3.5 stars ( )

1244 ( )

I'm struggling.

You see, right now, I'm reading other reviews trying to find words. Readers are using terms such as 'beautiful', 'poignant', 'meaningful', 'unforgettable', 'hopeful'...you get my drift. As each poetic description passes my lips, they taste flat on my tongue. For me, there are no words worthy of how deeply this story touched me.

In fairness, I bared witness to the story unfolding. As other authors will tell you, I am verbal, sometimes bordering on ridiculous, when I comment in pre-release versions. This story engaged my mind, heart and soul. I could barely think of what to say. These characters were so incredible, heartbreakingly so at times. Their story was buried in so many truths we fail to see in our everyday lives. Not only was I touched as a reader, but I knew each one of these characters left a handprint on the hearts of the others.

From this point I can delve into points about the story. But this review is not to promote readers to pick up the story. Other reviews can do that for me. No, this review is to sell the story to Sawyer Bennett fans. There is a common theme in the reviews: This isn't a "typical" Sawyer Bennett story. Gads I hate that turn of phrase. It is a Sawyer Bennett story. This book has the same alluring characterizations, blending of love and hope, and carefully paced storytelling you expect of Ms Bennett's work. My hope is that her fans will open their hearts and minds to maybe something that isn't hockey, legal tussles or sexy men and the women that capture them. My real hope is that these readers will embrace a story you read every once in a while but remember forever.
5 out of 5 stars ( )

This was a beautiful story, very emotional, but well worth the ride.
Just now, thinking how to explain to you about this wonderful tale, I feel my eyes moisten and heart squeeze, the story is that good.

Four very different people are taking a cross country trip together, an amputee who is angry and bitter at what life has handed him, a beautiful young woman who is losing her sight, an abused victim who has attempted suicide several times and a boy who is thermally ill with cancer.
We're shown how the trip has thrills, laughs, adventures, sadness and love and how our four misfits grow to care for each other, and that life had more for them than they realized.
You will definitely need plenty of tissues for this novel, it's a rollercoaster of emotion, I cried like baby, smiled like a goon and laughed like a fool. I loved it! ( )