What do you think?
Rate this book
Washed Up
When a long-lost letter from a soldier to his girl back home is found, tucked safely inside a bottle on the beaches of Florida, the search is on to find the owners.
For years Del has listened to his grandfather’s war stories, recording them, determined to preserve this little slice of history, yet there is one story that has never been told… The story of his grandfather tossing a message inside a bottle into the ocean as a final desperate act when he thought he was going to die.
Del is determined to do everything he can to find out what happened to the woman the message was meant for. He wants his grandfather to have closure over one of the most painful periods of his life.
Quinn never dreamed his grandmother could be the young girl who was sent the message in a bottle, but when clues lead Del to his doorstep, there is no denying their pasts are linked, and their grandparents were once in love.
Trying to work through a past that many had forgotten, learning about a love that never faded, Del and Quinn work together to put all the pieces together. Finding that the romance seventy plus years in the making might just be their own.
For years Del has listened to his grandfather’s war stories, recording them, determined to preserve this little slice of history, yet there is one story that has never been told… The story of his grandfather tossing a message inside a bottle into the ocean as a final desperate act when he thought he was going to die.
Del is determined to do everything he can to find out what happened to the woman the message was meant for. He wants his grandfather to have closure over one of the most painful periods of his life.
Quinn never dreamed his grandmother could be the young girl who was sent the message in a bottle, but when clues lead Del to his doorstep, there is no denying their pasts are linked, and their grandparents were once in love.
Trying to work through a past that many had forgotten, learning about a love that never faded, Del and Quinn work together to put all the pieces together. Finding that the romance seventy plus years in the making might just be their own.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2018
About the author
E.M. Leya
100 books317 followersE.M. Leya lives surrounded by the beautiful mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah with her amazing daughter and loving pets. She is passionate about the world we live in and current events, deeming herself a "news junkie". She believes that we are all here to create something beautiful, whether it's through our talents or our actions. She enjoys writing stories that take us deep into real world problems while showing that love can happen for anyone, regardless of how dark their past might be.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 6, 2022
Overall book rating: 3.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
July 15, 2018
Del glaubt die Geschichte seiner Großeltern gut zu kennen. Doch dann verändert ein Fundstück aus vergangener Zeit seine Sicht auf die Dinge und plötzlich scheint die Vergangenheit und die Geschichte seines Großvaters Arthur in einem völlig anderen Licht. Und die Vergangenheit drängt sich schlagartig in die Gegenwart von Del und Arthur.
Del ist im Baugewerbe und Arthur ist sein letzter, lebender Verwandter. Doch Arthur ist alt und bedürftig. Seit geraumer Zeit lebt er deswegen in einem Pflegeheim, da er dort die nötige Beschäftigung und Versorgung bekommt. Del selbst ist Single und nur sein Großvater weiß, dass er schwul ist. Doch Del lebt auch in keiner Gegend, wo man so etwas an die große Glocke hängt.
In Kalifornien lebt Quinn. Auch er hat eine bedürftige und alte Angehörige. Doch seine Großmutter Clara lebt bei ihm im Haus und sie bedeutet ihm alles. Der Zufall führt nun Del und Quinn über das Internet zusammen. Ihre Großeltern waren im zweiten Weltkrieg ein Liebespaar, das jedoch von den Umständen der Zeit und durch Claras Vater getrennt wurde.
Nach 70 Jahren sehen sich Clara und Arthur nun wieder, doch selbst diese unvorstellbar lange Zeit konnte die Gefühle für einander nicht verwischen. Eine Liebe, die die Zeit überdauert hat. Während die zwei alten Liebenden scheinbar dort anknüpfen, wo ihre Liebe so drastisch getrennt wurde, lernen sich Del und Quinn erst kennen. Doch die Zeit ist gegen sie. Und ein halber Kontinent liegt zwischen ihren Leben.
Was für eine schöne und entzückende Geschichte. Ja, entzückend! Clara und vor allem Arthur sind wunderbar. Und ihre Geschichte ist einfach nur herzerwärmend. E.M. Leya konnte mich voll und ganz fesseln. Doch es gibt ja auch noch Del und Quinn. Und sie sind erst noch gefangen in ihren aktuellen Leben und Vorstellungen. Erst die Geschichte ihrer Großeltern öffnet ihnen die Augen, dass es vielleicht keine zweite Chance geben könnte.
Während Quinn sich sehr schnell festlegt und mit seinen Gefühlen auch nicht hinter dem Berg hält, agiert Del etwas zögerlicher und er hält Quinn auf Abstand. Denn ein gebrochenes Herz kann er nun wirklich nicht gebrauchen. Doch Quinn ist ziemlich nachdrücklich, auch wenn er Del auch verstehen kann; ihm etwas Zeit geben möchte.
