Actually 3, 5 stars.

This was a quick and heavy read that had me on a rollercoaster with my emotions. I went from crying a lot to smile to go back to feeling sad and then back to feeling a bit of joy.

It might be a perfect fit for those of you that love reading books with more meaningful stories.

I am always a sucker for a Christmas romance - I finally read this one as I am looking forward to the Christmas season (even though it is currently 105 degrees outside...) This story about grief, tradition, and love is one that checks a lot of boxes. Would recommend if you are looking for a light-hearted read about deeper topics in life.

Definitely castaway vibes from this, but an amazing story. Tragic and heartbreaking, I loved Abby. She was strong as well as being incredibly vulnerable because of everything she’s been through. A beautiful tale of love and loss, and being open to life and it’s possibilites despite trauma. Great cast of secondary characters and really well written. I highly recommend.

Before I Go is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming novel perfect for the holiday season. When Abby loses her beloved husband Ben in a plane crash her grief nearly all-consuming. A year later, she is wading through the deep grief when she meets Joel, a physician struggling with his own pain. Abby knows Ben would want her to move on-they had been through a major loss previously-and she tries to forge a new path for herself without Ben. However, unbeknownst to anyone, Ben is stuck on an island and desperate to find a way home. Among the plane wreckage is Ben's backpack and journal with letters to Abby. Ben begins rereading their love story and more determined to ever to see her again. Fate has stepped in and Abby, Joel and Ben are on an extraordinary path. Told against the backdrop of the holiday season this novel is not one to miss.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book was a tragic love story. Kind of. It was a pretty decent book. I liked the story, the characters and the overall experience. If you are into cheesy love stories, then you should give this one a chance.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
A love story that will have you feeling the wonderful emotion of love, and the tears that can happen and the second chance of love,
Abby and Ben found that love, but when Bens place crashes Abby finds herself wallowing in grief. She knows she must pull it together to keep her cosmetic company running,
When she runs into Joel a love is kindled but will Abby be able to move on ?

A Touching Chronicle of Loss and Love

SUMMARY
Abby Gamble lost her husband. Ben a year ago and knows it’s time she starts moving past her grief. That’s easier said than done. She and Ben had shared a deep love and even a loss, but they always knew their love would be forever.

Abby now focuses her efforts on the success of her cosmetic company. She met Joel, a physician, at a nearby gym during a workout. Joel’s past is just as troubled as her own. Joel was only a young boy when a childhood decision led to a family tragedy. His all-consuming guilt had caused him to choose a medical career, so he could help save people’s lives. 

Abby and Joel embark on a hesitant relationship. Both are afraid of letting go of the past and reaching for the future. 

REVIEW
BEFORE I GO is a touching chronicle of what it is like to lose and love again. It’s a cleverly woven tale of how our lives are interconnected with those we have lost.

Author Brian Charles’ inspiration for the book started with a vivid dream several weeks following the death of his mother. The dream assured Charles that his mother was good, and his sadness was ultimately replaced with a calm assurance. Dreams also play a significant role in the understanding of this story. Brian Charles is a pen name for a best-selling mystery writer who is no stranger to crafting a dramatic and compulsively readable story.  

Charles’ intriguing characters drive this well-paced story. Abby will make you feel her despair and, ultimately, her hope. Ben will make you perhaps question his fidelity. Joel will show you the meaning of perseverance, and Maggie, Abby’s sister, will simply make you laugh out loud. The ending clinches the deal and will knock your socks off. It’s a moving and emotional story that is hard to explain to others, but that won’t stop you from trying. Charles has created a story written from the heart and one that will remain in ours forever.  

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 


Publisher Kensington Publishing
Published September 27, 2022
Review    www.bluestockingreviews.com

I love a “hurts so good” kind of book so when friends recommended this one for me, I had to submit a request for it! If you loved One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid then this is a story for you. Very similar vibes!

A beautiful story about loss, love, second chances and letting go. Very moving..

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Before I Go (Brian Charles) is a love story and a story about loss. Before I Go is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Brian Charles is a pen name by an author famous for a different kind of story. Fair warning, there may be a few tears. I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an early copy to review.

An unforgettable holiday romance novel about how our lives and losses intersect.

Brian Charles' debut BEFORE I GO is a light-hearted holiday romance for fans of Nicholas Sparks, Mitch Albom, Charles Martin, Richard Paul Evans, Rochelle Weinstein, and Katherine Center.

The story centers around Abby in Chicago, who lost her son Jacob when just a baby due to leukemia, and then her husband, Ben, after the plane he was on crashed into the Pacific Ocean on an island.

Abby is a successful businesswoman with a cosmetics company and has numerous stores. A year later, after her husband's death, after urging from her sister, she meets a nice surgeon at the gym, Joel. Is she ready to start over, and is this what Ben would want?

She takes it slow and is not sure she is ready for a relationship. Even though Joel is patient and is willing to take things slow. They do fun holiday things, and she meets his nephew Brian.

