All the t’s are crossed and i’s dotted on Ellen’s application. Her references are good. And she’s easy on the eyes.
Until …
Flint discovers Ellen Rodgers, Board-Certified Music Therapist, plays music. Bongos, guitars, singing—not Beethoven administered through noise-cancelling headphones.
The cut-throat attorney serves up an eviction notice to the bubbly, constantly humming redhead who's too sexy for her own good. But luck is on Ellen’s side when Flint’s autistic son, Harrison, takes an instant liking to her. A single dad can’t compete with guitars—and rats. Yes, she has pet rats.
This woman …
She’s annoyingly happy with a constant need to touch him—adjust his tie, button his shirt, invade his space, and mess with his mind.
Still …
She must go.
Their lust-hate relationship escalates into something beautiful and tragic. This sexy, romantic-comedy explores the things we want, the things we need, and the impossible decisions parents and children make to survive.
"Maybe everything has to break before it can truly be fixed."
Sometimes we find those authors that we connect with instantly. Immediately. Continually. Jewel is that kind for me. She has never written a word out of place for me. I've always gotten immersed in her books the minute I open them. I love her depth, but also the realistic quirkiness that she puts into each one of her characters. She writes deep, she writes emotional, she writes multi-layered, and she writes multi-faceted. This one, Flint and Ellen, they pulled me in and took me on a ride because every turn was a surprise. Not in a shocking way, but in an easy yet emotional way. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I didn't. The characters were their own. The storyline was unquestionably unique. The emotions were SPOT ON. The beautiful meaning behind the title even had me sighing. I loved every quirky attribute to this story.
First and foremost, this review was hard for me to articulate because this story was so emotional for me. I had to ask myself, how do you reconcile FATE in the eye of tragedy? I honestly think Jewel is my dealer of "FATE Crack". I crave the way she writes these twists and turns that all seem to work out, but for all the right reasons. She writes stories that don't need to invite fate in because they are littered with that reality. The way she uses her words, they give the most impact the way she writes them.
Some books just affect people differently, and I can respect that. But the one thing I can say without a shadow of a doubt is that I love the way Jewel tells a story and the way I connect with her words. She flows. She speaks. She moves. I love how she can spin a story that has some casual overtones of some popular tropes, but the depth in her words and her characters' actions can pull your heartstrings and provide a different viewpoint. I’m willing to admit this book probably isn't going to be for everyone. If you don’t possess the ability for forgiveness and understanding, don't know what empathy and sympathy is, if you can’t accept what an honest and truthful second chance is, this book won’t work for you. It just won't. But if you have an open mind, an open heart, and the need to see FATE at work, let me tell you about this book that had me giggling, tearing up, and gasping. I want to tell you about this book that made me look deeper into the words. Feel more of the emotions. Seek a better understanding. This one spoke to my mommy side, my emotional side, and most definitely my empathetic side. I must say, leave it to Jewel to once again make me see another perspective. Right or wrong, she made me see it. Made me feel it. Made me empathize with it. I love that about the journeys she takes me on every single time I read one of her books.
The characters in this book: primary/secondary/tertiary, they were all worthy of mention. I loved laughing at Flint and Ellen's oddities as individuals, and as a couple. What worked for them and how they brought laughter and light to serious situations, but also how Ellen provided a place for Harrison in their lives without pause. I wish I could have half as much forgiveness and quirkiness that Ellen possessed. She was an enigma to me. The perfect woman. I loved every single thing about her. The way she took charge of a situation (strength). The way she helped in any given situation (empathetic). The way she shared another aspect of someone’s guilt (forgiveness). I just loved her. And to see that neither one of them changed their identity as to who they were to fit the other, that I loved. Business or pleasure <-- you'll understand after you read it, it all brought a smile to my face. For all it’s worth, I'm a little in love with Harrison, too. He was the levity in some pretty intense situations, and I loved how Jewel captured his personality so well. My son, he’s just like Harrison. I loved being able to see him in a book that didn’t characterize him in a bad light, yet there was some absolute truth to the stresses of a life with him. I loved the story even more for that very reason.
To note: The last few words in the very last chapter (not the epilogue) really were a gut-punch to my heart! Those words don't make sense, I know - and I get it, but I loved the meaning behind them. It put all the heartache into perspective for me; one that I could truly understand and connect with. The reality of the guilt, the consuming and life changing guilt Flint had, and the ability of Ellen to soothe it, soothe him, made this a wondrous read. Such beauty deep within the words of this book. Absolutely one of my favorite books by her.
"Emotions are ours. They are intimate and personal. And they shouldn't be right or wrong. No one should tell you what to feel, who to love, or how to live."
I hate stressing about writing a review, but it's always an anxiety inducing issue when you love a book so much, but for the not-so-normal reasons, and you want your review to do a book, an author's words, justice. I had so many notes and highlighted passages, and I feel like this is all word vomit, but this book spoke to me on every level. This is where I stand, and I love Jewel's words. Thank you for letting me fall in love with Flint, Ellen, and Harrison, and all their nuances.
"Fate doesn't show favoritism."
~BEE
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~MEET JEWEL E ANN~
Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.
After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.
When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.
~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~
CHECK OUT JEWEL'S BOOKS: http://amzn.to/2AoylE3
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Perfect. I love Jewel and you just make it even better.
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