Book Description:
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.
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.
Christina's BookReview
“Do you want to know the real reason I came back, Alix?” It was because of you. You’re my roots. Wherever you are would be home to me.”
RECAP
When eight year old Alix comes across a hurt Nick she tries to help him and vows of saving him. As the years go by Alix and Nick learn to trust each other and to be there for each other through the good and the bad. But Nick is haunted by the reputation his dad holds. Nick is treated like the scum and Alix defends him through and through. But when the line crosses friendship and when Nick's dad is murdered things change forever.
Ten years later Nick comes back vowing to win back the one women he has loved since he was little. But he isn't alone and Alix isn't so forgiving.
Will these two find their happily ever after? Or will Alix's broken heart not be able to mend?
My Take
The Sweet Gum Tree is a story of first love, loss, pain and finding a lost love.
At the beginning of the book you can tell right away how young and naive Alix is at the age of eight and during her childhood she stays that way. She does learn as she grows but not until her life is hit with reality is she able to see the loss, pain and sadness that life truly holds. She has to deal with alot by herself and eventually she begins to believe all of the lies that she has conjured in her head.
When Nick comes back to her life ten years later Alix has been through alot during that time and she becomes bitter which is something that you expect to happen.
I loved that she didn't judge Nick when they were young and I loved that she always held a soft spot for him. But I think that Nick's reasons for leaving were ridiculous and I was angry at him. I think that Alix's stonewall was pretty impressive given the situation.
Overall, The Sweet Gum Tree was a sweet romance with a lot of mushy gushy moments and alot of sad moments. The only reason this received a 3.5 star rating is because is was predictable and at the beginning really slow and boring.
Buy this. Read it. Enjoy it.
HAPPY READING!
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