The Day He Came Back

The Day He Came Back is a tour de force of longing and second chances. An adult story about true love and sacrifice. Yet it’s so much more. It doesn’t fit neatly into any little boxes. And everyone should read it. I was overcome by the stark portrait of choosing between selfish and selfless love, between family we’re born into, and the family we choose.TDHCB is a simple, stellar romance set amid an elegy on sacrifice, greed and the callous indifference of illness. You will fall for Raven, just as Gavin did, and this story will stay with you. Long after you’ve tried to move on, these lovely people won’t let you.The Day He Came Back is so full of soul. It pulses with need and brutal honesty, and it’s the perfect tonic to a long season of stories of redeemed bullies and immature jerks. Raven and Gavin are honest, devoted star-crossed lovers.Gavin Masterson is a prince among men. Gavin is the modern hero we need today, and in a sea of caricatures and nasty book boyfriends, he surfaces as the answer. The only man we need. He’s complicated, yet smitten and he knows it, his obligations weigh on him, yet he keeps himself and the readers above water, never pandering or compromising himself or his ideals. He expresses himself and while he’s patient, the story unfolds leaving no doubt that he knows what he wants, even if events beyond his control force his hand. And yet he is no heartbreaker. He’s a deliberate, careful lover and the bittersweet developments in this story make it impossible to stay away.What I liked most about Gavin? How Ward drew him, with so many dimensions, and yet he was always honest and committed, to everyone. It’s hard to write a man as smitten and not have him sound like a girl, but Ward gave us a real young man who grows into an incredible adult, full of love, and passion, longing and fear and vulnerability, altho he never came across as pitiable. Gavin moved me in every scene. I kept thinking to myself, true love is the family you choose, whelp. I love this story.Raven is the epitome of self sacrifice, and her journey from curious outsider to head over heels young love was thrilling and she is up there with my favorite young heroines. She had so much thrust upon her. And over and over she put everyone else on her back, choose their battles over her own. No wonder Gavin fell so hard. I can understand what happened, and the heartbreak was agonizing yet felt inevitable. How did Ward do that?God, my emotions were all over the place. Tears and laughter mixed equally because the narrative was freaking compelling, and it was fantastic. I can't say anymore, you’ll have to read the story, and I don’t want to spoil it, but Ward has a gift. She can weave a complicated world where we care deeply for everyone in the story, and the humanness she conveyed--even in the simplest of phrases--moved me.About that title. It was in so many ways, a perfect metaphor for Raven’s beats in this story. I feel like Gavin had many days and he came back over and over (I'm not giving anything away, I'm talking about the effect of the story). Gavin wanted Raven from the moment they saw each other. Their first scenes together are the perfect launch for their languid romance. There is great plotting and 'yell at your kindle' arcs that carry us through, even the brother and best friend find peace.Sigh, I could go on, I enjoyed this story so much. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves true love.

The Day He Came Back has to be one of my favorite Penelope Ward books in a long time! Gavin and Raven's story just had something that the past few have been missing, and I just couldn't put this book down! One steamy summer ten years ago, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks fell in love with the rich son of the woman she was working for. I loved watching Raven and Gavin get to know each other during their summer together but my heart broke for them as well knowing so much stood in their way. The way these two bonded and the way their relationship grew was truly beautiful, and the way both of  them was willing to give up anything and everything for the other was truly remarkable. I loved watching these two grow close, and them helping each other through good  times and bad, and my heart broke  right along with theirs when things came to a crashing halt for them.When these two meet back up ten years later, I could not wait to see how things were going to play out. I knew truths needed to be out before  anything could truly work  out for them, and  both of them needed to let go of the pain they felt from the  past,  but I didn't realize how long  it would take for them  to get there.  As much  as Gavin and Raven changed in the ten years they were apart, they also stayed the same, and it's clear to anyone how knows them that their feelings are definitely still there. The angst in the second part of the  book is off the charts, and I was rooting for these two to figure things out and finally be together once and  for  all, but there were times I really wasn't sure  it was going to work. Both of these characters are stubborn and it frustrated  me at times waiting to  see who was going to give in first.If you're looking  for  an angsty romance, The Day He Came Back is definitely the book to pick up. You will fall in love young Gavin and Raven and then  fall in love with them all over again in the second part of the book. Definitely  pick up this book, you will not regret it!

Gavin and Raven had an instant connection from the moment they met.The story doesn't open there though. It opens in the present after 10 yrs from when they met one another. Raven is Gavin's father's nurse, and she is about to come face to face with Gavin after all these years.Then it goes to the beginning of their story, when Gavin was 21 yrs. old and Raven is 20 yrs. old. Gavin is home for the summer before going to law school and Raven is working at his family's home with her mom before going to nursing school.As I said before, when they meet the connection is instant. Which is why the have a hard time staying away from each other. Too bad someone is willing to go to any means to make sure this relationship doesn't last.One of the things that I loved, was how open Gavin and Raven were about their feelings. The vowed to be honest with one another and until the meddler interfered they kept that promise.Now we're back to the present and there is still some truths that need to be revealed, but how will that impact their lives and will it change things for the better or make things worse?

