Saying Goodbye, Part One

Saying Goodbye #1

by Abigail Drake

Samantha Barnes always dreamed of seeing the world, and only has a few months left before she starts a semester abroad in Japan. Enough time to say goodbye to her friends, polish up her language skills, and maybe even squeeze in a quick fling with handsome fraternity boy Dylan Hunter.

All she wants from Dylan is something casual, and perhaps some mind-blowing sex, but things don’t work out as planned. Dylan wants a lot more from her than a hook-up. Before Sam realizes what’s happening, their relationship has become serious, something she never intended. And then she discovers Dylan is hiding a dark secret that makes breaking up with him nearly impossible.

Sam is running out of time. She has to leave soon. She has no choice. But leaving Dylan could mean more than just the end of their relationship. It could also mean destroying him completely.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2016

About the author

Abigail Drake is the award-winning author of twenty-one novels, but she didn’t start her career in writing. She majored in Japanese and economics in college, and spent years traveling the world, collecting stories wherever she visited. She collected a husband from Istanbul on her travels, too, and he is her favorite souvenir.

Abigail is a coffee addict, a puppy wrangler, and the mother of three adult sons. She writes contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and young adult fiction, and has taught workshops for many different writing organizations. In her spare time, she blogs about her dog, Capone, and teaches writing classes for children at her local library.

In 2019, Abigail was awarded an honorable mention for her book "Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone" in the Writer's Digest Self-Published E-book Awards. She is the winner of the 2017 Prism Award for her book "Traveller", the International Digital Award for her young adult novel, "Tiger Lily", and the Stiletto Contest for "Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone." In addition, she was named a finalist in the Golden Pen, the Golden Leaf, the Dante Rossetti Book Award, and the Cygnus Award for Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction.

Abigail is represented by Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Literary Management. For more information, visit her website at www.abigaildrake.net.

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm... I don't know what to say.
Okay sooo, I read (review), first near the end of 2017, which I absolutely LOVED!

This book really took me by surprise. From the moment I started reading this book until the last word in the book, I couldn't put it down. Abigail Drake writes characters that will make you love, hate, adore, abhor, and send you right into their lives.
Such a great book with a storyline that grips your heart like a vice and won't let go until the very end. As you finish the book you start to miss the characters the second you put the book down.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is a funny thing; it throws obstacles in our way often in the form of people just as we have a big decision ahead of ourselves that could change our lives forever. Samantha Barnes has dreamed of becoming a translator and studying at the Applied Linguistics school and has a semester abroad in Japan coming up. She can't wait as it is the start of her dream come true towards her career. Sam had no time for boyfriends as they only get in the way and she didn't want any ties attached before she left and of course her past three boyfriends had been considered Mistakes as she always picks the wrong ones. Enter Dylan Hunter, he has captured Sam's attention, and despite her objections, the pair go from friends to lovers pretty quickly but things aren't always as they seem as Dylan isn't the perfect boyfriend that he is portraying. Dylan missed a whole year last year ? Was it drugs or something else ? As the time gets closer to her leaving will Sam be able to part ways and say goodbye to Dylan ?

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard one for me to review. While the story was ok, I had a difficult time staying interested in the read. For me the heroine and I just could not connect. It did have a different overtone at the end but am not sure that I will be reading part two. Can only give this one 2.5 stars.

[Cassie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

Update 2/11/17:

See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces

This is the first book I have read by Abigail Drake, but it certainly won't be my last! This book blew me away, and I certainly wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. With great writing and even better characters, Saying Goodbye, Part One is a book that all contemporary romance readers will love!

I think my favorite part of this story was the characters. There was fantastic characterization and I felt as if I knew every character in this book very well...even the side characters. Don't get me wrong, I would love to learn more about some of the side characters, but I think Ms. Drake did an amazing job at fleshing everyone out. She also never once relegated the side characters to the background. Everyone had a specific role to play in this story, and every character ultimately had an impact on helping to shape Samantha into the girl she was by the end of the story. Samantha, our MC, was a great lead. I never expected to connect to her as much as I did, but she was very real throughout the entire story. While I did think she was a bit unfair to Dylan (our romantic lead), I think she did what a lot of girls would in the situation she was in. Sam was attracted to Dylan right from the off and in the back of my mind, I knew that their relationship was headed in a not-so-good direction. Dylan was mysterious and charming and seemingly the perfect boyfriend. I was hoping I would be wrong, but when we find out a certain secret about Dylan's past, it changes the entire story.

The other thing I appreciated about this story was the focus on friendship. Sam is extremely close with her two girlfriends throughout the story, and they stick together no matter what...even when something shocking happens. Sam is there for her friends (just as they are for her when she goes through some rough things), and the friendship they all have with each other is exactly what every person should have in his/her life.

