Book Review: Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe: The First Signs Of April

The First Signs of April: A Memoir

This may contain spoilers

Author: Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe

Title: The first signs of April

Genre: non-fiction, biography, autobiography, memoir,

I signed up for poetic book tours and l was email off Serena Agusto-Cox about reviewing this book.

First of all I would like to say a big thank you to Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe for sending me this book and giving me the chance to read it. I want to say a big thank you to Serena Agusto-Cox for contacting me and taking the time to email me.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone. I am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

I highly recommend this book.

This book has 256 pages and 32 chapters.

Book Dedication: For aunt Pat and Mugsey, - Infinite love.

For anyone who finds healing in our story.

Poems from the start of every chapters.

We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past living fully in the present. - Marianne Williamson.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Life must be understood backward, but it must be lived forward. - Soren Kierkegaard.

Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again in to instant flame by an encounter with another human being. - Albert Schweitzer.

Life changes fast. Life changes in an instant you sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. - Joan Didion.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. - Anais Nin.

Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. - Hans Christian Anderson.

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go and not be questioned. - Maya Angelou.

Sweet is the memory of distant friends. Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart. - Washington Irving.

I go out there so l can look in to myself and when l am there I can see myself standing still and the rest of the world going mad. - Des Lavelle.

It is our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. - Aristotle Onassis.

There is no grief like the grief that does not speak. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Sometimes the questions are complex and the answers are simple. - Dr. Seuss.

But that is their image of us, so we stay tense, holding are breath, hoping we won't be found out. - Ebine Yamaji.

That broken thing you keep trying to put together can not even compare with that beautiful thing that's waiting to be built. - Mandy Hale.

Throw your dreams in to space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country. - Anais Nin.

You are off to great places!, today is your day your mountain is waiting, so get on your way. - Dr. Seuss.

I was falling. Falling through time and space and stars and sky and everything in between. - Jess Rothenberg.

Never be bullied in to silence never allow yourself to be a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself. - Harvey Fierstein.

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are relieved by the letting go of a little water. - Christopher Morley.

Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever and we will meet now and then when we wish, in the midst of the one celebration that can never end. - Richard Bach.

Clouds come floating in to my life. No longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. - Rabindranath Tagone.

Whatever end finds us, it would not find us separated. - Stephanie Meyer.

The pain is there, when you close one door on it knocks to come in some where else. - Irvin Yalam.

No tragedy of life, no form of death arouses allencompassing and inconsolable grief than does a suicide no other kind of death turns those left behind so fiercely against themselves, no other kind leaves such lasting scars. They need to be able to wonder out loud what they did wrong and go over and over the details in an effort to make sense for themselves out of a senseless act. They suffer most when they must suffer alone with their hurt and humiliation. - from too young

to die, by Francine Klagsburn.

Do not be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again and meeting again, after moments or lifetimes is certain for those who are friends. - Richard Bach.

While the person who commits suicide dies once, the loved ones left behind may die a thousand deaths wondering why. - Anonymous.

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. - Anais Nin.

Sometimes what a person needs is not a brilliant mind that speaks, but a patient heart that listens. - Unknown.

Death ends a life, not a relationship. - Robert Benshley.

The truth is, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize the situation is over, you can not move forward. - Steve Maroboli.

I know you are not far away. I feel your presence around me. Our love binds us together always. We two are one eternally. - Unknown.

Only the wounded healer can truly heal. - Irvin Yalom.

Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to  clearly and deeply, listening to see intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path. Exactly where you are meant to be. Right now. And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story in to a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of power, of dignity, and of love. - Caroline Adams.

Praise for the first signs of April.

Review by other people.

Reading the first signs of April is like sitting in front of a fire with a old friend: Briscoe starts telling her story and all of a sudden the sun is up and you feel as if you have not blinked once. This book will become that friend who stays with you for life. - Melanie Braveman, author of east justice and red.

The first signs of April is an inspiring story about life, death, and how connected we all remain – but only if we are open to listening to the wisdom waiting for us. Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe shows us the power of friendship, and the ways we can heal by embracing all life has to offer. - Linda Joy Myers, president national association of memoir writers, and author of song of the plains: a memoir of family, secrets, and silence.