“Travel is overrated. The best places are those where you find peace.”A totally enjoyable second chance love story with enough suspense and perfectly paced to give the best second chance romance experience.Two people from different upbringings fell for each other deep and hard only to be torn apart against their will. Forbidden love, sacrifice and loyalties are on high alert in this book.Raven and Gavin’s love sparkles fast and they couldn't be more perfect for each other. He is such a gentleman regardless of being born into a wealthy family Gavin is most honest and down to earth guy you could meet in Palm Beach and you should be blind not to see his open and giving heart. No wonder Raven falls head over heels in love with Gavin and tries hard to keep everything in “friends only” zone as she sees all signs that their story is not meant to be and only wish to protect her heart. Of course, Gavin will agree to anything just to be close to her.“What other truths have you bent?”“I’m pretending I’m okay being your friend right now when all I want to do is taste your lips.”When Raven gains courage and allows them to become more than just friends, the inevitable happens, Gavin is given a cold shoulder and has no choice but to leave for college heartbroken and with no explanations spared.“She’d knocked me on my ass both literally and figuratively, and I never wanted to get up. Ever.”10 years later destiny brings them together...Lovable characters, beautiful love, spinning emotions and the authors captivating writing make this book unputdownable and addicted.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book utterly brilliant book ever read. I'm totally swoon with Gavin my kind of character.

Gavin Masterson comes from a wealthy family and his mother Ruth is determined that he will ultimately and only marry a girl from one of the other five wealthy families in their locality. But Gavin at twenty one is more interested in Raven who works as a part-time housekeeper for his family. He is warned several times to keep away from 'the hired help'. But will the more she tries to separate them, the more they will want to be together?And despite Ruth's best wishes Gavin is smitten by Raven's beauty and personality. He feels normal around her. She is equally attracted to him. They show signs of falling in love. So Ruth goes to Raven's house and cunningly threatens to stop medical payments for her mother's cancer treatment and also cut Gavin out of the family and his inheritance. She stipulates that Raven must immediately break off their relationship. And she also forbids Raven to tell Gavin about her approach and threats.Gavin is devastated and broken hearted when Raven rejects him for no good reason and after college goes to work and live in London. But ten years when he returns home , much has change. How will Gavin and Raven react to each other? Have they both moved on?I am a Penelope Ward fan and recommend this book as an excellent read. I learned that you should strive to achieve your dreams and never give up on what might seem a hopeless wish.

Einige Bücher von Penelope Ward sind noch auf meinem zu lesen Stapel, so auch bis vor einem Monat "The Day he came back". Das Buch hatte ich zwar schon eine Weile, aber wie es immer so ist, man muss in der richtigen Stimmung sein.So auch hier, obwohl ich mir nicht sicher bin, ob ich wirklich in der richtigen Stimmung war. Second-Chance Romances sind normalerweise wirklich was, was ich gern lese. Aber hier irgendwie konnten mich die Protagonisten Raven und Gavin nicht so sehr von ihren Gefühlen überzeugen.Das Buch ist in zwei Teile geteilt, der erste Teil spielt in der Vergangenheit 10 Jahre früher, wo Gavin grad frisch aufs College geht, und Raven ihrer Mutter hilft, da diese im Haus von Gavins Eltern angestellt ist.Natürlich fühlen sich die beiden irgendwie angezogen, besonders, da Gavins Mutter scheinbar Gavin den Umgang mit Raven verbietet, weil sie "unter seinem Stand ist". Somit bewegt sich der Leser quasi auf die Trennung zu, schließlich müssen die beiden sich ja mit einem Bäng trennen, damit sie in der Zukunft im zweiten Teil wieder zusammen kommen können.Leider hatte ich oft aber das Gefühl, als wenn die Geschichte nur so dahinplätschert. Manchmal fand ich die Episoden die emotional sein sollten, dann doch etwas oberflächlich abgehandelt oder nur kurz gesagt, das jemand sich schlecht fühlt, aber weniger gezeigt.Das Wiedersehen war ganz gut dargestellt, nur als dann noch Gavis Verlobt auftauchte, war es etwas zu viel des Guten. Irgendwie hat sie nicht wirklich was zur Geschichte beigetragen, außer halt für eventuellen Konflikt bzw. ein Hinderniss dargestellt, warum die beiden erstmal nicht zusammen sein können. Zum Glück kam es nicht dazu, das Gavin seine Verlobte mit Raven betrügt, ich glaube, das hätte das Fass zum Überlaufen gebracht.Es war eine gute Geschichte, die auch einen gwissen Urlaubscharme entwickelt hat. Nur etwas flache Darstellung.

The first half dragged a bit and I skimmed through some of it.The second half flowed better but didn't care for the idea of him having a fiancé for two years. Claiming their love for each other and then breaking her heart so quickly and ignoring the bond he claimed to have with her. Seemed insensitive especially since his fiancé appeared pretty gracious and understanding about their past together. The reunion between Gavin and Raven didn't sit right either since he shared that bed with his fiancé. Maybe should have reunited in Florida under their old sheets or at least mention he got a new bed after he tossed his fiancé out. The whole thing about the cancer gene and steps taken didn't seem necessary considering this is fiction and appeared like it was just tossed into the story as an afterthought. Reaction was also just too simple. The fact is these are life changing decisions and shouldn't be glanced over so easily. Therefore my point that it didn't need to be tossed into their story and was written in a way I didn't feeling sympathetic or emotional. Just oh! ok. Could have used a little more heat to their love story but after having said all that, the gist of the story was still good.