Everything We Left Behind: A Novel

I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and Kerry Lonsdale for the ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of "Everything We Left Behind" by Kerry Lonsdale for my honest review. The genres for this book are General Fiction(Adult), Women's Fiction, Mystery, Suspense with a touch of Romance. This is the sequel to "Everything We Keep". I like the way the author continues the story-line and plot. This story is narrated by the same man in two character roles,as James and Carlos. James was almost killed, and wakes up as Carlos. For 6 years James is in a fugue state. As Carlos, he has two sons, and a wife who died during the birth of his second son. Carlos becomes close and involved with his sister-in-law Nat. Carlos keeps a detailed journal of his life when he becomes aware that he was James. Never knowing when he will find James again, Carlos prepares his older son and gives him a box containing items to this. As Carlos finds himself becoming James again, there are many questions. Most importantly, James/Carlos worries for his two children and above all wants to keep them safe. James family has secrets, betrayals, and major conflicts.Can James ever trust his family? Why was he almost killed? Why is everyone in that family trying to betray one another? As James surfaces with his identity crisis, he realizes that he and his children are in danger. Who can James trust? James is in search of answers. Both James and Carlos love painting, and that is something his youngest son loves as well. The children are confused when James starts to find himself. The author describes the characters as complicated and complex. I like that James/Carlos loves his boys and would do anything to keep them safe. This book is fast-moving, full of adventure, full of suspense and mystery. I read this book in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this intriguing and captivating novel and would recommend it highly. I look forward for Kerry Lonsdale's next book. Happy Reading!

After I read Everything We Keep, I knew I needed to read the next book because the Epilogue hooked me and I had to know what happened next. Everything We Left Behind was just as heartbreaking as I thought it would be, as I watched James regain his early memories, but he had no recollection of the past five years. He had lost so much, but had gained two sons that he didn't remember. It was a fantastic journey of a guy who lost his love, but was able to find new love, and became the best father he could be. This book was told in two perspectives: James and Carlos. James was the dominant personality and Carlos was the personality that surfaced after an intense incident that blocked James out. The book alternated between the past (Carlos) and present (James) so we could fully understand what happened after I last saw Carlos. I saw how he moved on, how he was coping now and becoming an instant father. Timothy Andrés Pabon narrated this story perfectly and game both Carlos and James their own distinctive voices, despite being the same person. Carlos had only spent his time in Mexico, so had a hint of an accent. I am continuing to love Kerry Lonsdale's writing and the way she pulls me into her complex world. I loved both James and Carlos, and enjoyed seeing each journey to where James was now. There were a number of twists thrown in that had my jaw dropping, but I also loved seeing the new love in both Carlos and James's life. The situation with the bad brother threw me, and with what I already knew, I didn't quite buy it, but it was the way the story went. Still, it was an amazing read and I know Kerry Lonsdale is a must read author for me now!

I have read all three books and enjoyed them thoroughly. The way she writes you can read them out of order and still understand and enjoy the stories without feeling you are missing anything. She weaves enough of the storyline into them to let you understand each person's story as each stand alone and tell that person's story. She makes them come alive in your mind. It is stories of how a person makes decisions for someone else that impact that person life in both a negative and positive way. It leaves you happy for them but sad at the same time cos the decision caused heartbreak and led to their happiness. Aimee has a happy life with Ian but misses the life she could have had with James. James learns to move on and appreciate the life he has now while still mourning the life he could have had with Aimee. I wished she would have explored more of Thomas's regrets and why he made the decisions that he did and shown more of what Phil's life was as a child. Even though he was not a good person, you do kind of understand why he was the way he was and feel some sympathy for him. The story told how there can be both good and bad in people and how your childhood can really mess you up. I am glad the story was more real life in that it didn't just end with everyone completely happy as that is not real life. I will definitely read more of her stories.

3.5 Stars The author did a great job of creating a sense of dislike for James but brought me around to liking him in the end. The was a lot of coming to terms with tough situations and emotions throughout the book. It was nicely tied up with a happy ending. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a dramatic or happy ending. However, there seems to be some loose strings that need to be dealt with potentially in the next book. It seemed like it bounced around with too many location changes. I felt that it was a bit beyond creating a sense of running and dipped into the realm of chaos. I really appreciate the date labeling for each of the chapters as the characters came together. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads as I received this as giveaway.I'm looking forward to reading the next book. This is going to be an interesting series!

