I'm sorry for your loss.
Why do people say that?
When someone you love is taken from you, when a part of you dies along with them, you haven't lost them like you would your car keys or mobile phone. They aren't stuck down the side of the sofa or left in the ignition of your car for you to find later. You haven't absentmindedly put them somewhere and forgotten. You will never lose them because they live in you.
The soul crushing hurt that burns your lungs with every breath you take comes from knowing where they are and not being with them.
The ugly and real definition of grief is being left behind.
I'm sorry they left you.
I'm sorry you are alone.
I'm sorry it hurts to breathe.
Loss; it doesn't even compare.
She was my first love.
She is my last love.
I am an empty husk who pretends to be filled with enough love for those of us she left behind.
Our little girl and newborn son need me.
I am both mother and father now.
I am hollow and empty.
I am a shell.
So why does the girl with the face of an angel and eyes that mirror my emptiness, look at me like I'm her everything?

*Book #6 in the 'Love by Numbers' series. Can be read as a standalone.*

The emotions in EIGHT were so powerful and so raw that there were times due to having experienced grief in my own life that I did have to put the book down—it was layered with that much emotion.

My heart broke for Josh as he tried, well ok at first he did not try and that might have been the most real part; Josh was so lost in his grief.  Josh coming to terms with his grief stole my breath away.

Ivy, Josh’s young daughter often stole the show—her purity, her openness, her desire to keep moving forward was so pure and spoke volumes to this author’s ability to write characters with depth.

I loved the role Josh’s brothers played in this one; each helping in their own way. Isaac was just WOW, his bond with Ivy was so amazing; his helping with Arthur was not only about love but again showing how it reflected back on Josh made for a truly eye opening moment that broke my heart yet again.

The happy found between Josh and Halle was so perfect.

I will say this book is laced with some of the strongest emotions I have read in some time—its look at the pain of grief is not for the faint of heart and it was pure talent.

I really don’t want to say more… please take this journey of pain and healing with Josh and his family.