Left Hanging

So, this book was an okay read. A regular concept. Though the ending was nerve-wrecking.

I liked the Character of Darla and thought Theo was a sweetheart too. I read it in one sitting. It was a one time read.

Left Hanging, Cindy Dorminy

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, Women's fiction

Sometimes I want a solid, absorbing fantasy read and others something lighter. Yesterday was one of those so this book was what I chose. 

It fills that Lighter tag perfectly, being a sweet romance, great characters and a story that feels quite light and fluffy and then...descends into some serious drama, showing another side to al the characters and having some amazing emotion to it. 

I really liked the characters, they were a good mix from lovely Darla, hunkalicious Theo, to the wonderful Isaac who brought in some great humour.
Darla's has no immediate family except for sister Diane and daughter Stella, but she's got some fabulous friend's in the few people she let close in her life. she's brought up Stella alone for many years now, thinking Theo didn't want them.
Then he turns up on a working rotation at her hospital....

He's not what she expected, seems to have no idea about Stella and she's puzzled. He's clearly still attracted to her, flirting and acting really pleased to see her. Why doesn't he ask about Stella? His attitude is perplexing.
Theo is gorgeous, inside and out, and is delighted to find his "Juliet" having lost track of her after the fire on the night they met. without even her real name he'd no way to track her. He can't belive he's been given a second chance and isn't going to let her go, but has to tread carefully as she seems scared.

Of course there's a balance to all these "good" characters in Mallory, Darla's roommate from college, Theo's Ex, though that term isn't defined according to Darla!
I love characters like hers ;-) Though she wasn't all nasty, and when she was it was kind of muted...bring on the Bad for me, the Darker the better. This is just kind of soft grey...

There's a thinnish Christian thread running through here, with Theo being a preachers son, and his family all strongly religious, and though that's often a turn off for me in a book it fits here.
Its kept relevant to the story, gives a backbone to Theo's family and the type of people they are so that I understand them, but at no time does the story Preach to the reader - that's what really puts me off, when The Lord is the answer to everything and we just need to have more Faith.
I'm not anti Christian, I'm just one of those who believer in a higher power but is it god as Christians see him or something/someone else? Here the religious side is just perfect for the story-line and works. 
 
Stars: Four, a fun, cute and light romance with some unexpected depth towards the end.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

I loved this book. I thought it was fantastically written and read it in one sitting. Would recommend.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley.

Darla (nursing student) meets Theo (medical student) at a party and they hit it off, but (for reasons which are crucial to the plot) don't exchange names. There is a fire at the party and in the confusion they lose touch and cannot track one another down. Darla discovers she is pregnant, but then receives a group email from her ex-roommate Mallory with a photo of Theo, whom Mallory describes as "the one". Using an address gleaned from Mallory's email, she contacts Theo to say she is pregnant, but he tells her to leave him alone. Cut to seven years later, when Theo and Darla find out they are working at the same hospital and Theo seems delighted to see Darla and makes no reference to their daughter. Then it emerges that Mallory has followed Theo to his new job.

I liked the set-up of the story and Darla's co-worker and best friend Isaac was fun, but the plot dragged for me. There wasn't really much plot to speak of until the end and the author missed an opportunity to make Mallory much more of a villain than she did. Darla fails to confront Theo about his abandonment of her, and then, once she realizes he has no idea about their child, she seems to go out of her way to find reasons to avoid telling him. She manages to tell all her friends and two of Theo's siblings, but not Theo himself. Then there is a big crisis, which precipitates the revelation and then even that drags on for far too long, until Theo's siblings stage an intervention. You begin to wonder if Darla and Theo will ever manage to sustain a communicative relationship without the help of friends and family. Given that it has taken Theo seven years to escape from Mallory's clutches, you worry about his gumption generally.

There were various references to Theo's Christian faith; he keeps a bible by his bed while having unprotected sex with a girl he has just met whose name he doesn't know (and presumably while sleeping with Mallory, whom he has no intention of ever marrying), his dad is a pastor etc. These references annoyed me as his faith didn't really seem to inform any of his decisions, it just cropped up now and then to advance the plot.

