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Between Seasons

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 244 ratings · 106 reviews

Patrick Boyle dies in 1970 and soon finds he's stuck in the house. And after his parents leave the house for good, he's trapped without company -- until a mysterious woman who can channel his memories buys the house forty years later. The spring brings with it new life, but falling in love with the new owner may only bring heartbreak to them both.

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Published October 31st 2011 by Smashwords (first published October 1st 2011)

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Nov 03, 2011 Sandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: flowers-and-chocolates, cry-me-a-river, own-ebooks, supernatural, angst-and-drama, reviewed-on-blog

The review can also be found on my book blog

Wow. Just...wow. Rarely does a story grip me like this one did. From the first word to the last, I was riveted to the pages, my eyes glued to the words and my heart breaking and rejoicing for Patrick and Sara.

It's a ghost story at the core. Patrick Boyle, 19, on the cusp of his 20th birthday, a day from being drafted into the Vietnam war, gets up one morning, gets dressed and heads downstairs for breakfast, anticipating and salivating over his mother'...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Autumn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-2011

It’s rare that you find a book like this. One that makes you laugh, cry and even ask the question “Is there life after death?” In it’s heart, Between Seasons is a ghost story. In it’s soul, it is so much more.

Full review on Open Book Society -

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ai...

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nineteen year old Patrick Boyle gets up one morning to the smells of his mothers pancakes and while rushing down the stairs trips and falls breaking his neck. Although they come and take away his body he stays behind. Distraught over losing her only child his mother convinces his father to move to a different state but she can't bring herself to sell the house. So Patrick, who can't leave the house, is by himself left to wonder why God hasn't taken him to heaven. The one day a young woman moves...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts

Reviewed on These Pretty Words Nov 4th.

Descriptive. That’s the one word that comes to mind when I think of Aida’s debut novel – a touching tale of a nineteen year old young man who dies on the very first page. What comes after that almost disturbingly detailed account of a simple fall down a flight of stairs is a beautiful and unique look at life… and love… after death.

Patrick haunts his childhood home for decades, alone and isolated from the rest of the world… until the day Sara walks in the do...more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2012 Lanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

All I can say is "I want more"! Please tell me there will be another book.

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 01, 2012 Marran rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

well..huh...well....eh..I never called a book weird but sweet before...but I don’t know what else to call this one...

I like it but I’m not sure how much..

It is weird and I hate Jules and I kind of hate the ending to...I don’t like endings that are not 100% clear I don’t want to think for my self :-)

If I remember and interpret Patrick’s dreams right (view spoiler)...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Resse rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-ran-across-and-read

Hello Everyone-

So my take on this book anyone else confused because i felt that the character Patrick was very well written the idea a ghost stuck normal meets a young women name Sara who can communicate and see him.(Normal- Perfectly normal here)
AND THEN
This is when the story goes cocokoo for coco-coco-puffs.The author then tries to intertwine another story within this story and then leaves her readers at the end scratching their heads because she never explained to the reader how the end be...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't know what to expect with this book given it was a ghost story...but it was very well written...a little slow sometimes, but that didn't detract from my interest...I wanted to know what happened between Sara and Patrick. The interesting thing is he was frozen at 19, but given the time of his death and how different things were back then, pairing him with a 26 year old in 2010 didn't seem that odd. I admit I didn't see where this was going until the end - SPOILER - I wanted them together...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Marti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

On the day before he was to report to the Army, in the fall of 1970, nineteen year old Patrick Doyle should have taken more care coming down those stairs. However, he was just really eager to taste his mother's pancakes. Little did he know that in fact he would never taste anything again. instead of winding up in the kitchen, he wound up with a broken neck at the foot of the stairs. Having been raised Catholic, once he realized he was dead, he figured the next thing he would see would be a white...more

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May 20, 2012 Tess Harding rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Patrick falls down the stairs at home and breaks his neck, he truly believes the life he experiences after death will be a fleeting moment, a hiatus before he is called to heaven. When his parents move out death gets worse. Years pass. Many years pass and Patrick discovers he can never leave the confines of his home. If he wasn't already dead he'd think about committing suicide.

