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Searching for Sarah
To fulfill a dying wish, a grieving Hispanic man uses his sister’s private journals as a guide in tracking down the love of her life, a woman named Sarah.
But who is Sarah? To solve this mystery, and to honor his sister’s final wish, Tom uses Nina’s personal journals as a guide, in his search for Sarah.
Frustration mounts as he delves deeper into Nina’s past, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever.
Will Tom overcome the seemingly never-ending obstacles and find the enigmatic Sarah before putting his sister to rest?
But who is Sarah? To solve this mystery, and to honor his sister’s final wish, Tom uses Nina’s personal journals as a guide, in his search for Sarah.
Frustration mounts as he delves deeper into Nina’s past, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever.
Will Tom overcome the seemingly never-ending obstacles and find the enigmatic Sarah before putting his sister to rest?
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2020
5 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Vega
6 books43 followersPhillip Vega (1966 -) has always been a storyteller, but he'd never put pen to paper until a few years ago. Suddenly, he had a publishing contract, and in the midst of the vortex of marketing, analytics, refining, and continuing to write, he discovered what he defines as his true calling, his passion. He is now fully and happily immersed in the whirlwind that is the publishing industry, even as he diligently continues his work in software sales.
Phillip is a Long Islander with Hispanic roots, now living in Florida, and it is from those memories of summers in Long Island that he crafted his first book, Last Exit to Montauk. The Captain & the Queen soon followed, and he just released his third book, Searching for Sarah. He just can't stop his brain from working through new ideas for future stories.
Comfortable in a room full of people or one on one, he welcomes opportunities for guest appearances, interviews, and book signings--and even more importantly, engaging with his fans.
Phillip is a Long Islander with Hispanic roots, now living in Florida, and it is from those memories of summers in Long Island that he crafted his first book, Last Exit to Montauk. The Captain & the Queen soon followed, and he just released his third book, Searching for Sarah. He just can't stop his brain from working through new ideas for future stories.
Comfortable in a room full of people or one on one, he welcomes opportunities for guest appearances, interviews, and book signings--and even more importantly, engaging with his fans.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 26, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
When Tom Ruiz learns that his sister, Nina, has died, he is gobsmacked. But another surprise awaits him when he reads Nina’s will. In it, she asks him to plan an out-of-the-box funeral and to “work on this together” with someone named Sarah. That’s when Tom discoverers he’s the only family member who didn’t get the memo that Nina was gay, and that Sarah was the love of her life.
But where is Sarah? She hasn’t been at work, she doesn’t answer her phone, and her voice mail is full. Tom is eager to consult her before planning Nina’s funeral, so he vows to find her. His only clues are the entries in Nina’s journals. He begins reading them for insights into who Sarah is and where to look for her and, in the process, discovers a lot about the sister he thought he knew.
What follows is not so much the story of Tom searching for Sarah (although there is some of that) as it is the story of Nina searching to find herself and understand her sexuality. Using brief journal entries as the foundation, the narrator crafts a description of Nina’s awakening realization that she is gay and how she and Sarah come to realize they are the one and only for each other.
Poignant at times, touching at others, and always engaging, this book grabbed my interest from page one and kept it to the last. It treats its major themes of love and acceptance with respect and dignity. The narrative viewpoint alternates between Tom and Nina, and the form shifts between first and third person, but I thought these differing viewpoints helped rather than hurt the book’s readability.
Some readers might object to the way the book neatly resolves most of the story’s major issues for a feel-good ending. Admittedly, the complex problems facing the characters seem to melt away in the end. And even though Nina is dead, the book leaves you with a “happily ever after” feeling. I don’t consider that a drawback; I like happy endings. Readers who don’t demand stark realism should enjoy this book.
Even with its liberal sprinkling of Spanish and Italian phrases, Searching for Sarah is an easy read. I enthusiastically recommend it.
When Tom Ruiz learns that his sister, Nina, has died, he is gobsmacked. But another surprise awaits him when he reads Nina’s will. In it, she asks him to plan an out-of-the-box funeral and to “work on this together” with someone named Sarah. That’s when Tom discoverers he’s the only family member who didn’t get the memo that Nina was gay, and that Sarah was the love of her life.
But where is Sarah? She hasn’t been at work, she doesn’t answer her phone, and her voice mail is full. Tom is eager to consult her before planning Nina’s funeral, so he vows to find her. His only clues are the entries in Nina’s journals. He begins reading them for insights into who Sarah is and where to look for her and, in the process, discovers a lot about the sister he thought he knew.
What follows is not so much the story of Tom searching for Sarah (although there is some of that) as it is the story of Nina searching to find herself and understand her sexuality. Using brief journal entries as the foundation, the narrator crafts a description of Nina’s awakening realization that she is gay and how she and Sarah come to realize they are the one and only for each other.
Poignant at times, touching at others, and always engaging, this book grabbed my interest from page one and kept it to the last. It treats its major themes of love and acceptance with respect and dignity. The narrative viewpoint alternates between Tom and Nina, and the form shifts between first and third person, but I thought these differing viewpoints helped rather than hurt the book’s readability.
Some readers might object to the way the book neatly resolves most of the story’s major issues for a feel-good ending. Admittedly, the complex problems facing the characters seem to melt away in the end. And even though Nina is dead, the book leaves you with a “happily ever after” feeling. I don’t consider that a drawback; I like happy endings. Readers who don’t demand stark realism should enjoy this book.
Even with its liberal sprinkling of Spanish and Italian phrases, Searching for Sarah is an easy read. I enthusiastically recommend it.
April 9, 2021
Rating: 4.5/5.0
This heartfelt, respectful LGBTQ read will leave the reader honored to have been invited into the sacred space of honest love and enduring family bonds.
Read full review in the 2021 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
This heartfelt, respectful LGBTQ read will leave the reader honored to have been invited into the sacred space of honest love and enduring family bonds.
Read full review in the 2021 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 7, 2021
Characters
This story is told mostly in flashbacks and from journal entries. The POV is mostly from Nina and Tom, but there are a few random head hops. Nina is a powerful character who has a complicated past. This dynamic is further complicated by the fact you know she is dead from the get go. Tom by contrast grows as the book progresses. He is not the best of men, but he is overall a good man. There are lots of supporting characters, but the siblings are the most dynamic.
Plot
Nina is dead. Tom quickly learns he didn’t know his sister as well as he thought he did. Thus starts the search for a clue to where Sarah is through Nina’s journals. There were a few holes in the plot but overall it was enjoyable. I can say there was a good twist at the end that I didn’t see coming but did explain why Sarah was so hard to find. Even better you get a wonderful sense of closure at the end of the book.
Overall
The characters were wonderfully drawn. The plot told in such a way that after the somewhat slow start, I found myself swiping faster and faster as I neared the end. The writing did languish at times in the beginning after the startling beginning, but it didn’t stay that way long. What is wonderful is it explores so many sensitive subjects like an expert. Embodying them in the characters instead of exploring them towards a narrative. I found it to be a delightful read over all. Only complains were it took a while to pick up steam to the point I had to put the book down several times, there was a fair amount of point of view hopping, and I was not a fan of Tom (the last one did not affect my rating). Trust me, stick with it and get through the start and you’ll be thankful you did!
Rating
4 Stars
This is a solid 4 star book. I would recommend this to most everyone who is interested in LGBTQ+ stories, this one is well worth the read! Wholesome goodness!
