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Forever Family #1
Dear Emily
Carly Sloan’s life was perfect. Comfortable. Blissfully happy. She was surrounded by her best friends in the world, who love and adore her, and would do anything to support her. But one violent night destroys everything, breaking down her perfect world and tearing away her safety. Kyle Finnegan comes into her life when she’s at her lowest. Can he help restore her faith? And can they build a future together?
Tabitha Fletcher ran away from a violent and turbulent past. She attempts to hide in a new city, enveloping herself in a veil of safety. Alex Treadway strolls into her life and struggles to break through her protective barrier. As she slowly opens her heart, can she learn to love? Can he help her heal? Tabitha’s demons resurface, threatening to destroy her new life. When she finds herself at rock bottom, a surprise pregnancy only adds to her turmoil.
Tabitha must make the ultimate choice to give her unborn child a chance at a wonderful life. The life Tabitha wished she had herself. Free from fear. Free from pain.
Carly and Kyle desperately yearn for a family of their own. Will Tabitha’s choice give them that chance?
And can they all find what they desire most…
Redemption?
Love?
Family?
Dear Emily is the first book in the Forever Family series.
This book is not suitable for young readers. It is intended for mature adults only (18+) containing adult situations, non-consensual sex and some violence.
Tabitha Fletcher ran away from a violent and turbulent past. She attempts to hide in a new city, enveloping herself in a veil of safety. Alex Treadway strolls into her life and struggles to break through her protective barrier. As she slowly opens her heart, can she learn to love? Can he help her heal? Tabitha’s demons resurface, threatening to destroy her new life. When she finds herself at rock bottom, a surprise pregnancy only adds to her turmoil.
Tabitha must make the ultimate choice to give her unborn child a chance at a wonderful life. The life Tabitha wished she had herself. Free from fear. Free from pain.
Carly and Kyle desperately yearn for a family of their own. Will Tabitha’s choice give them that chance?
And can they all find what they desire most…
Redemption?
Love?
Family?
Dear Emily is the first book in the Forever Family series.
This book is not suitable for young readers. It is intended for mature adults only (18+) containing adult situations, non-consensual sex and some violence.
280 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2013
About the author
Trudy Stiles
18 books549 followersTrudy Stiles is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and New Adult romance. Her emotional stories are inspired by various life experiences and observations. She’s the author of the bestselling Forever Family series and Epic Fail series.
When she’s not writing, she’s carting her children to their various activities while avoiding any kind of laundry or housework. She also loves to run along the boardwalk of the beautiful New Jersey shore and dreams of spending as much time in Disney World as possible.
She avidly celebrates Wine Wednesday.
Be sure to follow her on Amazon so you can receive alerts on all of her upcoming releases and book news.
Website: www.trudystiles.com
Email: authortrudystiles@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortrudystiles
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/trudy_stiles
Twitter: @trudystiles
When she’s not writing, she’s carting her children to their various activities while avoiding any kind of laundry or housework. She also loves to run along the boardwalk of the beautiful New Jersey shore and dreams of spending as much time in Disney World as possible.
She avidly celebrates Wine Wednesday.
Be sure to follow her on Amazon so you can receive alerts on all of her upcoming releases and book news.
Website: www.trudystiles.com
Email: authortrudystiles@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortrudystiles
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/trudy_stiles
Twitter: @trudystiles
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
December 16, 2013
OH MY GOD!
Where do I start on this book. I freaking devoured it...Like ignore my kids, ignore my husband, ignore my work until I could finish....and it is one of my favorites of the year....I'm reading and my husband looks over at me and I'm like....
I didn't really highlight anything because I was reading so fast so I'll just touch on the characters so as not to spoil it for anyone.
Carly
Kyle
Carly and Kyle together
Carly's Friends - Becca, Callie, and Manny
Tabitha
Alex
Alex and Tabitha together
Seth
Todd
And lastly to the author, Ms. Stiles
Where do I start on this book. I freaking devoured it...Like ignore my kids, ignore my husband, ignore my work until I could finish....and it is one of my favorites of the year....I'm reading and my husband looks over at me and I'm like....
I didn't really highlight anything because I was reading so fast so I'll just touch on the characters so as not to spoil it for anyone.
Carly
Kyle
Carly and Kyle together
Carly's Friends - Becca, Callie, and Manny
Tabitha
Alex
Alex and Tabitha together
Seth
Todd
And lastly to the author, Ms. Stiles
December 26, 2014
4.5 stars!!
This is one of the most unputdownable and unforgettable books I’ve read this year! I’m ashamed to say it’s not a story I would’ve read at first glance and I’d never have picked it up if it weren’t for a few friends who absolutely adored it and now…I can definitely see why. The story follows two women who are the main characters – Tabitha and Carly – and their individual lives and romances, and how one child brings them together. It’s a story not just about love, but family, friendships, and fate. The way the book is written is especially unique; with alternating POVs between Carly and Tabitha that sometimes jump back and forth in time, I really expected to be frustrated and turned off by the execution but quite the opposite happened. I adored the way the story unfolded and it felt like I was reading two books in one. Even more so, I’m amazed by how invested I was (still am) in both Carly and Tabitha’s lives, even when they hadn’t met each other yet. The author’s writing style is simplistic in an alluring and captivating way, gripping me from the VERY first page and ended the book with such a bang that I need to dive into the next one asap.
The premise of the story is a crisis that many women face today – adoption. In this case, an emotionally damaged and confused Tabitha prepares to give up her unborn child Emily to another couple who she feels is more qualified and will provide Emily with a stable family environment – to Carly and her college sweetheart Kyle. When the adoption agency links her up with Carly and Kyle, Tabitha and her current boyfriend Seth feel a kinship towards them and believes what they’re doing is the right thing as they’re both in no way ready to take on raising a child.
Here’s the really cool part. While the present focuses on working out the adoption details and seeing Tabitha and Carly interact and get to know each other better, the flashbacks to the past reveal painful scars both women have been carrying around for years and how their ordeals lead them to find love and get to where they are currently. It’s one of the most unique storytelling methods I’ve ever read that not only made me feel invested in both of these women and their individual tales, but also had me flipping the pages so fast just so I could devour more about these characters. The men in their lives that stood by them and were a pillar of support I could not be more grateful or love more, and it was so inspiring and heartwarming to know that these two women who were in dark times in their respective lives, had at least one person they could shoulder their burden with.
I also can’t forget to mention what an amazing cast of side characters were in this book. They were so supportive and a never-ending source of comical relief as the overall tone of the story is emotionally heavy.
There is, however, one thing that bothered me a lot while I was reading and is the reason why I can’t give this book a full 5 star rating. I am a grammar and punctuation Nazi and though it may not be a big deal for most, seeing tons of exclamation marks in the story drove me nuts. Sentences that could’ve easily ended in a period had a !. Sentences where the meaning didn’t convey much emotion ended with !. It may just be me being picky but it’s a pet peeve of mine to have too much of one thing.
Other than that, this story was perfect in my eyes. Emotionally, it struck deep and I teared up a few times. The words on the page demanded to be read and felt, and whenever I was forced to put down the book because of holiday festivities I was internally screaming.
While I felt like one arc of the book was wonderfully concluded, another part still had many loose ends, which is where book 2 comes in and I’m both nervous and excited to see where and how Tabitha’s story goes. Now that I know this author’s writing style and the way she presents her story, I’m sure the second book just promises angst, tears, second chances, and redemption.
It was plain dumb for me to keep this on my TBR for so long, though I am glad now that I at least gave it a shot or I would’ve missed out on one heck of a story. For anyone else contemplating on reading this one, I highly recommend you bump it to the top of your TBR list.
Dear Emily is the first book in the Forever Family series and not a standalone. Because there are two main female leads and only one of their stories is concluded here, book 2 must be read to fully wrap up both story arcs presented. There will be a third book, but it’s an optional spinoff.
This is one of the most unputdownable and unforgettable books I’ve read this year! I’m ashamed to say it’s not a story I would’ve read at first glance and I’d never have picked it up if it weren’t for a few friends who absolutely adored it and now…I can definitely see why. The story follows two women who are the main characters – Tabitha and Carly – and their individual lives and romances, and how one child brings them together. It’s a story not just about love, but family, friendships, and fate. The way the book is written is especially unique; with alternating POVs between Carly and Tabitha that sometimes jump back and forth in time, I really expected to be frustrated and turned off by the execution but quite the opposite happened. I adored the way the story unfolded and it felt like I was reading two books in one. Even more so, I’m amazed by how invested I was (still am) in both Carly and Tabitha’s lives, even when they hadn’t met each other yet. The author’s writing style is simplistic in an alluring and captivating way, gripping me from the VERY first page and ended the book with such a bang that I need to dive into the next one asap.
The premise of the story is a crisis that many women face today – adoption. In this case, an emotionally damaged and confused Tabitha prepares to give up her unborn child Emily to another couple who she feels is more qualified and will provide Emily with a stable family environment – to Carly and her college sweetheart Kyle. When the adoption agency links her up with Carly and Kyle, Tabitha and her current boyfriend Seth feel a kinship towards them and believes what they’re doing is the right thing as they’re both in no way ready to take on raising a child.
Here’s the really cool part. While the present focuses on working out the adoption details and seeing Tabitha and Carly interact and get to know each other better, the flashbacks to the past reveal painful scars both women have been carrying around for years and how their ordeals lead them to find love and get to where they are currently. It’s one of the most unique storytelling methods I’ve ever read that not only made me feel invested in both of these women and their individual tales, but also had me flipping the pages so fast just so I could devour more about these characters. The men in their lives that stood by them and were a pillar of support I could not be more grateful or love more, and it was so inspiring and heartwarming to know that these two women who were in dark times in their respective lives, had at least one person they could shoulder their burden with.
I also can’t forget to mention what an amazing cast of side characters were in this book. They were so supportive and a never-ending source of comical relief as the overall tone of the story is emotionally heavy.
There is, however, one thing that bothered me a lot while I was reading and is the reason why I can’t give this book a full 5 star rating. I am a grammar and punctuation Nazi and though it may not be a big deal for most, seeing tons of exclamation marks in the story drove me nuts. Sentences that could’ve easily ended in a period had a !. Sentences where the meaning didn’t convey much emotion ended with !. It may just be me being picky but it’s a pet peeve of mine to have too much of one thing.
Other than that, this story was perfect in my eyes. Emotionally, it struck deep and I teared up a few times. The words on the page demanded to be read and felt, and whenever I was forced to put down the book because of holiday festivities I was internally screaming.
