Eight Goodbyes is a gripping wild ride from page one to the end.
The author has written a sweet and emotional story which revolves around Simon and Tessa who fall in love while travelling. Although love wasn’t their plan, they didn’t seem to mind. Even though, their minds told them it couldn’t be anything serious, it felt right so they just did it and enjoyed it for whatever it was.
Both characters are easy to like and love. This book will wrap you up into their world. How they meet and separate, how they meet again and how their relationship grows and changes...and then the plot twists that completely changed the life of both of them.
This was an enjoyable and easy read and I recommend for anyone who likes romance novels.


In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 2/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 2/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5

4.5 Star Review of Eight Goodbyes by Christine Brae
Christine Brae I a new author to me and I have no idea why. Eight Goodbyes was a strong and unique story line that kept me captivated from the first to the last chapter. This will not be my last book by Christine Brae, of that I am sure.
This book had so many layers to it and I found myself contemplating life and the chances that we as individuals take. I found myself totally invested in Simon and Tessa’s story. Simon was so intense, brooding and I wanted to hug him and make life fun for him; he was not an easy character to relate too and truthfully neither was Tessa initially.
The writing was strong and often I felt I was looking at the world through the eyes of the characters such were the descriptions from Ms.Brae. Not only that but the story was unpredictable, just when I thought I knew where it was heading a curve would take place and I was constantly surprised,
Eight Goodbyes is a beautifully written highly emotional love story, one that will touch your soul.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley almost a month ago. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this book and was SO excited when I got the ARC. But I haven’t been able to read it. I kept putting it off, because after I read it, I could never read it for the first time again, and I wanted to savor the words. The book releases on Tuesday, so I forced myself to read it this weekend. My only disappointment was that I waited so long to read it!

Simon and Tessa’s story is now one of my favorites. I loved this book. The characters, the relationships, everything was just so incredibly real.

If you only read ONE of Christine Brae’s books, read this one.

I leave you with a couple of my hi-lighted quotes from the book:

“Of all the places you’ve taken me to around the world, the only place I want is with you. This is the best place,” he cries. “Here. With you.”

“Tragedy has a way of tearing the human heart apart. It’s the people left behind who really die.”

5 "Take me to the stars with you" Stars!!!

When I first seen the cover of Eight Goodbyes on NetGalley I was immediately drawn to it. I read the blurb and it sounded so intriguing but I didn't request it because I didn't think I had the time with my upcoming vacation to read it before release day. Here's the thing I kept getting drawn back to it. Then I knew I had to make the time to read it.

I honestly can say that Ms. Brae has made such an impact on me. This was my first time reading her work and I am in awe of the her ability to pull me so deeply into Simon and Tessa's world that when I wasn't reading I was thinking about where the story was going to go next.

This book is filled with so much emotion. It really tugs at your heart strings on so many different levels. You feel the rush of lust, the feel of new love on the horizon, the heartache of the pain the characters face. You almost want her to rush the story to fix the pain but you need more so that you don't miss one second of their heart achingly beautiful end or is it just the beginning?

"This woman, he thought. She makes me do things, feel things, want things I never even knew I wanted. Like a future."

Tessa and Simon are as different as can be. While she is the artistic, head in the clouds, never sitting still kind of gal Simon is her complete opposite in all ways. He is the scientific, nerdy, organized, guy who loves his plans. Tessa doesn't know where the next minute will take her let alone the nest day or week.

"I am like the sunset, she thought. i skim and fleet and glide away only to wish I'd stayed instead."

Regardless of their differences the inexplicable draw they have to each other cannot be denied. Will they be able to meet somewhere in the middle to explore this passionate whirlwind that beckoned to them when they both least expected it or are they doomed to only have the memories of their Eight Goodbyes?

Eight Goodbyes is most definitely one of the top books I have read in 2018!!!

** Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

I was iffy for a while with Eight Goodbyes. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. The way it was written definitely added to my first feelings about it. Let me explain. The book is broken up into two halves. In each half, the book is further broken up into sections. Those sections are labeled "First Goodbye, Second Goodbye, and so on". Within the section, the storyline goes between Tessa and Simon. Like I said, it was a bit confusing for me to read at first because (for example), Tessa's part of the book would end and Simon's would pick up. No letting me, the reader, know that there was going to be a switch. It just happened. To be honest, that is a huge pet peeve of mine in books.  But, as the book went on, I started liking how the POV's changed without notice. Which is the first and only time you will read me putting this down.

Eight Goodbyes is Tessa and Simon's love story. Meeting on an airplane, Tessa and Simon enter a very unconventional relationship. For most of the first half of the book, Tessa is uncertain if she wants to be with Simon. Simon, however, is head over heels in love with Tessa and would do anything to be with her. Tessa soon realizes that Simon is hers and she is willing to have her happily ever after. But a tragedy separates them for 3 years. A chance phone call from Simon makes Tessa realize that some things are worth fighting for. Will she fight for her love? Or will she let it slip through her fingers?
.
I am going to be blunt here. I didn't like Tessa for 90% of the book. Did I pity her? Yes, she had an awful backstory. But I didn't like her. I thought the way that she treated Simon was horrible. Example: She invites him to Las Vegas. He shows and she blows him off to sleep with her male model. Then tries to rationalize it to Simon when he confronts her. This same pattern went on until Greece (minus the sleeping with her male model). I wanted to throttle her. Here Simon is, offering her his heart, and she is stomping all over it. But, the author did something that I didn't expect. She made Tessa grow up in the 2nd half of the book. She was damaged but she was mature. There was a point where Tessa is looking at old pictures and realizes how immature she was. She also realizes how badly she treated Simon. By the end of the book, my dislike for her turned into respect. Not a lot of woman would stick around when Simon revealed certain things.

While I liked Simon, I thought he was a pushover in the first half of the book. There were points where I wanted to shake him and say "Dude, you had a nice girl in Maxine. Go back to her". Instead, I had to read while he is being left out of important things that are going on in Tessa's life. When Tessa agreed to marry him, I did wait for the other shoe to drop. Sadly, it did with horrible consequences. When he was reintroduced in the 2nd half of the book, I was shocked by what happened to him. I also felt bad for him when Tessa broke her "surprise" to him. I was expecting him to tell her to go take a hike after that. I know I would have.

The chemistry between Simon and Tessa was there. Even though Tessa was a jerk, it didn't mean that they had sparks. They did. The chemistry was red hot. Sparks flew when they got together.

The sex scenes were perfect. They weren't too explicit but were explicit enough to know what was going on. I wouldn't describe them as red-hot but they were close.

The secondary characters were the backbone of this book. They added a depth to the storyline that wouldn't have been there otherwise. 

The second half of the book was a heart-tugger for sure. I have to hand it to the author, she knew how to turn a character around. 

The end of the book made me cry. Not going to say why but it struck a nerve with me. I loved how all the secondary storylines were resolved and tied into the main storyline. I liked the little twist that she threw in at the beginning of the second half of the book. I wasn't expecting it!!

What I liked about Eight Goodbyes:

A) Tessa at the end of the book

B) The chemistry between Simon and Tessa

C) Simon.

What I disliked about Eight Goodbyes:

A) Book was confusing to read at first

B) Tessa at the beginning of the book

C) Simon's reaction to Tessa's news. 

I gave Eight Goodbyes a 4-star review. This was a good romance. The characters might not have been likable but the author showed that people could change. I did find the book confusing to read in the beginning. Also, Tessa was not a favorite of mine. But the book evened out and I ended up enjoying the book.

I gave Eight Goodbyes an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Eight Goodbyes. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Vesuvian Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Eight Goodbyes.

All opinions stated in this review of Eight Goodbyes are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This is the first book I have read by this author and I’m really not sure why Christine Brae has not crossed my radar before now this book was amazing and I’m really struggling to put words on paper to describe this wonderful love story. This story was so different to anything else I have ever read it was a unique story and I loved it, this romance was so much more than just a love story it was a journey about two soulmates chasing each other from different parts of the world, it’s about learning to love and trust as you learn about each other as well as learning about yourself. This author isn’t afraid to show her characters vulnerabilities and this story is beautifully written with some great attention to detail, my emotions took a real hit but by the end I was left feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. For me Eight Goodbyes was the perfect read and I urge you all to one click because you won’t be disappointed, I’m certainly going to be checking this authors other books out.

