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Dear Author
I spent five years of my life running.
There was no escaping the pain, the only power I had was to numb it all.
But eventually, even that didn’t work anymore. I saw my past every time I looked in the mirror or heard a baby cry.
I lost everything; my family, my friends... myself.
You might never read this letter, but if you do, I just want you to know that I’m okay. I made it to the other side and it's beautiful.
I got my happily ever after. I just needed the right hero to show me I had to work for it.
There's so much I want to tell you, I guess the best thing for me to do is start at the beginning.
Dear Author...
Author's Note: This story is about love and loss. But there is also hope, unconditional love, and finding happiness again. Walk through the darkness and you will see the light with a guaranteed HEA that will make this journey worthwhile.
There was no escaping the pain, the only power I had was to numb it all.
But eventually, even that didn’t work anymore. I saw my past every time I looked in the mirror or heard a baby cry.
I lost everything; my family, my friends... myself.
You might never read this letter, but if you do, I just want you to know that I’m okay. I made it to the other side and it's beautiful.
I got my happily ever after. I just needed the right hero to show me I had to work for it.
There's so much I want to tell you, I guess the best thing for me to do is start at the beginning.
Dear Author...
Author's Note: This story is about love and loss. But there is also hope, unconditional love, and finding happiness again. Walk through the darkness and you will see the light with a guaranteed HEA that will make this journey worthwhile.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2018
36 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 26, 2018
4.5 Stars
Honest, heartbreaking, and beautifully hopeful!!! There is darkness within but so, so much hope.
This book reflects on one woman's journey through the darkness of pain, depression, and addiction, to finding the light on the other side. Dear Author is unlike any other book I've read with this topic. It's frank, straight forward and offers no excuses. It does, however, offer hope.
I was so engrossed in reading it that I lost all sense of time. I started this one evening at bedtime and like usual, I read til I was tired enough to sleep. When I glanced down, I realized I had read 75% of the book and thought, "Oh, I didn't realize this was a novella." Turns out, it's not a novella! It was just that engrossing and so easy to read, that time flew.
Why not five stars then? Well, because in the end, I just wanted a bit more. There were points in the book that I felt more detail would have left me more satisfied, would have added a bit more punch. Nonetheless, this was an excellent read that I highly recommend to everyone. We all face pain and suffering in our lives and though it may not lead to addiction, there are times each of us needs to reach out for help. Such a hard thing to do....asking for help.
Honest, heartbreaking, and beautifully hopeful!!! There is darkness within but so, so much hope.
This book reflects on one woman's journey through the darkness of pain, depression, and addiction, to finding the light on the other side. Dear Author is unlike any other book I've read with this topic. It's frank, straight forward and offers no excuses. It does, however, offer hope.
I was so engrossed in reading it that I lost all sense of time. I started this one evening at bedtime and like usual, I read til I was tired enough to sleep. When I glanced down, I realized I had read 75% of the book and thought, "Oh, I didn't realize this was a novella." Turns out, it's not a novella! It was just that engrossing and so easy to read, that time flew.
Why not five stars then? Well, because in the end, I just wanted a bit more. There were points in the book that I felt more detail would have left me more satisfied, would have added a bit more punch. Nonetheless, this was an excellent read that I highly recommend to everyone. We all face pain and suffering in our lives and though it may not lead to addiction, there are times each of us needs to reach out for help. Such a hard thing to do....asking for help.
September 7, 2018
This is not for the faint of heart and I suggest having tissues on hand, especially at the end. Ms. Holt has penned one emotionally raw and gripping read from start to finish. It chronicles the life of Lorelei from her teen years through adulthood and vividly describes all of the challenges and obstacles that she had to endure. It reads true to life. Lorelei grew up in a very strict household with a mother who expected her to be perfect. When she accidentally becomes pregnant at sixteen, her world spins out of control as she winds up alone without her family. A child should be able to rely on his/her family without question or being made to feel ostracized due to poor choices. Due to her low self-esteem and having her choices taken away from her, she looks for ways to numb the pain and forget. This has her falling down a very dark hole by using drugs. Her usage illustrates the growing problem of addiction, the struggle addicts go through to quit their habit and some of the reasons they succumb in the first place. I would give this book more than five stars if available as the themes that are highlighted are some that need to be demonstrated more in peoples everyday lives; that of tolerance, forgiveness, common decency, respect and love.
