Mindy Lou's Book Review's Reviews > The Birthday List

What a beautiful story! I'm gonna be one of the first ones to say that having a deceased spouse as a major part in a book rarely works for me, however what Devney Perry did here was just beautiful.

The way she wrote how Cole helping Poppy on the journey to letting Jamie go was stunning. I've never read a more perfect way to introduce a new love into someone's life who wasn't ready to let go of the last love.

Poppy has been mourning Jamie for 5 years. She knows she needs to get to a better place and maybe completing her husbands birthday list will help get there. Just before Jamie was murdered, instead of doing a bucket list, he created a birthday list of things he wanted to do before each of his birthdays. Since the police never found his killer, Poppy is hoping that completing his list will bring her some closure.

One of the first items on the birthday list was taking a karate class. When Poppy shows up to class, she runs into Cole Goodman. Cole is instantly drawn to Poppy. He's never had a woman capture his attention so thoroughly. Knowing that she lost her husband, he knows he has to tread carefully or he may scare her off.

The way Cole integrated himself into Poppy's life and how patient and kind and protective he was of her will make you fall so far into love with him. I can't stress enough how perfect the author wrote Cole's character and his pursuit of Poppy in this delicate situation. I was riveted! This is one book that will stay with me for a very long time.