Review: Spring Shadows

Release Date: October 1, 2014 

Published by: Booktrope Editions

Genre: Romance, Women's Contemporary 

Buy It Now: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes

  Summary

Lydia wasn’t looking for love. Having just finalized a difficult divorce, she attended her best friend’s destination wedding with a simple plan: to reconnect with old friends and take a much needed break from the stresses of single parenthood. But life had more in store for her. In AUTUMN GETAWAY, Book One of the Seasons of Love series, Lydia connected with charming, sensitive Sam over that weekend, and took a chance on someone new. Then, in WINTER HOPES, Sam and Lydia explored the excitement of blossoming romance. Even though a long distance relationship isn’t easy, in each other they found renewed hope, both overcoming past losses to learn to trust and love again.

Now, in SPRING SHADOWS, Book Three of the series, author Jennifer Gracen brings Lydia and Sam one step closer to lasting happiness. But it isn’t all romance and roses. The realities of a long distance relationship held between Chicago and New York start to take a toll. Add in the complications posed by Sam’s overprotective brother, Lydia’s difficult ex-husband, and an unexpected tragedy, and it all threatens to tear them apart before they’ve even begun to truly be together.

Lydia and Sam must face their pasts and come to terms with old fears and insecurities. They need to focus on the things that really matter: true love, forgiveness, compassion, and fearless commitment--another leap of faith. Full of the sweetness and heartfelt emotion you’ve come to expect from the Seasons of Love series, SPRING SHADOWS shows us the power of purposeful communication, understanding, and unrelenting self-awareness, proving that true, lasting love is possible when nurtured by healing and hope.

 Holy emotions, Batman!

Grab some tissues and be prepared to shed some tears with this one, my lovelies.

Spring Shadows is the third installment in the Seasons of Love series by Jennifer Gracen. I had the pleasure of reading the first two and was looking forward to the continuing story of Sam and Lydia and Gracen did not disappoint.

The roller coaster of emotions this one puts you through is exhausting—in a good way. Gracen has a way of making you care about her characters and when they hurt you hurt. When they’re angry and betrayed you feel exactly the same way.

If you read my review, then you will know there was an incident in Winter Hopes that really got my blood boiling and I felt a little hatred for Sam at that moment. I can’t give too much away without splashing a big SPOILER sign on this review so I won’t say much, but, as promised, that incident did come to light in Spring Shadows. Ugh. My fury matched Lydia’s when she discovered it. Her reaction was exactly the kind of reaction I would have had. If you want to get into the technicalities of it all, then fine, technically Sam didn’t really do anything wrong. But our head and our hearts don’t always agree, am I right? And Gracen hits that target perfectly.

I really love that Sam and Lydia’s characters aren’t portrayed as this happy-go-lucky newly in love couple where nothing goes wrong and they live in a world where everything is perfect. Couples have problems, particularly couples who are individuals with baggage like Sam and Lydia have. Gracen gives them real obstacles to face, and makes everything part of their life fit into the story somehow. Even Matt, Lydia’s ex-husband, is real and believable with his actions and attitude towards Lydia and the new man in her life. His threats regarding Andy (Matt and Lydia’s son) were bang on. I could totally see that happening to someone that I actually know.

But Gracen doesn’t stop there. Towards the end she throws us a curve ball no one saw coming—a heart wrenching one at that. This is where you will need your tissues, people. Maybe a whole friggin’ box of them.

There is one more book to come in this series, and I cannot wait to see how this story ends for everyone involved. 

                    

Review: Winter Hopes

Title: Winter Hopes (Seasons of Love #2)
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Source: Booktrope Publishing
Summary: Author Jennifer Gracen reunites sexy, sophisticated Sam and sweet but wounded Lydia in Book Two of the Seasons of Love series, ”Winter Hopes.” Newly divorced mom Lydia is just getting back on her feet, and still reeling from her intense encounter with Sam at a friend’s destination wedding. As they tentatively explore the demands and rewards of long-distance dating, their instant connection evolves against the vibrant backdrop of New York City. Each begins to trust again – opening up is difficult, even painful, but the joy and hope they feel in each other’s arms demands they lay their hearts on the line. Can their love survive the miles that separate them, and the complexities of nurturing a relationship via email, text and phone? And when Sam finally meets Lydia’s family, will old resentments and unspoken biases bring them closer together or drive them apart?

Full of the passion and tension any newly-joined couple experiences, this steamy yet hopeful book lays the foundation for Lydia’s budding relationship with Sam, and offers hope for second chances and a deep appreciation for the value of loyal friends

Okay, this will contain a spoiler or two, so proceed with caution, you’ve been warned.

I was very excited to get an ARC of Winter Hopes after reading Autumn Getaway. I wanted to know how the story played out for Lydia and Sam.

While the first book in the series focused on them meeting, this one brought us into their budding relationship a little more. Lydia is still cautious, and rightly so, but by the end of the book we see her opening up more, trusting Sam more and letting him into parts of her life that are extremely important for a single mother.

I once again loved the relationship between Lydia and her son. The bond they share brought me to tears during some parts. Andy is such a sweet little boy and, having dealt with speech problems in my family as well, my heart goes out to this character. I want to wrap him in my arms and give him a big hug.

Now, here’s where you might want to skip if you don't want to get a spoiler in rant form.

I didn’t get into too much Sam detail with the first review, but oh, am I going to get into it now.

Sam seemed like a decent guy; honest, trustworthy…which is why I had such a hard time with him and Hailey. I mean, yeah, okay, Lydia and he had just met, there were no commitments yet, they were still getting to know each other, but… he was desperately trying to pursue her. He wanted to date long distance, he wanted Lydia to give them a chance, it was his idea to see where things went between them once he was back in Chicago and she was in New York. And then the first chance he gets he meets up with his fuck buddy?

I felt sick reading that scene. Seriously, punched in the gut, wanting to throw up sick. Here’s Lydia back in NY, thinking she’s got this good thing starting with such an amazing guy, gushing about him to her friends and family and he’s banging his friend with benefits. Why? Because he had built up sexual frustration from not fucking Lydia? Asshat.

And then when Sam is questioned by his friends, and asked if him and Lydia were turning into a thing he said yes! Yes! He was just screwing someone else but it’s turning into a thing? What the fuck man? Yes, I know she wasn’t his girlfriend yet. Yes, I know they weren’t technically dating and still in the getting to know each other stage. And yes, I know this is typical behaviour of men…Okay, alright and of women too, but it still made me sick.

And to top it off, he’d be pissed off if he found she had been screwing around with someone else the entire time they’d been talking. Hypocritical much, buddy?

*deep breath* Okay, rant over.

Sam did redeem himself though, and turned back into that decent guy once more. And I have to say this: Even though I hated what he did with Hailey, I like that the author made him do it. It was real. And, I may sound like a hater, but it was definitely something a man would do. And the fact that Gracen got that kind of reaction from me just proves what a great writer she is.

Winter Hopes was another great read. I’m looking forward to what the rest of the series has in store. 

                                       

About the Author

Jennifer Gracen hails from Long Island, New York, where she lives with her two sons. After spending her youth writing in private and singing in public, she now only sings in her car and is immersed in her passion for writing. She loves to write contemporary romance for readers who look for authentic characters and satisfying endings. When she isn’t with her kids, doing freelance copy editing, or chatting on Twitter and Facebook, Jennifer writes. Jennifer is the author of Autumn Getaway and Winter Hopes, already published by Booktrope Editions. Spring Shadows, Book 3 of the Seasons of Love Series, will be published Fall 2014. Jennifer is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is active in the Long Island Romance Writers. Please visit her at: http://www.jennifergracen.com