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
October 16, 2018
Dear Author by Leah Holt grabbed me from the first page, the compulsion to read this book was overwhelming. This was the first book by Leah Holt that I have read and I couldn't have been more impressed, I was totally blown away by this book. The writing was heartbreakingly poignant and uplifting at the same time. The character development was phenomenal, I felt like I was inside the main characters head. This book will burrow into your heart, mind and soul, leaving you thinking about it for a very long time.
Dear author is about an average teenager, Loralei, who experiences two major events in her life and when she needs her parent’s love the most they emotionally beat her down and turn their backs. She is so heartbroken by these events and her lack of control in her life, so she turns to self destructive behaviors. But, sometimes it only takes one person to believe in you, to see the beauty in you, to love you unconditionally. For Loralei this was Fallon. He somehow made Loralei see that she was worthy of love and a life worth living.
This is a remarkable book, that you will not be able to put down. I highly recommend that you read this book. Dear Author is one of the best books I have read this year.
***I kindly received an ARC of this book by way of Booksprout. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review in order to read this book. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. This is my honest review.***
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dear author is about an average teenager, Loralei, who experiences two major events in her life and when she needs her parent’s love the most they emotionally beat her down and turn their backs. She is so heartbroken by these events and her lack of control in her life, so she turns to self destructive behaviors. But, sometimes it only takes one person to believe in you, to see the beauty in you, to love you unconditionally. For Loralei this was Fallon. He somehow made Loralei see that she was worthy of love and a life worth living.
This is a remarkable book, that you will not be able to put down. I highly recommend that you read this book. Dear Author is one of the best books I have read this year.
***I kindly received an ARC of this book by way of Booksprout. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review in order to read this book. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. This is my honest review.***
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 11, 2018
❈* 💞°•❁•°══ 💞°•❁•° 💞*❈* 💞°•❁•° 💞══ 💞°•❁•° 💞*❈ 💞══ 💞°•❁•° 💞*❈* 💞°•❁•°══ 💞
SIMPLY PUT, I... LOVED…THIS…BOOK. PREPARE TO BE AWESTRUCK BY THE 5 STAR EMOTIONALLY CHARGED “DEAR AUTHOR”.
A very wise woman gave me some advice before starting this book. She told me to make sure I have a lot of tissues handy. She was not kidding!
Dear Author by the amazing Leah Holt jarred me from the beginning. From the very first pages it sucked me in and sunk its teeth into me and like a pit-bull refused to let go until the very end.
In doing so, led me on the dark and lonely path as well as the painful journey (and one I wouldn’t want to have missed out on) with a broken woman named Lorelei Johnson.
She’s lost everything and everyone she’s ever cared about and because of those losses, she self medicates and struggles big time with addiction and just wants O.U.T…
“We’re all flowers waiting to bloom… But it’s the story that forms our petals. Without a story, we’re just weeds waiting to die.”
Enter the one man who saw her and knew he had to do whatever was necessary to help her find her way. His undying pursuit to do just that just melted my heart. Over and over again. He’s a bound and determined man.
It was destiny and his name is Fallon Greene, the paramedic who was sent to save her again and again in more ways than one. Be still my beating heart….
“This woman wasn’t the same person anymore. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to her, what led her to this point in her life. I felt sad for her, like life had decided to take her and tear her apart.”
So much of this harrowing story seared away some of my belief of what I thought a family is or should be for that matter. Blood is not always thicker than water. Hell no…..
“I don’t know if you understand that feeling. Where you forget how to smile, you forget how to laugh and love and see that you’re worthy of living. My mother used to tell me that I asked for all this. She’d stand there with her arms crossed, tilting her head to make it seem like she was bigger, higher, standing on a pedestal, while I knelt beneath her like a peasant. I can still hear her voice inside my head as if she was standing right here beside me, speaking in that hateful tone, full of disgrace for her only daughter.” ‘You’ll never amount to anything,’ she’d tell me, her eyes angled and hard. ‘Look at what you’ve done. How could you do this to us? You don’t care about anyone but yourself.’