Für mich hat diese Geschichte funktioniert, weil es sich bei Del und Quinn um erwachsene Männer mit einer gewissen Reife und Lebenserfahrung handelt. Sie sind beide Anfang vierzig, haben sich ein Leben und eine Existenz aufgebaut. Natürlich fühlt in ihrem Leben etwas und sie würden diese Lücke sehr gern füllen, doch sie sind beide doch auch realistisch. Vor allem Del ist da sehr zaghaft, was aber natürlich an seinem Wohnort und der Einstellung der Menschen liegt.
Wirkliche Schwächen konnte ich bei dem Buch eigentlich nicht entdecken. Es ließ sich flüssig lesen, konnte mich fesseln und hat mich zum Lachen, Schmunzeln und Nachdenken gebracht.
Del ist im Baugewerbe und Arthur ist sein letzter, lebender Verwandter. Doch Arthur ist alt und bedürftig. Seit geraumer Zeit lebt er deswegen in einem Pflegeheim, da er dort die nötige Beschäftigung und Versorgung bekommt. Del selbst ist Single und nur sein Großvater weiß, dass er schwul ist. Doch Del lebt auch in keiner Gegend, wo man so etwas an die große Glocke hängt.
In Kalifornien lebt Quinn. Auch er hat eine bedürftige und alte Angehörige. Doch seine Großmutter Clara lebt bei ihm im Haus und sie bedeutet ihm alles. Der Zufall führt nun Del und Quinn über das Internet zusammen. Ihre Großeltern waren im zweiten Weltkrieg ein Liebespaar, das jedoch von den Umständen der Zeit und durch Claras Vater getrennt wurde.
Nach 70 Jahren sehen sich Clara und Arthur nun wieder, doch selbst diese unvorstellbar lange Zeit konnte die Gefühle für einander nicht verwischen. Eine Liebe, die die Zeit überdauert hat. Während die zwei alten Liebenden scheinbar dort anknüpfen, wo ihre Liebe so drastisch getrennt wurde, lernen sich Del und Quinn erst kennen. Doch die Zeit ist gegen sie. Und ein halber Kontinent liegt zwischen ihren Leben.
Was für eine schöne und entzückende Geschichte. Ja, entzückend! Clara und vor allem Arthur sind wunderbar. Und ihre Geschichte ist einfach nur herzerwärmend. E.M. Leya konnte mich voll und ganz fesseln. Doch es gibt ja auch noch Del und Quinn. Und sie sind erst noch gefangen in ihren aktuellen Leben und Vorstellungen. Erst die Geschichte ihrer Großeltern öffnet ihnen die Augen, dass es vielleicht keine zweite Chance geben könnte.
Während Quinn sich sehr schnell festlegt und mit seinen Gefühlen auch nicht hinter dem Berg hält, agiert Del etwas zögerlicher und er hält Quinn auf Abstand. Denn ein gebrochenes Herz kann er nun wirklich nicht gebrauchen. Doch Quinn ist ziemlich nachdrücklich, auch wenn er Del auch verstehen kann; ihm etwas Zeit geben möchte.
Für mich hat diese Geschichte funktioniert, weil es sich bei Del und Quinn um erwachsene Männer mit einer gewissen Reife und Lebenserfahrung handelt. Sie sind beide Anfang vierzig, haben sich ein Leben und eine Existenz aufgebaut. Natürlich fühlt in ihrem Leben etwas und sie würden diese Lücke sehr gern füllen, doch sie sind beide doch auch realistisch. Vor allem Del ist da sehr zaghaft, was aber natürlich an seinem Wohnort und der Einstellung der Menschen liegt.
Wirkliche Schwächen konnte ich bei dem Buch eigentlich nicht entdecken. Es ließ sich flüssig lesen, konnte mich fesseln und hat mich zum Lachen, Schmunzeln und Nachdenken gebracht.
October 8, 2018
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit.):
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth Kann ing,
'Save that he kids' series from EM Leya or
'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like
an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but
not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit.):
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth Kann ing,
'Save that he kids' series from EM Leya or
'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like
an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but
not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
June 27, 2018
A long lost love and a new love!
A love seventy years in the making. Torn apart through war, lies and deceit, Clara and Arthur never thought they would see each other again. A message in a bottle, thrown into the ocean seventy years prior on a beach in Europe, was found washed up in Florida. The message led to Arthur and his grandson, Del. They set upon a quest to find Clara's family, surprised and delighted to see her still living. Del formed a friendship that led into love with Clara's grandson, Quinn. But both own businesses in cities two thousand miles apart. Can they find a way to make it work? Great book. Loved the plot line of a note in a bottle being found after so long.
