On the Other Side

by T.K. Cherry

Tragedy doesn't spare the Hollywood elite... Action film star Shae Martin had it all--the talent, the beauty, and the enviable body. Her life of luxury was written about in all the magazines, giving fans a glimpse into an unattainably perfect existence. Then came a devastating diagnosis. Treatment began immediately, and proved to be as brutal on Shae emotionally as it was physically. Adding salt to the wound, her movie producer husband missed the "in sickness and health" part of their vows and left her when she needed him most. But not before he moved in her overzealous mother to help care for her. To the world, she became gossip fodder as a withering celebrity. To oncology nurse Nate Thayer, she was a beautiful warrior battling for her life. Love was the furthest thing from her mind, until Shae found herself drawing strength from his tender compassion. With more reason to fight than ever, can Shae harness the hope needed to conquer the illness ravaging her?

234 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2019

About the author

You can take the girl out of Detroit, but you'll never take Detroit out of this girl.

For TK Cherry, it's pop, not soda, and Tim Hortons over everything else.

Born and raised in The Motor City, TK now enjoys little or no winters in the Carolinas. By day, she's a spreadsheet whiz and frequent flyer. By night, she lives for keeping her loyal readers on the edge of their seats with steamy tales of happily ever after.

Reviews

[❤️Court - Villains Do It Better❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this one. The beginning didn't go so great, the heroine was pretty judgemental and harsh, but she wasn't dealt the greatest hand in life, and then there was a bit too much ex husband talk. So this book definitely wasn't perfect by any means, but I really liked the overall story and it kept my attention, which no book seems to be doing lately. This book is shorter and does read more like a novella where everything happens super fast and you definitely skipped some stages in their relationship and in their overall development, and I would have definitely liked it to be more fleshed out and longer to really connect, but I still enjoyed it. This honestly would probably be more of a three star for me, but I really liked the author's intentions of writing it and the purpose of the book, so I decided to up it to a 4.

Overall, a pretty good book. More light hearted for this subject matter, but there were still some feels, and I like how there was no relationship drama, they were both pretty straight forward. Also no OW/OM drama (though ex husband shows up for a bit, but no drama).

[Cindra Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the one word that describes Shae is a warrior or maybe a phoenix. Both are fierce. From waging a war against insurmountable odds to rising from the ashes from what was...In every battle or war, you need champions to fight alongside you to shore up your defenses, make you stronger. Nate and Honey ignite the fire to fight back inside Shae and together show her how to live again instead of wallow. Shae's epic battle will take you on a journey through every emotion imaginable, but that's to be expected. This is a battle no question, but it's also a story about friendship and finding love again. T.K. Cherry has written a story that will touch your heart, bring you to tears, and have you cheering for Shae until the very end. Honestly, five stars aren't nearly enough for this book. If I could I would give it a thousand stars. You need to read this book.

[Vinnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pumped to read this book from the second I heard about it. It was something different and I’m always looking for something to read outside the norm. After finishing, I’m not even sure what to say except I planned on reading this over a few days but ended up opening the book and reading it in one sitting. Shae and her story sucked me in and I just couldn’t stop. I could feel her pain, her irritation, her love, her elation...every emotion she had felt like it was mine. It was hard to not fall in love with her character. I really felt like the relationships she formed helped her discover the person she was inside and nothing was more relatable. I loved Nate and his character. He was so much more than I ever expected but everything I could ever want in a hero. I think I appreciated the spirit of Honey more than anything. Everyone needs that one friend who’ll always have their back and that was Honey for sure. This book was just another in what I’m sure will be a long line of successes written by TK Cherry. On The Other Side is a great read that brought all the feels and left me wanting more long after it was over.

[C Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always TK Cherry doesn’t disappoint. From the moment I got a snip it into what she was writing about I wasn’t sure if this would take me on the adventure that the others do. Boy was I wrong.

This was an adventure that tugged at my heart. especially understanding the journey Shae was on with recent family members on the same path. You can understand why Shea has her walls up and is reluctant to let anyone in.

However when Honey enters into her life she would have no idea what this one person could spark for her. Let’s not forget about Nurse Nate and how he was able to add to this incredible journey of helping someone see their own beauty while healing themselves.

The role model Shae becomes is inspiring and uplifting as she gives others hope.

