One Pink Line

by Dina Silver

Can the love of a lifetime be forever changed by one pink line?



Sydney Shephard, a tenacious, sweet-tempered college senior is in love with an exceptional man and ready to start a future with him. Yet, one night, she makes an irrevocable decision that forces her to relinquish her youth, and risk losing the love of her life.

Then there's Grace, a fifth grader, who's world is turned upside down when she makes a shocking discovery, leaving her with profound and puzzling questions about who she really is.



Spanning generations and every imaginable emotion, One Pink Line reveals how two points of view can be dramatically at odds, and perhaps ultimately reconciled. Simultaneously deeply felt and lighthearted, the story deftly mines how the choices we make are able to alter so many lives, and how doing the right thing and living honestly can bring unexpected, hard-won happiness.

With heart, humor and compassion, this debut work of women's fiction is certain to stir anyone who relishes a good laugh, can stand a good cry, and, above all believes in the redemptive power of love.

**WINNER of the 2012 Eric Hoffer da Vinci Eye Award for outstanding cover art**

**FINALIST in the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Awards - and selected as a 2012 Indie Reader 'Top Title'**

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Ebooks

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2011

About the author

Dina Silver is an author, a wine lover, and an excellent parallel parker. She lives with her husband, son, and twenty-pound tabby cat in suburban Chicago. She’d prefer to live somewhere where it’s warm year-round, but she’s also a licensed real estate agent in Illinois, and she loathes the thought of having to take the broker exam again in another state. Dina is the author of five other novels, including One Pink Line, Kat Fight, Finding Bliss, The Unimaginable, and Whisper if You Need Me. To find out more about Dina and her books, visit www.dinasilver.com.

About books I review...
I am an author, so I appreciate the value of a 5-star review. I know that those stars mean more to an author, than they do to me as the reviewer who's doling them out. That being said, if I like a book at all, chances are I'm going to give it 5-stars. However, in the detailed description of my review is where I will attempt to explain what I actually thought of the book, so people can get a better idea of exactly how much I liked or loved it.

If I did not enjoy a book, or was unable to finish it, I simply will not review it. I have no interest in bashing anyone else's hard work.

Reviews

[Colleen Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to write this review in a style most of Dina Silver's readers can follow.
Meow.
Meow, MEOW meow. Meow meow.
M
E
O
W.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sweet stars!



One Pink Line is yet another book thats been sitting on my kindle for over a year. Since I never made time to read it, I decided I would listen to the audio book. I was happy I did. I enjoyed this one.

This is not your typical romance. It’s a story of a girl and her first love, yes, but also a story of a mother and daughter. And the story of that daughter finding out who she is and where she belongs. I loved the family aspect. There was so much love between these three characters main characters.

Sydney spent her entire college years with Ethan. Even though they were long distance, they were still the best of friends and loved each other very much. During Sydney’s senior year of college, she made a mistake. This mistake turned into something big that changes her life forever. It also changes her boyfriend Ethan’s life.

Ethan Ethan Ethan… what a perfect guy! You can’t help but to love him. He is the sweetest, most charming and patient character. There were moments my heart was so broken for him, and Sydney too.

“Having to sacrifice you to have this baby will destroy me.”


The story was told not only from Sydney’s perspective, but her daughter Grace’s. As Grace is growing up, she learns a lot about who she is and the people in her life that are truly important.

“Your Dad who loves you and kisses you goodnight is your real Dad.”


This story made me laugh, made me smile, made me tear up and in the end left me feeling good. It had a nice flow to it and was an easy read. One Pink Line is a story about the choices we make, a story about family, and most of all, about love. The only thing that would have made this better is more Ethan. Maybe not his perspective, but just more time with him in general.

If you’re looking for a book with lovable characters and a sweet story that will leave a big smile on your face, this is one I would recommend.

[Smitten's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely lovely story! This was quite different to a lot of books I've read lately. It wasn't a cut and dry romance.

There was romance, but this is so much more. It is about love on so many other levels too. Love between a mother and daughter, lost love, love denied, unrequited love, inconvenient love, sibling love, love between friends and ultimately, inevitable love...

One Pink Line was such an easy read. I reached the end without even realising! And the end was soooo adorable.

If I had one criticism it would have been that I'd have liked to have felt more of what was between Sydney and Ethan! More details of their relationship would have really put the cherry on the top for me.