While I felt like one arc of the book was wonderfully concluded, another part still had many loose ends, which is where book 2 comes in and I’m both nervous and excited to see where and how Tabitha’s story goes. Now that I know this author’s writing style and the way she presents her story, I’m sure the second book just promises angst, tears, second chances, and redemption.
It was plain dumb for me to keep this on my TBR for so long, though I am glad now that I at least gave it a shot or I would’ve missed out on one heck of a story. For anyone else contemplating on reading this one, I highly recommend you bump it to the top of your TBR list.
Dear Emily is the first book in the Forever Family series and not a standalone. Because there are two main female leads and only one of their stories is concluded here, book 2 must be read to fully wrap up both story arcs presented. There will be a third book, but it’s an optional spinoff.
December 17, 2013
And I stand corrected…again
I'm going to let you in on a secret. I...did not want to read Dear Emily. Nope, just like the guy who won't buy drinks for an ugly, I judged a book by it's synopsis. It sounded like a beautiful story. A beautiful story following the lives of two women. Lives that intertwine and all that shit, but it also sounded like a huge est fest; one I'd need some major chocolate and a tampon just to finish. I seriously needed someone to bring a little sausage to the party.
Dude...I was wrong.
I was wrong about what I'd find when I opened the pages of Dear Emily. I was wrong about pretty much everything!
Romance may not be mentioned in the synopsis (or "blurb" if you will, but I really hate that word, blurb....it sounds like burp vomit...."someone blurbed"), but romance was definitely at the pulse of Dear Emily. It coursed through the pages and enriched the story in a way that had me hanging on to each word. I think I'm still hanging on.
I was also apprehensive about the story because of the alternating between past and present, in addition to the dual story lines. But Trudy Stiles took my apprehension and crushed it. She crushed it with an insurmountable talent for creating fluency and cohesion while progressing the story. I never once felt confused by the alternating stories or timelines. The two stories became one, and it was flawless.
I was blown away by the story's originality.
I was blown away by the romance and passion.
I was blown away by the heartache and pain.
I was blown away that I whole heartedly invested my emotions into the lives of these two women.
I cared.
Dam you Trudy Stiles, you made me care.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I feel as if I somehow missed out. Missed out on story. Trudy Stiles did an amazing job basically combining two books in one, but in doing that it meant we were only allowed to experience certain moments. I love the unique way in which the story was told, but at the same time I would have loved getting to experience more development of Carly and Kyle's relationship. I wanted more moments. Even with Tabitha and Alex, I craved more. More. More. More...and more. You can just attribute my selfishness to this amazingly unique and beautifully story. I never once felt like this story was rushed; I just felt that I had to sacrifice some development that could have further enhanced this amazing book in order to be able to include everything.
I can't believe that I almost missed out on this experience due to my misguided ignorance. Don't make the same mistake that I did!
READ ON!
I'm going to let you in on a secret. I...did not want to read Dear Emily. Nope, just like the guy who won't buy drinks for an ugly, I judged a book by it's synopsis. It sounded like a beautiful story. A beautiful story following the lives of two women. Lives that intertwine and all that shit, but it also sounded like a huge est fest; one I'd need some major chocolate and a tampon just to finish. I seriously needed someone to bring a little sausage to the party.
Dude...I was wrong.
I was wrong about what I'd find when I opened the pages of Dear Emily. I was wrong about pretty much everything!
Romance may not be mentioned in the synopsis (or "blurb" if you will, but I really hate that word, blurb....it sounds like burp vomit...."someone blurbed"), but romance was definitely at the pulse of Dear Emily. It coursed through the pages and enriched the story in a way that had me hanging on to each word. I think I'm still hanging on.
I was also apprehensive about the story because of the alternating between past and present, in addition to the dual story lines. But Trudy Stiles took my apprehension and crushed it. She crushed it with an insurmountable talent for creating fluency and cohesion while progressing the story. I never once felt confused by the alternating stories or timelines. The two stories became one, and it was flawless.
I was blown away by the story's originality.
I was blown away by the romance and passion.
I was blown away by the heartache and pain.
I was blown away that I whole heartedly invested my emotions into the lives of these two women.
I cared.
Dam you Trudy Stiles, you made me care.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I feel as if I somehow missed out. Missed out on story. Trudy Stiles did an amazing job basically combining two books in one, but in doing that it meant we were only allowed to experience certain moments. I love the unique way in which the story was told, but at the same time I would have loved getting to experience more development of Carly and Kyle's relationship. I wanted more moments. Even with Tabitha and Alex, I craved more. More. More. More...and more. You can just attribute my selfishness to this amazingly unique and beautifully story. I never once felt like this story was rushed; I just felt that I had to sacrifice some development that could have further enhanced this amazing book in order to be able to include everything.
I can't believe that I almost missed out on this experience due to my misguided ignorance. Don't make the same mistake that I did!
READ ON!
November 15, 2016
I am the author of Dear Emily and I loved every second of creating this story. These characters are so very real to me and I hope that you can connect with them in some way. xoxo
December 10, 2013
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED.
One of my favorite books of the year.....I devoured it.
It was a story of survival, love, loss, friendship, second chances, hope, forgiveness...it was PERFECT!
A story of two women with painful pasts.
Carly
Stripped of her innocence and robbed of her dreams. Saved by Kyle and the unwavering support of her friends.
Tabitha
Running from a past of loss, sadness, and abuse. Abandoned at an early age and forced to find her own way. A prisoner in her own pain. Broken. Damaged.
Carly and Tabitha
Brought together by Emily.
One given a gift worth more than anything in the world. A chance at a Forever Family.
"Dear Emily, How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? A child that has always been in our hearts? A child that is meant for our family?.....Love and kisses, Momma"
One giving a gift worth more than anything in the world. Saying goodbye to another piece of her heart and soul in the process.
"Dear Emily, I’m getting ready to say goodbye to you, little girl. You will be part of a perfect family. I hope you understand some day why I made the decision that I have. I love you sweet girl...Hugs,
Mommy - Tabitha"
Every aspect of this story was amazing. It was told in alternating POVs between Carly and Tabitha and flashed from the present to the past. And while on the outside, it may not appear to be a romance...it was full of love. Young love. Forever love. Second chance love. The love for your child. The love of friends.
My heart broke for both Carly and Tabitha, but especially for Tabitha. Both women share the pains of their past...but where Carly has hope for the future with the possibility of a baby in her life, Tabitha feels nothing but guilt and sorrow for the life she is giving up.
I admired the strength and courage it took for Tabitha to realize that Carly and Kyle could provide for Emily in ways she can't. They live the life that Tabitha has always dreamed of. But with the loss, comes a second chance. A chance for Tabitha to heal. To forgive herself for what couldn't be prevented in her past. To grow and learn to love herself so that she can one day have the HEA that she deserves.
And if anyone deserves a HEA it's Tabitha. Her story is only just beginning and I can't wait to read more of her journey.
One of my favorite books of the year.....I devoured it.
It was a story of survival, love, loss, friendship, second chances, hope, forgiveness...it was PERFECT!
A story of two women with painful pasts.
Carly
Stripped of her innocence and robbed of her dreams. Saved by Kyle and the unwavering support of her friends.
Tabitha
Running from a past of loss, sadness, and abuse. Abandoned at an early age and forced to find her own way. A prisoner in her own pain. Broken. Damaged.
Carly and Tabitha
Brought together by Emily.
One given a gift worth more than anything in the world. A chance at a Forever Family.
"Dear Emily, How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? A child that has always been in our hearts? A child that is meant for our family?.....Love and kisses, Momma"
One giving a gift worth more than anything in the world. Saying goodbye to another piece of her heart and soul in the process.
"Dear Emily, I’m getting ready to say goodbye to you, little girl. You will be part of a perfect family. I hope you understand some day why I made the decision that I have. I love you sweet girl...Hugs,
Mommy - Tabitha"
Every aspect of this story was amazing. It was told in alternating POVs between Carly and Tabitha and flashed from the present to the past. And while on the outside, it may not appear to be a romance...it was full of love. Young love. Forever love. Second chance love. The love for your child. The love of friends.
My heart broke for both Carly and Tabitha, but especially for Tabitha. Both women share the pains of their past...but where Carly has hope for the future with the possibility of a baby in her life, Tabitha feels nothing but guilt and sorrow for the life she is giving up.
I admired the strength and courage it took for Tabitha to realize that Carly and Kyle could provide for Emily in ways she can't. They live the life that Tabitha has always dreamed of. But with the loss, comes a second chance. A chance for Tabitha to heal. To forgive herself for what couldn't be prevented in her past. To grow and learn to love herself so that she can one day have the HEA that she deserves.
And if anyone deserves a HEA it's Tabitha. Her story is only just beginning and I can't wait to read more of her journey.
December 16, 2013
4.5 Stars
Trudy Stiles’ debut novel is extremely well paced, written and executed!
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I enjoyed this author's writing style and was engrossed in the manner in which both Carly and Tabitha’s past and present povs took a reader throughout this book.
“Emily” is Tabitha’s unborn baby who she is considering giving up for adoption to Carly and Kyle (phenomenal together). A reader is taken from Carly’s past and Tabitha’s past to the ending where Emily is born.
”Carly is perfect. She is going to be the perfect mother, make perfect pancakes, and give Emily the perfect life.
Fucking perfect.
I wish I were perfect.”
Carly and Tabitha both have had difficult times in their past and the story brings them through past relationships and traumatic events. While a reader finds out how Tabitha has landed herself without her true love and in the arms of a friend.
”It’s a shame he fell so hard for me because I’m not sure I can love anyone again. Ever.”
Carly’s circle of friends and of course KYLE(AMAZING) made all the difference in Carly's ability to have it all.
”You’ve all stood by me through one of the worst times of my life and have helped me come out stronger. I love you guys.”
As for Tabitha...
"I'll find my happily every after. It just isn't now."
Overall, this is a good read and I will be picking up the next book in the series which will be centered on Tabitha’s future and I’m hoping it’s with Alex. If it isn’t then for me it will be an EPIC FAIL[image error]
Trudy Stiles’ debut novel is extremely well paced, written and executed!
[image error]
I enjoyed this author's writing style and was engrossed in the manner in which both Carly and Tabitha’s past and present povs took a reader throughout this book.
“Emily” is Tabitha’s unborn baby who she is considering giving up for adoption to Carly and Kyle (phenomenal together). A reader is taken from Carly’s past and Tabitha’s past to the ending where Emily is born.
”Carly is perfect. She is going to be the perfect mother, make perfect pancakes, and give Emily the perfect life.
