Review: Phenomenally EPIC Series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 10, 2014
ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SERIES EVER!!!! EVER!!! EVER!!! EVER!!!Author Lori Otto gave us 3.5 epic stories. Each book held my heart a little tighter. I had an insta-love with this series, as soon as I started chapter one of Not Today, But Someday. It pulled me into the depths of Nate, Emi, and Jack, and didn't want to let me go until just now. I was left breathless, my heart beating rapidly, and my tears were a constant flow of happiness, sadness, and love.Not Today, But SomedayMoved.This book is the prequel to The Lost & Found Series. This is the book that started it all. It had my attention from the very first line, to that very last line. Emi and Nate cracked open my heart, and moved right in. They shared with me friendship, a very tight bond, love (in a new way), and most importantly happiness. They are two people who I knew I was going to love for always. Their friendship inspires me. I feel like all high-school aged kids, or any age for that matter, should have a best friend of the opposite sex. They each taught one another about life and to just be who they are. Emi and Nate are free-spirits. And I think I loved this the most about them. They are very creative too, and I feel that with them being free-spirited it helped inspired their creativity to really show us who they were. They are passionate, fighters, and absolutely wonderful characters! The best thing about this shorter story, was that we get dual POVs. It made it easier to completely feel and understand Nate and Emi.Lost & FoundSpeechless. We now see Emi and Nate as adults. Both who are still very creative, and both who are leading empty lives. I didn't think that I would be able to handle their emptiness, but I did. I completely understood it. It brought me back to Not Today, But Someday. In this book we get Nates POV. I loved it. It was an intricate way for us to see his story, and it needed to be told, for us to grasp everything that took place. He brought so much to this story, and the emotions that coursed through the pages, eventually made their way into me. It was beautiful. Almost, poetic. Nate is the epitome of man, but also the epitome of love. He carries his heart on his sleeve, and to me it showed us who he was. He was so much more than Emis best friend, he was a man that would do anything for anyone, especially Emi. She was his heart. She was his all. She was what made him excel in life. But most importantly Nate was complete when she was around.Time Stands StillShattered. NATE!!! God, I love him. EMI!! Love her just as much. And JACK, well he owns me!! This was a very moving story. So much closure, loss, love, and new friendships were had, as well as new adventures, and most importantly healing. I had a hard time letting myself wrap my heart/head around certain situations. I was scared of the outcome, but knew that all would make perfect sense when everything came together. What I most loved about this book, was the fact that it was all in Emis POV. And well, it really needed to be. It was just as important as Nates book, if not more. We get to see growth from Emi this time around. She has a battle of the inner wills, because she just cannot let go. Do we blame her? Heck NO! How could we, she went from having it all to everything being gone in the blink of the eye. It was rough to watch her story unfold. But again, it was beautiful. She emerged like a butterfly from her cocoon when she was finally ready. Her story is more dramatic and heart-breaking, but it was also full of hope and promise, especially when Jacks enters her life. This was a great turning point for her story and for her, and every secondary character involved. The secondary characters, moved me. Especially, Chris. Chris was able to hold Emi up when she was down, and helped turned her life around. Anna and Jen were a great help as well. Each character has a purpose in the lives of Emi, Nate, and Jacks. Each character is very special, as well. And Jacks, well he instantly takes your breath away. In a sense, he reminded me of Nate. They are both men of their word and love like no other. And he also wears his heart on his sleeve, but in a different respect. He is the man to show Emi what life is really about, ***SPOILER***and to also help her to realize it's ok to love again.***END SPOILER*** Jacks swept me off of my feet, he is perfection wrapped up into the great man that he is. But is Emi capable of being what he wants and really who he needs, and vice versa?Never Look BackRepaired! Yes. I am totally functioning again. I wasn't too sure if that would happen, and I was so unsure of where Ms. Otto would take these characters. But where they (she) took us, was phenomenal! I was truly overwhelmed and touched by it all. Jacks tells his story, this time around, and thank goodness too. He has a lot to share with us. All of which is very important and very detailed. Jacks shows us who he is. Of course we get glimpses of him in Time Stands Still, but it just wasn't enough for me. Yes, I loved him instantly, but I still wanted to know him. Jacks is very put together, and is patient, and so very kind. His heart is bigger than all seven oceans, and loves like you cannot even imagine. (Yes, his love is that big.) The way he expressed that moment with Emi, took my breath away. It was so very powerful and exquisite. The feelings overtook my emotions and had me applauding his dedication to his sweet Emi...Our sweet Emi. The friendship that develops into much more, had me swooning. Jacks is on mission to fulfill not only his dreams, but Emis as well. He makes it his mission to do everything and anything he can for her. Another super swoony thing about him. Like I may have mentioned before, he is very selfless. The way he is so gentle with Emi, was perfect. He wasn't pushy at all, he just did what was necessary. Of course a man can only give so much to a woman, before he breaks. And in this case, even with him being Mr. Perfect, he does have a moment of weakness and does break. I couldn't blame him one bit, I figured it would happen. And when it did, I was devastated. **SPOILER**Not by him, but by Emi.**END SPOILER**  The outcome just about killed me, I was weeping and my heart decided again to combust. It was in this moment, that I didn't know what was going to happen. And honestly, I thought I was going to have a panic attack, my jaw dropped open, and my hubby even asked if I needed a hug. Can Emi and Jacks get through their trials and tribulations? Can they come out of this together? Or will everything they know or think they know, just break right before their eyes?This was the BEST book of them all. Lori sets things up so perfectly, so our imaginations can take over. Each scene was well thought out and pieced together wonderfully...A place for everything and everything in its place, is a good way to think of each story, but most importantly this one. And when I say this is the best book, I absolutely mean it. It was more than powerful and phenomenal, it was soul piercing and life altering. Everything comes full circle, and for that I am again blown away.Final Thoughts on this SERIES, as a wholeI am bowing to you Ms. Otto! I thought I was a goner. I thought for sure you had ruined me. But you didn't. You repaired me. My soul and heart thank you. All of the emotions that you had us feel, took my breath away. I was a sobbing mess reading Lost and Found and Time Stands Still. I was even a mess reading Never Look Back, but in a different way. It was cathartic and cleansing. It had me praising you, and then again cursing you....of course all in good ways. Each of these stories puts life into perspective and it also has you constantly thinking and praying for everything to work out for everyone. Ms. Otto took this atypical love story and made it so much more. Like I mentioned previously, these books killed it. Each book had set its own bar, the level of wonderful and truly beautiful aspects left me breathless and most times speechless. Yes, I was heartbroken and possibly ruined a few times, but everything comes to light and becomes full circle, so I was whole again. Please know that you may have a hard time putting these books down. They are a book addicts dream come true, seriously. I was lost when I had to stop reading, to continue on with my real life. But as soon as I started reading these books again, all was right in my life.  And one of the most important things I have to mention, the writing was fluid and mesmerizing, and it will be sure to grab onto you and never let you go.  Grab some tissues, probably some wine, your ereader, and a friend, and dig in!! Hands down, BEST BOOK SERIES, EVER!!! Too many stars to count! <3