By living and writing her truth, Briscoe shares her healing journey of loss and love. A compelling read that grabs your attention and will not let you leave. - Priscilla A. Hutchins, licensed psychologist – doctorate, retired.

Synopsis: shut down and disconnected, Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe has lived her life in silence in order to stay alive, her grief is buried, and shame is the skin that wraps around her bones but then, following the brutal murder of a local teacher, she is forced as a grief counselor to face her lifetime of unresolved sorrow will she finally be able to crack the hard edges of her heart and allow in the light so real healing can occur?.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and harder to put down. I was hooked on this book after reading the synopsis. I was sad to read that Mary's auntie Pat had cancer but it was nice of Mary to help her auntie and uncle around the house and Mary sounds like a great niece as not many young people would help their family. I loved all the poems in this book and l love that there was one at the start of every chapter. I can not put in to words how great but heartbreaking at the same time. It did not take me long to finish reading this book. Mary sounds so brave telling Joy how she feels about her. I was sad to read that Joy was abused but glad she told Mary. When l was reading this book I would put some essential oils in my humidifier and put the lights on my humidifier on and chill on my bed and listen to music or something on TV. I sometimes light a candle when l am reading this book. When l am reading this aswell as cuddling my kitten Oreo or one of the other kittens that live with me (there are three not including mine). It is good to chill reading a good book. I also took a picture of this book to share it to my Instagram that l made just for pictures of my books it is called donnareviewsbooks. I write book reviews at my desk in my bedroom that is also my lining room, library and office. Sometimes I sit on my bed writing book reviews I sometimes put earplugs in so l can read or write book reviews in peace. I was sad to read that Joy committed suicide and Mary feels if she told somebody about the gun that Joy would still be alive. I think Mary should not feel like that as Joy would not want her to feel like that and Joy did not want to hurt Mary or her family. Mary sounds like a great family member to have and a great friend to have too. Her family should be so proud of her and I would have loved a friend like Mary when l was younger because there was no kids like Mary when l was younger. When this book review is posted it is my birthday but it does not feel the same without my grandad who passed away two years ago. I feel Mary's pain as l have lost lots of family members my first loss was my sister Shirley. I feel like my grandad and my cat (who passed away a year ago) is still around my grandad was a smoker too and l smell smoke in my bedroom and l do not smoke myself and when l was reading about Mary visiting a psychic to see if anybody had any messages for her my bedroom smelt like somebody was smoking in it I think/feel like my grandad was telling me he was still around. Stuff would fall off my shelves and at the time I had no cats and I would feel a cat jump on my bed and l would wake up and nothing would be there and it still happens and it is not any of the kittens we have now. Sleeping and reading helped me through my grief. I like that Mary become a grief counselor. I was really sad to read about the murder of Melissa Jenkins. I was sad to read that Joy's parents never give Mary Joy's letter I wish Mary had got to read it as she needed to know how much Joy loved and did not want to her. The christmas gift Mary made Joy sounded nice and Joy gift to Mary was perfect for a writer and I would tell people to read this book for themselves to know how great but heartbreaking it really is. I would love to read more from Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe. I am glad this book is on my book shelves I would love to buy some of Mary's other book as l got this one for free. As it is getting colder I read under my quilt reading. Sometimes l can not read as l suffer from migraines or a headache. Reading this book makes me feel like l am not alone with grief and that it is okay to cry for lost loved ones. I love reading memoirs and about people's life and l love the title of this book and my Nan is also called Mary and my mum is also called Pat. I am really in love with this book. I was sad that it finished l wish it did not end or there was a follow on to it. I would happily read this book again and again. I love that Mary and her sister got tattoo's l have five tattoos myself but me and my sister are planning to get matching tattoos. Memoirs are one of my favorite type of books to read and sometimes when l am typing up book reviews one of the kittens watch me from the window or on my knee. I love the book dedication. I was sad to read about all the death in this book. I reviewed this book on amazon UK and US and goodreads and my blog.

