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In the Stillness

Andrea Randall

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What Members Thought

Apr 19, 2013 Desiree rated it really liked it

ALL ABOUT FORGIVENESS ✪✪✪✪ 1/2 Stars

FORGET YOUR PAST, FORGIVE YOURSELF, AND BEGIN AGAIN

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Firstly, let me just say I was a little hesitant on whether or not I should begin this book obviously because of the sensitive subject matter. My initial thoughts were do I really want to read about a cutter? Not to sound insensitive. Needless to say, I’m glad I went with my gut instinct and gave it a go.

The story surrounds itself around Natalie who couldn’t be more of a mess.

Natalie is a wife.
Natalie is a ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

May 13, 2013 Tom rated it really liked it

Solid 4.5 for me in a real page turner with real life characters!

Natalie’s life is far from everything she has dreamed up. Her love life was sidetracked early on when circumstances out of her control takes the love of her life away from her. As she tries to move on, her career gets put on hold as she has an unexpected, unwanted pregnancy. Raising children can be a pressure cooker for those that embrace it and have support. She has neither as her husband is often missing while working in his lab Solid 4.5 for me in a real page turner with real life characters!

Natalie’s life is far from everything she has dreamed up. Her love life was sidetracked early on when circumstances out of her control takes the love of her life away from her. As she tries to move on, her career gets put on hold as she has an unexpected, unwanted pregnancy. Raising children can be a pressure cooker for those that embrace it and have support. She has neither as her husband is often missing while working in his lab getting his PHD and is rarely around to help her. As the pressure builds she resumes cutting as a way of escape but with her life falling apart cutting can’t lead anywhere good.

I totally connected with the characters in this book, maybe more so than some of my friends. People started commenting on Eric being a douche when I was at 19%. I’m not sure if they felt that way when they read it or if they were just commenting because they were going by their feelings by the middle/end of the book. I was apart of both worlds when my first one was born. I was going to school at night full time and watching the baby in the day for the first year. I know the feelings of frustrations that Natalie felt and I remember the weight coming off when my wife came home and this was from a planned situation which I couldn’t have loved my child more. Once I was back to work I worked many 70-80 weeks putting together money to buy a house and to provide for my family. I guess that’s why it took me longer to jump on the Eric hater train. I totally felt for Natalie. I’ve been married 24 years and I can’t say that I haven’t felt trapped a time or two. I also ended up giving up my pursuit of a degree to provide for my family in the NOW. Ryker was an awesome character and I couldn’t even begin to understand what he went through and I’m selfishly glad that I can’t. I loved how the story evolved and was glad that certain parts didn’t escalate into more drama than there was.

Recommended for anyone that loves real life drama with relatable situations. I’m going to keep my eye open for more from this writer because I loved the writing and the flow of the book.
...more

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May 09, 2013 T.H. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: love-romance, drama, favorites-and-would-read-again, cried-my-eyes-out, kindle-cloud, my-book-boyfriend

This was an amazing story of two people that dealt with a lot of emotional issues. Natalie is a mother, wife, and cutter that still grieves her past relationship with Ryker. Ryker and Natalie dated in college and while Ryker served the National Guard. Through the concerns of PTSD and cutting these two battled heavy burdens.

At first I was taken back by Natalie and surely her worst critic, but as the story progressed I learned more of her struggles, her love for her children, and the will she has ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2013 Erin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, 10-star-butterflying-amazing-reads, lendable, you-will-cry-your-eyes-out, top-favs

The blurb for this book does not do the story any justice at all. This is a story about pain, loss, healing, and getting a second chance at love. This is one of the most emotionally charged books I have ever read and I loved every single word. The author's writing is flawless.

Natalie Collins meets Ryker Manning her freshman year of college. They fall head over heels in love and are only together a few short months by the time 9/11 happens. Ryker is in the National Guard and he is sent to war. Na The blurb for this book does not do the story any justice at all. This is a story about pain, loss, healing, and getting a second chance at love. This is one of the most emotionally charged books I have ever read and I loved every single word. The author's writing is flawless.

