Absolution


Romance - Suspense
404 Pages
Reviewed on 09/24/2015
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Amanda Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover. She loves to do DIY (if it's not bolted down, she'll probably paint it, re-cover it or otherwise decorate it) and has tried almost every craft known to man/womankind. She has two sewing machines and an over-locker she can't remember how to thread. She crochets (but can't follow a pattern), knits (badly) and refrains from both as a public service.

She believes in love at first sight, in women's intuition and in following your heart. She is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes in the power of a good vanilla latte.

What lights her fire is writing stories about real people in trying situations. Her passion is finding characters who are forced to test their boundaries. She is insanely curious about how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge. Most of all, she enjoys writing about human behaviour - love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and the complexity of relationships in general.

After living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Absolution by Amanda Dick is the story of two lost souls trying to find love once again. Jack McKenna was living the happy life with the girl of his dreams when a car accident broke his life. Because of the accident, Jack’s girlfriend Ally’s backbone shattered and now she is a shell of her former self. Jack could not bear to face Ally and leaves. For four whole years, he punishes himself for destroying Ally’s life. He fights and tries to keep the demons at bay. But when a tragic phone call brings him back to Ally, he cannot help but rehash the past and give love another chance.

Ally was devastated after the accident. She never blamed Jack for the accident, but she blamed Jack for leaving her when she needed him the most. The silence hurt the most. But when a funeral brings Jack back home, Ally cannot help, but wish things could be the same. Now they are rehashing the past, and trying to give love another chance. Can they do that? Or will their past break them up once again?

This novel left me a sighing mess after I read it. Jack and Ally’s story was so heartwarming. I used to hate second chance romances because they made me cry a lot. They had an overload of emotions, but Absolution was a perfect mixture of love, compassion and emotions. I loved reading Amanda Dick’s writing style. She wrote the story beautifully; you could taste the emotions, feel their anguish, and feel their joy. I loved it!

Brittany's Book Blog

Absolution is a story of second chance love, betrayal, friendships, family, lies, deception and most importantly forgiveness. It is a unique tale that has been flawlessly written - the attention to detail is beyond incredible and the journey you are taken on is simply beyond words.

Aesta's Book Blog

Definitely a book that I am so very glad that I decided to read. It really was a beautiful love story.

Bookish Temptations

Absolution is a book for all those that, like me, like emotional and thought-provoking love stories. Love, forgiveness, and inner strength shine bright in this book.

Jennie Coull from Coull C

Ultimately this is a book about forgiveness. It’s about knowing that life has twists and turns and no matter how long or how far you run from them they will always catch you in the long run. And it's about second chances, and believing you deserve them.

Katie from Smackfiction

Début author, Amanda Dick, is one name which we think we're going to be hearing in book circles for quite some time. And not just because she's a fabulous person, but because she has a talent for writing in-depth novels, which you'll see when you rush out to buy Absolution. Absolution is a tale about second chances, a glimpse at the life of people who live and breathe guilt, anger, love and courage. So many emotions, but each given their reason for encompassing somebody's life and acting as catalysts for the events that each broken soul faces.

A.C.

I simply LOVED this book!

If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover and similar, you will LOVE ABSOLUTION. I could not put this book down. If it was possible I would have given this book more then the recommended 5 stars. I truly LOVED this story so much. It is not like the most love stories, Absolution has substance and a strong story line. It is filled with emotion; heartache, forgiveness, love and you really get connected with the characters and their journey.

Don't think I had a dry eye throughout the book. Such a special story. LOVED. IT!

