Many thanks to publisher Bookouture for my spot on this Blog Tour.
A difficult book to review where I had to scrutinize my inner emotions along with realities of life, but the story was all heart. Author Vanessa Carnevale knew how to put the characters in a life-defining dilemma and watch them take their decisions.
It was both heart breaking and heart warming. I tapped the screen of my kindle almost fervently, and only the last page of the book told me the absolute truth.
Paige was expecting, and her husband Nick was over the moon. In the last trimester, she became dizzy and breathless, and the baby stopped moving. A catastrophe had occurred. Paige was diagnosed to have heart failure, and future pregnancy was contraindicated until her heart strengthened. But she became pregnant. Most of her family including husband wanted her to terminate as it was a risk to her life. Would she?
There was no right or wrong decisions, just those that were taken by the heart. Nick wanted Paige to survive and not be a single dad. Paige just wanted her baby to live.
Skirmishes abounded, there were no right answers. Love was present between the two main characters in their every action, even when they were on opposite sides in their decisions.
The prose came with huge dollops of talent and love as each situation between them came alive. The story was identifiable as I can’t have kids due to my underlying cardiac condition. I kept putting myself in the situation that Paige was in. What would I have chosen?
This was a book which was fiction but a reality for me. Life presented so many twists, and many of them were invariable. The story was compelling to the point of addiction. I couldn’t rest until I knew what would happen. It almost tempted me to read the last chapter first.
Empathy for the characters and truths of life emboldened the story. Tears mingled with smiles, desperation with acceptance. It was everything I hoped for but nothing I was prepared to deal with. An emotional read.
I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be read here
No parent should ever have to lose a child.
No husband should ever have to lose a wife.
No one should ever have to choose.
Paige and Nick are happy. They have a beautiful home, a loving family and, most importantly, they would do anything for each other. Now, they are having a baby and it feels like all their dreams are coming true.
But joy turns to despair when they discover that Paige has a rare, life-threatening heart condition and they lose their longed-for child. Heartbroken, the couple must accept the reality that they may not become parents after all.
Just as they begin to come to terms with their loss, Paige unexpectedly falls pregnant again. Paige’s heart is still weak, and to carry the baby to term puts them both at risk. The couple now face an impossible decision: Paige’s life or the life of their unborn child?
If Paige keeps the baby, she could lose her life and destroy the man she loves. If Nick tries to stop her, he may lose them both forever. It’s the most important decision they have ever had to make – and time is running out.
Publication Date: August 2020
15 Responses
Great review, Shalini, thanks. And I’m sorry for your own sad story. I hope you are keeping very well.
I am fine Elizabeth. It took me tears to accept my truth. I have my bad days but that’s life.
Thank you so much ❤️
Thanks Shalini x
Yayy it got published after 3 attempts
I fear this one would ruin me, I would be eviscerated – you are braver than I am
It was a tough read. But isn’t this book in your TBR? This week has been one emotional book after the other…. Ugghhh no more
This sounds heartbreaking!!
Ah this was quite real for me. But that’s life good with bad
Very true Shalini. Beautiful review. ❤😍📚☕🍪
What a wonderful review, for a book with a sad content, but aintriguing cover. Thank you Shalini. Enjoy you weekend, Michael.
I’m sorry this was such a hard read for you. When fiction is actually someone’s reality, it is engaging but not fun.😞
I agree. I was just happy I didn’t get triggered. I think Linda it’s because the pandemic has scared me up completely. So in one way I was happy that I had not brought a kid to such a world. Imagine, the kids know lockdown and social distancing when they should have been playing with each other and having fun. Now the tiny tots are in online education
I agree. I am so glad I am retired from education. When I retired, I was sick of the overtesting and stifling of creativity; I just couldn’t do that to kids anymore. That was nothing compared to what kids are enduring now–no social or physical contact and such an artificial setup for learning. I am sorry for the teachers, students and parents.
Brilliant review,Shalini. I can see this one hit some person chords for you. It does sound like such a poignant read.
I didn’t know about your personal story. I’m sorry about that. Hugs ❤️
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