Where did I get it?
Kindle Unlimited
This story is told mostly in flashbacks and from journal entries. The POV is mostly from Nina and Tom, but there are a few random head hops. Nina is a powerful character who has a complicated past. This dynamic is further complicated by the fact you know she is dead from the get go. Tom by contrast grows as the book progresses. He is not the best of men, but he is overall a good man. There are lots of supporting characters, but the siblings are the most dynamic.
Plot
Nina is dead. Tom quickly learns he didn’t know his sister as well as he thought he did. Thus starts the search for a clue to where Sarah is through Nina’s journals. There were a few holes in the plot but overall it was enjoyable. I can say there was a good twist at the end that I didn’t see coming but did explain why Sarah was so hard to find. Even better you get a wonderful sense of closure at the end of the book.
Overall
The characters were wonderfully drawn. The plot told in such a way that after the somewhat slow start, I found myself swiping faster and faster as I neared the end. The writing did languish at times in the beginning after the startling beginning, but it didn’t stay that way long. What is wonderful is it explores so many sensitive subjects like an expert. Embodying them in the characters instead of exploring them towards a narrative. I found it to be a delightful read over all. Only complains were it took a while to pick up steam to the point I had to put the book down several times, there was a fair amount of point of view hopping, and I was not a fan of Tom (the last one did not affect my rating). Trust me, stick with it and get through the start and you’ll be thankful you did!
Rating
4 Stars
This is a solid 4 star book. I would recommend this to most everyone who is interested in LGBTQ+ stories, this one is well worth the read! Wholesome goodness!
Where did I get it?
Kindle Unlimited
June 14, 2021
A wonderful story. I didn't know what to expect from Searching for Sarah and I was reserved at the beginning but I was pleasantly surprised. The plot is moving and the characters are well thought out and engaging. I was so into the story, I couldn't stop reading.
April 24, 2021
Overall this one was a good read! The story follows Tom as he tries to fulfill his deceased sister’s final wish: to plan her funeral with her partner Sarah. The only problem is that his sister never told him about Sarah.
The hook was a good one, as Tom is forced to reckon not only with his sister’s death but also finding out that she was gay and had never told him. Normally I don’t like when characters are revealed through journal entries, but in this case it makes sense. Of course Tom would read his sister’s journals because 1) he needs to find Sarah and 2) he wants to know why his sister never told him she was gay.
Most of the characters are well done, even the side characters that appear only briefly (like a couple of Nina’s flings). The only character I didn’t really like was Lincoln. For an antagonist he was a little too ‘on the nose’, so to speak, and his thread was tied up too neatly. Without giving away spoilers, there comes a point late in the story where he can truly be a huge obstacle to Nina, but he immediately falls out of the story and is written off.
The dialogue was just okay for me. This is a personal preference but it annoys me when bilingual characters mix English and their native tongue together and this happened almost incessantly. Every main character is bilingual, either Spanish or Italian speaking, so literally almost every line of dialogue was a mix of English and Spanish or English and Italian and it just got tedious. Here and there it’s okay, or if it’s limited to short words like “hello” or “thanks”.
So that kinda bugged me, and it was a little more than a small issue because it was constant throughout the book.
But other than that, I enjoyed the story! It’s emotional and well done, and not counting the aforementioned issue the dialogue is great. Not clunky or unrealistic. If you’re looking for an LGBT story, this is a good one!
The hook was a good one, as Tom is forced to reckon not only with his sister’s death but also finding out that she was gay and had never told him. Normally I don’t like when characters are revealed through journal entries, but in this case it makes sense. Of course Tom would read his sister’s journals because 1) he needs to find Sarah and 2) he wants to know why his sister never told him she was gay.
Most of the characters are well done, even the side characters that appear only briefly (like a couple of Nina’s flings). The only character I didn’t really like was Lincoln. For an antagonist he was a little too ‘on the nose’, so to speak, and his thread was tied up too neatly. Without giving away spoilers, there comes a point late in the story where he can truly be a huge obstacle to Nina, but he immediately falls out of the story and is written off.
The dialogue was just okay for me. This is a personal preference but it annoys me when bilingual characters mix English and their native tongue together and this happened almost incessantly. Every main character is bilingual, either Spanish or Italian speaking, so literally almost every line of dialogue was a mix of English and Spanish or English and Italian and it just got tedious. Here and there it’s okay, or if it’s limited to short words like “hello” or “thanks”.
So that kinda bugged me, and it was a little more than a small issue because it was constant throughout the book.
But other than that, I enjoyed the story! It’s emotional and well done, and not counting the aforementioned issue the dialogue is great. Not clunky or unrealistic. If you’re looking for an LGBT story, this is a good one!
July 12, 2021
Vega explores age-old questions about family ties, true love, and sexual identity in this gripping read.
Tom Ruiz has always been close to his sister Nina. But when Nina dies unexpectedly, Tom realizes he barely knew his sister: Nina was gay and everyone in the family except Tom knew about it. Dumfounded, Tom begins to read Nina’s journals while looking for Sarah, the woman Nina mentioned in her will. As long-buried secrets unravel, Tom begins to question his bond with his sister.
The plot is simple, but Vega is excellent when it comes to incorporating suspense, and he is a masterful observer of family, especially sibling dynamics: his brilliantly complex and consistently surprising characters are sketched with skill and precision. No one is perfect, particularly Tom, who is wonderful and terrible, equal parts good and disappointing. Nina gives readers plenty to think about. Her warm-heartedness paired with an unabashed point of view make her an unforgettable protagonist.
In energetic prose, Vega tackles themes of marriage, relationships, sibling bonds, individual struggles, lust, love, secrets, missed opportunities, and the stigma and prejudices associated with LGBTQ among others. Told in flashbacks and journal entries from Tom and Nina’s voices, the narrative stays engrossing, keeping the pages flying.
As Tom begins his search for Sarah, Vega ratchets up the suspense and pulls off a surprising and yet satisfying ending. Gorgeous and compelling, this gripping read will equally appeal to lovers of LGBTQ fiction and literary fiction.
Tom Ruiz has always been close to his sister Nina. But when Nina dies unexpectedly, Tom realizes he barely knew his sister: Nina was gay and everyone in the family except Tom knew about it. Dumfounded, Tom begins to read Nina’s journals while looking for Sarah, the woman Nina mentioned in her will. As long-buried secrets unravel, Tom begins to question his bond with his sister.
The plot is simple, but Vega is excellent when it comes to incorporating suspense, and he is a masterful observer of family, especially sibling dynamics: his brilliantly complex and consistently surprising characters are sketched with skill and precision. No one is perfect, particularly Tom, who is wonderful and terrible, equal parts good and disappointing. Nina gives readers plenty to think about. Her warm-heartedness paired with an unabashed point of view make her an unforgettable protagonist.
In energetic prose, Vega tackles themes of marriage, relationships, sibling bonds, individual struggles, lust, love, secrets, missed opportunities, and the stigma and prejudices associated with LGBTQ among others. Told in flashbacks and journal entries from Tom and Nina’s voices, the narrative stays engrossing, keeping the pages flying.
As Tom begins his search for Sarah, Vega ratchets up the suspense and pulls off a surprising and yet satisfying ending. Gorgeous and compelling, this gripping read will equally appeal to lovers of LGBTQ fiction and literary fiction.
