A New Life by LJ Ambrosio (Reflections of Michael Book 4)

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A New Life by LJ Ambrosio (Reflections of Michael Book 4)

From America to the streets of Paris, A New Life follows two friends as they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history and hope.

A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page

Excerpt

“They spent the rest of the trip talking about Rhonda and how great she was, from the fight where she tried to protect Ron to the National Cemetery where she was left behind by accident at dusk, not found until midnight.

“Louie and Ron had a chuckle over how Rhonda refused to walk on the sidewalks in Paris because of all the cigarette butts on the ground; she had to be pushed around in a baby carriage, because she did not want to burn her paws. Louie started crying, and Ron comforted him, assuring him that the pain was fine; he needed to accept it.

“Rhonda was so smart,” Louie said proudly. “Some people don’t know the relationship between an owner and their pet. It is so special, so unconditional. Rhonda will always be a part of me. It was nice to bury her here in America, her home country.”

“A while later, Ron and Louie arrived at their motel. Ron said to him, “Let’s get the luggage and go to bed. Hey, I was thinking when we get back to Paris, you should move in me with me and stop sleeping in the bookstore.”

“Louie could not believe what he heard. Sharing more time with Ron would be special; he was excited to have that time together.”

Competition

L.J. Ambrosio will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner…. via Rafflecopter

My Review

Since reading the last book, we acquired a Jack Russell puppy called Patch. She’s nearly nine months old. She makes Mikey look like a saint. She climbs like a monkey on tables and windowsills, chews everything and hides under the bed and won’t come out. Four slices of pizza would be chicken feed to her.

Jack Russell Mikey can never replace Rhonda, who Ron and Louie buried in America before exiling themselves in Paris, but Louie needed a friend as well as Ron. They learned a lot about love from Rhonda.

Louie is now living with Ron in his apartment and they are both running the Shakespeare and Company bookshop owned by Madame. Joseph, who they met on the street, is one of the ‘Tumbleweeds’ (who stay free in exchange for help in the shop), and Louie also befriends Adrian, a highly intellectual man who is unfortunately very sick, but is delighted with the friendship.

Since Lily passed away in book three, Louie has struggled with his sexuality, though he has never had a gay relationship and is not sure how he feels. Despite the freedom felt in Paris there is an underbelly of hatred towards gay men and communists in particular. Demonstrations can be dangerous for those involved.

I was interested in The Lost Generation of artists, writers and poets, like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway and Hart Crane, but it was Zelda Fitzgerald’s story that really got to me. The wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald of The Great Gatsby fame, she spent much of her life in and out of mental hospitals, diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it is more likely she was bipolar. She died with eight other women locked up in Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. I hope the smoke got to her and the others before the fire consumed them.

Many thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions and the author for inviting me to be part of the review tour.

About the Author

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.