Watch Over Me Paperback – June 14, 2013

The opening line of the book: "Death changes everyone" ~ Tara Sivec, Watch over MeI thought this was a wonderful book. Watch over Me deals with death and how it effects and alters people. More importantly, the book deals with coming to terms with death, and learning to live again. Addison is the main character in the book. She used to be very bubbly and outgoing. She enjoyed making people laugh and was on the road to becoming Valedictorian of her class. Also, Addison dreamed of going to college and becoming a writer. Everything changed the day her mother died unexpectedly. Addison's mother was her best friend. Also, her parents were high school sweethearts. When Addison's mom died everyone was there to offer their condolences. Friends and family said they would be there for Addison. After the funeral, Addison's friends and family began to disappear. In the story, Addison and her father did not deal with grief in a healthy way. Unfortunately, Addison's father started to drown his sorrows in the bottle. The first three times he entered rehab, Addison was supportive but it got to be too much. His promises became hollow and Addison's faith in him diminished. Sadly, Addison was sinking in her own depression and it began to consume her.Addison, "I'm eighteen years old and I've spent the better part of five months in a black hole that I can't seem to claw my way out of. Every breath I take, every moment in time I experience, is another reminder that the one person who should be here with me, guiding me and supporting me, is gone." ~ Tara Sivec, Watch over MeAddison felt abandoned and had no support system. She was left to fend for herself and take on all of the responsibilities which included running her mother's bakery. Feeling hopeless, abandoned, and depressed, Addison tries to commit suicide. Thankfully, she was saved. In the hospital, Addison met another patient named Meg. They became friends and she asked Meg if she wanted a job at her mom's bakery Snow's Sugary Sweets. The story skips ahead, ten months after Addison's suicide attempt. Addison goes to therapy sessions and struggles from day to day.There were so many people who let Addison down after he mother's death that she learned to not expect much of people. One day a mysterious young man named Zander starts to come the bakery. He keeps coming back. Everytime he comes to the bakery, he orders the same thing a black coffee two sugars and chocolate scone. Then, he sits in the corner. Addison feels this sense of dejavu with Zander. Zander aka "Napkin Boy" starts to leave little notes on napkins for Addison aka "Bakery Girl". I just thought that it was so sweet that he would leave her notes on napkin to brighten her day. At first Zander doesn't talk to Addison. He just smiles but a chance encounter in an elevator gets them talking. I was smiling and laughing when I read the notes. They were just the sweetest thing.Napkin notes:"You're beautiful when you smile. You should do it more often.""I like it when you smile thiiiiiiiiiis much" under it Zander drew a stick figure with arms wide open. " ~ Tara Sivec,Watch over MeIt just goes to show that small gestures can go a long way. Zander was too adorable for words. Together, Zander and Addison were like sugar, spice, and everything nice. They were so cute together. He provided some words of wisdom to Addison. There was some humor in the book.I enjoyed Addison and Zander's playful banter.Addison says, "Are you stalking me?" I whisper angrily, saying the first thing that comes to my jumbled mind.~ Tara Sivec, Watch over MeZander says, "If I was, this would be the most boring and depressing place for me to show off my mad stalking skills. This place is sick. Literally." ~ Tara Sivec, Watch over MeIn a way, it did feel like fate or divine intervention brought them together. The book wasn't all doom and gloom. There were fun moments in the book as well. Zander really was breathe of fresh air for Addison.Addison says, "It reminds me of how adept he is at making me forget about my problems, and I instantly feel like I can breathe again. I can breathe as long as I can breathe him in." ~ Tara Sivec, Watch over MeHowever, Zander did have some secrets. No, Zander didn't have a tragic past. He really provided a support system to Addison. However, Addison did have some trust issues. She wanted and needed Zander but was afraid that he would disappear like everyone else in her life. Addison was afraid to tell Zander about her suicide attempt and her mother's death because she feared that Zander would not want to be with her anymore. Slowly, Zander's charm started to wear down her defenses. Zander was patient and persistent. There are some twists in the story. The characters emotions felt very real. Tara Sivec wrote some great characters in Watch over Me and in the Chocolate Lover's series. It was a wonderful story about overcoming loss and learning to find joy in living. In the epilogue there wasn't any mention of Meg. I wondered what Meg was up to at the end of the story. Also, I wondered what became of Addison's father. I'd love to read the story from Zander's pov or even a chapter or scene from his pov. It did seem like Napkin Boy and Bakery Girl were meant to be.

