Book Review: Trouble Don't Last Always by Francis Ray

Mass Market Paperback: Trouble Don't Last Always
Length: 389 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperback; First Edition
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250000343
Received: By Publisher

Synopsis: Amazon
Desperate to escape her abusive marriage, Lilly Crawford files for divorce, then slips away from her small east Texas hometown with little more than the clothes on her back. She points her twelve-year-old car east, hoping to find a new beginning. When her car breaks down in Louisiana, Lilly finds unexpected employment as the caregiver for a wealthy neurosurgeon named Adam Wakefield, who lost his sight in a recent carjacking. At first, this handsome, brooding man reminds her too much of the angry husband she left behind and she reminds him of how far he has fallen from the self-assured man he once was. But as the two spend long days together, an unexpected bond develops---one that will be deeply tested. For Lilly must confront her violent husband before she can ever hope to move on and truly discover a second chance at life and love.


My thoughts:
I read Trouble Don't Last Always some years ago when it had a different title called The Turning Point. It has now been re-released with a new title and a new cover. Trouble Don't Last Always also had a different cover before this current one above. I like the new cover, however something about the old cover conveys the sentiment of the title much better. When I began reading it a second time, I didn't know I had previously read it. The more I read, the more familiar it became to me. I guess the new cover and title threw me off. I enjoyed it, even the second time around.


What I liked: 
The relationship between Dr. Wakefield and Lilly feels organic. It develops naturally. It's presumable that Lilly would have issues trusting another man, so it's nice to see them fighting against what I as a reader could already foresee; true romance. I appreciate the author, Francis Ray, giving Lilly such fortitude amidst adversity, especially as an abused woman trying to escape a terrible marriage. It was a delight to see Lilly come into her own even during Dr. Wakefield's periods of distrust and animosity due to the violent carjacking that left him blind. I also enjoyed the relationship between Adam's mother, Eleanor Wakefield and Jonathan Delacroix. To watch Jonathan's devotion to Eleanor and her children is something magical. I love it when a man loves another man's children as if they are his own. So when Eleanor becomes a widow, Jonathan and Eleanor have a chance to explore upon feelings that were never examined deeply before. This subplot is a mature romance that was just as enjoyable to see unfold as was Lilly and Adam Wakefield.


What I Didn't Like:
Sometimes the romance lingered a little too long. As a reader I could sense early on that these couples would ignite. But at times their romance felt like wet matchsticks unable to strike a flame.


Conclusion:
I know Trouble Don't Last Always is about romance. But it's also about two victims who realize they are stronger than they initially thought. Through reliance on family and each other, they discover love, hope and the realization that trouble doesn't last always.

I highly recommend this book. I give it 4 1/2 STARS 

*** If you think you'd enjoy this book, stay tuned for my giveaway starting at midnight that will include Trouble Don't Last Always, plus many more goodies as I give away three gift boxes bursting with wonderful items just in time for the holidays. 

Please don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you thought about the book review :-)

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

Hi everyone. It's Back to the Books for the kiddies and as a mom of five I know some parents are looking forward to a little relaxation. So, I am participating in the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop this week, hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and Buried in Books. It will go on from September 1st - 7th.  There are over 300 other bloggers participating as well. So please check them out. The list of the participating blogs is on my left sidebar. My giveaway is open to U.S. residents and International participants. For those new to blog hops, I will give you a few details and answer a few questions you may have.

What is a blog hop giveaway?

Each participating blog host a giveaway and then we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another. For followers that means lots of chances to win free books or bookish items.

What am I giving away during the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop?

Glad you asked. I'm giving away two (2)  free book baskets for U.S. residents only. And $25 (U.S. dollars) for one (1) international winner towards purchases at the Book Depository. Please make sure the Book Depository ships to your location.

So that's a total of three winners for my giveaway. Winners will be chosen randomly from Random.org.

Basket Box 1

Included is Whole Truth by David Baldacci

Family by J. California Cooper

Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

A handmade book thong (made by me),

two journals, one notepad, bath fizz balls

 a coffee mug, a scented candle

and the beautiful black and white basket box

 Basket Box 2

Included is Paradise by Toni Morrison,

Playing the Bones by Louise Redd

A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond

A Rather Curious Engagement by C.A. Belmond

A Recipe Binder by Paula Deen

A handmade book thong (made by me)

 bath fizz balls, a scented candle, a journal,

 a coffee cup, a sealed box of lemon ginger tea
and the beautiful brown basket box

How do I enter the giveaways on other blogs?

Go to my left sidebar and you will see a Back to the Books Giveaway Hop participating blog list. There are over 300 blogs participating, so you may need to scroll down. Click on which blog you want to visit and the link will take you there. Once there, that blog will tell you the rules in how to enter for their giveaway and what gift they are offering for their giveaway.


How do I enter your giveaway?

Simple, just fill out the form below for a chance to win. Contest ends September 7, 2011 at midnight. Winners announced September 8, 2011.

What are the rules for your giveaway?