I can't say too much about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything, but trust me when I say that you will never see the conclusion coming. As I said, once we find out a big secret, the book takes an entirely new direction. It's a direction I never saw this book headed in, but it made the story that much more real and raw. Ms. Drake did an excellent job at handling the subject matter, and it was extremely well written. Suffice to say, Ms. Drake definitely left us with a shocker of an ending going into Part Two!

I would definitely recommend checking out this story if you are a fan of contemporary romance novels. Ms. Drake's writing is spectacular and I knew I had to read Part Two as soon as I could! Definitely add this to your TBR now!!

Happy reading :)

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saying Goodbye: Part One is the first book in Abigail Drake’s Passports and Promises series. The story continues in Saying Goodbye: Part Two.

“The craziest people are usually the ones who seem sane.” - Max

I've struggled to write this review as I wasn't sure how to put into words the journey Saying Goodbye: Part One took me on or the emotions I was left feeling. I was so involved in this amazing book from start to finish and loved that it showed the realities of life, especially when mental health is involved. Whilst I enjoy fairy-tale like romance books, my favourite books are those that leave you thinking for days after about the characters and the battles they faced. Abigail Drake takes such care when tackling real life subjects and describes perfectly the battle some people face daily. I have a lot of admiration for authors who don't shy away from difficult and sensitive subjects.

Abigail is a new author to me but I'm already hooked from this one book and I'm looking forward to seeing what she has planned next for Sam in Saying Goodbye: Part Two. I'm also curious to know what happens to Dylan.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read "romance" books, I gave this a try and boy am I glad I did. I felt this book would be too young for me as it's main characters were college age. Instead, I ended up feeling like a college kid myself while reading it. This book while a romance is also a coming of age story with a modern plot line relevant in today's society. I don't like reviews that summarize the story, ready the book it's well worth your time, just know this I would recommend this to read for tried and true romance readers as well as realistic fiction. I had ordered part one alone and did not order part two. I could tell I couldn't wait for the 2nd part and ordered it so I could pick it up as soon as I was done with the first and so happy I did.

[Christine Osman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel took me back to my college days! The topics are socially relevant to what young adults experience in usually their first taste of independence...the good and the bad. The story line kept me intrigued as I wanted things to work out with Dylan ( Very hot!), but also wanted Samantha to understand the warning bells of a potentially codependent and toxic relationship. I am not a romance reader, but I really enjoyed this book and looking forward to Part 2!

[Stacey Schneller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well written story. I absolutely fell in love with this book and the author. She did a good job on this story that it kept me turning the pages and wanting more. 

She did a very well job on the characters. There were times that I laughed out loud with them. Sam and Dylan were of course my favorite characters. Just a thought out well done story. A great job. Can't wait to read more. 

I received a eARC of this book to give a honest review.

[Candy Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

for books 1 and 2:

This is the first work by Abigail Drake I have read and I must say, it is full of surprises. Sam is aspiring to be a successful translator and in order to be one, she aim to study at the Applied linguistics school which offers a semester abroad - in Japan. The author introduces you to Sam's world including her friends and past relationships. It shows you that when you're in college, its ok to make mistakes as you can learn from them. Dylan was introduced to Sam and its supposed to be a fling before she fly to Japan, her feelings get in the way. But of course, education comes first. Basically book one is all about discovery and growing up.

Enter book two, Sam enjoys studying in japan, learning about the country's culture. Its one of the countries that I personally want to come back and explore. A new character, the Scottish Thomas, will be introduced, who doesn't take no for an answer.  Will he replace Dylan in Sam's heart?  Prepare your tissues guys as the story unravels to bring you laughs and tears.

[Donna]

I am 70 years old and I really was tripping back to what it is like to be in college with Samantha and her group of friends as they experienced the pressures of doing well academically, the social woes of sorority and fraternity life, and as you can imagine, all kinds of sexual experiences, particularly Samantha's. She is a bit of a "slut" or so she worries that she is, and when her fourth boyfriend by the name of Dylan comes along, she really is in for a ride. As I soon discovered, Dylan is going to cause Samantha a challenge beyond normal! She wants it only to be a casual fling, although it soon develops into more. How does Samantha handle Dylan, who is so dependent and in love with her, when she plans to leave for a semester abroad in Japan in a few months is something a new reader will have to find out, just as I did. The good news is their is a Part Two, and despite my 70 years, I am excited to read more about Samantha and her close knit friends who have both good qualities and imperfections and make good and not so good decisions. This is a novel not just about romance but one that deals with the complexities of relationships, tough choices, and making difficult decisions.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I'm usually a fantasy/scifi/paranormal romance girl. I don't often pick up real life romances so when I do I darn well want it to be worth my while. Saying Goodbye definitely was.
With topics from mental illness to rape to abuse to casual sex it would be difficult to find anyone who can't relate to the book on some level. Add in the struggle we've all faced at time of life when we're straddling the line between our teen years and truly becoming independent adults and the book becomes nearly impossible to put down.
I'll be blunt, Dylan isn't a character I can love. He's everything I hated about Edward Cullen in a smutty package. That said, I still had empathy for him and his journey. I still cried with Sam and understood why she couldn't just walk away and that proves just how masterfully Ms Drake wrote her characters and story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional ride through a modern life and completely imperfect romance.