Fucking perfect.
I wish I were perfect.”
Carly and Tabitha both have had difficult times in their past and the story brings them through past relationships and traumatic events. While a reader finds out how Tabitha has landed herself without her true love and in the arms of a friend.
”It’s a shame he fell so hard for me because I’m not sure I can love anyone again. Ever.”
Carly’s circle of friends and of course KYLE(AMAZING) made all the difference in Carly's ability to have it all.
”You’ve all stood by me through one of the worst times of my life and have helped me come out stronger. I love you guys.”
As for Tabitha...
"I'll find my happily every after. It just isn't now."
Overall, this is a good read and I will be picking up the next book in the series which will be centered on Tabitha’s future and I’m hoping it’s with Alex. If it isn’t then for me it will be an EPIC FAIL[image error]
December 7, 2013
“Dear Emily,
I can’t believe that soon you will be here, in our arms, in our lives… We are ready for you, sweetheart. So very ready.
We love you so much already.
See you soon.
Love,
Momma & Daddy”
I am one of those strange creatures who prefers to spend time in the land of make-believe a lot more than in the real world around me, the endless possibilities of fiction having the power of making any story that much more emotional, that much more raw, that much more intense. But once in a while, you come across a perfect marriage of fiction and real life, a story that is so poignant and honest, and yet it makes you dream with your eyes open like only a true fairy tale can. It makes you believe, hope, ache, and it shows you that sometimes the most beautiful stories are the ones deeply founded in reality.
This is a book about love. Loss. Sacrifice. Hope. This is a story that shows us the endlessness of a mother’s love for her unborn child, and how broad the definition of motherhood really is. This is the story of two women, two survivors, whose lives couldn’t be more different, but whose fates become forever bound by the love they feel for a little girl called Emily.
Carly and Tabitha’s realities lie on polar opposites of the life spectrum, but their painful pasts and their ability to love unconditionally and selflessly is an invisible tie that makes them a lot more akin than they realize. Carly’s story is a story of hope and immeasurable joy brought by the impending adoption of baby Emily. It begins with the happy news of Tabitha picking Carly and her husband Kyle as her unborn baby’s new parents, and it ends with Emily’s birth. We see what this baby’s arrival means to Carly’s family, we rejoice with her, we feel her fears, her anticipation, her eagerness to become a mum. Carly lives the life that Tabitha has always dreamed of having – married to a man who adores her, surrounded by supportive and loving friends, comfortable in her own skin and at peace with her own past. Her life would be perfect if only her body were able to give her the one thing that is sorely missing in it – a baby.
But this is not just Carly’s story – this is also the tale of Tabitha, a deeply troubled young woman, orphaned since birth, whose body and heart are scarred by a past that has only been unkind to her. She sees herself as damaged and broken, and as much as she craves to be a mother and loves the child growing inside her, she knows that she is unfit to be the kind of parent her little girl deserves to have.
“I have no one. I’m alone. Alone in the present and alone with my past. Alone with my demons.”
As we meet these two women, by witnessing their past as well as their present, we see what has made them who they are now, the vast difference between the lives they have lived and the happiness they have found. One of them has faced her demons, overcome her hang-ups, found the kind of love that lasts a lifetime and reached a point in her young life where a child is a welcome and much desired addition to her family. The other is an unsettled, much younger woman who is still struggling with feelings of inadequacy and incompleteness, desperate to be loved and for someone to claim her as her own. They are different in every way and yet so similar in the way they love so wholeheartedly.
“I’m jealous of her. of her life. Of what she is. Of everything that I am not.”
This book has the power of touching the reader so deeply by giving us unique and very precious insight into the world of child adoption, from both the viewpoints of the birth mother as well as the adoptive parents. I walked away at the end of this book feeling like my heart had grown tenfold, overflowing with so many emotions, and desperately hoping that fiction, in this case, had found its roots in real life. Truthfully and sensitively written, by giving equal importance to both women’s life journeys and the events that had brought them into each other’s lives, this is a story that will stay with you and forever make you appreciate the selflessness of an act we, as a society, often neglect or pass judgment on. A stellar debut novel, a superb translation of real life into fiction, a must read for anyone looking for a book to touch their heart and renew their belief in humanity.
“Dear Emily,
I’m getting ready to say goodbye to you, little girl… You will be part of a perfect family… I hope you understand some day why I made the decision that I have.
I love you sweet girl.
Hugs,
Mommy…”
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December 15, 2013
Book – Dear Emily (Forever Family #1)
Author – Trudy Stiles
Publication Date - December 3, 2013
Type – Part of Series
Genre - Romance
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Reading Order
Dear Emily (Forever Family #1)
Untitled (Forever Family #2)
Review
I don’t even know how to start this review because this story continually pulled at my emotions. I am still reliving this book over and over in my thoughts. I think while reading, each emotion came raging to the forefront – I experienced hatred, love, angst, sadness, compassion, heart-break, happiness, and so many more that I can’t even name them all.
I think I had a soft spot for this book in regards to the story of the adoption since I was adopted as a baby. It helped me understand the emotions my birth-mother must have been going through when she had to give me up even knowing I was going to a better family. I empathized with Tabby and her heartbreak with being alone.
The author had a real talent with how she switched from Tabby’s story to Carly’s story along with going from the Past to the Present. I think by starting out in the “present” it was easier to focus on the relationships of the past knowing already who was together in the present. Through this book, we experience a plethora of relationships which are built, torn down and made stronger by traumatic events in each Tabby’s and Carly’s past.
Re-Cap
Carly
We start the book with Carly and Kyle already married and hearing that they were chosen by a single woman to give them her baby for adoption. We experience their joy in finding out that they will finally have the one thing they have dreamed of for years. We see that the relationship is solid between the two and the love they share is strong and beautiful.
We switch back to the past and Carly is just starting college and experienced a terrible event. She must heal from this and has problems which are not only physical but also mental. With the help of her friends, Carly learns to trust again and open up to them with what happened.
The story from here continually switches back and forth, while in the present Carly and Kyle prepare for the baby to be born and try to form a solid relationship with the expectant mother, Tabby. While in the past, Carly is still trying to heal and starts to build a friendship with Kyle.
Tabby
Tabby is from the foster system and has led a very traumatic life – at the start of the book, Tabby is living out West with Tony who beats her and keeps her locked away in his apartment and bar. Tabby is able to get away and runs back to Philadelphia where she meets Alex and Seth.
Switch back to the present and we find Tabby pregnant and living with Seth. She constantly questions whether she is doing the right thing by giving Emily up for adoption. She isn’t in love with Seth and is depressed about losing Alex, the only love of her life.
In Tabby’s back story we learn that Seth was just a friend to Tabby and Alex is her love and life. With one stupid accident, Tabby loses Alex and is stuck with Seth who picked up the pieces of her broken heart. It is Seth who pressures Tabby into giving Emily away since they are still so young and need to build on their relationship and get into a stable life before thinking of children.
Author – Trudy Stiles
Publication Date - December 3, 2013
Type – Part of Series
Genre - Romance
Rating - 5 out of 5 Stars
Reading Order
Dear Emily (Forever Family #1)
Untitled (Forever Family #2)
Review
I don’t even know how to start this review because this story continually pulled at my emotions. I am still reliving this book over and over in my thoughts. I think while reading, each emotion came raging to the forefront – I experienced hatred, love, angst, sadness, compassion, heart-break, happiness, and so many more that I can’t even name them all.
I think I had a soft spot for this book in regards to the story of the adoption since I was adopted as a baby. It helped me understand the emotions my birth-mother must have been going through when she had to give me up even knowing I was going to a better family. I empathized with Tabby and her heartbreak with being alone.
The author had a real talent with how she switched from Tabby’s story to Carly’s story along with going from the Past to the Present. I think by starting out in the “present” it was easier to focus on the relationships of the past knowing already who was together in the present. Through this book, we experience a plethora of relationships which are built, torn down and made stronger by traumatic events in each Tabby’s and Carly’s past.
Re-Cap
Carly
We start the book with Carly and Kyle already married and hearing that they were chosen by a single woman to give them her baby for adoption. We experience their joy in finding out that they will finally have the one thing they have dreamed of for years. We see that the relationship is solid between the two and the love they share is strong and beautiful.
We switch back to the past and Carly is just starting college and experienced a terrible event. She must heal from this and has problems which are not only physical but also mental. With the help of her friends, Carly learns to trust again and open up to them with what happened.
The story from here continually switches back and forth, while in the present Carly and Kyle prepare for the baby to be born and try to form a solid relationship with the expectant mother, Tabby. While in the past, Carly is still trying to heal and starts to build a friendship with Kyle.
Tabby
Tabby is from the foster system and has led a very traumatic life – at the start of the book, Tabby is living out West with Tony who beats her and keeps her locked away in his apartment and bar. Tabby is able to get away and runs back to Philadelphia where she meets Alex and Seth.
Switch back to the present and we find Tabby pregnant and living with Seth. She constantly questions whether she is doing the right thing by giving Emily up for adoption. She isn’t in love with Seth and is depressed about losing Alex, the only love of her life.
In Tabby’s back story we learn that Seth was just a friend to Tabby and Alex is her love and life. With one stupid accident, Tabby loses Alex and is stuck with Seth who picked up the pieces of her broken heart. It is Seth who pressures Tabby into giving Emily away since they are still so young and need to build on their relationship and get into a stable life before thinking of children.
When we are in the present close to the due date, Tabby has very strong feelings about losing her daughter and Carly feels that Tabby is having second thoughts.
Wrap Up
I can’t say enough about this book....I recommend this book to anyone because this book contains not only romance but gives us a beautiful life story which revolves around this little baby, Emily.
Both mothers write letters to Emily throughout the book, and while Carly writes happy letters full of anticipation, Tabby is writing about heartache on giving her away.
Pick this book up and learn how two women come together to form a bond around a tiny infant!
March 28, 2021
Dear Emily is a story that revolves around the lives of two women (Tabitha and Carly) and a baby (Emily) that brings them together. It is told from dual POV’s and flips between the past and the present.
The story includes both the romances and the tragedies in the lives of both Tabitha and Carly (the past) and the potential adoption of unborn Emily (the present).
Tabitha has not had an easy life and she has decided that she cannot raise the little girl that resulted from an unplanned pregnancy. She selects Carly and Kyle as the adoptive parents and thus begins their relationship. As Carly awaits the birth of Emily, she writes letters to her new baby girl.....
