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A review by talesandtreatswithtay
A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham
3.0
This is my first Rachel Fordham book and I think she writes really well. Although the love story itself wasn't my favorite, the rest of the story I truly enjoyed. She knows how to write side characters, right down to Aggie's pet cat.
I personally have a hard time with secrets in relationships so that may the source of my hang up with this book. Aggie leaves James for reasons that she feels are justified, in order to protect him. Even though I still think she should have been truthful from the beginning, I realize the entire story of moving away to the Dakotas and the consequent growth of her character would not have happened otherwise. I can forgive this first withholding of information but for the rest of the book after James arrived 6 years later, she kept blowing off his questions, giving him non-answers while simultaneously (what I felt to be) leading him on a bit, and also getting angry at him when he gets frustrated for her not giving answers. There was also another male character that I felt was a bit unjustly treated by Aggie (also being led on a bit). James really was the MVP for sticking with her through all of that.
I really loved Sam's character, he was such a good guy and I really want him to have a happy ending, which perhaps he will in another of her books?
Like I said, I enjoyed the book as a whole but some of the interactions of Aggie and James were a bit frustrating and repetitive. I do look forward to more of her books though-- I can see how a different type of love story by her could be very enjoyable for me.
Content: infant loss (past through a side character)
Christian faith rating: 1/3
I personally have a hard time with secrets in relationships so that may the source of my hang up with this book. Aggie leaves James for reasons that she feels are justified, in order to protect him. Even though I still think she should have been truthful from the beginning, I realize the entire story of moving away to the Dakotas and the consequent growth of her character would not have happened otherwise. I can forgive this first withholding of information but for the rest of the book after James arrived 6 years later, she kept blowing off his questions, giving him non-answers while simultaneously (what I felt to be) leading him on a bit, and also getting angry at him when he gets frustrated for her not giving answers. There was also another male character that I felt was a bit unjustly treated by Aggie (also being led on a bit). James really was the MVP for sticking with her through all of that.
I really loved Sam's character, he was such a good guy and I really want him to have a happy ending, which perhaps he will in another of her books?
Like I said, I enjoyed the book as a whole but some of the interactions of Aggie and James were a bit frustrating and repetitive. I do look forward to more of her books though-- I can see how a different type of love story by her could be very enjoyable for me.
Content: infant loss (past through a side character)
Christian faith rating: 1/3