Customer Reviews

Fixing Forever Broken

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Fixing Forever Broken begins grotesquely which might turn some readers away. But after those first pages in the Prologue, it develops into a sincere love story and mystery that more than redeems itself. The story concerns lies and cover-ups which, in the end, seem somewhat justified.

The dramatic story begins in 2006 with twenty-eight-year old Abby visiting her parents' home. The place is unlocked and eerily empty. The only sound--the ticking of a huge grandfather's clock. She walks through the house searching for either parent.

Her search takes her to the second floor where she sees the door to the attic ajar. She climbs the steps in the torrent of summer heat to find her father dangling from a high joist with a rope around his neck. Of course she is shocked.

The story flashes back to 1985. Abby is a seven-year-old girl who runs off each time her fearful father becomes loud and abusive. He owns a law firm. Staunch and firm where obedience and respect are concerned, the man is harsh with his two young sons and strikes out at them physically. There are times when he treats Abby with the same punishing violent behavior. He is always formally dressed.

Once after mouthing off at her father to protect her brother, Abby runs down the street to interact with a new playmate, Eli, who is moving in. To Abby, Eli's father is the epitome of what a dad should be. He welcomes her into his home. He appears relaxed and dresses in jeans and T-shirts.

Throughout the book, Fixing Forever Broken develops along two themes:

1) Abby's life in the present during and following her father's suicide, funeral, and adjustment thereafter;

2) Abby's life as she grows up with Eli at her side: her best, trusted-forever friend.

Both themes are cleverly developed. The reader learns about hidden family secrets that inevitably lead to the suicide of Abby's father. Although Abby's psyche toward that man had been forever damaged, she learns from her mother that in his later years, her father often spoke of his children with warmth and love, particularly toward Abby.

After a lifetime of profound, unrelenting friendship, Abby and her boyhood friend Eli become romantically involved. They pledge themselves to honor one another and look forward to the day when they can always be there for one another as husband and wife.

But a single thoughtless act by Abby later in life, proves more deadly to her than her father's suicide ever will. It kills the love and warmth Abby has sought all her life: she and Eli part for many years. Shattered now, Abby is left to face life alone. All seems so hopeless and empty.

Because of the nature of this dramatic tale, readers will feel incomplete until they reach the last few pages. Why would her father, a wealthy man who owns a law firm, take his own life? Are family secrets that dreadful? Can Abby find meaning in life without Eli, the man she has loved since she was seven-years-old? Once something is broken forever, can it be fixed?

I would recommend this story as an extremely dramatic love story filled with mystery. It is heartwarming and in spite of suicide at the onset, the fervor of the love story that develops between Abby and Eli carries the story to a wonderful conclusion.

Characters are well developed. As such, I stood with Abby at her father's gravesite; I saw her look askance to catch Eli standing behind the crowd of mourners. I guarantee that all who read Fixing Forever Broken will enjoy this powerful drama as much as I did.

Other fascinating reads:

No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving The Suicide Of A Loved One

Aftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide

Why Suicide?: Answers to 200 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions about Suicide, Attempted S

Aftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide

A finely woven tale of traumatic experiences both from childhood and young-adulthood mistakes, the characters feel so real, you want to help them through their difficulties and find peace and happiness. I loved the intricacy of the intrigue and events and how they deflected the reality of what had actually happened! Excellent read!

"Fixing Forever Broken" by Tamara Lyon is a heart-wrenching yet heart-warming love story in which the reader feels as if she/he is experiencing the characters' realities first-hand. It is the perfect mix of suspense, drama, and romance. I am not going to re-cap the plot of the story, since that has already been done by a few other reviewers, but I will say that this book is a must-read for anyone who desires a detour from the "same old books" that have been around for years. Tamara Lyon's writing style is refreshing and real, and her ability to make the characters tangible and truly identifiable with one's own life experience(s) is inspiring. I found "Fixing Forever Broken" to provide a wonderful escape for me, as I was able to fully emerse and even lose myself in the story. It was a book that I had sincere difficulty putting down. I have already almost finished reading Tamara Lyon's third novel, The Ugly Tree (another fantastic read - highly recommended!!), and I look forward to her future novels, which are sure to further showcase the talents of this up-and-coming author. And as a side note, in case you are looking for more information about Tamara Lyon's books and her personal story, she has a website (tamaralyon.com) that provides some great information for fans and other interested individuals. I encourage everyone to check it out!

Fixing Forever Broken is a novel of memories, lies, and hidden secrets. Abby Stafford is engaged to be married when she discovers her father's body - he is dead from suicide. The experience so traumatizes her that she is struck temporarily colorblind, and buried childhood traumas surface amid her memories. She recalls being with her soulmate Eli at a young age; the two of them relied on one another's strength as a defense against her alcoholic father, and even became lovers at the threshold of adulthood, but Abby's own ill choices crushed their relationship. In the present day, Abby must come to terms with the difficult problems and challenges facing her surviving family and friends. The ones who don't outright lie to her are evasive or refuse to answer, and even eight years later, Eli keeps himself at arms length. For the sake of her soul, her sanity, and her future, Abby must reconstruct the buried secrets, betrayals, and misdeeds of the past - both distant and recent. An intricate novel of complicated relationships, highly recommended.

In less than a week, this was the second book by this author that I read. I couldn't put this one down, either, especially since I related all too well to the premise of the book - fixing mistakes made in the past. I love Abby and can empathize with her totally. I, too, have made mistakes that seemed irrevocable. I stayed up way past my bedtime with this one! Recommend for any/every one!

Fixing Forever Broken is a story that is easy to get lost in. Abby's bravery to put her heart on the line to fix her regrets, no matter the consequences, is truly admirable to anyone who has any regrets about love. The way Abby's family must learn to cope with suicide is very real. Tamara Lyon's writing makes you feel like you are watching the action from Abby's eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get away for awhile. I can't wait to see what Lyon's next book has in store!

This book drew me in from the very beginning. I didn't need a chapter or two to be captured - that was already done in the first couple of pages! Ms. Lyon writes very real characters - people you feel you can relate to, or even know. The way she portrays the relationships in the book is so realistic - there are betrayals, abuse, lying, misunderstandings - all things you find in real life. I had a hard time putting the book down to go to bed at night. It was a great read!

When I first sat down to read "Fixing Forever Broken", I planned to just start the book and read for about a half hour. It was a good thing that I didn't have any other plans! I couldn't put it down. I had to finish it. I've since given it to others to read. Everyone has loved it. Tamara has the ability to create stories that pull you in from the beginning and keep you interested until the very last word.

I recently took this book to the beach and could not put it down! I spent the entire day reading it and finished it the same day I started. Tamara Lyon has an amazing ability to draw you into a story and take you on an emotional journey alongside her complex and very relatable characters. I loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. It's been a long time since I couldn't put a book down. I stayed up until 1 AM to finish the book because I HAD too. I really loved the way that Tamara gave you the feeling that a character wasn't telling you everything they knew.