This book is just the beginning of the story. Can’t wait to find out more about Nate and what their future will continue to hold.

[Erica Marselas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready for an emotional ride?
A love story built with love and strength ...that person in your corner..when your going through your hardest time?

This story is all that.... TK wrote such an amazing story its so hard to put into words...
I was even in tears....
You need to read this

[Bookish Barbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sugar and Spice and Everything nice!!

This was such a sweet love story with a beautiful HEA ending.

Actress Shea Martin just received some devastating news, she's got the Big C. And what more could go wrong you ask....her husband leaves her. Like dude really?!?!

Shea starts treatment and to her surprise it changes her live in more than one way. She gains a BFF and BF!!

Laurie West did a great job of narrating.

If you like sweet love stories with steamy parts, this book is for you!!

Free audiobook provided for an honest review.

[Rosie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just Wow! It’s so real and sometimes not pretty, you will laugh and cry and get mad. It’s that’s okay because it’s one amazing ride.

[Kelly Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know where to start. I guess I’ll start by saying this is definitely a 5⭐️read and I urge everyone to read it.

I know so many people who have lost and survived some form of cancer, and was skeptical of reading this. Not because I knew TK couldn’t pull this off, because I knew she could. It was because I was afraid of my heart crushing. I’m so glad I went with my gut and read it. I fell in love with these characters. I laughed and cried , and my emotions were all over the place.

Shelia bless her heart. She’s pushy and always up in Shae’s business. I love her and I love the love she has for her daughter. Her making the boobie ball things for the bra had me rolling. And let’s not forget Honey. Omg she was the sweetest thing and fearless down to her last breath. I cried so hard when she passed away. She was definitely team Shate from the beginning. And let’s not forget her scheming with Nate on the wigs.

Now for Shae and Nate. Or as I call them Shate. I loved them so much!! Nate was so caring, hilarious, and all around a special person to all 3 of women in the book. The love he has for Shae is special. He was there picking her up making her feel beautiful when times she didn’t feel it herself. And Shae bless her sweet heart. I loved her so much. She was scared, didn’t think highly of herself, thought her career was lost. She was a true fighter. I absolutely loved them chemistry of the two of them. Like the song goes “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” comes to mind when I think of Shae.

Well done TK you completely blew me away with this.

[Christi Whitson · Rating 5 out of 5]

TK Cherry is 2 for 2! She never disappoints!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Both of her books have had such unique plots that you might be debating whether or not to pick them up. Just like her debut novel, this book takes ‘unconventional’ and knocks it right out of the park. Her characters are realistic and relatable, and their love story melted my heart. I was surprised how much I identified with Shae, who is a Hollywood actress-turned-cancer patient. I actually tend to avoid books with celebrity main characters because I don’t find them realistic, but I didn’t have that issue at all with this book. The ordeal of chronic and incurable illness is one I know from a personal perspective, and TK absolutely nails it. Shae’s insecurities and emotional fallout are eloquently handled, and her journey is authentic. This isn’t the usual cliche case of a heroine with low self-esteem. This is a woman mourning the loss of her identity and working to create a new one. It‘s raw and real, and it resonates deeply.
Can’t wait to see what TK gives us next! ❤️

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that are enjoyable and inspiring but can also be difficult to read if, for lack of a better way of putting it "you have too much skin in the game". I myself am one of those readers. My up close and personal relationship with cancer helped to really send my emotions on quite the roller coaster ride while reading this book. If you are like me, I ask for you to please consider if you are emotionally ready to read this amazing story. This author did an amazing job of crafting a poignant, powerful and very true-to-life story of one woman's battle and the many discoveries she makes along the way about herself, the people around and life in general. This journey is raw, deep, painful, emotional, sad and beautiful. I loved Shae and Nate. They were wonderful characters that were easy to connect with and root for. This is my candid, voluntary review.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want to spoil things, and give too much away, so I will make this brief... The book was well-written and easy to read, though difficult to swallow at times.
My tears started just reading the bloody dedication, so it wasn't a great start. Having battled cancer twice myself, it was a realistic, and very-close-to-home reminder that cancer does NOT discriminate, and YES... CANCER SUCKS!
The main characters are very relatable, and take you into their hearts, with all of the ups and all of the downs of their emotional journey. Whilst the story is sad, it's also uplifting and hopeful. It left a smile on my face, and a warm feeling in my heart.
I would definitely recommend it to others. And, I'm also looking forward to reading the story from Nate's POV!