July 20, 2021
After his sister's untimely passing, Tom discovers a secret about his sister; Nina was gay.
This news sets Tom on a journey to uncover his sister’s secret life. A life he was not a part of. A hard truth for him to face.
The story starts off okay until around Chapter 4, when suddenly, out of no where, the perspective changes from first to third person.
I understand the author is looking for a way to tell the reader about Nina's secret past, something Tom never knew, but still, you can't just start the story in Tom’s perspective, then switch to third person narrative to uncover Nina's secrets. It doesn't work that way.
I also had a problem with the journal entries. Typically, one journal entry is for one particular day. But Nina's journal entries are for each scene. For example:
Journal entry 1: Nina's brother is going to mom’s house to introduce his new girlfriend to the family.
Following chapter: Nina goes to mom’s house to meet said girlfriend. Mom is rude to girlfriend when she finds out the girl is Cuban.
Journal entry 2: Nina is embarrassed about mom's rudeness.
Following chapter: Picks up on the same scene where mom is rude. The trio leave mom and go to the bar.
Journal entry 3: Nina is hungover from the bar.
Following chapter: Nina nurses her hangover and the trio go back to the bar. But the Tom wants to leave because he's hungry.
Journal entry 4: Nina is writing about Tom being hungry.
At this rate, the woman must write at least 10 journal entries per day! Between the different perspectives, journal entries and follow up chapters to each journal entry, and the fact that the mother is a highly educated University Professor who somehow can’t speak one full sentence of English, I've concluded that this story is all over the place.
It would make much better sense to keep the whole story in third person perspective, get rid of the journal entries, (After all, there was never even a scene explaining how Tom got his hands on the journal in the first place) and have Tom search his memories to try to pinpoint when Nina must have met Sarah retelling the stories that way. If the author must include the entries limit them to important pages. We don't need a whole entry that simply states, "When my brother is hungry, you need to feed him right away or he transforms into Asshole man." The reader will see that themselves in the next scene.
The plot was great, and the story held a lot of promise. At some point, I even got emotional while reading it. Once the issues above are addressed, this could easily be a 4 to 5 star review.
This news sets Tom on a journey to uncover his sister’s secret life. A life he was not a part of. A hard truth for him to face.
The story starts off okay until around Chapter 4, when suddenly, out of no where, the perspective changes from first to third person.
I understand the author is looking for a way to tell the reader about Nina's secret past, something Tom never knew, but still, you can't just start the story in Tom’s perspective, then switch to third person narrative to uncover Nina's secrets. It doesn't work that way.
I also had a problem with the journal entries. Typically, one journal entry is for one particular day. But Nina's journal entries are for each scene. For example:
Journal entry 1: Nina's brother is going to mom’s house to introduce his new girlfriend to the family.
Following chapter: Nina goes to mom’s house to meet said girlfriend. Mom is rude to girlfriend when she finds out the girl is Cuban.
Journal entry 2: Nina is embarrassed about mom's rudeness.
Following chapter: Picks up on the same scene where mom is rude. The trio leave mom and go to the bar.
Journal entry 3: Nina is hungover from the bar.
Following chapter: Nina nurses her hangover and the trio go back to the bar. But the Tom wants to leave because he's hungry.
Journal entry 4: Nina is writing about Tom being hungry.
At this rate, the woman must write at least 10 journal entries per day! Between the different perspectives, journal entries and follow up chapters to each journal entry, and the fact that the mother is a highly educated University Professor who somehow can’t speak one full sentence of English, I've concluded that this story is all over the place.
It would make much better sense to keep the whole story in third person perspective, get rid of the journal entries, (After all, there was never even a scene explaining how Tom got his hands on the journal in the first place) and have Tom search his memories to try to pinpoint when Nina must have met Sarah retelling the stories that way. If the author must include the entries limit them to important pages. We don't need a whole entry that simply states, "When my brother is hungry, you need to feed him right away or he transforms into Asshole man." The reader will see that themselves in the next scene.
The plot was great, and the story held a lot of promise. At some point, I even got emotional while reading it. Once the issues above are addressed, this could easily be a 4 to 5 star review.
March 1, 2021
A story about love
Although the title refers to Sarah, at the heart of this book is really a brother’s search for the real life of his sister, Nina, following her death. However, do not expect a detective story. The relationship between the siblings is drip fed through first person narrative and extracts from Nina’s journals. Through those we also see her coming to terms with being gay and her blossoming career at a top legal firm (which is quite entertaining for fans of shows like LA Law).
The Sarah of the title is Nina’s wife. To fulfil her Will, Nina’s brother sets out to find Sarah but that is largely in the background until the very end. Aspects of discrimination are touched on, but not in a heavy handed way. Without giving away the ending, I will only say that overall this is a touching exploration of how important family can be to people, but most importantly it is a well-written tale with good character development.
Although the title refers to Sarah, at the heart of this book is really a brother’s search for the real life of his sister, Nina, following her death. However, do not expect a detective story. The relationship between the siblings is drip fed through first person narrative and extracts from Nina’s journals. Through those we also see her coming to terms with being gay and her blossoming career at a top legal firm (which is quite entertaining for fans of shows like LA Law).
The Sarah of the title is Nina’s wife. To fulfil her Will, Nina’s brother sets out to find Sarah but that is largely in the background until the very end. Aspects of discrimination are touched on, but not in a heavy handed way. Without giving away the ending, I will only say that overall this is a touching exploration of how important family can be to people, but most importantly it is a well-written tale with good character development.
June 10, 2021
Searching for Sarah
Author:-Phillip Vega
Platform:- Kindle
Pages:-298
Ratings 4.9/5
Book Review
As this is the first book I have read by this author I was not sure what to expect as you just never know when trying a "new to you" author. But once I completed the read I was quite satisfied about my selection.
Being a book of 298 pages I was completely into it as it was such an interesting one.I completely hooked me up and was a page turner. Completed the entire book in mere 1 week. Really impressed with the writing style of the author.
The title of the book is based on the context and the cover is very attractive. The title is the thing which grabs the attention.
The book has been written in a very simple manner so that everyone can understand it and does not require any special aid.
The story flows Tom as he tries to fulfill his deceased sister’s final wish: to plan her funeral with her partner Sarah. The only problem is that his sister never told him about Sarah.
Tom is forced to reckon not only with his sister’s death but also finding out that she was gay and had never told him.
Normally I don’t like when characters are revealed through journal entries, but in this case it makes sense.
Of course Tom would read his sister’s journals because
1) he needs to find Sarah and
2) he wants to know why his sister never told him she was gay.
GET YOURS COPY TO KNOW THE FULL STORY!
The satisfaction you get after the final completion of the book is just incredible, sometimes you are really happy with the ending and sometimes you feel it could have been better but when you will complete this your heart is just satisfied.
I am so excitied for the next books of the same author! Fingers crossed. Can`t wait...
Author:-Phillip Vega
Platform:- Kindle
Pages:-298
Ratings 4.9/5
Book Review
As this is the first book I have read by this author I was not sure what to expect as you just never know when trying a "new to you" author. But once I completed the read I was quite satisfied about my selection.
Being a book of 298 pages I was completely into it as it was such an interesting one.I completely hooked me up and was a page turner. Completed the entire book in mere 1 week. Really impressed with the writing style of the author.
The title of the book is based on the context and the cover is very attractive. The title is the thing which grabs the attention.
The book has been written in a very simple manner so that everyone can understand it and does not require any special aid.