"I don't know why you're crying... but I hope it's because you're as in love with me half as much as I am in love with you."

I love Ethan. He was such a strong, charming character and it was painful to see Sydney realise the consequences of her mistake. But what a wonderful man! Everyone needs an Ethan!

I still loved him. I never stopped loving him, and never stopped hoping that he would fall back in love with me as well.

Grace's story was a great addition to the story. It was fascinating to read her take on things and see the butterfly effect of Sydney's actions.

One drunken evening filled with passion, carelessness and Jagermeister.

I empathised with her and her desire to reach her Dad and it was heart warming to read about the dynamics of her loving, secure family, despite everything.

"So, how's big Kev?"
"Oh, you mean my father?"
"Yeah."
"He may be six-foot-five, but you're a much bigger person, Dad."

And then we come to Sydney. I really really enjoyed reading her story. She was a lovable, down to earth character that was so easy to relate to. She had no huge hang ups or meteoric, traumatic secrets in her past, she wasn't emotionally damaged, yet she wasn't perfect... she was normal. It was so refreshing to read about a normal woman, with a normal, yet testing and slightly unfortunate path in life.

The diaper bag, the car seat, the bottles, the pacifiers, the changing mat, the wipes, and all the toys in their primary colored glory; none of which would compliment my outfit.

Women everywhere should read this book... daughters, mothers, expectant mothers, single mothers... it's such a feel good story about females of all ages overcoming adversity, loving and being loved by the people in their lives and accepting their blessings. A very funny, easy, heart warming read! I'm off to hug my family now.



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[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Free Review EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!!!
4 STARS out of 5
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

"I'm sorry to lay this on you right before you leave, but I thought you should know."
He shook his head slowly. "What are you doing about it?"
"I'm going to keep it," I said and kept my gaze focused on him.
He laughed. "Don't I have any say?" He stood up. "Assuming it's even mine."

"It's yours."

One Pink Line Will have you sucked in from the first page. The story unfolds beautifully and is told from two pov's. Sydney's and her daughter Grace. Within the story you get to see how they each struggle in relationships with their parents, siblings and friends. As they make the journey from young girls in to womanhood.

Sydney is about to finish her senior year of college when she finds out she is pregnant. Now she must tell her boyfriend, knowing her life as she knows it is about to drastically change. Sydney is the youngest of two girls. Though her mother always favored her older sister Kendra, the bond between Kendra and Sydney always remained strong. Once Sydney breaks the news of her pregnancy to her boyfriend, her sister, her parents and her friends relationships are tested.
The reactions are shocking, as a young in love couple make life changing decisions.

Grace was raised in a loving home with her mother, father and younger brother Patch. At as young as seven Grace remembers being teased for her size. She was big for a girl and taller than most boys her age. At ten she stood taller than her mother's petite frame. She chalks it up and decides she takes after her dad who is tall standing an inch over six feet. The one day in middle school at a health class focusing on sex and reproduction changes everything.
Leading her to question herself about who she really is.

"Who is my real dad?"
She sniffed and reached for a tissue on top of nurse Goode's desk.
"Your real dad who loves and kisses you every night is your real dad. Your biological father is a man I had a friendship with a long time ago."
"Where is he?"
"He lives out of state with his family"
His family? Wasn't I his family? Suddenly it was like I was trapped at the bottom of a sewer pipe, and my mom was above ground trying to shout down to me. I felt alone. Removed. Deceived.
~Grace and Sydney

Line that punched me in the gut.

"Your not seriously considering having this baby are you?" ~Kendra

Ouch, now those are hard words to hear after you decide to have your baby.

One Pink Line shows the power of love, the bonds of family, and how loss can leave a piece of a person feeling empty and incomplete. The story is emotional, raw and very compelling.

Thoughts
Incredible. I could not stop reading this book it pulls you in and holds you captive until it's over. It's a very relatable story that will stick with the reader long after reading it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. It is A MUST READ! Something you'll want to share with your Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and cousins.

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable
Writing Style- Good
Plot/Storyline- Raw, Honest and highly emotional
Steam Factor- Medium/Moderately Steamy
Overall- I loved it!!! A MUST READ!!!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!

Arc Provided by CreateSpace via NetGalley

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I was given a free copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review*

The synopsis of this book caught my attention because I was faced with the very scary reality of an unplanned pregnancy at a young age. The premise of the story is a good one, and the topics discussed are timeless in their relevance, but I walked away from this book feeling as if something were missing.