About the author: Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe, LCMHC, CCTP is a licensed mental health counselor currently on sabbatical from her private psychotherapy practice in northeastern vermont. After spending a year living on the dingle peninsula, Ireland working on her next memoir she is currently splitting her time between cape cod, vermont and Ireland. Mary-Elizabeth has a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling from Lesley university and is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and certified clinical trauma professional. In addition, she has worked as a lecturer at springfield college school of professional and continuing studies St. Johnsbury, vt. Campus. She is a regular contributor to cape women online and sweatpants and coffee magazines. Mary-Elizabeth loves riding her motorcycle and spending as much time as possible with her dog Fergus.

About the book: I love the book cover and the branches with the changing colours. I love that the writing is in white because it makes the writing stand out more.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars.

I wish l could rate this book more then five stars because it is worth more than the five stars l rated it.

Book Review: M.J Trow: The Wigwam Murder

The Wigwam Murder

This may contain spoilers

Author: M.J Trow.

Title: The Wigwam Murder.

Genre: biography & true accounts, true crime, criminals, biography, true accounts, murder and mayhem,murder, mayhem,

I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I got this book from T Squared Books.

First of all l would like to say a big thank you to M.J Trow for sending me this book and giving me a chance to read it. I would also like to say a big thank you to T Squared Books for letting me be apart of their book reviewing team.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone I am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

I highly recommend this book.

Book Dedication: to Mam, with thanks for her reminiscenes of the war ( and for teaching me to write!).

This book has 220 and 12 chapters.

Acknowledgements: my thanks to all who have contributed to this book.

To those who lived in the thursley area in 1942. - ex – pc a W. Bundy, Miss P.J Dummer, Mr A.E Gale.

To those who knew Joan Wolfe. - Mrs R. Durrant, Mrs Betty Holliday and others.

To 'the Canadians'. - Carl Goodard, Carol White of the personnel records centre, national archives of Canada and Mrs Helen McKay of the battleford branch library.

To Linda Findlay of the surrey police headquarters press office.

To Michael Page of the archivist's department, surrey country council.

To Joan Charman, librarian of the goldalming trust.

To G.R Cpllyer, editor of the surrey advertiser.

To all authors and publishers from whose works l have quoted.

To my wife, Carol, for all her hours of labour ate the keyboard and her continued help and support.

Synopsis: The wigwam murder – as the case against August Sangret came to be known – was one of most brilliant pieces of detection and forensic science then on record Drs Keith Simpsons, Eric Gardner and Gerald Roche Lynch worked together to present a comprehensive body of work that convinced and shocked the jury. It was the first time that a human skull had been produced in a British court room. It belonged to Joan Pearl Wolfe, a nineteen-year-old runaway and vagrant who hung around Canadian army camps, particularly in the hankley common, Surrey, area. The man who went to the gallows in April 1943 for the capital crime of murder was August Sangret, a french – Canada metis Indian despite the amazing forensic work, the evidence against him was purely circumstantial 'no, sir, I never killed that girl, somebody did it and I guess I will have to take the rap,' he said. In this compassionate re – telling of the short and tragic relationship between the two young misfits, M.J Trow builds on his reputation as a chronicler of human failings and bringer of the light of day in to the cold pragmantism of the courtroom with a foreword and afterword to give the 21^st century reader some additional insight in to both the time of the murder and the time of the original research of twenty years ago, this book is a gripping and at times heartrending tale of two lost people in a world torn by war.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and hard to put down once l started reading it. I was hooked on this book after reading the first page. I can not put in to words how great this book is l would tell people to read it for themselves to know how great this book really is. This book is really a great read and it did not take me long to finish this book. I reviewed this book on goodreads, amazon UK and US and on my blog. I got this book in paperback but it is available in kindle edition. I was sad to read about Joan Pearl Wolfe murder I hope the police catch who murdered her I would love to read more from this storyline and more from the author I wish this book would not finish. This book is truly gripping it will leave you wanting more. I hate how a person can take a life of another person. I am glad this book is on my bookshelf. I was really sad to finish this book. I was sad that Joan did not get to turn 20 years old and her baby never got a chance to live outside the womb. Joan sounded like a sweet girl. I wish she had got to go home to see her family again. I feel for Joan's mother no mother should have to bury their children I wish Joan's mother had got to see her daughter become a mother and she got to see her grandchild. I was sad to read that Joan's father gassed himself I wish they knew why he committed suicide I think Joan would have been different if her father was still alive to help. Her mother tried everything to get her beloved daughter to come home but nothing made Joan want to come home which l thought Joan would want to be around her family at the time so she would not be alone while she was pregnant. When I was reading this book I would put some essential oils in my humidifier and put the lights on my humidifier and chill on my bed and listen to magic or something on spotify or something on TV or netflix l also put on my christmas lights on that are on my christmas tree. I sometimes light a candle when l was reading this book. I really enjoyed reading this book. I could not get enough of this book. I do not understand if August did not murder Joan why would he take the blame like August Sangret did if was me l would not take the blame for something l never did. I was wondering if Joan's skull was buried with the rest of her body after reading that it was shown in court l hope it was and she has a nice spot in the graveyard where her family can go and remember their beloved family and her unborn baby and put flowers on the grave. I was sad that Joan's life was cut short and in a violent way and it was upsetting that she was not discovered for a few weeks and that maggots and rats had been eating away at her so they could not tell if she was pregnant because her womb had been eaten. I loved this book I would happily read this book again because l really enjoyed it. Sometimes it is good just to chill reading a good book when you are not well or in pain like l am with arthritis. I also took a picture of this book to share it to my Instagram that l made just for pictures of my books it is called donnareviewsbooks.