Things change when Sara moves in. Young and pretty, she talks to herself all the time, and to Patrick it feels as...more

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May 06, 2012 Laurie Jenkins rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, fiction, ghosts, kindle, mystery, nor, paranormal, read-in-2012, romance

This is an unusual ghost story that is beautifully written. Aida Brassington’s debut novel grabbed me from the first – it is 1970 and Patrick Boyle suffers a fatal accident. Ms. Brassington charmingly weaves some of the headlines, fads, and divisive politics of that turbulent decade into the young man’s story. I remember that time well, as I graduated from high school in 1971. I loved the little trips down memory lane; to see how Patrick, even as a ghost, remains shaped by the events of his life...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Carla-Book Monster Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review By BMR Guest Reviewer Liesa.

Patrick Boyle dies in the fall of 1970, just days before he's due to report for the Vietnam War draft, which seems like a good thing until he realizes he's stuck in the house with no indication of when he'll be escorted to heaven. And after his parents leave the house, he's trapped without company -- until a mysterious woman who can channel his memories buys the house forty years later. The spring brings with it new life, but falling in love with the new owner...more

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Feb 23, 2012 The Project rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I love being surprised by a book. Between Seasons touches on the after-life, an oft-explored subject in fiction. There is something very fresh about this story, however.

From the first sentence, I was pulled in. Me, the not-exactly-a-paranormal fan. That’s happened only a couple of times since I started this blog. Ms. Brassington does a great job of instantly establishing Patrick’s predicament, and letting us experience his isolation as he is trapped between the world of the living and the world...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Myvampfiction rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reviewed by Saluki

*Warning: possible spoilers ahead*

Between Seasons is the debut novel by Aida Brassington. I was able to read the first chapter of this book several months ago and immediately fell in love with the plot line. Patrick Boyle is one day away from reporting for his Army physical and getting shipped off to Vietnam. The smell of his mother’s pancakes draws him out of bed, and leads to an unfortunate tumble down the stairs. The fall is fatal, but Patrick isn’t swept up to the Pearly Ga...more Reviewed by Saluki

*Warning: possible spoilers ahead*

Between Seasons is the debut novel by Aida Brassington. I was able to read the first chapter of this book several months ago and immediately fell in love with the plot line. Patrick Boyle is one day away from reporting for his Army physical and getting shipped off to Vietnam. The smell of his mother’s pancakes draws him out of bed, and leads to an unfortunate tumble down the stairs. The fall is fatal, but Patrick isn’t swept up to the Pearly Gates. Rather, he is a ghost, forced to live in his childhood home, inhabiting the empty space long after his parents move away. Forty years later, Sara, a twenty six year old writer moves into the house and jolts Patrick out of the depression and lethargy of his monotonous existence. He is shocked to find out that forty years have passed and that both of his parents have died. However, he finally has the company of another person in the house; a person who just happens to talk to herself. But, what happens when Patrick realizes Sara can sense him? Will the company she bring to his life bring a new kind of heartbreak?

I find the books that I enjoy the most have characters that I bond with within a chapter or two. In Between Seasons, I fell in love with Patrick right off the bat. Immediately after his death, Patrick had to go through the horrible experience of watching his parents mourn his death. My heart immediately went out to him as he tried to get through to them – to give them some sign that he was there. And then my heart broke even further when they moved out of the house, leaving him there alone. The presence of his parents was comforting at a time when Patrick was still confused about why he was a ghost and what it meant for his future. You could literally feel his panic and fear when they left.