This is my first time reading this author. I really liked Tessa and Simon. It was cool that Tessa is an author and she’s traveling all over for her book tour. They meet on a plane and there’s an instant connection. The bulk of the book is them meeting in different places all over the world so they could try and be together with the limited amount of time that they had. I did think there were some parts that dragged on a bit. It wasn’t until around the 68% mark where things got shook up and got really interesting. Overall this story is really well written, sweet and at times emotional. I’m glad that I got to read this. I’ll have to check out other books by this author.

First off this review is hard for me to write without giving away parts of the story. To say that Christine out did herself is an understatement. She has done an incredible job delivering this story of love, hope, time, and distance. I have to say I love LOVE the cover of this book. Stuart Reardon who is the cover model is incredibly gorgeous. He made Simon come off the pages into a mental image that I will not forget for a long time. Enough fan girling it is time for the review.

Tessa is an up and coming author who is at the top of game traveling around the world promoting her romance book. It is on one of these trips she meets Simon who is on his way to a conference for his job. All during the plane ride she sneaks peeks at him and admires him from afar. While unbeknownst to her Simon is checking her out as well. The two of them end up at the same hotel and they talk to one another finding out what each other does for a living. As they talk they decide they are going to be long distance friends and meet whenever they can. Tessa is always traveling for her book tours and Simon is always in his lab working.

This is where the story comes to life. With each meeting they start to build a friendship. Doing things together and talking to one another until they meet again. Tessa teaches Simon to be care free and live each day in the moment and Simon teaches Tessa that some things are worth taking a risk on. As these two grow together you will see a true romance unfold right in front of you. This story will make you laugh and cry and everything in between but it is so worth the read. I recommend this book to EVERYONE who loves a good no great romance.

***** I received this book via Author in return for an honest review*****

Blogspot Post: http://kaidansseduction.blogspot.com/2018/08/new-book-review-eight-goodbyes-by.html

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.

In "Eight Goodbyes", Christine Brae has written an entertaining contemporary romance. Was it the best book I’ve read this year? No. However, it was perfectly fine for the niche that I think that the author was trying to fill. This a romance between Tessa Talman, and Simon Fremont. Much to her surprise, Tessa is a newly minted best-selling author. She’s on a publicity trip to New York City when she stands on Simon’s airplane seat, 7A, to put her bag in the overhead compartment. Simon is a bit gobsmacked by Tessa, and contrary to his normally self-contained personality, he chases her down in the baggage claim area. They eventually meet in New York City, after his scientific speaking engagement and her book signing event are both completed. While they part after sharing contact information, they leave with no commitments for further contact. That is the First Goodbye.

The story unfolds as Simon, who is British but living in Boston, follows Tessa’s lead and joins her in longer and longer journeys around the world. They meet in places like Las Vegas; Hong Kong; The Philippines; and Greece. Each time they meet, they struggle with the Goodbye. But in all fairness Simon seems to struggle more with the good-byes than free spirited Tessa does. However, both are hiding secrets from one another, and the effects of those secrets take a toll on the relationship.

Without giving the plot away, there is a harrowing event that happens along the way that changes the course of their relationship. The dramatic tension that arises after the event is to see if Tessa and Simon can resolve their individual issues and build a life together. I usually root for the underdog, so in this instance I was rooting for Simon. In one way, Tessa seemed a bit flip and arrogant to me, and in another she was wounded, and covering that up by her flip behavior. Simon while reserved, was willing to take more risks to move the relationship along, and to move out of his well-defined comfort zone.