Afterword: Since the writing of the Wigwam murder, the world has turned, but nothing new has emerged in this particular case. The aftermath of let him have it, Chris was astonishing not only was the murder conviction against Derek Bentley overturned, but the laws that made it possible, that of joint felonious enterprise, has been repealed the Bentley decision, the hanging of an educationally subnormal boy for a murder he did not commit, was controversial from day one. The Wigwam case was not there was a war on, newsprint itself was in scarce supply and the jury was sufficiently swayed by the evidence to find August Sangret guilty. Despite their recommendation to mercy, no mercy was extended to the outsider, the loner without any real friends in the book you have just read, I find the evidence against Sangret circumstantial and the verdict unsafe, but l concede I may be in a minority of one. Thames television, as they then were, contacted soon after publication. The story of an Indian living in a Wigwam in rural surrey intrigued them (though I suspect they may have had their wires crossed with grey owl, Archibald belaney, 1888 – 1938) and l 're-enacted' the murder on location, swinging a birch branch towards the camera lens and scrabbling through the undergrowth since this was a local news 'feature', there was no fee and l am not even sure if it was ever shown very belatedly, l was contacted by a member of the Sangret family who expected payment because l had 'used' his forebear in a book l decided not to reply to tell him that. That was not how publishing worked! Years later still, I was asked by the historical society at Scotland yard to talk to them on the case. The evening was well attended, I showed my power. Point presentation and l hope a good time was had by all. The famous 'black museum' which I have now visited twice, thanks to the metropolitan police's good offices, could not help with the Sangret case because it came under the jurisdiction of the surrey police at the time the most bizarre follow up to the Wigwam murder was a letter out of the blue from a man who claimed to be August Sangret's son, he could not understand how l could have got my facts so wrong because his mother had told him that Sangret was his father and he had not been born until 1950. since this was some seven years after the metis execution, I could not understand that either welcome to the world of true crime!

