Sunday, August 25, 2024

Book review: ALONE WITH YOU, by Aly Martinez


I knew I was in for an angsty read as soon as I started the book, plus the author is known for her heart wrenching stories.  Gwen is looking for something to give her purpose after her divorce from narcissistic Jeff, so she bought a diner and plans to change it to a cafe. But her plans interfere with Truett West’s Wednesdays routine of spending one hour with a club sandwich he won’t eat. As soon as we meet Truett, we learn two things: he and Gwen have history, and Truett is victim to mental health.

Truett and Gwen had more tragedy than anyone deserves, and both are suffering for it.  Truett lives in a jail of guilt, imprisoned in a house where he was once happy, punishing himself for failing the people he loves.  It’s a self imposed asylum from life and love and it’s going on for eighteen years. Likewise, Gwen endured a ten-year marriage to a narcissist, the only gain she got is her adored son Nate.


When Gwen sees Truett for the first time in over a decade, two things come clear to her, they still have chemistry, and he’s the one love that got away.


Their story is very bumpy and very heart wrenching.  This is a man possessed by guilt, and only Gwen gives him peace.  She gives him kindness when she sees he’s a wreck, and when he starts to come out of his solitary shell, he begins to realize it was self imposed and not truly deserved.  His fight for mental clarity, for happiness once again, is very hard to read.  His love for the woman he lost twenty years ago is formidable and makes him move mountains of the emotional kind.


When you start this author’s books, you go in blind. As you read, she starts giving out pebbles of information, and this process goes on until the end, when you get the complete picture.  Nothing is as it seems, and there are plot twists that leave you with your mouth hanging open.  It’s a thrilling ride, as well as an emotional ride.  I already know her style so I dive in blind and expected the roller coaster ride, and she never disappoints.  There are moments of levity with her friend Lucille who helps with the diner reconstruction and turns into a bestie with her mischievous son Nate. 


Prepare to have your heart broken, keep tissues handy!


Purchase links


Free in Kindle Unlimited


https://geni.us/AloneWithYouAM   



About the author 


Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children. 


Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, charcuterie boards, and her mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.


She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.


Connect with Aly Martinez:

https://linktr.ee/AuthorAlyMartinez


🔥Spicy

🔥Enemies to Lovers

🔥Second Chance

🔥Twists & Turns you love from an Aly Martinez novel!

🔥Emotionally Gripping

🔥Romantic Thriller





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