Will they be able to craft a ‘Happily Ever After’, or will their individual situations be too much to overcome? Like I said, this was a solid contemporary romance for me. I would recommend it to my friends that are really into romance books, but I’d hesitate to recommend it to someone as a shining example of a great romance, if they weren’t already fond of the genre.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; Vesuvian Books; and the author, Christine Brae; for providing a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tessa Talaman is a romance author who enjoys not being tied down. She is based in the United States but tends to travel and enjoys it greatly. She has a little family but is close to the ones that she has. Simon Fremont is her complete opposite. He is based in England and enjoys stability. He lives close to his parents and brother and visits often. He is a scientist that runs on practical thinking and actions.

The story is written in third person narrative. There is not a lot of character development or real sequence of events. The storyline is a bit choppy but does come to complete close. There is a romance that is rushed and you can not feel a real connection to the characters or their relationship.

Yes, I would recommend this book. It has an interesting storyline, it does lack depth but the overall writing and format style is interesting. This story would be good for anyone who enjoys stories with lots of travelling.

Eight Goodbyes has emotions which will excite and overwhelm you all at once. It had all the ups, downs, high lows of falling in love and everything that comes with it.

Eight Goodbyes is a poignant story, drilling home the fact that, while time is long, life is short. Everything you know can change in the blink of an eye. Don’t waste time on regrets and could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. Sadly, there is no rewind button.

Every. Single. Moment. Matters.

And, no one knows that better than our protagonists.

The journey of these characters, at times, can be downright heart wrenching. Other times, they’ll leave you feeling light and giddy. In turn, eliciting a jumble of emotions. Hope you are fond of rollercoasters. But in the end, they’ll have done their job in reminding you to love hard, laugh often, slow down, and forgive easily because you may not have that chance again.

Simon and Tessa are you and me. They are real. They are raw. They are believable. They are flawed beyond belief, especially our heroine. Forewarning, she will make you want to pull your hair out, or smack her around a bit. BUT if you give her even half a chance you’ll see her flourish and mature in the most exquisite way. I won’t lie, it doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t even happen half way through (well you do see glimpses of it, baby steps), but IT does happen. And when it does you’ll be so damn proud of her. I know I was. As Tessa began to come into her own, she grew on me. I began to see her in a different light and actually rooted for her to find that coveted happily ever after.

Simon…we’ll Simon stole my heart from the moment I met him. And, he refused to let go. He was swoon worthy. Definite book boyfriend material. Our hero was down to earth, dedicated, and wore his heart on his sleeve. Quite the opposite from our heroine who’s guarded and liked to live life in the fast lane. She didn’t believe in the next steps. Simon’s heart and mind knew exactly what it wanted, though, and he went after it fiercely, all the while letting Tessa move at her own pace. I think I loved that the most about him. He knew when to show his cards and when to hold them.

Eight Goodbyes is beautifully crafted, affecting not just the heart and soul but the mind as well. Christine Brae’s books focus on the reality of everyday life, this book is no exception. She stresses with each turn of the page that life is unpredictable. It is unfair. It is both beauty and pain. Her words bring love, tragedy, hope, and survival to realization, making them feel so tangible. When it comes to pulling punches, she takes no prisoners. Brae writes beautifully, flawed characters, and makes no apologies for it. With each work of art, her goal is for you to connect, feel, and think about the deeper themes she addresses. And you won’t help but do that with Simon and Tessa.

4.5 Stars

What a beautiful story! Eight Goodbyes was nothing like I expected, but I loved it! Christine’s writing is magical. I just loved Tessa & Simon, they had so much chemistry. And all of their goodbyes were just heartbreaking. But what a wonderful ending to such a touching story.

I highly recommend this book, the writing was great and the character development was wonderful too! Such easily like able characters.

4.5 Stars!

Simon…Swoony Simon. He is a catch. He has it all…brains and brawn with a side of humor. He may be a little quirky – almost as if he needs things spelled out for him, has a very high educational degree - but doesn’t know how to use social media, and he definitely needs to have a plan in place.

Tessa is a highly successful author who is on a book tour. I think all of us who read indie authors can relate to her schedule and the fandom, and the very important resource that is social media. She is busy promoting her new book and taking herself to various parts of the world when she meets Simon.

