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Saving Hannah
Thomas Aberthol’s luck has run out. His daughter, Hannah, needs a miracle he can’t deliver. A hacker with a felony record, Thomas has little chance of finding work that will provide the care she needs. Out of money, out of options, and out of hope, he throws himself on the mercy of someone he never thought to see again.
Even after ten years, Aleksander Sanna still dreams of that drunken kiss. A perfect moment in time when Thomas wanted him. In his world of elegant code and high finance, the picture he holds of Thomas torments him in the dark of night.
Their worlds collide as Thomas interviews for the job he so desperately needs with the company Aleks inherited from his father. Thomas doesn’t get the position, but Aleks offers him a completely different kind of proposal, one suited to Thomas’s unique talents… one that will change the course of both their lives.
Even after ten years, Aleksander Sanna still dreams of that drunken kiss. A perfect moment in time when Thomas wanted him. In his world of elegant code and high finance, the picture he holds of Thomas torments him in the dark of night.
Their worlds collide as Thomas interviews for the job he so desperately needs with the company Aleks inherited from his father. Thomas doesn’t get the position, but Aleks offers him a completely different kind of proposal, one suited to Thomas’s unique talents… one that will change the course of both their lives.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2018
2 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Barnaby
51 books581 followersAn award-winning, best-selling novelist of over a dozen books, J. P. Barnaby is a proud member of the GLBT community both online and in her small town on the outskirts of Chicago. A member of Mensa, she is often described as brilliant but troubled, sweet but introverted and talented but deviant. She spends her days writing software and her nights writing erotica which is, of course, far more interesting. The spare time that she carves out between her career and her novels is spent reading about the concept of love, which, like some of her characters, she has never quite figured out for herself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 9, 2018
Aleksander Sanna has two problems: first, his father was murdered under mysterious circumstances, and second, he's just found out the only man Aleks has ever loved, his college roommate and best friend, Thomas, needs help to save his daughter's life.
Thomas is drowning. After spending years in prison for a crime he committed he's not hireable and his mother's house is pending foreclosure because all their money has been spent on medical bills for his daughter, Hannah.
Thomas is at rock bottom when he's approached by Aleks with a proposition: Marry Aleks and investigate the circumstances surrounding Aleks' father's death, and in exchange Aleks will take care of any and all medical expenses for his daughter and will financially take care of both Thomas, his mother, and Hannah.
Of course, nothing is as simple as it seems and Aleks and Thomas quickly find themselves, and everyone they love, in the crosshairs of some dangerous people with not a lot of options left.
While Saving Hannah requires quite a lot of suspension of disbelief, it was a pleasant read.
Dual POV, friends to lovers, second chance, marriage of convenience, cinderfella-ish romance with some suspense and a HFN ending.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Saving Hannah provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Thomas is drowning. After spending years in prison for a crime he committed he's not hireable and his mother's house is pending foreclosure because all their money has been spent on medical bills for his daughter, Hannah.
Thomas is at rock bottom when he's approached by Aleks with a proposition: Marry Aleks and investigate the circumstances surrounding Aleks' father's death, and in exchange Aleks will take care of any and all medical expenses for his daughter and will financially take care of both Thomas, his mother, and Hannah.
“My father was into something, something that got him killed. If we follow the digital trail, maybe we can figure out what happened.” Aleks had lowered his voice to the point that Thomas could barely hear it, but he got what Aleks was saying.
“And you want me to hack into financial institutions in order to help you find that? Are you out of your mind? I’m not going back to prison.”
“I don’t trust anyone else. I know there’s a risk involved, a big one. But you’re good, Thomas. You were the best of all of us. The only reason you got caught was that you were cocky. Now there’s nothing to boast about.”
“Yeah? What happens to my daughter when I go back to jail for helping you?”
“What I’m proposing is, in exchange for your help, I will marry you. You’ll have a prenuptial agreement guaranteeing two million dollars after three years of marriage. Hannah will have health care coverage, the best in the world. If you’re caught, I’ll do everything I can to protect you, but even if I fail, you will still be my husband and Hannah my daughter. She’ll want for nothing. And, of course, I won’t be able to testify to anything.”
Of course, nothing is as simple as it seems and Aleks and Thomas quickly find themselves, and everyone they love, in the crosshairs of some dangerous people with not a lot of options left.
While Saving Hannah requires quite a lot of suspension of disbelief, it was a pleasant read.
Dual POV, friends to lovers, second chance, marriage of convenience, cinderfella-ish romance with some suspense and a HFN ending.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Saving Hannah provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
January 16, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Saving Hannah pulled me into Thomas’s desperation, heartbreak, and humanity from the first pages with such power that I could ignore some of the shakier or less believable aspects of the story. It is gut wrenching to see Thomas’s pain, hopelessness, and guilt, or his and Charlotte’s tears as they contemplate their dismal future. While Aleks’s backstory and motivations for offering to marry Thomas to provide health insurance and financial assistance for Hannah’s cancer are not as soul-stirring per se, Barnaby does a good job portraying Aleks’ loneliness and lifelong desire for a family and his love for Thomas to keep Aleks from seeming too much like an opportunistic creep.
As enjoyable as the book is, there is a bit of unevenness and lack of follow through with a few story elements that make it feel like some things were cut from the story.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Saving Hannah pulled me into Thomas’s desperation, heartbreak, and humanity from the first pages with such power that I could ignore some of the shakier or less believable aspects of the story. It is gut wrenching to see Thomas’s pain, hopelessness, and guilt, or his and Charlotte’s tears as they contemplate their dismal future. While Aleks’s backstory and motivations for offering to marry Thomas to provide health insurance and financial assistance for Hannah’s cancer are not as soul-stirring per se, Barnaby does a good job portraying Aleks’ loneliness and lifelong desire for a family and his love for Thomas to keep Aleks from seeming too much like an opportunistic creep.
As enjoyable as the book is, there is a bit of unevenness and lack of follow through with a few story elements that make it feel like some things were cut from the story.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
February 4, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up.
I quite liked this story, and I appreciated the details around the hacking, but I wish a bit more time had been spent on the romance, and not so much on the action plot.