I received an ARC of this book, and am happily leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danielle Monteleone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this story! Now I will say this story hit me in my chest, because at this time my mother in law is doing treatment for breast cancer, and we been talking about screenings and early detection. I also had a scare early this year and had to have test, but fortunately everything came back clear. As I was reading this and explaining it to my husband he asked to read it because of the situation we are in. Shae and Nate are my hero’s and I will look up to them because this story. Omg I cried for Honey and Todd!!!i loved her attitude and spirit. Because of her I cried in my car at work. But because of and Shae and I am now adopting Let it do What it do! You did a wonderful job TK I can’t wait to read more from you.

[T Traveller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shae is the Hollywood star of a big budget action franchise. We meet her in the fight of her life, as she battles breast cancer. I don’t usually enjoy reading about actresses, but I found Shae and her insecurities to be completely relatable. This story tells how her oncology nurse, Nate, is able to break through Shae’s tough exterior and rekindle her vulnerable, tender side. Cancer is never pretty, but as in Shae’s case, it can be an opportunity for growth. The two mains, as well as the secondary characters, are fully drawn, and the story has a compelling plot which moves at a pleasing pace. I was pleased to discover free bonus material, “Nate’s Fate”, available on the author’s website. I highly recommend this story.

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Other Side is an amazing read about a Hollywood actress struggling to battle breast cancer while still balancing her life (and love.)

I adored this story! It was a great read that I didn’t want to put down. As a cancer survivor, I could easily put myself in Shae’s place, even though I definitely didn’t have a nurse like Nate in my life. Every character was well written, my favorite being Honey, but each one was vibrant and likable from their first appearance.

This was one of those stories that left you feeling warm when you finished it. It’s infused with hope, love, and the promise that things will get better in one way or another.

*I was given a copy of this book from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*

[Dirtyditty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a typical romance. Beware if you are sensitive or triggered by talking about cancer then this might not be the book for you!
However if you are prepared to take an emotional journey with some incredibly well written characters. A storyline that sparks love , romance and growth. Then this is a good book to take a chance on. Prepare yourself for an amazing adventure and story of true love!

[Phillys James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story. I will admit that I didn't care much for the main character Shae at the beginning but it was a joy to watch her learn to find herself. Honey is a true warrior and and I was glad that she and Shae became friends. Nate is a rare breed of man and was exactly what she needed. It was a joy to watch the relationship progress between Nate and Shae.

I recommend this book and warn you to have your tissues ready. TK Cherry did a wonderful job with this story.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shae is a Hollywood actress, who unexpectedly gets a diagnose that begins an epic journey of fighting for survival. Nate is an oncology nurse who stands by her and his support makes her stronger. This is a beautifully written story which is realistic and relatable, and quite frankly too close to home, and is about friendship and love, and is an emotional roller coaster journey throughout. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

[Chasity Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Shae is married and a movie star. Nate is a oncology nurse. Shae and Nate meet when Shae ends up with cancer. Shae's husband can't handle the sickness and leaves her. She's in the battle of her life. Nate sees the strength in Shae and becomes her rock. Will Nate and Shae get more out of their relationship than nurse and patient? Will Shae win the battle?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book

[Gina Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much! My mom is a breast cancer survivor so any book that talks about it, I am supporting it
Shae is a very young actress who is diagnosed with Breast Cancer and this is her battle back, with a jerk of a ex husband, A handsome nurse, and a wonderful friend she meets while going through chemo, I cried through part of the book, it hit home in some spots.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the feels!! I was hooked from beginning to the very end!!

[Leah Blanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I absolutely loved this book it was amazing love the story and the characters I cried for her friend she lost and laugh and everything in between it was so good I can’t wait for more

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing read! Completely drawn into the story, I couldn't put it down. Loved Shae as a character.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story though a few parts were mostly impossible to believe. I did enjoy the way that Nate brought Shae back to life and really loved her so deeply.

