Love, Michael

A Story of Regrets and Second Chances

By: Gina A. Jones

Narrated by: Gina A. Jones

Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Dear Michael,

When we met, it was the summer of Shania Twain, Mocha Iced lipstick, motorcycle rides, and the summer I became a 17-year old mother.

But then you left us.

Now, you're back to walk our daughter down the aisle. And a second chance?

I survived medical school. I survived raising our daughter alone. I survived never knowing what was better than us. I won't survive giving you a second chance. I'm no longer that lovesick 17-year old girl.

Jill

A second chance medical romance. Not all second chances are the same. Some are heart-breakingly beautiful.

©2019 Gina A. Jones (P)2019 Gina A. Jones

redhat queen

This book was a fantastic story. I read it as I was listening to it. Gina you are a great writer and a fantastic narrator. I reviewed this book on Amazon.

Unforgetable

I had read the book about a year ago and I have to say I got book hangover from it. I’m not going to restate the book’s story since the blurb gives away much of the tone. This is just one of those stories that really got to me and after I finished it I just couldn’t get into another book for awhile. It is so easy to relate to these characters. I really hated Michael for most of the book yet since I’m no teeny bopper anymore. I know how people change with time and regret. This book has so much emotion all the way through. I went through so many different emotions such as the love for a bff. How I handle adversity. How I handle loss. I have had so much advice and opinions all through Jill and Michael’s journey. I understand the story is based on the author’s experience and that makes me sad that she had to live through so much of this. She is so much stronger than I have ever been.
This time I’m reviewing the audio edition and not only did it do all the same for me as reading the story but it was even stronger since the author/narrator really brought the characters more to life. This is one of those stories I will always recommend and remember.

heartbreakingly beautiful

For the author to not only put her life into a book but then narrate it herself was incredible!
Jill & Michael's story is a heartbreaking one. I sat and listened to her as she explained how she fell in love with a man 10yrs her senior when she was still in high school, how she found herself married and pregnant at 17. All the trials and tribulations they went through. Some parts were very difficult to hear bringing back so many memories of my own life. I would guess that's what makes a fantastic author though doesn't it. I certainly laughed with her and cried with her. Thank you for following your dreams to give us such a wonderful gift to make our days better.

Wow!

A story of a lifetime, Gina crafts an amazing story and then delivers a powerful presentation. I did not really care for the raw language, and graffic intimate parts as It's something I usually don't read stories involving these things. But Gina had me hooked within the first 5 min. I cried, laughed, and Gina had my emotions running the whole story. I lost a nights sleep because I became so invested in this story, I could not walk away til THE END!! Having the author telling her story made it so real, she made you join her as a beloved neighbor, vested in there lives! Amazing Audiobook!

GREAT READ!

I really enjoyed it! The narration was great and kept me entertained! The author did a great job with the character builds and plot. This was my first book from this author but definitely not my last! I look forward to reading more of her books! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Beautiful Heart Wrenching Love Story

Sigh… where to start? There are sooo many emotions. I stayed up until almost 6am trying to finish the book because I was so emotionally invested. Love, joy, concern, perseverance, strength, anger, deep heart break, devastation, many many second chances following Jill's life. 

I truly can't say too much without any spoilers other than I believe that it is relevant to everyone's heart and life. The characters are wonderfully developed and completely relatable. I enjoyed her well thought out and described world building. 

As an author she's, also, a great narrator surprisingly. And honestly, I've come to really prefer an author narrating their own stories. It gives a wonderful depth to the characters and overall story. 

Ahhh the ending… well, I'd say my favorite color well describes it. Bittersweet. I was satisfied but wept for at least 10 minutes. If you love stories such as Fault in Our Stars, 5 Feet Apart and Me Before You, you'll absolutely love this book. 


My star ratings include these 5 elements:

1★ story line
1★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
1★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review."

The best of everything

I am speechless after this listen. Not only is this book heart breaking but heart warming all at the same time. Jill has a strength about her from the very beginning. I love how Jones takes us from the past to the present. This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster but WOW what a ride. I am completely in awe - this has got to be one of the best books I've ever listened to. The nuggets of wisdom along the way, the character growth the tragedies the hope - there is nothing about this book that is not amazing!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review. (and I am so glad and thankful to have been given this opportunity)

Jill & Michael’s Devastatingly Beautiful Journey!

Jill And Michael’s Emotional Journey Is Devastatingly Beautiful. Sometimes Love Is Found At The Wrong Time With The Right Person, And The Consequences Are Crushing.


Jill Hudson, seventeen, was captivated by Michael Danforth when she first saw him in the parking lot of his apartment building. He was her brother’s friend from college and a full decade her senior. He was too old for her but common sense had nothing to do with her attraction to him. And when he looked at her she almost thought he felt the same. But she knew better, because as her brother Scott explained, Michael could and did sleep with any girl her wanted. It confused Jill when Michael flirted with her one moment and went on a date the next. But eventually they kissed, and later, despite the fact that he kept fighting his attraction to her, knowing it was wrong, he took her innocence as they consummated their relationship.

Michael had plans. He enjoyed late nights, women, and adventure. He had no plans for marriage. Professionally, he was an engineer. He was from nearby Indiana, but he met Scott at Michigan State where he received his master’s degree. A job at Whirlpool brought him to St. Jo, Michigan, but that was only ever a stepping stone for Michael. His goal was Seattle. Boeing was based there, and that was where he could get a job in aviation engineering.

