My Never Ending List

The more I read this novel, the deeper my commitment to it became. Mary had no idea what she was walking into, when she came into the town of Liberty and I had no idea what laid ahead of me as I read this novel. I found myself drawn into Liberty; each of its citizens became important to me. From the employees at the restaurant, to those citizens who frequently walked through its doors whose stories filled this novel, and to Blossom, the girl whose story ran through these pages and made me smile and also made tears fall from my eyes. There was Mary who blindly came into Liberty to take a break from life and touched the lives of the many, to the countless other individuals who walked through these pages, I adored them all. I enjoyed the small town community aspect of this novel, how everyone came together as one. They relied on one another, they enjoying each other’s company, they had a limited amount of individuals to mingle with and they knew the lives of all of their neighbors. With this comes positive and negative aspects and the author does a great job presenting this. I always wondered how I would react to living in a small community where my life was an open book, watching Mary being absorbed into this lifestyle and reading novels like this, I feel that it would be something I would enjoy, after I initially got used to it.

Mary never intended to stay in Liberty for this was not intended to be a long-term commitment. Blossom knew the minute that she saw Mary that she was the one, only now she had to convince them. Meade had already had her eyes set on Anthony but Blossom didn’t like this woman. Mary wasn’t interested in what Blossom was scheming for she was only passing through this small town. Blossom’s persistent pays off for it wasn’t long before Anthony and Mary start to form a relationship. This relationship was not what I expected. It was filled with confusion, desire and with reality poking its head out, as these two mature adults realize what is in store for them and their future. Mary only intended to stay in Liberty to get the restaurant up and profitable and the idea of having a relationship and having to end it with Anthony and Blossom would be difficult and heartbreaking. Blossom has had enough heartbreak in her past and from her illness that Mary does not want to add herself to Blossom’s list.

As Blossom’s illness stays in the shadows during portions of the novel, there is fear of the unknown, that the illness could unleash its ugly head around every corner as you read. Never knowing when exhaustion or a fever hits Blossom is it is just the beginning of something that will shrink her and send the adults scrambling to the hospital. It’s this fear of the unknown, this mystery that leaves the character and me wondering, where the future of this novel is headed. Blossom, she was searching for a female in her life. She wanted someone she could depend on and someone who would not leave her and she hoped it would be Mary. Her relationship with Mary, it was strenuous at times and then moments later, it would send chills down my arms. Their future was unpredictable as both characters had plans that were different, so what would happen in the end? I really enjoyed this novel and the ending was not how I expected it to go but I enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend this novel, it’s a novel filled with love, family, commitment and devotion. This was the first novel that I have read by this author and it will not be my last.

I won a copy of this book from the author in her Flash Giveaway Celebrating Lucy's Arrival.