The Sweet Gum Tree Paperback – July 3, 2017

5 Stars (Originally Read 3/25/2015)4.5 Stars (Re-Read 8/1/2017)Overall Opinion: This will definitely be staying on my favorites shelf after this re-read! I ate this book right up the second time just like I remember doing the first! I was actually worried that I would not feel the emotions that I did the first time I read it, because I knew what was going to happen. While I didn't blubber cry (like I remember doing the first time), I did shed quite a bit of tears still! That tells me that it's just that good! I hate doing it (because I really did love the rest of the book), but I'm going to lower my rating to 4.5 stars. I can't justify a 5 star rating with an ending that felt rushed like it did (see below).**See goodreads.com/NMmomof4 for my full review with spoilers**Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Alix and Nick's story. They meet officially when Alix is 8 and Nick is 10 when she goes to his father's junkyard to get a car part. They form a unlikely friendship that holds through the years but devolops into something more when they grow older. There is a tragic event that separates them, and when Nick returns ~15 years later he doesn't get the welcome home he was expecting. There are some cute moments, some sad moments, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.POV: This was told in Alix's POV.Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see closure section). I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well otherwise.Instalove: No, they've known each other for years.H rating: 4 stars. Nick. I liked him. He was loyal to a fault, but I appreciated that about him (even when I wanted to shake him a few times).h rating: 4 stars. Alix. I liked her. I especially liked young Alix! She was strong and feisty.Sadness level: Moderate/high. I cried but I didn't need any tissues this go-round, but I definitely remember crying a lot more the first time!Push/Pull: YesHeat level: Low. The scenes were non-descriptive and more about the emotional connection between the couple.Descriptive sex: No. This is a perfect example of how fade-to-black or non-descriptive sex scenes can work with a book! The connection was so strong otherwise that I didn't even miss it!Safe sex: No mentions of any safe sex specifics.OW/OM drama: YesSex scene with OW or OM: NoCheating: Not between mcsSeparation: YesClosure: This had pretty good closure, but I wanted more! I would call it a HEA...but it was super quick, and I wanted to experience more of that happiness after all the bad things I went through with them!How I got it: I paid $0.99 for it back in 2015 on Amazon.

This is such a beautiful story of love, loss and reconciliation. The story starts with Alix and Nick as children. Alix comes from a loving family with their own secrets hidden in the closet and Nick who lives with an abusive father. They become soul mates at a very young age and as they grow so does their love for each other but life gets in the way and there are many twists and turns that interfere in their love for one another. This book is so poignant and moving to the soul. It unravels family secrets, losses, heartaches and regrets. I loved how the rich embroidery of this story pulls the reader in and you cannot help but feel as if you are there in the midst of their lives. I would love to see this book made into a mini TV series - One thing about this book that is guaranteed is that it will pull at your heart strings.

Another reviewer recommended this book (and a bunch of others) on a review she wrote for a book I loved. I love it when you reviewers do that! I'm always on the hunt for a great book that will suck me in and transport me to another place.And suck me in this book definitely did! Because the writing is fantastic. Seriously amazing. Griping. Smooth.... like butta. I was glued at times, and could not tear my eyes away from the pages. That's why I'm giving it 5 stars.But I didn't love it. In fact, after that ending I'm feeling more like "What the hell?" Does it have an HEA? Yes. Just the most realistic HEA I think I've ever read. It was just too summed up and not enough for what I felt I needed after being dragged through the mud for so long.And where was my friggin tissue you warning?? There should be a picture of a woman sobbing dramatically on the cover to warn you that you're gonna ugly cry in this bad boy. I don't like sad books. This one is definitely sad for me. Maybe not for other readers, but definitely to me. If you're looking for a bright happy story about puppies and kitten playing under rainbows, this ain't it. If you're looking for a Nicholas Sparks-ish book then buy this. Now. And start reading it.This is another one of those books that I feel I need a de-briefing with. So much I want to talk about. I won't bore this review with it all, but I will say I was not ok with one of the adulterous relationships. This book has a lot of drama, and the writing was so good I almost fell for all of it. But not quite. Wish things had gone differently for Jenna...Off to see what else this author has written. Hopefully something that won't leave me a weepy mess for my husband to giggle at.