Harmless enough, but I wouldn't re-read it.

This book was fantastic!!! It was funny and sad and lot of jokes. Loved how the family came together. I did not want to stop reading.

I really liked this book. It's the first book I've read by this author. Very interesting story and captivating characters. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

left hanging is a little different then what I'm used to and I seriously enjoyed it. Darla and Theo shared a night before college graduation. Romeo and Juliet lost track of each other and now 7 years later are brought face to face again. Darla has a secret though.... that night gave her the one thing she will never regret... Stella.

Theo is a likable character and darla is a strong woman who made the best of her situation. Together they make a cute couple, but I liked the end. It brought the book to a happy ending. I recommend reading it if you want to sigh at some seriously sweet moments.

3.5 Stars. There was something that called to me when I read the blurb to this book. I don't know exactly what it was, but I am glad I picked it up.

Darla is a single mom whose baby daddy/love of her life re-enters her life. Her love for her daughter has shaped who she is and the direction her life has taken. She was a well defined character with some pretty awesome friends. While one good conversation with Theo could've avoided a whole lot of drama, it seems she was not quite there.

Theo was definitely not an alpha type. He was quite on the other end of things with an ex-girlfriend pretty much stepping all over him. The ex drama is strong with this one, folks. He was definitely flawed. Theo can be pretty douchey: i.e. The way he breaks up with his ex-girlfriend and how he treats Darla, our heroine, once her secret is out. However, he had moments that redeemed him, for sure, or I wouldn't have liked the story.

There were a few points of frustration for me but I think perhaps the reason I liked the book was because it felt more true to life and its tendency to be messy.

There were some tender moments that really made the story feel different. Details of their intimacy were sparse so it's definitely more on the sweet side of romance than it is the hot side. All in all I enjoyed it despite some things I wasn't a fan of.

Safety: Ex drama galore. No others for h but H's ex kisses him. No rape or abuse. Both were virgins their first time together. H was with someone else after her (the ex that is causing drama).

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

Despite it dealing with a insta-love kimd of romance, I liked this book.
I didn't connect withit, and the characters, that much, but overall I liked it.
I do think some parts could have been given better continuity and flow better. And I hoped for a more elaborate ending, but it was an enjoyable read.

I requested this book because the blurb caught my attention.

Darla and Theo are soulmates that life dealt a crappy hand. She was the wallflower. He was the geeky kid with diabetes. But what Darla saw was the most amazing man. The got together only to be torn apart by a fire and not exchanging names.

Enter the villian, Darla's roommate Mallory. I have never disliked a characters so much. Trying to keep Theo for herself. Darla is forced to raise her daughter without a father.

7 years later they meet. Darla's confidence is at an all time low when they meet. There's a comedy of errors before she gets to tell Theo. But will it be too late?

The journey is well written with characters that the readers will bond with. Darla, Stella, Isaac, and Shelby are a tightly bonded group. But they all seem to fell the rightness between Darla and Theo. Stella knows almost the moment she meets him.

I couldn't put the book down. There were spots where I wanted it to move faster and the end, I won't lie.... I wanted more.... Maybe an epilogue? But it doesn't stop this from being a great book that will engage the reader.

Ohhhh, I loved this book! All those wonderful and meddling Edwards' and all their friends, all those people who help and support Theo and especially Darla and - well, I must say that I was so happy when I found that the reason why, was not the obvious one but just one of those things, you know. One of those stupid things that just happen.
As I said there are so many really wonderful characters in this book, I really loved them.

Alright, that doesn't mean that I like Theo's girlfriend, like, at all, but the rest of the people around them, well, I like them, a lot. And Stella - who douldn't love someone like Stella? She is amazing and so sweet and I was so very very upset when things got rough and I might have cried a bit (or more) and I might have turned the pages faster and faster because I just had to know.... You know. Oh, No, you don't know. Well, perhaps you should read this book, then you'll know!

Well written, gripping and sweet and with many many amazing characters - I can definitely recommend this book!