About The Author: M.J Trow (the 'M' as most people know stands for Meirion, a welsh name few can manage, so he writes as M.J, is known by all and sundry as Mei, rhyming with 'My') has been writing for many years, with his first book – the adventures of inspector Lestrade – being published in 1984 by Macmillan. More Lestrades followed and then some true crime and somehow it all snowballed so now he has many historical biographies and three other crime series (Maxwell, Marlowe and Grand and Batchelor, the latter two written with his wife, writing as Maryanne Coleman, though her name is Carol, actually!) to his credit. He claims to be retired, but that is just from teaching. In fact he has never been busier and is sought after 'ghost' these days as well as historian and novelist, with many different subjects' stories having been told through him. He has recently started collaborating on fiction projects ( with someone other than his wife, that is) and finds it a really exciting and pleasurable experience. To relax he... actually, that's a bit tricky, as he does not really ever relax. He has been know to garden, he is a keen cook and artist and likes to travel. This is rather easier these days as he is a popular speaker on cruise ships – in fact his profile picture was taken on a very gusty day in cape town, setting off on a long voyage home to southampton through some of the scariest seas he and his wife have had the pleasure to meet! It really was the calm before the storm, despite being a force 9 just leaving the bay. Family is important and he is very proud of his wife, Carol ( aka Maryanne Coleman) for her own books and also the ones they write together, the Kit Marlowe series. His son, Taliesin, know as Tali, is a writer who has written a biography of the tudor explorer Martin Frobisher as well as collaborating with Mei on several biographies. An exciting series is in the melting pot at the moment and will hopefully be appearing soon; remember where you heard it first. Tali is also a musician, playing various instruments with some acclaimed bands; Gemma Hayes, the coal porters, circulus and currently acid-folk ensemble the lords of thyme. He also records and tour-manages. His crystal vocals enhance everything he does and it is just as well someone in the family can sing, as it is the first thing anyone asks a welshman!.

About The Book: I really like the bookcover and the colours used on the cover are really nice they are not too bright and not too dark. I really like that some of the writing is in grey and some is in white as it makes it stand out more.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars.

I wish l could rate this book more than five stars because it is worth more than the five stars l rated it.

Book Review: Mary Weldon: How I Suicided Not

How I Suicided Not

This may contain spoilers

Author: Mary Weldon.

Title: How I Suicided not.

Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary and Literature & Fiction, Literature, Memoirs, Biography, Biographies,.

This book I got as part of a goodreads giveaway and firstreads. I have never won anything before. I want to say a big thank you to goodreads for having a great site and I want to say a big thank you to the person who hosted the giveaway and picking me as a winner.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read book like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone l am so glad l did because I have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

I highly recommend this book.

This book has 210 pages and 7 chapters in it.

Book Dedication: For M., my soulmate and the love of my life, to my sisters, to our families and friends, including my sisters who mean the world to me, and especially to the one I have known all my life who has been my friend and confidante. I dedicate the song by Francis Cabrel, Je T'aimais, Je T'aime, Et Je T'aimerai which means I have loved you, I love you, and I will always love you. For my special sibling who will remain nameless because of privacy reasons, she has always offered encouragement and support and been my cheering section. I do not know how I would have made it with her R, O, C, and E,. his daughter Katy, a friend who died of suicide, M's kind family and friends who have been great, who first along with M saw this book and heard me read it to them and were supportive about it. For R, my aunts, uncles, and cousins. This book is dedicated to all of you with love. Thanks to Nazareth college of rochester, NY, and all the staff and students that l knew; to rochester, NY, liverpool high school, syracuse, NY, the people at church watertown, NY, New York city and Rennes frances, and the friends l made there in 1993 – 1994. for 12 step groups everywhere such as Alanon for friends and family of alcoholics. God bless you all.