”Dear Emily, How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? A child that has always been in our hearts? A child that is meant for our family? Your Daddy and I cannot wait for the moment we are able to hold you in our arms for the first time. To lay our eyes on your perfect face, eyes, toes. To breathe in the essence of a new baby, swirling scents of powder and linen. We cannot wait to feel your beating heart against our chests and to listen to your slow and steady breaths. To hear your soft baby noises. To soothe your crying. We have always dreamed of you, Emily. We’ve dreamed that someday our family would be blessed with a child. We are so close. Our new family is within reach.We are here hoping, waiting, praying. Love and kisses, Momma” . OMG....cue the waterworks 💧
The joy of Carly and Kyle juxtaposed with the heartbreak of Tabitha (who was struggling with giving up her child) felt real. Walking through the adoption process from both sides was extremely emotional, especially when you know what both of these girls had gone through in their past and what brought them to this place in the present.
There was just something so incredibly powerful and emotional about these two women. Both had suffered abuse in their pasts and it was a common thread that the reader knew about, but they didn’t know that about each other. I was expecting the author to present a scenario where they found out they had that in common and then they would bond even more, but that didn’t happen (which I guess is probably more realistic). My heart broke for both of them and I wanted them to be so close, but in a way I knew it was probably too painful for them to have that type of relationship.
Although they never told each other about their lives, their connection was palpable and I just wanted more moments with them together because my heart was breaking and rejoicing for both of them. Gah....the feels. ❤️💔💞
My only complaint is that I had a bit of an issue with the flipping between past and present. It made the story feel just a little choppy, and I think it would have suited the story a bit better if it was broken out into part 1 (past for Carly & Tabitha) and part 2 (present). I really wanted more of the present and the relationship between Carly and Tabitha because every time they had an interaction my heart was full on in all the gushy and heartbreaking feels. But then it would flip to the past and my feelings had to switch to uncomfortable and angry and mad for the things that happened to them. So I felt like my emotions were on a constant flip and I couldn’t really settle into one specific emotional place.
Overall, I was fully invested in this story from page 1 and am so happy that Carly and Kyle’s dreams came true. This story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger where Tabitha is concerned.
“Tabitha, are you OK?” I ask.
She pulls her hands from Kyle’s and mine and begins to wipe away the tears from her face. She keeps her hands over her face for a moment, removes them, and looks up at us.
“No, I’m not OK. But I will be. It’s all because of you that I will be. I’m going to strive to have what you and Kyle have someday. I’ll find my happily ever after. It just isn’t now.” Gah....I’m bawling 😭
I am rooting for Tabitha and can’t wait to read about her well deserved HEA in the next story!!!
The story includes both the romances and the tragedies in the lives of both Tabitha and Carly (the past) and the potential adoption of unborn Emily (the present).
Tabitha has not had an easy life and she has decided that she cannot raise the little girl that resulted from an unplanned pregnancy. She selects Carly and Kyle as the adoptive parents and thus begins their relationship. As Carly awaits the birth of Emily, she writes letters to her new baby girl.....
”Dear Emily, How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? A child that has always been in our hearts? A child that is meant for our family? Your Daddy and I cannot wait for the moment we are able to hold you in our arms for the first time. To lay our eyes on your perfect face, eyes, toes. To breathe in the essence of a new baby, swirling scents of powder and linen. We cannot wait to feel your beating heart against our chests and to listen to your slow and steady breaths. To hear your soft baby noises. To soothe your crying. We have always dreamed of you, Emily. We’ve dreamed that someday our family would be blessed with a child. We are so close. Our new family is within reach.We are here hoping, waiting, praying. Love and kisses, Momma” . OMG....cue the waterworks 💧
The joy of Carly and Kyle juxtaposed with the heartbreak of Tabitha (who was struggling with giving up her child) felt real. Walking through the adoption process from both sides was extremely emotional, especially when you know what both of these girls had gone through in their past and what brought them to this place in the present.
There was just something so incredibly powerful and emotional about these two women. Both had suffered abuse in their pasts and it was a common thread that the reader knew about, but they didn’t know that about each other. I was expecting the author to present a scenario where they found out they had that in common and then they would bond even more, but that didn’t happen (which I guess is probably more realistic). My heart broke for both of them and I wanted them to be so close, but in a way I knew it was probably too painful for them to have that type of relationship.
Although they never told each other about their lives, their connection was palpable and I just wanted more moments with them together because my heart was breaking and rejoicing for both of them. Gah....the feels. ❤️💔💞
My only complaint is that I had a bit of an issue with the flipping between past and present. It made the story feel just a little choppy, and I think it would have suited the story a bit better if it was broken out into part 1 (past for Carly & Tabitha) and part 2 (present). I really wanted more of the present and the relationship between Carly and Tabitha because every time they had an interaction my heart was full on in all the gushy and heartbreaking feels. But then it would flip to the past and my feelings had to switch to uncomfortable and angry and mad for the things that happened to them. So I felt like my emotions were on a constant flip and I couldn’t really settle into one specific emotional place.
Overall, I was fully invested in this story from page 1 and am so happy that Carly and Kyle’s dreams came true. This story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger where Tabitha is concerned.
“Tabitha, are you OK?” I ask.
She pulls her hands from Kyle’s and mine and begins to wipe away the tears from her face. She keeps her hands over her face for a moment, removes them, and looks up at us.
“No, I’m not OK. But I will be. It’s all because of you that I will be. I’m going to strive to have what you and Kyle have someday. I’ll find my happily ever after. It just isn’t now.” Gah....I’m bawling 😭
I am rooting for Tabitha and can’t wait to read about her well deserved HEA in the next story!!!
January 22, 2014
I devoured this story in one sitting. It was a great read, and I am looking forward to the next book. I will try to properly review later.
December 12, 2013
So I don't do pictures and I don't do GIFS what I can tell you with WORDS is how much I loved this book!
I didn't want to put it down. I had to read it in one sitting (but damn life got in the way)!
The development and depth of all these characters were superb. Every single strength or flaw was apparent and you just FELT them with every word.
Carly was the best female lead of strength I've read in a long time. She went from a tragedy to her happy ever after by pushing though and reclaiming her happiness.
Kyle was one of the most adoring and loveable male leads. He was a pillar of support through everything and it never changed. He will always hold a place in my heart.
Tabby- poor poor Tabby. I can not express how much I felt for her. She had a shit life. She did do one thing that caused her happiness and I was shaking my head saying "why?!!!" I can not wait to get her book. She deserves her HEA.
Alex- *sigh* I did love him. I hope to see him in book 2. I hope it all works out. It wasn't his fault.
Seth- was a bit creepy and slimy.
Thank you Trudy Stiles for writing a book that will stay with me for a long time. I can not wait for the next book in the series!!
I didn't want to put it down. I had to read it in one sitting (but damn life got in the way)!
The development and depth of all these characters were superb. Every single strength or flaw was apparent and you just FELT them with every word.
Carly was the best female lead of strength I've read in a long time. She went from a tragedy to her happy ever after by pushing though and reclaiming her happiness.
Kyle was one of the most adoring and loveable male leads. He was a pillar of support through everything and it never changed. He will always hold a place in my heart.
Tabby- poor poor Tabby. I can not express how much I felt for her. She had a shit life. She did do one thing that caused her happiness and I was shaking my head saying "why?!!!" I can not wait to get her book. She deserves her HEA.
Alex- *sigh* I did love him. I hope to see him in book 2. I hope it all works out. It wasn't his fault.
Seth- was a bit creepy and slimy.
Thank you Trudy Stiles for writing a book that will stay with me for a long time. I can not wait for the next book in the series!!
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December 15, 2013
4 stars
A could not put this down book! We follow the story of two woman both with horrible pasts, Carly and Tabitha.
I was heartbroken for both stories. The dual pov made me connect with them both. However, add in past/present format to the dual pov, the story got a tad confusing.
Kyle was such a sweetheart, Seth felt a bit creepy and Alex I loved him! I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was heartbreaking and a real page turner
A could not put this down book! We follow the story of two woman both with horrible pasts, Carly and Tabitha.
I was heartbroken for both stories. The dual pov made me connect with them both. However, add in past/present format to the dual pov, the story got a tad confusing.
You've turn me inside out Carly. Inside out
Kyle was such a sweetheart, Seth felt a bit creepy and Alex I loved him! I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was heartbreaking and a real page turner
December 13, 2013
Well, Ms. Stiles, you really knocked this one out of the park. I loved it. Unique story line, characters you could root for, and emotions you could really feel. When Todd appeared on the pages, I could physically feel the book grow dark. I can't say I have had a book make me feel that kind of cold dread in a long time. But, you also made me feel joy, which was the most prominent feeling I had throughout the book. Sure, the characters were experiencing the harsh realties of life, but the way you told the story and brought life to your characters made them a pleasure to spend time with. Your writing is exquisite. So, I suggest you keep doing it. Go on. You better be writing as I type this. K thanks ;-)
December 20, 2013
Gitte: What an emotional tearjerker of a read this was. I think I sat with a huge lump in my throat the whole time reading. The writing was truly beautiful and the story which shows the past as well as the present was so raw and gripping my heart was so full of cracks by the time I’d finished. The agony, the tragedy, the horror, the loss, the hope and the love was extreme and intense yet handled with such care, attention and realism that I felt every word and everything the characters went through. Human behaviour and consequences are never black and white, decidedly right or wrong neither are decisions taken lightly or made rationally at all times. Love is never easy nor is it ever forgotten. Love is painful and it bloody hurts. This story was so well developed, as were the characters that I fully connected and it was as if I was experiencing this as it was playing out.
‘Dear Emily,
…….Please don’t hate me.
Please don’t think that you weren’t wanted.
Please don’t hate me.
Please.’
All I can really say is that ‘Dear Emily’ is one of those stories that should be on everyone’s to read list right Jenny?
Jenny: You’re spot on Gitte. This is definitely one of those books you want to implore everyone to read because it had such a profound effect on me also.
It was poignant, real, moving and so terribly heart-breaking, yet with moments of sheer joy as the story of these two damaged women who forged a bond through a gesture of selflessness and pain on one side and hope and joy on the other had their past and present told with such love, tenderness, empathy and sensitivity that it almost felt as if I was reading someone’s personal journal, as if I was sharing the pain, loss and journey with the characters first hand like you Gitte.
‘For the first time in months, my best friends and Kyle surround me, and I feel ok. Actually, better than ok. I feel wonderful, protected, and loved.’ – Carly
Dear Emily was sincere, moving and resonated with me with such in depth and realistic characterization. It was a beautifully written story of love, loss and sacrifice and was detailed with aching. Dear Emily told the story of two women who had suffered unthinkable tragedies that would ultimately bring them together. Heartrending, painful, real and unforgettable.