What I loved about this book was the author's style of writing; it was beguiling and captivating from beginning to end. Although she writes about life issues that normally pop up in books (abuse, bad parenting, and even SIDS) she only gives you enough food for thought and leaves the rest to your imagination. This also includes the love scenes which aren't explicit but enough to leave the rest to your imagination. The underlying theme throughout the book is about young love, lost love and love found, and the trials and tribulations in-between. It is also about trust, betrayal, grief and forgiveness all wrapped up in a strong family bond. You get a real feel for all of the characters who are very well developed and the scenes and background are described in such a way that you can picture yourself actually being there!The story is told in two parts covering the lives of a very young Alix and Nick and follows their lives through into adulthood. Some of it is predictable in places but this does not take away from the story at all. It is also told from Alix's point of view, which was a little disappointing for me as I would have preferred to have had more insight into Nick's way of thinking but that didn't spoil it for me at all. I was team Nick all the way through even if he did make some silly mistakes. A beautifully well written story that will captivate you from the start and everything ties together neatly at the end. A simply must read.

I read this book as a buddy read with two friends.I have to say that it is not the sort of story I choose to read but from the first chapter I was hooked. This is a second chance romance set in a small in size and in mind town in Arkansas. The story commences when Alix, the heroine of the book, is 8 years old; Alix comes from a respected family, within the community, living with her Grandfather , a retired Judge and her mother and two aunts. Nick,the hero, is ten years old when they meet; Nick is the son of the local salvage yard owner, his father is a man of low standing in the town and a bad tempered drunk. Alix and Nick meet and the resultant friendship that is forged develops slowly over the years in to something so much stronger. Alix is a wonderful character full of indignation for those less fortunate, full of fun and an independent spirit. Nick so strong and loyal is two years her senior, he is more accepting of the attitudes of those around him and whilst happy to protect those weaker than himself understands the barriers that are in place preventing his acceptance into the town's community.The story follows the two through their adolescence and beyond; great tragedy and heartbreak breaks the two apart and keeps them separated ..their path is a complex one filled with sorrow, anger, guilt and misunderstandings and when finally they find each other again their second chance comes at a great price not just for themselves but several others in this wonderful tale.The author has conjured a beautiful story with wonderful and believable characters full of humour and love.The author, through Alix, compares the town and those living in it to a sweet gum tree where the outside does not easily reveal what is hidden deep in it's heart.

