Wow! I'm ashamed to admit I had this sitting on my Kindle forever because I hated the title of it. I started this yesterday and told my husband last night...."if I didn't have to work tomorrow I would keep reading this until the end". I did have to go to work but finished it today. It's going into my favorites and I absolutely LOVED it! ( )

I loved this book. Even though this story had a romance at the core of it, it was more in the manner that all of life is basically about our relationships with others. The story is told in first person POV but has more of a memoir feel than the more immediate action packed, 'inside the story' feel of popular genre fiction that we are used to nowadays. There isn't a lot of description of places and things but rather the southern feel of the town where Alix grows up is painted through the actions of the people in the story.

The story starts when Alix is 8 and Nick is 10. She tells vignettes of their lives as they grow up. At first they're friends and as they become teenagers they fall in love. The scenes that the author chooses to tell are carefully chosen to reveal important leaps or milestones in Alix and Nick's relationship or that somehow pertain to how Alix and others are going to react later. That takes up the first half of the book. They are driven apart by events and meet again 15 years later when Nick returns to town. There is a lot of anger that Alix has to work through in order to accept a relationship with Nick again.

One of the strengths of the book is that Alix tells such a clear and analytical story of her mental state throughout their lives especially what her reactions are during the time when Nick leaves her and during their reunion. She doesn't apologize for her reactions and self deceptions, just tells you what they are and what self protective instincts drove her to them. I think they are honest actions and feelings. The way the characters act and react are a human mix of love, nobility and self interest. No one is all good or all bad.

As to the actual mechanics of the book, it was well written and moved very fast. There were parts that were very sad and parts where that were sweet and charming. The love scenes were not explicit. The big misunderstanding was easy enough for the reader to figure out almost from the first page but it was also easy to see where a couple of teenagers with the personal histories that these two had, would not necessarily make the best choices and so cause themselves problems.

I highly recommend it. I think that both romance readers and readers of general fiction would like this book.
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One of my - these days - rare 5/5 stars.



I went into this book expecting a feel good, sweet and frilly romance book. I wasn’t prepared for all the feels that this book brought along. It’s really an intensely sad book and it’s quite a heartbreaking story. I stayed up till 4 am because I had to find out how it ended. It is beautifully written and very moving. It took me a bit to get into the story, but when I did I was hooked. I laughed, I cried and I was excited and sad at the same it. There are some amazing characters in this book. Even though all of the twists were pretty predictable, I still really wanted to read the rest.
Recommended if you love good writing, interesting characters, a great love story and don't mind a bit of tears and heartache along the way.

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If I'm completely honest, I wouldn't have stepped within three miles of this book had it not been for a raving review I heard from a close friend. I'm a bit picky when it comes to books and, unfortunately, I seem to have developed several preconceptions of book covers that lead me astray. However, after reading this gem, I'm burying such misconceptions in their graves.

Interestingly, I don't think it is so much the story itself that enticed me. There were times where everything was predictable and a bit repetitive. However, all of that can be forgiven and even simply ignored because of the author's enticing writing style and complete grip of voice. From the second I started this book, I knew I was going to love it. It has a quality that simply sucks you in and keeps you hooked. Any lover of romance should definitely pick this book up. I'm so happy I finally decided to! ( )

5* for angst.
4* for general quality of the writing.
2* for the sheer stupidity of the characters.
1* for the tiresome I-hate-you-because-imaginary-stuff tirades ( )

Ohhhh Emmmm Geeee!! This has to be one of my all time favorites! Typically I hate stories that start in the past when characters were really really young but I will say it was written so brilliantly well I just wanted to start slow clapping...

Everything was mainly cut straight to the point and sections were not overly talked about to the point of annoyance! There were some unbelievably sad moments where I got a little water in my eye but the climax was properly built up equally. LOVED IT ( )

This is why I read. Seriously, there are books that just have that special something... maybe you can’t even place what that "something" is. You read one like The Sweet Gum Tree and are blown away by the connection you feel to the characters. I couldn't stop reading until I had consumed its every single syllable.
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ IN THIS GENRE!
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No tengo palabras. Que belleza de libro. Este estuvo en mi lista de pendientes durante mucho tiempo, pero siempre postergaba su lectura, como curiosamente siempre pasa con los libros que se han convertido en mis favoritos. Pues, me alegra haberme decidido a leerlo.