1. You must be a follower of my blog via Google Friends or RSS.
2. Leave a comment on my blog.
3. Follow me on Twitter or Like by Facebook Fan Page. One or the other. Both if you just like me. :-)
4. Fill out the form below.

That's it.

Click Twitter to Follow me. Click Facebook Fan Page to Like me. Or use the buttons on the sidebar.

Best of luck to all that enter. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you will return to share in my blogging and literary journey. Don't forget to scroll down the form and fill it out completely. By filling out the form, you consent that you are over 13 yrs of age.

To check out the other blogs hosting book giveaways go to the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop list of blogs on the LEFT sidebar.  

Good luck and Blessings!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for items lost or broken during shipping by Lena Sledge's Blog or Book Depository, neither is Lena Sledge's Blog responsible for items shipped to the incorrect address if you did not provide the correct address. 

Congrats Winners of the Literary Giveaway

To Janhvi and Dinda_SI!!!!!

Since Janhvi's number came up first, he will get the lot he preferred which is Lot 1 

and Dinda_Si will receive Lot 2

Two international winners! What are the odds?

Congratulations winners! I really hope you enjoy the books

and please stop by and let us know how they are or link back

if you decide to review any of them.

Thanks again for joining my blog. Stay tuned for the next giveaway which will take place in July. It will be spectacular!

-------------------------------------------------------------
The first lot includes:
 





The Second Lot includes:



The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop

Welcome to the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop!

The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop is hosted by Leeswammes Blog. Between now and Wednesday, June 29th, you can hop to over 70 different book blogs, all offering one or more giveaways of books or bookish items. All books will be literary fiction or something close to that. Follow the links at the bottom of this post to find the other participating blogs.

The Giveway

I am giving away 8 BOOKS! Two winners, four books each.  

The first lot includes:









The Second Lot includes:

The rules:

• Anyone can enter. It is an international giveaway. You do not need to have a blog.

• You have to become a follower of my blog, although you can follow by email or by RSS (see buttons in the side bar on the right).

• Fill out the form below.

• You must make a comment on this post.

Winners will be chosen randomly by random.org. Contest ends June 29th at midnight.

Now start blog hopping!

For more giveaways (and there are some real treasures out there for grabs) check out these blogs. Giveaways are either International (Int), meaning people from most or all countries of the world can enter, or limited to a particular country (e.g., USA). Behind each participant’s link you can see which countries are included. Go to as many blogs as you like and enter. Have fun, good luck and enjoy!

List with all the Participants:

Leeswammes (Int) The Book Whisperer (Int) Kristi Loves Books (Int) Teadevotee (Int) Bookworm with a View (Int) Bibliosue (Int) Sarah Reads Too Much (Int) write meg! (USA) My Love Affair With Books (Int) Seaside Book Nook (Int) Uniflame Creates (Int) Always Cooking Up Something (Int) Book Journey (Int) ThirtyCreativeStudio (Int) Col Reads (Int) The Book Diva's Reads (Int) The Scarlet Letter (USA) The Parrish Lantern (Int) Lizzy's Literary Life (Int) Read, Write & Live (Int) Book'd Out (Int) The Readers' Suite (Int) I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (USA) Ephemeral Digest (Int) Miel et lait (Int) Bibliophile By the Sea (Int) Polychrome Interest (Int) Book World In My Head (Int) In Spring it is the Dawn (Int) everybookhasasoul (Int) Nishita's Rants and Raves (Int) Fresh Ink Books (Int) Teach with Picture Books (USA) How to Teach a Novel (USA) The Blue Bookcase (Int) Gaskella (Int) Reflections from the Hinterland (USA) chasing bawa (Int) 51stories (Int) No Page Left Behind (USA)

Silver's Reviews (USA) Nose in a book (Int) Lit in the Last Frontier (Int) The Book Club Blog (Int) Under My Apple Tree (Int) Caribousmom (USA) breienineking (Netherlands) Let's Go on a Picnic! (Int) Rikki's Teleidoscope (Int) De Boekblogger (Netherlands) Knitting and Sundries (Int) Elle Lit (USA) Indie Reader Houston (Int) The Book Stop (Int) Eliza Does Very Little (Int) Joy's Book Blog (Int) Lit Endeavors (USA) Roof Beam Reader (Int) The House of the Seven Tails (Int) Tony's Reading List (Int) http://thinkingaboutloud.blogspot.com/ Rebecca Reads (Int) Kinna Reads (Int) In One Eye, Out the Other (USA) Books in the City (Int) Lucybird's Book Blog (Europe) Book Clutter (USA) Exurbanis (Int) Lu's Raves and Rants (USA & Canada) Sam Still Reading (Int) Dolce Bellezza (Int) Lena Sledge's Blog...Books, Reviews and Interviews (Int) a Thousand Books with Quotes (Int)

Congratulations to Book Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to our two book giveaway winners.

 Karen Wojcik Berner and Sarah Reads Too Much

Please email me your mailing address and your book of choice. 

And thanks again for participating and being apart of my blogging journey

Blessings

P.S. Granny is doing well and out the hospital, so a wholehearted thank you to all of you for your prayers and concern. I am a firm believer that prayer works.

Thank you.