Synopsis: How I suicided not is a story about the author's life and experiences, from birth until her early thirties. It tells about how she went from mostly happy childhood and young adulthood to depression, anxiety, and poverty, which did not help – her mother nearly died when the author was nine, and the 1979 swine shot was the culprit. Mary Weldon put herself through college, got a scholarship, studied in france, and developed depression and a eating disorder. Ultimately, self help books and the local clinic as well as a few hospital stays helped her to choose life. Some relationships faltered and did not succeed, but she kept her chin up and kept her faith in god.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and hard to put down once l started reading. I was hooked on this book after reading the first page I was sad to read that mary's mother nearly died after having the swine flu shot when mary was nine years old I am glad she survived. I was sad that Mary's mother and father split up when Mary and her sister was younger. The family that mary stay with when she was in france sounds like a great second family I was sad to finish reading this book. I was sad to read that mary lost family members on both her mother's side and her father's side. It did not take me long to finish reading this book. I can not put in to words how great this book really is l would tell people to read it for themselves to know how great this book really is. I like that Mary and her sister finished school and went to college. I love that Mary went travelling I was sad to read that a lady that Mary was staying with passed away it was nice of mary to go to her funeral. It was very sad to read that one of Mary' housemates mother passed away due to cancer. Mary was there for her housemate and went to her funeral. I would love to read more about Mary, her family and friends and her life. I was sad to read that Mary's mother passed away at the age of 70. Mary's father always sent his two beloved daughters money to help with stuff for school, college, clothes or food. I was sad to read that Mary tried to commit suicide twice I am glad she is still alive. I am in love with this book. I was sad Mary's now ex – boyfriend was stalking her. I was happy that Mary's mother got married again and l was happy Mary's sister finished college. I am happy that Mary found someone to look after her and they are engaged to each other. I hope Mary and her fiancee have children once they are married. This book is truly amazing I wish to read more from Mary Weldon. I was sad to read what happened to poet when he was younger. I was happy that Mary got a job but her ex – boyfriend and his girlfriend was there in the place where Mary was working. I am glad Mary hid so he could not see her. It was nice to read that Mary wrote that if poet's daughters wanted to know anything about their father or need help to contact her publishers and Mary would try to help them the best she could. I was sad to read that poet's daughter's mother passed away and his daughters where left with somebody that was not their father I think his daughters should have been given to their father. Poet sounds like a great father. He also sounds like he writes some great poetry. I wish I could read some of his poems. I really enjoyed reading this book. When l was reading this book I would put some essential oils in my humidifier and put the lights on and chill on my bed listening to magic or something on TV or netflix.

About The Author: Mary Weldon lives in the northern part of New York where she has a cat and dog as well as a fiancee. She has been writing since she was 12 years old, when she wrote 300 pages of stories based on Greek mythology. Currently she is working on a sequel to this book, and after that a book about god for children, and next a retelling of the stories she wrote at 12 – 14 years of age mentioned above. God bless you and thanks for reading the books.

About The Book: I really love this book and the colours on this bookcover are great and my favorite colour is used on the cover and the writing being in yellow and white makes it stand out more.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

I wish l could rate this book more than five stars because it is worth more than the five stars l rated it.

Book Review: Bethan White: Downward

Downward

This may contain spoilers

Author: Bethan White.

Title: Downward.

Genre: crime, thrillers & mystery, psychological, fiction, thriller, novel, crime, mystery,.

I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I got this book from t squared books.

First of all l would like to say a big thank you to Bethan White for sending me this book and giving me a chance to read it. I would like to say a big thank you to T squared books for letting me be apart of their book reviewing team.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone I am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

Book Dedication: This book is dedicated to all who travel with a black dog at their side.

This book has 229 pages and 17 chapters in it.

I highly recommend this book.