Gitte: We follow Tabitha and Carly; two young women whose paths meet and forever changes lives. Both have seen and experienced real pain and tragedy. Both have had to make life altering decisions. Both have been marked by trauma. I suffered and cried for them. I rejoiced at their chance of love and hope. I agonised with them in their decisions and the consequences. I despaired at whether the right was wrong or the wrong was right.
‘I’m jealous of her. Of her life. Of what she is. Of everything that I am not. I think I hate her a little.’
Tabitha, poor sweet girl, abandoned, betrayed, beaten and alone. She believes she’s broken and beyond repair yet in her extreme vulnerability she shows such strength in adversity, she shows pure heart and unselfishness. How many times in life do you get knocked down before you cease to stand back up again? How do you recognise love when it’s never existed in your life? How do you find hope and inspiration to be who you can be and who you want to be when you’ve been labelled as damaged and disturbed?
‘She is perfect. She is not me. Therefore she is perfect.’
This girl had the biggest wall to climb and I was behind her all the way hoping she would find what she truly deserved. Seth or Alex? Two men that come into her life at a crucial time and are a huge part of Tabitha’s changing path where she once again must sacrifice her love by giving the most precious gift away to another.
‘I need to take this one step at a time and learn how to be close to someone again. Learn how to trust again. Learn how to be me. I don’t even know who I am.’
And then we have the sweet and innocent wronged Carly. Well, I’ll leave this amazing woman and her path to you Jenny….
Jenny: Thanks Gitte, Carly’s story of longing, wanting and needing a child in her life touched me deeply and resonated with me. I connected with her on a personal level over her longing for a child, a family with the man she loves. I understood her and I ached and hurt with her. This woman had truly suffered emotionally and physically and bore the pain and scars of her tragic past. Carly was truly blessed to have a man like Kyle by her side. Kyle was the epitome of a book hero. This guy stood by her, comforted her, loved her and never judged or belittled her. He lifted her up when she was at her lowest and he chased away the demons from her past. He was her saviour and the love they shared could be felt deep in your soul. These were absolute soul mates and watching their relationship grow was truly mesmerising.
“I want you. I want us.”– Kyle
“I love you, Carly.”
The contrast in the letters written to Emily from Tabitha and Carly is so telling. Whilst Carly’s journal entries to Emily are filled with joy, anticipation, longing and love……
‘Dear Emily,
How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? A child that has always been in our hearts? We have always dreamed of you, Emily….We are hoping, waiting, praying.
Love and Kisses, Momma.’
Tabitha’s are filled with loss, sadness and self-doubt. It really does pull at your heartstrings to read these letters. You want so much for both to find happiness, love and peace with their decisions.
The past, present and pov switches flowed perfectly and each voice lends so much to this story. The parallel storytelling was faultless and gripped me from the very first page. How could you not be dragged into this story from an opening such as the one we experienced?
Kyle and Carly had a love that stood the test of time and they had love in abundance. They have love to share with a child and I so desperately wanted their wish to come true, but for every bit of happiness I craved for Kyle and Carly, at the other end of the spectrum was Tabitha’s unhappiness….and for that reason I was torn. I cried for Carly and I wept for Tabitha. All deserved happiness and peace.
‘Dear Emily,
‘I imagine your Daddy outside playing with you……….your giggles are making my heart race with excitement….this is your future, Emily. This is our future. We will be a forever family. My heart is bursting with Love.
Momma & Daddy’
G&J: We can honestly say that this story had a profound effect on us. As Mum’s; giving your own flesh and blood away is unimaginable. However, this is the heart-breaking decision many women have to face for a variety of reasons. Our heart bleeds for these women yet it also rejoices for the women who receive such an amazing gift.
What an astounding story this was and we applaud the Author for bringing us on a truly beautiful and heart-wrenching journey. Having the voices of both Tabitha and Carly made sure that we truly understood each perspective and the turmoil they both went through. We understood how they came to be at the point their paths met, we felt every emotion and tragedy as we experienced life with them, we cried and we smiled. We found inspiration and hope. We can’t wait for Tabitha’s story to continue. That ending!!! What a truly breath-taking, compelling and beautifully stirring debut from Trudy Stiles.
‘I’ll find my happily ever after. It just isn’t now.’
ARC supplied by author in exchange for an honest review
June 21, 2021
Mochte gar nicht an dem Buch.
Schreibstil war sehr trocken und die Geschichte sehr zäh zu lesen. Die vier Zeiten fand ich auch so verwirrend. Ich konnte Carly und Tabitha teilweise auch nicht auseinander halten, da ihre Kapitel komplett gleich klangen.
Ich mochte niemanden in der Geschichte.
Alle waren sehr eindimensional und vor allem bei Carly und Kyle hat man zur Beziehung während der Adoption nichts bekommen, was die Beziehung für mich noch eigenartiger gemacht hat.
Muss zugeben, dass ich auf einen Knaller bei den Zwei gewartet hatte, weil Kyle so strange war.
Kyle und Carly hatten auch null Persönlichkeit.
Und wie sie über Emily gesprochen hat kam mir vor wie diese typische christliche Adoptionswerbung.
Breche ab und werde denk ich nichts mehr von der Autorin lesen.
Schreibstil war sehr trocken und die Geschichte sehr zäh zu lesen. Die vier Zeiten fand ich auch so verwirrend. Ich konnte Carly und Tabitha teilweise auch nicht auseinander halten, da ihre Kapitel komplett gleich klangen.
Ich mochte niemanden in der Geschichte.
Alle waren sehr eindimensional und vor allem bei Carly und Kyle hat man zur Beziehung während der Adoption nichts bekommen, was die Beziehung für mich noch eigenartiger gemacht hat.
Muss zugeben, dass ich auf einen Knaller bei den Zwei gewartet hatte, weil Kyle so strange war.
Kyle und Carly hatten auch null Persönlichkeit.
Und wie sie über Emily gesprochen hat kam mir vor wie diese typische christliche Adoptionswerbung.
Breche ab und werde denk ich nichts mehr von der Autorin lesen.
December 12, 2013
4.5 Amazing Stars!!!!
I love when a book can grip you right from the first few pages, pull you in and not let you go until the very last page. Trudy has written a page turner. Her debut novel knocked my socks off and she is definitely an author to check out.
Two women. Carly and Tabitha. They each have suffered life-altering events that have left them both traumatically damaged.
This book is truly sensational. This is a story of survival, loss, friendship, second chances, hope, forgiveness and love.
Carly’s life was perfect until her security and innocence where ripped from her. The vast repercussions from horrific events threaten to destroy her stability and her chances for a happily ever after.
Kyle came into Carly’s life when she was at her worst, he showed her how to live again and that she was worth having love in her life. Kyle was genuine, a true man who loved his woman from the start and would do anything for her. He proved his love for Carly right from the start.
Tabitha Fletcher has constantly suffered from a very young age. She has been hiding from her past, which was full of sadness, loss and abuse. Tabitha has suffered a lot. Her last relationship left her feeling empty, useless, and she had no hope of redemption for herself.
When circumstances bring these two women together, can they work together and heal each other’s pain?
I absolutely LOVED this story.
These are two totally different women from totally different ends of the world as we know it. When something significant brings these two women into each other’s lives it starts an even more emotional journey for both women. Can Carly have everything she has ever wanted in life? Will Tabitha find the redemption she so believes she deserves?
I would tell anyone to go forth and embark on the journey with Carly and Tabitha. You will not be disappointed at all. You will need tissues. You will cry, you’ll get angry, and you will see happiness at the end.
I love when a book can grip you right from the first few pages, pull you in and not let you go until the very last page. Trudy has written a page turner. Her debut novel knocked my socks off and she is definitely an author to check out.
Two women. Carly and Tabitha. They each have suffered life-altering events that have left them both traumatically damaged.
This book is truly sensational. This is a story of survival, loss, friendship, second chances, hope, forgiveness and love.
Carly’s life was perfect until her security and innocence where ripped from her. The vast repercussions from horrific events threaten to destroy her stability and her chances for a happily ever after.
Kyle came into Carly’s life when she was at her worst, he showed her how to live again and that she was worth having love in her life. Kyle was genuine, a true man who loved his woman from the start and would do anything for her. He proved his love for Carly right from the start.
Tabitha Fletcher has constantly suffered from a very young age. She has been hiding from her past, which was full of sadness, loss and abuse. Tabitha has suffered a lot. Her last relationship left her feeling empty, useless, and she had no hope of redemption for herself.
When circumstances bring these two women together, can they work together and heal each other’s pain?
I absolutely LOVED this story.
These are two totally different women from totally different ends of the world as we know it. When something significant brings these two women into each other’s lives it starts an even more emotional journey for both women. Can Carly have everything she has ever wanted in life? Will Tabitha find the redemption she so believes she deserves?
I would tell anyone to go forth and embark on the journey with Carly and Tabitha. You will not be disappointed at all. You will need tissues. You will cry, you’ll get angry, and you will see happiness at the end.
February 6, 2016
4.5 stars. This book has been on my tbr for years and I'm SO glad I finally read it. Trudy Stiles effortlessly weaves the story of Tabitha & Carly, two woman brought together through an adoption. It is told in dual POV by both alternating between the past and present flawlessly. I couldn't put this book down. It was romantic, passionate, tragic, emotional, and uplifting all at once. I can't wait to start the next one!
September 1, 2016
Jointly reviewed on: http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/12/...
Gitte: What an emotional tearjerker of a read this was. I think I sat with a huge lump in my throat the whole time reading. The writing was truly beautiful and the story which shows the past as well as the present was so raw and gripping my heart was so full of cracks by the time I’d finished. The agony, the tragedy, the horror, the loss, the hope and the love was extreme and intense yet handled with such care, attention and realism that I felt every word and everything the characters went through. Human behaviour and consequences are never black and white, decidedly right or wrong neither are decisions taken lightly or made rationally at all times. Love is never easy nor is it ever forgotten. Love is painful and it bloody hurts. This story was so well developed, as were the characters that I fully connected and it was as if I was experiencing this as it was playing out.
‘Dear Emily,
…….Please don’t hate me.
Please don’t think that you weren’t wanted.
Please don’t hate me.
Please.’
All I can really say is that ‘Dear Emily’ is one of those stories that should be on everyone’s to read list right Jenny?
Jenny: You’re spot on Gitte. This is definitely one of those books you want to implore everyone to read because it had such a profound effect on me also.