A very enjoyable read, it moved at long at a great pace and I was really invested in the characters from early on. Everyone seemed believable & well rounded (except the cartoon-esque Mallory) - I did find the secret/reveal frustrating as I just didn't feel it would have been held back in that way and for so long, but its the premise of the book so I can understand why, it did make me want to shake her though!

​​​​​I enjoyed Left Hanging by new to me author Cindy Dorminy. This book is well-written, the characters are engaging, and the emotional details are perfectly aligned with the plot. I was a little surprised by the religious element, since nothing was mentioned in the book blurb.

Darla Battle is doing a wonderful job raising Stella, her six-year-old bundle of joy. Her work as a nurse is fulfilling, however, making ends meet is a struggle at times. After six years of no communication, Darla runs into Stella's father, Theo Edwards. Stella is the result of a passionate night of love, which both Darla and Theo live over and over again in their hearts. Theo is now a resident at the same hospital which employs Darla. Theo seems to know nothing about Stella, even though he responded to one of Darla's emails about the pregnancy way back when. Although being a single mom is difficult, Darla has two good friends that she can lean on. In addition, her unconditional love for Stella supersedes any hardships.

Theo loves being a doctor and hopes to one day be a part of Doctors Without Borders. Not only is he nice-looking, he is a very good man, thanks to his amazing and warm parents. Because Theo has diabetes, he has to take very good care of health, which is sometimes difficult when working long shifts in the ER. An almost tragic incident is what ends Darla's overwhelming apprehension about telling Theo about Stella.

I enjoyed this emotional novel and Ms. Dorminy's uncomplicated method of storytelling. Darla and Theo are wonderful together and I loved the way the author developed them both as individuals and as a couple. Darla's friend Issac is a real trip, and his genuineness about life is refreshing. There is a very funny Overall, this is a heartfelt book with some twists and turns that kept me glued to my seat from beginning to end.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this book - I didn't read any of the blurb, just got straight into it - and I was so pleasantly surprised. I literally couldn't put it down! It took a little while to get used to the author's writing style - a little short and to the point than I have come across before, but it seems to work well and I found myself pretty hooked only a page or two in. The main character, Darla, is instantly likable, and continues to be a relatable character throughout the book, despite the fact I was getting annoyed at her at times for not spitting out her huge secret (which we all know way before anyone else by the way!). There were many sweet parts to this book, and the surrounding characters in Darla's friends and Theo's family add humour and fun to this story. Darla's love of her life, Theo, is also a likable guy, though at times a bit of a stubborn dork, he comes through in the end and you can see just how much of a match these two are. You can actually imagine them going on to have a lovely life :)
All in all, I would recommend this book. It was an easy read, there was a little too much medical reference for my liking, which I didn't really feel necessary to the story, but I guessed pretty quickly that the author must have a medical background. I've given the book 5 stars, I didn't expect it to be as good and as lovely, heartwarming and sad at the same time. I would definitely read another of Cindy Dorminy's books.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Left Hanging by Cindy Dorminy that I read and reviewed.
This book was a cute second chance romance that I enjoyed. It was a quick romance that would recommend.
I found both Darla and Theo likable people that I was cheering for. I wanted them to work things out and get the happily ever after that they both deserved for each other and their daughter.
I am giving Left Hanging four out of five stars.

3.5 stars
This is a second chance romance that I enjoyed! I thought the characters were developed quite well. Her daughter, Stella was really cute and I loved Isaac as Darla's best friend with his friendship with Stella.
What made this different was how there was someone messaging Theo and he was trying to guess who it is. The mystery element to it worked really well and it was a bit different how they actually had a daughter but Theo didn't know that Stella was his daughter and there were times in the book where I would be thinking, just tell him Darla!
I thought that it was cute how they named each other romeo and Juliet and they joked about it so it didn't seem too cheesy that the romeo and Juliet reference was made.
I'm so glad that the story had different twists because I think without them, it would have been a simple story about a little girl that doesn't know who her dad is. I liked the ending and I loved the last paragraph about love being more than a game because it linked with the character, Theo so it fits so well.