Thomas Alberthol is a convicted felon, sent to prison for computer hacking, and has recently been released. His daughter Hannah has leukemia, and Thomas' mother's income isn't enough to pay for her medicine. Thomas needs a job but few people will hire someone with a felony records.
Aleks Sanna has inherited a computer tech company from his father who died under mysterious circumstances and recently found out that his college roommate, with whom he shared one unforgettable drunken kiss, is in need of help with his very sick daughter.
While Aleks can't offer Thomas the job for which he interviews, due the felony conviction, he offers him a different sort of job - help him figure out what led to his father's death.
The author does a fine job conveying with her words how desperate and scared Thomas is, how close they are to financial ruin, how hopeless he feels, and how guilty for not being able to provide his daughter with the care she needs to beat her disease. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get her help, including doing some behind-the-scenes, not-quite-kosher work for Aleks.
Except the criminals that had Aleks' father by the proverbial balls blackmail Aleks just the same, and this is where the action plot takes the foreground in this novel. Interspersed with Aleks and Thomas getting physically and emotionally involved, the plot unfolds quickly, with a dramatic climax that had me on the edge of my seat.
The romance is subdued, and to some extent I wondered whether Thomas allows himself to become closer with Aleks because the other man promises help for Hannah, but this was only a feeling, and the story didn't really spell it out. The romantic relationship became serious too rapidly for my taste, especially considering the stress these men are under, and I wasn't sure whether their romance could survive the eventual adrenaline crash.
An enjoyable, fast-paced, and highly emotional story, this was worth the time I spent reading it.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A review was not promised in return. **
I quite liked this story, and I appreciated the details around the hacking, but I wish a bit more time had been spent on the romance, and not so much on the action plot.
Thomas Alberthol is a convicted felon, sent to prison for computer hacking, and has recently been released. His daughter Hannah has leukemia, and Thomas' mother's income isn't enough to pay for her medicine. Thomas needs a job but few people will hire someone with a felony records.
Aleks Sanna has inherited a computer tech company from his father who died under mysterious circumstances and recently found out that his college roommate, with whom he shared one unforgettable drunken kiss, is in need of help with his very sick daughter.
While Aleks can't offer Thomas the job for which he interviews, due the felony conviction, he offers him a different sort of job - help him figure out what led to his father's death.
The author does a fine job conveying with her words how desperate and scared Thomas is, how close they are to financial ruin, how hopeless he feels, and how guilty for not being able to provide his daughter with the care she needs to beat her disease. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get her help, including doing some behind-the-scenes, not-quite-kosher work for Aleks.
Except the criminals that had Aleks' father by the proverbial balls blackmail Aleks just the same, and this is where the action plot takes the foreground in this novel. Interspersed with Aleks and Thomas getting physically and emotionally involved, the plot unfolds quickly, with a dramatic climax that had me on the edge of my seat.
The romance is subdued, and to some extent I wondered whether Thomas allows himself to become closer with Aleks because the other man promises help for Hannah, but this was only a feeling, and the story didn't really spell it out. The romantic relationship became serious too rapidly for my taste, especially considering the stress these men are under, and I wasn't sure whether their romance could survive the eventual adrenaline crash.
An enjoyable, fast-paced, and highly emotional story, this was worth the time I spent reading it.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A review was not promised in return. **
September 6, 2021
Aleksander Sanna and Thomas Aberthol were college roommates and after a drunken kiss a few weeks prior to graduation, they haven't seen one another in years. Currently Aleks is president of his murdered father's company and Thomas is a felon with no job prospects and a daughter who has leukemia. When Aleks reads about Hannah's medical situation in the newspaper, he offers Thomas financial security and medical care for Hannah. All Thomas has to do is marry Aleks and use his hacking skills to find out what happened to Aleks' father.
JP Barnaby does a stellar job here showing us Thomas' desperation. It's gut-wrenching and you feel his love for his beloved child and how he would do anything for her.
But what didn't work for me as well is the nefarious criminal subplot and its aftermath. IMHO it takes focus away from a plot that stands well enough on its own without all the shadowy mysterious danger and intrigue. But other readers maybe disagree and enjoy how this plot carries the characters away from a safe and expected ending. Let me know what you think! 3.5 stars for "Saving Hannah."
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
JP Barnaby does a stellar job here showing us Thomas' desperation. It's gut-wrenching and you feel his love for his beloved child and how he would do anything for her.
Seven years of pain and stress stripped his life down to survival and supporting Hannah - nothing else mattered. Hannah's diagnosis, watching his mother work while he couldn't, the enormous insurance premiums - the past few years had sucked them dry. Losing his mother's home, the home he'd grown up in, the home where Hannah felt safe, the home his mother had worked all her life for, cracked the foundation of his hope.I love the modern fairy-tale aspect of this story that gives Hannah a new home and access to medical advances, while saving the family home for Steve's mother and easing Thomas' burden. And the marriage of convenience gives Thomas and Aleks a second chance at exploring the attraction they never really acted upon in college. Their relationship is a bit of a slow burn and it's worth the wait for the steam and sizzle.
But what didn't work for me as well is the nefarious criminal subplot and its aftermath. IMHO it takes focus away from a plot that stands well enough on its own without all the shadowy mysterious danger and intrigue. But other readers maybe disagree and enjoy how this plot carries the characters away from a safe and expected ending. Let me know what you think! 3.5 stars for "Saving Hannah."
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
December 24, 2018
This was a fantastic action drama, with MM romance added. Get ready for a ride on an emotional rollercoaster as JP Barnaby returns with the story of Thomas Aberthol, computer programmer, father of a little girl with leukemia, and ex-con who can’t get a job to afford the treatment she needs. And it’s the story of Aleks Sanna, Thomas’s former college roomie whose kiss one night sent Thomas running to the arms of a woman.
Now, Aleks spots a human interest story about Thomas and his little girl, Hannah, and conceives a plot to get Thomas the money he needs and to get Aleks the man he still desires after all these years. Alex is CEO of a huge corporation inherited from his father who was killed six months before. He has the money to help Thomas. Now he just has to convince him.