It was poignant, real, moving and so terribly heart-breaking, yet with moments of sheer joy as the story of these two damaged women who forged a bond through a gesture of selflessness and pain on one side and hope and joy on the other had their past and present told with such love, tenderness, empathy and sensitivity that it almost felt as if I was reading someone’s personal journal, as if I was sharing the pain, loss and journey with the characters first hand like you Gitte.
‘For the first time in months, my best friends and Kyle surround me, and I feel ok. Actually, better than ok. I feel wonderful, protected, and loved.’ – Carly
Dear Emily was sincere, moving and resonated with me with such in depth and realistic characterization. It was a beautifully written story of love, loss and sacrifice and was detailed with aching. Dear Emily told the story of two women who had suffered unthinkable tragedies that would ultimately bring them together. Heartrending, painful, real and unforgettable.
Gitte: We follow Tabitha and Carly; two young women whose paths meet and forever changes lives. Both have seen and experienced real pain and tragedy. Both have had to make life altering decisions. Both have been marked by trauma. I suffered and cried for them. I rejoiced at their chance of love and hope. I agonised with them in their decisions and the consequences. I despaired at whether the right was wrong or the wrong was right.
‘I’m jealous of her. Of her life. Of what she is. Of everything that I am not. I think I hate her a little.’
Tabitha, poor sweet girl, abandoned, betrayed, beaten and alone. She believes she’s broken and beyond repair yet in her extreme vulnerability she shows such strength in adversity, she shows pure heart and unselfishness. How many times in life do you get knocked down before you cease to stand back up again? How do you recognise love when it’s never existed in your life? How do you find hope and inspiration to be who you can be and who you want to be when you’ve been labelled as damaged and disturbed?
‘She is perfect. She is not me. Therefore she is perfect.’
This girl had the biggest wall to climb and I was behind her all the way hoping she would find what she truly deserved. Seth or Alex? Two men that come into her life at a crucial time and are a huge part of Tabitha’s changing path where she once again must sacrifice her love by giving the most precious gift away to another.
‘I need to take this one step at a time and learn how to be close to someone again. Learn how to trust again. Learn how to be me. I don’t even know who I am.’
And then we have the sweet and innocent wronged Carly. Well, I’ll leave this amazing woman and her path to you Jenny….
Jenny: Thanks Gitte, Carly’s story of longing, wanting and needing a child in her life touched me deeply and resonated with me. I connected with her on a personal level over her longing for a child, a family with the man she loves. I understood her and I ached and hurt with her. This woman had truly suffered emotionally and physically and bore the pain and scars of her tragic past. Carly was truly blessed to have a man like Kyle by her side. Kyle was the epitome of a book hero. This guy stood by her, comforted her, loved her and never judged or belittled her. He lifted her up when she was at her lowest and he chased away the demons from her past. He was her saviour and the love they shared could be felt deep in your soul. These were absolutely soul mates and watching their relationship grow was truly mesmerising.
“I want you. I want us.”
“I love you, Carly.” – Kyle
The contrast in the letters written to Emily from Tabitha and Carly is so telling. Whilst Carly’s journal entries to Emily are filled with joy, anticipation, longing and love……
‘How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? We have always dreamed of you, Emily.
Love and Kisses, Momma.’
Tabitha’s are filled with loss, sadness and self-doubt. It really does pull at your heartstrings to read these letters. You want so much for both to find happiness, love and peace with their decisions.
The past, present and pov switches were flowed perfectly and each voice lends so much to this story. The parallel storytelling was faultless and gripped me from the very first page. How could you not be dragged into this story from an opening such as the one we experienced?
Kyle and Carly had a love that stood the test of time and they had love in abundance. They have love to share with a child and I so desperately wanted their wish to come true, but for every bit of happiness I craved for Kyle and Carly, at the other end of the spectrum was Tabitha’s unhappiness….and for that reason I was torn. I cried for Carly and I wept for Tabitha. All deserved happiness and peace.
‘Dear Emily,
‘I imagine your Daddy outside playing with you……….your giggles are making my heart race with excitement….this is your future, Emily. This is our future. We will be a forever family. My heart is bursting with Love.
Momma & Daddy’
G&J: We can honestly say that this story had a profound effect on us. As Mum’s; giving your own flesh and blood away is unimaginable. However, this is the heart-breaking decision many women have to face for a variety of reasons. Our heart bleeds for these women yet it also rejoices for the women who receive such an amazing gift.
What an astounding story this was and we applaud the Author for bringing us on a truly beautiful and heart-wrenching journey. Having the voices of both Tabitha and Carly made sure that we truly understood each perspective and the turmoil they both went through. We understood how they came to be at the point their paths met, we felt every emotion and tragedy as we experienced life with them, we cried and we smiled. We found inspiration and hope. We can’t wait for Tabitha’s story to continue. That ending!!! What a truly breath-taking, compelling and beautifully stirring debut from Trudy Stiles.
‘I’ll find my happily ever after. It just isn’t now.’
ARC supplied by author in exchange for an honest review
Gitte: What an emotional tearjerker of a read this was. I think I sat with a huge lump in my throat the whole time reading. The writing was truly beautiful and the story which shows the past as well as the present was so raw and gripping my heart was so full of cracks by the time I’d finished. The agony, the tragedy, the horror, the loss, the hope and the love was extreme and intense yet handled with such care, attention and realism that I felt every word and everything the characters went through. Human behaviour and consequences are never black and white, decidedly right or wrong neither are decisions taken lightly or made rationally at all times. Love is never easy nor is it ever forgotten. Love is painful and it bloody hurts. This story was so well developed, as were the characters that I fully connected and it was as if I was experiencing this as it was playing out.
‘Dear Emily,
…….Please don’t hate me.
Please don’t think that you weren’t wanted.
Please don’t hate me.
Please.’
All I can really say is that ‘Dear Emily’ is one of those stories that should be on everyone’s to read list right Jenny?
Jenny: You’re spot on Gitte. This is definitely one of those books you want to implore everyone to read because it had such a profound effect on me also.
It was poignant, real, moving and so terribly heart-breaking, yet with moments of sheer joy as the story of these two damaged women who forged a bond through a gesture of selflessness and pain on one side and hope and joy on the other had their past and present told with such love, tenderness, empathy and sensitivity that it almost felt as if I was reading someone’s personal journal, as if I was sharing the pain, loss and journey with the characters first hand like you Gitte.
‘For the first time in months, my best friends and Kyle surround me, and I feel ok. Actually, better than ok. I feel wonderful, protected, and loved.’ – Carly
Dear Emily was sincere, moving and resonated with me with such in depth and realistic characterization. It was a beautifully written story of love, loss and sacrifice and was detailed with aching. Dear Emily told the story of two women who had suffered unthinkable tragedies that would ultimately bring them together. Heartrending, painful, real and unforgettable.
Gitte: We follow Tabitha and Carly; two young women whose paths meet and forever changes lives. Both have seen and experienced real pain and tragedy. Both have had to make life altering decisions. Both have been marked by trauma. I suffered and cried for them. I rejoiced at their chance of love and hope. I agonised with them in their decisions and the consequences. I despaired at whether the right was wrong or the wrong was right.
‘I’m jealous of her. Of her life. Of what she is. Of everything that I am not. I think I hate her a little.’
Tabitha, poor sweet girl, abandoned, betrayed, beaten and alone. She believes she’s broken and beyond repair yet in her extreme vulnerability she shows such strength in adversity, she shows pure heart and unselfishness. How many times in life do you get knocked down before you cease to stand back up again? How do you recognise love when it’s never existed in your life? How do you find hope and inspiration to be who you can be and who you want to be when you’ve been labelled as damaged and disturbed?
‘She is perfect. She is not me. Therefore she is perfect.’
This girl had the biggest wall to climb and I was behind her all the way hoping she would find what she truly deserved. Seth or Alex? Two men that come into her life at a crucial time and are a huge part of Tabitha’s changing path where she once again must sacrifice her love by giving the most precious gift away to another.
‘I need to take this one step at a time and learn how to be close to someone again. Learn how to trust again. Learn how to be me. I don’t even know who I am.’
And then we have the sweet and innocent wronged Carly. Well, I’ll leave this amazing woman and her path to you Jenny….
Jenny: Thanks Gitte, Carly’s story of longing, wanting and needing a child in her life touched me deeply and resonated with me. I connected with her on a personal level over her longing for a child, a family with the man she loves. I understood her and I ached and hurt with her. This woman had truly suffered emotionally and physically and bore the pain and scars of her tragic past. Carly was truly blessed to have a man like Kyle by her side. Kyle was the epitome of a book hero. This guy stood by her, comforted her, loved her and never judged or belittled her. He lifted her up when she was at her lowest and he chased away the demons from her past. He was her saviour and the love they shared could be felt deep in your soul. These were absolutely soul mates and watching their relationship grow was truly mesmerising.
“I want you. I want us.”
“I love you, Carly.” – Kyle
The contrast in the letters written to Emily from Tabitha and Carly is so telling. Whilst Carly’s journal entries to Emily are filled with joy, anticipation, longing and love……
‘How do I start a letter to a child I have yet to meet? We have always dreamed of you, Emily.
Love and Kisses, Momma.’
Tabitha’s are filled with loss, sadness and self-doubt. It really does pull at your heartstrings to read these letters. You want so much for both to find happiness, love and peace with their decisions.
The past, present and pov switches were flowed perfectly and each voice lends so much to this story. The parallel storytelling was faultless and gripped me from the very first page. How could you not be dragged into this story from an opening such as the one we experienced?
Kyle and Carly had a love that stood the test of time and they had love in abundance. They have love to share with a child and I so desperately wanted their wish to come true, but for every bit of happiness I craved for Kyle and Carly, at the other end of the spectrum was Tabitha’s unhappiness….and for that reason I was torn. I cried for Carly and I wept for Tabitha. All deserved happiness and peace.
‘Dear Emily,
‘I imagine your Daddy outside playing with you……….your giggles are making my heart race with excitement….this is your future, Emily. This is our future. We will be a forever family. My heart is bursting with Love.
Momma & Daddy’
G&J: We can honestly say that this story had a profound effect on us. As Mum’s; giving your own flesh and blood away is unimaginable. However, this is the heart-breaking decision many women have to face for a variety of reasons. Our heart bleeds for these women yet it also rejoices for the women who receive such an amazing gift.