When Patrick became a ghost, there was no manual dropped from the sky. He had to learn the boundaries of his new existence by trial and error. It didn’t take him long to discover that the only things he could touch or move were things that had some meaning to him when he was alive and that trying to leave the house would only result in a very long nap. Because of his limitations, Patrick had to spend the next four decades alone, watching the world go by from the windows of the house, but never being able to smell fresh air or carry on a conversation. The only company he has is a few books he was able to hide in the house. Left with nothing but his thoughts, Patrick despairs that God has forgotten him, or that he is being punished. The author does a great job of conveying Patrick’s emotions – his longing for companionship, his confusion at being abandoned, and the fear that he will slowly go crazy.

When Sara Oswald moves into the house, you can literally feel new life being breathed into Patrick. After four decades of being alone, finally there is someone in the house. Even if he can’t communicate with her, Sara has a habit of talking to herself and Patrick hangs on her every word. He quickly learns that she is a broken soul, which I think cements the initial connection he feels to her. She is coming out of a very rough time in her life and initially I had a hard time connecting with her character. But, as the story progresses and I learned more about her past, I saw her in a much different light. From the beginning, Sara senses a presence in the house. At first, she is just able to channel memories from Patrick and sense when he touches her (a cold shiver). Then, as time goes by, she is able to see and speak with him. This phenomenon is never fully explained, but because the author did such a good job of building up the story between the characters, it never really bothered me that much. Patrick has the theory that he was left on Earth to help Sara, and to me that explanation fits as well as anything else.

While Patrick and Sara are the main characters in the book, they are by no means the only characters. The author adds a cast of supporting characters that are well written and serve to round out the story. I particularly like Ginny, Patrick’s one time girlfriend. She was an important person in Patrick’s life when he was alive, and she plays an even more important part in his life as a ghost. Jules, Sara’s sister, is one of the most hateful characters I have encountered in some time. She uses religion to demonize what she can’t understand and does her best to make Sara feel inadequate whenever possible. But, her part in the story is important. Without giving away the ending, without Jules and her overbearing bullying, there might not be a sequel to Between the Seasons. The only thing I will say is to pay attention to Patrick’s dreams. I was very confused about them until the very last chapter. Initially they seemed out of place in the story, but they play a big role. And, although everything isn’t explained in this book, the author gives us enough clues to have an idea what to look forward to in the next installment.

I feel like I’ve been rambling in my review, but there is so much to say about this book. The writing is excellent and the plot had me hooked from the first chapter. The author puts her own spin on the typical ghost story, making this story anything but ordinary. I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel, which earns this book a five moon rating.
(less)

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Dec 20, 2011 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book left me with an overwhelming feeling of meh. I thought the plotline was pedestrian, despite the supernatural premise, and the two main characters didn't seem to have any personality that I was able to discern. Sadly, most of that personality went to the female lead's psychotic sister, who was the most one-dimensional 'villain' I've come across in a long time. (view spoiler)...more This book left me with an overwhelming feeling of meh. I thought the plotline was pedestrian, despite the supernatural premise, and the two main characters didn't seem to have any personality that I was able to discern. Sadly, most of that personality went to the female lead's psychotic sister, who was the most one-dimensional 'villain' I've come across in a long time. (view spoiler)

The drama towards the end seemed ridiculously contrived. (view spoiler) Actually, the fact that what's-her-face speaks out loud to any empty house is pretty contrived too. Given that I'm reading a ghost story, so my disbelief is already suspended, that's saying something.

Also, nothing in the book gave any hint it was the first in the series, so as I got ever closer towards the end I thought we might be about to get some kind of resolution, but no - the last page is an advertisement for the sequel. I'm willing to bet that whatever happens in the second book (and the inevitable third book) could easily have been condensed into this one instead - someone needs to tell authors that not all stories need stretching out over multiple books!