Michael and Jill carried on a secret affair and he seemed crazy about her. But when Jill became a pregnant teen everything changed. Michael fought against anything that tied him down, and the last thing he wanted was to marry Jill or have a child. He didn’t want her to keep it. He reluctantly married her with the intention of helping her through nursing school then moving on, and everything after their wedding day became an arrangement.

Fast forward about twenty-five years. Monica Danforth is marrying Jordan York, the man of her dreams. Jill is so happy for her daughter and sees Jordan’s sincere love for her. The wedding day will be a dream come true for Monica, but for Jill the day will be a challenge because the man she and her daughter haven’t seen in twenty years, Michael, will be walking Monica down the aisle. And apparently he has done well for himself in their decades apart. He is now the owner and CEO of Danforth Jet Center. He has stepped into his father role, despite his complete absence from Monica’s childhood, and is paying for Monica’s wedding.

Jill never did remarry. She once considered marrying Drake Daniels, but it ended when memories of Michael got in the way. The damage their relationship had done to her colored her outlook on men and she had grown skeptical; she would not allow a man to destroy her again. It was easy to choose to make Monica the center of her life. It was a safer choice. So when Michael shows up at Monica’s wedding with the patience of a saint and declarations of everlasting love, Jill is rightfully angered because her Michael had never been capable of loving anyone but himself.

Jill and Michael’s emotional journey is devastatingly beautiful. Sometimes love is found at the wrong time with the right person, and the consequences are crushing. Some synchronicity is at play as the story unfolds. It is an emotional rollercoaster that will rip at your heartstrings and build you back up before its conclusion. It is almost impossible to imagine in the midst of it, but the story does end on a positive note. There are tears throughout (at fourteen points by my count). The story is nicely written. The plot is very complex. The story is powerfully woven, alternating between past and present. The characters are deep and well-developed. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

As for the Audio: it is mostly consistent with the book and is well performed.

wow

If you have ever had your heart broken by your first love, then you can understand Jill's feelings. Forgiving may be easy but forgetting is harder. Emotional and tear jerker.

It's hard to love Michael.

Oh my, what an emotional read! I dont think I could have ever forgiven Michael. Jill has a heart of gold. What a stand up wife and mother! I love emotional books and this one takes the cake. Be prepared to be angry. Be prepared to be sad. Be prepared to be in awe. Be prepared to be in love.
We are told this is based on real life events in the authors life. That makes this book all the more interesting. I have been married for almost 50 years and my favorite part of this book was the "Love is" speech near the end. I highly recommend this book. I'm keeping it to read/listen to again.
I listened to audiobook version performed by the author. She did excellent job. Crisp, caring, easy to follow.

Powerful and Emotional

OMG this book will break you emotionally. When i first started, i was a bit unsure of the narrator being the author. But who better to put the emotions into this book. Story of 2nd chances after 20 years apart.

#audiobookobession reviewer

A fantastic read!

I can’t remember the last time a book made me cry, or feel quite so much sadness as this one did. Love, Michael is a heartbreaking, second chance story of love, loss, and redemption. I have to say that I didn’t always like past Michael, but present Michael more than redeemed himself. It’s one of those reads that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. And Gina A. Jones is as fantastic a narrator as she is an author. I loved it and highly recommend!

Blew me away!!!

If I could give more than 5 stars across the board for this one it would!!
As with all of Gina A Jones books this was one was beautifully written and so filled with emotions you will not want to put it down. I Cried my eyes out on quite a few occassions and I could so relate to some of the things Jill was going through!! It was so realistic I found myself at times wanting to scream about some of the situations.
Such an amazingly well written journey!! Loved it!
Gina A Jones is a superb author and an absolutely brilliant narrator!!!
MIND BLOWING!

💔 💔 FULL of emotion!! 💔 💔

Love, Michael should be one of those books that come with tissues! I'm not a big crier when it comes to books and I know that if a book makes me cry then the author did a fabulous job in character development as well as making the situation relatable. This two items are the biggest for me with books. I have to like or love to hate the characters. But I also need to feel as though the situation is plausible (if it's going to make me cry anyway). Ir it has to touch me somewhere that's a soft spot for me. I think we all can relate to the struggle of past mistakes or regrets.

I'm always a bit nervous when I see an author narrating their own book but Miss Jones was pretty good! Really though, if you think about it, who is better qualified than the author? They know what their characters are feeling, they have given them life after all. Miss Jones portrayed humor and hurt, love and pain so very well. This was a touching story both in words and narration.

#AudiobookObsession

broke my heart

I have to say, this book broke my heart. I don't know. It's so raw and real. This was a pretty rough listen for me, as I followed along with Jill and Michael's story, their daughter's wedding day. Just this book was so emotional. I applaud the author for being able to write such an obviously personal book, and I hope it was cathartic for her.


🎧AudiobookObsessionReviewer

Emotional

This book had me all emotional and I had to stop a couple of times before I could get to the end. I did have a hard time with Michael just walking back in after all those years. He was a selfish jerk but to be fair he was a teenager. There was heartbreak with real life situations that kept this book raw. Over all good book.

#audiobookobessionreviewer

Reviewed for Audiobook Obsession

At the beginning of this audible book the author/narrator mentions that this story was inspired by life events. If they are hers or someone she knows I’m not sure, but I do have to say I admire her courage, bravery for writing this story. It is heartfelt, heartbreaking, tragic, but with some hilarious fun mixed in. Life is a fickle thing, it can lead us down so many paths, good or bad, we can’t always make the decision we want especially when there are others depending on us, and sometimes others make the decision for you and sometimes you get a second chance to right the wrongs, and get the HEA you deserve.
Gina both wrote and narrated this book herself, I am impressed with both.