Synopsis: Imagine a man, no stupider or thoughtless than anyone else you might meet. He struggles with depression and the denial which is so often it is traveling companion, and this takes him on a downward spiral which sucks so many others in to his wake. No fall from grace happens to just one person, the high velocity spatter of a life suddenly in ruins touches everyone and no one is ever the same again. Not everyone crashes and burns in his headlong flight, some are collateral damage and boy, do they deserve it! Some are hurt but can limp away, to carry on lives which are not worse, just different. Others gain knowledge, perspective and another layer of skin, making them more fit for the rest of their lives. Love, betrayal, lies and secrets pave the road of good intentions – just as life as never all dark or all light, downward is peopled with those you will want to slap, those you will want to applaud and those who you just want to hug until you make it better. From the time that tiny pebbles starts the avalanche until all lies in chaos at the bottom of the mountain, this book will hold you tight and may never let you go.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to. I found it really hard to put down once l started reading it. I was hooked on this book after reading the first page this book is totally gripping. It will leave you wanting more. I am so glad this book is on my bookshelf. It did not take me long to finish this book l wish this book did not end and l was sad to finish reading it. I would happily read this book again. I could not get enough of this book and storyline. I wish I could read more from this author and storyline. I can not put in to words how great this book is l would tell people to read it for themselves to know how great it really is. Chris and Megan sound like a great couple. I was sad to read that Megan's mother told people that Chris was hitting Megan and Chris ended up losing his job because of it. Chris's boss sounds stupid and I can not believe Chris's boss is cheating on his wife. No body deserves to be cheated on. I think Chris only slept with that horrible woman because of the medicine that his old friend Mark give him, l can tell Chris only loves Megan and their son Kyle. I was sad to read that Chris's father passed away and then his mother married a vicar and she sold the house where Chris and his sister Claire grew up in and his mother left behind the heights of both her children that she marked on the wall. She also left all the memories that she, her husband and her children made in the house. I hope Chris and Megan get back together. It is sad that Chris has nightmares about being attacked by a black dog. I am glad Dave's wife found about he was having a affair it is very sad he cheated on her. The woman he cheated on her with quit her job kinda glad she did. It was funny to read that Dave's wife took over her job and grounded him for life. It was nice to read that Gavin was marrying the women he got pregnant and it was really nice that he invited Chris to his stag do. I wish Dave would give Chris his job back. It was nice that Chris give Megan half his money for herself and Kyle. It sounds like Chris's stepfather is jealous of the time his wife is spending with her son. He was upset over flowers and that they ended up on his car. I hope Chris finds somewhere to go because he does not want to mess things up for his mother and his stepfather. It was nice of Chris's mother to give him some money and her husband should not be watching porn because he is a vicar. It was nice that Sam found a nice lady to look after Kyle so Megan could have a night out. I was very upset that the women Gavin was marrying got drunk while she was pregnant she clearly does not know drinking when pregnant can hurt your baby I hope the baby is okay. It was nice that Mark invited Chris in to his flat for a guys night. I like that Mark was helping Chris and l am glad Chris went to the doctors and was going to the job centreand somebody about a place of his own. Mark sounds like a great guy/friend I really liked this book. Cassie sounds like a great lady adnd she knows what Chris is going through because she is going through the same. Lily sounds like she is great with children. Kyle sounds like he really likes Lily but it also sounds like he misses his father and it also sounds like Megan misses Chris too. Sarah's husband sounds like he thinks that bringing her a plant home with make everything better I think he should know that it does not. I was sad to read that Chris's father passed away due to cancer. It was nice that Megan had spoke of her worries for and about Chris when she went to the doctors with herself or Kyle. I am glad to read that Chris is getting help with the nightmares and headaches I think he should go for a MRI scan. I was sad that the job centre and housing offices could not help Chris. It was nice that Chris went to stay with his sister Claire and it was nice that she bought him some new clothes for his past birthday's. It was nice that Megan was going out again just wish it was with Chris not Will. It is nice that Kyle likes Lily so much I can tell Chris and Megan love each other so much l think they should get back together and Kyle would have both his parents back under the same roof again. I think Megan should know that Will sleeps with both men and women. I am glad that Will told Megan that he is gay. It was really nice to read that Megan asked Will to help her find Chris and help make things right with him I was glad that Claire told Chris to confront Louise Taylor to ask why she was spreading lies about him. It was nice that Claire give Chris some money to help him. It was funny that Louise Taylor lost her job at the doctor's offices. It was nice that Megan was going looking for Chris I was very sad to read that Chris was stabbed and passed away alone in the cold park and Megan was not far from finding him it is so sad that Megan and Kyle are not going to see Chris again and I was sad to read that when Chris confronted Louise Taylor she fall and hit her head and passed away. When I was reading this book I would put some essential oils in my humidifier and put the lights on my humidifier on and chill on my bed and listen to magic or spotify or something on television or netflix. I also put on my christmas lights on that are on my christmas tree. I sometimes light a candle when l am reading this book. It is good to chill and read a good book when you are not well or in pain like l am with arthritis. I reviewed this book on goodreads, my blog, amazon UK and US and l also took a picture of this book and shared it on Instagram that l made just for pictures of my books it is called Donnareviewsbooks.

About The Book: I really like this book cover and l like that it is white and the writing and picture is black because it makes it stand out more. I like the picture it is fitting for the story and name of the book.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars.

I wish I could rate this book more then the five stars because it is worth more then the five stars l rated it.