The story flows Tom as he tries to fulfill his deceased sister’s final wish: to plan her funeral with her partner Sarah. The only problem is that his sister never told him about Sarah.
Tom is forced to reckon not only with his sister’s death but also finding out that she was gay and had never told him.
Normally I don’t like when characters are revealed through journal entries, but in this case it makes sense.
Of course Tom would read his sister’s journals because
1) he needs to find Sarah and
2) he wants to know why his sister never told him she was gay.
GET YOURS COPY TO KNOW THE FULL STORY!
The satisfaction you get after the final completion of the book is just incredible, sometimes you are really happy with the ending and sometimes you feel it could have been better but when you will complete this your heart is just satisfied.
I am so excitied for the next books of the same author! Fingers crossed. Can`t wait...
May 6, 2021
Searching For Sarah
By
Phillip Vega
Review:
"You can never really know someone completely, and in your case, sis…boy, were they right."
There are very few novels that has the power to hook the readers right from the first page. Searching for Sarah is one such novel. Tom Ruiz is the brother of Nina Ruiz. Entire life they have shared stuffs with each other and kept each other's secret. But there is one secret of Nina that Tom came to know after her death. Tom couldn't believe at first when he found out that his sister was gay. Tom's mother, his wife and kids already knew about Nina's homosexuality. He was hurt thinking why his sister hasn't shared the truth with him..
As the story progresses, more and more secrets about Nina unveiled making Tom think did he ever knew this person. Will Tom be able to find Sarah? Phillip Vega has won my heart with his writing. Cover photo of the book is eye catchy. Title is simple and suitable to the story. Storyline is interesting and I wasn't able to keep this book aside once I started reading this. Please be advised that book contains sensitive content like the feelings of a homosexual. So, if you are comfortable reading about it, go ahead with this book. It's worth reading.
Rating: 5/5
By
Phillip Vega
Review:
"You can never really know someone completely, and in your case, sis…boy, were they right."
There are very few novels that has the power to hook the readers right from the first page. Searching for Sarah is one such novel. Tom Ruiz is the brother of Nina Ruiz. Entire life they have shared stuffs with each other and kept each other's secret. But there is one secret of Nina that Tom came to know after her death. Tom couldn't believe at first when he found out that his sister was gay. Tom's mother, his wife and kids already knew about Nina's homosexuality. He was hurt thinking why his sister hasn't shared the truth with him..
As the story progresses, more and more secrets about Nina unveiled making Tom think did he ever knew this person. Will Tom be able to find Sarah? Phillip Vega has won my heart with his writing. Cover photo of the book is eye catchy. Title is simple and suitable to the story. Storyline is interesting and I wasn't able to keep this book aside once I started reading this. Please be advised that book contains sensitive content like the feelings of a homosexual. So, if you are comfortable reading about it, go ahead with this book. It's worth reading.
Rating: 5/5
May 6, 2021
"Searching For Sarah" written by the author Phillip Vega is a great fiction/LGBTQ novel. Tom was in the middle of a conference call when he received a phone call from Detective Skaryd informing him that his sister Nina Ruiz is dead. Tom's world turned upside down immediately. He reached to his sister's condo in Clearwater. Soon, Tom's wife Gabi also joined him.
When Tom and Gabi went to meet Nina's attorney for the will, Tom found out that Nina wanted her funeral to be out of the box. She wanted Tom to execute her funeral with a woman named Sarah. By reading Nina's journal entries, Tom realized that he didn't know his sister that much even though he was under the impression that they share everything.
Grab a copy of this novel and find out who Sarah is? Will Tom be able to find her? Language of the book is simple and I enjoyed reading it. Since the novel has some journal entries, I enjoyed it even more. This is a great story for light reading. After a long time I have got hands on an amazing story.
When Tom and Gabi went to meet Nina's attorney for the will, Tom found out that Nina wanted her funeral to be out of the box. She wanted Tom to execute her funeral with a woman named Sarah. By reading Nina's journal entries, Tom realized that he didn't know his sister that much even though he was under the impression that they share everything.
Grab a copy of this novel and find out who Sarah is? Will Tom be able to find her? Language of the book is simple and I enjoyed reading it. Since the novel has some journal entries, I enjoyed it even more. This is a great story for light reading. After a long time I have got hands on an amazing story.
May 1, 2021
I wept for Nina.
I bought this book on a recommendation. I was immediately plunged into a story beyond my experience. I now have a perspective on life I’ve never thought I could have. Thank you, Phillip.
I bought this book on a recommendation. I was immediately plunged into a story beyond my experience. I now have a perspective on life I’ve never thought I could have. Thank you, Phillip.
January 4, 2022
Searching for Sarah is a great read that I finished the same day I started reading.
I liked the dedication that begins this novel: “To all who struggle with their personal truth. You’re not alone.”
This book is about uncovering truth.
After the death of his sister Tom Ruiz is horrified to find out that his sister had not confided in him that she is gay. The book is framed by the search to find out why that was the case.
Tom’s journey, guided by his sister’s journals, deals with life and death, sexual identity, family, friends, and everything inbetween in a world that always feels authentic and believable.
Sensitive subjects are dealt with as part of the story. Characters are strong with believable dialogue.
This is a heartfelt tale with a feel-good ending that is satisfying, and genuinely moving.
I liked the dedication that begins this novel: “To all who struggle with their personal truth. You’re not alone.”
This book is about uncovering truth.
After the death of his sister Tom Ruiz is horrified to find out that his sister had not confided in him that she is gay. The book is framed by the search to find out why that was the case.
Tom’s journey, guided by his sister’s journals, deals with life and death, sexual identity, family, friends, and everything inbetween in a world that always feels authentic and believable.
Sensitive subjects are dealt with as part of the story. Characters are strong with believable dialogue.
This is a heartfelt tale with a feel-good ending that is satisfying, and genuinely moving.
June 15, 2021
Searching for Sarah by Phillip Vega is one well written novel with inspiring story about Nina's last wish. The story has it's mystery turns and the romance is well presented. I recommend.
June 13, 2021
The plot is very emotional, the characters - interesting. As the story progressed I was more and more intruguiged of what will happen. The end surprised me a lot ... I didn't expect that. I give this book 5 stars.
April 7, 2021
The sudden death of Tom Ruiz’s sister, Nina, leads him to the discovery that she was gay. Having been under the impression they were close, he is dumbfounded. Her last instructions are for Tom and her girlfriend, Sarah, to have a non-traditional funeral for the woman who led a non-traditional life. But Sarah is nowhere to be found.
Tom begins to read Nina’s journal in an attempt to get to know the sister he thought he already knew, and find the mysterious Sarah. The journal takes us back in time to when Nina first found she was attracted to women and the sexual adventures that followed.
The premise of the story was intriguing, which was well maintained throughout the book. I had not read an LGBTQ novel before and was eager to see where it went.
I was a little disappointed, however. The characters of Tom and Nina are well developed, but I found their ongoing melodrama a little tiresome. Tom goes on for too long about his grief at the death of his sister in the beginning, and again when he finds out she was gay, to a point where I started skipping over it. One doesn’t need to read pages and pages of the same thought to get the picture. The same with Nina’s first-time attraction to a girl and the ones that followed.
