Rebecca Talley

Brynn Sawyer heads home to Seaspray CA from Houston TX to her ten-year high school reunion. She has very mixed feelings about going, but her best friend Kari will be there, too, and they're looking forward to the weekend together. Maybe their other best friend, Craig Dawon, will be there also.

What worries Brynn is wondering whether Troy Richards, her forever unrequited crush in high school, will be there, too. She's not sure whether it will be worse if he is, or if he isn't.

Soon she's discovering how much some have changed, how little others have changed--and that while Troy is as deliciously attractive as ever, she still can't avoid spilling things on him.

Yet her reactions to him--and to Craig--are not the same. Something's different.

What's changed?

It's a warm little romance novella, that will add a nice touch to your day.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.… (lisätietoja)

"Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's being afraid, but going forward anyway."

When Lauren Wilson found out her baby had Down Syndrome, her entire life changed. Her husband gave her an ultimatum--him or the baby. Lauren was divorced and carrying an imperfect baby and she had accepted that it was the way it would always be. Who would want her and a special needs child? Then entered Ethan Campbell, a childhood friend of her brother's that Lauren had a crush on for years. Ethan was a photographer that traveled around the world and he had no desire to settle down--until he ran into Lauren again. Not only did he fall in love with Lauren, he loved little Joseph as well despite the fact that he wasn't a perfect baby. But could Lauren trust him to stick by them? Or would he walk away just as her husband did?

Imperfect Love is a testimony for mothers of babies with Down Syndrome. The anger, guilt and fear these mothers go through was portrayed so beautifully. Lauren struggled with whether or not to abort her baby but, in the end, knew she loved him too much to let him go. I loved the way she thought of her baby. She called him her, "perfectly imperfect son."
She faced so many hard decisions and she felt so alone, even though her mother and sister were there for her. Raising a special needs child alone was terrifying. You could feel her turmoil and distraught emotions. There can be so many complications when a baby has Down Syndrome and I love the way the author really brought all of this out in great detail. I thought it was great that Lauren met with a mother whose baby had Downs to try and calm her fears and what she said really touched me.

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"Do you ever wish...I mean, do you ever think about..."
"What life would be like if he didn't have Down Syndrome?"
Lauren nodded, feeling like the question was rude but wanting to know the answer nonetheless.
"No. He is exactly as he should be. I believe things happen for a reason. Preston is the way he's meant to be. I've learned so much from him." Preston climbed down from Patricia's lap and ran over to play with one of his you cars. "I won't lie and say everything has been a day in the park. We've had our share of problems, but I would trade any of it. Preston is such a light in our family. He reminds me to be grateful, to appreciate life, and to take time to enjoy the journey instead of rushing to the destination. You know, take time to smell the roses." She laughed.

__________________End Quote__________________

I wanted to shake Paul. As an imperfect baby myself, I couldn't imagine my dad turning his back on me. But, at the same time I could understand his fear of the unknown. Ethan, however, is my hero. Not only did he love a pregnant divorcee', he loved little Joseph despite everything. I loved the sweet moments they sometimes shared and they often left me smiling. Like the scene below.

__________________Book Quote__________________

"You mean back when you were a kid?"
"Yeah." A nervous laugh fell out of her mouth. "You know, that awkward girl with the frizzy hair and big gap between her front teeth."
"I don't remember."
Warmth ran across Lauren's cheeks--he probably didn't remember her at all. "Oh."
"Confession time." He kept looking straight ahead.
She watched him with trepidation.
His dimple showed as he smiled. "I always thought you had beautiful eyes."
Her heartbeat increased. "You did?"
"Still do."
Can someone get the license plate of that truck that just ran over me?
He laughed. "Your face matches your hair." He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
She touched her cheeks. "You're trying to embarrassed me."
"If I remember right, that's pretty easy."

__________________End Quote__________________

The book really highlighted the Holocaust also and I loved the part about Milda, whose family had hidden Eva's family, therefore, saving their lives. This subject as well as the subject of Down Syndrome was so well done. And, I have to say, I loved Lauren's mother too. She got fired up easily when talking about Lauren's husband but she was her best cheerleader and supporter. Who doesn't love a mother like that? Overall, I completely loved this book. The storyline was strong and had a lot of depth. The characters are the kind you want to revisit. And the romance was so sweet and will leave you smiling. You might need tissues once or twice, too. This is my first book by Rebecca a Talley but, I assure you, it won't be my last. If you're a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, or are soon to be one, you will love this book. You will learn a thing or two in the process. But if you just like sweet, contemporary, hometown romances you'll love it, too. I very highly recommend this book!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone. I received no monetary compensation for this review.… (lisätietoja)

Lauren Wilson has a job that she loves, a loving and successful husband, and after two years of unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, she is finally going to have a baby and the happy ever after perfect life that she has dreamed about since she was a little girl. But Lauren's world will turn upside down when an ultrasound reveals a devastating news that makes her husband Paul give her an ultimatum: him or the baby! Forced to make a difficult decision, Lauren chooses to return to her hometown to start her life over with her baby. Struggling to pick up the pieces of her life, a chance encounter with Ethan Campbell, an old high school crush, leads to the rekindling of a friendship and a second chance at love.

Imperfect Love is a breathtakingly beautiful and emotional story of a mother's unconditional love for her child and a second chance at an imperfect but fulfilling love. Author Rebecca Talley does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into Lauren's life as she struggles with real life issues and the disintegration of her marriage when a traumatic test result in her pregnancy that leaves her no choice but to make a difficult life changing decision. Lauren's journey is filled with joy, heartbreak, choices, struggle, courage, friendship, love and redemption.

Imperfect Love takes the reader on an emotional journey where no emotion is left spared, you can't help but get swept away in this powerful and compelling tale of unconditional and imperfect love.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by I Am A Reader.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/imperfect-love-by-rebecca-tall...… (lisätietoja)

4 STARS

Imperfect love is a good clean drama dealing with real problems. It is easy to say I would make this choice when we are not in that situation. It draws out emotions. I wish that the ending could be different but I think it was right one.

Lauren Wilson is a strong character. She is facing some tough choices and chooses what she feels is right for her.
Lauren has been hoping to have a baby for a long time and now it looks like her dream is coming true. Lauren teaches middle school.

Paul is Lauren's husband. He works for his dad in his law firm. Paul is almost never home. He works long hours. He does not want to have this child and wants Lauren to choose to have abortion.

I want things to work out for Lauren. I like her. She knows that having a baby and being a single mother will be hard but she already loves her baby.

Lauren's mother tells her that she will retire and help Lauren with the baby. She wants Lauren to move in with her.

One thing that I was concerned about was how fast everyone was about Lauren finding someone else to date and be with it. I think that was rushing her into making decisions before she was ready.

I did not want to put this book down till I had finished reading it. It was a fast read.

The setting was Colorado modern times.

It is a good story that draws you into their drama and does not let you go. It also had some good humor too.

I was given this ebook to read and asked in return to give honest review of it.… (lisätietoja)