BT Urruela

This is a great close to a series.

Gavin was challenged by his best bud, Bobby, 30 dates in 30 days = $25,000.

Seems that Gavin has hit a funk; his girlfriend left him, his depression is overwhelming him, his beloved grandmother is in a home and she's coming to the end of her life.

In this installment we deal with a lot of emotional baggage. (yes, have plenty of kleenx handy) Sami, one of the women he "dated" peaked his interest but when her friend let's her know that she too has a date with Gavin...well let's just say this budding romance may be over before it really starts. No matter how much he tried to explain to her she's having none of it. So what's a guy to do....grabbed a bottle of Jameson and end the night drunk texting her. Oh and calling up a good friend to cry to. Haven't most of us been there a time or two. This is why friends should take cell phones away when booze and heart ache are on the menu for the night.

Bobby and Javon try to reach out to Gavin but he's only willing to meet them part way....that whole depression and self-analyzing is getting in his way. But he does assure them that he will not try or even think of trying to commit suicide again. (kleenex please.)

Nurse Jackie calls, Gracie isn't doing well; he might want to think about spending more time with her "before it's too late". How do you prepare to lose the last person you have truly felt loved by? Who doesn't remember you because of Alzheimer's? Who when you were a kid was the safe haven you wished you didn't have to ever leave? The time he spends with her, talking to Nurse Jackie and his memories....it's all so beautifully and lovingly written. more kleenex please) I knew Gracie's time was about over but the fact that Gavin gets his wish in that Gracie becomes lucid enough to speak with him a bit. Reassure him she loves him and is proud of him. That they share some special memories and she asks him to read Gone With the Wind to her...again. (and here I am crying while writing this) Slayed me.

We do meet his brother and learn what mess his life is and what he's doing about it. His parents, we had hints that the were lousy people but when the two brothers talk ...wow, now I can understand more why Gavin has such issues. Does he win Sami back....what do you think?

For an emotional story I was glad for one tremendous LOL moment....the reading of the will. Gavin's mom has been flown in just for this. It's the two of them and the lawyer. Gavin gets what we figured he would...all Gracie's prized possessions. Mama, mama gets a book about being a terrible person and how it effects your kids and others. Oh and a little note from Gracie telling her what she thinks of her daughter and what she did to her boys. Also turns out Gramps was a shrewd investor. In the 80's he bought some big blocks of big name stocks and they did well. We don't know how much is involved but it was bound to be a pretty penny

B.T. did such a good job of walking us through the challenges of mental illness. What the struggles are and that they don't just magically disappear. It sounds like it's written from a very personal and sometimes dark place. Maybe that's why it reads so well. It tugs at the heartstrings, rips at your gut but gives you hope. I'm thinking this one book I'll be re-reading for years to come.

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I laughed. I cried. I raged. And I seriously wanted to punch some folks in their faces.

Bishop gives us a look into his world where he has lost his eye and his path in life. He never thought to think "What happens when I leave the Army"? But now that he's been discharged what does he do with his life? Where does he find a purpose, another band of brothers, a sense of what and who he is?

I've always known to enlist takes a special person but never thought....what happens after? I know that just because they no longer wear the uniform it doesn't mean their ideals and sense of duty just ends. But even with my uncle's example I never realized how difficult that transition to being a mere civilian can be. Bishop leads us through the mess that is his mind, his guilt and his demons.

Pledging a fraternity would never have occurred to me as a solution but from what you hear you join a frat and it becomes a lifelong brotherhood of sorts. This one seemed a little more out of control than what you usually hear but some of what goes on, yea you've heard those stories. Pledges, Hell Week and some things that are going to make your stomach churn in disgust....and I am not talking about the Wheel of Chance. All I will say is, you too will want to punch Brady's lights out!

The way he ended up in therapy wasn't the greatest but was glad to see him giving it a chance. Okay so she was a cougar that he really had the hots for but even so, it made him willing to open up and start to look at things from a different angle and question, why? Dr. Carleigh Jacobs, you give women and therapist a bad name....for a educated woman my goodness you are such a dumbass. Sorry but once you read it you'll understand.

His pledge brothers- Jeremy, Mac and Carter.....oh they are too funny. Just goes to prove that different backgrounds and cultures doesn't mean you can form tight friendships. Sarge....oh goodness, I love Sarge. And once BT explained the inspiration behind him...you love him more. JD, the Ragin' Redneck, he's so off the wall you can't help but be entertained by him. Or grossed out depending on his topic of conversation. Some of the other Frat brothers I had to wonder how the hell they got into positions of power within the Frat. No leadership skills. No moral compass. Just a bunch of horny 20-somethings out to party and get laid.

The ending....out of extreme hurt something good can grow. It took that big push to get their heads on straight but in my head their lives went on to bigger and better things. That's how I know I just read a good book. When the characters became so real I imagine their life after the last page.


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