I love a good second chance story and this one didn't disappoint

Left Hanging is a lighthearted, sweet, second chance romance. Theo and Darla hook up at a frat party one night and are left with a permanent, adorable consequence. Lack of communication though leaves Theo in the dark about this consequence and 7 years later they have a reunion at the hospital where she's a nurse and he's just been hired on as a doctor. She's confused about their reunion, though, because he's flirty and doesn't act as she figured he would act if they were to ever see each other again.

I like both Darla and Theo, but people, come on, COMMUNICATION!!!! Argh, their communication skills were seriously lacking here. I guess, the drama has to come from somewhere, though, and here it comes from her lack of communication. Though, to be fair, she tried to tell him, she just wasn't very successful and didn't try too hard because of her insecurities. And when Theo did find out, he didn't react very well at all. His reaction was pretty disappointing, and kind of highlighted the main trait of his that I don't like: he lacks much of a backbone. He lets his ex walk all over him for their entire relationship and allows her to cause all kinds of drama in his, and Darla's, life. I would have liked him to be a bit more assertive and take charge, and perhaps the two would never have been apart at all.

All told, though, Theo and Darla are likable, realistic characters, and I enjoyed their story a lot. And the whole cast of characters they surround themselves with are awesome: Isaac and Shelby (Darla's best friends), Jennifer, Tommy and Heather (Theo's siblings). And of course, Stella, she's absolutely adorable! If you like second chance romances, Left Hanging is definitely something you should pick up.

This story took me a little while to read it. Once I got into the story, I found it to be a cute read. There are some misunderstandings and supposed friend that keep this couple apart,but they eventually find their way back to one another. I had some issues with this story, but overall, it was an okay read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

An enjoyable read with complicated and intertwined stories - how does a single mom cope with feelings for someone who rejected her and her daughter? What if things are not as they seem? Is a happy ending possible? A great beach read. I enjoyed it a lot.

The blurb:

As a nurse and single mom, Darla Battle hides her loneliness behind a smile. But when she discovers that the new cute doctor everyone is talking about is her daughter’s father, she knows she needs to keep her distance from the man who abandoned her and their child, Stella.

When Theo Edwards returns to Nashville to finish his medical training, he never expects to run into Darla, a girl he spent one night with seven years ago. For reasons he can’t fathom, her attitude toward him is frosty, but he still hopes to ignite the spark they once felt.

Once Darla realises Theo doesn’t know he’s Stella’s father, she has no idea how to tell him the truth. And the longer she waits, the more difficult it becomes. When the situation spins out of control, can the two come together for the sake of their daughter? Or is forgiveness out of reach?

I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry and left me with a lovely warm feeling and a dopey smile. Can't wait to read more books by this author. 5*

This was the first book I have read by this author. I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and I felt very connected to the characters and experienced the emotion they were feeling. The story was mostly clean, with the exception of one sex scene near the end. The circumstances were a bit hilarious but the description wasn't necessary to see they had a connection. There were wonderful secondary characters in this book, as well.

Darla Battle was a single mom working as a wellness nurse at a facility in Nashville. She had one night of passion and mutual connection seven years ago with the One. She never knew his real name and it was only a few weeks before graduation from college. They used the code names Romeo and Juliet. They were separated prematurely that night by a fire and weren't able to find each other again. Just a short time later, she found out she was pregnant. When she finally found out who he was and tried to contact him to tell him of her pregnancy, he told her to "leave me alone". If he didn't want to know his wonderful daughter and have a life with her, she would just raise her daughter alone.

Seven years later, Dr. Theo Edwards showed up in Nashville to complete a fellowship. While getting his medical requirement out of the way, he ran into Darla. He finally found out her name. He had been thinking of her nearly every day for the past seven years. Even when he was in a long-term relationship, "Juliet" was still on his mind. She had been his perfect One.

Unfortunately, secrets are kept and can destroy lives and this story is no different. Can these secrets be told before it is too late or will anger and mistrust destroy what they could have together?

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.