I've seen books by Joshilyn Jackson taken out quite frequently at my library, but I never read her books before. When I saw her latest book, Someone Else's Love Story, the premise and the reviews sound promising. I thought I would give it a shot.
Description: I fell in love with William Ashe at gunpoint, in a Circle K
For single mom Shandi Pierce, life is a juggling act. She's finishing college; raising her delightful three-year-old genius son, Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo; and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Christian mother and Jewish father. She's got enough to deal with before she gets caught in the middle of a stickup in a gas station mini-mart and falls in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who steps between the armed robber and her son to shield the child from danger.
Shandi doesn't know that her blond god has his own baggage. When he looked down the barrel of the gun in the gas station he believed it was destiny: it's been exactly one year since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn't define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.
Now, William and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head-on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know.
Review: Someone Else's Love Story is an enjoyable read though there are parts that I had issues with the story. The novel captures the ambiance and customs of a Southern life. It is part of a coming of age story though the main character is well in her twenties and part of a love story though the identity of the love interests are a bit of a mystery. Shandi is a young woman preparing for college but finds herself caught up in a real-life drama. Shandi has a miracle baby named Nathan, but she and her BFF, Walcott, call the precocious 3-year-old genius Natty. The events leading to Natty's birth and Natty's biological father is a mystery and it is slowly unveiled as the story progresses.
I didn't get the sense that Shandi is in her twenties, but I pictured her more like sixteen. Her voice is very young and she still seems to be a pawn used in the chess game of her parents' divorce. As Shandi moves out of her mother's home to her successful physician father's condominium in Atlanta, she, Walcott and Natty become caught up in an armed robbery. It's during this robbery that Shandi meets William Ashe, a giant of a man with a palpable, lingering sorrow. When William takes a bullet during the robbery, Shandi decides to take on William and starts caring for him on the day he leaves the hospital. The instant love for Shandi made me roll my eyes a bit, but I was more interested in learning about William and his tragic loss. In fact I was hoping these two characters would not get together because then it would ruin the character building both characters have as they both help each other cope with their dilemmas.
As I continued to read the story, I wanted to know about the mystery surrounding Shandi's pregnancy. When the truth was revealed, I was a bit alarmed at how a serious issue was dealt with so matter of factually. I don't agree with how this plot line was handled and it made me lower my rating. Perhaps I'm over thinking about it and not understanding that forgiveness is the higher road taken. Overall, Someone Else's Love Story feels like a summer read though you may be a bit irritated with the main character. Despite my issues I did like it enough to recommend it to others.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Words of Caution: There is an allusion to sexual assault, sexual situations, and some language. Recommended for older teens and adults.
If you like this book try: Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman, The Whole Golden Egg by Kristina Rigggle, The Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon
For single mom Shandi Pierce, life is a juggling act. She's finishing college; raising her delightful three-year-old genius son, Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo; and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Christian mother and Jewish father. She's got enough to deal with before she gets caught in the middle of a stickup in a gas station mini-mart and falls in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who steps between the armed robber and her son to shield the child from danger.
Shandi doesn't know that her blond god has his own baggage. When he looked down the barrel of the gun in the gas station he believed it was destiny: it's been exactly one year since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn't define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.
Now, William and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head-on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know.
Review: Someone Else's Love Story is an enjoyable read though there are parts that I had issues with the story. The novel captures the ambiance and customs of a Southern life. It is part of a coming of age story though the main character is well in her twenties and part of a love story though the identity of the love interests are a bit of a mystery. Shandi is a young woman preparing for college but finds herself caught up in a real-life drama. Shandi has a miracle baby named Nathan, but she and her BFF, Walcott, call the precocious 3-year-old genius Natty. The events leading to Natty's birth and Natty's biological father is a mystery and it is slowly unveiled as the story progresses.
I didn't get the sense that Shandi is in her twenties, but I pictured her more like sixteen. Her voice is very young and she still seems to be a pawn used in the chess game of her parents' divorce. As Shandi moves out of her mother's home to her successful physician father's condominium in Atlanta, she, Walcott and Natty become caught up in an armed robbery. It's during this robbery that Shandi meets William Ashe, a giant of a man with a palpable, lingering sorrow. When William takes a bullet during the robbery, Shandi decides to take on William and starts caring for him on the day he leaves the hospital. The instant love for Shandi made me roll my eyes a bit, but I was more interested in learning about William and his tragic loss. In fact I was hoping these two characters would not get together because then it would ruin the character building both characters have as they both help each other cope with their dilemmas.
As I continued to read the story, I wanted to know about the mystery surrounding Shandi's pregnancy. When the truth was revealed, I was a bit alarmed at how a serious issue was dealt with so matter of factually. I don't agree with how this plot line was handled and it made me lower my rating. Perhaps I'm over thinking about it and not understanding that forgiveness is the higher road taken. Overall, Someone Else's Love Story feels like a summer read though you may be a bit irritated with the main character. Despite my issues I did like it enough to recommend it to others.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Words of Caution: There is an allusion to sexual assault, sexual situations, and some language. Recommended for older teens and adults.
If you like this book try: Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman, The Whole Golden Egg by Kristina Rigggle, The Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon
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Hmmm. Forgiveness is not my strong suit Rummanah! I tend to be pretty vengeful when it comes to books, I like the characters who've been wronged to hold on to their anger since I'm angry on their behalf, so I'll probably be with you on the issue with Shandi's pregnancy. Sometimes I fail to understand the appeal of the high road ;-)
I know you liked this one with reservations, but I think I'll pass on it. I find it annoying when characters don't act their age to some extent so someone in their twenties talking and acting like a sixteen-year-old would really irritate me. I'd like to know what the serious issue you're referring to is and how it was dealt.
Hm... I can see me having mixed feelings about the issue and how it is handled. Still might have to try this author, just not sure if this is the book to start. Brilly review!
Hmm, I'm curious about how the ending is dealt with now and what I would think of it. Overall, I don't really get the impression from your review that this is the book for me. I think I might have the same issues as you and not like the MC. So I think I'll give this one a pass... but keep my ear open to other books by this author.