Desde el comienzo la historia es absorbente, uno de esos maravillosos libros que no puedes soltar hasta que no lo terminas. Se trata acerca de Alix, de 8 años, quien conoce a Nick cuando este tiene 10 años, y al darse cuenta que el papá de Nick lo golpea, toma la decisión de 'salvarlo'. A partir de ese momento, y durante 10 años, Alix lo logra, enamorandose en el camino. Pero todo cambia cuando es Nick el que decide salvar a alguien más, viéndose obligado a abandonar el pueblo donde nació y creció, y al amor de su vida.

15 años después Nick regresa, decido a recuperar su relación con Alix. Pero ¿será suficiente el amor y la amistad para luchar contra el resentimiento?

Una historia acerca de aprender a vivir con nuestras decisiones, de perdón, aceptación, amistad y un amor épico.

Espectacularmente escrita. Nos permite saber desde un principio lo que va a suceder, logrando impresionarnos igualmente cuando sucede. La autora es una escritora con muchísimo talento, por lo que definitivamente quiero leer más de ella. ( )

4.5 stars. I am an emotional wreck from that one! Nothing like a snow day and a good book! ( )

What a terrific book! From the very first page, eight year old Alix French had my full attention as she introduced me to her family and the boy who would become the love of her life. As a little girl, Alix's life is sunshine and roses. She's surrounded by loving family...her mother, aunts, and her grandfather whom everyone calls Judge. Nick's world is the polar opposite. His father is the town drunk, an abusive, violent man who is shunned by the townsfolk and beats his son on a regular basis. Despite Nick's lot in life and the shame he feels over his father's actions, he is a kind boy with a noble heart. Alix reaches out to him and the two have an instant connection, becoming fast friends.

There is so much to talk about in this book that I don't know where to begin. Two children grow up together, facing difficult circumstances along the way. They watch out for one another and eventually fall deeply in love. When tragedy strikes, illusions are shattered and mistakes are made. As the characters struggle to survive the fallout, more relationships will be tested. It's a powerful, emotional story about love, loss, broken trust and commitment, learning how to put down our pride and admit our mistakes. It's about forgiving ourselves and others. I strongly advise keeping Kleenex handy.

This was my first book by Katherine Allred. The writing flowed easily and I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the characters, especially Judge, and cried with them as they faced their struggles. The HEA was hard earned, but was very fulfilling. I originally rated this four stars because there were several instances where the author mentions an "impending doom," but in the end it wasn't that much of a distraction. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it deserves the five star rating. I'll look for more work by this author in the future. ( )

Very Angsty 3 stars!

My full Review: http://addicted2booksblog.com/2015/11/10/book-review-the-sweet-gum-tree-katherin...



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So many feelings :) I loved this story so much, it's my favorite kind: meeting at an early age (innocence and cuteness), separation, than second chance at true love.
Nick is so my new bookboyfriend. He is perfect.He loves his Peewee so much. I would have loved to read his POV. I bet it would have been even more heart wrenching.
Alix annoyed me at times, but one could understand where she's coming from.
I would have loved seeing more of them as adults but overall , this book was amazing.


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No tengo palabras. Que belleza de libro. Este estuvo en mi lista de pendientes durante mucho tiempo, pero siempre postergaba su lectura, como curiosamente siempre pasa con los libros que se han convertido en mis favoritos. Pues, me alegra haberme decidido a leerlo.

Desde el comienzo la historia es absorbente, uno de esos maravillosos libros que no puedes soltar hasta que no lo terminas. Se trata acerca de Alix, de 8 años, quien conoce a Nick cuando este tiene 10 años, y al darse cuenta que el papá de Nick lo golpea, toma la decisión de 'salvarlo'. A partir de ese momento, y durante 10 años, Alix lo logra, enamorandose en el camino. Pero todo cambia cuando es Nick el que decide salvar a alguien más, viéndose obligado a abandonar el pueblo donde nació y creció, y al amor de su vida.

