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The Last Days of Autumn
Autumn Landers, a beautiful, successful business owner, thought she had life figured out until one little word, cancer, changed everything. When Caroline Cross answers Autumn's ad for a live-in caregiver, Autumn is instantly drawn to her. But Caroline has suffered her own losses and isn't about to risk her heart. Autumn knows the odds are against her. But for the first time in her life she is going to do things her way. The first thing on her bucket list? Falling in love.
Autumn and Caroline question the fairness of life, the cruelty of loss, and what it means to love as they navigate the complicated minefield of relationships, grief, and life-altering illness.
Autumn and Caroline question the fairness of life, the cruelty of loss, and what it means to love as they navigate the complicated minefield of relationships, grief, and life-altering illness.
242 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2020
5 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Donna K. Ford
8 books32 followersDonna K. Ford is a licensed professional counselor who spends her professional time assisting people in their recovery from substance addictions. She holds an associate degree in criminal justice, a BS in psychology, and an MS in community agency counseling. When not trying to save the world, she spends her time in the mountains of east Tennessee enjoying the lakes, rivers, and hiking trails near her home. Reading, writing, and enjoying conversation with good friends are the gifts that keep her grounded. Healing Hearts is her debut into the world of writing lesbian fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 14, 2020
The Last Days of Autumn affected me. The reader goes through a very emotional and painful journey with Autumn. We all know cancer has been a fatal diagnosis for a long time. Fortunately, nowadays there are therapies and drugs to defeat some types of cancers. But those affected pay a high toll for it. My best friend had to go through this brutal experience last year and I had a front-row seat to watch helplessly as she almost fell apart. I could only support her morally and tried to make her recovery as comfortable as possible. Luckily she survived and her prognosis is good. But it was a very tough fight.
Autumn thinks she has her life under control with loving friends, a sometimes difficult mother, and her own thriving business. She works hard and likes it but a cancer diagnosis turns her world upside down. When her best friend suggests getting a live-in caregiver, she thinks it’s the perfect solution to avoid leaving home in this hard time.
Caroline wants to get her life back on track after losing her mother to illness four years ago and catching her wife red-handed in bed with another woman. She did not expect to put her heart at risk when she answered Autumn’s ad requesting a live-in caregiver.
The story is well written and the pace perfect. We can understand and sense the struggles of Autumn after the diagnosis as she tries to hold on to her normal life as long as possible. For Caroline, it was just a job at first, though it didn’t take her long to develop feelings for Autumn. The romance is beautiful, we witness how the relationship slowly changes from “just” a caregiver and her patient to friends and then to something deeper. The point of view is from both main characters and gives insight into their thoughts, feelings, and fears. The dialogues are good and the chemistry is tangible. I fell in love a little bit with both leads. The story feels realistic, the treatments are brutal and some side effects hard to bear.
This is a very beautifully written but also painful story about loss, illness, friends, family, standing up for oneself, and taking the risk to love anyway. It’s also about what is important in life, and that sometimes life takes something away from you only to give you something greater in return.
Not an easy read, you have to be in the right mood but it’s a wonderful lesbian love story.
My rating 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
Autumn thinks she has her life under control with loving friends, a sometimes difficult mother, and her own thriving business. She works hard and likes it but a cancer diagnosis turns her world upside down. When her best friend suggests getting a live-in caregiver, she thinks it’s the perfect solution to avoid leaving home in this hard time.
Caroline wants to get her life back on track after losing her mother to illness four years ago and catching her wife red-handed in bed with another woman. She did not expect to put her heart at risk when she answered Autumn’s ad requesting a live-in caregiver.
The story is well written and the pace perfect. We can understand and sense the struggles of Autumn after the diagnosis as she tries to hold on to her normal life as long as possible. For Caroline, it was just a job at first, though it didn’t take her long to develop feelings for Autumn. The romance is beautiful, we witness how the relationship slowly changes from “just” a caregiver and her patient to friends and then to something deeper. The point of view is from both main characters and gives insight into their thoughts, feelings, and fears. The dialogues are good and the chemistry is tangible. I fell in love a little bit with both leads. The story feels realistic, the treatments are brutal and some side effects hard to bear.
This is a very beautifully written but also painful story about loss, illness, friends, family, standing up for oneself, and taking the risk to love anyway. It’s also about what is important in life, and that sometimes life takes something away from you only to give you something greater in return.