Nina’s relationship with Sarah was described mostly in terms of them jumping into bed together and left me feeling it was all about sex. There was nothing about the deep understanding that can exist between people of any gender, soul mates. I felt we never really got to know Sarah. She was described as the love of Nina’s life, but we never really went past her looks and her prowess in bed.
Good twist at the end. All in all an enjoyable read.
Tom begins to read Nina’s journal in an attempt to get to know the sister he thought he already knew, and find the mysterious Sarah. The journal takes us back in time to when Nina first found she was attracted to women and the sexual adventures that followed.
The premise of the story was intriguing, which was well maintained throughout the book. I had not read an LGBTQ novel before and was eager to see where it went.
I was a little disappointed, however. The characters of Tom and Nina are well developed, but I found their ongoing melodrama a little tiresome. Tom goes on for too long about his grief at the death of his sister in the beginning, and again when he finds out she was gay, to a point where I started skipping over it. One doesn’t need to read pages and pages of the same thought to get the picture. The same with Nina’s first-time attraction to a girl and the ones that followed.
Nina’s relationship with Sarah was described mostly in terms of them jumping into bed together and left me feeling it was all about sex. There was nothing about the deep understanding that can exist between people of any gender, soul mates. I felt we never really got to know Sarah. She was described as the love of Nina’s life, but we never really went past her looks and her prowess in bed.
Good twist at the end. All in all an enjoyable read.
January 31, 2021
Wonderful story!
This is my first time reading a book from this author but it won't be the last. Phillip Vega has his way with words.
Searching for Sarah is one rollercoaster of emotions for the reader. Truly amazing book. The story is interesting, there are suspense and lots of twists along the way. The love story is also very moving.
I'm glad I read this book and I will surely read more from the author.
I recommend a hundred percent.
Sofie,
BooksShelf Reviewer
This is my first time reading a book from this author but it won't be the last. Phillip Vega has his way with words.
Searching for Sarah is one rollercoaster of emotions for the reader. Truly amazing book. The story is interesting, there are suspense and lots of twists along the way. The love story is also very moving.
I'm glad I read this book and I will surely read more from the author.
I recommend a hundred percent.
Sofie,
BooksShelf Reviewer
November 8, 2021
This book is really more about the main narrator, Tom, searching for Nina – his sister. The story opens with Tom and his family preparing to dispose of Nina’s ashes, after her sudden death from a heart attack in her mid-50s. The story is then told in a series of flashbacks, some from Tom’s point of view and some from Nina’s, as we learn about Nina’s life. Among her effects are a seemingly endless, but undated, series of journals where Nina recorded her life. As Tom reads through Nina’s journal entries, the author takes us to the time and place where those events happened and we experience Nina’s history.
The hook for the story (and this is not a spoiler) is that Tom is the only person who doesn’t know that Nina is a lesbian, and has had a long-term relationship with Sarah. When Nina’s will mentions that Tom and his wife, Gabi (who knows) should include Sarah in the funeral planning, Tom has no idea who Sarah is, or why she is important to Nina. When Tom and Gabi are unable to contact Sarah, they make inquiries, but the search for Sarah is not nearly as important for Tom as his search for the true Nina, whom he didn’t know. As we learn more and more about Nina’s life, it becomes less and less plausible that Tom didn’t know (and that Nina never told him, and that his wife and kids never told him, and that his mother never told him . . . ). While this is the main premise of the book, it lacks emotional impact because it is so unbelievable.
The snippets of Nina’s life are sometimes poignant as she lives through a failed marriage, acknowledges and accepts her sexuality, and finds the love of her life. Mr. Vega is an accomplished story-teller and he writes crisp dialogue and well-described scenes. There is occasional tension, including a blow up with her mother, but the information is mostly routine, if pretty well-written. The author gives us the lead-up to some lesbian sex scenes, but stops short of anything graphic. Many passionate kisses and rushes to the bedroom, followed by the mellow aftermath. It’s a PG-13 rated story (unless you think lesbian kissing is R-rated).
While the writing is generally clean and nicely peppered with humor, the author has a habit of switching between first person and third person narratives, as we get a peek into Nina’s journals, then jump to a flashback of the events. It’s never clear whether Tom is reading all of the details in the flashback sequences in Nina’s journals, or if some of them are only for the benefit of the reader. The device of using the journals as Tom’s window into the hidden life of his lesbian sister works for the most part.
What doesn’t work so well is the author’s lengthy descriptions of Nina’s career in a Manhattan law firm. The facts are mostly wrong about what really happens in a law firm, how a litigator’s life really happens, and how the Supreme Court works. The author tries to set up a major tension point in the sparring between Nina and Lincoln, the nephew of the firm’s founder and senior partner. Lincoln is a cad and a bigot in a very cartoonish way. He attempts to undermine Nina, who always comes out on top. There is never any real tension, and the pages devoted to Nina’s law firm heroics come off as unnecessary filler, without any dramatic value, and generally miss the mark. The fact that Nina is an amazingly talented lawyer, capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, doesn’t make her death any more (or less) tragic.
The last quarter of the book actually involves Tom’s search for Sarah. The narrative is intentionally tear-jerky. Tom has no revelations about his gay sister, nor about his own feelings concerning gay relationships. You get the feeling that Tom would have been fine with Nina’s sexuality all along, and you’re angry with her that she (and everyone else) kept it a secret from the clueless Tom. It’s a tragic story, but one that should have more emotional impact than it does.
The read is pleasant and the stories about Nina’s life are well-written and interesting scenes. Readers looking for a light introduction to lesbian relationships seen through the eyes of a male character and from a male author may find this an easy and entertaining story.
The hook for the story (and this is not a spoiler) is that Tom is the only person who doesn’t know that Nina is a lesbian, and has had a long-term relationship with Sarah. When Nina’s will mentions that Tom and his wife, Gabi (who knows) should include Sarah in the funeral planning, Tom has no idea who Sarah is, or why she is important to Nina. When Tom and Gabi are unable to contact Sarah, they make inquiries, but the search for Sarah is not nearly as important for Tom as his search for the true Nina, whom he didn’t know. As we learn more and more about Nina’s life, it becomes less and less plausible that Tom didn’t know (and that Nina never told him, and that his wife and kids never told him, and that his mother never told him . . . ). While this is the main premise of the book, it lacks emotional impact because it is so unbelievable.
The snippets of Nina’s life are sometimes poignant as she lives through a failed marriage, acknowledges and accepts her sexuality, and finds the love of her life. Mr. Vega is an accomplished story-teller and he writes crisp dialogue and well-described scenes. There is occasional tension, including a blow up with her mother, but the information is mostly routine, if pretty well-written. The author gives us the lead-up to some lesbian sex scenes, but stops short of anything graphic. Many passionate kisses and rushes to the bedroom, followed by the mellow aftermath. It’s a PG-13 rated story (unless you think lesbian kissing is R-rated).
While the writing is generally clean and nicely peppered with humor, the author has a habit of switching between first person and third person narratives, as we get a peek into Nina’s journals, then jump to a flashback of the events. It’s never clear whether Tom is reading all of the details in the flashback sequences in Nina’s journals, or if some of them are only for the benefit of the reader. The device of using the journals as Tom’s window into the hidden life of his lesbian sister works for the most part.