Dumbfounded. Gobsmacked. Speechless. Blown away. Overwhelmed... <<< That was me after finishing The Sweet Gum Tree at 3am this morning.What an absolutely stunning book! I picked it up yesterday afternoon and didn't put it down until the very last page. Absolutely amazing. There aren't enough adjectives for me to express how much I loved this book.I cried. Quite a lot. You know when you're reading a book and you know you're going to get your heart broken, but you just can't help turn the pages... and you can feel your soul investing it's every ounce into the characters and their stories. Your emotions slipping through your fingers and out of your control, sucked in by the words on the page... that was this book."I'm Frank Anderson's son and I live in a junkyard. Who'd want to marry me?""I'll marry you," I told him decisively. "That way, we can both have kids someday."He grinned, those dimples emerging in a blaze of glory. "Yeah, you probably would."This was one of those books that makes my other half grumble "You and that bloody Kindle," because I don't react to any conversation, chaos or prodding.Nick and Alix's story is so emotional. By 50% I felt like I'd already read an entire book. It was torturous. The love in the book is both palpable and painful. It's an example of innocent people being pulled in so many directions, torn apart and broken down due to circumstances beyond their control... due to their own honor, integrity and goodness, but the poison of others around them."I promise you this. I'll love you until the day I die even if I have to live without you. And if it's fifty years from now, you come home, Nick Anderson. Do you hear me? I'll be waiting on you."Alix falls in love with Nick from an early age, when she decides to `save' him from his abusive, low-life excuse for a father. The story follows them through childhood and teenage years, until they reach early adulthood... which tears them straight down the middle."Nick? Have you ever...""No. I've thought about it, but it never seemed right.""You better wait on me, damn it.""I don't think I have much choice. You're the only one I've ever wanted, Alix, the only one I'll ever want. That's a promise."Despite his intense love for Alix, Nick is a protector and he can't help but gravitate towards this role. He has dark secrets that he can't share with Alix and tragedy strikes, forcing Nick to leave town and leave Alix. And then all hell breaks loose in part two of this desperate story."I'm sorry, Nick," I whispered, slipping his pendant from my neck. "I didn't know what else to do."I thought I was distraught when Nick had to leave... I had no idea what was coming. Oh my goodness, my poor battered, bruised heart. It took a beating. Without giving anything away, all I will say is... Katie. Oh my God, I ugly cried like a goodun! But I always say, I don't having my heart torn out, ripped to pieces and stomped all over, as long as it's put back together and restored by the end of the book. And I can promise that this does have the most satisfying happy-ever-after, ever!"God, I can't lose you again." His whisper was harsh, filled with pain. "Not now, when I've waited so long to hold you. I think it would kill me. But I'm so damn scared you'll hate me when you find out the truth."Alix is brilliant. She's great as a child, ballsy and comical, always getting up to mischief and into trouble due to her curious nature. And as she grows up, she becomes an amazing young woman. She faces so much trauma in her life and watching her slip away is awful, but she's strong and resilient and makes you root for her to pull through.'I'd read enough to know that one of the symptoms of grief was a deep anger at the loved one who'd died, anger that impaired your judgement, made you want to scream and curse because they'd left you. But Nick hadn't died, and I didn't realize that I was suffering the symptoms of grief.'I think it's safe to say, I am completely in love with Nick. Bless him! What a wonderful man. He made mistakes, yes, but oh wow, if every man was as good as Nick Anderson, what an amazing place the world would be."The opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference. And you couldn't be indifferent to him if your life depended on it."The book ends with the perfect perfect epilogue. I don't need to say any more than that, it's just perfect.This was a 5+ star read for me. I'm going to go now and look into buying it in paperback because I'm going to force it upon anyone who will give me the time of day. I know a lot of my followers have already read it but a lot still have it on their TBR list... if that's you, bump it up and make a priority. If you haven't marked this as `to read', I strongly recommend that you do. It's honestly amazing and so beautiful and it's certainly one that will sit with me for a long long time to come.'A sweet gum tree is the chameleon of wood, it's corky exterior hiding it's inner ability to imitate anything from cherry to mahogany. But it's real value, one unrealized by most people, is it's deep red heart, steady and strong.'By Smitten's Book Blog