She keeps her past a secret from Joel.

Joel has his secrets, too. He also has some things he is dealing with about regrets and traumas from his childhood past, involving his brother, which he could not save from drowning when just a boy, which he does not discuss.

Ben is trying to make his way back to Abby since appears he is on the island with someone. He also finds his journal of all the letters he wrote to his son about his love story with Abby.

How do all these lives intersect? Abby, Ben, Joel, and Christian, the real estate developer. Abby and Joel both suffer from survivor's guilt. There is also a mysterious woman with a son and a letter from Ben, and she is planning on sharing it with Abby.

BEFORE I GO is part love story, part holiday, and part magical mystery.

Even though I would not describe the novel as similar to The Notebook or The Shack, I would categorize it more as a Richard Paul Evans story. While reading, you may be thinking, what is going on? Until all comes together in the end and wraps up nicely.

My only con (which is a pet peeve of any book that does this) —There is no reference at the beginning of each chapter regarding who is speaking or changing the POV. It is ok to name the chapter as was done here, but in addition, I prefer the person's name at the top of each chapter when changing POV, like:

Abby
Ben
Joel
Christian

The same goes for audiobooks. Otherwise, you must read a page or two into the chapter to figure out who is speaking, which is very distracting.

If you have read Charlie' Donlea's suspense thrillers (I have read them all)— you know he is a super storyteller, and his latest romance (under the pseudonym Brian Charles) is a thought-provoking, nice, simple, and short holiday read with a deeper meaning.

Give it a whirl even if you do not care for romance (like myself); however, I always read my annual Richard Paul Evans holiday book and am a fan of all the authors I mentioned above.

I also enjoyed Maggie, the sister, and the author's note and inspiration behind the book. A very uplifting read and a compelling debut in this genre. Hopefully, we will see more to come.

Thank you to #KensingonBooks and #NetGalley for a gifted e-ARC.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 27, 2022
Sept 2022 Must-Read Books

This is written by one of my favourite - and rather underrated in the UK - authors, Charlie Donlea, writing under a pen name as this is a detraction from his normal genre of suspense/crime/thriller books. With this being more on the romancey side, I do wonder why he didn't choose a female name, but, there you go...
Anyway... We start with Ben and Abby, husband and wife. We know early on that Ben has a secret he really knows he should be sharing with Abby, and he will, just as soon as his overseas trip is done. Problem is, that overseas trip ends in tragedy when his plane goes down over the ocean and he is deemed missing presumed dead. Their journey together has not been without previous heartbreak so Abby is distraught, throwing herself into the only thing left, her work and the company she built up from scratch.
Meanwhile we also meet Joel whose life took a turn when he was a child and he made a decision that has haunted him since then.
And what of Ben... missing presumed dead isn't wholly dead... To quote one of my favourite books, maybe he's only mostly dead...?
One of the things I love about this author's other books is his attention to detail regarding his characters. This spills over into this book, and indeed genre, as it is quite character driven. And it helped that I took to Joel and Abby right from the off. Ben notsomuch but, you'll probably see why when you start to read the book.
The story he weaves around them is a doozy too. If a little too neat and tidy and, well, not quite as believable as it could be. But it all works. Whether you think it's credible or not, it's fun, and emotive, and emotional. Highs and lows, pleasure and pain. And the supporting cast all did a jolly good job with their parts too. I do admit to struggling a little with the Island parts but, again, you'll see why when you read the book yourself. But there was something just a little offkey with those and not for the obvious reason when all was revealed. Sorry, being oblique, spoilers...
All in all, I would deem this as a successful foray into this genre and, although I really hope he still keeps me sated with his "own" work, I wouldn't mind another "alter ego" book in the future.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

3.5 ⭐️

I “follow” Charlie Donlea. He is one of my favorite Suspense/Crime/Thriller writers.

Two days ago, I discovered that he was releasing a “romance story with a twist” under the pseudonym “Brian Charles” since it was completely different from anything that his fans would expect from him.

So, of course, I requested it!!

It is described as “The Notebook” meets “The Shack” and it’s an exploration of life after loss. Pay close attention to this description as it is quite accurate! And, throw “Castaway” into the mix.

It is sad but also saccharine sweet like a Nicolas Sparks book-and it does touch on faith, so be prepared for that. This is NOT a romantic comedy in any way, shape or form.

Nobody should have to endure what Abby Gamble has. The loss of an infant son, years ago and now the plane her husband Ben was on, has crashed into the Pacific Ocean. No wreckage is found and the rescue becomes a recovery mission.

Eventually, Abby will meet Joel, a physician with his own ghosts-namely a brother he couldn’t save when he was just a child himself.

Can two good people with survivor’s guilt, help each other to move forward or will growing close to someone new just lead to another painful goodbye?

This type of “romance” isn’t really MY kind of book because the leads are always a little “too perfect” and the “love” way too idealized -but if you are a true romance reader- BRIAN CHARLES does the genre justice!