I only read the book because the author writes Twilight fanfiction and it has been pimped all over that community, and I wish I hadn't bothered. Several little moments in the book made me think I was reading fanfiction and that the characters of Patrick and errr what-was-her-name-again? were originally meant to be Edward and Bella. That would explain the cardboard characterisation throughout. Needless to say, I won't be picking up the sequel. Or its sequel.(less)

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Dec 11, 2011 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review by staff member Autumn:

It’s rare that you find a book like this. One that makes you laugh, cry and even ask the question “Is there life after death?” In it’s heart, Between Seasons is a ghost story. In it’s soul, it is so much more.
Patrick Boyle dies tragically when he’s nineteen and just about to be drafted into the Vietnam War. He watches as decades pass and wonders why he is not able to move on and his only company is the few possessions left from his life that he can almost actually...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2011 Amy Lichtenhan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was hooked on Between Seasons from the very first page. How could I not be, when Ms. Brassington dives right into the descriptive fall and death of Patrick, a 19-year-old young man who is just on the verge of being shipped off to Vietnam. You can't help but fall in love with Patrick as he watches his parents reaction to his death, his confusion at being a ghost, and the heartbreaking fact that he's stuck in the same house he died in when his parents decide they can no longer live there after t...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Katinki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's both exciting and challenging reading/reviewing something by someone you actually know and have had a glass of wine with :) So here goes. I'll try to be objective.

Writing gets a solid A from me. It's clean, crisp, and highly readable. There's enough description in there to get a feel for where you are and what's going on, but it's not overboard or so much that it's distracting from the plot. The dialogue sounds natural. The voice and narration works well for the story told. I love that it's...more It's both exciting and challenging reading/reviewing something by someone you actually know and have had a glass of wine with :) So here goes. I'll try to be objective.

Writing gets a solid A from me. It's clean, crisp, and highly readable. There's enough description in there to get a feel for where you are and what's going on, but it's not overboard or so much that it's distracting from the plot. The dialogue sounds natural. The voice and narration works well for the story told. I love that it's in 3rd person; there's a certain distance the narrator keeps that just works.

Characters get an easy A for Patrick and a B for others. I loved Patrick. I found that I really felt like I *knew* him and understood him - lots of great development there. I found him likable and charming and very much someone I wanted to pull for.

Sara was a good character. I liked her, especially her reactions when she finally could see Patrick and feel him. I won't say that I liked her right off the bat, but I definitely warmed to her. I will say that I'd have liked to have gotten a little more background on her.

Secondaries. I liked Ginny very much and more so, how she was used in the story. Jules, I'll be honest, felt a little "too much" or a little too "over the top". She was a great pseudo-villain (I'll call her pseudo because I do feel that she thought she was helping Sara), and I definitely wanted to punch her, but especially there at the end, I found myself having to stretch to believe her as a character.

Plot gets a B. I loved the overall premise. It felt new and different, and in general I thought it was executed well. The romantic progression was sweet and paced reasonably. Too, it's impressive that despite everything taking place inside one small place - a house - I found myself engaged through to the end. That's a testament to the overall story.

Also, I enjoyed some of the themes that were explored - in particular, the notion of God and the afterlife. I appreciated the even hand that was played there - didn't feel preachy or prescriptive like you sometimes get with stories that go into themes like that.

I'll preface by saying that because I'm an engineer, I like to take apart things to figure out how they work. There were two areas that I had a little difficulty with re: plot execution. 1. I found myself getting a little bogged down in some of the mechanics. Like just how did Sara go from shivers to hearing to seeing? How did that work? Why? Who made that happen? Those questions weren't answered in the story. 2. And I'll go ahead and say the end kind of confused me. I saw what was going on, and at a face level, understood it. But the left side of my brain was spazzing out a little because I didn't understand how/why things were happening. I didn't quite understand the real relationship/connection between Patrick and Nate.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read. Fantastic first novel. Color me very impressed. I'm definitely looking forward to reading whatever else Ms. AB chooses to write. (less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Roselover24 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

