A tale of grief, loss, love, and second chances from the internationally bestselling author, ES Carter.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 … 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.*
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Josh’s life completely changed in the span of either hours. He went from being the best version of himself, to being someone he doesn’t even recognize after those eight hours. When he is finally able to pull himself together, at least a little bit, he make a massive decision that doesn’t just affect him, but his kids and a complete stranger that may possibly become the star in the next chapter of his life. Halle is bold, girly, beautiful and driven. She is so used to being abandoned, so she doesn’t love or trust easily. Will she decide Josh and his kids are worth it? Will Josh decide to move on from Laura? Can he love again? Can Halle?
First book by this author and I loved it. Loved all the characters especially Josh. He knew what needed to be done for himself and kids.
Eight is book six in the Love by Numbers series by E.S. Carter. This can be read as a stand alone but as in most series, the characters do recur.
If you read the previous book, then you are already aware of what happened to Josh. That he lost the love of his life after the birth of their son. Josh and Laura had been sweethearts since they were fourteen years old. They have an adorable three year old daughter, Ivy and were beyond excited about the birth of their son, until Josh’s world was turned upside down and inside out. Now his children need him. He has a newborn son. But the woman that is his children’s other half, his other half, is gone.
“I was one-half of a whole. Now I’m one-half of nothing.”
Josh’s brother Isaac steps in to help but things aren’t getting better. Josh decides that he isn’t going to move forward while still living in the same house. It’s time to take his children away for a change of scenery and a new start.
When Josh first saw Halle Richards, he didn’t even know her name. All her knew was that he felt something for the first time in almost a year. And all that did was make him angry. He didn’t want to feel something for this woman. He already had the love of his life. There would never be another. But then he heard her sing, and it was like a magnetic pull between them. Like she was singing only for him.
“How is it this girl, this stranger with a flower in her hair, can sing songs written by my heart? Songs written for my soul.”
This is a story of a man deeply grieving, but slowly finding his way back. And of a woman with her own pain that seems to me anyway to be made specifically for him. They have a connection that can’t be ignored. And watching them both finally give in to it was a beautiful thing.
The next book in this series is book 7 called Two. It is a continuation of Isaac and Flynn’s story and I can’t wait.
This series just raises the bar with each book that releases. This story follows Josh, the married brother with a family and a quiet, unassuming life.
Until that life is shattered. Blown apart in the cruelest way, Josh is left floundering and totally beaten by life.
The author is unflinching in the way she describes his pain and grief. It is real, raw and honest. So is the way Josh’s family gathers round, offering support and tough love when needed in order to help him heal.
As in all the best books, it is love that helps him heal and move on. But even this aspect of the story is not over-romanticised. It’s written in a realistic, slightly messy and honest way, where the characters make mistakes and then atone for them.
I adore this series and I adore this author. I can’t recommend it and her enough.
Eight captivated me, it drew me in, it broke my heart and then it put me back together again. I finished it a few days ago but it’s taken me a while to put pen to paper and I really hope I have the words to do this beautifully written story justice. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy or even a reading buddy like I had because you will ugly cry, this is a book that doesn’t just talk about grief it throws you right into the middle of a man trying to get his life together after his wife dies having his son, how do you become the father to a baby that every time you look at him you see the woman you thought would be around forever and how do you look into your daughters eyes and give her the answers she so rightly deserves when all you want to do is curl up in the corner……
I fell in love with Josh when he was at his lowest and as he got his life together that love grew and what can I say about the adorable Princess Ivy apart from she is an little girl who will steal your heart with her matter of fact comments that only a four year old can say and make your face light up with a smile even when you think the sun will never shine again. Is this a sad book ? Yes but it’s a love story that isn’t just about two adults falling in love, it’s about learning to live again, learning to be a father and becoming a family again. Throughout this book you see the words “Laura Smiles” but it’s only at the end will you really understand what those two beautiful words mean.
I hope you pick up a copy of Eight because it’s a must read. Eli Carter has given us a book that won’t be forgotten it will be read and reread.
Meh.
Oh my heart!
I can honestly say I had to hug myself whilst reading the majority of this book and its very raw, real and honest portrayal of a man suffering after the loss of his wife, the mother of his children and the overwhelming effect of that grief, both on him and those around him.
