A Moment

Very happy that I took a moment to read this beautiful, heart wrenching story. It was a well used moment or moments. As this story progresses you will have to bring out the tissues. It was a wonderfully written story with difficult topics and issues that people go through everyday sadly, and author Marie Hall took them on and did such a wonderful job. Hope I'm not giving too much away but these issues were suicide and sexual abuse. Ms. Hall didn't just gloss over them she went deeper and shows the effects these tough topics can affect not only the individual but the ones who care about them.

Lillian is a single mother taking care of her sick mother and trying to finish college so meeting and falling for Ryan was another obstacle she's show more sure she can't take on. It was obvious he had a lot of baggage and her personal baggage was enough for her. Lili did fall in love with Ryan even with his demons, she hoped that he would trust her enough to tell her his secrets and help her to save him. Both Ryan and Lili hoped that she could be the one to save him and help him forget his past experience. They both eventually have to come to the realization that only you can save yourself.

Lili struggled with the decision to continue a relationship with Ryan. She didn't think someone with his unpredictable moods should be a part of her sons life. I was comfortable with her decision to make him a part of her and Javier's life because I didn't see him as dangerous and I also saw the effect both Lili and Javi had on his psyche, which was good.

Males are always very embarrassed to report or talk about sexual abuse and Ryan was no exception. Ryan preferred to ignore and deny that anything is wrong, even though he suffers recurring severe emotional pain. It was so heart breaking to see the pain he experiences and deals with alone because he didn't believe talking about his abuse would help, forgetting or death is a better option in Ryan's book.

Parts of this story made me very angry, one such part was when I found out that Ryan didn't have anyone to turn to. Being abused is horrible enough but when the people you depend on to protect you fails to do that makes it insurmountably worse.

The emotions that arose from reading this story ran the gamut. Of course there were some laughs, some gasps, tears, anxiety, and the expected swoon, it is a romance story after all. A Moment was written with careful regard for the topics covered and is a heart breaking, compelling but touching story of trust, perseverance, tenacity and love. show less

A single mom in college and also taking care of her mom. In a chance encounter, she meets a pretty messed up guy and...maybe she will be the one to save him..
I know the plot doesn't sound like anything unusual, the story really does unfold really nicely and the pace keeps you turning the pages.

My only hang up was a complete personal one - as a single mom, she instantly, 1st date "non date" brings her child around? I just found that hard to believe. If you are truly trying to protect your child (and trying to date again) you get to know a guy first. That way there aren't a ton of strangers parading through your child's life....

but, after letting that go, I really enjoyed Alex and Liliana. Her mom and friends were very cute and I really show more liked the detail of Javi's struggles and how Liliana and family were aiming to handle it. It was a nice detail and very well done.

Ryan was harder to like but that was kind of the point. show less

Talk about your "throw everything at them and see if they can survive it" love story.

Liliana turns into a teenage statistic when at 14 she becomes pregnant. Four years later her mother is diagnosed with a debilitating illness, her father can't hack it and walks out on the family leaving them to try and make it on their own.

Ryan has run to the military, been honorably discharged and is looking for a place to land. A safe place where he can leave the nightmare of his youth behind, try to be normal and find love?

Yup these two just had one thing after another pile up on them. But in the face of everything true love prevails.

I guessed Ryan's deep, dark secret pretty much right off the bat. Just the conversation with Alex, his cousin and show more keeper, let me know..this wasn't going to be pretty. Guilt and shame are hard things to overcome but will the right woman be enough to make him want to try and leave it in the past. To get it out and let the healing begin.

Lili is so enamored of Ryan but she knows he's holding back. She doesn't want to push him she just wants to know that when he says he loves her he means it by being able to trust her with anything and everything. As typical stories goes there has to be a moment of truth...will the past win or will love? Yup, we have to hit the lowest of lows before we can see what we had, that we want it back with every fiber in our being, and do the unthinkable....face our fears.

There are times I wanted to tell both of them to quit it...take off the damn rose colored glasses and get real. Love is joyous and makes you feel wonderful but at the same time it comes with pain, grief, and sometimes guilt. You can't have the good without a touch of the bad otherwise you'll never fully appreciate what you have...right?

Alex...geez....Alex could be like a nagging wife but I know why he did it. He carried his own guilt and shame. Nothing was his fault either but until Ryan moved on he wouldn't allow himself to. I sure hope I get to learn about the lucky lady who gets to take on the man-ho and teach him it's okay, it's time to listen to your own advice and learn to be happy. show less

In an instant, everything changed. Fatality or destiny are playing good or bad pranks to get you on the path laid out for you.
Believe it or not but how many times have your hear strangers say: "it had to happen", "it was written" ... Fate ? Or coincidences ?
Here the author focuses on the intersecting roads. Moments that make the difference.

The characters have difficult, traumatic lives and are trying to fight with the cards dealt always advancing to become a better person. Of course, sometimes the demons and agonizing fears resurface and take over. But there is always someone out there for you.
Certainly, having been burned by the harshness of life, it leads people to be more suspicious, more cautious but the only thing that one can not show more control, it is love.

This romance is far from a fairy tale, and yet it is full of real emotions.

