Not Exactly What I Signed Up For..

So I thought I was going to be listening to a forbidden romance between a woman and her husband's nephew. I was unclear going in what the exact circumstances were but I thought I was prepared. I planned for plenty of angst, maybe some cheating.

I was not prepared at all. This is not a love triangle. This one isn't even really a romance. It is a love story. Mostly it is a story of loss and family. It is a heartbreaker. No one walks away unscathed.

It is going to take me a while to recover.

Very good narration. If I had to complain I would just have wished for a little more Aaron. Very well written. This one is not warm and fuzzy but it is a good book.

4 people found this helpful

Unexpected...

I kept listening to this book and thinking that the love story needed to be wrapping up quickly with how close to the end things were getting and still being unresolved. But this is t a typical love story where they guy gets his girl and they live happily ever after....as you would think. It’s a story of love and life and real heartache and death. I feel...a little unfulfilled at the close of this story, but reflective.

2 people found this helpful

Wow...

This is one of those stories that you think you know what you're getting, but it's so much more. The way the author was able to resolve the conflict was beautiful.

2 people found this helpful

So Unexpected!

I am so glad I listed to this book, it is so much better then I expected! OMG my heart was broken over an over. I love Heather's writing and have enjoyed her other books but I must say I was skeptical about this one due to the short description of it. I didn't know what to really expect but I am so glad I took the chance! This is definitely worth a credit, worth a listen, worth a read! So good and beautifully written I can't say enough about this book!

1 person found this helpful

UGH! So Friggin Sad!!!

Warning: Small spoiler but necessary to express my opinion. This book gets 5 heart wrenching stars, BUT it was not the kind of love story I expected and I don’t believe the characters truly got their HEA’s. I was so disappointed at the end when I thought for a moment they had, but alas, my heart was torn out yet again.
I would have liked a different outcome, as unconventional as it may have been, that respected the right of the child to know his father instead of protecting the adults from the fall-out. As for the other child in question, she was 3 when this all went down and she was in a very loving situation. This would’ve been a non-issue by the time she was old enough to understand. I also think that Viv had very strong support in her mom and Cassie. Anyone else who had a problem with it would’ve gotten over it.
This is a 2 tissue box kinda book but still worth the credit.

Vivienne Parker

This is not a romance story with a HEA.

▪▪▪Review contains spoilers▪▪▪

Audible Escapes review. Dual POV. Standalone.  Trigger warnings: death of a spouse, drunk driving accident, miscarriage, abuse of a prescription drug, deceit and a hidden child.

**uncertain of the spelling of character names**

Vivienne Parker (26; aka Viv) is the wife of Abbott Parker, mother of Matilda Grace, went to college at Tulane, best friend of Cassie, from AL & lives in LA with her family. She becomes a widow the night before Matilda's 3rd birthday when a female drunk driver collides with her husband & daughter on their way home from a daddy/daughter date. Reid Parker (18) is Dave's, Abbott's older brother, son. He wasn't able to make it to his uncle's funeral but Dave volunteers him to help Vivienne run the camp for asperger's teens Abbott created for the summer. It's the summer before he goes to college & while he had other plans he is willing to help his aunt for the summer.

Reid arrives & shocks Vivienne with how much he looks like Abbott. Vivienne struggles with her grief & panic attacks so she goes to see Dr Benson who prescribes antidepressants & advises her about the side effects. So deep in her grief Vivienne disregards her doctor's warnings, takes her too much medication & drinks wine. Reid rescues Matilda after she falls in the lake. Vivienne is so upset she insists that Reid stay with her. He agrees, takes a shower using Abbott's products and puts on his clothes. Reid & Vivienne fall asleep together after they've had a few to drink. Reid wakes with Vivienne begging him to take her & he's so attracted to her he does. She wakes up later thinking it was a dream. Vivienne continually flashes back to memories of her past with Abbott. Cassie is a social worker having a difficult time with one of her foster children's foster parents. She eventually decides to adopt the girl, Sierra, & her little sister, Corrie.

One night during a storm Reid finds Matilda at his door saying Vivienne is bleeding. He finds her in bed bleeding & in pain. Once the ambulance takes her away he followed with Matilda and goes to the hospital. Vivienne is confused as to how she had a miscarriage & asks Reid about it, he flips out expressing his love for her & the hurt he feels that she won't acknowledge what happened so he leaves. Two weeks later Cassie goes to see him, telling him never to see her again because it hurts Vivienne too much, explaining that she was taking meds & shouldn't have been drinking but that she's getting psychiatric help.

5 years later, Vivienne bumps into Reid in the grocery store. He's with his wife & infant daughter & Vivienne is with Matilda & her 4 year old son AJ. Reid quickly realizes AJ is his son. Reid approaches Vivienne in the parking lot demanding answers. Vivienne said she miscarried & didn't find out that she was still pregnant with the second baby until Reid had left her in the ER. He demands to be in his son's life and at her request promises not to disclose that AJ is his.

Epilogue 12 years later: Matilda's wedding. Reid eventually got over his anger at her keeping AJ from him, realizing it was for the best, never acknowledging AJ as his but staying in their lives.

Side characters: Matilda Grace Parker (3 years old on May 21; aka Tilly; Dimples). Abbott Jude Parker (Matilda's dad; V's husband of 5 years/9 years together; from GA; died the day before Matilda's 3rd birthday from a drunk driver hitting his car on his way home from his date with Matilda; architect; dedicated to the autistic community; created a camp for kids w/asperger's syndrome because his best friend growing up had it; raised by a single mother). Cassie (V's college friend; Matilda's godmother; foster child from MS; social worker). Mrs Anderson; V's mom). Mr Anderson (V's dad; left them when she was 13; remarried with kids). Officer Thomas (notified V of the accident). Elizabeth Parker (Abbott's mom). Dave Parker (Abbott's older brother). Kylie (Reid's girlfriend). Grace Adler (Abbott's bff growing up; met her when she was 12; has asperger's). Dr Benson (V's doctor). Sierra & Corrie (foster kids). The Klausen's (Sierra's foster family). Gage (bartender). Julia (aka Jules; Reid's wife). Amelia Rose Parker (Reid & Julia's daughter). AJ (4; Reid & V's son). Blake (Matilda's husband). Riley (Sierra's daughter). Owen (ring bearer). JP

Pet Peeve

If you don't like 2 year ills with the vocabulary and emotions of a nine year old, this book will drive you crazy. I can't finish the book as my teeth are clenched and my jaw locked in annoyance at the beyond precocious toddler.