The plot is complex and is more an action-based adventure than romance—complete with computer security breaches, money laundering, Mafia-type bad guys, kidnapping, FBI involvement, and the threat of prison looming over Thomas’s head. All this while he fights for his little girl’s life as she struggles to barely exist day-to-day until Aleks swoops in with a proposal that Thomas can’t turn down, even if he wanted to.
Over a fairly short time, they rekindle a love that began in college, Hannah gets a new medication that promises a long-term remission, and the bad guys—at least some of them—are caught.
Ultimately, after losing 8 of my 10 fingernails as I chewed them to stubs, the men find a way to get through the crux of their problems and end up together as a couple in love. I’m not calling this an HEA, but it certainly may be. It’s definitely open enough that the author may decide to give these men at least one more adventure together, and I would certainly be in line for that.
I highly recommend this to readers who love a hair-raising action adventure with a nice MM romance added to the mix. Then add a sweet, but terminally ill little girl, some mainstream thugs with underworld connections, computer hackers, and a clock-ticking deadline, and we have a book that’s very difficult to put down and very enjoyable to read.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
Now, Aleks spots a human interest story about Thomas and his little girl, Hannah, and conceives a plot to get Thomas the money he needs and to get Aleks the man he still desires after all these years. Alex is CEO of a huge corporation inherited from his father who was killed six months before. He has the money to help Thomas. Now he just has to convince him.
The plot is complex and is more an action-based adventure than romance—complete with computer security breaches, money laundering, Mafia-type bad guys, kidnapping, FBI involvement, and the threat of prison looming over Thomas’s head. All this while he fights for his little girl’s life as she struggles to barely exist day-to-day until Aleks swoops in with a proposal that Thomas can’t turn down, even if he wanted to.
Over a fairly short time, they rekindle a love that began in college, Hannah gets a new medication that promises a long-term remission, and the bad guys—at least some of them—are caught.
Ultimately, after losing 8 of my 10 fingernails as I chewed them to stubs, the men find a way to get through the crux of their problems and end up together as a couple in love. I’m not calling this an HEA, but it certainly may be. It’s definitely open enough that the author may decide to give these men at least one more adventure together, and I would certainly be in line for that.
I highly recommend this to readers who love a hair-raising action adventure with a nice MM romance added to the mix. Then add a sweet, but terminally ill little girl, some mainstream thugs with underworld connections, computer hackers, and a clock-ticking deadline, and we have a book that’s very difficult to put down and very enjoyable to read.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
December 18, 2018
5 Stars
I was one of those readers that was extremely sad to see JP Barnaby’s retirement message in her last book. I haven’t read a book by her yet that I haven’t loved, so I just want to say, thank you to the person who begged for this story because I absolutely loved it!
I adored Thomas and Aleks and I know theirs was a marriage of convenience in the beginning, but what made it/them work so well was that there was an attraction between them, and the previous friendship they’d shared in college made the relationship feel more authentic. I loved watching them fall in love with one another. It felt natural and organic.
Thomas and Aleks had amazing chemistry and along with Thomas’ daughter Hannah, they made a wonderful family unit.
The story was well-written and had a little bit of everything: Heartbreak, healing, love and of course, enough mystery and suspense to keep my stomach in knots and have me sitting on the edge of my seat biting my nails. The only thing I was really left wanting was an epilogue. I wish the author had included one maybe a year or so later to see how they were all faring.
This was a wonderfully enjoyable read and I’m hoping this means that Ms. Barnaby will permanently be coming out of retirement because I’d definitely love to read Wes’ story, and truthfully, anything she’s willing to put down on paper! Highly recommendable!
*copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I was one of those readers that was extremely sad to see JP Barnaby’s retirement message in her last book. I haven’t read a book by her yet that I haven’t loved, so I just want to say, thank you to the person who begged for this story because I absolutely loved it!
I adored Thomas and Aleks and I know theirs was a marriage of convenience in the beginning, but what made it/them work so well was that there was an attraction between them, and the previous friendship they’d shared in college made the relationship feel more authentic. I loved watching them fall in love with one another. It felt natural and organic.
Thomas and Aleks had amazing chemistry and along with Thomas’ daughter Hannah, they made a wonderful family unit.
The story was well-written and had a little bit of everything: Heartbreak, healing, love and of course, enough mystery and suspense to keep my stomach in knots and have me sitting on the edge of my seat biting my nails. The only thing I was really left wanting was an epilogue. I wish the author had included one maybe a year or so later to see how they were all faring.
This was a wonderfully enjoyable read and I’m hoping this means that Ms. Barnaby will permanently be coming out of retirement because I’d definitely love to read Wes’ story, and truthfully, anything she’s willing to put down on paper! Highly recommendable!
*copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
December 17, 2018
This book was great but heartbreaking to read at times.
I really wasn’t a fan of Aleks’s at first. I felt like he was taking advantage of Thomas’s terrible situation to make himself feel better. It really made Aleks seem like a horribly selfish person. Thomas just has so much to deal with. He’s been stuck in prison forever, and then his daughter is horribly sick and he can’t do anything about it. And the whole ‘can’t even get a dang job’ aspect? Man, Thomas has hit rock bottom for sure and the only way up is taking Aleks’s dumb offer. I felt so dang horrible for Thomas’s daughter Hannah - I mean, your heart will hurt all over for what she goes through.
These characters were definitely more complex, with more baggage than I initially thought when I started reading it. The chemistry when Aleks and Thomas come together was sexy and hot. I liked how everything ended up turning out for these guys and how they got a second chance at being friends and lovers and just being able to enjoy their lives together with Hannah. Having money does help situations to a certain extent, but sometimes more money means more problems too. The storyline, with the mystery surrounding Aleks’s father’s death was interesting and kept me intrigued wondering what would happen next. I enjoyed reading this book immensely.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I really wasn’t a fan of Aleks’s at first. I felt like he was taking advantage of Thomas’s terrible situation to make himself feel better. It really made Aleks seem like a horribly selfish person. Thomas just has so much to deal with. He’s been stuck in prison forever, and then his daughter is horribly sick and he can’t do anything about it. And the whole ‘can’t even get a dang job’ aspect? Man, Thomas has hit rock bottom for sure and the only way up is taking Aleks’s dumb offer. I felt so dang horrible for Thomas’s daughter Hannah - I mean, your heart will hurt all over for what she goes through.