I read this and I really really liked it I would give it a 4 1/2 stars if I could

the characters are so real which is not easy for a paranormal
the confusion of the ghost Patrick everything from his death to WHY he has not gone to heaven as he was told he would when he died he is just stuck there to seeing the things in our time after his 40 years alone is so neat and the details that go into this version of a ghost story are just so involved and interesting without being distracting
I fell in l...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a recommendation from another writer Debra Anastasia. It's a somber, sweet, romantic story of a ghost trapped for decades in the house he dies in. His family leaves and he's left all alone until a unique woman with an even more unique personal history moves in. For me, I was facinated in his situation and then she comes along and everything kicks up a notch. In the beginning, I thought that the story was sort of slow, but after thinking about it more, Ms. Brassington did an excellent jo...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Sheri rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-by-good-read-authors, favorites

Between Seasons (Aida Brassington)
Paranormal/Romance

In the Fall of 1970 Patrick Boyle dies right before he is to report for the Vietnam War draft. His parents are heartbroken over the loss of their only son, and move out of the house. Patrick is still there, he is stuck in the house, unable to leave, waiting to enter heaven, or the return of his parents.

Forty years later a beautiful young woman (Sara) buys the house. She has a troubled past and moved across the country to try to start a new life...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Don't let my rating fool you, Between Seasons really is a good read. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, it never personally gave me that "WOW, OH MY GOODNESS" factor. When I would stop reading I couldn't wait to pick it back up and get back into the story. It is descriptive and the complete opposite from any other ghost story I have read.

I felt bad for Patrick, who wakes one morning to the smell of pancakes his mother is making, and takes an unfortunate fall down the steps. Next thing he knows he i...more Don't let my rating fool you, Between Seasons really is a good read. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, it never personally gave me that "WOW, OH MY GOODNESS" factor. When I would stop reading I couldn't wait to pick it back up and get back into the story. It is descriptive and the complete opposite from any other ghost story I have read.

I felt bad for Patrick, who wakes one morning to the smell of pancakes his mother is making, and takes an unfortunate fall down the steps. Next thing he knows he is dead. No one can see him, no one can hear him. It's always sad when someone so young, with their whole life ahead of them, passes away but even worse when you are stuck in your home for four decades. After realizing that the only things Patrick can touch were his personal belongings, that all goes downhill when his parents decide that living in the home is too much for them and pack up and move, leaving only the items Patrick was able to hide away after his mother packed them.

Forty years is a long time.(Take a moment to think about how many things are different from when you were a teenager!) Forty years also leaves plenty of time to watch the world pass you by. Patrick spends his days re-reading the same books, watching the neighborhood go about their lives from the windows, and watches the seasons change from one to the next. Till the day Sara moves in. Dealing with her own issues, Sara is soon questioning her sanity after she starts to feel Patrick's presence. She soon starts writing stories about events that happened in Patrick's life and finds herself falling in love. Which makes her holier an thou sister Jules go nuts.

The story moved a little fast in parts, leaving me with a feeling of "Wait, What??" The writing leaves little left un-imagined. I laughed, I became teary eyed, I became angry. Lots of story is packed into less than 200 pages.

Looking for a decently written story you can just plow through? Give Between Seasons a try. I think you will enjoy what it has to offer! (less)

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Dec 12, 2011 Jessi Larie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

You can see these and other reviews of mine at geobobspinelli.blogspot.com

I don't really have much to say about this book since I liked it. I have absolutely nothing to complain about as far as prose goes (which is what makes long book reviews for me...spending time complaining). The first line of this book is "Whoever said dying was easy was full of crap," so just with the very first sentence I was hooked. The beginning was interesting and attention-grabbing, giving you a glimpse at dying and t...more You can see these and other reviews of mine at geobobspinelli.blogspot.com

I don't really have much to say about this book since I liked it. I have absolutely nothing to complain about as far as prose goes (which is what makes long book reviews for me...spending time complaining). The first line of this book is "Whoever said dying was easy was full of crap," so just with the very first sentence I was hooked. The beginning was interesting and attention-grabbing, giving you a glimpse at dying and the afterlife through Patrick's eyes. I'll admit, I didn't care much for Patrick at first, but as the story went on he really grew on me.