[Joetta Spurling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Romance Authors That Rock.
Samantha is in college about to leave for a semester in Japan. When she first sees Dylan she can't take her eyes off him. When he starts to show interest in her their relationship goes form bad to worse. Samantha was put in a hard position to do what she needed to do versus not wanting to hurt someone.
I loved this book and give it 5 stars. This is the first book I have read from this author.
It's very difficult for me to read books that have some of the plot twist that are in this book so without giving anything away. This is a book about collage life and what can happen. So if a book containing "real" life drama is difficult for you this is not a book for you. That being said NOTHING bad was explicitly described.
This is NOT a HEA ending hope we get that in book 2. Looking forward too reading that.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg that ending gave me chills.
Samantha is a college girl that is planning on spending a semester in Japan, so she's not looking for anything serious. The mysterious Dylan has returned from time off school and catches her eye. Despite some odd warnings from her friends, they end up in a relationship. There is a lot of emotion in this story and it takes you on a crazy roller coaster. Dylan has the charm of a perfect boyfriend, but what's lying under the surface will just rip at your heart. I liked Samantha. She had kind of a narrow focus on her goal of getting to Japan, and I kind of felt bad for Dylan's impending heartache when she would have to leave.
I would recommend this story. It was engaging, made me cry more than once, kept me reading past my bedtime, and rushing to read book 2.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

College is about discovery. Discovering what you want to study. Discovering who you want to study with. Discovering who you might want to kiss and maybe do a whole lot more with. Drake weaves a tapestry of words and storyline I couldn’t get enough of. Her characters are smart and fun. They make mistakes. They kiss the wrong guy. They’re human. The MC Samantha studies Japanese (I’ve never read about Japanese before), and she meets Dylan. Through Samantha and Dylan’s relationship, Drake explores mental illness in all its beautiful and bitter truth. Add Saying Goodbye to your MUST READ.

Note: Don’t try to read Saying Goodbye on an airplane squeezed between two men. Drake’s scenes get hot and heavy in the best of ways.

[Mary Anne Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part bodice ripper for college age women and part coming of age tale. This is a departure from Abigail Drake's romantic fantasy. The "bodice ripping" did have a point. It showed that when we embark on a relationship on a level at which we are unprepared or unwilling, people get hurt. Humans are complicated, especially when they are growing up, moving toward adulthood but not quite leaving youth behind. As is typical with Ms. Drake, the words flowed easily and the book moved quickly. As intended, Saying Goodbye, Part One left an element of surprise. I'm sure that Part Two will keep me up past my bedtime as well.

[Erika P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read both Parts one and two in one sitting. A really great coming of age story with so many issues that this character confronts, both with herself, and those that surround her. The characters are believable, the events realistic, and there was this undertone of something bigger that was going to happen that really kept me reading. At times, I got a little frustrated with the female character's inability to stand up for herself, but I can chalk that up to being young and inexperienced. All in all, a really engaging and entertaining set of characters and story. I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!

~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog

[Stephanie Claypool · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Abigail Drake having loved Traveler. I was super excited to be lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Saying Goodbye, parts 1 and 2. This book did not disappoint. Abigail has a knack for creating lovable characters with unusual tastes and desires. From the first page, I was drawn into the life of Samantha Barnes and could not put this book down until I'd finished.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started reading this book until the last word in the book, I couldn't put it down. Abigail made you feel a part of the book, and laid out the perfect description of each character, situations, and made you feel the whole way through!

[❤️Melanie G.📖💛 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really took me by surprise. Sam is such a strong character however I feel she takes on so much. Dillon is so a complex character that you can't help love but your heart breaks for him at the same time. I am excited to see what book 2 has to offer.

[Connie Stauber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready for past two

Nice easy read and kept my attention, that is sometimes hard too do if you know me. Keep up the great writing..

[Alexis Prue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realize I waited far too long to post my review for this series. Book 2 just came out on September 9, 2017. If it wasn’t for my oh so crazy life I could have read book 2 in one sitting.

Abigail Drake takes us on a whirlwind of adventure from book 1-parts 1 & 2 all the way to the end of book 2. In book 1-part 1 we meet Samantha Barnes, a young girl aspiring to become a Japanese translator. With quite the determination she does not have time for boyfriends. But as the excerpt says for part two- “What if you meet the right person…at absolutely the wrong time?” In part 2 we see Samantha actually in the country of Japan making her dreams come true. I won’t spoil it, but it is worth the read.