The strangest thing about this story for me were the similarities to my own situation. I had been in a committed (but long distance) relationship with a great guy for two years. We grew apart, I moved on, and five months later, I was pregnant. Fortunately for me, my boyfriend at the time (and father of my son) is a great guy who stuck around. We recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.

So while I could certainly put myself in Sydney's shoes, I nonetheless had a hard time connecting with her as a sympathetic protagonist. I don't think this is due to any character flaw on the part of Sydney, but more a fundamental flaw in Ms. Silver's writing. While I did find Sydney to often be melodramatic and selfish, I recognize that a young, childless, unmarried woman often is melodramatic and selfish. The reader simply is not treated to enough emotional depth to connect with the characters and empathize with why they do the things they do. Ethan, while being a great guy in most respects, barely showed even the slightest capacity for an emotional range. He vacillated between present and pleasant to present and neutral. One time he's not present and kinda, sorta, maybe upset. His character overall was pretty flat. Then there are Sydney's parents....

I know this is based on an actual story, so I won't fault the book for containing two of the most irritating parental characters I've ever read about, but they did make slogging through the book a bit more of a chore.

When I was introduced to the character of Grace, Sydney's daughter, I found that her narrative wasn't much different from Sydney's, something that was a bit off-putting since these are supposed to be two distinct characters who differ in several ways. The tone of both was often juvenile, simplistic, and selfish.

Overall, I felt like the writing was shallow and rushed. I was whisked from one incident to the next, all the while being told what was going on, and it created a disconnect for me. I couldn't invest myself in the lives of the characters enough to really care what happened next. The only thing that kept me interested enough to finish was wanting to know what happened between Ethan and Sydney. I felt I already knew what was coming, but I wanted to be sure, and while this is a tried and tested plot device, it's not generally good when it's the only thing securing your audience's attention.

It's not a terrible book by any means, but it could have been a lot better. Speaking as someone who stared into the face of motherhood at the age of 17, I can say that the subject demands a lot more emotional depth than this book was able to convey.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give it 5 stars, right?

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that reminded you to be grateful for the family that loves you? To appreciate just a bit more the sacrifices that your parents have made for you? To try and be a better daughter, sister, mother one day?

This is a story about love - not only the romantic type, but also between mothers and daughters and all the people we take for granted in our everyday lives. It is also a story of finding one’s identity, putting all the puzzle pieces together that make up the picture of who we are, where we come from, what defines us. A story of sacrifice driven by love for an unborn child.  A story of forgiveness.

The book follows two stories, intertwined but one in the past and the other in the present. We hear two voices, two points of view, and as the story unravels slowly, layer by layer, each voice helps us to complete the picture. The first voice we hear is Sydney’s, we follow her from her late teens to the present time. We find out who she is, where she came from, who her staples in life have been. Sydney is a determined, confident, intelligent young woman with a somewhat troublesome relationship with her mother, a woman who in Sydney’s eyes “wiped her feet” at her daughter’s self-esteem on a daily basis. She envies the bond that her mother has with her older sister and I believe that gives her the foundations for the type of mother she never wanted to be one day.

Sydney meets the love of her life, Ethan, during the last few months of high school. It is a match made in Heaven, their connection quickly developing into a life-long bond of friendship and mutual affection. But soon they find themselves in separate cities, in college, and in a long-distance relationship over a long period of time. At the very end of her college life, Sydney makes a mistake, a small mistake as it wasn’t premeditated or made while in full possession of her faculties, but a life-determining mistake nonetheless. And she finds herself pregnant, alone, broke, carrying the child of a man who openly says he doesn’t want anything to do with her or the baby. This is where her true character really shines - she decided to keep the baby, against all odds and fully aware that she would be sacrificing a whole lot more than just sleep at night. She would be losing Ethan.

“Having to sacrifice you to have this baby will destroy me, so I hope that in time you can find a way to forgive me.”

But her love for her unborn baby is instant and she never, not even once regrets her decision to keep it. What follows is an elegantly and delicately written personal account of the fears of a young woman faced with an unplanned pregnancy and having to go through it on her own. We hear her fears that she won’t be a good mother, that her child would resent her for her decisions and that she won’t be able to give her the kind of life she deserves.