What doesn’t work so well is the author’s lengthy descriptions of Nina’s career in a Manhattan law firm. The facts are mostly wrong about what really happens in a law firm, how a litigator’s life really happens, and how the Supreme Court works. The author tries to set up a major tension point in the sparring between Nina and Lincoln, the nephew of the firm’s founder and senior partner. Lincoln is a cad and a bigot in a very cartoonish way. He attempts to undermine Nina, who always comes out on top. There is never any real tension, and the pages devoted to Nina’s law firm heroics come off as unnecessary filler, without any dramatic value, and generally miss the mark. The fact that Nina is an amazingly talented lawyer, capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, doesn’t make her death any more (or less) tragic.
The last quarter of the book actually involves Tom’s search for Sarah. The narrative is intentionally tear-jerky. Tom has no revelations about his gay sister, nor about his own feelings concerning gay relationships. You get the feeling that Tom would have been fine with Nina’s sexuality all along, and you’re angry with her that she (and everyone else) kept it a secret from the clueless Tom. It’s a tragic story, but one that should have more emotional impact than it does.
The read is pleasant and the stories about Nina’s life are well-written and interesting scenes. Readers looking for a light introduction to lesbian relationships seen through the eyes of a male character and from a male author may find this an easy and entertaining story.
August 3, 2021
Searching for Sarah
by Phillip Vega
Rating:4.9/5
Description:
To fulfill his older sister’s dying wish, a grieving Hispanic man uses any means necessary, including her journals, to track down the love of her life, a woman named Sarah.
Think/Comp:
Below Her Mouth meets Gone Girl
Genre:
Romance/Mystery, LGBTQ+
Synopsis:
Tom’s sister Nina’s will read: “I don’t want one of those generic funerals, where everyone gathers and cries. Be creative. I want something outside the box. You and Sarah can work on this together.”
Tom’s reaction: “Who the hell is Sarah?”
To solve this mystery and honor his older sister Nina’s final wish, Tomas Ruiz (Mid-50s) uses her personal journals to guide his global search for the enigmatic Sarah.
Frustration mounts as he delves deeper into Nina’s past, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever.
Will Tom overcome the seemingly never-ending obstacles and find the mysterious Sarah before putting his sister to rest?
This interracial LGBTQ+ love story reaches beyond the grave and straight into your heart.
Review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style of the author is quite appreciable which made it easier for me .
👉 Tom Ruiz is the brother of Nina Ruiz. Entire life they have shared stuffs with each other and kept each other's secret. But there is one secret of Nina that Tom came to know after her death. Tom couldn't believe at first when he found out that his sister was gay. Tom's mother, his wife and kids already knew about Nina's homosexuality. He was hurt thinking why his sister hasn't shared the truth with him..
👉As the story progresses, more and more secrets about Nina unveiled making Tom think did he ever knew this person. Will Tom be able to find Sarah? Phillip Vega has won my heart with his writing.
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotin
👉I found this book to be very engaging. The characters and storyline were well developed.
👉This book certainly is a wonderful reading
Happy reading
by Phillip Vega
Rating:4.9/5
Description:
To fulfill his older sister’s dying wish, a grieving Hispanic man uses any means necessary, including her journals, to track down the love of her life, a woman named Sarah.
Think/Comp:
Below Her Mouth meets Gone Girl
Genre:
Romance/Mystery, LGBTQ+
Synopsis:
Tom’s sister Nina’s will read: “I don’t want one of those generic funerals, where everyone gathers and cries. Be creative. I want something outside the box. You and Sarah can work on this together.”
Tom’s reaction: “Who the hell is Sarah?”
To solve this mystery and honor his older sister Nina’s final wish, Tomas Ruiz (Mid-50s) uses her personal journals to guide his global search for the enigmatic Sarah.
Frustration mounts as he delves deeper into Nina’s past, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever.
Will Tom overcome the seemingly never-ending obstacles and find the mysterious Sarah before putting his sister to rest?
This interracial LGBTQ+ love story reaches beyond the grave and straight into your heart.
Review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style of the author is quite appreciable which made it easier for me .
👉 Tom Ruiz is the brother of Nina Ruiz. Entire life they have shared stuffs with each other and kept each other's secret. But there is one secret of Nina that Tom came to know after her death. Tom couldn't believe at first when he found out that his sister was gay. Tom's mother, his wife and kids already knew about Nina's homosexuality. He was hurt thinking why his sister hasn't shared the truth with him..
👉As the story progresses, more and more secrets about Nina unveiled making Tom think did he ever knew this person. Will Tom be able to find Sarah? Phillip Vega has won my heart with his writing.
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotin
👉I found this book to be very engaging. The characters and storyline were well developed.
👉This book certainly is a wonderful reading
Happy reading
September 9, 2021
Let's talk about the book which is roaming around for a while with a good name and fame. This book is dealing not alone with love, but it's an upright version written in the LGBTQ category.
It's a gripping story, and the best thing to experience through this novel is different kind of relationships and the eternal bond every character is sharing with each other.
I am super happy that I got indulged in this tale of love where it shows distinct human emotions at the most beautiful verge, and everything written is pious, blissful, and a lesson to take with you.
This book has also included hope & thrilling exposure. If you are a huge fan of reading all about acceptance & family drama, then the story isn't that far away to try. Plot is sensational, and it has given all the characters an adequate role to play.
Featuring in the novel are a grieving Hispanic brother Tom who's loving sister Nina departed with an exclamation of last wish to receive when he found her confidential journals to be shocking.
Her late sister journal unfolded many things that were new to him. She was a bisexual. This fact didn't unsettle him, but her mother & family knew it already except him, making the entire situation difficult to soak in. Being an understanding brother, he would have supported her. He felt bad to be unaware of why her sister never told him about this before!
Digging deeper in the diary, he saw a name Sarah. She was the love of her life. After knowing this, Tom searches for who and where this lady Sarah is? Begins. He wants to complete their puzzled love story before saying her sister a final goodbye to make her rest in peace. You will probably shed tears by seeing the unconditional love of a brother towards her sister. It's worth your time.
It's a gripping story, and the best thing to experience through this novel is different kind of relationships and the eternal bond every character is sharing with each other.
I am super happy that I got indulged in this tale of love where it shows distinct human emotions at the most beautiful verge, and everything written is pious, blissful, and a lesson to take with you.
This book has also included hope & thrilling exposure. If you are a huge fan of reading all about acceptance & family drama, then the story isn't that far away to try. Plot is sensational, and it has given all the characters an adequate role to play.
Featuring in the novel are a grieving Hispanic brother Tom who's loving sister Nina departed with an exclamation of last wish to receive when he found her confidential journals to be shocking.
Her late sister journal unfolded many things that were new to him. She was a bisexual. This fact didn't unsettle him, but her mother & family knew it already except him, making the entire situation difficult to soak in. Being an understanding brother, he would have supported her. He felt bad to be unaware of why her sister never told him about this before!
Digging deeper in the diary, he saw a name Sarah. She was the love of her life. After knowing this, Tom searches for who and where this lady Sarah is? Begins. He wants to complete their puzzled love story before saying her sister a final goodbye to make her rest in peace. You will probably shed tears by seeing the unconditional love of a brother towards her sister. It's worth your time.
July 9, 2021
SEARCHING FOR SARAH is a story of a brother who wishes to fulfill his sister’s last wish and eventually comes across a lady named Sarah in his sister’s journal. The story revolves around his efforts to find sarah. This was my first selection from the author Phillip Vega’s collection. Initially being not so sure what to expect, turned out to be a good time investment. The book is fairly written in about 298 pages.