Simon and Tessa meet up/hook up at various cities on tour. Some by chance…some by planning…and some by surprise. And the surprise visits are the most angsty…

She had appeased him, just like one of her fans. A condescension to those who traveled to this city to see her. He was one of them, and nothing more.

Plus there’s always the life they have when they aren’t meeting/hooking up…

“I don’t have to know what you do when I’m not with you.”

The problem that happens when you have these agreed-upon meetings, is that somebody is always going to fall in love and it won’t be reciprocated. Who is going to be the first one to say it…

“It’s not enough for me anymore.”

And then we have the big what if…What if you never get the chance to say that 9th goodbye?

This was a very emotional, angsty read and I enjoyed it immensely.

(ARC kindly provided by NetGalley)

I have read this author’s books and I loved them all but so far this is my new favourite. A standalone romance written in third person, Simon and Tessa’s tale gave me my first book hangover of the year.

Simon Fremont is a scientist and on his way to a convention when he met Tessa on the aeroplane, he was in seat 7A she was in 7C. He is career driven, a really hot bloke with that British sense of humour the perfect hero in any book. His pursuit of Tessa was totally uncharacteristic, he was drawn to her like a magnet but surely it’s not love at first sight or is it?

Tessa Talman is a well known author who cannot get into committed relationships as her writing is her top priority. This heroine’s tunnel vision when it comes to her career made her so annoying most of the time. She has a good heart but guards it with twenty foot high walls.

What I have noticed about this author’s writing style is that her heroes are almost perfect and Simon is definitely one; his character comes off as fully evolved, mature and ready to take on the challenge of a budding relationship whilst Tessa was quite frustrating, her selfish attitude and her offhanded treatment of Simon made her an unlikeable person. But with each turning of the page you can see Tessa slowly chipping away at the walls she erected, she becomes more open and develops into a better person for Simon and his heart. This very well written narrative stirred up so many emotions from this reader. I felt the exhilaration every time Simon and Tessa meet up in different places around the world; these settings provided a picturesque and breathtaking canvas to their love story but when certain events happened in the book it shattered my heart into pieces. This book has a truly unique storyline with unforgettable people; the plot, the well developed characters and the stunning locations narrated in the author’s lyrical words make this book a five star read. Highly recommended but keep a box of tissues by your side because you are going to need it!

Once I started reading Eight Goodbyes, I just couldn't put it down. I was pulled in to the story quickly, loving the premise and enjoying getting to meet the main characters. I loved the fact that the description of Simon actually matched the picture on the cover (Stuart Reardon). I'm not sure if it's just me, or if it bothers other people too but I hate it when I get a picture in my mind based on the cover models and then the descriptions in the book are no where near the same!! Tessa got on my nerves every once in a while...I wish she didn't have had such high walls built up and could have opened up more to Simon a lot earlier on. It was obvious to the reader that they had a great thing going! One thing I didn't love is when the book jumped forward a few years. I was really confused as to what was going on/what had happened and it took longer than I wanted it to for the pieces to come together. I think that part 2 could have been written differently to make it less confusing...even if the author wanted it to be a little unclear at first...it just seemed too unclear for me. Other than that I loved this book. Part 2 broke my heart a little. Simon's situation was just so unfair. I hated what he went through. Once I finished the book I realized I had lost track of the # of goodbyes. I flipped back to check to see what the goodbye number was that was listed last and I was heartbroken. Obviously the reader knows what will happen but it made it extra sad to me. The title fit perfectly. This was only my second book by Christine Brae, and it most certainly won't be my last.

This is the first time I’ve read any writing by author Christine Brae, but I’m sure it won’t be my last. When Ms. Brae’s publicist contacted me and asked for my honest opinion of her client’s latest novel, Eight Goodbyes, I agreed based on the description of the book.

I found the first half of the book interesting, but I wasn’t overwhelmed. The travel and romance was intriguing and I absolutely adored Simon who was so open and decent and intelligent and just plain HOT. Tessa was an interesting character, but a bit aloof at times and it drove me crazy for what she put poor Simon through when she couldn’t admit her feelings for him.