These characters were definitely more complex, with more baggage than I initially thought when I started reading it. The chemistry when Aleks and Thomas come together was sexy and hot. I liked how everything ended up turning out for these guys and how they got a second chance at being friends and lovers and just being able to enjoy their lives together with Hannah. Having money does help situations to a certain extent, but sometimes more money means more problems too. The storyline, with the mystery surrounding Aleks’s father’s death was interesting and kept me intrigued wondering what would happen next. I enjoyed reading this book immensely.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
December 20, 2018
Full review at :
OptimuMM - Home of MM Book Reviews
When it comes to a romance novel with kids, I’m a sucker. When I read the blurb of this book, I knew I was in for a good read. Damn, I was right!
Little Hannah is sick, she needs intensive medical care for her to stay alive. Her father Thomas is an ex-felon who can’t find a job. He would do anything, anything to save his daughter.
Thomas had a very good reputation as a programmer until he decided that the company who he was working for had a very unstable firewall that could compromise their clients. So he proves it by hacking in their own system. His arrogance backfires, and he’s convicted and sent to prison. Now back, not only can’t he find a job, his daughter’s life is in danger as well. He’s desperately going from one interview to another with no hope whatsoever. Until one day he was called back for a second interview. His hope is back, and he’s so confident that his luck is turning around, and maybe he can save not only Hannah but the house he’s living in. That confident smile froze on his face upon meeting the owner of the company, Aleksander Sanna, his ex-roommate from college from whom he ran away after one drunk night.
Aleksander Sanna sees the opportunity to establish his role as the next CEO in his late father’s company. He knows that his father’s death wasn’t an accident. Upon seeing Tom’s name, whom he never forgot, who has hunted his dreams, he knows this is his last chance to secure Tom in his life. He knows everything about Tom; his time in jail, his daughter’s medical condition, and even the threat of losing the house him, his daughter and mother lives in. But when Tom accepts his offer to marry him, out of despair, Aleks realizes that maybe the way he approached Tom wasn’t the right one, he fears that Tom will do “anything”, even against Tom’s own desire, to save his daughter.
I loved every word of this book. Its angsty, its hot…
This book touches a borderline of gay-for-you and no-con situation (I mean the offer). I recommend it wholeheartedly!
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
OptimuMM - Home of MM Book Reviews
When it comes to a romance novel with kids, I’m a sucker. When I read the blurb of this book, I knew I was in for a good read. Damn, I was right!
Little Hannah is sick, she needs intensive medical care for her to stay alive. Her father Thomas is an ex-felon who can’t find a job. He would do anything, anything to save his daughter.
Thomas had a very good reputation as a programmer until he decided that the company who he was working for had a very unstable firewall that could compromise their clients. So he proves it by hacking in their own system. His arrogance backfires, and he’s convicted and sent to prison. Now back, not only can’t he find a job, his daughter’s life is in danger as well. He’s desperately going from one interview to another with no hope whatsoever. Until one day he was called back for a second interview. His hope is back, and he’s so confident that his luck is turning around, and maybe he can save not only Hannah but the house he’s living in. That confident smile froze on his face upon meeting the owner of the company, Aleksander Sanna, his ex-roommate from college from whom he ran away after one drunk night.
Aleksander Sanna sees the opportunity to establish his role as the next CEO in his late father’s company. He knows that his father’s death wasn’t an accident. Upon seeing Tom’s name, whom he never forgot, who has hunted his dreams, he knows this is his last chance to secure Tom in his life. He knows everything about Tom; his time in jail, his daughter’s medical condition, and even the threat of losing the house him, his daughter and mother lives in. But when Tom accepts his offer to marry him, out of despair, Aleks realizes that maybe the way he approached Tom wasn’t the right one, he fears that Tom will do “anything”, even against Tom’s own desire, to save his daughter.
I loved every word of this book. Its angsty, its hot…
This book touches a borderline of gay-for-you and no-con situation (I mean the offer). I recommend it wholeheartedly!
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
December 16, 2018
Wow. Just wow!! This book took some twists and turns that I just did not see coming. I ent into reading this book thinking thy it was going to be a love story that starts out as a marriage of convenience only to have a huge twist and turn in to a mystery/action read as well. J.P. Barnaby definitely blew me away. I would have gave this a rating of a five but the only negative thing I can say about this book is, I felt it ended kind of prematurely. The ending was not a bad one but I felt that there could have been more added to it. Regardless this was an excellent read. Definitely had some surprises for me as the reader.
Thomas has a daughter named Hannah. Hannah is fighting for her life and has been for much of her life now. She has cancer and does not qualify for the bone marrow transplant that could save her life. The thing is the treatment is just too expensive and no matter how hard Thomas tries, he is felling. Or at least that is how Thomas feels.
Thomas messed up before Hannah was born and ended up serving time in prison for it. Now that he is out, he cannot find anyone to take him on as an employee. When they see his record, they refuse to take the risk on hiring him. So to say that they are struggling is the understatement of the century.
When Thomas does an interview for the newspaper, he never expected to get a job interview because of it. But that is what happens. Though there is no way that Alek’s can hire Thomas, he is not going to pass up the chance to speak to Thomas again after all these years. Plus he has other ideas for Thomas other then working for his company. Alek’s and Thomas was best friends and roommates back in college but after the night that Thomas kissed him, he has not talked or heard from him again. Now all these years later he may end up with the one person that he has been in love with all along.
The problem is, there is more then meats the eye going on around these two. If hey are not careful someone could end up hurt or worse? Will Hannah get the treatment she needs to save her life? Will Thomas and Alek end up together or is it just a pipe dream?
This was such a great read. I truly enjoyed the twist that was thrown in and I think others will as well. I look forward to more books in the future by J. p. Barnaby.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Thomas has a daughter named Hannah. Hannah is fighting for her life and has been for much of her life now. She has cancer and does not qualify for the bone marrow transplant that could save her life. The thing is the treatment is just too expensive and no matter how hard Thomas tries, he is felling. Or at least that is how Thomas feels.
Thomas messed up before Hannah was born and ended up serving time in prison for it. Now that he is out, he cannot find anyone to take him on as an employee. When they see his record, they refuse to take the risk on hiring him. So to say that they are struggling is the understatement of the century.