“Would we be more like friends than mother-daughter? Would she think I was annoying? What insecurities would she have? Would she hate me for not being married?”

She could be any one of us and we feel for her deeply. But her tale is not a sad one, it is also a story of hope and forever laced with humour and a positive outlook on life. Sydney never feels sorry for herself and by doing so she never allows us to feel anything but respect  for her. She does the best she can, believing in the rightness of her choices and driven forward by her love for her baby.

The second voice we hear is Grace’s. Grace is Sydney’s daughter and we meet her when she is ten years old. The discovery that her dad is not her biological father shakes her to the core, she finds herself with life-altering questions her young mind is unable to process. Those questions form a void in her, an almost primal need to define both sources of her origin and those doubts follow her throughout her teen years and into her twenties. She has a wonderful loving family, a dad that has raised her since she was two years old and loved her as if she were his own, but her journey is not just about finding her real father, it is also about extinguishing that need in her to find him.

 “Everyone thinks that I have all these expectations of you, and I really don’t. It’s really been more of a burning curiosity than anything. You’ve been such a vague, inaccessible figure my whole life, and all I ever really wanted was to simply make the connection.”

This story might have started with one devastating pink line but it became a whole rainbow of goodness by the end it. It might have been dismantled by more than one point of view and alternating timelines, but it was bound together by one constant element of the story - love. The type of love that survives even the harshest of tests, a love that grows only stronger in time and brings people together. Families change, evolve, lovers part ways and then find their way back to each other, friendships grow and never fade away, but motherhood remains an unchanging force of nature, a source of comfort as much as a source of strength.

 “She could be forty years old, married with kids, and you’ll still be worried about her life, her bills, her husband’s job, your grandkid’s fever.”

This book was a like a breath of fresh air - I deeply inhaled and I am still exhaling. And smiling.

~ N ♥

See this review on my blog!

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 sweet, pink stars.

An enjoyable read ... Ethan might have been a little bit too perfect.




Not a lot of time for reviews.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so in love with this book I can't even put it into words. Dina Silver - you are amazing. I loved every single word of this book. I loved the two different points of view between Sydney and Grace and I just adored how it all came together. Beautifully written and just wonderful. One of my new favorite books of 2012.

[Autumn Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really touched me. It's told from Sydney's POV and Grace's POV. Sydney is the mother and Grace is her daughter. I felt for both of them and could relate to each in different ways.

Sydney was likable to me. She makes mistakes and her behavior isn't always perfect. I appreciated the realistic situations that Sydney puts herself in. She had a really great boyfriend in Ethan. I mean, this guy is the real deal. BUT, I could understand where Sydney was coming from wanting to have some experience before settling down. I was so heartbroken over Ethan. Seriously, he was the perfect guy. He truly loved Sydney and made sacrifices to be with her. Such a special guy. Unfortunately, she makes one big mistake, that alters her life forever.

That's where Grace comes in. Grace learns that her father isn't her biological dad. So, her journey begins of finding out who she comes from. I liked that we got to see her deal with this over time. What I loved the most was that she still felt like her adoptive father was her real dad. Even though it was a shock, I felt that she dealt with it all with maturity and well...grace.

There were many times throughout the book that I was on the verge of tears. At the end, I was full out sobbing. They were happy tears though. I felt that everyone achieved the closure they all needed. One Pink Line touched my heart and I would highly recommend it.

If you are looking for a sweet, loving story, this is a great book for you.

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come... may not be a 5 star read for everyone. Will explain later.

***********************************************************
Ready to review. First of all, I have a rating rule for myself. If a book/story brings out strong emotion in me, and I enjoyed the story through to the end, it will have at least 4 stars. If this emotional place is happens multiple times or multiple emotions are tapped, same thing - read to the end, then it will have at least 4.5 stars. I gave this book 5 stars because it moved me to tears more than once, I read it through to the end and this was this authors debut book! Brava Ms. Silver!

Ethan is my hero. Just had to say this and get it out of the way. His steadfastness throughout the growth and maturity of Sylvia was outstanding. He loved, loved deeply and was true to this love, but it wasn't always obvious to the reader nor to Sylvia. Thinking on this - this was probably good for the preservation of their friendship.

This story was two individual stories told in parallel and then merged at the end. Sylvia. Her as a teenager and then through adulthood; her evolution and maturity. Also Grace starting in her youth through adulthood. The crux of this story is how the decisions in our youth impacts our children. Taking is a step further ... how do we deal with it and help them deal. We've heard the phrase, "the sins of the fathers be reaped upon the sons"....