A love seventy years in the making. Torn apart through war, lies and deceit, Clara and Arthur never thought they would see each other again. A message in a bottle, thrown into the ocean seventy years prior on a beach in Europe, was found washed up in Florida. The message led to Arthur and his grandson, Del. They set upon a quest to find Clara's family, surprised and delighted to see her still living. Del formed a friendship that led into love with Clara's grandson, Quinn. But both own businesses in cities two thousand miles apart. Can they find a way to make it work? Great book. Loved the plot line of a note in a bottle being found after so long.
June 23, 2018
A must read story
At 17 Clara was told by her father that the love of her life had been killed in the war and she was forced to move away. Fearing he was about to die Arthur out a note in a bottle, the one girl he loved, and cast it into the sea. Seventy years later the note is found, washed up on a beach in Florida. When the note is returned to Arthur, with the help of his grandson, Del, they track down Clara, who lives with her grandson, Quinn. As an old love is rekindled, so a new love begins, but living thousands of miles apart can Del and Quinn make a relationship to rival their grandparents, work. This is a lovely book, I was glued to it from the first to last page.
At 17 Clara was told by her father that the love of her life had been killed in the war and she was forced to move away. Fearing he was about to die Arthur out a note in a bottle, the one girl he loved, and cast it into the sea. Seventy years later the note is found, washed up on a beach in Florida. When the note is returned to Arthur, with the help of his grandson, Del, they track down Clara, who lives with her grandson, Quinn. As an old love is rekindled, so a new love begins, but living thousands of miles apart can Del and Quinn make a relationship to rival their grandparents, work. This is a lovely book, I was glued to it from the first to last page.
June 18, 2018
Beautiful emotional heartwarming
Washed up was such a beautiful story i loved it so much
Del and Quinn's journey was emotional beautiful heartwarming
Every word in washed up were so powerful and pulled on your heart strings so many feels
I felt everything the tears the laughter and the powerful moments
Quinn and del stole my heart and so did Arthur and
Clara
Washed up will have a place in my heart for a long time
Washed up was such a beautiful story i loved it so much
Del and Quinn's journey was emotional beautiful heartwarming
Every word in washed up were so powerful and pulled on your heart strings so many feels
I felt everything the tears the laughter and the powerful moments
Quinn and del stole my heart and so did Arthur and
Clara
Washed up will have a place in my heart for a long time
July 4, 2018
Sigh.....
Amazing.... i cried and hoped everything would turn out the way it should. I love Arthurs attitude.... and his never ending love. Del and Quinn ... their love is just as strong, and absolutely sweet. I loved everything about this book. An absolute mudt read, and must have!!
Amazing.... i cried and hoped everything would turn out the way it should. I love Arthurs attitude.... and his never ending love. Del and Quinn ... their love is just as strong, and absolutely sweet. I loved everything about this book. An absolute mudt read, and must have!!
July 13, 2018
Fabulous book from an incredible author
EM Leya takes you from pedophile hunters, to the homeless, to an amazing story of second chance seventy years in the making. Not only does she achieve this, she rocks it!
This exquisite story will leave you with tears in your eyes, and a heart fuller than you can ever imagine.
EM Leya takes you from pedophile hunters, to the homeless, to an amazing story of second chance seventy years in the making. Not only does she achieve this, she rocks it!
This exquisite story will leave you with tears in your eyes, and a heart fuller than you can ever imagine.
December 23, 2020
This is such a sweet story with more than one happy ending.
Tragedy strikes at the beginning of WWII when a family member interferes with young love.
Decades later unbelievable circumstances give the couple a second chance at happiness.
As well as offering two young men an opportunity to experience love as well.
Wonderful characters in a satisfying story.
Tragedy strikes at the beginning of WWII when a family member interferes with young love.
Decades later unbelievable circumstances give the couple a second chance at happiness.
As well as offering two young men an opportunity to experience love as well.
Wonderful characters in a satisfying story.
June 28, 2018
Sweet romance.
A long awaited reunion and a new romance, all because of a message in a bottle. The story was sweet and romantic, proving we're never to old to find love. The characters were real and the story well written. It made me believe in the HEA.
A long awaited reunion and a new romance, all because of a message in a bottle. The story was sweet and romantic, proving we're never to old to find love. The characters were real and the story well written. It made me believe in the HEA.
August 30, 2018
Takie 4+
June 21, 2019
Decent read with minimal angst. Would have preferred more heat between the MC. Love the grandparents.
did-not-finished
October 4, 2019Dnf at 42%
Not in the mood, need to come back to it.
Not in the mood, need to come back to it.
February 14, 2024
I absolutely love this author,all her books are amazing,and this one too 👏🫶❤️ i really hope someone make a movie from this book 😁
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews