some great character development along the way.

Yes, there is romance, but it’s more of a side story and it’s not in your face. The emotion and intimacy is beautifully sweet, and there is sex but it occurs off the page, leaving this one to be all about the feels.

“You were my bucket list and I didn’t even know it.”

Written with a lot of heart, this story immediately drew me in, and I came to care so much for each of these characters. I laughed with them and cried with them, and I thought their journey was really beautifully written.

4 stars.

[Alex ♈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's pray for the sun to shine
its warmth upon us always,
So we never forget the hard
truth of it.

Completely new and unexpected side of Sawyer Bennett.
Her strongerst book!

I wouldn't call it a romance. This book is raw and honest, ugly and painful. I hated and loved it.

It deals with dark side of life, the side we'd like to ignore often, the things we'd rather look away.

The story is about life and death, love and hate, hope and hopelessness.
It deals with many heavy life themes: cancer, disability, depression, drugs, abandoning, suicide, death, grief, illness.

The book is depressing, but also amazing and totally worth it.

I don't know what to write...
Give it a try if you are brave, but don't expect romance and flowers.
Open your mind and let it lead you.
Cry, laugh and cry more.
And after you finish it, please take your time to appreciate and thank for your life!

I'm glad I read it. It was devastating, but 100% worth it.

I choose to live.
I choose to love.
I choose to forge my path.
Life is my choice.

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an emotional roller coaster that kind of ended well, but the subject matter was HEAVY. I am glad that I read it though I probably will never read it again.

Christopher Barlow was a former marine floundering after he was maimed by an IED. He was forced to get counseling after a suicide attempt as well as his continuing PTSD battle. During his group therapy, he met several people including: Jillian Martel, a woman going blind, Barbara Stiles, a woman who had attempted suicide a few times due to sexual abuse trauma and Connor McCann, a young guy who had less than a year to live. To help Connor tick off items on his bucket list, the therapy group went on a road trip.

This trip began the bonding that allowed each character to make themselves vulnerable to the other members of their group. Most of the stories were sad but I was also in awe at the strength that each of them exhibited as they tried to deal with their depression.

I haven't read anything like this from Sawyer Bennett and I am surprised that she tried this. I will give her kudos because the story shows bravery, real life issues and the uncomfortable reality of many people struggling with being less than "society perfect". I put it down a few times to decompress but I am glad that I finished it. There was light at the end of the tunnel and it was worth it to finish this book.

[The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

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I have just finished Sawyer Bennett's "The Hard Truth about Sunshine" and my heart feels so incredibly full. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book but judging from the synopsis, I had an idea that this was going to be one of those stories that stepped outside the mould of your regular romance novels and I wasn't wrong. Wow what a story, what a wonderful, inspirational, poignant, life affirming journey I feel I have had the privilege to go on with four characters who completely stole my heart and made me (very much) want to be a part of their circle (warts and all, lol).

I can't even consider that there are other possibilities out there, because that would mean opening myself up to hope, and that in turn would mean opening myself up to failure and hurt. Not even going there.

Told from Christopher Barlow's POV, "The Hard Truth about Sunshine" was a story about self discovery. It was about facing fears and overcoming them. But most importantly it was a story about hope. This book made me look at my life and made me want to be a better person. It made me want to take the plunge and reach for those dreams I didn't think I had a cats chance in hell of achieving.

As for emotions, boy did this book make me feel. Be prepared to wear your heart on your sleeve with this one. You honestly won't be able to hide how you feel as you take this road trip across parts of America with this unlikely group of characters who are thrown together courtesy of a counselling support group. I laughed and cried, felt so much joy yet equal amounts of sorrow as stories were told, secrets and truths were revealed and issues were resolved. None of these characters had an easy time of things but each one handled their own situation so differently and I wondered on many an occasion who would sink and who would swim when faced with adversity.

“Do you still want to die?”
Barb actually gives a genuine smile in return as she nods. “Every damn day.”
None of us know what to say, so silence envelopes the table. And then… in a voice that’s barely audible, Barb adds, “But I also want to live every damn day too. I’m just not sure which I want more.”

Whether you read the synopsis or not, this book will still surprise you and will still affect you. Honestly, it's difficult not to be touched by each and every one of these characters and the stories they share with you.

One last thing before I finish up. for those hopeless romantics out there, there is the most beautiful love story that comes out of this book. It definitely isn't the main plot but it works so perfectly, shining some light on some dark moments.

"You're like a blaze of bright sunshine that the fucking darkest sunglasses can't repel."

I'm not sure what else to say about this book without spoiling it for you. All I can say is please take the plunge and click. You won't be disappointed. This is one of those books that I will remember for a long time.

I rated "The Hard Truth about Sunshine" ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Janey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Sunshine stars

This was a book that pulled on a number of emotions for me, given the perceived storyline.

Told entirely from medically retired Marine, Christopher Barlow’s POV. Following an assault conviction, he takes the option to attend group therapy, rather than go to jail.

Christopher is aggrieved resulting from his substantial injuries he endured when his tank rolled over a live IED device. Having watched the immediate obliteration of his friend, undergoing 13 months of hospital and rehabilitation for the loss of his leg, along with severe damage to his arm and hand, and feeling totally deserted by his family and girlfriend at the time, resulted in a shadow of a man disenchanted with every aspect of his life.

Reluctant attendance at the group therapy introduced Christopher to 3 other characters that each had life changing issues to comprehend. The assigned therapist, Mags, suggested ideas for the group to bond, and a road trip is kicked off.

What starts off as pure reluctance and indifference for Christopher, becomes a trip designed to fulfil the young Connor’s bucket list. Each character slowly opens up to each other, sharing their experiences, concerns, and inner most thoughts, whilst tracking across America.

The sensitive subjects encountered are handled with understanding, sympathy and a barrel load of humour.

Sawyer has jumped right out of her perceived box, and succeeded in producing a captivating story. I’m not sure I would have chosen to pick up this book, given the storyline, but I would have missed out completely, and am thrilled to experience another side to this very talented author.

Complimentary copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[My Own Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm struggling.

You see, right now, I'm reading other reviews trying to find words. Readers are using terms such as 'beautiful', 'poignant', 'meaningful', 'unforgettable', 'hopeful'...you get my drift. As each poetic description passes my lips, they taste flat on my tongue. For me, there are no words worthy of how deeply this story touched me.

In fairness, I bared witness to the story unfolding. As other authors will tell you, I am verbal, sometimes bordering on ridiculous, when I comment in pre-release versions. This story engaged my mind, heart and soul. I could barely think of what to say. These characters were so incredible, heartbreakingly so at times. Their story was buried in so many truths we fail to see in our everyday lives. Not only was I touched as a reader, but I knew each one of these characters left a handprint on the hearts of the others.

From this point I can delve into points about the story. But this review is not to promote readers to pick up the story. Other reviews can do that for me. No, this review is to sell the story to Sawyer Bennett fans. There is a common theme in the reviews: This isn't a "typical" Sawyer Bennett story. Gads I hate that turn of phrase. It is a Sawyer Bennett story. This book has the same alluring characterizations, blending of love and hope, and carefully paced storytelling you expect of Ms Bennett's work. My hope is that her fans will open their hearts and minds to maybe something that isn't hockey, legal tussles or sexy men and the women that capture them. My real hope is that these readers will embrace a story you read every once in a while but remember forever.
5++ out of 5 stars

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

The Hard Truth About Sunshine by Sawyer Bennett
5 stars!!!

“I wouldn’t be killing myself today.”

I’ve read the majority of Sawyer Bennett’s books whether it be legal, hockey or her hot and steamy romances, no matter what book of hers I have read, I have loved it. Sometimes, you just connect with an author’s voice and they could write the phonebook and you would be happy and that is my connection to this author. So much so, I go in blind now. I didn’t know what I would be getting from The Hard Truth About Sunshine, but what I got was definitely not expected and so far from Sawyer Bennett’s norm I had to check that it was in fact a Sawyer Bennett book. Damn, this woman can write and she delivered on every count with this book.

The Hard Truth About Sunshine was incredibly emotional, raw and honest. It covers some extremely hard subjects which were handled with brutal honesty and showed that not all people live surrounded by unicorns and rainbows. Peoples struggles are real and while they may not show it on the outside there can be a squall of anger and depression underneath. People may seem confident, brave and optimistic on the outside, but underneath they are frightened and afraid. Keeping your cards close to your chest, being aggressive and obnoxious may not be the determination of an asshole, but maybe, just maybe that person has been rejected time and time again and it is better not to open up rather than just get knocked back once again.