After finishing Everything We Keep, I immediately started reading the follow up. I didn’t know what to expect but I was excited to read about James and his reemergence. Let me start with the mechanics of the book. The switching of POVs didn’t bother me. I liked hearing from Carlos and James, but the change from past tense to present tense was very, very jarring. THAT I didn’t like. I don’t think it was done well and I feel like it would have been a better book without the switching. I’m not totally sure I liked switching from first person to third person either. Between the tense switch and the first/third switching it was TOO MUCH! Maybe the author was trying to give James and Carlos a different voice and she thought this would help, but it didn’t. They had a different voice without all the extras. Every time the story switched from James to Carlos, I had to reset and think about what was happening. That brought me out of the story, which is a killer when reading. I also think the author had trouble maintaining the present tense when she was writing from James’ perspective so that made this hard to read at times. Honestly, I think the author got in a little over her head with it and if she would have just kept it simple, it would have been a better book and easier to read. Of course, this is something an editor should catch so…maybe she just needs a better editor. Another thing that absolutely annoyed me was all the damned similes. These were so overused when in Carlos’ perspective that I almost stopped reading. IT WAS TOO MUCH! **some spoilers ahead** Now for the story. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the way Carlos was portrayed in the beginning of the book. Why would Carlos be upset about his family abandoning him? In the first book, he makes it very clear that he’s happy with his life. He’s even moved on from his dead wife and living life to the fullest. He loves being a father and he loves where he lives. So…I ask again, why would he be upset with his family for abandoning him? I totally understand why James would be upset, James has lost everything, but Carlos should feel a little gratitude, even if that gratitude is misplaced. Maybe there was a purpose for these feelings and I just didn’t get it. That’s possible. I was expecting Carlos to be more concerned with the fact that he wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for a mental illness. This is where he should be worried and upset. He should be upset with the fact that he shouldn’t exist, not that James’ family abandoned him. His concern for his kids is well placed. As a parent, this should be a huge worry—but not about the family he doesn’t know and doesn’t love. Since this is how the book started, I was a little put off and worried that the rest of the book would be off the mark. Fortunately, it got better. James’ emotions, I felt, were pretty on target. His anger at the situation, his anger at his family, including his mother, feeling lost and not wanting to paint. I felt that was all very realistic. His feelings about Aimee were also well portrayed. The only thing I felt was missing here was that he and Aimee, while engaged, were also best friends for most of their lives. During James’ funeral in the first book, Aimee mentions the loss of her best friend. She felt that loss keenly for most of the first book not just because she loved him, but also because she’d lost that total trust and connection with someone she’d been close to for most of her life. They were only engaged for a year or so, but they were friends for much, much longer. James, however, in this book doesn’t mention the friendship aspect. He’s missing the love of his life, but he never reflects on the part about losing his best friend. About how he doesn’t have anyone to confide in because he’s lost her. The same about her parents. He was really close to her family, yet they never cross his mind. These are small details that I felt were left out. Of course, a book can only be so long and an author must keep moving the story forward so I understand why the author didn’t make a big deal about it, but I feel these little things would have made the story richer and more emotional if they were touched on. Not only that, but the author could have taken it full circle when Natalya replaces Aimee as the best friend and confidant. I loved the movement of James and Natalya’s relationship. This was very well done. The tension and the emotions in the scenes with them together are strong and fell very realistic. The best part about it is that the scenes between James and Nat are very different than the scenes between Carlos and Nat but you’re constantly reminded that James and Carlos are the same person. James’ body and heart have a connection with her but his mind doesn’t and that is very well show in these scenes. The real meat of this story comes in the last 30% or so. This is where you find out why James goes into the fugue state, and why his mind needs to heal…and it’s not just about the events that happened in Mexico. This is where the two books intertwine and help you understand why James is who he is. Why he’s done what he’s done and how his life and family have affected his mind the way it has. At times it’s hard to digest but it’s worth it. The story is heart wrenching but reading about James coming to the understanding and finding his way through the fog to realize what he needs to do to move on is heartwarming and gratifying. The ending was a surprise, I won’t give it away here, but I will say, I didn’t see that coming. When I read the epilogues I had to laugh out loud at Carla’s duplicity. Because, after everything I’d read about her, oooof course she did that. Lol What’s left? Nothing except to say that overall, I loved this book just as much as I loved Everything We Keep. It kept me reading and kept me entertained. I laughed, I cried, and I finished the book completely satisfied.