What an astounding story this was and we applaud the Author for bringing us on a truly beautiful and heart-wrenching journey. Having the voices of both Tabitha and Carly made sure that we truly understood each perspective and the turmoil they both went through. We understood how they came to be at the point their paths met, we felt every emotion and tragedy as we experienced life with them, we cried and we smiled. We found inspiration and hope. We can’t wait for Tabitha’s story to continue. That ending!!! What a truly breath-taking, compelling and beautifully stirring debut from Trudy Stiles.
‘I’ll find my happily ever after. It just isn’t now.’
ARC supplied by author in exchange for an honest review
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December 5, 2013
Dear Emily (Family Forever #1)
By: Trudy Stiles
5 out of 5 stars!
Two sets of spoilers in this review that are both tagged as spoilers! So if you don't want to know some of the heavy aspects or if you haven't read the book then DON'T CLICK THE VIEW SPOILER TAB!!!!!!
Otherwise enjoy :)
I read Dear Emily two days ago and needed the time after my read to process how I felt about this book. For a starting off point lets hit the basics before I get into the nitty gritty. The editing was wonderful and I had absolutely no complaints! (This is a made deal for me!) The structure of the novel going to different point of views between Carly and Tabitha was insightful because you were able to really see both sides of this tragic yet magical story. In the different POV’s you also encounter different time stamps. They chapters are jumping from past to present and they do it sometimes in the middle of a chapter but the move from past to present transitioned well and that is all a reader can hope for.
The actual story itself…you’re going to want to have a box of tissues, a cuddly blanket, and possibly a hatchet at a few different points in this incredibly emotionally charged read. Carly is the sweet, naïve college freshman that goes to a frat party and wakes up the next morning a completely different person. Her friends are a serious trio of supportive love and stability. In the time after Carly’s incident many things start to spiral out, Carly meets a new boy, she battles learning devastating information, and no matter what Carly is strong, brave, and courageous and she makes the world her oyster. Kyle makes the oyster all the brighter as well. I loved reading from both past and present with Carly I felt that you could really delve into her emotions and feel what was really going on in a room the way that everyone communicated in this novel.
Tabitha, Tabitha, Tabitha, I’m not sure what to think of her sometimes. Poor girl has had an insane, terror-ridden life. It seems like instead of the ever optimistic when one door closes one door opens philosophy Tabitha’s life is more the door closed and then this one slammed in my face. Running away from foster care Tabitha makes out on her own and finds Tony who is the worst kind of a**hole on the planet. He keeps Tabby for a while... One day Tabby escapes and thank goodness for that because that guy needs to be locked up with a big man named Bubba. After moving back to Philly Tabby meets the moody and a little emotionally unstable Alex, and the ever-energetic Seth. These men both want Tabby and during this part of the series you see that love isn’t enough in either case for Tabby. Everything comes full circle in this story and it is such an emotionally moving story that you need time to process it once you finish it by my oh my SO WORTH IT!
By: Trudy Stiles
5 out of 5 stars!
Two sets of spoilers in this review that are both tagged as spoilers! So if you don't want to know some of the heavy aspects or if you haven't read the book then DON'T CLICK THE VIEW SPOILER TAB!!!!!!
Otherwise enjoy :)
I read Dear Emily two days ago and needed the time after my read to process how I felt about this book. For a starting off point lets hit the basics before I get into the nitty gritty. The editing was wonderful and I had absolutely no complaints! (This is a made deal for me!) The structure of the novel going to different point of views between Carly and Tabitha was insightful because you were able to really see both sides of this tragic yet magical story. In the different POV’s you also encounter different time stamps. They chapters are jumping from past to present and they do it sometimes in the middle of a chapter but the move from past to present transitioned well and that is all a reader can hope for.
The actual story itself…you’re going to want to have a box of tissues, a cuddly blanket, and possibly a hatchet at a few different points in this incredibly emotionally charged read. Carly is the sweet, naïve college freshman that goes to a frat party and wakes up the next morning a completely different person. Her friends are a serious trio of supportive love and stability. In the time after Carly’s incident many things start to spiral out, Carly meets a new boy, she battles learning devastating information, and no matter what Carly is strong, brave, and courageous and she makes the world her oyster. Kyle makes the oyster all the brighter as well. I loved reading from both past and present with Carly I felt that you could really delve into her emotions and feel what was really going on in a room the way that everyone communicated in this novel.
Tabitha, Tabitha, Tabitha, I’m not sure what to think of her sometimes. Poor girl has had an insane, terror-ridden life. It seems like instead of the ever optimistic when one door closes one door opens philosophy Tabitha’s life is more the door closed and then this one slammed in my face. Running away from foster care Tabitha makes out on her own and finds Tony who is the worst kind of a**hole on the planet. He keeps Tabby for a while... One day Tabby escapes and thank goodness for that because that guy needs to be locked up with a big man named Bubba. After moving back to Philly Tabby meets the moody and a little emotionally unstable Alex, and the ever-energetic Seth. These men both want Tabby and during this part of the series you see that love isn’t enough in either case for Tabby. Everything comes full circle in this story and it is such an emotionally moving story that you need time to process it once you finish it by my oh my SO WORTH IT!
August 12, 2015
(PureTextuality.com)Over three months ago I found this book on a blog I follow and bought it. Now I am kicking myself for not reading it until now. If it looks like just another contemporary romance, that couldn’t be more wrong. There is of course, a romance but this book is so much more than just a romance.
Carly and her husband Kyle have tried everything to get pregnant to no avail. When they decide to adopt, they go on a journey filled with it’s share of angst, but that’s nothing compared to what Carly went through during her freshman year of college. Tabitha is broken and pregnant. She has the foster home background, but she also has horrible events in her recent past that has ruined her both physically and mentally. Open adoptions? A good thing or not-that is just one things that is explored in this heart wrenching and emotional story.
This story takes place in both the present and the past, and also tells both women’s stories in these time periods. For me the past is the more compelling story for both women, Carly’s story in particular. That’s not to say that Tabitha hasn’t had a bad time of it, because she really has.
I had forgotten what this book was about when I picked it up to read last night. At the beginning the reader is warned that this book is not suitable for young readers, and is 18+ only. That’s due to sexual situations, non-consensual sex, and violence. And that’s as close as I want to come to telling what exactly happens. I had no idea, so I was horrified at some points, and alternatively happy or sad for the characters as events unfolded.
I am not trying to warn anyone away from this read because it deserves to be read. I read it in just a few hours because of how good it is. It was so well written that this author is going on my list of must read writers. Characters almost jump off the page as the reader is taken on their journey, both during the good and the bad times. This is book one of three, and I will be reading the next one as soon as I possibly can. I did like the way it ended, but it also made it just that much more important for me to read the next one.
If we still gave out stars, this would definitely be a 5 star read. Excellently told story-Highly Recommended!
Carly and her husband Kyle have tried everything to get pregnant to no avail. When they decide to adopt, they go on a journey filled with it’s share of angst, but that’s nothing compared to what Carly went through during her freshman year of college. Tabitha is broken and pregnant. She has the foster home background, but she also has horrible events in her recent past that has ruined her both physically and mentally. Open adoptions? A good thing or not-that is just one things that is explored in this heart wrenching and emotional story.
This story takes place in both the present and the past, and also tells both women’s stories in these time periods. For me the past is the more compelling story for both women, Carly’s story in particular. That’s not to say that Tabitha hasn’t had a bad time of it, because she really has.
I had forgotten what this book was about when I picked it up to read last night. At the beginning the reader is warned that this book is not suitable for young readers, and is 18+ only. That’s due to sexual situations, non-consensual sex, and violence. And that’s as close as I want to come to telling what exactly happens. I had no idea, so I was horrified at some points, and alternatively happy or sad for the characters as events unfolded.
I am not trying to warn anyone away from this read because it deserves to be read. I read it in just a few hours because of how good it is. It was so well written that this author is going on my list of must read writers. Characters almost jump off the page as the reader is taken on their journey, both during the good and the bad times. This is book one of three, and I will be reading the next one as soon as I possibly can. I did like the way it ended, but it also made it just that much more important for me to read the next one.
If we still gave out stars, this would definitely be a 5 star read. Excellently told story-Highly Recommended!
January 3, 2014
This was a very well-written book by a debut author. I had a tough time believing this was her FIRST book! It's REEEEALLY well-written!!
With that being said, I was annoyed by Tabitha throughout a lot of the story, and I think the author intended to evoke that feeling, along with feeling sorry for her (which I did). It's just that, I felt like she didn't do as much as she could to get out of the situation she was in with Tony and although I saw her rationalization behind it, I didn't think that would be a typical response. On the other hand, she knew she wasn't in the right place herself, which makes me want to commend her for the strength and selflessness she exhibited during those tough times. That pretty much sums up Tabitha for me; both selfish and selfless. I just didn't connect to her character like I thought I would.
I loved Carly, Kyle and Alex though! I also loved Carly's friends and hearing about all the college shenanagins (Wine Wednesday!!) and equally loathed that Todd guy. Even the name Todd annoys the shit outta me, so he was one evil bastard in my eyes!
As far as the characters are concerned, I really don't know why, but I just didn't connect as much as others did. Maybe I allowed the book to get SOOOOO hyped up, that there wasn't a way that it could live up to my expectations.
You might be thinking, why 4 stars then? I know what I'm saying seems negative, but on a character connection level, the book is a 3 and that's pushing it, but I feel that the author's fabulous writing and the unconventional storyline deserves a 4-star review. This might be one of those 'It's not you, it's me' things, so I don't think the rating of this book should suffer because of that.
All around, a great book and I would definitely recommend people read it. I will definitely be chomping at the bit to get my hands on the second book! I love Alex and I know I'll love the second book even more than the first!!!
With that being said, I was annoyed by Tabitha throughout a lot of the story, and I think the author intended to evoke that feeling, along with feeling sorry for her (which I did). It's just that, I felt like she didn't do as much as she could to get out of the situation she was in with Tony and although I saw her rationalization behind it, I didn't think that would be a typical response. On the other hand, she knew she wasn't in the right place herself, which makes me want to commend her for the strength and selflessness she exhibited during those tough times. That pretty much sums up Tabitha for me; both selfish and selfless. I just didn't connect to her character like I thought I would.
I loved Carly, Kyle and Alex though! I also loved Carly's friends and hearing about all the college shenanagins (Wine Wednesday!!) and equally loathed that Todd guy. Even the name Todd annoys the shit outta me, so he was one evil bastard in my eyes!
As far as the characters are concerned, I really don't know why, but I just didn't connect as much as others did. Maybe I allowed the book to get SOOOOO hyped up, that there wasn't a way that it could live up to my expectations.
