Review of Beyond Nostalgia

Beyond Nostalgia

Tom Winton

Night Publishing 2011

Smashwords Edition

   Dean Cassidy and Theresa Wayman meet at a high school dance under rather unusual circumstances. They continue to see each other and fall head over heels in love. They both think they have found their one and only soul mate. In a moment of male weakness, Dean demolishes his chances with Theresa.

   Dean is devastated and is unable to get on with his life. He attempts to drown himself in booze and 'faceless' women. Five years after losing Theresa, he gets a second chance with Maddy Frances Ronan. They end up marrying and raising a family. Life is not easy for them because there is never enough money, Dean drinks too much, has bouts of depression and is never able to give up his first love. Maddy sticks by him through thick and thin even when he is passed out in his van with Theresa's picture beside him. Circumstances change for the Cassidy family; but will Dean be able to let the past lay to rest?

   This is a wonderful story that started with teenage love that goes terribly wrong. A mistake that can never be taken back. Have we not all made some of those in our life? Sadly, this young couple both came from very dysfunctional families. To make matters worse, you have a teenage boy with over active hormones and issues with drinking himself silly. Neither teen is able to get on with there life and continue to make mistake after mistake. The storyline flows smoothly throughout the years and ends up coming full circle. The question will be whether Dean can make the right choices in the end.

   Dean is a bit of a lush and also a womanizer for a good part of his life. He gets to the point you want to smack him and shake him silly. His dear wife, Maddy, is quite the woman to put up with him; but she loves him madly and overlooks many of his flaws. I found her to be a bit of a doormat, albeit a nice doormat. Theresa gets what she always wanted, money, power, material possessions, houses, etc; but will she get what money can't buy?

   This is a story of true love that never dies, collapse of the American family, dysfunctional families at their finest, mistakes that cost a person everything they hold dear, and forgiveness no matter the cost to self. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, on the edge of your seat story. I started reading this book and could not put it down.

   I wish to thank Tim Roux from Night Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any way except for being provided the book.

I give Beyond Nostalgia 4 out of 5 stars