Sylvia was a girl like any other, but she found a strong connection, she felt was love, with a young man during her senior year in high school, he in his first year of college. They eventually went to separate colleges, where they each had friends, but kept the long distance relationship going. Ethan graduated first and took a job cross-country and tried to pin Syl down a bit more, but she was a college senior with adult demands staring her in the face, and she was resistant to committing to more than they currently had. She wanted to "enjoy" herself. Up to this point, they have stayed "true" to each other and the relationship. Syl had made strong friendships with several people in college, including a group of guys.

Then came the last college dance ... the group planned to stay overnight at the hotel. Each couple would share a room, but separate beds, because they are all just friends ... Syl liked to drink a bit [too much at times], got drunk and woke up next to her good friend. Eight weeks later she found out she was pregnant with Kevin's child. And when told, he wanted nothing to do with her or the baby -- smack! And, what about Ethan -- How messed up!

Grace is the child, but you aren't really sure of this through half of the book. It is a story told in parallel. It starts with her as a girl of about 8. We learn about her life and her family dynamic. She seems very happy. Loves her Dad, likes her little brother [but he is a major pain], and has an okay Mom. When she is nine, she finds out that all she believes is true about her family and who she she is, isn't. She learns her father isn't her "biological" [what the heck does that even mean??] father, and that her "real" father has never wanted to have anything to do with her. Now what?

I may have given the story away with this little bit, but for me this was pivotal. Syl, in having Grace, did the right thing for herself after she weighed all her options. She made a decision using her heart to guide her.

What I especially liked about this book is the journey each character takes to get to their end. We see how Sylvia evolves and matures, same for Grace. How in the end, Grace comes to understand her mother more, as life lessons come into play. How when she does finally get to meet her "real" Dad, it is very anticlimactic, because her "real" father has always been with her, has always loved her. And, she wasn't really missing anything, ever. She really had all she ever needed.

Overall, a very good story. I'm looking forward to more from this author.

Happy Reading!

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney began dating Ethan in high school and then had to endure long distance love when they went to different colleges. They agreed that although they loved each other, they both needed to embrace college life and all the social opportunities it had to offer. Sometimes that meant going on dates with other people but nothing too serious than that.

They saw each other whenever they could and I think they both knew that they would eventually end up together permanently when they finished college. Towards the end of their last year in college Sydney discovers she is pregnant. Telling her mother is not something she really wants to do, she is highly strung and seems to lack empathy when it comes to her relationship with her daughter.

Grace is Sydney’s daughter and has had a happy childhood with her parents and younger brother Patch. She knows her parents fell in love when they were young and she hopes to one day have her own love story. As she approaches her 18th birthday she sets out to know more about the man from her mother’s past, her biological father. There are some physical features she has that she knows must come from him and she is curious to know why he hasn’t been present in her life.

This story is being told by two different viewpoints, Sydney - a college student who has an unexpected pregnancy and Grace - the now teenage daughter of Sydney. This is a wonderful story about love, loyalty and family. I listened to the audio version and it was fabulously narrated :)

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the Audible version mostly, then went back to clarify some points in the Kindle version. I thought this book was pretty good, but then I got to the end and realized that somewhere along the way I had confused/merged Sidney and Grace's stories. The first clue should have been when I was thinking how odd it was that both got pregnant by losers named Kevin in college! Of course, they didn't. I had just managed to somehow merge Sidney and Gracie into one person. Once I got my head on straight, everything made much more sense.

Whether it's because of my no-brainer mishap, or if I confused the characters because they didn't stand out to me as unique or interesting, I can't say. I liked this story, but it isn't one that is likely to be remembered in a few days. It was a nice, quick, read. I just didn't feel a connection to the characters or storyline. There's nothing I could point to as being "bad" in particular. It just lacked that extra something that draws you in and grabs your attention.

[Rebecca Berto · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABOUT:

One Pink Line follows the stories of Sydney and Grace. The story begins with Sydney about to enter college. She’s found her true love, Ethan, and college is going to change the rest of her life. Will the distance tear them apart? Grace is a girl who has a loving, nuclear family. But she feels different to other girls–for one thing, she towers above her classmates. She begins to question who she is. Is there something about her she doesn’t know?

MY THOUGHTS:

I love that we follow these ladies through years of their lives, as they face troubles and grow up. One Pink Line feels like reading two people’s lives written in a book. Dina Silver does an impeccable job of creating a story that builds and builds in tension until you don’t have a choice but to read it as fast as you can so you can finally get some sleep.

You know you’ve read a great novel when you think of the message and its themes days after you’ve finished reading. I’m lucky to have read Dina Silver’s novel. It’s given me a lot to think about regarding youth pregnancy, and family and friend relationships.

One Pink Line is a truthful story about how loves sprouts, develops and lives on. Not only will this book stay with you for long after you close the pages, but it will also catch you by your collar and squeeze tighter until you finish the story.

[Oh! Paper Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also reviewed at Oh! Paper Pages

In One Pink Line, Sydney is about to graduate from college. She has a long-term boyfriend, a new job, and a life just waiting to be lived. Everything seems to be going smoothly for Sydney until she discovers that she is pregnant. She sees those two pink lines and her life changes. We follow Sydney as she tells the story of her childhood and the events that bring us to the night when she sits on the bathroom floor staring at the pregnancy test that changes everything. The story is inspired by true events.

Dina Silver’s debut novel is excellent. Her characters are lovable and the storyline is perfectly created to lure in readers. The format is clever and is well-suited to acquainting the audience with the past and present. This is a novel that exhibits the extraordinary talent of a writer who understands storytelling. From start to finish, One Pink Line is a great read. I am excited to read Dina Silver’s subsequent work. I urge you, reader, to purchase a copy of One Pink Lane if you are interested in a well-written, interesting story.

In exchange for an honest review, the author kindly sent me a free copy.

[Christine (Shh Moms Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed One Pink Line by Dina Silver. Inspired by real life events, I was captivated by page one. This book wrecked havoc on my emotions and on my heart... I felt bad for Grace never knowing who her biological father was but her real and true father, who raised and loved her as his own from day one always had my heart. I was happy that that were a family in the end because that's who deserved it the most. I love Dina's writing!!

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed One Pink Line. It was an easy listen and the characters were likeable (well, most of them). I think this would appeal to fans of romance and women's fiction. This isn't a lovey-dovey kind of whimsical romance, but an emotional, heart warming and hard hitting story of love, regrets, tough decisions, motherhood and family.

I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really just loved this one. So many references to my childhood seeing as I grew up in the same area as Sydney. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Meredith Schorr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly moving read.

Sydney had the perfect boyfriend back home but, like many college coeds, she got restless (and drunk) and had a one-night-stand with a boy "friend" that resulted in a pregnancy. Sydney wants to keep the baby but the baby daddy wants nothing to do with either of them.

The author writes from both Sydney's perspective and Grace's (the baby). From Sydney's perspective, we see how she dealt with having a child at such a young age while unmarried and how it affected her relationships with her family and the boyfriend she left at home. From Grace's perspective, we feel her confusion at discovering that the man who raised her is not her birth father and we understand her desire to meet her biological father.

Although the book focused more on Sydney than Grace, I didn't mind as I found Sydney's story more compelling. I especially enjoyed the complex relationship between Sydney and her mother. I initially disliked Sydney's mother but loved the way the author redeemed her once Grace was born. While I thought Ethan was a bit too good to be true, I also loved him and was touched by his loyalty to Sydney.

I did have a few issues with the book. For one, Sydney's sister Kendra, who was such a big part of Sydney's life, was not mentioned once in the Grace segments. The only relatives mentioned in Grace's segments were from her birth father's side. I found mentions of Nanna Lynne and Aunt Sharon a bit confusing in Grace's segments since the author did not explain who they were until much later in the story. Also, while I was happy with how things turned out, I would've enjoyed a more drawn-out ending. Finally, *Spoiler alert* - I wished the author had explained why Taylor told Sydney that Ethan had reunited with Robin when it was not true. Was it a purposeful lie or just a miscommunication?

In sum, however, this was a very compelling read. I would definitely read more from this author.

[Liz Overberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading a Lifetime movie,

The majority of the book took place in the early 1990s, and this book reminded me of the YA from right around that time period...not in a good way. The psychology of Sydney and Grace's every thought and action were explained. Every piece of dialogue sounded like it was coming from a therapist, not a teenager. Sydney seemed more emotionally affected by losing her boyfriend than by having a baby. In fact, her decision to keep the baby wasn't even a major part of the book. "Oh, I might be pregnant! oh, I am! Oh I'm definitely keeping it." That was only about 3 pages of a 221 page book.

