From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

My Life in Shambles

Karina Halle

Start date: May 27, 2019

Finish date: June 2, 2019

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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What Members Thought

Apr 16, 2019 Anne OK rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads, 2019-kindle-unlimited

Filled with mixed feelings on this one -- it certainly had a story that sent feelings up and down my spine, broke my heart and mended it. I wasn't keen on either of the main characters. Nothing really zinged for me. The writing felt like it lagged all the way through. Nothing felt sharp or witty, and neither did I ever feel deeply like I imagined I would after reading the blurb and a ton of reviews. The subject matter is heartbreaking -- in more ways than one. I'm not hard-hearted Edna, so I did ...more

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Jan 15, 2019 Cyle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, contemporary, mature, sports, alpha-male

This was such a beautifully written story, very emotional and really takes a deep look in someones life with disabilities and someones life with a serious medical condition. Both characters a beautifully raw and I felt for them in their own right.

My Life in Shambles follows Valarie, who has just cut lies with her fiance after he cancelled their engagement. She also has just lost her dream job due to cut backs, so she's at a really low point in her life. Her sisters are going off to Ireland and c This was such a beautifully written story, very emotional and really takes a deep look in someones life with disabilities and someones life with a serious medical condition. Both characters a beautifully raw and I felt for them in their own right.

My Life in Shambles follows Valarie, who has just cut lies with her fiance after he cancelled their engagement. She also has just lost her dream job due to cut backs, so she's at a really low point in her life. Her sisters are going off to Ireland and convince her to go with them to just breath a little and forget the pains of what just happened. There Valarie meets a brooding but lovable man, Padraig. He is going through a life change as well, his whole career and way of living is about to change, along with sad news about his fathers health. Together these two embark on a journey, trying to find their place with what life has handed them as well as in each other.

Valarie is a woman who at a young age was injured and has dealt with the disability her whole life. Her family, though they love her, has not been easy on her. Especially her mother. I had a really hard time with her mother, she was cruel, unloving to me, and I wanted to smack her across the face with how awful she was to everyone. Her daughters all live very different lives but she has these crazy expectations that she pushes them towards, not considering how much her daughters are hurting. But Val is tough, she's use to her mothers belittling, she takes this trip as a next step and after meeting Padraig, she really opens up and becomes her true self.

Padraig is like a big teddy bear, you just can't help but love him and feel for him. He's a rugby star and has been diagnosed with a medical condition that changes. Meeting Val gives him a chance at changing his relationship with his father who is dying, as well as meeting someone who just gets him and not the rugby star. He has a lot of ups and downs, he goes through so many emotions dealing with his father and his condition, while also pulling Val along, who seriously is his angel through it all.

Overall I was a hot mess reading this book, it really pulled at every emotional heart string I have and then some. Halle put so much depth, love and soul into these characters, it wasn't just about the beautiful romance that evolved but about the journey these characters had to face when reality hit. I loved every flaw they had, every smoking hot scene, every spoken word. It was such a fantastic story and one I didn't know I needed. ...more

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Apr 10, 2019 Shelley rated it it was amazing

Oh my gosh I loved this novel. From the moment I started reading I could not walk away from this novel. So good!
I loved Valerie and her sisters. There were moments that I felt my heart breaking for what Valerie and Padraig were going through. I loved the chemistry. This novel did not disappoint. I love when a novel can make you cry, smile, laugh and leaves you happy. This novel did all of this for me I loved it!

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