Then I got to somewhere around the middle of the book and I couldn’t put it down. My emotions ran high and then dropped to where I wasn’t just crying, I was actually sobbing! Wow! Any author who can create that kind of emotion in the reader definitely deserves five stars.

Tessa and Simon first meet on an airplane with her sitting in seat 7C and him sitting two seats over in 7A. There is an immediate attraction, of which neither would admit. When they see each other again later at the hotel, the sparks of chemistry start to unfurl. Tessa is a bestselling author on a book tour, traveling to several different countries. Simon, a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, begins meeting her at these various locations and each time they part there is another goodbye. Just when their relationship moves to the next level, tragedy strikes. No spoilers here, but I was definitely not expecting something like this to happen. And that’s when the story takes a whole new turn and my tissue box started emptying.

Christine Brae created a story that goes straight to your heart, digs in and does a little twist. I’ll be looking for more of her books in the future.

"One hour. That's all the time he'd spent with her. One hour, and yet he knew that his life had been forever changed."

Eight Goodbyes is a contemporary romance about two characters who are the complete opposite. Tessa is a free spirited romance writer. Simon is a scientist, who is organized and very focused. Normally, the chances that these two would come in contact would be pretty slim. However, I loved how they met and how dedicated Simon was from the start. Tessa didn't make it easy for Simon, but he was very persistent, and that was a very attractive trait. They inspired one another to do things that they normally would never think of doing. I loved that they met in places around the world, it added an extra romantic layer to the story. Because of their different priorities that wouldn't really work together, they say goodbye after each meeting. There are no promises.

"I'd follow you anywhere in the world."

However, after each meeting their feelings for each other grows. It especially becomes really difficult for Simon to say goodbye each time. Tessa, is scared to take the next step with Simon. But eventually she'll have to make a decision. There were times that I was mad at Tessa for being indecisive, however, I understood why she was hesitant. I loved Simon for not giving up, the dedication this guy showed was amazing. Overall, this story was really beautiful and I enjoyed the first half of the story immensely. However, the second half was very unexpected and I felt like the author rushed through the story. Things started happening really fast, and I wanted it to slow down so I could savor the story more. One very significant event results into their separation and the author skips into the future, however I would've loved for the author to continue the story a bit more to show what happened. On the other hand I can understand why the author wanted to keep the reader a bit in the dark, have them guessing. This story was romantic, sweet, and very emotional at times. I am looking forward to reading more books by Christine Brae.

"Of all the places you've taken me to around the world, the only place I want is with you. This is the best place. Here. With you."

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. "One universe, nine planets, 204 countries, 809 islands and seven seas and I had the privilege of meeting you," is the captivating caption on the cover of Eight Goodbyes. Tessa Talman and Simon Fremont meet for the first time on a airplane. Despite their differences-she is a writer and he is a scientist-they agree to meet each other in different places around the world. It is a unique idea to base the plot of a novel on all the times a couple said good bye. The story is compelling but at times it felt slow, and Tessa wasn't very likable as a character. I loved the romantic idea of meeting in different locations and getting to know each other again, so I would certainly recommend that you give this one a try!

Simon and Tessa meet on a plane, while they are flying to New York. She is a writer. And Simon is a scientist attending a convention.
They don't even speak but they are attracted to each other. Especially Simon.
They meet again by chance. And they decide to keep in touch. So they start planning some different meetings in different countries, since they are travelling due to their jobs.
At the beginning it was difficult for me to get involved in the story because I did't like Tessa. She is too afraid of commitment. And some of her actions are not very nice. Moreover, Simon is so cute, sweet and patient that it made me dislike her even more.
But I was really surprised how my opinion about her changed throughout the story. I began to understan her. The more I knew about her past, the more I saw where her behaviour was coming from.
And then, suddenly my heart broke. How much pain can a woman live through without giving up?
Some parts of this book are devastating.
It's the first time I have read a book from this author. I will read the rest. I promise. As soon as I move on from this one. And let me tell you, It won't be that easy.