There wasn't a whole lot happening for the majority, but it still held my interest. And my emotions. I wasn't just reading the words, I was feeling them too. I loved the interaction between Patrick and Sara. The romance between them was satisfying and I caught myself grinning in quite a few parts. They talk to each other without actually talking to each other - Sara kind of babbles to herself a lot and Patrick answers even though she can't hear him.

I really liked Sara and Patrick. They both felt very real and had their own personalities. I hated Julie, Sara's sister. She was so irritating and I just wanted to reach into the book and slap her. Sara was happy and she just kept getting in the way. Julie supposedly wanted what was best for her sister, but it just seemed like she was out to ruin her life. Like, shut up already! Jeesh. I don't know how Sara put up with her.

This was my first time reading a ghost book, but it broke out of the mold of the usual ghost story. It was unlike anything I've ever read, which is very refreshing. The ending kind of left it wide open for you to figure out for yourself. Much like the movie Inception, it was up to your imagination to interpret. I definitely want to read the sequel, North of Frost, when it comes out! Great job Aida!

OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3/5
There wasn't really much happening a lot of the time except Pat & Sara getting to know each other.

Writing Style: 4.5/5
Despite the lack of plot, I was still interested and didn't get bored.

Characters: 5/5
They all felt very realistic and easy to relate to. I felt their emotions.

Pace: 4/5

Cover: 3/5(less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Trinity rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 13, 2012 Urban Fantasy Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To see this review and more like it check out my site www.ufreviews.com

This is a really intriguing concept for a book, I mean could you imagine being stuck in a house for years after your death? I myself am not a fan of a lot of ghost stories, mostly because they tend to lean towards the horror genre, and thank goodness this is not a horror genre book. I do however like a good story that makes the ghost a character that has depth as well as draws me into the character enough for me to forget th...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, kindle-and-e-reads, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 14, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story of a nineteen year old boy named Patrick, who dies falling down the stairs in his home. He is held trapped in this house for years, even after his parents move out. He is unable to leave the house into the outsde world. Only can he touch and maneiuver objects that are his. He hides what belongings he has left in the house up in the attic. Then a lovely woman named Sara moves in with being divorced from a jerk. They co-exist until one day, Sara can see, hear and touch Patrick. They fall...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook

I liked it, but some suspension of disbelief is needed since it is a ghost romance. Some bits made me actually laugh out loud and I grew to care about Patrick. I could feel his boredom.

The issue I have with this book is with the ending. I don't like open-ended endings. It's clearly written so that there's going to be a sequel. I don't think doing that gives the book itself enough weight. It makes me feel like the author just couldn't be bothered to try to think of a "proper" ending. To me, it's...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. Except the end. Everything up to the last bit is beautiful. I couldn't put it down. This would have been 4 stars if the ending had been better.

WTH is up with that ending? (view spoiler)...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Jolene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-kindle-books

This story starts off in 1970 in Media Pennsylvania. Patrick Boyle is a young man of 19 years, chosen in the draft lottery he's scheduled to report to the draft board the next day. As we see in some of Patrick's flashbacks, he's scared and unsure about the Vietnam war and has voiced ideas to his friends about running off to Canada. Patrick's life takes an unexpected turn that morning as he wakes up to the smell of pancakes and heads downstairs for breakfast. Patrick never makes it to breakfast,...more This story starts off in 1970 in Media Pennsylvania. Patrick Boyle is a young man of 19 years, chosen in the draft lottery he's scheduled to report to the draft board the next day. As we see in some of Patrick's flashbacks, he's scared and unsure about the Vietnam war and has voiced ideas to his friends about running off to Canada. Patrick's life takes an unexpected turn that morning as he wakes up to the smell of pancakes and heads downstairs for breakfast. Patrick never makes it to breakfast, he trips on the stairs and falls to his death. Patrick's life ends, but his spirit stays.

