Review: A Moment By Marie Hall
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2013
Ro's Take on the JourneyA Moment, By Marie Hall, is a wonderfully well written, and developed book.  It has a storyline filled with controversy, pain, sorrow, angst, taboo issues most people don't want to put in the forefront, love, loss, self-loathing, and soul searching.  The story begins in dual narration from the prospective of the main characters, Ryan Cosgrove, and Lili Delgado.Ryan has an exquisite build, with beautiful blue eyes, a literary nerd of sorts, (which no one knows) a boxer, and well fit.  He has a rough exterior, and portrays himself as a non-caring, rebel, and somewhat of an heartless womanizer.  In actuality, he is a loving, kind, warm-hearted, loyal young man, who has lost his way, and needs someone to say they love him, and show him that they care.  Ryan is a very complicated character from the onslaught.  He is a very angry young man who is harboring so much pain, self-loathing, and struggles with his self-worth.  He lives with the nightmares that haunt and invade his thoughts, and well-being every night, that are he cannot escape.  Ryan has a secret that he cannot share with anyone, but his cousin, Alex. The only reason he can share it with his cousin, is because Alex was a witness to his haunting secret.  Alex is his roommate, and his confidant.  Unfortunately, Ryan had a father and mother that had other plans when they found out they were expecting him, and everyday of his life, his father reminded him of that.  He could never please his father, and there was no love or nurturing in the household.Lili is her parents only child.  She is the hope of her father, to do big things for her family to be proud of.  Lili gets pregnant as a teenager, her mother is diagnosed with M.S., and her father leaves them high and dry.  He is disgusted the second he finds out that his daughter has let him down.  From that moment on, Lili takes on the responsibility of the family.  She has her child on her own, without the father of her child's help, and lives with her mother, and the helper, Ade, who becomes one of the family.  Ade helps with Javi, the baby, who is on the high end of the Autism spectrum, cannot stand to be touched, doesn't speak, and cannot look anyone in the eyes.  Mostly, typical of children with Autism, though some can deal with touch.  Javi becomes the center of Lili's world, and she is a loving, tender mother, who works hard, goes to school, takes care of her child, and her ailing mother.  This book delves into the depths of despair, and the real search for love and acceptance.Ryan and Lili meet through his cousin Alex on Valentine's day.  A day that will change them all forever.  This is the beginning of a relationship that will be based on mutual love, and respect as it progresses.  Two people searching for the same things, but for different reasons.  Ryan shows his tender side to Javi, and wins Lili's heart over and over again, though she questions the limits of her own boundaries.Marie Hall,  has done a fantastic job with this first book in the Moment Series.  She is a very talented author, in deed, that can pull off a story line like this one, with such ease and articulation.  Ms. Hall will capture your attention, and keep you at the edge of your seat straight through to the end of this dynamic book.  There was no lull in this story.  I am completely flabbergasted by the depth and courage it took to delve into the darkest areas of real life, and pull off the most heart-wrenching, sensitive, hurtful, savage, self-sacrificing, loving, tender novel an author can write.  This story lived through her prose, and I could feel the pain of the characters down to their souls.  I loved this book.  It hit on some personal aspects tragedies that have touched my life, along with others that I have lived through other's lives.  Ms. Hall is a very  sensitive writer to the core.  I could feel everything she wanted me to feel from beginning to end.  I look forward to the remaining installments in this series.  This is a book that will remain with me for a long time to come.  Put this on your TBR.  Ms. Hall will not let you down.  Get the kleenex ready, because this book will put you through the ringer.  My stomach was in knots, and I felt the angst, and misfortune for these two characters, and the secondary characters, (which were key to the storyline) throughout the novel.  A Moment is sure to touch your heart and soul in the deepest ebb of darkness, and when the light starts shining through, you will sigh with the gratitude that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even when you think there is no hope left in sight at times.  I am grateful for being a part of this phenomenal journey, and the fact that I was able to review this book.I give, A Moment, By Marie Hall, 5 Desperate, Devastatingly Broken, Gut-Wrenching, Soul-Searching, Longing, Loving Stars!