When Thomas does an interview for the newspaper, he never expected to get a job interview because of it. But that is what happens. Though there is no way that Alek’s can hire Thomas, he is not going to pass up the chance to speak to Thomas again after all these years. Plus he has other ideas for Thomas other then working for his company. Alek’s and Thomas was best friends and roommates back in college but after the night that Thomas kissed him, he has not talked or heard from him again. Now all these years later he may end up with the one person that he has been in love with all along.
The problem is, there is more then meats the eye going on around these two. If hey are not careful someone could end up hurt or worse? Will Hannah get the treatment she needs to save her life? Will Thomas and Alek end up together or is it just a pipe dream?
This was such a great read. I truly enjoyed the twist that was thrown in and I think others will as well. I look forward to more books in the future by J. p. Barnaby.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
December 5, 2018
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ 4-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
> > Judging a Book by its Cover < <
Cute, scruffy guy in the foreground. Small girl in the back. Strong font choices.
Loved the sound of this plot.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-Person
While not billed as a Romantic Suspense, it certainly contained enough suspenseful elements for me to mention it. Exciting plot, heart-warming story. Makes you think, “How far would you go to protect/save the one(s) you love?”
Thomas was genuine, just suffering a ton of bad luck. Aleks means well, but tends to absent-mindedly spend obscene amounts of money without a second thought, just to make a loved one smile/happy. Perhaps learning that from his father, who was recently murdered.
A mutually beneficial deal is struck between these two men, once college roommates a decade ago. But their actions could have deadly consequences.
I adored Hannah, liked Wes, was on the fence about Gerry, and was not that fond of Charlotte. Overall, it was a good spread of character personalities.
The conclusion is a little looser than I’d liked, what with Cash on the loose still, making me think this would do well with a follow-up book, perhaps featuring Wes.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.2 ~ Stars: 4
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
> > Judging a Book by its Cover < <
Cute, scruffy guy in the foreground. Small girl in the back. Strong font choices.
Loved the sound of this plot.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-Person
While not billed as a Romantic Suspense, it certainly contained enough suspenseful elements for me to mention it. Exciting plot, heart-warming story. Makes you think, “How far would you go to protect/save the one(s) you love?”
Thomas was genuine, just suffering a ton of bad luck. Aleks means well, but tends to absent-mindedly spend obscene amounts of money without a second thought, just to make a loved one smile/happy. Perhaps learning that from his father, who was recently murdered.
A mutually beneficial deal is struck between these two men, once college roommates a decade ago. But their actions could have deadly consequences.
I adored Hannah, liked Wes, was on the fence about Gerry, and was not that fond of Charlotte. Overall, it was a good spread of character personalities.
The conclusion is a little looser than I’d liked, what with Cash on the loose still, making me think this would do well with a follow-up book, perhaps featuring Wes.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.2 ~ Stars: 4
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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
December 18, 2018
JP Barnaby is back and she hasn't lost her touch. I enjoyed this story so much. She put heart and soul into a troupe. And this book is FULL of troupey goodness. She has a down on his luck father with a sick child. Someone with more money than he can handle and an old crush. Bring it all together with some suspense thrown in and I am THERE.
JP's writing always draws me in. Her characters are so real and I feel like I am part of the family. As with all JP books, I laughed, I cried and in the end, I was happy.
JP's writing always draws me in. Her characters are so real and I feel like I am part of the family. As with all JP books, I laughed, I cried and in the end, I was happy.
December 9, 2018
This is a second chance at love story, with a little bit of out for you mixed in, though that’s not the focus of the book.
Our two main characters, Thomas and Aleks, used to be best friends in college and they developed deeper feelings for each other as well, though these were left unspoken. Thomas wasn’t ready to face that particular truth about himself and basically made a run for it. Things happen, not all of them good, and ten years pass before life throws them together again.
Aleks has never forgotten Thomas, and when he finds himself in a unique position to help Thomas and his little girl, who’s battling with leukemia, he grabs it with both hands. He needs Thomas’ expertise too, to help him find out what happened to his father, so they strike a mutually beneficial bargain. I very much liked what the author came up with here, and how she handled it.
Aleks and Thomas are a great pairing. I very much enjoyed watching them find their way back to each other. Aleks’ devotion and big heart instantly made me like him a great deal, and it hurt to see how alone he was “pre-Thomas”.
Thomas is a father first and foremost, but he’s not had it easy. He feels so guilty about his past and how that impacted his little girl. Hannah is always at the forefront of his mind. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place, but bravely soldiers on. I could really relate to his struggles.
This is very much a story about finding family, with Aleks embracing Hannah from the very first moment. Swoon. Way to go, Aleks!
Hannah’s a dear, such a brave young girl, and reading about her battle with her illness was heartbreaking. I think the author did a great job in describing the desperation and helplessness that Thomas and his mother have no choice but to endure, though those are luckily offset by the heartwarming moments the three of them, and later Aleks too, share and the support they find with each other.
Thomas’ mom is great, looking out for her son and understandably apprehensive about the risks he takes for both Hannah and Aleks.
As the story unfolds, this new little family is threatened from an unexpected corner, and we get more of an action-filled story, bringing suspense and tension that I hadn’t seen coming. So this book has a little bit of everything in it, combining a deeply emotional storyline with a crime/action subplot.
All in all, I found this to be a very enjoyable, surprising read.
Our two main characters, Thomas and Aleks, used to be best friends in college and they developed deeper feelings for each other as well, though these were left unspoken. Thomas wasn’t ready to face that particular truth about himself and basically made a run for it. Things happen, not all of them good, and ten years pass before life throws them together again.
Aleks has never forgotten Thomas, and when he finds himself in a unique position to help Thomas and his little girl, who’s battling with leukemia, he grabs it with both hands. He needs Thomas’ expertise too, to help him find out what happened to his father, so they strike a mutually beneficial bargain. I very much liked what the author came up with here, and how she handled it.
Aleks and Thomas are a great pairing. I very much enjoyed watching them find their way back to each other. Aleks’ devotion and big heart instantly made me like him a great deal, and it hurt to see how alone he was “pre-Thomas”.