The words written in the pages of this book gave me pause along with insight. Insight to what she was feeling, why she was feeling pain and seeking ways to dull that sickening ache deep inside her. The hopelessness of being unable to help herself saddened me to such a great degree. Then her white knight shows up time and time again and decides it’s time to take over even when she didn’t want his help. Helping her even though he has no idea of what has caused her pain. That didn’t matter. She was in desperate need of help, even if she didn’t see or want it and he was just the man to do it.
“I didn’t cry out when I was hurt or plead for someone to show me the way. I let life drown me.”
The darkness and pain muddies and clouds rational thoughts but with a little push in the right direction, okay, a big push in the right direction, when you least expect it, accepting Fallon’s role as fierce protector yet also knowing she needed to be the brave one even when it seemed all was lost, giving her the time and space she needed to accept and overcome addiction finally dawns on her that it’s okay to lean on those around you. After all, love is what pushes them through the pain, clearing the cobwebs that blind them from being able to see what’s right in front of them….
To see second chances and a brighter future and knowing you’re not alone are not only true but are pivotal. That against all odds, the dark clouds that hover above her can and will dissipate and that it’s okay to trust and reach out and accept the fact that loves comes in all forms and sometimes in the most unlikely of places.
To gather and pick up all the broken parts of yourself and turn that brokenness into something beautiful. This story started out with so much loss, in all forms and uncertain futures along with the heart wrenching effects caused by others that sends the heroine spiraling out of control in epic proportions, the aftermath of those losses including the toll it takes on the heroine, turned into a story that was filled not only with unconditional love, acceptance and fortitude to move ahead, but proves that hope can make miracles happen even when it seems all hope is lost.
“I’d still say keep on fighting. Fight for more air, fight for what’s yours; fight for the right to keep going. What you go through doesn’t define you, it doesn’t have to follow you around like a giant black cloud. All of it- it only makes you stronger.”
Dear Author left me with reeling and thankful that I took part in reading this soulful, sad and beautifully written story about these two incredible people and their journey towards forgiveness and love and a life filled with all good things.
The ending to this story filled me with such happiness…. It left me so satisfied. I’m not kidding. I felt as if someone were to see my face as I turned the last page, that my face would have looked awestruck. Because it was. I actually read this book twice and in doing so, I saw so much more the second time around. I was left feeling joyful and hopeful and really, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Don’t miss out on this emotionally charged 5 star read. Grab your copy NOW and prepare to be awestruck. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book and encourage you all to read it.
As I take a huge satisfying breath, I’ll leave you with these parting words…
“There was no one else, just us. We were two hearts beating for the same reason, for the life we were going to share…….. He was my guardian angel, my knight in shining armor, my savior. Fallon was the love of my life. Nothing could ever compare to what we had. And nothing could ever tear us apart.”
SIMPLY PUT, I... LOVED…THIS…BOOK. PREPARE TO BE AWESTRUCK BY THE 5 STAR EMOTIONALLY CHARGED “DEAR AUTHOR”.
A very wise woman gave me some advice before starting this book. She told me to make sure I have a lot of tissues handy. She was not kidding!
Dear Author by the amazing Leah Holt jarred me from the beginning. From the very first pages it sucked me in and sunk its teeth into me and like a pit-bull refused to let go until the very end.
In doing so, led me on the dark and lonely path as well as the painful journey (and one I wouldn’t want to have missed out on) with a broken woman named Lorelei Johnson.
She’s lost everything and everyone she’s ever cared about and because of those losses, she self medicates and struggles big time with addiction and just wants O.U.T…
“We’re all flowers waiting to bloom… But it’s the story that forms our petals. Without a story, we’re just weeds waiting to die.”
Enter the one man who saw her and knew he had to do whatever was necessary to help her find her way. His undying pursuit to do just that just melted my heart. Over and over again. He’s a bound and determined man.
It was destiny and his name is Fallon Greene, the paramedic who was sent to save her again and again in more ways than one. Be still my beating heart….