“Maybe you need to find ways to get more color in your life…”

Life is full of individuals that never have the same story, yet circumstance brings them together for a reason. People with one thing in common can suddenly find that, in fact, they have a lot more in common than they first thought. Four people thrown together in “therapy” who became the best of friends, some get their happy ending, others don’t, but this was all about the journey and what a road trip Sawyer Bennett delivered.

“Each one of us hates our life. It’s a burden to us. It’s unfair. It’s nothing but misery and torment, and we’re pissed we’re the ones who have to suffer it. Maybe not to the same degree, and not for the same reasons, but it’s the absolute tie that binds every one of us.”

Christopher Barlow is one ball of anger and his anger has left him with a choice of therapy or jail. Christopher was a war vet who had been injured when his Humvee went over a land mine. Scarred face, half a hand, a rebuilt arm and half a leg has left him with way more than his physical injuries. Emotionally scarred, deserted by those he needed the most, he was an emotional island, angry at the world and all who walked in her. He needed no-one, the only one he could rely on was himself and even then, that was flimsy at best.

“I bet if you spent as much time seeking positivity as you do reveling in negativity, you’d feel a hell of a lot better about yourself. But since you seem to like being a jackass, and it sort of suits this whole “bitter-wounded-warrior-who-feels-betrayed-by-everyone vibe” you’ve got going on, I’m guessing you don’t have the backbone or the fortitude to be anything more than what you are right now. It’s pathetic really.”

In therapy, Christopher meets Connor, who is seventeen and dying of cancer, Barb who was a victim of sexual abuse and who has tried to take her life many times and Jillian, who lost her sister and is now losing her sight. It is while in therapy that Jillian decides a road trip is in order to aide Connor complete some of the items on his bucket list and by being in such close proximity to one and other, hopefully they could all be there for one and other and hopefully make inroads into making friends. Connor was designated driver and so his road trip with Dead Kid, Goth Chick and Sexy Eyes begins.

“You’re a cup-half-full kind of girl.”
“True.”
“I’m a cup-half-empty kind of guy…”
“Also true.”
“Both of our cups are still missing something.”
“About four ounces each…”
“You put us both together and we’re full…”

Wow, Sawyer Bennett tugged at every single heart string with this book, yes, at times I was bloody depressed reading this, but then the “sunshine” comes and uplifts you in the next sentence. I laughed at times, I cried in others, but I experienced this journey with them and while it was eye opening for them it was also eye opening for me. While this book is predominantly Christopher’s journey and is told solely from his point of view, this was also the journey of Connor, Barb and Jillian. Each one of them intrinsically affected Christopher in some way and turned him from a ball of anger to a life appreciating human being by the end.

“Jillian, you were my bucket list and I didn’t even know it.”

There is romance, a little sex, but this book was all about the characters and how when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Not everyone can be saved, but you can make sure they have the best time of their lives before they go. Sometimes it takes seeing other people’s problems for you to fully understand your own, what is huge to you maybe superficial to others. Not everyone sees what you see in the mirror every day. It just takes that special someone’s to make you realise it. I loved the story that Sawyer Bennett retells at the end of the book detailing her inspiration behind this story. It just goes to show how great stories are born from the most innocuous of situations and how vivid an author’s imagination can be to get the answers they desperately crave.

“I choose to live.
I choose to love.
I choose to forge my path.
Life is my choice.”

www.theromancecover.com

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recall, if you can, one of those moments where you are so sad and so happy at the same time. A sob/laugh bubbles out of you because the emotion is so intense. The first time I recall that happening to me was when I was watching Kramer v. Kramer in the movie theater so many moons ago. I was crying harder that anyone really should have been, and I looked over at my friend who was doing the same. Then suddenly I was laughing like a loon. Hearts are breaking, tears are flowing, and I'm laughing like a crazy person because the laugh that came out of me contained everything I felt in that moment. That's exactly what this story did for me. I cannot begin to tell you how much I adored each and every one of these characters and the journey they went on together. The self-discovery, the growth, the sadness, the hopelessness and yes, even the hopefulness. So many of the reviews I've seen liken this to The Breakfast Club, and that's very fitting. However, that to me was more about how the world views and labels you. This beauty is about how you see yourself and how sometimes you have to look at how others view you to see the best parts of you.