Thomas is a father first and foremost, but he’s not had it easy. He feels so guilty about his past and how that impacted his little girl. Hannah is always at the forefront of his mind. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place, but bravely soldiers on. I could really relate to his struggles.
This is very much a story about finding family, with Aleks embracing Hannah from the very first moment. Swoon. Way to go, Aleks!
Hannah’s a dear, such a brave young girl, and reading about her battle with her illness was heartbreaking. I think the author did a great job in describing the desperation and helplessness that Thomas and his mother have no choice but to endure, though those are luckily offset by the heartwarming moments the three of them, and later Aleks too, share and the support they find with each other.
Thomas’ mom is great, looking out for her son and understandably apprehensive about the risks he takes for both Hannah and Aleks.
As the story unfolds, this new little family is threatened from an unexpected corner, and we get more of an action-filled story, bringing suspense and tension that I hadn’t seen coming. So this book has a little bit of everything in it, combining a deeply emotional storyline with a crime/action subplot.
All in all, I found this to be a very enjoyable, surprising read.
December 16, 2018
4 stars
Saving Hannah is a standalone by J.P. Barnaby who surprised us by coming out of retirement. It is about Thomas Aberthol, an ex-con who is living with his mother while struggling to care for his daughter, Hannah, who while he was inside, got sick with leukaemia. He is struggling to get a job with his record until he gets a job offer, and when he goes to the interview he finds out that his roommate from college, Aleksander Sanna, is now running his father’s company. Aleks essentially offers to marry Thomas to give his insurance to Hannah so she can get the treatment she deserves. All is well until they find out Aleks’s father was killed by the mafia.
Hanna was absolutely adorable. I wish we saw her a tad more than we did, since she was so important but I loved the other characters. They were all well thought out and their interactions were sweet.
I loved the story but then again I love most of J.P.'s books. It somewhat reminded me of her past book "A Heart for Robbie", just due to the subject matter but this one didn’t make me cry as much. Reading about an ill child is always hard. Overall I was very satisfied with the book. The ending could have gone a bit further but I understand it has to stop some time. I hope this book is a pathway to many others.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. **
Saving Hannah is a standalone by J.P. Barnaby who surprised us by coming out of retirement. It is about Thomas Aberthol, an ex-con who is living with his mother while struggling to care for his daughter, Hannah, who while he was inside, got sick with leukaemia. He is struggling to get a job with his record until he gets a job offer, and when he goes to the interview he finds out that his roommate from college, Aleksander Sanna, is now running his father’s company. Aleks essentially offers to marry Thomas to give his insurance to Hannah so she can get the treatment she deserves. All is well until they find out Aleks’s father was killed by the mafia.
Hanna was absolutely adorable. I wish we saw her a tad more than we did, since she was so important but I loved the other characters. They were all well thought out and their interactions were sweet.
I loved the story but then again I love most of J.P.'s books. It somewhat reminded me of her past book "A Heart for Robbie", just due to the subject matter but this one didn’t make me cry as much. Reading about an ill child is always hard. Overall I was very satisfied with the book. The ending could have gone a bit further but I understand it has to stop some time. I hope this book is a pathway to many others.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. **
January 7, 2019
MAJOR SPOILERS ahead!
The plot is intriguing and the characters are more or less likeable. But the book is not fleshed out. It feels like a term paper that was written in a hurry to make the deadline.
None of the major plot points make it to a conclusive and satisfactory closure for the reader.
- The girl is sick but you don't get to the "healed" ending, though this was the least annoying point.
- Thomas isn't even sure what love is but almost on the next page he confesses his love for his husband.
- The criminals are not really apprehended and we don't even get to know who they really are.
- The chapter before they cannot go to the authorities because that might mean witness protection and it is not feasible, yet next chapter they go happily into it without a word being talked about it.
and and and...
The idea was good. The characters are ok even though they are flat. The writing is ok. This could have been a great book. As it is, it wasn't worth the 6 Euros I paid for it.
The plot is intriguing and the characters are more or less likeable. But the book is not fleshed out. It feels like a term paper that was written in a hurry to make the deadline.
None of the major plot points make it to a conclusive and satisfactory closure for the reader.
- The girl is sick but you don't get to the "healed" ending, though this was the least annoying point.
- Thomas isn't even sure what love is but almost on the next page he confesses his love for his husband.
- The criminals are not really apprehended and we don't even get to know who they really are.
- The chapter before they cannot go to the authorities because that might mean witness protection and it is not feasible, yet next chapter they go happily into it without a word being talked about it.
and and and...
The idea was good. The characters are ok even though they are flat. The writing is ok. This could have been a great book. As it is, it wasn't worth the 6 Euros I paid for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2019
Nobody can do angst like JP Barnaby, she takes you through the emotional wringer and you're often left too exhausted to appreciate happy finish line, if there is one.
I love JP's writing but some subject matters are too heavy for me to deal with, so I had to pull out of the couple of her books before drowning in the sea of pain.
Fortunately, this book is not so heavy on pain and gives you a bit of a breathing room to dry your tears and have a little smile for a ray of hope it ends with. The ending is HFN, and that's the best you can get with a child who might live long with the new cancer drug or succumb unexpectedly, and the adults who will always look over their shoulder hiding from mafia.
Maybe there will be a follow-up to tie the loose ends and bring peace and healing to Wes, who was left broken in body and spirit in the wake of unfolding events.
I love JP's writing but some subject matters are too heavy for me to deal with, so I had to pull out of the couple of her books before drowning in the sea of pain.
Fortunately, this book is not so heavy on pain and gives you a bit of a breathing room to dry your tears and have a little smile for a ray of hope it ends with. The ending is HFN, and that's the best you can get with a child who might live long with the new cancer drug or succumb unexpectedly, and the adults who will always look over their shoulder hiding from mafia.
Maybe there will be a follow-up to tie the loose ends and bring peace and healing to Wes, who was left broken in body and spirit in the wake of unfolding events.
December 28, 2018
I loved this romance but that ending! Yes, the romance HEA was spot on but I didn't feel the conclusion to the mystery suspense at all. Maybe this will be book one in a series and I'll get the conclusion I want to the mystery?