“This woman wasn’t the same person anymore. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to her, what led her to this point in her life. I felt sad for her, like life had decided to take her and tear her apart.”
So much of this harrowing story seared away some of my belief of what I thought a family is or should be for that matter. Blood is not always thicker than water. Hell no…..
“I don’t know if you understand that feeling. Where you forget how to smile, you forget how to laugh and love and see that you’re worthy of living. My mother used to tell me that I asked for all this. She’d stand there with her arms crossed, tilting her head to make it seem like she was bigger, higher, standing on a pedestal, while I knelt beneath her like a peasant. I can still hear her voice inside my head as if she was standing right here beside me, speaking in that hateful tone, full of disgrace for her only daughter.” ‘You’ll never amount to anything,’ she’d tell me, her eyes angled and hard. ‘Look at what you’ve done. How could you do this to us? You don’t care about anyone but yourself.’
The words written in the pages of this book gave me pause along with insight. Insight to what she was feeling, why she was feeling pain and seeking ways to dull that sickening ache deep inside her. The hopelessness of being unable to help herself saddened me to such a great degree. Then her white knight shows up time and time again and decides it’s time to take over even when she didn’t want his help. Helping her even though he has no idea of what has caused her pain. That didn’t matter. She was in desperate need of help, even if she didn’t see or want it and he was just the man to do it.
“I didn’t cry out when I was hurt or plead for someone to show me the way. I let life drown me.”
The darkness and pain muddies and clouds rational thoughts but with a little push in the right direction, okay, a big push in the right direction, when you least expect it, accepting Fallon’s role as fierce protector yet also knowing she needed to be the brave one even when it seemed all was lost, giving her the time and space she needed to accept and overcome addiction finally dawns on her that it’s okay to lean on those around you. After all, love is what pushes them through the pain, clearing the cobwebs that blind them from being able to see what’s right in front of them….
To see second chances and a brighter future and knowing you’re not alone are not only true but are pivotal. That against all odds, the dark clouds that hover above her can and will dissipate and that it’s okay to trust and reach out and accept the fact that loves comes in all forms and sometimes in the most unlikely of places.
To gather and pick up all the broken parts of yourself and turn that brokenness into something beautiful. This story started out with so much loss, in all forms and uncertain futures along with the heart wrenching effects caused by others that sends the heroine spiraling out of control in epic proportions, the aftermath of those losses including the toll it takes on the heroine, turned into a story that was filled not only with unconditional love, acceptance and fortitude to move ahead, but proves that hope can make miracles happen even when it seems all hope is lost.
“I’d still say keep on fighting. Fight for more air, fight for what’s yours; fight for the right to keep going. What you go through doesn’t define you, it doesn’t have to follow you around like a giant black cloud. All of it- it only makes you stronger.”
Dear Author left me with reeling and thankful that I took part in reading this soulful, sad and beautifully written story about these two incredible people and their journey towards forgiveness and love and a life filled with all good things.
The ending to this story filled me with such happiness…. It left me so satisfied. I’m not kidding. I felt as if someone were to see my face as I turned the last page, that my face would have looked awestruck. Because it was. I actually read this book twice and in doing so, I saw so much more the second time around. I was left feeling joyful and hopeful and really, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Don’t miss out on this emotionally charged 5 star read. Grab your copy NOW and prepare to be awestruck. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book and encourage you all to read it.
As I take a huge satisfying breath, I’ll leave you with these parting words…
“There was no one else, just us. We were two hearts beating for the same reason, for the life we were going to share…….. He was my guardian angel, my knight in shining armor, my savior. Fallon was the love of my life. Nothing could ever compare to what we had. And nothing could ever tear us apart.”
September 10, 2018
Loved this story of a young woman who defied the odds. A tragedy at the young age of 16 finds Lorelei on the streets at age 17 rejected by family and friends. Life on the street leads to drugs and ultimately overdosing. A young paramedic is first responder for Lorelei for the second time and is determined to help her live again. Fallon earns her trust and, eventually, her love. There is still one piece of her that is missing and until that is found she will never feel truly complete.
I loved the raw emotions of this story and, especially, the HEA!
I loved the raw emotions of this story and, especially, the HEA!