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!!! lolFrom 25% I was crying, and it didn't stop. By the end I was hysterically crying/sobbing. It was heart breaking, but I couldn't stop reading!! I started the book at 8pm the night before and I couldn't stop until I had read every page, at 3am!I think if I had stopped reading, there would have been a chance that I just wouldn't be able to bring myself to pick it up again. And I also didn't know how to rate this book! I HATED it! Lol, but I hated it because of how heart-broken I felt, so surely if the book affects you that much, has you uncontrollably crying, it deserves a high mark?!? LolThis story had been popping up on my recommendation pages on Amazon and goodReads for ages, so I thought I'd give it a go.The characters are very strong and believable, hence me getting so wrapped up in the story.I think it's well written, but I'm rubbish at noticing stuff like that!Its written as first person, in that the main character is narrating her life from some point in the future.It starts when Alix (the protagonist) meets Nick for the first time, aged 8. The thing to remember the most with the story is, it's set in southern America, where reputation and respect mean everything. Not a big town either, so gossip is rife.Alix family is a very upstanding one in the town. Not the richest in money, but definitely in status. Not that anyone in the family, apart from an aunt, really cares about that.The household situation is,Judge, Alix's, grandfather, who was a judge (funnily enough!! Lol) now retired. His wife had died previous and plays no part in the story.Aunt Darla?, I forget her name, something like that. The eldest of Judge's 3 daughters. She has never married, very Christian and involved in the church. Likes the status the family has in the local community has, and does push the other family members to try to keep it.Aunt Jane is heartbroken. She had a great love she was meant to marry when she was younger, but it fell apart. She has never met anyone else and is quite quiet.Alix's mama is the youngest of the daughters. She went off and married Alix's father, and when the marriage broke apart she went home to her dad and sisters, and all the family raised Alix. Alix had never seen her father, or even a picture, and has no relationship with him. She doesn't even use his name. her mama changed their name back to her maiden name French. Which did cause a scandal! But Ellie(Alix's Mama) didn't care.So thinking of all of that, when Alix befriends Nick, the local poor kid whose dad is the local drunk that runs the scrap yard, it does get people talking.All of Alix family support her though. Nothing in Nick's life is his fault. And when Judge Finds out that Nick's father is beating the crap out of him when he's drunk, judge takes Nick under his wing, and convinces him to spend more time at the "French" house (Family name). Nick is VERY proud, so it's not an easy feat getting him to take the help they are trying to give him. This is one of the reasons why he stays living with his Dad and doesn't go to the police or social services.All of the heart breaking moments came out of nowhere. Just when you think you know what's going on, and where the story is going, you get a curve ball thrown at you!!but I really don't know whether I'm recommending it or not?!? It's strong, it's a strong story, and if you're up for that, then give it ago. Although I'm probably making it much larger than it is, and will leave you expecting more!

Oh, I hate the starring system! It's like dating when you're a teenager. You never quite want to say yes on a Tuesday in-case someone better asked you by Thursday....or, was that just me?? I keep thinking can I give such and such book a 5* what happens if tomorrow I read a better one, then what? Anyway does this book deserve the full accolade? *shrug*The Sweet Gum Tree, is as it's title suggests, such a sweet love story I'm glad I took the time to read it. Alix French's strong distinctive narrative voice carried me along into a world of "gentile" southern living as different from the urban sprawl of London as Mars is to the Moon. She's honest and strong, a firebrand who will punch a boy out to defend her friend. But it is with her loving heart that Alix really shines, and once she decided to insert Nick Anderson into it's chambers nothing was going to dislodge him. And Nick Anderson is a boy well worth falling with. From the "wrong side of the tracks" he's not outwardly tough, nor braggadocios but quietly courageous and intense. A protector, a defender. Through a lot of misunderstandings, personal sacrifices, and the passing of time the love discovered in childhood remains steadfast (though as in any good romance worth it's salt, self delusion is per-requisite for at least of one the two main protagonists)I loved this story but as I come to the end of my review I've come to better understand why I hesitate to give it 5*s. It should have been longer, I felt the passing of time was documented to quickly. It's a shame as the pace in which Alix and Nick early life was documented deserved more space given over to their time apart. I kind of worked out the "secret" way too early and so was reading to find out how all the characters would deal with the fall-out, again, too quickly. The Epilogue did nothing to satisfy my thirst for more. Someone mentioned it was written for a YA audience not sure if that's correct and that might account for the length but I have to personally judge it alongside some of the other romantic fiction that I have read and loved,so that's what I'm doing.....Thinking, thinking, think, Ahhhh! I gave The Bronze Horseman 5* so I can't in all good conscience give sweet, but all too short The Sweet Gum Tree more than 4...