I liked that the characters are dented by life. This gives depth and relief to this reading, may be a bit heavy on the sad emotions but it's a beautiful love story.
Despite strong and poignant subjects, pity has no place in this story. And it's a good thing!

I also liked that the author speaks openly about autism, suicide, illness without falling into excessive pathos but just to make the picture real and plausible. Life is not always a fairy tale. Princes and princesses sometimes come with emotional baggages but that does not stop them to try to be happy.

Only drawback, I read an ARC and sometimes I was disturbed by first name's confusion in the dialogue. But it did not spoil my reading.

A good one!

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr/2013/04/a-moment-by-marie-hall.html show less

In a story that is vastly different from previous reads from her, Marie Hall brings us a contemporary, New Adult story that is romantic, heart wrenching, difficult and fully geared to readers who are over 18.

In each of the stories that I have read from Marie, she imbues her characters with such lifelike qualities and issues that they literally could walk among us, and probably do. This is a twist, in which she deals with some very serious elements for her characters, and yet each is presented with care: allowing the reader to slowly digest the information and start to develop empathy for the characters before the secrets are uncovered.

Both Lili and Ryan are likable characters: Lili is far more sympathetic and easy to relate to. Often show more I was relying on her innate sense that there was something and someone worth knowing in Ryan to not want to skip over his sections of the story. I’m glad that her belief in Ryan kept me reading, his backstory and the secrets he held deep within are just waiting to burst out and bring forward a resolution. This story demanded that I read through to the end, even the darker elements were treated with detail and care, with character voices and reactions being realistic and even refreshing to read for those who may have been in similar situations.

This is the start of a series of “moments” in time for characters – although I do hope that we return to Lili and Ryan’s story, the conclusion was satisfactory and did tie up any hopeful questions I would have had for their ongoing relationship. Certainly a book for adults, the story is emotional and difficult to read at times, but situations are real, gritty and possibly relevant to many readers today.

I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review as part of the Indie Authors Rock promotion at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. show less

I wanted so much to rate this book higher, but no.

I mean, it's easy to get swayed with oh-my-god-this-is-so-beautiful, but in reality, this story lacked. It's gonna be weird to review it because I really did love it. I just didn't love it.

While I thought Ryan was an amazing character - the rawness of what he was going through, the way Marie Hall told his story without saying a word and you pieced it all together and were dreading the moment you heard it all because you knew it was going to be that bad - with all of this, I just couldn't get over how... stereotypical his character was. A bad boy playboy with a broken past. What else is new?

Lili, on the other hand, confuzzled me. At first she seems like a strong heroine, but when shit show more hits the fan (and that's like...90% of the story) she... cries. And cries and cries and cries throughout this whole book.
That being said, I liked her because at least she knew when to give up. Even if it was half hearted. There's only so much a person can carry on their shoulders.

This is insta-love of a different kind. But it doesn't change the fact that it's still insta-love.

The writing is simple. A little too simple maybe, but I didn't mind.

What really bothered me was that there are so many unnecessary things in this book. Some editing would have fixed that, to nip&tuck all the paragraphs that I found myself skimming.

Names get confused, some loose ends and inconsistencies, questions left unanswered.

There are a couple of really awkward time jumps. The author crammed a whole year into the story using the very convenient "one month later", "another month later" jumps that told me it will end where it began rather than had me wonder how it will all play out. I think this is what bothered me the most.

The author does deal with the delicate subject with respect, I think, so kudos for that. What happened to Ryan was really horrible and I felt for him so much.

I loved Alex! I'm actually looking forward to reading his story. I have no idea who Zoe is, though, I must have missed that.

Really, all the characters bring something to the story, except that I felt that Javi was just sort of... there. There wasn't a point to his character other than to show Ryan being nice to him, and how Lili was affected by his autism. And that's it.

There are a couple of graphic sex scenes in the book. I thought they were well done and fit the story.

I'm going to repeat myself - this story is really beautiful. It tugged at my heartstrings and I really do recommend everyone read it. But sadly, to me, it just wasn't all it could have been.

**Free copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

By: Marie Hall
Published By: Marie Hall Publishing
Age Recommended: New Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Book Blog For: GMTA
Series: Moments, New Adult Romance: Book #1
Review:

"A Moment" by Marie Hall was the first in the series: 'Moments, New Adult Romance: Book 1 which was a good contemporary romance that was 'heart wrenching, difficult and one good read especially for new adult.' This novel was of two people who had 'suffered and loss at the hands of someone they had trusted.' You will find "A Moment a very emotional story of a teenage pregnancy, living with a mother who is suffering from MS, divorce, autistic child, suicide and even child sexual abuse.' Needless to say this author did a wonderful job about bring these two together. show more I don't want to tell you because I want you to read "A Moment" to see for yourself how well this author did in drawing all into this story of Lily and Ryan together. You will find that "A Moment" is not a easy read with all of the emotions that are going or have gone on between these two people have been well presented. This was really a good read that was 'outstanding and focuses' on some subjects that may be somewhat difficult to talk about but I think this author did an amazing job and YES, I would definitely recommend this to you as a good read. show less