A Curve in the Road

This Book grabed me within the 1st Couple of pages I love that! All the characters play a crucial role and meld together. Abbie is made stronger by what didn't kill her, literally. After a hard time trying to function in her son Zack's life and keep him from the worst life can throw - as well as her own, they all find they can survive and even thrive again.

I was fully immersed in this book the moment I started reading it. There were surprises throughout, which kept me in suspense and wanting to read more and more. This book is about the hurt, grief, joy, and love that we experience in life.

Thank goodness for two golden retrievers named Winston and Dorothy...and my sense of humor. (Not bragging, it just helped keep me from stopping the torture several times. Why? Because if you can't laugh at preposterous things, then this isn't the book for you. (And the spoilers begin.)I'm going to start by saying what I seem to always say...I don't like to give less than 3 stars to ANY author. Whether first time or award winning. It just goes against every one of my "At least they tried" fibers.But ~ This:The odds of the drivers of two cars which collide on a highway, at night, in the rain, knowing each other is pretty slim. Right? So when the drivers end up not only knowing one another but being married to each other...ratchet up those odds because it happens within the first 3 chapters. It gets better...the drunk driver of the car that crossed the highway was the husband...and a well-respected cardiologist. The driver of the car which was struck on a rear quarter panel and sent spinning then flipping off into a ravine was the wife...and a well-respected general surgeon.He goes to the hospital first. She follows after having to be cut out of the car with the jaws of life.At this point she has NO idea who hit her. Not until someone brings her a box of personal effects found near the car. When she has her mother (whose house she'd just left) call her husband, she hears his phone ringing in the box they brought her and she figures out who's in the bay next to her.Remember, her legs were trapped, she has cuts and contusions all over her head and face (partially caused from debris and partially caused by her 90 lb. golden retriever who, not seat belted in, became a flailing missile of paws, claws and solid muscle). She jumps to her feet and rushes to the other bay to see her husband with everything but a good chance of survival. THEN...he codes and she, the surgeon, goes into doctor mode and begins compressions. -O_o- Really?It just gets better (or worse) as each chapter goes by. Not only does she have to come to terms with the fact that her husband dies before her eyes but he was dying anyway and hadn't told her. NO, I am NOT kidding. Terminal cancer and she hadn't known. And he was drunk when the accident occurred, and he was driving away from their house and into the town where her mom lives? Oh, there's more. Especially two very pivotal other secrets (I'm not giving up all of the dirt for you).Coincidentally, the vet who takes care of Winston the dog, is a widower and easy on the eyes. And he soon becomes her closest confidante. Wha????? She never met him before then. Texting the vet. Not texting the vet. "This has to stop." "No, I have to tell you."What if her son sees the texts.Seriously???Password Protect, doctor.She's talking to the vet on the phone at one point...very clandestine...in a room in her mom's house, with the door shut, so her son and mom can't hear. And..."I crossed my legs at the ankle." What? What? That's important why???Someone else mentioned the book's in first person. I usually don't mind that. Usually.But I swear if she thought (to herself) that "she would shoulder this burden alone" one. more. time.Especially given she's confided in the vet and her MOM repeatedly.She's shouldering nothing alone. Nothing.As excruciating as 95% of the book was, I have to admit there was promise at the beginning...and the last chapter wrapped it all up nicely. So...four chapters were good. The rest...not so much.Should you read it? I can't make that decision for you.Am I glad I read it? This will sound mean but yes, because I needed the laughs I got.And I loved the dogs.If I could gift it to you, I would.(Again, to the author, I'm so very sorry.)

I loved this book! The storyline has twists and turns, that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know more.I cried and laughed. Won’t forget this one for a long time.

Such a horribly sad and depressing book. Just thought this is just so much and sad for her, but I pushed through to get to the end to make sure it didn’t end so depressing!

Life is always throwing us curves and it was well written here. She showed how sometime life doesn't pan out the way we think it should and that sometimes there are other path waiting to cross.

Predictable at times and an awesome read!!I enjoyed every bit of it and still wanted more of the story.

I started this book yesterday and finished it today. I had a hard time putting it down. A curve in the road touched every emotion. It was well written and the author was knowledgeable about all topics. I would highly recommend this book.

I’ve recently discovered this wonderful Canadian writer and I know I will be reading all her books. Her stories are insightful and touching and I love that the settings are familiar places to me. This story is worth every minute and I looked forward to it until the end.

Heart warming story in my hometownEasy relaxing read for plane bedtime or cold weather evening true to life with a happy ending

Great writer...got my interest from the first page. I was in a car accident also, so I could relate to what she went through. Also Nova Scotia has been on my bucket list and that just confirmed that I should go there 😄

I loved the way the entire set of events have been laid out with the right amount of emotions described without feeling overwhelming. I love Julianne's story telling style.

She is an excellent writer....