Just The Way You Are: Book Review

Every so often I check the Itunes store on my phone for free books. I don't check often, because I really don't like reading books on my Iphone, but when I don't have a book on me, and I have some time to spare, I like knowing that I could, almost always, find a free book worth reading. Just The Way You Are by Barbara Freethy was definitely one of those books worth reading. Since I had never heard of the author before, I was a little nervous about starting the book, but I'm glad I did!

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

Fans of Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber and Susan Wiggs will enjoy this emotional and heartwarming story of romantic women's fiction by #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy

Take a romantic journey with Barbara Freethy to Tucker's Landing, Oregon, where Sam and Alli Tucker have mad a life together ... a life about to be tested by the return of the only woman who can break them up ... Alli's sister, Tessa.

A baby brought them together -- and even though Alli has always loved her strong, sexy husband Sam and the life they've built together, she has decided to set him free to follow his youthful dreams. It is no longer enough for her to be wife and lover when she knows she holds so little of his heart.

Sam has always dreamed of a life away from the close-knit world of Tucker's Landing, but marriage and fatherhood ended all that. Now Sam is torn between what was and what was meant to be. He must decide if it's time to rekindle the dreams of the past ... or accept Alli, and her love, just the way she is.

Don't miss this heartwrenching tale of a man torn between two sisters , the one he loved, the one he married ...


My Review:

Tessa and Alli are sisters, estranged because of Sam who loves Tessa, but married Alli because she got pregnant. Alli is finally divorcing him to essentially free him from her and their 8 year old daughter. The first situation in chapter one is enticing, to say the least, as you can imagine. They all haven't been in the same room in years, that is until Phoebe, Tessa and Alli's grandmother, who raised them, had a stroke. Tessa hates her sister for betraying her, because she was and still is in love with Sam. 

I loved the story-line. The characters were so descriptive and relatable. In the beginning, I loved Sam and Alli together, and hated Tessa for trying to get in the middle of their relationship, mentally, if not physically. However, towards the end of the book, a new light was shed on Tessa and I was finally able to see where she was coming from. 

When Alli let go of Sam, it enabled her to explore her identity without him, and who they were together. You don't know what you got till it's gone. There were two love triangles in this book - Tessa, Alli, and Sam AND Phoebe, William, and Phoebe's late husband. Both love stories were incredible, and I was surprised at how well it all fit together, within the story of the search for the last pearl! 

I honestly didn't want this book to end, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional read. The ending might have been my favorite part - I mean who doesn't love a happy ending? While I'm not sure if it was realistic, I enjoyed what happened. I don't think there could be another book with the same characters, and I'm completely fine with that fact. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

"You've always been able to make me laugh, especially when I'm trying to be mad at you" (page 273). 

"The world didn't revolve around maybes" (page 476). 

"Love chooses you" (page 552).