15 años después Nick regresa, decido a recuperar su relación con Alix. Pero ¿será suficiente el amor y la amistad para luchar contra el resentimiento?

Una historia acerca de aprender a vivir con nuestras decisiones, de perdón, aceptación, amistad y un amor épico.

Espectacularmente escrita. Nos permite saber desde un principio lo que va a suceder, logrando impresionarnos igualmente cuando sucede. La autora es una escritora con muchísimo talento, por lo que definitivamente quiero leer más de ella. ( )

10 Brilliant stars !!!!!

I think I have to say that this book is the BEST contemporary romance novel I have ever read! It's a re-read type book.


Book Blurb

Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans-everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever. Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer. Suddenly, Nick is gone-leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happy -- until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back...and he's not alone. Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions-the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.

“the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference”


This book is beautifully well written. It's passionate, but not steamy passionate. We start to build our relationship with the characters when they are 8 and 10. We get the story from Alix POV as she is 8 yrs old . And We continue the journey with her POV as she grows into an Adult woman . Alix comes from a family that is full of love , although her father is not in her life as she is young, The judge (her Grandfather) is there to be her male role model. We start this story with Alix being 8 yrs old and Nick being 10 yrs old . Nick comes from the wrong side of the tracks , he is the son of the town drunk , who owns a salvage yard , and beats the crap outta Nick anytime he wants . Alix discovers that Nick is being hurt by his dad and she vows to save him .

From that point on the two are inseparable they spend every minute they can together and a friendship builds which later on in their teens turns into love . There is a BIG storm Brewing behind all this though and that is Lindsey the daughter of the town mom who sleeps with anyone. Nick takes Lindsey under his wing to protect her and help her . and it is that undoing that drives a HUGE wedge Between Alix and Nick ... I will not tell you more then that because honestly you need to read the story to get the FULL effect of the characters and the story .



This story made me , cry, feel the loss of love, Get Really angry at times , but in the end I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK !!!!!


“I promise you this. I’ll love you until the day I die even if I have to live without you. And if it’s fifty years from now, you come home, Nick Anderson. Do you hear me? I’ll be waiting on you.”

I loved the symbolism of the sweet gum tree in this love story between Alix French and Nick Anderson, which could definitely be considered “epic”. I loved both these characters, though there were moments they both exasperated me and made my heart just ache.

“Lies and half-truths hurt not only the liar, but the people they love most.”


“You can’t turn love on and off like a light switch, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is wall it off, one brick at a time, until you’ve created an impenetrable fortress around your emotions. And once that fortress is built, you camouflage it so well that even you can’t see it anymore.”


This book will break your heart, it is definitely one of the sweetest yet saddest books I’ve read. Ever.

I felt like I was inside the story and watching it, feeling all the emotions the characters felt. Not one character did I end up not liking and for the life of me, it started out that way. But by the end, I called them all my family. My friends. I cried when I finished because not only is the ending bittersweet, but I didn't want to leave them.


I would recommend this book to ANYONE who has not read it .......
( )

10 Brilliant stars !!!!!

I think I have to say that this book is the BEST contemporary romance novel I have ever read! It's a re-read type book.


Book Blurb

Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans-everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever. Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer. Suddenly, Nick is gone-leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happy -- until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back...and he's not alone. Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions-the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.

“the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference”


This book is beautifully well written. It's passionate, but not steamy passionate. We start to build our relationship with the characters when they are 8 and 10. We get the story from Alix POV as she is 8 yrs old . And We continue the journey with her POV as she grows into an Adult woman . Alix comes from a family that is full of love , although her father is not in her life as she is young, The judge (her Grandfather) is there to be her male role model. We start this story with Alix being 8 yrs old and Nick being 10 yrs old . Nick comes from the wrong side of the tracks , he is the son of the town drunk , who owns a salvage yard , and beats the crap outta Nick anytime he wants . Alix discovers that Nick is being hurt by his dad and she vows to save him .