Book 2, a different story, takes us on a Turkish adventure with Ms. Bethany Beaumont, a character who you can’t help but just fall in love with. Such a realistic character. A realistic character with real emotions and real feelings.

My favorite part about Ms. Abigail Drake’s books is her beautifully written imagery. As I read her Delayed Departure novels I imagine myself in the country of Japan in the country of Turkey. I feel like I am there. I see the beautiful scenes right in front of me. they seem unreal, yet they seem more real than you can ever imagine.

I am OBSESSED with the Passports & Promises series. Give us more, Ms. Abigail Drake.

[Tami Winbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just WOW!

Once I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. Abigail Drake writes characters that will make you love, hate, adore, abhor, and send you right into their lives. You'll never be the same after reading this. DO NOT pick this book up if you want a book that's going to end in a pretty package. You will be left hanging and I hope that Part Two is going to pick up where Part One left off, because I'm invested now, and I don't want to let go.

Samantha really wants a good time before she heads off to Japan for the semester, but what she thought would be a fling ended up being more than that. Deep DARK secrets may break her, but she really finds her strength in places she didn't know she had.

Dylan is in LOVE with Samantha, he's so in love he's a little controlling. Will this relationship work, especially with Samantha leaving for Japan so soon? Will his secrets haunt them, or will they bring them together?

Such a great book with a storyline that grips your heart like a vice and won't let go until the very end. As you finish the book you start to miss the characters the second you put the book down.

Highly addictive, wonderfully written. Way to go Ms. Drake. Kudos!

[Brita · Rating 4 out of 5]

HUGE cliffhanger!

Read this book in one sitting because I kept wanting to find out what happened next. While I typically read paranormal books, I enjoyed this one. However, I wanted to scream at Sam throughout the ENTIRE book. She had me very frustrated most of the time.

I loved the writing style; It was very relaxed and felt real.

[Darcee Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in the goodreads giveaway! I loved Abigail Drake's voice in her writing. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Kathryn Jovita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc for an honest review

This is the first book I've read by Abigail Drake and I absolutely loved it! This will definitely not be the last time I read a book by her. I cannot wait to read Part 2... It was intense in some parts but really well written. However, I will say that if you cannot handle rape, mental illness, or a controlling relationship then this is not the book for you. Other than that, I HIGHLY recommend this book. I will even have a full review up on my blog soon, going more in depth with what I thought.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam has always wanted to be a translator and is planning on spending a semester in Japan. Then she meets Dylan and even though Sam knows a relationship with him can go nowhere she cannot resist. I liked Sam’s character, she started off the book fairly put together and through the book her character is further unravelled and fleshed out. Some of the situations that are encountered within the pages are extremely hot topic and a little confronting to read about. Overall, this was an interesting book with extremely light times and some dark moments as well. This was one that is going to have me thinking about it for a while to come.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. One of those books that kept me reading to the end. Can't wait to read book 2.

[Ash · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I finished it was because I don't like to not finish a book. But it wasn't pleasant. Maybe the plot is okay, but the telling of the story was really uninspired for me. There is no anchor to a chapter, it feels more like an autopilot through life. I think what I found most disappointing was the feeling that the story is building up to something, but then you never get there. The story is there, but the writing and the telling of it just falls flat. As much as I want to know what happens in part two, I will not be picking that one up. I don't think I can endure the monotonous writing.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, light read that meets all the requirements for a successful romance novel – attractive heroine, handsome love interest and a good sprinkling of sex (spicy without being anatomical). In the beginning it seems like a typical college romance novel but it soon ventures into darker and more thought-provoking areas that make for a satisfying read. Sam’s interest in Japanese language and culture provides interesting depth to her character and Dylan proves to be more multi-dimensional than at first sight. The dynamics of Sam’s relationship with Dylan engages with issues such as the balance of power within a relationship, fidelity, secrecy and the unintended consequences that can arise from the differing expectations of two people whilst remaining an entertaining romance story. Part one ends at an important and dramatic turning point in Dylan and Sam’s relationship making you want to read the next book.

Romance is not a genre I read very much but Saying Goodbye confounded my expectations by dealing with more serious issues whilst never being less than a very entertaining story. I think it would be perfect for romance fans looking for something slightly different.

Find this and other reviews on my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/

[Tra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I absolutely love this book. I could not put it down and finished it in three days. I fell in love with Dylan, despite his problems. I am ordering Part Two today from Amazon. I cannot wait to see what happens to Dylan as well as Samantha once she arrives in Japan. I hope I am not heartbroken in the end. Bravo Abigail Drake!