THE BIRTHDAY LIST (The Maysen Jar #1) by DEVNEY PERRY

‘My heart had been in pieces since the night Jamie had been killed. It had taken every day of the last five years for the pain in my chest to fade to a dull ache.’

What an emotional, devastating, sweet, hopeful and inspiring story. Powerful words and moments of intense passion. The birthday List takes you from utter tragedy and despair, leading you through a process of a grieving stalemate until a light demands to extinguish the dark. Devney Perry wrote a story chock full of human emotions, of coping, overcoming and living with heartbreak as well as guilt and hopelessness. Whilst it was quite morose it was also all kinds of wonderful. Love is wonderful. To have experienced it, lived with it, felt it and accepted that love comes into your life more than once and in many forms and whilst what brings you love may leave you in its physical form, it still remains in your heart.

“Every day I feel like he’s slipping further and further away from me.”

Poppy is a young beautiful woman, happily married to the love of her life, Jamie and together they’re just starting out with hopes and dreams for the future. When tragedy strikes Poppy must learn how to live on when every day is cloaked in sorrow and her shoulder weighed down by guilt.

“You are my best friend and I love you. I want you to be happy and have love in your life. Jamie would have wanted you to be happy and have love in your life. And I think it’s time for you to open up your heart again to that possibility.”

The premise of a birthday list was a wonderful way of showcasing a young man’s desire for life and living. To never have a dull day and to live each year to its full potential. When Jamie’s life is so brutally cut short, Poppy grieves for the man who had her heart and for a life she must now face alone. How long does grief last and does each day truly get better with time? Poppy, a few years on, decides to complete Jamie’s list a list that brings about a new business, new experiences as well as people into her life she’d never have expected.

“Because of you, I wake up smiling. I look forward to each and every day. Because of you,” she took my hand off her cheek and pressed it against her heart, “this only has happy beats.”

Cole was a wonderful and protective presence in helping Poppy find herself and live again.  They shared a horrific moment five years ago and now meet again with Cole realising that the brief connection he felt is still there. This almost reluctant romance which built ever so slowly was beautiful to witness. Their connection was intense, their passion fierce and their love all-encompassing and healing.

‘He had her past. I was taking her future.’

Fate moves in mysterious ways and sometimes every cloud has a silver lining with people turning up just as we unknowingly need them. The Birthday List had a wonderful and inspiring message with real human emotion and we highly recommend it.

“Will you do something for me?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Kiss me.”