January 9, 2019
The book isn't bad per se, but the plot is very Harlequinlike. Moreover, the ending leaves you somewhat unsatisfied because it doesn't feel like the good guys won, as one would expect from a romance novel.
December 22, 2018
*2.5 stars*
December 27, 2018
What a fantastic book! I’m so glad I picked it up. It turned out to be not at all what I expected, in a good way.
I need an epilogue though 😞
I need an epilogue though 😞
December 31, 2018
3.5 stars
January 12, 2019
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book
January 18, 2019
3 stars
March 19, 2019
3.25*
June 6, 2019
I wish there could've been more relationship development, it relied heavily on the one kiss ten years ago and an old friendship rather than developing their relationship as adults.
July 24, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review
After hacking into his company’s servers and stealing information in order to prove it is not secure, Thomas Aberthol is sentenced to five years in prison. While there, he learns that he has a daughter on the way and then must watch helplessly as she wastes away from leukemia. Once out of prison, Thomas is unable to find work and even with his mother Charlotte’s support, Hannah’s medical bills have left the family on the brink of homelessness and without any way to afford the bone marrow transplant or medications that could save her life. When Thomas goes for an interview at Polytech, he is shocked to find his former best friend and the man he ran out on after a drunken make-out session.
When Aleksander “Aleks” Sanna comes across a special interest piece about Thomas and his daughter, he’s moved to help the only man he’s ever loved; however, when he discovers the extent of Thomas’s financial plight, he proposes a plan that will not only help Thomas’s family, but also help him find answers to his father’s mysterious murder—a marriage of convenience. Unfortunately, in finding answers, Thomas’s biggest worries morph from going back to prison to fearing for the life of his family and the one person he’s ever felt an intense connection with when he uncovers someone’s involvement with a criminal organization.
Saving Hannah pulled me into Thomas’s desperation, heartbreak, and humanity from the first pages with such power that I could ignore some of the shakier or less believable aspects of the story. It is gut wrenching to see Thomas’s pain, hopelessness, and guilt, or his and Charlotte’s tears as they contemplate their dismal future. While Aleks’s backstory and motivations for offering to marry Thomas to provide health insurance and financial assistance for Hannah’s cancer are not as soul-stirring per se, Barnaby does a good job portraying Aleks’ loneliness and lifelong desire for a family and his love for Thomas to keep Aleks from seeming too much like an opportunistic creep.
As enjoyable as the book is, there is a bit of unevenness and lack of follow through with a few story elements that make it feel like some things were cut from the story. For instance, Charlotte starts off as a pragmatic and supportive figure, but seems to turn on a dime after Thomas accepts Aleks’s offer and basically calls her son a whore and demonizes Aleks. There are also mentions of Thomas’ hacking into his company being more involved and him being screwed over by someone named Richard, but nothing comes of it. Also, once the mystery/suspense element takes over about halfway through, readers’ patience and suspension of disbelief may be tested by some of Thomas and Aleks’ choices and the compression of their relationship development into the space of about a week. Although the story is in the mystery/suspense genre, this aspect is so on the backburner that it is easy to forget the story isn’t a contemporary romance and be a bit thrown with the sudden shift from an engaging story of building a family into a very high stakes crime thriller.
That being said, even with the story’s shift, Barnaby is able to keep readers invested because of the fact that the characters’ reactions and emotional volatility are relatable and believable. The anguish, fear, frustration, hopelessness, etc they all go through as the course of their lives are once again dictated by outside forces they feel helpless to combat holds the narrative pieces together. Despite some hiccups and an ending that is believable but may not be for everyone, Saving Hannah is a well-paced read about the lengths that love and a desire for a loving family will drive some people to and how, no matter the outside hardships, people are lucky to have it.
After hacking into his company’s servers and stealing information in order to prove it is not secure, Thomas Aberthol is sentenced to five years in prison. While there, he learns that he has a daughter on the way and then must watch helplessly as she wastes away from leukemia. Once out of prison, Thomas is unable to find work and even with his mother Charlotte’s support, Hannah’s medical bills have left the family on the brink of homelessness and without any way to afford the bone marrow transplant or medications that could save her life. When Thomas goes for an interview at Polytech, he is shocked to find his former best friend and the man he ran out on after a drunken make-out session.
When Aleksander “Aleks” Sanna comes across a special interest piece about Thomas and his daughter, he’s moved to help the only man he’s ever loved; however, when he discovers the extent of Thomas’s financial plight, he proposes a plan that will not only help Thomas’s family, but also help him find answers to his father’s mysterious murder—a marriage of convenience. Unfortunately, in finding answers, Thomas’s biggest worries morph from going back to prison to fearing for the life of his family and the one person he’s ever felt an intense connection with when he uncovers someone’s involvement with a criminal organization.
Saving Hannah pulled me into Thomas’s desperation, heartbreak, and humanity from the first pages with such power that I could ignore some of the shakier or less believable aspects of the story. It is gut wrenching to see Thomas’s pain, hopelessness, and guilt, or his and Charlotte’s tears as they contemplate their dismal future. While Aleks’s backstory and motivations for offering to marry Thomas to provide health insurance and financial assistance for Hannah’s cancer are not as soul-stirring per se, Barnaby does a good job portraying Aleks’ loneliness and lifelong desire for a family and his love for Thomas to keep Aleks from seeming too much like an opportunistic creep.
As enjoyable as the book is, there is a bit of unevenness and lack of follow through with a few story elements that make it feel like some things were cut from the story. For instance, Charlotte starts off as a pragmatic and supportive figure, but seems to turn on a dime after Thomas accepts Aleks’s offer and basically calls her son a whore and demonizes Aleks. There are also mentions of Thomas’ hacking into his company being more involved and him being screwed over by someone named Richard, but nothing comes of it. Also, once the mystery/suspense element takes over about halfway through, readers’ patience and suspension of disbelief may be tested by some of Thomas and Aleks’ choices and the compression of their relationship development into the space of about a week. Although the story is in the mystery/suspense genre, this aspect is so on the backburner that it is easy to forget the story isn’t a contemporary romance and be a bit thrown with the sudden shift from an engaging story of building a family into a very high stakes crime thriller.
