When Olivia gets news of her best friend Dan’s fatal car accident, her life is shattered. Consumed with grief and struggling to find any meaning or purpose to life, she trudges along with a gaping void in her heart. Finally, when her frustration reaches its peak, Olivia decides to put her trust in the depth of friendship the two of them shared. That trust finally allows him to breakthrough to … her, and Dan begins to guide Olivia through the twists and turns of her life, leading to something new and entirely unexpected.
When Olivia exposes a gigantic internal scandal at work, her career implodes. With no job and nowhere to turn, she escapes to Palm Springs for the sympathy and care of her beloved cousin, Garrett. However, with only weeks left before the opening of his newest store, “Gin and Tonic,” Garrett isn’t quite the comfort Olivia had expected. She yet again tries to find her way, and in the process meets someone who begins to fill that void in her heart. She’s never before experienced a love like this; it heals her soul and rekindles her spirit – and just may have been the design of her dearly departed friend all along.
Beyond Believing is a sweet, funny, and romantic story that touches the heart, serves up delicious twists and turns, and shows the reader that there’s no such thing as “coincidence.” Author D.D. Marx regards this book as her “love letter to friendship,” written in memory of her best friend, Dan.
more
This is my first D.D. Marx’s book, and the first book in The Beyons Series. I love the cover! Olivia and Finn’s story is sweet and romantic. They are both interesting characters. I love how fate brings them together. Their journey is filled with drama, and ‘coincidences’. Dan and Finn’s wife were also great secondary characters. The first part of the story is slow paced, and tragic. After that, the story is fast paced, funny, heartwarming, and romantic. I like the twist. Heather Masters and Angus King did a great job with the narration. I would love to listen to the next book in the Series, Beyond Love. I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Beyond Believing follows the lives of two different people, Olivia and Finn. Although they’re strangers, their lives are linked by loved ones they’ve lost. Olivia’s best friend Dan died in a car accident, and to deal with this unexpected loss she speaks to him, and looks for signs from him to guide her through life. On the other side of the world, Finn lost his wife Christine to cancer, and he also seeks her guidance in the form of signs. Eventually, both Olivia and Finn are brought together by following these signs.
Throughout the entirety of the book you are just waiting for Olivia and Finn to meet. Again, their lives are linked in many ways, the most important of which is that her friend Dan and his wife Christine were friends in college. Major events in their lives slowly bring Olivia and Finn closer and closer together, but it isn’t until about 70% of the way through the book that they finally have their meet cute. In my opinion it was a tad overdue.
By a tad overdue, I mean crazy overdue. Firstly, the majority of the book is extremely depressing. Practically every other character gets some form of cancer. It isn’t until our lovebirds meet that we finally get to feel some warm and fuzzies, and even have a few laughs. There is also a decent amount of neck nuzzling and steamy hot tub escapades. Secondly, by waiting until almost 3/4 of the book is done for them to meet, we don’t really get a whole lot of time to connect with Olivia and Finn as a couple. They basically fall in love in the span of about 3 dates. Don’t you at least want to find out if he prefers Aunt Jemima or Mrs. Butterworth’s before making that kind of commitment?
Olivia must deal with the loss of a best friend. How will she deal with the loss? Finn is also has found his first love and marries and goes to Culinary school in Paris. Most of this is dealt tough this loss of his wife Christine? Olivia talks to Dan though songs and other signs. Finn talks and asks for requests though signs from his wife Christine?
D.D. Marx does a wonderful job with the plot. Olivia is put through her life and what she wants to do. Will she find her true love? Is Dan and Christine behind all the paths and are they the guardians’ angels for Olivia and Finn.
Olivia was sent to Hellexia and meets up with Finn McDaniels. What do you know when two people bring life back for to people that lose some they love. We find out the Finn met Dan while they were on a trip to Ireland together. We find out what happens to Christine, Dan’s best friend.