But, I will be sticking to the books that Charlie Donlea pens!

My favorite part was the friendship and support that Abby’s sister, Maggie provided as they really were “best friends” as well as siblings!

And, I have to admit that the “twist” did catch me by surprise!!

This book will be available on September 27th, 2022.

Thank You to Kensington Publishing for the gifted copy provided! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

This is the first book that I’ve read from this author. I choose it because I too have lost someone near and dear to me, and thus the description resonated with me.

Abby, a 34 year old successful cosmetic entrepreneur, lost her husband Ben in an tragic airplane accident. Abby and Ben loved each other deeply and had suffered though considerable grief in their fifteen years together.

A year after Ben’s death, Abby still found it difficult to move forward with her life. But with continued support from her family, Abby finally re-engaged in her busy cosmetic empire. Although her family celebrated this victory, her sister Maggie continued to encourage Abby to start socializing again, and maybe even dip her toes in the dating pool.

Soon, Abby met Surgeon Dr. Joel Keaton. Their first date was at a Surgeon’s Convention with the topic of Gastric Bypass Surgery in which dinner was to be served. Although not an appetizing topic, both had a good time and they snuck out early. However, for over a year, they continued to play cat and mouse as both had their walls up for their own reasons. Joel had been punishing himself for a childhood accident including his older brother. Abby guarded her heart due to losing two of her closest people in her life. Did they even have a chance?

Meanwhile, Ben was trying to reunite with Abby. Was he still alive??

I loved this book. The characters were well developed and authentic, their love and losses transparent through their interactions with each other. Each chapter was intricately detailed and the emotions were palpable. It was like peering into the souls of each character as they worked to unravel their anguish and pain. I cried, I laughed, and cried again. I felt everything that these characters experienced. Could there possibly be any happiness to be had?

If you have lost someone you loved, had difficulties in a relationship, felt hopeless, been scared to confess your sins, grieved and thought you couldn’t move on, this book is for you. If you feel like your challenges are impossible to face, this book is for you. If you want to see the strength to overcome in yourself or others, this book is for you. Ever question your future and feel unsure how to restart from where you are, this book is for you.

Thank you to Author Brian Charles, JS and John Scognamiglio Books published by Kensington Publishing Company, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC. All thoughts and moments are entirely my own.

Before I Go by Brian Charles is a beautiful, generous tale that pulls on the heart strings while giving hope to all. Abby Gamble is a successful woman in her own right, and she has what could be the perfect life. However, there are tragedies in her life that could really bury anyone under the weight of grief. This story is Nicholas Sparks, Mitch Albom, and a little Christmas magic all wrapped up in one story.

Oh, this was a bit of an unusual one!

Abby is a woman who suddenly loses her husband in a plane crash.

Joel is a man who is a brilliant surgeon, but who has trauma in his past as well.

When these two people meet, I wonder what the outcome of it all will be.

So many co-incidences between them, so many secrets, eeek!!

I started off liking this book a lot and then it went off the boil for me, and then it finished very nicely indeed. So, a mixed bag.

I am glad I read it though and it made me think about what life is actually all about and what are the really important parts. Also not to let guilt take over your life!

4 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

You, like me, might think you know what's happened and what's going to happen but I'll bet you, like me, are wrong. It's a story of loss, loss, grief, and recovery. Abby's husband Ben was in a horrible plane crash and once again, she's coping as best she can with the loss. She's just poked her head up when she meets Joel, a handsome doctor, at the gym but he's also carrying a heavy back story. Then there's Christian, a real estate developer interested in the island where the plane went down. Jt's obvious how Abby and Joel mesh (or is it?) and Christian as well (or is it?) These are the outlines but ow they mesh-thats for you to discover. I felt for Abby every step of the way. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a well written story that pulls at the heart strings.

I went into Before I Go with no knowledge of what the book was about. I liked that I chose to read it this way.

Abby has barely begun to recover from losing her son when her husband Ben is killed in a plane crash.

Abby wonders how she will ever cope with this loss on top of everything else. Her family rallies around her, but she just wants to be alone in her grief.

Abby is at the gym when she meets Joel, who has a lot of baggage as well. He has never come to grips with what happened when he was young. We learn more about his life as the book goes on.

The way these two people's stories are melded into one is amazing. Such a great story of love, loss and healing. A very easy read as well.

Thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for the arc

I am mixed about this book. I came into it with expectations because the author, also known as
Charlie Donlea is a 4-5 star read for me. thi s is an earlier novel and is a sweet/sad tale about living and loving when you have lost people close to you. The main character Abby, son died when he was a baby and then her husband dies in a plane crash. she eventually meet Joel and we watch him resolve his issues from the past as well. Her husband Ben has his own reckoning to do. It is a simpler story than he usually writes and it is good for what it is, but I prefer his other books

Abby's journey through the grief process of her husband's death is quite moving. I loved Joel's 'awakening' after operating on his nephew. Ben. William and the island was just weird.