Eileen Aberman-Wells
The Best of Me by Sharon Sala, book thirteen in her Blessing, Georgia series a place where people were kind, thoughtful, appreciative of the little things in life, honest, helpful, and caring. You are going to fall in love with the people of Blessings, Georgia as they gain a new resident, but keep tissues nearby because you're going to need them. The weight of the world, and the responsibility that goes with it, have been on seven-year-old Carlie Jo Duvoy’s shoulders for 2 years while she took care of her dying momma. Carlie and her mom leave Arkansas and travel by Greyhound bus to Blessings, where they manage to make it inside the police station where her mom takes her last breath. Carlie's mom has prepared her as best she could for this sad ending to her life, but there's no way losing your mom at any age is ever easy. Unknowingly, Ruby Dye Butterman has been assigned as Carlie's guardian; a woman she once worked for. Ruby and her husband, Peanut, an attorney, are childless, and never thought they'd be parents, but with hearts as big as the ocean, they accept the role they've been given and quickly fall in love with this adorable little girl. They are the perfect people to protect and care for Carlie. Carlie makes her first friend in 8-year old Melvin Lee, a firecracker who has decided he would be Carlie's protector. You have to love a little boy who teaches Carlie how to stand up for herself and not take any gruff. Running parallel throughout this novel is a secondary story, one of second chance love. Ladd and Deborah were each other’s first love but when Ladd went off to college the two eventually drifted apart; chasing their own goals. Years later they are both back in town, each losing a parent and somehow these two find their way back to each other and a loving future. Ms. Sala wrote a realistic look of a child coping with becoming an orphan but having appreciation that a loving couple is ready to love her more than she ever thought she could be love by anyone other than her mother. The reader is taken through Carlie’s journey as she adjusts to her new home and the new adults now raising her. This is a very emotional story that tugged at the heartstrings, was moving, sweet and filled with a lot of sadness. No matter what, Blessings, Georgia is definitely the place to find acceptance, love and second chances. I highly recommend The Best of Me and this series to other reader and I'd give it 10 stars if I could.. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Connie Toler
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it. First just let me say that you will need plenty of tissues on hand for this beautifully written story. If you are like me sinus pills as well as the continued tears and sorrow played havoc. This story was such a roller-coaster of emotional drama. I cried like a big baby right from the beginning. There were ups and downs, twists and turns. There are highs to go with the lows. Sunshine and gray clouds. I adored the multiple POVs here. There was more than one story line here but the most gripping was the Carlie Jo Duroy being orphaned at the tender age of 7 (almost 8). For the past 2 years, young Carlie took care of her mother. After getting off of a Greyhound bus in Blessings, GA, Shirley and Carlie Duroy make their way across the street to the police station. Cue the tears!!!! There was another story line about two childhood sweethearts that both eventually return back to town due to sickness and death in both of their families. Read how these two sweethearts find their way back to each other. This story line had just a little sexy to it. I just adored this story and highly recommend it to anyone. Just remember the full box of tissues will be required!