That being said, even with the story’s shift, Barnaby is able to keep readers invested because of the fact that the characters’ reactions and emotional volatility are relatable and believable. The anguish, fear, frustration, hopelessness, etc they all go through as the course of their lives are once again dictated by outside forces they feel helpless to combat holds the narrative pieces together. Despite some hiccups and an ending that is believable but may not be for everyone, Saving Hannah is a well-paced read about the lengths that love and a desire for a loving family will drive some people to and how, no matter the outside hardships, people are lucky to have it.
January 28, 2025
3.5 Stars ~ It has taken this author a few years to come out of “retirement” but when she did it’s with a bang. ‘Saving Hannah’ is filled with some of my most favorite tropes from an ex-con with a dying daughter to a millionaire who has harbored a love for ten years. Thomas and Aleks are both strong characters and the secondary players are equally engrossing.
Thomas is a man anyone can empathize with, whether you have children or not, simply because these days not being able to afford health insurance premiums or your insurance company denying coverage of a medical necessity is something most of us endure. For Thomas and his young daughter, Hannah, it’s made even worse because as an ex-con Thomas is struggling to find any kind of work and it’s not going well. It’s bad enough he was in prison when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant, but then to make matters worse to hear her mother died in a car accident, Thomas’s mother was stepping in to raise his daughter, and then the devastating blow of her leukemia diagnosis. Thomas missed so much of Hannah’s life and what he has experienced is filled with worry over her, stress about money, and frustration at not being able to provide for his family.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Thomas is a man anyone can empathize with, whether you have children or not, simply because these days not being able to afford health insurance premiums or your insurance company denying coverage of a medical necessity is something most of us endure. For Thomas and his young daughter, Hannah, it’s made even worse because as an ex-con Thomas is struggling to find any kind of work and it’s not going well. It’s bad enough he was in prison when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant, but then to make matters worse to hear her mother died in a car accident, Thomas’s mother was stepping in to raise his daughter, and then the devastating blow of her leukemia diagnosis. Thomas missed so much of Hannah’s life and what he has experienced is filled with worry over her, stress about money, and frustration at not being able to provide for his family.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
January 2, 2019
Loved 3/4 of it... didn't care for the ending, unfortunately. But I'm happy JP Barnaby is writing again!
December 27, 2018
Reviewed by Cindy
Thomas’s whole world revolved around his daughter Hannah and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to help her get healthy again. When he runs out of options, he finally has to consider what Aleks has to say.
Aleksander has never been able to stop thinking of Thomas and when he catches a glimpse of him, he doesn’t hesitate to take the chance to have him in his life again. Aleks is good and kind and Hannah steals his heart from the beginning.
It’s wonderful to have another story from the ever talented JP Barnaby. She has a unique voice and a way of invoking empathy for her characters that leaves you clenching your fists with frustration as you follow them along on their journey.
Thomas’s mother is an interesting character. She’s been taking care of Hannah her whole life and she’s a tiger when it comes to defending her granddaughter. I love how she’s not afraid to speak her mind in defense of the people she loves.
Thomas goes through so much in this story and it highlight’s how strong he is and how strong he needs to become to get through all his trials and tribulations. Even when he does the wrong thing for the right reasons, he struggles with what he has to do.
Aleks is the best of people. Someone born to privilege who doesn’t seem to take it for granted and once he decides to do the right thing, there’s no stopping him.
There’s no denying, though, that Hannah steals the show. She showcases exactly how resilient children can be, even when facing the greatest of odds. You’re going to want to bundle her up and keep her safe because the world has been extremely unfair to her.
There’s a lot to like in this story. Great characters, smart dialogue and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
But then ending was a problem for me.
I know the story was all there, and I know that the author doesn’t always have things go the way the reader thinks they should. She’s kind of famous for that actually. But this one left me feeling like there was something missing. I kept wanting to flip back through the pages, like I might have accidentally missed something, but I didn’t.
The whole story was a roller coaster ride of epic proportions that had me hanging on the edge of my seat, begging for them to find some way to do what they needed to do to save Hannah and themselves.
And then it felt like the roller coaster stopped…at the bottom.
However, I still enjoyed the ride immensely and if you are a fan of JP Barnaby then I’m sure you’re going to love every second.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Thomas’s whole world revolved around his daughter Hannah and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to help her get healthy again. When he runs out of options, he finally has to consider what Aleks has to say.
Aleksander has never been able to stop thinking of Thomas and when he catches a glimpse of him, he doesn’t hesitate to take the chance to have him in his life again. Aleks is good and kind and Hannah steals his heart from the beginning.
It’s wonderful to have another story from the ever talented JP Barnaby. She has a unique voice and a way of invoking empathy for her characters that leaves you clenching your fists with frustration as you follow them along on their journey.
Thomas’s mother is an interesting character. She’s been taking care of Hannah her whole life and she’s a tiger when it comes to defending her granddaughter. I love how she’s not afraid to speak her mind in defense of the people she loves.
Thomas goes through so much in this story and it highlight’s how strong he is and how strong he needs to become to get through all his trials and tribulations. Even when he does the wrong thing for the right reasons, he struggles with what he has to do.
Aleks is the best of people. Someone born to privilege who doesn’t seem to take it for granted and once he decides to do the right thing, there’s no stopping him.
There’s no denying, though, that Hannah steals the show. She showcases exactly how resilient children can be, even when facing the greatest of odds. You’re going to want to bundle her up and keep her safe because the world has been extremely unfair to her.
There’s a lot to like in this story. Great characters, smart dialogue and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
But then ending was a problem for me.
I know the story was all there, and I know that the author doesn’t always have things go the way the reader thinks they should. She’s kind of famous for that actually. But this one left me feeling like there was something missing. I kept wanting to flip back through the pages, like I might have accidentally missed something, but I didn’t.
The whole story was a roller coaster ride of epic proportions that had me hanging on the edge of my seat, begging for them to find some way to do what they needed to do to save Hannah and themselves.
And then it felt like the roller coaster stopped…at the bottom.
However, I still enjoyed the ride immensely and if you are a fan of JP Barnaby then I’m sure you’re going to love every second.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 15, 2019
Wow! Not quite what I was expecting but I couldn't put it down. warning: There isn't an HEA, but the ending works with the story.
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