Saving Abby (Forever Abby Book 1)

With some authors, you just know that anything they write is going to be satisfyingly wonderful. Steena Holmes is one of those authors for me. She has a way of pulling you into her stories so that you forget you're reading a book. You feel like you're right there with the characters and they've become your friends. That's how Saving Abby was for me. I completely lost track of time and my surroundings and immersed myself in the lives of Claire and Josh.This is their love story. It's a story about family. About their best friends. And a close-knit community rallying around two of their own. But at its base, it's a true testament to the bond and love between a mother and her child.I loved everything about this book and can only say excellent things about it. Please read it for yourself! 5 of 5 stars, unquestionably.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I was not duly impressed. The writing is rather simple, characters are not particularly well-developed or appealing. I only read it to the end to see how things would turn out. I don't plan to read any other books by this author. Sorry.

I struggled to finish this book! The paragraphs skipped around (I skipped through the parts about their trip), which was distracting. I also felt she should have been diagnosed much sooner considering her symptoms. The book just dragged, I only finished it to see how it ended, which I hated. I don't really understand the title "Saving Abby, when the book finally goes somewhere we're told "Abby is healthy" then goes right to Claire's condition. Struggled to get through this book just to have everything happen in about 3 pages. Probably should have been called "Saving Claire" since the whole book revolved around her predictable but delayed diagnosis. Did I mention I hated the ending?

Potentially a good story but poorly edited throughout. Problems with pronoun usage, the egregious use of 'anyways' for 'anyway', missing information... Several times this reader had a sense of a paragraph left out, or even a chapter accidentally deleted. The subtitling of chapters to indicate past and present time switches was distracting, and a couple times seemed to be wrong. Amazing to come from a "best-selling" author.

An Excellent story about a couple who after longing for a child and failing in their attempts over the years give up only to be blessed with the news that they are expecting a baby. But of course if things went this smoothly there would not be a story. With the good news comes a challenge that will change the lives of every person you meet in this story. Saving Abby is a beautifully written story about love between a man and a woman, a daughter and her mother, love between friends and love between a mother and a child she lost. The ending was predictable but not at all in the way that I imagined. I will definitely read other books by this author.

I was immediately drawn into the story and that's what makes book worth reading for me. If I'm not grabbed by the characters then it's not for me but in " Saving Abby " you are immediately introduced to the characters and wondering who's going to live or die? Then you encounter a very real, very understanding of survivors guilt. Most people think that you would be happy to be alive. But, what if it takes the life of your best friend to make you alive. The constant question " Why her, why not me "?

"Saving Abby" by Steena HolmesWriting books that come straight from her heart to her readers heart is a rare talent for any author; but one that Steena Holmes has mastered.At the beginning, Josh and Claire are abroad researching for the childrens books Jack wrote and and Claire illustrated. They are also using the time to find the perfect place and time to say goodbye to one of their dreams as a couple: to have a child of their own. They have a bucket list they had been keeping for when they had a baby, and despite trying everything over the past six years they were still childless. Eventually, on the last night of their trip, Claire finds the perfect place and time and she and Josh let the sheets of paper containing their bucket list fly through a moonlit night into the water from the deck of their cruise ship.Once they return home, several weeks later, Claire is still feeling like she is suffering from jet lag, despite it being a month or so later. She is sleeping almost all the time, not hungry, and is having massive headaches. Eventually she agrees to see her best friend, who is also her family doctor. Claire is told she is pregnant. And while there is some concern with her severe tiredness and lack of appetite as well as the headaches, they are all thought to be related to her pregnancy.Intermingling Josh and Claire's trip abroad to the present day, with little minor hints here and there, ones the reader doesn't notice initially, the author creates an air of uncertainty around Claire's health that is not related to her pregnancy.The mysticism created by the author is done in such a way that the reader is just as concerned as Claire's husband and her doctor/best friend Abbie as to what is truly going on. When the diagnosis is finally provided, the reader is as shocked, worried, and as full of questions as the characters. The realism of the storyline and the characters is so honest and so raw, that from the beginning the reader is right there with them from the very beginning....and that bond just grows stronger throughout the novel.No matter the storyline, the personal and/or social issue, Steena Holmes has the reader immediately drawn into the novel and into the hearts of her characters. There is so little separation, that the reader truly can identify with each character, their thoughts, feelings and actions. She writes with such strength and honesty, realism and depth that the reader is a part of the novel long past the final words. The reader is left thinking and moved to such a degree that any loss, gain, feeling, question, or interpretation is still being worked through."Saving Abby" is yet another amazing, moving and absolutely incredible novel by Steena Holmes.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The book was so sweet and amazing story about a husband and wife, one the author the other an illustrator. Their passion of writing children's books, is difficult because they want children of their own. What I love most about this book is their love for each other! Why 4 stars it seems unfinished. Too short.

Bought this after reading good reviews but the other readers must be hooked on mushy cheese-fests if they enjoyed this. I was nauseated quite early on by the overly perfect lovedupedness of the main characters which was so incredibly unrealistic it was like a mills and boon from the 1970's. Thank goodness they didn't talk about making love or there would have been euphemisms all over the place. Anyway. By 50% nothing had happened, I hated all of the characters and couldn't care less. I forced myself to finish this book and was rewarded with a trite and predictable ending. I could be wrong but I think there may have been some name errors in the story too. The first born son was referred to as Jack. Then Jackson and then the granny's surname also seemed to be Jack. Was the lad called.Jackson Jack.or Jack, Jack?? Did I just lose concentration?

I was very disappointed by this book. I read the plot line before purchasing and it seemed a great concept. However, I felt that there was no emotional connection with the characters and there was no sensitivity to the seriousness of the story. I didn't feel sad which you would expect after the main character has been dealt with this devastating dilemma. I agree with another review that there was at times some confusion and there was parts of the story that were irrelevant. I am not sure if this is a situation of lost in translation as the book was set in Canada but I just didn't get the way characters spoke to each other. It just seemed very unrealistic. I think this could have had massive potential but I only finished it as I rarely give up on a book and there was some curiosity what would happen to Claire. Great idea but just didn't work for me.

Heart breaking. Page turner from the very start. Beautifully written. 'Easy' to read (language wise not content wise). Beautiful. Pass the tissues

Saving Abby was easy to read but I found the ending really disappointing. Almost like the author couldn't be bothered to finish it properly. Consequently I enjoyed the read but could have been so much better if the story wrap up hadn't been rushed.

This book is light hearted and very easy to read it is sad and happy at the same time a very enjoyable bed time read.

good book

Brilliant book. Well written. Covers sensitive subject really well. Remember you hankies when reading.

Pretty good book

good

I enjoyed this book and would recommend people to read it, cannot wait to read Abby's story when it comes out.

Wonderful

Super all round!

slow start

Loved this book great story

Great read