~February XOXpert Review~ The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel

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From the author of the international bestseller The Sweetness of Forgetting, named one of the Best Books of Summer 2012 by Marie Claire magazine, comes a captivating novel about the struggle to overcome the past when our memories refuse to be forgotten.

In this richly told story where Sliding Doors meets P.S. I Love You, Kristin Harmel weaves a heart-wrenching tale that asks: what does it take to move forward in life without forgetting the past?

After her husband's sudden death over ten years ago, Kate Waithman never expected to be lucky enough to find another love of her life. But now she's planning her second walk down the aisle to a perfectly nice man. So why isn't she more excited?

At first, Kate blames her lack of sleep on stress. But when she starts seeing Patrick, her late husband, in her dreams, she begins to wonder if she's really ready to move on. Is Patrick trying to tell her something? Attempting to navigate between dreams and reality, Kate must uncover her husband's hidden message. Her quest leads her to a sign language class and into the New York City foster system, where she finds rewards greater than she could have imagined.  

5 stars*****

What an amazing and beautiful story... loved every word! This is one of those books that makes you stop and think about all of the little moments in your life that matter most. Moments that we usually take for granted until they are gone. I knew this was going to be an emotional read. Yes, I definitely shed a few tears. But, it was also surprisingly suspenseful. The dreams/visions Kate was having with her deceased husband had me on edge and quickly turning the pages. What did they mean??
Kate lost her husband Patrick twelve years ago. In an attempt to finally move on with her life she decides to settle into a relationship with Dan with the nudging encouragement of her friends and family. She begins having very vivid dreams of an alternate life with her deceased husband Patrick... the life she was intended to have. The dreams are upsettingly painful and real. Kate found herself wanting to stay in this alternate world where everything was playing out as it should have. Or, at least that's what she thought. These dreams reveal situations and truths to her that would be impossible for her to know and forces her to take a closer look at the life she is presently living. Kate finds herself questioning everything about her present life and whether or not she is doing what would make her feel happy and fulfilled.
I loved how the author so beautifully tied the dreams with reality. The progression of the suspense was perfect and had me guessing all the way to the end of the book. And, the way everything came full circle in the end was utter perfection!
My favorite part of the story was the inclusion of the silver dollars. The way the silver dollars ended up being one of the biggest signs of all in the end made my heart happy. Don't think I'll ever look at a silver dollar again without thinking about this book. It was so touching...
This is a book I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes to read stories that touch on the emotions and makes you look at life with a new set of eyes. My favorite lesson I learned from this book??

Sometimes bumps in the road lead you to better places. :)

This book was provided for review by the XOXpert Street Team!