Skipping Stones

By: J.B. McGee

                                                               Synopsis:

They say there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Not everyone will grieve in this order, nor will everyone go through every stage. It’s during the stage of denial when Alex Hart meets Andrew Foster. He takes her one-step closer to acceptance: the stage when new, meaningful relationships are formed. The stage when the realization occurs that this is now the new state of normal.

Just when Alex thinks she is on her way to healing, she enters the bargaining phase. That’s the phase where you wonder what you could have done differently. You wonder “what if?” Specifically, what if the ones you loved hadn’t left you?

Leaving…this is what makes heading off to war so difficult and frightening for Alex. She knows all too well what it’s like to be the one on the losing end of life, which is why she’s made it her personal mission in life to save as many lives as possible. The extreme high she gets from treating trauma victims turns into Alex’s own form of therapy, or so she thinks.

When faced with her world being turned upside down, Alex may just find that her true therapy is in the one who has always saved her.

My Review:

Star : 5++

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions that kept you going until the very end. You need to make sure you have a couple boxes of tissues on hand while reading! At times it was beautiful, heart-breaking, hopeful, devastating, captivating and the emotions just go on and on.  This isn’t my usual read but this book has left a lasting impression on me and I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to read it.

 

Have you ever thought about why life never gave us a rewind button?? Why can’t we go back in time and change things? One little minor decision could have such a big impact on our lives and we have no way of taking it back.

Alex Hart is what they refer to as an ‘old soul’. She loves going to spend the summers with her grandparents. Most fifteen year old girls would rather be at the mall or movies with their friends but she enjoys spending time with her grandparents. I love this about Alex because I can relate. I adore my grandparents and treasure every moment I get to spend with them.

“I may be young, but I’m not too young to know that my time is limited with my grandparents. A lot of my friends don’t even have any living grandparents. I want to make sure that the time I have left with them is filled with memories to last me the rest of my lifetime. If that makes me an old soul, then so be it.”

Alex soon has her world turned upside down with tragedy. She finds comfort at the creek near her grandparent’s house where she meets Drew Foster. He is at the creek skipping stones and offers to teach her because it’s a coping mechanism for him. Drew brings Alex hope and helps brighten her dark days. He helps her see that even though she feels like she can’t continue on and there is nothing left for her that eventually as time moves forward she will begin to experience happiness again.

Young first love is absolutely beautiful and you will find yourselves swept up in the joy they are experiencing. You will love skipping stones, and lying in wild flower fields and it will remind you of being fifteen again.

 

Alex has been through a lot and her struggles are not over yet. There are also secrets on Drew’s side and after another decision is made, Alex’s world is again destroyed and she is left to try and pick up the pieces. Alex is a strong character though and knows she has to continue on.

“…God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. I’m still alive, so there must be some truth to that, but sometimes I wonder if he thinks I’m super woman or something.”

This book was WONDERFUL! You are given a good scoop of southern hospitality. You feel the love of family. You become involved in the struggles and heartache of the characters as if they were your own. This book was overwhelming at times and I found myself having to stop reading to dry my eyes. But, it’s a story you will not want to miss out on. It is worth every tear!