Not an easy read, you have to be in the right mood but it’s a wonderful lesbian love story.
My rating 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
June 24, 2020
Other reviewers have already written extensive reviews about this beautiful story and told why they are moved by it. This is a well written book about a very difficult time in the lives of Autumn and Caroline. Their story and especially that of Autumn and her struggle with cancer touched my heart. Recommend.
August 4, 2020
3-1/2 stars
I found this story interesting. Especially the parts regarding the chemotherapy. I didnt know many things about the treatment such as ...it takes 6 hrs to administrator the iv drug each time and you cant have anything hot or cold....etc.
Autumn's struggle through the chemo treatment was very descriptive but not uncomfortable to read.....for me anyway. The romance is nice and the difficulties are understandable. The main characters are sweet and the dialog was natural.
There are a few awful characters that needed to be dealt with but you never get to see that.
My only negative is the ending had a much different tone then the rest of the story. The ending became light and cute. And it got all resolved in a cute little package in about 5 pages.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found this story interesting. Especially the parts regarding the chemotherapy. I didnt know many things about the treatment such as ...it takes 6 hrs to administrator the iv drug each time and you cant have anything hot or cold....etc.
Autumn's struggle through the chemo treatment was very descriptive but not uncomfortable to read.....for me anyway. The romance is nice and the difficulties are understandable. The main characters are sweet and the dialog was natural.
There are a few awful characters that needed to be dealt with but you never get to see that.
My only negative is the ending had a much different tone then the rest of the story. The ending became light and cute. And it got all resolved in a cute little package in about 5 pages.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2020
My wife went through treatment for bladder cancer last year and in January. This was a difficult read at times, brought back so many memories. Thankfully my wife treatments have worked and we hope there will be no reoccurrence. Well written story.
June 18, 2020
What a wonderful and emotional read. From,the begining, I was deeply involved with Autumns character. Her feelings and experience was extremely moving. Caroline on the other hand is dream to come true
They both together make the perfect pair. I was glad to see that both brought the best in each other.
They both together make the perfect pair. I was glad to see that both brought the best in each other.
October 27, 2023
Slow tale of cancer, divorce and rediscovering love and life. In some perverse way enjoyed it though my tears. Recommended if in right place for tale of cancer….
May 31, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Autumn has built a life for herself but she never thought she gets cancer . It changing everything and turn her world upside down as she tries to get everything in order her friend Kate suggest she get a live in care giver in months ahead of recovery.
Caroline is trying to get her life together after catching her wife Jane in bed with her best friend Stephanie. She decides she needs to do something to keep herself busy as she figure what she wants to do with her life. When she answers Autumn ad and gets the job they get to know each other as they both prepare for recovery.
Their growing attraction caught them both by surprise as they wonder if they should act on it but they have few things to fix before they decide if this what they want. Caroline deals with her ex who doesn’t want to let her go and Autumn who never really been in love afraid she won’t be here to enjoy it. I like how you shown the process of how to treat cancer the chemotherapy the surgery and how you portray Autumn fears. I also like how Autumn and Caroline talk about their fears and support each other. PS. Autumn mother Meredith was work I like how Autumn was finally able stand up to her mother I mean I know she loves her daughter but the way she show it was despicable. Overall good read.
Autumn has built a life for herself but she never thought she gets cancer . It changing everything and turn her world upside down as she tries to get everything in order her friend Kate suggest she get a live in care giver in months ahead of recovery.
Caroline is trying to get her life together after catching her wife Jane in bed with her best friend Stephanie. She decides she needs to do something to keep herself busy as she figure what she wants to do with her life. When she answers Autumn ad and gets the job they get to know each other as they both prepare for recovery.
Their growing attraction caught them both by surprise as they wonder if they should act on it but they have few things to fix before they decide if this what they want. Caroline deals with her ex who doesn’t want to let her go and Autumn who never really been in love afraid she won’t be here to enjoy it. I like how you shown the process of how to treat cancer the chemotherapy the surgery and how you portray Autumn fears. I also like how Autumn and Caroline talk about their fears and support each other. PS. Autumn mother Meredith was work I like how Autumn was finally able stand up to her mother I mean I know she loves her daughter but the way she show it was despicable. Overall good read.
June 6, 2020
Last days of Autumn is a book that zeroes in on the vulnerability and unpredictability of life. Often not, when life comes to an unexpected halt, we start to question how, what, why and when. And if life has to end prematurely, for those of us who have a bucket list, did we manage to check everything off that list?