10 stars. Can I give a book that many stars? Well I am, so :p. Watch Over Me was one of those books that spoke to me on a personal level. Not with losing my mom, Thank God I don't know what I would do if I did, but the dysfunction of how Addison was.We start the book off after Addison has lost her mother and how she is not dealing with the loss well. Then it fast forwards about 10 months and we now see this young woman with too many problems and no one to help her through them. Addison's father is back in rehab and has left Addison to deal with her mothers business. A 19 year old girl was running and operating a business by herself with the exception of her assistant Meg. Her life was turned upside down and in the end she just wanted to get through the day. We spend the book going through all of Addison's emotions, and she has a lot. Disappointment, anger, shame, loneliness, betrayal, being overwhelmed. I felt every one of her emotions because at one time or another I have felt the same way. Tara has done something that not a lot of authors can do. She gave me a dysfunctional book that was actually dysfunctional. I understand that flaws are what make a character in a book. But not a lot of authors know what that is. From the time I was born I was raised with the constant of I was not normal. I've been told by every person that has ever known me that I am not normal. I love that. But I also know that it was because I was raised in a very dysfunctional home. And I have first hand experience with what it looks like. And from reading Watch Over Me I know that so does Tara Sivec. There were scenes with Addison and her Father that could have been myself and my alcoholic father. Addison's feelings for her father may seem cruel and uncaring to a lot of people. But what a lot of people don't understand is that her feelings are the only ones she can have with him. She wants her father back. She would love to believe that this time is different. She just wants to be loved!! Is that too much to ask from her father? Sorry I'm projecting. But Tara gave me a book that held some of my darkest moments in my life and she gave them a voice. She gave them a name, a format for others to know that they are not alone.Along with a very hurt Addison, we meet Zander. From the first scene with Zander in it I was in love. He was just everything Addison needed without knowing she needed it. He helped her feel, heal, laugh, smile, and do a lot of other things she hasn't done since before her mother died. He wasn't her saving grace, but he made her realize that she was strong enough to save herself. I understand why Zander did what he did. He also understood it was a mistake. But what I loved was that this wasn't just his fault. Addison shared in the responsibility for what went down between them. And in the end she realized that she was just as guilty as him. Most books he cheats or does something bad that is either unforgivable or just unbearable. Also I loved Meg. If I could suggest a book for her I would greatly appreciate it. I want to know her story as well.Tara set the bar high with this book. I Loved LOVED her Chocolate Lover books. LOVED!!!! Playing with Fire series proved that she is not a one pony show. She can write anything and make you love it. But this book showed that she is in fact a person that has an actual story to share and be told. She has hurts and pains and she put them on paper so we know that we aren't alone. She did something most are afraid to do, she told her own story. And for this reason I give Watch Over Me 10 stars

Watch Over Me – Tara Sivec5 stars!!This was emotional! If this is not a personal experience I will eat my hat! The pages radiated grief, emotion, heartache, sadness and depression, at times I was sobbing and I felt myself thinking what would I do in this situation and I didn’t like it..I couldn’t imagine, I didn’t want to imagine and I was scared to imagine.The blurb had me hooked, it was so far away from Tara’s usual writing style that I wanted to see how it panned out and I was not disappointed.Addison was an only child, she was a happy teenager, all that came to an end when she lost her mother, who was also her best friend. Her father did not take his wife’s death very well and turned to alcohol basically leaving Addison to bring herself up and continue to run her mother’s business all on her own. She feels like her life is over, her dreams and aspirations went up in smoke the day her mum died and she feels trapped. She once tried to free herself and has been to counselling and support groups but nothing seems to be able to pull her from her depression…that is until one day…..Zander, oh how I loved Zander…he was so sweet, his messages on napkins had me going ooooh and aaaaah, he was just adorable. He knew that it would take something/someone special to get through to Addison and he never gave up and that is what I loved about him, but as with any book, is he all that he seems and is he too good to be true as most of these men are?? You will have to read and find out!This is a book about being at the lowest of the low and finding the strength and inner courage to pull yourself back out and not being afraid to accept help from those around you that want to help. Addison had more or less shut herself off from life and it needed a great best friend and Zander to help her see the light and get herself back on track. To never give up on your hopes and dreams and no matter what the sacrifice, to remember that you need to do things for yourself sometimes, you don’t have to be the martyr for everybody else.Zanders wise words whilst trying to explain life to Addison with Lego….“And if something doesn’t fit, if one of your pieces just isn’t working, you can put it aside and find another one. There are so many pieces to work with that you don’t have to try and force one in where it doesn’t belong. You may not need that piece right now, and it may not be helping you right at this moment, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important and won’t fit somewhere else down the line when you need it more.”“You don’t have to try and pick up all the pieces at once, sometimes you only need to use a few of them at a time. If you try and pick them all up and use them all the same time, it’s overwhelming and frustrating when you start to drop them or you just can’t make them work.”“Another good thing about Legos. If it falls apart, it doesn’t mean it’s destroyed. It just means you have to pick up the pieces and start again.”As I said, highly emotional, beautifully written and a book that will stay with me for a very long time, Tara Sivec I salute you!![...]

For someone who has such wit and humor in her writing Tara Sivec has shown that she is indeed a versatile writer.Watch Over Me is beautifully written and the subject matter is one for all of us to contemplate. Nobody copes well with the death of someone they love but for some its just too much to bear. Death and the trauma that it leaves behind, in my opinion, must be one of the hardest subjects to write about. I felt this book was written with a whole lot of love and understanding for Addison's plight.Addison's story is told with sensitivity but does not hold back from the devastating trauma she has endured. Zander, well, he is just a wonderful person and I love him. Can't help thinking that maybe there should be a story in the making for Meg.I did go through every emotion reading this book, for some reason it didn't feel like I was reading a story but actual events. Very heart wrenching. I highly recommend Watch Over Me to all.

I loved Watch Over Me but then it was written by Tara Sivec so I knew I would. The story is about Addison trying to cope with life after her mother passes away, her father starts drinking heavily and spends most of his time in rehab, then along comes Zander - the wonderful Zander, everyone needs a Zander in their life, did I mention Zander? I LOVE HIM!! This book made me laugh , cry, laugh and cry again but not all 'bad crying' there was a lot of 'happy crying' too. It is a wonderful story and a MUST read. Thank you Tara for yet another fabulous read.

Addison's story is one of pain, heartache and suffering but out of it comes love, friendships and happiness.This is a beautifully written story that made my heart ache, brought tears to my eyes but still managed to make me smile.It still amazes me how Tara Sivec seems to transcend genres so effortlessly. She's a truly talented writer.

This book was emotional but so fantastically written. Anyone who has ever lost some one can relate to some of the feelings that Addison goes through. Heartfelt and beautifully written. Loved the references to Lego, (read it and you'll understand)!Epilogue was just right- love this author!