The story starts with a man named Tom who wishes to fulfill the last wish of his deceased sister Nina. The wish was to have an extra ordinary funeral with her partner Sarah. Tom eventually ends up knowing some strange and never known facts about his sister. He later finds that her sister was homosexual and was in a relationship with Sarah.
Tom also realised that almost everyone in the family knew about Nina’s homosexuality. He was quite hure by the fact that he was the only one who did not know any of his sister’s deep dark secrets. Will Tom be able to find Sarah? Will he be able to fulfill the last wish of his sister? Questions needs to be answered and you need to grab the book to find out.
The book is quiet well written with a apt title and beautiful cover page. The story goes in a flow and at no point I felt that the story was exaggerated or missing a clue. KUDOS to the author for such a beautifully written story. I would recommend it to the potential readers and looking forward for more such books from the author.
The story starts with a man named Tom who wishes to fulfill the last wish of his deceased sister Nina. The wish was to have an extra ordinary funeral with her partner Sarah. Tom eventually ends up knowing some strange and never known facts about his sister. He later finds that her sister was homosexual and was in a relationship with Sarah.
Tom also realised that almost everyone in the family knew about Nina’s homosexuality. He was quite hure by the fact that he was the only one who did not know any of his sister’s deep dark secrets. Will Tom be able to find Sarah? Will he be able to fulfill the last wish of his sister? Questions needs to be answered and you need to grab the book to find out.
The book is quiet well written with a apt title and beautiful cover page. The story goes in a flow and at no point I felt that the story was exaggerated or missing a clue. KUDOS to the author for such a beautifully written story. I would recommend it to the potential readers and looking forward for more such books from the author.
July 2, 2021
"Searching for Sarah" is an exciting story and beautifully written by Phillip vega. The story is all about love, romance and also filled with mysteries. This story will touch the reader's heart and make them emotional. The author has thoughtfully written this story and make it interesting and more suspenseful.
So, the story starts with Tom, who was shocked to hear the news of the sudden death of Nina, his sister. Later, he got a personal journal of Nina and got to know more secrets of her. He also found about 'Sarah' from Nina's journal. But, Tom doesn't know that who is Sarah as his sister didn't disclose about her. Now, Tom wants to know everything about her and begins the journey to unravel the mystery of a woman named Sarah. He faces lots of hurdles in this journey and tries hard to fulfil his sister's last wish and to solve the mystery of Sarah.
There is a lot of twists and suspense in this story. The author 'Phillip Vega' has done outstanding work in this story. This story also makes me emotional and touches my heart and soul. I extremely recommend this book to all.
The language of this book is simple and easy to understand by anyone. The cover looks impressive which increase the curiosity in readers to read this book. Overall, I loved this story, It has the right amount of suspense, emotional turmoil, and love that will leave a memorable impression on readers.
So, the story starts with Tom, who was shocked to hear the news of the sudden death of Nina, his sister. Later, he got a personal journal of Nina and got to know more secrets of her. He also found about 'Sarah' from Nina's journal. But, Tom doesn't know that who is Sarah as his sister didn't disclose about her. Now, Tom wants to know everything about her and begins the journey to unravel the mystery of a woman named Sarah. He faces lots of hurdles in this journey and tries hard to fulfil his sister's last wish and to solve the mystery of Sarah.
There is a lot of twists and suspense in this story. The author 'Phillip Vega' has done outstanding work in this story. This story also makes me emotional and touches my heart and soul. I extremely recommend this book to all.
The language of this book is simple and easy to understand by anyone. The cover looks impressive which increase the curiosity in readers to read this book. Overall, I loved this story, It has the right amount of suspense, emotional turmoil, and love that will leave a memorable impression on readers.
May 7, 2021
𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: Searching For Sarah
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Phillip Vega
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
Tom Ruiz's world has fallen apart one day when he received a call from unknown number. The caller had called Tom to inform about the demise of his sister Nina Ruiz. Tom drove quickly to Nina's home. Later, Tom and his wife Gabi travelled to New York and they found Nina's journal in her things. By reading Nina's journal, Tom realized how much he didn't know about his sister. He was shocked to know that Nina was a lesbian and all others in the family knew this truth but him. Tom still has Nina's ashes. Before putting his sister to rest, he has to search for the love of Nina's life Sarah.
The way journal entries lead Tom more and more towards his sister's secrets is amazing to read. All the characters of the story are very interesting. Story is full of twists and turns. It seems like a true story and the descriptions are so strong, while reading the book I felt like I am witnessing everything with my own eyes. A movie based on this novel would be amazing. Phillip has done wonderful job in this book and I am highly impressed with his writing. I like to recommend this book to all my friends. A great story truly.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Phillip Vega
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
Tom Ruiz's world has fallen apart one day when he received a call from unknown number. The caller had called Tom to inform about the demise of his sister Nina Ruiz. Tom drove quickly to Nina's home. Later, Tom and his wife Gabi travelled to New York and they found Nina's journal in her things. By reading Nina's journal, Tom realized how much he didn't know about his sister. He was shocked to know that Nina was a lesbian and all others in the family knew this truth but him. Tom still has Nina's ashes. Before putting his sister to rest, he has to search for the love of Nina's life Sarah.
The way journal entries lead Tom more and more towards his sister's secrets is amazing to read. All the characters of the story are very interesting. Story is full of twists and turns. It seems like a true story and the descriptions are so strong, while reading the book I felt like I am witnessing everything with my own eyes. A movie based on this novel would be amazing. Phillip has done wonderful job in this book and I am highly impressed with his writing. I like to recommend this book to all my friends. A great story truly.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5
October 1, 2021
Ahhhhhh this book was so good! I'm always a bit nervous to start a book that I have such high expectations for, but this delightful and so real romance absolutely exceeded them.
I started reading this book not knowing anything other than it was a F/F romance and that's all I needed. I fell in love with the main characters but also their families. Also, I could picture everything so easily that I could imagine this becoming a movie I would love to watch.
I truly hope you will love this book as much as I did. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. All my emotions were very in tune with the story and I got so easily pulled into this world that now I'm kinda sad it's over.
I would gladly re-read Searching for Sarah and that's something I never do with contemporary romances. I'm so sad the author doesn't have any other books out at the moment because I would have read them asap. That's how much I loved this one. I hope Phillip Vega will write more because I might have found a new favorite author to follow!
I started reading this book not knowing anything other than it was a F/F romance and that's all I needed. I fell in love with the main characters but also their families. Also, I could picture everything so easily that I could imagine this becoming a movie I would love to watch.
I truly hope you will love this book as much as I did. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. All my emotions were very in tune with the story and I got so easily pulled into this world that now I'm kinda sad it's over.
I would gladly re-read Searching for Sarah and that's something I never do with contemporary romances. I'm so sad the author doesn't have any other books out at the moment because I would have read them asap. That's how much I loved this one. I hope Phillip Vega will write more because I might have found a new favorite author to follow!
October 24, 2021
To fulfill a dying wish, a grieving Hispanic man uses his sister’s private journals as a guide in tracking down the love of her life, a woman named Sarah.
But who is Sarah?
To solve this mystery, and to honor his sister’s final wish, Tom uses Nina’s personal journals as a guide, in his search for Sarah.
Frustration mounts as he delves deeper into Nina’s past, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever.
Will Tom overcome the seemingly never-ending obstacles and find the enigmatic Sarah before putting his sister to rest?