Ethan and Kendra were too perfect as characters. Sydney, also, seemed entirely too perfect at times, which didn't mesh well with a lot of her decision making.

All in all....skip this one. Go watch a bad 90s teen movie or a Lifetime movie instead.

[Running · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a First Reads books and I'm so glad that I entered to win.

I really enjoyed this book, for a break out novel, the way that she configures the twits and turns of the book made me want to keep turning the page. There were times where the book moved a little slow (particularly points where she had to move past the boring introductions. There were some descriptors that she could have done without (such as half a page about insignificant characters lives before meeting Sydney). The events of the book were most definitely surprising, at some points but i liked when I was able to figure information out as it unfolded. Overall a nice mushy read about true love.

[Lesley Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a roller-coaster kind of book but was so beautiful that I never wanted it to end :) i am sooooo in love with all the characters. thank you for this beautiful love story, dina silver! I can't wait for your next book! :)

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an unexpected surprise this book was. I couldn't put it down! I am in love with Ethan. He couldn't be more perfect.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney is about to graduate from college when she realizes her period is late. With a sudden urgency to find out if she is pregnant, she goes to the store and buys a pregnancy test. Unfortunately, she didn’t get ONE PINK LINE. She gets TWO. Shocked and stunned, she is going to have to make the biggest decision of her life.

The story flashes back to Sydney the last summer before she goes off to college. After she meets Ethan, they fall in love and spend the whole summer together. At the end of the summer, they part ways when they both go off to college. But they are both determined to make a long distant relationship work. Years pass but things are still going strong between Ethan and Sydney. When Ethan gets a job in Boston, he asks her for more of a commitment. At this point, Sydney is in her last year of college and not ready to settle down just yet. Unfortunately, before she has a chance to spread her wings after college, she finds out she’s pregnant right before graduation. And Life as she knows it changes forever.

“Having to sacrifice you to have this baby will destroy me, so I hope that in time you can find a way to forgive me.”

Sydney made a huge mistake – a mistake that altered her life forever. She didn’t run from her mistake, she owned up to it. She turned her life around and made something of herself. Even though her relationship with Ethan suffered, they managed to work against all odds to be with one another. He truly loved Sydney. The sacrifices he made for Sydney made him a true hero in my book. The choices Sydney made were hard. But she has no regrets because her baby girl, Grace, is worth all the heartache and struggles.

Grace is Sydney’s daughter. When she finds out her parents have been keeping a secret from her, she breaks down. She is angry, hurt, and feels betrayed. Not knowing how to handle the news, she makes things hard on her mother and father. Over time, the pain she feels lessens. As she matures into a wonderful young woman, she realizes how lucky she is to have such loving and giving parents. I was glad Grace found peace with her mother’s choice.

This story is told from two POVs – Sydney and her daughter Grace. I love how the story comes together at the end. This is not only a romance but is about the relationships and love between mothers, daughters and fathers. The characters are realistic. As their stories intertwined with one another, it gives the story more depth and makes it very believable. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Grace, Sydney, and Ethan. Their story pulled at my heart strings. I rooted for Sydney and Ethan the entire way.

Life if messy and unpredictable and that’s the message I received from this story. I highly recommend this heartwarming, loving, and funny story!

Rating: B+

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review

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[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Description- Can the love of a lifetime be forever changed by one pink line? Dina Silver's tender, absorbing novel, One Pink Line, is the warmhearted, wry story of love, loss and family, as seen through the prism of one singular, spirited young couple who find themselves in a predicament that changes the course of their lives, and those closest to them. With heart, humor and compassion, this debut work of women's fiction is certain to stir anyone who relishes a good laugh, can stand a good cry, and, above all believes in the redemptive power of love.

This unique, contemporary story gives readers a dual perspective. Sydney Shephard, a sweet-tempered, strong-natured college senior is young, in love with an exceptional man, and unexpectedly pregnant. Faced with a child she never planned for, she is forced to relay this news to her neurotic mother, relinquish her youth, and risk losing the love of her life. Then there's Grace, a daughter, who believed she was a product of this great love, grows to realize her existence is not what she assumed, and is left with profound and puzzling questions about who she really is.

