Thursday 30 November 2017

Book Review: Beyond Today by L. Simpson

About the Book

Ticking all the boxes, the new man in Hannah's life also has a past with enough baggage for a voyage, and she can't see how they'll make it work between them beyond today.

THE PRICE OF FORGIVENESS

When Hannah meets Howard, the elusive best man in her friend's wedding, Hannah is instantly drawn to the damaged alpha because they share a connection that makes her heart race and her head spin. But his past, his family and how he slaked his sexual needs keep him prisoner, and challenges her faith in people. With time, Hannah sees the real him, but when he does the one thing she can’t accept, her own demons whisper: Run away from the only man who has ever made her heart full.








PURCHASE LINKS





My Thoughts

In a memorable meet-cute, Hannah bumps into Howard with the words ‘I need a f*ck”. Equally mortified and attracted, Hannah’s exuberant personality soon has Howard enthralled.

Howard’s had a traumatic childhood and these issues have followed him into adulthood. He distances himself from people yet desperately wants to let Hannah in to his world, even knowing she will leave him when she learns the truth about him.


Hannah is an all-round good woman. She is a great friend, loves a dance and a drink, is kind to people and animals and loves music. She cooks, she eats. She’s a more-than-a-touch crass, somewhat of a workaholic and has been avoiding relationships since her last boyfriend cheated and stole from her. 

It’s Howard’s issues, especially those involving people around him that drive a lot of drama in this book. Hannah and Howard get along very well, and even with some initial hesitation, Hannah places a great deal of trust in her relationship with Howard to help him overcome his difficulties.

For me, Howard was the more interesting character and I would have liked to know more about him. He had a lot more growing to do while Hannah was at a place in time where she had found a certain equilibrium.

My one quibble with this book came early when Howard started thinking about his ‘predilections’. All of a sudden I am thinking we’re about to jump into the throes of another Fifty Shades style novel. This didn’t pan out (thankfully!) but it did hamper my enjoyment until all was revealed. Unfortunately in the romance book world today there are too many books where the secretive, misunderstood hero just has sexual kinks.

All round, an enjoyable book.


About the Author


As a girl growing up, Laura was lost in the world of Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. During high school, volleyball dominated her life; there had to be something positive about being 6’1” with red hair.

Representing Australia from a young age she eventually took up a scholarship at the University of Iowa. Living in America and being a full-time athlete in a college town was an eye-opening experience and lots of fun (from what she can remember). #gohawkeyes

Returning from the States, her career took a different turn as she started working at the Red Cross and completed her Masters of Law in Human Rights. As one of the few non-lawyers in the class, her essays were far more floral than the rest, something that caused the discerning professors to shake their heads. Through working and studying, she realised there are other ways to win hearts and minds.

While she’s spent the last 14 years as an advocate against poverty and homelessness, the desire to change the world through storytelling has gotten stronger. She now lives in the Alpine Valley of North East Victoria, Australia with her husband, daughter, two dogs and seven chooks. When she’s not doing the whole mum thing, working at a homelessness agency, renovating her farmhouse or trying to do laundry bleary-eyed at midnight, she is writing.  


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