This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions. A beautiful love story. Story of love with different relations.
Tom Ruiz found a lot more secrets of his sister Nina after her death. This is a beautiful story of romance and mystery, I loved it. This is a overall lesbian romance read.
I liked the flow of the story, so different and unique. The title is beautiful with a lovely cover. The language is simple and easy to understand.
Recommended to all light hearted readers.
But who is Sarah?
To solve this mystery, and to honor his sister’s final wish, Tom uses Nina’s personal journals as a guide, in his search for Sarah.
Frustration mounts as he delves deeper into Nina’s past, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever.
Will Tom overcome the seemingly never-ending obstacles and find the enigmatic Sarah before putting his sister to rest?
This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions. A beautiful love story. Story of love with different relations.
Tom Ruiz found a lot more secrets of his sister Nina after her death. This is a beautiful story of romance and mystery, I loved it. This is a overall lesbian romance read.
I liked the flow of the story, so different and unique. The title is beautiful with a lovely cover. The language is simple and easy to understand.
Recommended to all light hearted readers.
September 6, 2021
Searching for Sarah is a mystery romance novel about Tom Ruiz’s emotional journey dealing with the grief of losing his sister, Nina. Tom aims to fulfil her dying wish by locating Nina’s love, a woman named Sarah. Nina’s diary is his only source of information, and Tom learns a few things on his adventure discovering who Sarah really was.
The story is filled with love, remembrance, inspiration and loyalty. It is suitable for LGBT fans, and the characters are very likeable. The author writes well in telling the story. The emotions were descriptive, and the dynamic scenes created suspense and powerful notions of entertainment.
I found the work to be straightforward. The author appeared to be in the right elements of storytelling. The pace of steady and the premise kept you intrigued. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I recommend this book to fiction and romance readers.
The story is filled with love, remembrance, inspiration and loyalty. It is suitable for LGBT fans, and the characters are very likeable. The author writes well in telling the story. The emotions were descriptive, and the dynamic scenes created suspense and powerful notions of entertainment.
I found the work to be straightforward. The author appeared to be in the right elements of storytelling. The pace of steady and the premise kept you intrigued. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I recommend this book to fiction and romance readers.
January 1, 2022
the Family you Know
This book is a journey. I enjoyed how Tom learned the truth about himself as he learned the secrets his sister kept from him. I wonder what Nina really thought about how her story ended. But it was nice to see Tom grow up a bit. And Sarah? Like all of us who have lost a loved one, I hope she can move on. This story does an excellent job showing how much we lose when someone dies, by illustrating the hole they leave when they are gone.
This book is a journey. I enjoyed how Tom learned the truth about himself as he learned the secrets his sister kept from him. I wonder what Nina really thought about how her story ended. But it was nice to see Tom grow up a bit. And Sarah? Like all of us who have lost a loved one, I hope she can move on. This story does an excellent job showing how much we lose when someone dies, by illustrating the hole they leave when they are gone.
November 16, 2024
A lot of writing skill is evident and the author showed his craft by constructing this story using Nina's journal entries, flashbacks of her life that progress through the book, and Tom's present-day perspective.
The voice and style were spot on for this story--fast-paced, quick-witted, lean prose that propelled the plot forward. The brother/sister relationship between Tom and Nina seemed as real as it gets--hurling insults at each other as a reminder of their childhood sibling rivalries but ultimately knowing each other so well and secure in the fact that each would do anything for the other. True loyalty and devotion to family ties.
The supporting characters were well developed, especially Tom and Nina's mom, Gabi, and Nelson Lightner. They all added depth and believability to the story. I agree with a few other reviewers that Tom was a bit irritating at times, but don't we all know people like that? Overall tremendous people who have an annoying flaw or two. :-)
I do wonder if the story might have worked better in two parts: Nina's story up until her death, then Tom's story as the hidden life of his sister is unfolded to him through her journal entries and talks with his wife and mother about the real Nina. That might have added some more surprise and suspense to the plot as well as perhaps more urgency to find Sarah. But Vega did an excellent job with the structure he chose.
My biggest reservation was if Nina and Tom were so close, why did she keep her biggest secret from him? I understand not wanting to risk alienating a loved one, but Nina worked through it with her mother, and if Tom was half the man and devoted brother, he would have been able to work through that revelation too. But not being gay and not having any close family members who are gay and have come out, I probably don't understand how hard it is to share that fact with loved ones.
Vega did an excellent job with the sexual awakening of Nina and the romance between her and Sarah. Very tasteful but I still felt the power of their love.
A small nitpick was the writer's choice of repeatedly interspersing Spanish or Italian phrases (by Nina's mom and Sarah, respectively) into the dialogue. It broke the flow of the conversation for me (not at all fluent in Italian and a rudimentary at best Spanish speaker). A word of Spanish or Italian here or there would have worked better in my view. Second-best would have been a complete sentence in the foreign language followed by either a clarification by one of the speakers or an eventual explanation of what had been said through exposition or a later comment. I understand that many households are bilingual and that may be normal and usual for them, but for those of us who grew up with one language, it was a bit of a struggle to keep up and like I said, a bit frustrating to have to stop and try to interpret what was being said.
For my first LGBTQ read (at least in recent memory), I enjoyed this book a lot.
The voice and style were spot on for this story--fast-paced, quick-witted, lean prose that propelled the plot forward. The brother/sister relationship between Tom and Nina seemed as real as it gets--hurling insults at each other as a reminder of their childhood sibling rivalries but ultimately knowing each other so well and secure in the fact that each would do anything for the other. True loyalty and devotion to family ties.
The supporting characters were well developed, especially Tom and Nina's mom, Gabi, and Nelson Lightner. They all added depth and believability to the story. I agree with a few other reviewers that Tom was a bit irritating at times, but don't we all know people like that? Overall tremendous people who have an annoying flaw or two. :-)
I do wonder if the story might have worked better in two parts: Nina's story up until her death, then Tom's story as the hidden life of his sister is unfolded to him through her journal entries and talks with his wife and mother about the real Nina. That might have added some more surprise and suspense to the plot as well as perhaps more urgency to find Sarah. But Vega did an excellent job with the structure he chose.
My biggest reservation was if Nina and Tom were so close, why did she keep her biggest secret from him? I understand not wanting to risk alienating a loved one, but Nina worked through it with her mother, and if Tom was half the man and devoted brother, he would have been able to work through that revelation too. But not being gay and not having any close family members who are gay and have come out, I probably don't understand how hard it is to share that fact with loved ones.
Vega did an excellent job with the sexual awakening of Nina and the romance between her and Sarah. Very tasteful but I still felt the power of their love.
A small nitpick was the writer's choice of repeatedly interspersing Spanish or Italian phrases (by Nina's mom and Sarah, respectively) into the dialogue. It broke the flow of the conversation for me (not at all fluent in Italian and a rudimentary at best Spanish speaker). A word of Spanish or Italian here or there would have worked better in my view. Second-best would have been a complete sentence in the foreign language followed by either a clarification by one of the speakers or an eventual explanation of what had been said through exposition or a later comment. I understand that many households are bilingual and that may be normal and usual for them, but for those of us who grew up with one language, it was a bit of a struggle to keep up and like I said, a bit frustrating to have to stop and try to interpret what was being said.
For my first LGBTQ read (at least in recent memory), I enjoyed this book a lot.
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