One of the Best! The Pleasure Was Mine by Tommy Hays

This book was quite possibly one of the best, emotional books I have ever read. The book is about a man, Prate, who has to take care of her wife after her recent development of Alzheimer's. He decides to put her in a nursing home. His son, Newell, who has recently lost his wife, asks Prate if he can watch Jackson (Newell's son) for the summer. while he attends art school. Prate isn't really sure what to do with his grandson for a whole summer, while going to the nursing home to watch and care for his wife, Irene.

This book was wonderful in so many ways. I loved that with all of Irene's forgetfulness, Prate never stopped loving her. There were two different stories going on here that were tied into one. Newell is trying to forget his wife who died and Prate is trying to get his wife to remember him. The way Tommy Hays wrote this book opens up even the coldest heart. I found tears streaming down my eyes with how Prate described the love for his wife. I have never felt so renewed as when I finished this book. Tommy Hays, the pleasure was mine!

A+ (There aren't enough +'s in the world!)

Book Number One: A Hopless Romantic

Let me first introduce myself. I am a lover of books. I have WAY too many and keep buying more. The rest of...me, is inconsequential to this blog.

My first book that I'm going to review is "A Hopeless Romantic" by Harriet Evans.

The book description:

Laura Foster is a hopeless romantic. Her friends know it, her parents know it - even Laura acknowledges she lives either with her head in the clouds or buried in a romance novel. It's proved harmless enough, even if it hasn't delivered her a real-life dashing hero yet. But when her latest relationship ends in a disaster that costs her friendships, her job, and nearly her sanity, Laura swears off men and hopeless romantic fantasies for good.

With her life in tatters around her, Laura agrees to go on vacation with her parents. After a few days of visiting craft shops and touring the stately homes of England, Laura is ready to tear her hair out. And then, while visiting grand Chartley Hall, she crosses paths with Nick, the sexy, rugged estate manager. She finds she shares more than a sense of humor with him - in fact, she starts to think she could fall for him. But is Nick all he seems? Or has Laura got it wrong again? Will she open her heart only to have it broken again?

I do have to say that I was not immediately hooked. Although, after a few pages, I came to realized that Laura was just like me...someone searching for the perfect romance and the perfect guy! I immediately came to hate Dan, the man whom she believe to be "The One." I found myself yelling at the book, "How can you be with him? Look at how horrible he is!" When her breakup takes her to Norfolk on holiday with her parents (not really giving anything away, it is on the back of the book after all) she meets Nick at Chartley Hall. I have to say that I loved this character so much! I could actually picture him as a caring man deeply in love with Laura. The chemistry of these two characters was wonderful. Until the very last page, I was rooting for Laura to finally find the love of her life (she was dumped on a lot in the book). And Nick...I was hoping that he could be with someone as caring as Laura.

I actually picked up this book because of the title and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. If you are a hopeless romantic yourself, you must read this book! Harriet Evans is one of my new favorite authors! This American chick will definitely be looking for more of the British chick's fabulous work! Well done!

A+++