Review: Beautiful Story of Love and Loss
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 24, 2014
***I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.***WOW!!! What an amazing emotional rollercoaster ride of a book this is! Sophie and Ana are leaving their small town after the death of Jack, Sophie's love and Ana's brother. They made a promise to him before he went to Afghanistan that they would take care of each other if something happened to him. Sophie has barely been living life for the past year. She is plagued by horrible, vivid nightmares about Jack. They believe leaving town and starting fresh will help mend their broken hearts. As she and Ana adjust to their new lives, Sophie meets Chase who has a painful past as well. When the two meet, they actually begin to feel again. As the two grow closer, their pasts continue to affect their future. Can Sophie let go of her pain and share her heart with Chase? Can Chase let go of his trust issues long enough to give a chance at "real love" a try?There are so many things I LOVED about this book and things that set it apart from other romances for me. It is told in four POVs, Sophie, Ana, Chase, and Drake (Chase's cousin). You might think this would really make it confusing, but it really helps move the book along. It provided a more in-depth look at the characters and their inner most feelings which helped me connect better with each character. Kate Benson's writing style is nothing short of beautiful. Her flashbacks of Sophie and Jack were so vivid. I felt like I was there and felt everything Sophie did. There were many times I cried my eyes out, especially the airport scene when Sophie and Jack are saying goodbye to each other. Even the flashbacks Ana has of her brother are bittersweet. It allows you to see the different ways each women grieved for Jack. Her descriptive detail to each scene was fantastic too. The title for the book was perfect! The characters in this book make promises to the people they love. But as we know in life, promises can be easily broken. This book deals with the consequences of when those promises are broken either intentionally or unintentionally. I loved every character in this book, but of course, Sophie, Jack, and Chase stand out for me. The way Kate writes about Sophie's grief is so raw and real. My heart broke for her as it did for Chase. Even though Jack is no longer physically "in the picture", he is very much a main character that I loved.Warning: this book will literally tear your heart out! Poor Sophie...I kept wondering how much more pain could this poor girl take. It is an emotionally, gut-wrenching book that will have you crying, laughing, and crying again. The end of the book will leave you somewhat speechless but wanting more. In fact, Kate, you need to have the sequel done like yesterday! FANTASTIC READ!!!!