Review of Everything That Was

Title : Everything that was us

Author : E. Graziani

What would you do for a secret love?

Despite not speaking for nearly twenty years, Massimo Damiani, a 'rags-to-riches' oil executive, summons Sofie to his hospice bedside in picturesque Tuscany—his last wish?...to reconcile their stormy history and set long-buried secrets to rest.

Sofia Romano, a powerful Wall Street banker in Manhattan’s financial district, reeling with heartache in her rocky marriage, ignores her husband's protests, and flies to Italy to comfort the dying man from her past.

With old promises tugging at her heart and the memory of a tempestuous love that grew and crumbled time and again, will Sofia ever come to terms with the flaws in her marriage and gain the strength to rebuild it?

Tagline: Their pride tore them apart—a promise brought her back.

Everything that was us was a lovely tale of unrequited love between Massimo and Sofia through years. Having met at an young age, they had chance encounters through out their lives. The story potrays their love in the quaint country of Italy. The encounters between them in stages between the past and the present showing how much they have grown and their love for each other. The story starts with Sofia meeting Massimo on his death bed for the last time, reminiscing the time spent with each other which is nostalgic and being melancholic for the time lost. The story is emotional and heartwarming, with most parts being in Italy and its historical structures increasing the romantic factor up a notch. 💜

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The character development in the story is remarkable with them detailed at every stages of their life and their growth. I loved the way the story progresses and everytime their love renkindles. It's quite a lovely tale of romance and love, with a lot of emotional appeal. The story revolves primarily around their love and that's what strengthens the plot. The language is lucid and cohesive. And I totally loved the ending, it was so unexpected.

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I totally enjoyed it , it takes some time to acquainted to. But overall, a beautiful tale of love that all romance lovers will enjoy.

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Rating : ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ /5

Author: E. Graziani is the author of the women’s fiction novel, EVERYTHING THAT WAS US, scheduled to release in 2021 (The Wild Rose Press). She has also written Breaking Faith (Second Story Press), a contemporary YA fiction novel, selected for the 'In the Margins' Book Award 2018 Recommended Fiction List, and one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, and the YA historical memoir, War in My Town (Second Story Press), one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens and finalist in the Hamilton Arts Council 2016 Literary Awards for Best Non-Fiction. Reader and reviewer, WUoC Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers, 2019. Regular contributor, CHCH Morning Live Book Chat. She resides in Canada with her husband and four daughters.

Review of Layla

Title    : Layla

Author : Colleen Hoover

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Blurb:

When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her—until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.

Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow—another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental for all of them.

My thoughts on the book:

The supernatural is the natural not yet understood.”- Elbert Hubbard

Layla and Leeds meet at a wedding and immediately forms a deep connection with each other. They couldn't stay apart from each other and eventually fall in love. But when an instagram post brings trouble to them in the form of a neurotic ex-girlfriend, their life were never they same. They thought they escaped the worst, but the truth was far from it.

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It's Colleen Hoover's first attempt at crafting a story with supernatural elements in it and she nailed it. It's not your typical ghost story with gory details rather  about the spirits in different realms. Leeds, when sensed a strain in their relationship goes to all measures to mend that, but in vain. Layla was never the same. As a part of his mending plan he takes her to the place they first met. That's when things start to go wrong. And when we think that  Leeds is a horrible person due to the events that succeed, the plot changes, making us think maybe he  really is not. The book details the aftermath of a trauma and soul-switching among other things. Coollen Hoover is one of my favorite authors and her narrative is always fabulous. The richness in her writing, her imagination in shaping the plot makes the book a page-turner and I finished the book in two days. Also the characters are well developed and was able to connect with.

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I love the emotional appeal CoHo's books pose, and this one being a supernaturally rich book doesn't make the emotional parts any less. There are probable twists in the book and the ending is something that we can content with. A book which deals with supernatural or fantasy stuff can arise a number of questions throughout the plot and the way the questions are answered eloquently is what I appreciate most. I really don't have any negative points to mention, because I feel so content and truly and thoroughly enjoyed the book. 

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An emotional, intriguing and an engrossing tale of all sorts. If you love supernatural stuff loaded with love and emotions, then this is your read. And also all fans of CoHo you should definitely read this one. 

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. 

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About the author :

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including the bestselling women’s fiction novel It Ends with Us and the bestselling psychological thriller Verity. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance three years in a row—for Confess (2015), It Ends with Us (2016), and Without Merit (2017). Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Hoover and her family founded the Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service that offers signed novels donated by authors. All profits go to various charities each month to help those in need. Hoover lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.