In this book, we were introduced to Autumn, established in her career, comfortable with her close knit of friends, seemingly content, until cancer showed up. When Caroline was employed as Autumn’s live in helper, we witnessed yet another twist in Autumn’s life, a chance to check the first item off her bucket list - falling in love.
This slow burn romance sets the tones on recognising what is important, the things worthed fighting and holding on to when life is thrown into question. It is nicely paced with a happy ending.
I just reviewed The Last Days of Autumn by Donna K. Ford. #NetGalley
In this book, we were introduced to Autumn, established in her career, comfortable with her close knit of friends, seemingly content, until cancer showed up. When Caroline was employed as Autumn’s live in helper, we witnessed yet another twist in Autumn’s life, a chance to check the first item off her bucket list - falling in love.
This slow burn romance sets the tones on recognising what is important, the things worthed fighting and holding on to when life is thrown into question. It is nicely paced with a happy ending.
I just reviewed The Last Days of Autumn by Donna K. Ford. #NetGalley
June 13, 2020
The best book by Donna K. Ford. A great, great romance, with Love's Redemption
The cover is very beautiful.
The cover is very beautiful.
June 16, 2020
In the acknowledgements, Donna K Ford says, "Thank you for being willing to tackle the hard stuff with me and trusting me to deliver a happily ever after."
You can say that again. Every book she has written deals with a tough subject matter and is brilliantly written. Her characters are fully developed, the pacing is perfect, and mostly, her books are set in East Tennessee, where she and I grew up!
The only thing keeping this from five stars for me is that the ending seemed rushed, and I wanted more time with Autumn and Caroline after they committed to each other. And what ever happened to Meredith, the meanest of all mothers ever written about?
You can say that again. Every book she has written deals with a tough subject matter and is brilliantly written. Her characters are fully developed, the pacing is perfect, and mostly, her books are set in East Tennessee, where she and I grew up!
The only thing keeping this from five stars for me is that the ending seemed rushed, and I wanted more time with Autumn and Caroline after they committed to each other. And what ever happened to Meredith, the meanest of all mothers ever written about?
June 19, 2020
This read handled the struggle of dealing with cancer in a way that did not have cancer at the center. The reader knew it was there but was not weighed down by this horrible illness. Caroline Cross, processing the end of her marriage and not looking for another relationship. Caroline is a woman struggling to find what is next in her life. Autumn Landers, dealing with mother issues that weigh heavy on her shoulders like a lead balloon. Autumn is a successful business woman that is floored by the news that she has colon cancer. Autumn needs help and Caroline needs a next. The attraction is immediate and mutual. As the story unfolds we learn much about Caroline and Autumn as well as their friends and family. It is an interesting read about cancer, family, friends, vulnerability, and love.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
June 8, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bold strokes as well as the Author for the ARC received in exchange for an honest review. I seem to be out on my own so far on this book. I liked it well enough but it did not keep me wanting to pick it up as soon as I put it down. It is a slow burn romance with cancer being the main theme of the book. I wont delve into the whole plot line as you can just read the blurb for that. I will say that people don"t need to fear being triggered and I didn't shed a tear on this one. The characters were great and the writing was great but something about this book just didn't work for me. Don't get me wrong as I am sure the majority will like this book, it just was not "all that" for me and as such I cant give it more than a 3.5 rounded up. Just a tad to slow for me.
June 6, 2020
I’ve been reading a lot of books as of late that deal with some sort of illness or trauma, this one fits right in.
Autumn is pretty content with her life, she has her company, friends she cares for and a very demanding mother. When Autumn gets diagnosed with cancer she doesn’t really know what to do, but one thing is for sure, she won’t go live with her mother. Her friend Kate suggests she’d hire a live in care taker. Caroline has been living and working with her dad ever since she caught her wife in bed with her best friend. At a loss for what to do with her life she decides to apply for the job of Autumn’s care giver. Both women were expecting someone else when they first met, but they shared and instant banter and liking for each other. Caroline comes to live with Autumn and takes care of her while she has surgery, multiple rounds of chemo and all that comes with having cancer. Caroline is afraid to get too close after losing her mom to cancer and her horrible ex-wife, Autumn doesn’t want to burden anyone but longs to find someone. Both being afraid of losing something that they might never have, will they somehow overcome their fears and cancer to be together?