I felt every moment of this book in my very bones, the writing is so good its powerful. Mrs Carter holds nothing back, unafraid of dealing with the hard truths of life.
Halle has not had an easy ride either, she feels alone in the world and has been made to feel worthless by those she loved and trusted. The only people she has let close are her two flatmates – watch out for Zoey, she’s sparky! I love that Halle makes no allowances for Josh’s bad behaviour!
“Tragedy does not give anyone the right to be an arsehole because although you might be in pain, you’ve no idea what pain another must live with inside them.”
Don’t think that this book is all doom and gloom, there are moments of light and laughter. Ivy totally steals the show for me with her classic timing and childish honesty. As always with the Love by Numbers series the strength of the family bonds within the Fox-Williams clan are evident, and Mamma Fox is amazing as always.
This is a heart wrenching emotional ride through the process of losing yourself, picking yourself up and moving forward one step at a time. Your heart will bleed, and break but in the end it will be uplifted.
This is a book that just took up residence in my heart and will stay with me forever. Eight is a beautiful, heartbreaking but ultimately life affirming story.
In one day, Josh is faced with the death of his wife and the birth of his son. He struggles with how to go on surviving and caring for his 2 small children without the woman who was his childhood sweetheart and first love. And Oh My Goodness I wanted to be understanding of Josh’s grief, but I alternated between wanting to hug him and slap him!
“I feel like an interloper. Like someone has placed me inside the body of a man I once knew a long time ago, but they can’t see I’m not him. I’m a body snatcher and a fake. I’m not the Josh from before, and I won’t ever be him again because I was one-half of a whole. Now I’m one-half of nothing.”
Halle was given a chance to start her life over. She was working hard, keeping her head down and focusing on leaving all of her skeletons locked safely in a closet. The last thing she wanted was to get mixed up with someone who had complications of his own.
“As his seed spills from my body, my shame falls from my eyes. Both soak my white cotton sheets and stain them with the evidence of my stupidity.”
Josh’s family are so amazing! They stood by him and didn’t let him push them away. Their Mom is just so wise and strong!!! Ivy is the star of this book! Even the hardest heart would melt for her! I really loved how the family found a way to celebrate life on Arthur’s birthday.
“My heart thuds painfully, my chest constricting with both love and sadness for my perfect little girl. She lost her mother forever, lost her father for a little while and is now afraid of losing anyone else, even if only for a few hours.”
I loved every word of this amazing story! Eight is the 6th book in the Love by the Numbers series but can be read as a standalone.
“Life is complicated, ugly and often messy, but it’s also beautiful too.”
Eight was a good read.
I loved how E.S. Carter once again wrote an emotional story that will move you thanks to such an incredible writing and relatable characters.
Josh journey is about grieving and surviving and learning to live again for yourself and your dear ones.
Our Hero is drowning in his pain,it is so suffocating he can’t even function enough to take care of his kids but thanks to a meddling family that will never leave him alone and a change of scenery he will finally find the strength to go on.
These characters will find a way to your heart, making you cry and smile throughout the book.
Grief is a difficult. Often in romance, the reader usually is at the tail-end of the timeline. Eight does not address the topic but immersing us into one man’s journey of loss. I will not spare you; it’s realistically painful. You witness the collateral damage to everyone in and out of the family. But is this only what the story delivers? No, more. So much more.
ES Carter gives in Eight all the feels. We are on a journey of how one young single father comes out the other side of grief. What happens when he meets a woman who reflects the same pain he has back at him? Maybe they can find a way to a new happy. Josh and Halle are written so relatable and want to get to know them with every page turn. All my favorite LBN characters make an appearance -what is a LBN book without Mrs Fox? Amazingly, you not only get to know Josh and Halle as primary characters, but Ivy-bell steals the scenes every time she emerges. As always, Ms Carter balances her storytelling with just the right amount of humor in the right moments to allow you to catch your breath.
So break out the Kleenex readers, you are going to need them. There is no doubt based on the PM photos I’m getting from fellow readers. But in the end you will be graced with a beautiful story that makes you believe once and for all, everyone has the chance for a HEA if they see it. Although Eight can be read as a standalone, this reader HIGHLY recommends you read One, Love by Numbers #5, first to get into the backstory. However, if same sex storyline is not your ‘thing’, you can read this as a standalone. Definitely a top 2017 read for me. 5++ stars out of 5 stars.