G931 Book Review of Beyond Love by D.D. Marx
Author: D.D. Marx
ISBN: 978-0-9972481-1-1
Publisher: self published
Part of a Series: The Beyond Series
Type of book: Contemporary, friendships, power from beyond, true love, together, following dreams, romance, chick-lit
Year it was published: 2017
Summary:
After trusting in her beloved friend Dan’s guidance from above, Olivia is finally on the path to realizing her destiny. Staring at a blank canvas after ditching her raucous corporate life and meeting the love of her life, Finn McDaniels, a hot, widowed, celebrity chef, she is ready to begin anew. When she arrives back home to tie up the loose ends in Chicago, she receives more frightening news further delaying her journey with Finn. Unable to control the outcome, she begins questioning her trust and faith in Dan once again. She distracts herself the only way she knows how, by diving head first into a new project. What seemed like a time killer may actually be the thing that saves her and catapults her into a world she never dreamed of.
When Olivia and Finn finally reunite, a deep dark secret is uncovered threatening to ruin the relationship she has waited for her entire life. Olivia is forced to decide whether to tell Finn or let it live in the past forever. Is their relationship strong enough to weather the storm or will it cause them to part ways for good?
Characters:
Main characters include Olivia "Liv" and Finn. Olivia is trying to pursue her dream of being a writer and has extremely strong friendships with both family and friends. She is resourceful and doesn't easily give up. Finn is a talented chef and a widower who is very excited about beginning his married life with Olivia. Like Olivia friendships are extremely important to him and he also relies on their guidance to make many decisions. Side characters are awesome, in particular Olivia's cousin Garret who is an interior decorator and Tex-Mex, Finn's partner.
Theme:
The power of friendship is very strong
Plot:
The story is in first person narrative from Liv's and Finn's points of view, each chapter switching it. The characters and the message stays consistent in the power of friendships from either heaven or earth and its awesome that they continue to rely on their friends even if they are no longer there with them. I think because of the anticipation and the freaky connections that occurred in first book, for me something seemed to lack in the second book, sorry to say. What I also loved are the side characters, and I hope that Tex-Mex will also get his own book and happily ever after.
Author Information:
(From iRead Book Tours)
Buy Book #2:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
D.D. marx came barreling into this world with the “gift of gab”. Her parents quickly identified a pattern forming when each teacher conference contained the words “she’s a little too social”. d.d.’s biggest life concern was identifying which boy she’d be chasing at recess rather than mastering math problems. She parlayed this gift into creating play dates on the playground. If friendship were a business, she would be a millionaire. She prides her life on maintaining friends from every walk of life in every corner of the country. This is the fuel that fills her tank.
Graduating with a Communication degree from the University of Dayton, she attempted to break into the world of Public Relations but was instead side-tracked with a J.O.B. At the strong encouragement of her friends and family, who dubbed her a “funny story teller”, she stretched her comfort zone by entering the Second City program in Chicago where her itch for entertainment was finally scratched. Determined to share her story and create a legacy, she decided to combine these talents and become a writer. She returned to her alma-mater to immerse herself in a 3-day writing course where this dream finally came to life. Asked to imagine if she was a super-hero, her task was to dig-deep to describe her special powers. Based on the real-life tragedy of one of her best friends, that answer came without hesitation. All she’s ever wanted was the power to visit with him one last time. This is the inspiration that catapulted her into her debut project titled, the Beyond Series. She dove into a world imagining that he never left.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest
Opinion:D.D. marx came barreling into this world with the “gift of gab”. Her parents quickly identified a pattern forming when each teacher conference contained the words “she’s a little too social”. d.d.’s biggest life concern was identifying which boy she’d be chasing at recess rather than mastering math problems. She parlayed this gift into creating play dates on the playground. If friendship were a business, she would be a millionaire. She prides her life on maintaining friends from every walk of life in every corner of the country. This is the fuel that fills her tank.
Graduating with a Communication degree from the University of Dayton, she attempted to break into the world of Public Relations but was instead side-tracked with a J.O.B. At the strong encouragement of her friends and family, who dubbed her a “funny story teller”, she stretched her comfort zone by entering the Second City program in Chicago where her itch for entertainment was finally scratched. Determined to share her story and create a legacy, she decided to combine these talents and become a writer. She returned to her alma-mater to immerse herself in a 3-day writing course where this dream finally came to life. Asked to imagine if she was a super-hero, her task was to dig-deep to describe her special powers. Based on the real-life tragedy of one of her best friends, that answer came without hesitation. All she’s ever wanted was the power to visit with him one last time. This is the inspiration that catapulted her into her debut project titled, the Beyond Series. She dove into a world imagining that he never left.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest
I'll be honest: while the first book truly amazed me with how Finn and Liv are connected in so many ways and how they seem to be destined for one another, the second book seemed to have lost the momentum that first one had. There is consistency with characters depending on one another as well as their friends to get through tough days which is cool, but I guess the drama that both of them go through is a little too much for me. I will be reading the third part to see how it will go.
This is for iRead Book Tours
BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:
Oct 16 - Library of Clean Reads - trilogy spotlight / giveaway
Oct 16 - Working Mommy Journal - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Oct 17 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Oct 18 - Cindy's Love of Books - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Oct 19 - A Holland Reads - review of Beyond Believing / guest post / giveaway
Oct 23 - Nighttime Reading Center - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Oct 24 - My Reading Journeys - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Oct 26 - Book Lover in Florida - review of Beyond Believing / guest post / giveaway
Oct 27 - Kristin's Novel Café - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Oct 30 - Ginger Mom & the Kindle Quest - review of Beyond Believing
Oct 31 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review of Beyond Believing
Nov 1 - Bound 4 Escape - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 3 - Cindy's Love of Books - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 6 - Jessica Cassidy - review of Beyond Love / author interview / giveaway
Nov 7 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 10 - Nighttime Reading Center - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 14 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Beyond Believing / guest post / giveaway
Nov 15 - Working Mommy Journal - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 15 - Ginger Mom & the Kindle Quest - review of Beyond Love
Nov 16 - My Reading Journeys - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 20 - Haddie Harper's Reviews - review of Beyond Believing / giveaway
Nov 21 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 22 - Kristin's Novel Café - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 23 - A Holland Reads - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Nov 28 - Nighttime Reading Center - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Nov 29 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review of Beyond Love
Nov 30 - Book Lover in Florida - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Dec 1 - Bound 4 Escape - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 4 - Cindy's Love of Books - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 5 - Working Mommy Journal - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 6 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 7 - Haddie's Haven - review of Beyond Love / giveaway
Dec 8 - Ginger Mom & the Kindle Quest - review of Beyond Forever
Dec 12 - My Reading Journeys - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 14 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 18 - Jessica Cassidy - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 19 - Kristin's Novel Café - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 20 - Haddie's Haven - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 21 - Book Lover in Florida - review of Beyond Forever / giveaway
Dec 21 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review of Beyond Forever
Dec 22 - A Holland Reads - review of Beyond Forever/ giveaway
3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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