As I am sadly familiar with how chemo is this book seems to paint a realistic picture of the ups and downs of what it entails. Every person has a different experience and I think this book does a great job of also showing that without shoving it in your face. People deal in different ways with a loved one having a terrible disease, but the mother in this story is an evil witch, awful! Autumn is a character that is used of taking care of others, being on the receiving end of care is hard for her, asking for help and opening up about needing help is even harder, very relatable. Caroline has her own issues and she works through then as well, seems authentic. Autumn’s friends Kate and Lisa are a great couple of friends to have. I really liked how Autumn was able to stand up to her mom by the end of the book, but I didn’t care for the dramatic incident with Caroline. Aside from the far fetched thing with Caroline I really enjoyed this read. I am glad Ford wrote an authentic feeling love story involving cancer, I think she has done her friends Kim and Kim proud.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Autumn is pretty content with her life, she has her company, friends she cares for and a very demanding mother. When Autumn gets diagnosed with cancer she doesn’t really know what to do, but one thing is for sure, she won’t go live with her mother. Her friend Kate suggests she’d hire a live in care taker. Caroline has been living and working with her dad ever since she caught her wife in bed with her best friend. At a loss for what to do with her life she decides to apply for the job of Autumn’s care giver. Both women were expecting someone else when they first met, but they shared and instant banter and liking for each other. Caroline comes to live with Autumn and takes care of her while she has surgery, multiple rounds of chemo and all that comes with having cancer. Caroline is afraid to get too close after losing her mom to cancer and her horrible ex-wife, Autumn doesn’t want to burden anyone but longs to find someone. Both being afraid of losing something that they might never have, will they somehow overcome their fears and cancer to be together?
As I am sadly familiar with how chemo is this book seems to paint a realistic picture of the ups and downs of what it entails. Every person has a different experience and I think this book does a great job of also showing that without shoving it in your face. People deal in different ways with a loved one having a terrible disease, but the mother in this story is an evil witch, awful! Autumn is a character that is used of taking care of others, being on the receiving end of care is hard for her, asking for help and opening up about needing help is even harder, very relatable. Caroline has her own issues and she works through then as well, seems authentic. Autumn’s friends Kate and Lisa are a great couple of friends to have. I really liked how Autumn was able to stand up to her mom by the end of the book, but I didn’t care for the dramatic incident with Caroline. Aside from the far fetched thing with Caroline I really enjoyed this read. I am glad Ford wrote an authentic feeling love story involving cancer, I think she has done her friends Kim and Kim proud.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
June 18, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Days of Autumn because it was different from many romance novels I have read. There were some well-developed issues that were presented by the author that made me think whether I would have taken a chance on a relationship while battling cancer or helping someone battle cancer. That the position that Autumn Landry and Caroline Cross find themselves in. Autumn has been diagnosed with colon cancer and hires Caroline to live with her and help her during her treatments. Caroline lost her mother to cancer only a few years before and has been running from the hurt and loss ever since. She takes the job with Autumn to try to find herself and get herself back on the right track. Sparks fly quickly between the two, but there is hesitation on both sides on whether to move forward. Caroline isn't sure she wants to possibly lose Autumn and have her heart broken again. Autumn has never really given her heart to anyone because she has been so wrapped up in helping others and taking care of their needs instead of taking care of hers.
I felt like the characters were very well developed and the author made you care for each of them and the heartaches they were going through. It wasn't just the struggle of a possible relationship. The struggle with cancer was always there as a barrier for them. I felt like that struggle added to the dynamic between the two since it took nearly 3/4 of the book before things started to develop. The slow burn really built the tension between them and led to a wonderful experience for them when it happened.
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a different type of romance with some real life issues intermixed.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I felt like the characters were very well developed and the author made you care for each of them and the heartaches they were going through. It wasn't just the struggle of a possible relationship. The struggle with cancer was always there as a barrier for them. I felt like that struggle added to the dynamic between the two since it took nearly 3/4 of the book before things started to develop. The slow burn really built the tension between them and led to a wonderful experience for them when it happened.
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a different type of romance with some real life issues intermixed.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
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June 7, 2020A touching love story about vulnerability and the unexpected.
Autumn Landers has a perfect life, she is beautiful and runs her own successful business. One day, she is diagnosed with cancer and her world comes crashing down.
Caroline Cross is trying to get over her wife’s infidelity when she sees Atumn’s ad for a caregiver. Maybe this will give her the purpose she needs and help her leave her past behind.
