Review: A Beautiful and Gritty Love Story!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2013
This is the story of 21 year old Liliana (Lili) Delgado and 25 year old Ryan Cosgrove, two people that are broken, and struggling in their own way.  Lili got pregnant at the young age of fourteen with her very first crush.  She had Javier (Javi) who suffers from Autism, and her mother is slowly dying of M.S. before her eyes.  Lili's father took off and abandoned Lili and her Mama 4 years ago, and left Lili to struggle with the responsibilities of paying the bills, attending college full-time to become a nurse, bartending full time at a Burlesque Club, and being the main caretaker of her mother, and sole caretaker of her son.  Javi's dad is an absentee father, and Lili carries many burdens on her shoulders.  Her son is seven years old and doesn't speak, doesn't like physical touch, to be around strangers, and has major tantrums weekly.  Lili isn't always sure what is going to set Javi off, but she does her absolute best as a mother to make him happy and comfortable.  Lili spends as much time as she can with Javi, reads to him (he loves spiderman comics,) sings while playing guitar to him, and tries to give him a happy childhood.  It makes Lili sad that her son doesn't like to be touched or held.  The only time Javi lets his mother hold him is when he is tired, and falling asleep.  It is painful for Lili as she watches her mother die a slow and painful death.  Lili, and her mother are really close, and Mama worries about Lili.  She knows that her daughter is young, beautiful, intelligent, and good-hearted.  She encourages Lili to get out of the house, and have some fun.  Mama has a part time nurse, Ade, who takes care of her when Lili is not available, and the nurse becomes more like a part of the family, cooks for them, and babysits Javi for Lili.Ryan Cosgrove was an "accident," that his parents resented having.  They had him late in life, and he ruined their plans for traveling all over the world and retirement.  When Ryan is 10 years old, he is raped by his uncle.  He tries to tell his parents, but they don't believe him, and call him a liar.  His life goes in a downward spiral after that.  He is full of anger, shame, has nightmares, and as soon as he turns 18, he joins the military, and separates himself from his family permanently.  All except for his cousin Alex, who is a few years younger than him.  They become roommates, after Ryan leaves the army, and are very close.  Alex works at a coffee shop near Lili's college, and the two of them talk frequently, and become fast friends.  On Valentine's Day, Alex invites Lili to go out with him, and Ryan.  After they meet, things will never be the same for either of them again..I loved A Moment!  It was told in dual narration between Lili, and Ryan.  Ms. Hall gave us plenty of background information, and makes you feel as if you know the characters personally.  The story was fully developed, and there wasn't any insta-love.  The relationship between Lili, and Ryan developed at a good pace.  Both characters were fully rounded, and made growth in the story, especially Ryan.  The secondary characters were interesting, and really added to the storyline.  You will adore Mama, Ade, Javi, and Alex!  They all become such a close and cohesive tight knit family.  You will be disgusted with, and angered by Lili's father, and Ryan's parents and uncle.  I appreciated how the story felt authentic, and dealt with real life issues.  Your heart will feel heavy, and break for Lili, and Ryan.  Ms. Hall addressed many issues that we face in our lives.  I believe that everyone will be able to connect with the characters in one way or another, their story will become important to you, and you will be rooting for Lili and Ryan!  Such heavy topics are addressed, that I would say be mentally prepared to read about rape, suicide, M.S., abandonment, and a child with special needs.  If you are in the mood to read a book with substance, real life issues, angst, pain, love, and passion with well-developed characters, and a well-developed storyline, then read A Moment.  If you are looking for a fun, light, and easy read, then I would hold off on this one, but don't forget about it.  When you are ready to read this story, it will really touch your heart, make you feel the character's hurt, pain, passion, love, and hope deeply.  These characters will feel like your family and/or friends, and make you think about some of the issues that other's are going through in their lives right now.  Or, perhaps you will be able to directly be able to relate to Ryan and/or Lili.  One thing is for certain, A Moment is a story that will make you think, feel, and remember, long after the last page is read.Rating:I give, A Moment 4.5 Beautiful Love Story, Healing a Broken Heart, Learning to Trust, Loving Oneself, Letting Go of the Past, and Living in the Moment Stars!  I highly recommend, A Moment by Marie Hall.  It was such a beautiful and painful love story full of depth and substance!  There was a lot of angst, turmoil, and tension in this story, but it dealt with real life issues, such as abandonment, abuse, suicide, alcoholism, and learning how to cope in a positive and healthy way with bottled up pain, anger, guilt, shame, absentee parents, and a painful past.  I loved the strength, courage, loyalty, patience, compassion, and love that Lili showed to everyone in her life.  She was an amazing person!  Ryan had his deep dark demons to contend with, but he had a good heart, treated Javi like his own child, and loved Lili with everything that he had!  This story was fast-paced, and I read it in record time!  Trust me, this is one story that you do not want to miss out on!Favorite Quotes:"The look only lasts a second, but feels more like an eternity--a stolen moment in time that exists outside of where we're at right now.  But like so much in my life, it's fleeting."~Lili (eARC Loc. 79)"Just as she sings that line, Javi looks at her.  Dead in her face and I feel like a bastard, because I get to see what I know she hasn't.  Love.  It's all around him, and it's all for her."~Ryan (eARC Loc. 1940)"Ryan can always cut through my crap, can always help me see the positive in the ugly.  Truth is, it's getting hard to remember my life before him and I'm terrified of ever going back to it.  I need Ryan the same way I need to breathe.  He's my air and the reason why I got out of bed wearing a smile in the middle of the hell my life is becoming."~Lili (eARC Loc. 2068)"Liliana will save me.  She has to.  Because there's no other choice for me.  My soul is black, my heart shriveled, anything good in me is her.  That is it.  And if she doesn't save me, no one else can."~Ryan (eARC Loc. 2214)"I love him.  Love this man with scars so deep they terrify me.  I'll do anything to save him.  I know that now.  And when he whispers my name again, I know in that instant he's ruined me for anyone else.  Because this is love.  And it's beautiful."~Lili (EARC Loc. 2421)"You're not dirty, Ryan.  And I'm not an angel, I'm just a woman who's desperately in love with you and wants you to know that no matter what, I'll always be here."~Lili (eARC Loc. 4129)"I'll never forget what happened to me, that's not possible, but I also know I'm no longer alone.  Every sigh, every caress, she's stitching me back up.  She's taking the broken pieces and gluing them all together, I'm not perfect, there are still defects, but I'm standing again and that's all that matters."~Ryan eARC Loc. 4142For more book reviews, visit A Bookish Escape at [...]