"Everything We Left Behind" by Kerry Lonsdale Author Kerry Lonsdale has outdone herself with "Everything We Left Behind." I could leave this review right there, as it pretty much sums up my feelings toward this novel, but she, and potential readers, deserve more. **I want to note that I re-read "Everything We Keep," prior to reading this novel. I wanted to remember each nuance and each little detail that might be important when reading this novel.** This novel begins where "Everything We Keep," left off. James has just awoken, not recognizing the children around him, not recognizing where he is, not understanding what his children are saying, believing he is getting married very soon, finding he has lost six years of his life, and bombarded with a lock box of information left for him by Carlos. The reader learns more of Carlos' path interchangeably with James'. Carlos' story begins shortly after he learns the truth about who he really is, what he suffers from, how he prepares himself if he reverts from the fugue, attempts at wanting to remain in the fugue and his life, to the time he wakes as James. Ms. Lonsdale writes from these interchanging perspectives seamlessly and easily. The reader falls into the rhythm of the past moving forward to the change from Carlos to James to the present where James slowly moves forward step by step until he finds peace within himself and with his family. The author's writing is eloquent and moving. The novel is heartwarming, mysterious, and life changing at its core. The characters are individuals that the reader can relate to bone deep. The reader is drawn in from the first sentence and will not be able to put this novel down. It is filled with twists and turns and surprises. You will savor every word, sentence, page, and chapter and feel a loss, a gain, and have a question or two when you come to the end. It is a novel of heartache, change, growth, despair, strength, warmth, friendship, family, fear, hope, self-preservation, loss, gain, deceit, peace, and ultimately, love. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. Kerry Longsdale has written another masterpiece. One no reader will want to miss or put off reading, and so many have been anxiously awaiting. The downside? Once you read it, the next one won't be out for a year...be prepared to re-read all of her novels several times. I know I will be (im)patiently awaiting the next one...after I savor this one for awhile. Five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Buy Link for "Everything We Left Behind": http://amzn.to/2sCz2Vi Buy Link for "Everything We Keep": http://amzn.to/2rrQQ1M Buy Link for "All the Breaking Waves": http://amzn.to/2sL64mD **Links within this post may be affiliate links that may provide me with a small commission at no cost to you. (I chose to read and review an advanced copy of this novel on 6/16/17; book purchased 7/04/17)

I never predicted anything about this story. What an exciting story and her writing is easy to follow. Can't wait to read next book

Everything We Left Behind was a book I was definitely waiting for after finishing Everything We Keep. I got hooked from the beginning on Everything We Keep, especially the sadness of having a funeral for your fiancée on the day your wedding was supposed to be held. I mean what could be worse than that, right? I would rate this 4.5 stars if I could as I didn't think it was quite as good as EWK, but it was very good. One huge plus is that the stories all wrapped up nicely, came together well and made a lot of sense. Even characters that I'd previously seen only as horrible people were shown to have other, softer sides to them, which I really liked. Kerry Lonsdale does a wonderful job with character development and she keeps the plot moving. If you read EWK you definitely need to read this book and if you are considering this book, please do yourself a favor and read EWK first. I really don't think this book would make a lot of sense unless you had read EWK. Yes, the author does include information so you'd know what happened previously, but to really "get it" I think EWK is necessary. Thank you to Ms. Lonsdale, her publisher and Netgalley for the early read of this eagerly awaited novel.

I recommend reading "Everything We Take" first. Although this is a story that could stand on its own, it will make more sense to read in order. There are some threads that tie up the story of Aimee after the end of "Everything We Take", and that background of James/Carlos adds to this story. But "Everything We Left Behind" really focuses on James after he comes out of his fugue state. It's an interesting look at how losing several years of your life and memory can impact you. It has mystery and suspense, but ultimately it is a love story, alternating between Carlos and James. It is about love between parent and child, and between a man and a woman. A great follow up to Aimee's story and a reminder that sometimes where we end up is not where we wanted or intended, but can make us just as happy.

Interesting and captivating reading. The plot and storyline kept me engaged throughout. Will be reading more of this author's work.

Brilliant, I was getting bored with the usual storylines (not from this author) but this book had me hooked and I enjoyed the story immensely. I won’t give it away but I immediately bought the second book in this series of 3. I can’t wait to start it.

I was expecting a different twist in the end but ut didnt happen. All in all the story was good and gripping. At some point of time it bored me a little. Nothing great about it but still a nice read.

I have to say that I was unsure that I would like his book but still made it my Kindle First choice; normally I don't read fiction involving families, especially where young children are central characters. I was pleasantly surprised; it is a very good book. Both the blurb and other reviewers provide insights into the storyline to which I won't add. The story is broken down into a number of sections, each of which comprises short chapters which provide small snapshots in time for each of the protagonists, which include the family dog (this format is brilliant for those of us who insert a little reading around other tasks!). Through these chapters we are steadily introduced to both the situations leading up to Jonah's death and then the aftermath, as well as the family dynamic. We learn very late in the story what actually happened, but it is none the worse for that. The characters are all very believable; I couldn't help but like Jonah, with his zest for life, but I also particularly liked Maddie, the counsellor, even though the story is not hers. The book is very well written and the story flows nicely. For those of a more sensitive disposition, the f-word does occur but not to excess, and there are no descriptive sex scenes. It is a very good read.