The attraction is mutual but will they act upon it?
The Last Days Of Autumn is a beautiful slow burn romance that dwells on the uncertainty of life, and how our past and future shouldn’t affect our present.
The character arch and development was very interesting. I found Autumn’s personal story extremely difficult to digest but I was also glad to see she was portrayed as a strong, dignified woman after her diagnosis and despite of the treatment she receives from her mother.
Caroline was very likeable, and her story’s development makes it easy to sympathise with her. Her ex-wife and her infidelity also play a part in the novel but despite of her personal flaws, the author manages to convey a sense of fragility that make you forget her betrayal.
But the true gist of the story is the different personalities of Autumn and Caroline, and how they approach falling in love in their own ways. How would you react if love came to you in an unexpected way?
Disclosure: I would like to thank Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an advanced copy of The Last Days Of Autumn by Donna K. Ford. This is my honest review.
https://jemimareads.wordpress.com/
Autumn Landers has a perfect life, she is beautiful and runs her own successful business. One day, she is diagnosed with cancer and her world comes crashing down.
Caroline Cross is trying to get over her wife’s infidelity when she sees Atumn’s ad for a caregiver. Maybe this will give her the purpose she needs and help her leave her past behind.
The attraction is mutual but will they act upon it?
The Last Days Of Autumn is a beautiful slow burn romance that dwells on the uncertainty of life, and how our past and future shouldn’t affect our present.
The character arch and development was very interesting. I found Autumn’s personal story extremely difficult to digest but I was also glad to see she was portrayed as a strong, dignified woman after her diagnosis and despite of the treatment she receives from her mother.
Caroline was very likeable, and her story’s development makes it easy to sympathise with her. Her ex-wife and her infidelity also play a part in the novel but despite of her personal flaws, the author manages to convey a sense of fragility that make you forget her betrayal.
But the true gist of the story is the different personalities of Autumn and Caroline, and how they approach falling in love in their own ways. How would you react if love came to you in an unexpected way?
Disclosure: I would like to thank Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an advanced copy of The Last Days Of Autumn by Donna K. Ford. This is my honest review.
https://jemimareads.wordpress.com/
December 19, 2022
Another book that can touch sensibilities, but here it must be said that in a more bearable way. Cancer is always a touchy subject.
Chance or destiny, unite the two protagonists. Autumn is a newly diagnosed woman who has to face a hard and uncertain future, she does not want to be a burden for her loved ones and she decides to place an ad to find a person who can help her cope with the difficulties that await her. And Caroline, a woman who is in a difficult personal situation after finishing her marriage, decides to assume this role, despite the fact that her mother also suffered from this disease and she does not have very good memories of that time.
The book goes through all the states that Autumn has to go through, operation, chemo treatment, discomfort, doubts. But the story has never become unpleasant, considering. I, who am very reticent with this type of stories, have finished quite grateful this time.
And in parallel, Caroline, accompanying Autumn, is leaving behind her pain and mistrust. So it has been a recovery for the two of them. Altogether it was a nice story.
An advanced reading copy has been sent to me by the publisher Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley for my honest review
Chance or destiny, unite the two protagonists. Autumn is a newly diagnosed woman who has to face a hard and uncertain future, she does not want to be a burden for her loved ones and she decides to place an ad to find a person who can help her cope with the difficulties that await her. And Caroline, a woman who is in a difficult personal situation after finishing her marriage, decides to assume this role, despite the fact that her mother also suffered from this disease and she does not have very good memories of that time.
The book goes through all the states that Autumn has to go through, operation, chemo treatment, discomfort, doubts. But the story has never become unpleasant, considering. I, who am very reticent with this type of stories, have finished quite grateful this time.
And in parallel, Caroline, accompanying Autumn, is leaving behind her pain and mistrust. So it has been a recovery for the two of them. Altogether it was a nice story.
An advanced reading copy has been sent to me by the publisher Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley for my honest review
September 6, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, I don't know why I'm drawn to books like this about cancer but it could be because of losing family members to cancer who didn't have treatment. However back to the story, a beautiful story actually, autumn who doesn't want to burden her mother so hires a live in carer and falls deeply in love. It also has a beautiful ending I could easily see this in the cinemas its a fabulous book
June 4, 2020
This is a well written touching book with sympathetic characters and real life scenarios. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2021
thailand?
October 29, 2023
3.5 Stars
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