There is so much going on with Patrick over the next month as he ponders his beliefs in God and Heaven and struggles to accept that he is stuck in the house and cannot leave. I felt like I was going through the emotions as Patrick was feeling them. Shock, confusion, denial and loss. It was interesting to watch him come to grips with how his life ended and what has become of him, ever wondering if this was some sort of punishment from God or if he was just forgotten. Watching Patrick struggle with trying to figure things out and seeing what his limitations were as a ghost both fascinated and saddened me. I really wanted so much more for him and at 19, felt like life was just beginning for him. The day his parents moved out because his mom could no longer live in the house where her son had died and watching Patrick struggle though the act of just watching them leave and not being able to do anything, was hard to read about. Being a mom myself and seeing his parents pain and anger made me a little misty eyed. The author did a great job of bringing out the emotion and raw feelings in this story. I also loved how she incorporated the smell of pancakes several times in this story since it was an important aspect on the day he died

We skip forward to May of 2010 and this is when the story really started coming together. Time seemed to blend for Patrick, stuck in the house and alone, Patrick just...existed and there was nothing else. He got by on his imagined conversations with his mom, until a woman named Sara moved in and bought the house

I loved Sara's character, she was spunky, quirky and different. Sara was a breath of fresh air, not at all what I'm used to heroines being in romance novels. She embraced what made her different and didn't care. She talked to herself and made no qualms about it. She has had some obstacles to overcome and fresh off a divorce and a breakdown, Sara's ready to start anew, but what shocks both Sara and Patrick is that she can sense she's not alone in the house. What follows is a sweet romance that I enjoyed seeing blossom as they both get more comfortable with each-other and Patrick's circumstances change.

Patrick died when he was 19, so there was some very real thoughts and language that I would expect any 19 year old boy to have. His feelings for Sara were growing stronger every day, but he also had a lot of respect for her. It was fun seeing him experience some of today's gadgets that he had never seen before. I would almost forget the year he died until his confusion over Sara's cell phone or i-pod. The author did a great job of incorporating that into the story and keeping Patrick unaware of all the changes in the world.

There is so much I can say about this book, but I don't want to give too much away. You need to experience this story and the changes that both Patrick and Sara go through for yourself. I didn't think a relationship between these two could happen or would even be possible, but the journey they go on and the twists this author brings to the story are unique and I really enjoyed it. One of my favorite lines of Patrick's when he was thinking of how much he missed Sara.
"He craved her like the air his lungs used to need"
I thought it was beautiful and summed up how much Sara came to mean to him.

Not only does this story make me wish that there is such a thing as fate and second chances, but it also gave me so much to ponder about the the afterlife and what awaits us. Of course, there are forces that try to keep these two apart. As much as I couldn't stand Sara's sister Jules, I'm hoping to see her again and see how she will play out in this story. Maybe karma isn't done with her :)

I will point out that there are a few editing errors, but just a few here and there. Not enough to have an impact on the story itself but just to make me pause and then move on. There was a little bit of crude language, but I think it was pertinent to the story and fit Patrick's character well. The only thing that did bother me a little was sometimes the story story would jump forward a night or a week and I didn't feel like I had any warning and got a little lost until I figured out it was a week later.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would give it 4 stars. The ending was surprising even though there were clues through out the story in Patrick's dreams. It warmed my heart and made me anxious for their story to continue and can't wait for the release of North Of Frost and see what obstacles they need to overcome next.(less)

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About Aida Brassington

Aida Brassington is an award winning writer who lives in the suburbs of Pennsylvania with her husband of five years and a Great Dane named Patrick.

She is a former political junkie with a deep interest in artisan food, reading, and scuba diving. She has never spent time in a mental institution but often questions her mental health.

Aida can be bribed with chocolate. Bribed into what? Well, that all...more

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