Diane Rinella

This book had me feeling all sorts of ways. Mostly emotional, but also a bit frustrated.

There were definitely parts that hit me hard. I mean, there were moments when I found myself tearing up. Those scenes were compelling and well-crafted, making the weighty themes really resonate on a personal level.

You can almost feel the warmth when Lizetta is around. She has this way of making everyone feel special, and with Jensen, her compassion seems to spark something in him, a glimmer of hope in an show more otherwise tough world. Their connection is so spiritual, and it’s beautiful watching them grow together.

Jensen is currently on the recovery road from drug addiction, battling his past demons, and really trying to figure out what it means to be a better man. The contrast between these two is captivating. Lizetta’s kindness feels like a soft light guiding Jensen out of his darkness.

Now, here’s where things get a little intense. We have a third character, Laura. She’s Jensen’s ex and, interestingly enough, Lizetta’s high school bully. Talk about a tangled web of relationships. Laura is deep into her own struggle with heroin addiction, and her presence adds a layer of complexity to the story.

But here’s where my excitement took a bit of a nosedive. Despite tackling some really heavy issues like bullying, poor body image and drug addiction, the writing felt somewhat lacking, almost immature at times. I found myself wishing for a more refined tone because the feelings and struggles the characters were experiencing deserved more sophistication.

In addition, the book is too long. It felt like it dragged on for ages. I understand that exploring complex themes takes time, but there were moments where I caught myself skimming wishing for the pacing to pick up.

In the end, while the emotional highs were compelling, the overall execution didn’t quite live up to my expectations. If you read this book, just be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions, but also a bit of frustration.

Thank you to Ms. Rinella for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review. show less

Some people are born to conform to the world and work within it and others are free spirits who just shine. It often takes a lot of courage to go against the flow and be exactly who you are. Darla inherited her independent streak from her Grangran, a quirky bohemian with a supernatural side, who always encouraged Darla to do what comes naturally. She lived life to the fullest until her death at the grand young age of 92, setting Darla on a course to do things her way. Others aren’t so show more lucky to have such a “bad” influence.

Years later while hanging out on a typical Friday night with her best girlfriends at their soon-to-be-trendy usual favorite bar, Darla meets Chris, a super hot guy without the usual cheesy pick up lines. He piques her interest, but after their first date goes sour, with him doing all the things guaranteed1 to tick her off, she is ready to write him off. That is, until Grangran intervenes.

This was a delightful Christmas read. Though it is short it is filled with wonderful characters and a story, with such brilliant undertones, that you hope won’t ever end. show less

What to say about this story... It is different than anything I have ever read. A little bit paranormal, a little bit hippy, a little bit groovy, a little bit suspenseful, a little bit romantic.... I think you are starting to get my drift.

The idea of reincarnation and ghosts mixed in with present time is pretty neat. Diane Rinella did a wonderful job giving you the info on the past as you needed to know it and tie it in to the present. The paranormal aspects that are thrown in aren't show more overpowering paranormal. They add to the intrigue of the book. It's like making a cake. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, and then you have your wondrous creation! That's what this story is.

I loved the idea of the 60's hipster theme. It's unique. The characters are lovable. The connection that Ros and Peter have is portrayed perfectly all throughout the story. The give and take, their inner struggles with themselves and the truth about themselves kept me waiting to see how the story would play out.

The ending was bliss. I don't think there could have been a better way to end the book. The villain needed to be taken care of. A couple needed to finalize their relationship. The suspense in getting to the end had me on the edge of my seat.

Overall, I totally enjoyed this book. I love reading something unique. The same old love story gets boring after a while. There was no boredom with this one! show less

Some people are born to conform to the world and work within it and others are free spirits who just shine. It often takes a lot of courage to go against the flow and be exactly who you are. Darla inherited her independent streak from her Grangran, a quirky bohemian with a supernatural side, who always encouraged Darla to do what comes naturally. She lived life to the fullest until her death at the grand young age of 92, setting Darla on a course to do things her way. Others aren’t so show more lucky to have such a “bad” influence.

Years later while hanging out on a typical Friday night with her best girlfriends at their soon-to-be-trendy usual favorite bar, Darla meets Chris, a super hot guy without the usual cheesy pick up lines. He piques her interest, but after their first date goes sour, with him doing all the things guaranteed1 to tick her off, she is ready to write him off. That is, until Grangran intervenes.

This was a delightful Christmas read. Though it is short it is filled with wonderful characters and a story, with such brilliant undertones, that you hope won’t ever end. show less