[Alicia Gamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Great story line .. you always have me hooked from the start. Can’t wait to read your next story. Love

[Evelyn Sola · Rating 5 out of 5]

and emotional, funny and bittersweet story filled with love, life and hope. I cried during parts of this, but the ending was as satisfying as you can get for a happily every after.

[Irene Kiew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It starts slow. Written in first-person, the narrator speaks to the reader, and I never quite like that because there often ends up being too much internal monologuing.

I was impressed with the amount of detail given about the disease and treatment. As I was reading, I felt that either the author or someone in the family must have experienced it, because this certainly sounds like a narrative of someone who has experienced it personally.

I have had family members who suffered from (and beat) breast cancer, so this issue is close to my heart. My grandmother had a mastectomy of one breast and back then, I guess they didn't have reconstructive surgery so she wore something in her bra to keep the shape of it under her clothes.

But to get back to the story, I felt like it was never really explained what drew Nate to Shae. This is where the first-person narration is lacking. Nate knew that he was risking his job as a nurse to fraternise with a patient. He's a fan of her movies, and that could have given him a more personal interest in Shae's treatment or recovery, but I don't feel it would be enough for him to fall for her straight away. It does feel like instalove, cos they hardly have any conversation and then he's declaring he has feelings for her.

I can understand why she fell for him; she keeps harping about how good-looking he is, and then he helps her see herself through his eyes and regain the self-confidence that she lost when the cancer started to ravage her body and she became skinny and her hair fell out. He seems to know exactly what she needs and is generally too good to be true.

The most icky and ewww part was their first time doing the horizontal tango. She was at the chemotherapy centre for treatment and they do it in one of the examination rooms while he is on a 15-minute break from his shift. I really felt this was so out of place and inappropriate for a story like this. And why would there be condoms in an exam room?!?!!

It's a smooth read with no angst and no big relationship conflict. But it also didn't make me feel the emotions between Shae and Nate. It seemed like he was giving and helping her a lot, but I never got what it was that she did for him.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the Other Side by T. K. Cherry is an emotional story about dealing with breast cancer and other cancers. Shae Martin, a gorgeous Hollywood star, has breast cancer. Her husband cannot deal with it and divorces her. While in chemotherapy, she meets Honey, who also has cancer, but her cancer is in the colon. Nate is the oncology nurse who is taking care of Shae and Honey.

There are a lot of emotional ups and downs with the treatments, which is to be expected. This seems to be an accurate description of what a cancer patient deals with. It is also urges women to have regular examinations for early detection.

The only thing that I did not like about the book was the use of the "f" bomb and the explicit sex scenes. I feel that the story would have more impact and would get the message out without these distractions. I received this book as part of a Quirky Blind Date with an Author and I always review every book that I read. This book has an important message and I recommend it.

[Atlanta Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was cute and I liked Shae's growth throughout. I learned a few interesting things about cancer and chemo, so that was a bonus.

What I didn't buy into was Shae and Nate's relationship. It seemed like he was fangirling (fanboying?) over her at their initial meeting, which rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like he was only trying to help her and get to know her because she was famous; he didn't act try to help his other patients in that way or try to cheer them up. Also, she wasn't friendly with him at the beginning so the cynic in me figured her fame was the only reason he was so drawn to her. To top it off, I just didn't feel a connection between them even after Shae started to trust Nate and their relationship developed.

This was a shorter read, quick and easy, with no cliffhanger and a HEA.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I enjoyed this story about Shae and Nate. Shae is a young woman who had been dealt a crappy hand, she's been diagnosed with breast cancer and her husband leaves her. So she's not in the best of head space. When she gets the second diagnosis she plummets. But during her chemo she meets Honey Sanders, a vibrant young woman, also dealing with cancer, who curves her to look past the big c. She also meets Nate, an oncology nurse, that makes her feel again. This is her story about finding herself again with Nate and Honey's help. Great HEA with a few tears.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story reads like something you would see at the movies. Shae meets Seth who is blown away by her and makes her a movie star but as things are going well, she notices a lump that will change her life drastically. When the doctors tell Shae she has breast cancer her whole world changes to the point that her husband Seth abandons her right when she needs him most. Enter Nate her Oncology nurse who is there to give her the support and guidance she needs. The dynamics changes between Shae and her mother as well. This story is emotionally charged and will have your heart all over the place where empathy is the norm and wanting to go upside the head of others feels oh so right.