Review: Past Imperfect
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 25, 2014
Once again we Alison G. Bailey works her magic with words.Book two of the Perfect series is just that… perfect.I first met Brad Johnson in book one of the series Present Perfect.  To say my feelings towards him were not pleasant well that might be an understatement.  Having read Past Imperfect I would have to say my feelings have changed.Book one of the series Present Perfect does not have to read to fully encompass the storyline of Past Imperfect but I would highly recommend it.  Not only will you fall in love with the story  but I think that it will in some ways enhance your reading of Past Imperfect. That being said the author provides a wonderful backstory woven into the present so anyone reading Past Imperfect as a standalone will have the perfect balance.Character development within this story is vital.  We are treated to a slow unveiling of past and present with all of the characters in this book.  The author slowly provides us with details that form the characters bringing them to life.  I enjoyed the fact that details of the characters emotional sense were brought to light throughout the entire book creating such a perfect understanding to each situation in real time.As with her first book this author covers an array of topics.  She takes them all and blends them together so beautifully. Once again I found myself lost to her words with so many feelings and emotions running through me.The story of Brad and Marby is a story of so many things.  Friendship, fear, love, loss, pasts colliding with the future, secrets held close and secrets exposed.  The intense and utter desire to let go of the demons that haunt, to achieve the quite the mind so deserves.  Realization of the truths known but not accepted and most of all the intense burning desire to be loved without condition.Is there hope when you realize that you were nothing?  Is it possible to live within the regret of your past?  Can the secrets we hold close ever be exposed?  Is it better to feel pain or nothing at all?  Do we choose our paths or are the paths we travel chosen for us?  Is it possible to let go of the demons and the hurt without fear overtaking?  More so is it possible to love and be loved, to be accepted, scars visible and the scars we hide?  Is there really hope at all when we feel that the past prevents the future?I found while reading this story I was once again transported from reality into the brilliant and words of the author.  Dealing not only with the burning desire for change, the intense hurt of accepting the truth, the pain we inflict to calm the noise, the wonderment of love and the intensity of the feelings that these topics bring to the surface.The connection I felt not only to the characters but the storyline itself once again amazed me.  I found hope, healing and understanding.  I felt the sting of rejection, the intense passion of two souls colliding and a complete understanding of the thought process of all of the characters in this book. Along with the intensity of the storyline I also found warmth, hope, laughter and a complete sense of peace.This is a story of life, love and change.  The ability to believe we are worth love.  The desire to right the wrongs of our past.  To accept the truths we so deeply hope were lies.  To understand the how, what and why of our actions and the willingness to let go and find peace.