Natalie Collins meets Ryker Manning her freshman year of college. They fall head over heels in love and are only together a few short months by the time 9/11 happens. Ryker is in the National Guard and he is sent to war. Natalie struggles with having him gone, and she turns to cutting to relieve her pain and loneliness. Something happens while Ryker is overseas and he returns home to Natalie with a severe case of PTSD. She feels like the man she loved has disappeared. She tries to stick by him and support him, but after a series of events, Natalie breaks up with Ryker.

Fast forward ten years and Natalie is now a wife and a mother, even though she really had no desire to be either of those things. She gets pregnant, is pressured to marry her boyfriend Eric, and gives up her dream of graduate school to be a stay at home mother. They now have almost 5 year old twin boys, Eric is in school finishing up his PhD, and Natalie is miserable and depressed because she is living a life she never wanted. She feels like life is just taking her further away from her dreams. She also has a lot of unresolved feelings and issues from her break up with Ryker, and so she again, gives into the urge to begin cutting. Then one day while out with her friend Tosha, Natalie runs into Ryker. He is her Ryker, the Ryker she had pre 9/11.

I won't tell you anything else, but their story is a GREAT one. Their love story is the kind of love story we all want. It is flawed, yet all consuming. It is extremely realistic and that is why I was so taken by this book. Love is never easy or perfect, it is hard work because people are work. As Ryker says, when you love someone, you love them had to toe and inside out because you just can't help it.

I don't think a lot of people understand the need to cut, I certainly did not. It is a way for Natalie to deal with her negative emotions. She says it is a self medicating behavior, much like alcoholism or any other addiction. You feel and understand everything Natalie is going through because Andrea Randall's writing is raw and emotional, you have no other choice but to just "get" Natalie.

In the beginning, I did question her resentment towards being a mother. However, as I continued to read I grew to completely understand and sympathize with her. I am a stay at home mom, but that was my choice. I think if it was something I never wanted and it had been forced upon me, I too would feel like Natalie. I even have days where I would like a break, all moms do. It is the toughest job in the world, especially if you never wanted it. I must say that while she never wanted to be a mother, Natalie was a good one. She never let her depression or the resentment she felt for the way her life turned out effect her relationship with her children. You saw that she loved them immensely.

The story is told in a series of flashbacks between present day and Natalie's life in college with Ryker. The flashbacks add to the story, they do not take away from it. Like I said, the book is beautifully written, that includes the writing style.

Go out and BUY this book. It is well worth the $3.99!! I would have paid more! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 11, 2013 Yvette Huerta rated it really liked it

Shelves: almost-5-stars

Ok, here we go... In the stillness by Andrea Randall is a beautiful story, but starts off somewhat dark.

First chapters we find out Natalie is a cutter. She lives in a world that's involved with pleasing people but not necessarily pleasing herself. By trying to be the person everyone wants her to be she forgets about herself and becomes resentful towards her husband and children.
Years being trapped in a marriage which she didn't want, with children she didn't want, and putting off her goals and ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2013 ATran rated it it was amazing

A BEAUTIFUL ,HEART WRENCHING ,EMOTIONAL STORY!!!!
I felt every emotion a human being could feel, while reading this book.
You just have to read it, to feel it .

AMAZING , AMAZING! Happy Reading....
P.S. Ry is such a Gentleman , you just got to LOVE HIM :)

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2014 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-loved, ugly-cries, love-triangles, contemporary-romance, own-on-kindle, military-war-hero-ptsd, unconditional-love, dysfunctional-tormented, what-an-ass, cheaters

5 Mind blowing, painful stars!!! This beautifully written books pages were filled with so much guilt, pain, aching torment and regret that it made my heart hurt for the three main characters in this book. Also, as in all emotionally painful books, there's forgiveness, healing, hope and second chances scatter through out the pages of this book. Reading this book drained me emotionally, and I highly recommend a box of tissues.

...more

1 like · Like · see review