Lynelle

If it was possible, I would have given this book more than the recommended 5 stars. You simply got lost within the pages of this book, forgetting anything else around you as you read page after page of this very emotional romance; filled with suspense as the three main characters surrendered to the truth the author offered.
The author touches some very important issues within the book, issues we are all so familiar with. Captivating you with her story telling as these three friends comes to grips with their reality. Written with so much compassion that you could feel the turmoil, the fear and even the love from each character as they learn to cope and accept their choices. Supporting each other beyond the normal day to day life.
With the two men it was hard to say which I like the most, each equally strong, bringing unique qualities to the book. Helping you to understand their thoughts, their hearts, struggles and desires.
But Ally was really a wonderful person, a person you can relate to in her struggles. Her intense personality touches your heart, as she goes through all the stages of her new life; working through them, making mistakes but still remain graceful and true to herself.
Even Tom's part was beautifully highlighted throughout, bringing peace and understanding to difficult situations within Ally, Jack and Callum. A man I could see as a trusted confidant, helper and friend.
I really hope that Callum too, will find love, this man has so much to give, that it won't be fair to not find love himself. So hopefully we can look forward to a follow up...I hope *wink*.

KitKat40

This is a new edition of this book... the author had to re-publish so it got a makeover! It was a book that I read last year and honestly... the first time I read it I didn't get the same impact from the story as I did this second time. Was it because of the re-writes?? It could be... but, maybe it's because the topic of Absolution is something that's been weighing heavily on my mind lately. Yes, that's probably it... :)
Each of these chapters starts with an inspirational quote... I LOVE it when authors do this... and there were some really good choices that tied in perfectly with the overall story. These were a few that stood out for me the most:

"You cannot find peace by avoiding life.-Virginia Woolf"

This quote defines Jack perfectly. He has a habit of running and attempting to hide from the things he is ashamed and afraid of facing. His choices had dire consequences on his family and friends. He commits an act that most would say is unforgiveable. It wasn't until he finally decided to face his mistakes that he finally begins to see himself as the person he was meant to be. But, first he must find a way to earn the trust and absolution he so desperately needs. But, the person he needs absolution from the most is himself.

"There are four questions of value in life; What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love." -Johnny Depp

This quote definitely defines Callum and Jack's father Tom... the star characters in this book! The sacrifices they both made for Ally were a clear example of love in it's truest form. You just don't give up on those you care about. Tom and his steadfast patience in supporting his son even though Jack's choices must have hurt him deeply. Callum and his driven need to never leave Ally's side. He and Tom saved her in ways that can never be re-paid. Callum won my heart. I was forever on his side throughout this entire book because his feelings of anger and bitterness against Jack were completely justified. He couldn't understand Jack's actions and quite honestly neither could I. He felt abandoned and betrayed by his friend.

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."

This quote defines Ally perfectly. Yes, she has physical scars, but it's the emotional scars that she battles with mostly. The feelings of loss, fear and having to face the reality that her life was forever changed by that one moment was a difficult road for her to travel. Oh yes, I shed many tears for her. She's the kind of character that helps me to understand that I have so much for which to be thankful. She is a strong, stubborn, wise woman who eventually conquered challenges that most of us could not even imagine having to face. I admired her immensely. She was very strong but also very fragile.

"If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it"-Harvey MacKay

This defines just about everyone in the book. Ally had to take a chance on Jack despite how much he hurt her. Jack had to take a chance by coming back into town knowing he had to face judgment for his mistakes. Callum had to take a chance on letting his friend back into his life despite his feelings of anger. And, if none of them had been willing, they would not have been able to move forward.

This book evoked very real emotions from me personally. I have had to deal with this very topic of absolution more than once in my life! But, I think the message is... Absolution is not about forgetting what that person did, it is instead about finding a way to put the broken pieces back together and finding a new way for things to work. And, if someone is truly sorry and they feel true remorse for what they've done, love and trust can help guide us to a new place to begin.
This book might not have the same impact for others as it did for me... that goes without saying. But, this is a great book choice for those, like myself, who love a story that is thought provoking and inspiring. This is definitely going on my personal favorites shelf... and I hope it goes onto yours as well.
I truly cannot wait to read this authors second book... Between Before and After... she has won me over! Just a wonderful, wonderful writer...