Spanning generations and every imaginable emotion, One Pink Line reveals how two points of view can be dramatically at odds, and perhaps ultimately reconciled. Simultaneously deeply felt and lighthearted, One Pink Line deftly mines how the choices we make are able to alter so many lives, and how doing the right thing and living honestly can bring unexpected, hard-won happiness. It's a must-read for anyone who relishes a great love story, absorbing characters, and plenty of laughs along the way.

This was a fantastic book! The author did an excellent job telling the story of Sydney and Grace using alternating chapters for their individual point of view. She not only focused on the difficulties of an unplanned pregnancy, the ups and downs, and did a great job portraying the varying emotions both characters felt throughout their lives. I really liked how she focused on the joys of having a baby, just as anyone would for a planned pregnancy, and didn't constantly describe the negatives of unplanned pregnancies, as books about this topic mostly focus on. The characters were well developed and I really felt like I knew Sydney and Grace. Silver did a good job at keeping the father's identity questionable until the middle of the book. She threw me for a loop when I finally read the chapter about when Sydney got pregnant. I wasn't expecting that! The ending was wonderful and was written in a very realistic way. I am so glad Silver didn't take the soap opera plot path and kept it real. Excellent book! I would recommend it for anyone looking for a chick lit book with depth. 4 stars!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Pink Line did it all for me, It made me laugh, cry, and I fell in love with the characters!! Sydney meets the love of her life Ethan when she's only in high school, and the two are completly inseperable until they go off to two seperate colleges, they make it through almost to the very end of their senior year though, until Sydney goes to a Frat Party and circumstances lead her to have a one-night stand with one of her best friends. When Sydney finds out she's pregnant, and that her friend wasn't who she thought he was, will Ethan and her relationship be damaged forever?

I couldn't put this book down, I found myself so invested in the characters and in the storyline that I kept wanting to turn the page, and the whole book felt fast-paced like that for me. I loved Sydney and Ethans' characters, and Ethan is completly swoon-worthy! yum yum! lol I like that the story read almost like a YA novel because other then Chick-Lit that's been my go-to genre for a while now. I like that the story starts with Sydney in High School and ends after her completing college, It felt relatable to me because of the age group.

I love how the two different points of view Sydney and Grace come together, and this book is one of very FEW that made me cry, I don't know what it was but the relationship between Ethan and Sydney felt so real to me that the phone call towards the end with Syd and Ethan made me lose it. If you love YA, contemporary, and /or Chick-lit, or are just a girl in general, I know you would love this book. Its bound to hold some relatability to anyone who's ever been in relationships, made mistakes, and tried to piece their lives back together again. I absolutely loved this story. A+ Dina Silver!!

[Lindsey | bookmeallnightlong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this as part of a Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.

I don't read a lot of "chick lit," but I'm so glad that this one fell into my lap thanks to Goodreads and Dina Silver. This novel was so good at capturing the reader's attention and holding it until the very end. Coupled with an interesting storyline and clever presentation, I just couldn't put this one down. I absolutely loved the way the 2 separate stories overlapped and intertwined. Although I could figure out the connection from the beginning, I never felt disappointed or let down about my discovery because the book was just too good on so many other levels. It is an easy read that I read in a few days and left me wanting more at the end.

For a first-time author, Dina Silver can really bring it to the table. Her writing was impressive to say the least and I hope that she continues to write in the future. I cannot wait to read her next novel this summer! It is sure to be a hit with this girl!

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this one. Wow. A really good story.

This book was not a romance but a story about love and family.

High School senior Grace just had health class and they got to the Sex Education portion. They learned about conception and Grace got really confused. How is it that she was 2 years old and remembers her parent's wedding, if people were supposed to be married first? Also, she now realizes that she has different features from her dad, so much that she freaks out and the school nurse calls her mom.

Her mother Sydney has to tell Grace the story of how their family became a family and how her dad became her dad.

This story is told both from Sydney's perspective and Grace's perspective. It involves flashbacks too but it wasn't confusing at all, and it all ties in together nicely. Great story telling.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with these characters (well everyone but a few and Syd's friend Taylor was one I really did not care for). Loved Ethan, Sydney, Grace, Kendra....Sweet story that brought tears to my eyes.

[NiteReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully interwoven story of a mother and daughter, the past and present, their choices and consequences. This is one of those books that leaves an indelible impression. A truly spectacular read!!