From that point on the two are inseparable they spend every minute they can together and a friendship builds which later on in their teens turns into love . There is a BIG storm Brewing behind all this though and that is Lindsey the daughter of the town mom who sleeps with anyone. Nick takes Lindsey under his wing to protect her and help her . and it is that undoing that drives a HUGE wedge Between Alix and Nick ... I will not tell you more then that because honestly you need to read the story to get the FULL effect of the characters and the story .



This story made me , cry, feel the loss of love, Get Really angry at times , but in the end I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK !!!!!


“I promise you this. I’ll love you until the day I die even if I have to live without you. And if it’s fifty years from now, you come home, Nick Anderson. Do you hear me? I’ll be waiting on you.”

I loved the symbolism of the sweet gum tree in this love story between Alix French and Nick Anderson, which could definitely be considered “epic”. I loved both these characters, though there were moments they both exasperated me and made my heart just ache.

“Lies and half-truths hurt not only the liar, but the people they love most.”


“You can’t turn love on and off like a light switch, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is wall it off, one brick at a time, until you’ve created an impenetrable fortress around your emotions. And once that fortress is built, you camouflage it so well that even you can’t see it anymore.”


This book will break your heart, it is definitely one of the sweetest yet saddest books I’ve read. Ever.

I felt like I was inside the story and watching it, feeling all the emotions the characters felt. Not one character did I end up not liking and for the life of me, it started out that way. But by the end, I called them all my family. My friends. I cried when I finished because not only is the ending bittersweet, but I didn't want to leave them.


I would recommend this book to ANYONE who has not read it .......
( )

10 Brilliant stars !!!!!

I think I have to say that this book is the BEST contemporary romance novel I have ever read! It's a re-read type book.


Book Blurb

Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans-everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever. Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer. Suddenly, Nick is gone-leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happy -- until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back...and he's not alone. Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions-the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.

“the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference”


This book is beautifully well written. It's passionate, but not steamy passionate. We start to build our relationship with the characters when they are 8 and 10. We get the story from Alix POV as she is 8 yrs old . And We continue the journey with her POV as she grows into an Adult woman . Alix comes from a family that is full of love , although her father is not in her life as she is young, The judge (her Grandfather) is there to be her male role model. We start this story with Alix being 8 yrs old and Nick being 10 yrs old . Nick comes from the wrong side of the tracks , he is the son of the town drunk , who owns a salvage yard , and beats the crap outta Nick anytime he wants . Alix discovers that Nick is being hurt by his dad and she vows to save him .

From that point on the two are inseparable they spend every minute they can together and a friendship builds which later on in their teens turns into love . There is a BIG storm Brewing behind all this though and that is Lindsey the daughter of the town mom who sleeps with anyone. Nick takes Lindsey under his wing to protect her and help her . and it is that undoing that drives a HUGE wedge Between Alix and Nick ... I will not tell you more then that because honestly you need to read the story to get the FULL effect of the characters and the story .



This story made me , cry, feel the loss of love, Get Really angry at times , but in the end I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK !!!!!


“I promise you this. I’ll love you until the day I die even if I have to live without you. And if it’s fifty years from now, you come home, Nick Anderson. Do you hear me? I’ll be waiting on you.”

I loved the symbolism of the sweet gum tree in this love story between Alix French and Nick Anderson, which could definitely be considered “epic”. I loved both these characters, though there were moments they both exasperated me and made my heart just ache.

“Lies and half-truths hurt not only the liar, but the people they love most.”


“You can’t turn love on and off like a light switch, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is wall it off, one brick at a time, until you’ve created an impenetrable fortress around your emotions. And once that fortress is built, you camouflage it so well that even you can’t see it anymore.”


This book will break your heart, it is definitely one of the sweetest yet saddest books I’ve read. Ever.

I felt like I was inside the story and watching it, feeling all the emotions the characters felt. Not one character did I end up not liking and for the life of me, it started out that way. But by the end, I called them all my family. My friends. I cried when I finished because not only is the ending bittersweet, but I didn't want to leave them.


I would recommend this book to ANYONE who has not read it .......
( )

This was excellent. Really moved me. Sometimes people do things to one another for reasons that may feel right at the time but are so wrong. The characters in this book had the strength to forgive and rebuild. There was alot of laughs, some sadness and…love.

I recommend. ( )

3.5 / 5 ( )