You might be thinking, why 4 stars then? I know what I'm saying seems negative, but on a character connection level, the book is a 3 and that's pushing it, but I feel that the author's fabulous writing and the unconventional storyline deserves a 4-star review. This might be one of those 'It's not you, it's me' things, so I don't think the rating of this book should suffer because of that.
All around, a great book and I would definitely recommend people read it. I will definitely be chomping at the bit to get my hands on the second book! I love Alex and I know I'll love the second book even more than the first!!!
December 8, 2013
Can you say a million stars for this debut book by Trudy Stiles. I have to say once again thank you so much Brandee's Book Endings for hosting these amazing book tours for books I would never have read or heard about if it were not for her. To say that this is an amazing story is just so not true. This is a story about love, loss, pain and redemption. This is a story about two broken women who need healing and may just get that healing from one another. This is a story about damaged women coming to terms with the damage that surrounds them everyday.
can you imagine wanting something so bad and finding out you can't because of things from your past. Can you imagine being in a situation where you need a way out and the only way out is to give up the one thing you want but know you can't handle or take care of? Well this is the story about Carly and Tabitha two women who want something and need it and just may be able to help each other out. Both women are broken and torn inside and out but they continue to hold their head up high and continue living despite what they are going through and despite what they feel.
For Carly it is wanting something so bad she feels like she would die without it. But she never gives up the hope that one day she will have her hearts desire and that one day will be soon. For Tabitha she will have to make a life altering decision and decide whether or not she can make the decision and stick by it. Yes she knows it is the right thing to do but it doesn't make it any easier on her.
This story is told from a two person POV and past and present and let me tell you I laughed and I cried and I yelled at my kindle like a loony woman because the feelings and the emotions are so raw, rough, and real that it brings out everything in you. Trudy you have done a superb job on your debut and I need book two like ASAP!
can you imagine wanting something so bad and finding out you can't because of things from your past. Can you imagine being in a situation where you need a way out and the only way out is to give up the one thing you want but know you can't handle or take care of? Well this is the story about Carly and Tabitha two women who want something and need it and just may be able to help each other out. Both women are broken and torn inside and out but they continue to hold their head up high and continue living despite what they are going through and despite what they feel.
For Carly it is wanting something so bad she feels like she would die without it. But she never gives up the hope that one day she will have her hearts desire and that one day will be soon. For Tabitha she will have to make a life altering decision and decide whether or not she can make the decision and stick by it. Yes she knows it is the right thing to do but it doesn't make it any easier on her.
This story is told from a two person POV and past and present and let me tell you I laughed and I cried and I yelled at my kindle like a loony woman because the feelings and the emotions are so raw, rough, and real that it brings out everything in you. Trudy you have done a superb job on your debut and I need book two like ASAP!
December 7, 2013
Two great female leads here. I enjoyed both past and present pov's for Carly & Tabitha. They each have a unique story to be told. The author did a great job with Tabitha and her coming of age story. While I was intrigued with how she got to Pennsylvania from Oregon and back, it was not really as bold as her life story. She was bi polar and I guess that she just made bad choices. People do that when they are young. I will add that the story id NOT an easy one. It is tough at times to read the horror she grew up in and then the horror she was subjected to.
Carly Sloan’s life was perfect and then she drinks too much and it all goes to hell. Obviously there is a trauma suffered by her. I know that a lot girls should read this and NOT do what Carly does. I was having a shit fit with her and yelling a few times. I wanted to poke her and get her a wake up call. What a mess.
Kyle comes into Carly's life and it is a relationship tale that is a graduated love story. This was the aspect I thought the author did a wonderful job on. As for the sub characters, she (Carly) has great friends and they were supportive of what I will refer to as her "ignorant choices". They have a weekly "Wine Wednesday"meeting and there is a statement I loved about how it comes out but nothing they say leaves the room. Something more people should do. Cut the gossip and be there for one another. If you say you love me, then mean it. I don't like how sometimes people throw that out and it loses the effect.
Overall a very emotional and gritty book. I loved it and I hope people see the warning before they think about reading it and making bad reviews. It is a little gritty and raw, so beware. There is a book 2.
December 4, 2013
I was given an ARC of Dear Emily by Trudy Stiles. This is Ms. Stiles debut book...but, if I didn't know that, I would be searching for more books by her. That is how well written and how good this story is.
Dear Emily is the story of two young women (Carly and Tabitha) and is written in the past and in the present. The events that take place make you unable to put the book down. I was so drawn to Carly and Tabitha. And "who", you may be asking, "is Emily?" You'll have to read the book (coming December 8th!) to find out!
I am SO looking forward to the next book in the Forever Family series.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Two women. Carly and Tabitha. They each have suffered life-altering events that have left them both traumatically damaged.
Carly Sloan’s life was perfect until her security and innocence was torn from her. The vast repercussions from horrific events threaten to destroy her stability and her chances for a happily ever after. Kyle Finnegan comes into Carly’s life at the height of her turmoil. Can he help her find what she desires most?
Tabitha Fletcher has constantly suffered from a very young age. She has been hiding from her past, which was full of sadness, loss and abuse. She has been so brutally damaged that she has very little hope for redemption. The revolving door of men only leads her deeper into misery.
What circumstance brings these two women together and can they help each other heal? And will they each find what they need?
Redemption.
Love.
Family.
Dear Emily is the story of two young women (Carly and Tabitha) and is written in the past and in the present. The events that take place make you unable to put the book down. I was so drawn to Carly and Tabitha. And "who", you may be asking, "is Emily?" You'll have to read the book (coming December 8th!) to find out!
I am SO looking forward to the next book in the Forever Family series.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Two women. Carly and Tabitha. They each have suffered life-altering events that have left them both traumatically damaged.
Carly Sloan’s life was perfect until her security and innocence was torn from her. The vast repercussions from horrific events threaten to destroy her stability and her chances for a happily ever after. Kyle Finnegan comes into Carly’s life at the height of her turmoil. Can he help her find what she desires most?
Tabitha Fletcher has constantly suffered from a very young age. She has been hiding from her past, which was full of sadness, loss and abuse. She has been so brutally damaged that she has very little hope for redemption. The revolving door of men only leads her deeper into misery.
What circumstance brings these two women together and can they help each other heal? And will they each find what they need?
Redemption.
Love.
Family.
December 15, 2013
Just reading the synopsis on this book. I knew that it was going to be a tear jerker for me. It's a love story that is so profound and yet it is hardly ever spoken of. It's the story of two women, torn apart by a life that had left them scarred and a bond that they will forever share in a little girl neither have met yet - Emily.
This is the journey of Tabitha and Carly. Both women having gone through life altering changes in their lives and feeling lost, hopeless and not worthy of a man's love. One still searching and one having found her rock. Emily is the little girl who brings these two women together. One being the birth mother and the other bring the child into their forever family through adoption. This story goes back and forth from the past to the present and you really get to know these two women and their struggles.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. I have work with women in crisis pregnancies before and I am so happy to see this issue come to light. It's hard for both sides of this coin and its a love that is unimaginable. The ending left me surprised (more of a catalyst to book #2 than a cliff hanger) and I look forward to more from this series. 5 tear worthy stars~
This is the journey of Tabitha and Carly. Both women having gone through life altering changes in their lives and feeling lost, hopeless and not worthy of a man's love. One still searching and one having found her rock. Emily is the little girl who brings these two women together. One being the birth mother and the other bring the child into their forever family through adoption. This story goes back and forth from the past to the present and you really get to know these two women and their struggles.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. I have work with women in crisis pregnancies before and I am so happy to see this issue come to light. It's hard for both sides of this coin and its a love that is unimaginable. The ending left me surprised (more of a catalyst to book #2 than a cliff hanger) and I look forward to more from this series. 5 tear worthy stars~
February 19, 2014
WOW, Let me start by saying that I read this book by mistake and boy am I glad that I did. The writing style was so different than any other book that I have ever read . You would think it would be tricky reading from the past and then also the present from these 2 different characters perspectives and then add on top of it the need to tie these characters together. BUT it totally worked. I loved it. I was able to connect emotionally to each of the characters and truly put myself into the situations that they were in. The author does a great job in making you feel empathetic for 2 characters on such opposite ends of the spectrum but with such distinct similarities YET you've never gone through these series of events. This had everything in it that a reader looks for: emotional connection, angst, romance, trauma and suspense. Add well written to that list and you have a hidden treasure.
I just want to say that this was one of the BEST mistakes I've made! I can't wait for the second book!
I just want to say that this was one of the BEST mistakes I've made! I can't wait for the second book!
December 8, 2013
Dear Emily follows two women-
Carly and Tabitha. Both in different worlds, scenarios, but are forever bonded.
This story takes you from past to present in both women's worlds but the author does an amazing job of never confusing you- making you feel part of the story the entire time.
Carly, a married woman has a past. She's seems to have the "perfect" life. But she doesn't.
Tabitha is a hot mess. Her life is far from perfect in every aspect but I was so connected to her.
I don't even know how to properly review this book - because the connection is kind of a spoiler so that being said- READ THIS.
You will not regret.
It sucked me in and didn't let go til the last word leaving me DYING FOR BOOK 2. It is not a cliffhanger and trust me you will NOT regret taking the time.
FIVE HUGE STARS for an amazingly beautiful first novel. <3
Carly and Tabitha. Both in different worlds, scenarios, but are forever bonded.
This story takes you from past to present in both women's worlds but the author does an amazing job of never confusing you- making you feel part of the story the entire time.
Carly, a married woman has a past. She's seems to have the "perfect" life. But she doesn't.
Tabitha is a hot mess. Her life is far from perfect in every aspect but I was so connected to her.
I don't even know how to properly review this book - because the connection is kind of a spoiler so that being said- READ THIS.
You will not regret.
It sucked me in and didn't let go til the last word leaving me DYING FOR BOOK 2. It is not a cliffhanger and trust me you will NOT regret taking the time.
FIVE HUGE STARS for an amazingly beautiful first novel. <3
February 8, 2014
Update: I had to go back and edit this review. When a book leaves you thinking about it days later--that's a good thing. This was a 4.5 star before because it was good, really good…as in amazing. It's now a 5 star because it did something to me…it left me wanting more--needing more. That is the sign of a 5-star amazing book.
4.5 heartbreaking/heartwarming stars...This was good...so good. As in, I can't wait for the next book good. I'm still thinking about this book and plotting in my brain what's going to happen next. I would absolutely recommend this book!
4.5 heartbreaking/heartwarming stars...This was good...so good. As in, I can't wait for the next book good. I'm still thinking about this book and plotting in my brain what's going to happen next. I would absolutely recommend this book!
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