September 24, 2018
An Emotional Read
I almost passed over this book but I am so happy I didn't. I almost gave up but decided to give it a couple more chapters. It is an emotional read, of a young girl experiencing profound loss at sixteen years old. She gives up losing herself to addiction for five years but is given a chance to find herself with an understanding and loving man. She also writes letters of her struggles with loss that leads her to unexpected happiness. Truly a wonderful, emotional book by Ms. Holt.
I almost passed over this book but I am so happy I didn't. I almost gave up but decided to give it a couple more chapters. It is an emotional read, of a young girl experiencing profound loss at sixteen years old. She gives up losing herself to addiction for five years but is given a chance to find herself with an understanding and loving man. She also writes letters of her struggles with loss that leads her to unexpected happiness. Truly a wonderful, emotional book by Ms. Holt.
February 10, 2019
Fantastic read
This is the first book I've read by this author. Wow, what a dark powerful story. She did an amazing job providing insights into the darkest story and wrote in a way that was simply perfect.
This story isn't going to be for everyone and is filled with triggers. But if you can brave past them, you will be changed when you read the last word. I know I was. Thank you for writing a such a powerful story.
This is the first book I've read by this author. Wow, what a dark powerful story. She did an amazing job providing insights into the darkest story and wrote in a way that was simply perfect.
This story isn't going to be for everyone and is filled with triggers. But if you can brave past them, you will be changed when you read the last word. I know I was. Thank you for writing a such a powerful story.
September 6, 2018
Powerful Emotional Read
A powerful emotional read on Loralei’s journey through drug abuse and finding her redemption. You heart will break for everything she has to go through to come out on the top in the end.
Favorite quote: Loralei ~ “Happy endings can come from darkness... I was just going to have to work for mine.”
A powerful emotional read on Loralei’s journey through drug abuse and finding her redemption. You heart will break for everything she has to go through to come out on the top in the end.
Favorite quote: Loralei ~ “Happy endings can come from darkness... I was just going to have to work for mine.”
October 1, 2018
EMOTIONAL OVERLOAD
This is the first book I have read by L. V. Holt. Once I started this book, I could not put it down! I finished it in less than 24 hours. I have never cried as many tears as I did over any other book! This book touched me in so many levels. Thank you Ms. Holt! If I could give you 10 Stars it still would not be enough!!
This is the first book I have read by L. V. Holt. Once I started this book, I could not put it down! I finished it in less than 24 hours. I have never cried as many tears as I did over any other book! This book touched me in so many levels. Thank you Ms. Holt! If I could give you 10 Stars it still would not be enough!!
October 24, 2018
Absolutely a story filled with heart breaking story line and plot. I like the heart warm way it is written. Characters are well described and they develop nicely. The story flows well of the pages. Amazing chemistry and passion.
Tissues flying around in the room because of the fantastic writing style and use of words.
Tissues flying around in the room because of the fantastic writing style and use of words.
September 28, 2018
There were a few issues with the timeline.
What an amazing story or love, loss, addiction. I want to know how to raise my sons to be Fallons. I mean what a guy. Though I was expecting to get his POV at some point considering each chapter had Lorelei at the top.
What an amazing story or love, loss, addiction. I want to know how to raise my sons to be Fallons. I mean what a guy. Though I was expecting to get his POV at some point considering each chapter had Lorelei at the top.
September 7, 2018
What a heartfelt story.
You will need a few Kleenex to get through this one, but don’t miss it. This is an amazing, truly amazing story. Real. Life. Beautifully done.
You will need a few Kleenex to get through this one, but don’t miss it. This is an amazing, truly amazing story. Real. Life. Beautifully done.
September 10, 2018
WOW
That was amazing. Thank you it was heartbreaking a d eye opening. I vary good story and very real. Thanks for making me see the other side of addiction we are human.
That was amazing. Thank you it was heartbreaking a d eye opening. I vary good story and very real. Thanks for making me see the other side of addiction we are human.
September 26, 2018
deeply emotional journey about a young woman who falls down the hole of addicting and self-loathing and how she eventually finds her way back.
October 14, 2018
Not bad, I thoroughly enjoyed the book very good read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews