Take On Me

Plantain Series, Book 3

By: Amelia Oliver

Narrated by: Elizabeth Tebb

The stars were aligned the night Katie Kingston met Joey Petersen. The fact they even met at all proves that sometimes the world works in mysterious ways. Katie knew from the day they met that as soon as Joey graduated high school he would be signing up for the military. But nothing prepared her for the long journey they both would embark on. Even when Joey's deployed off to war, the task of being a single parent pales in comparison to the challenges that lay ahead. It's when Joey returns a broken man and the strength of their love is tested that Katie has to fight her hardest battle yet. The love that began the night they met would bond these two together through good times and bad, happiness and pain. Sometimes the strength of one partner has to carry both through the fire, and with these two, they both shoulder that burden for the other. Is enough ever enough when giving up could mean losing the man you love to his despair? Can love be strong enough to mend and heal when it's all you have left?

©2017 Amelia Oliver (P)2017 Amelia Oliver

My Two Pennies

To hear the narration of this story has me loving this story more then I already thought I had. The emotions of these characters are so full of passion, it's exactly what you need to feel while listening to an audiobook. Now for the story itself, Wow! I was in love with this series before and now as we learn the story of Katie & Joey I'm absolutely blown away. We're brought back to when it all began as two teenagers meet for the first time. My heart breaks for Katie as though I'm experiencing the events myself, I'm left gasping and in tears. Joey is the boy you dream about and don't think you'll ever find. The simple little gestures he does lets you know he's not your average Joe. As the story develops along with the connection between these two I was captivated and couldn't move through their story fast enough to see what happens. The challenges they face and the commitment they show to one another as well as those around them is beautiful and rare. There is so much I'm dying to say about this book but I refuse to give any spoilers. Do yourself a favor and one click this book, move it to the top of your TBR list and READ THIS STORY! This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Books keep getting better!

This book was raw and emotional and hot AF, all the things I love about Plantain!

Katie and Joey forever!

I really enjoyed the story of Katie and Joey. We've seen them in previous books in the series and this book takes us back to their beginning. I love that we get to see all the bits and pieces that were only mentioned or alluded to in the first two books plus more. The story spans 20 years of their love, loss, marriage and kids and gives us updates of the other characters that we've come to know and love. I can't get enough of this series!

An Emotional Rollercoaster from Beginning to End

I don't even know where to start with this review. Katie and Joey's story made me giggle, cry (on multiple occasions), blush, and cheer. It was such a treat to go back to Plantain and see glimpses of the characters as teenagers (particularly Maven and Dornan). Katie's background was so unbelievably heartbreaking (and just when you think that it can't get worse, some how it does), yet her relationship with Joey is so sweet and soulful. I really loved that they fell in love as teenagers and stayed true to that. The depiction of life as the spouse of a deployed soldier seemed very realistic and was eye-opening in so many ways. I also really appreciated the way the author showed Katie's character growth and included some of the issues we feel as women once we become wives and mothers and sometimes lose ourselves in those titles. The whole story just resonated with and inspired me. It's truly one of those books that will stick with me far beyond reading/hearing the last word. 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

AMAZING

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joey. He was so caring and loyal. I loved his devotion to Katy

Have you listened to any of Elizabeth Tebb’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes and I feel like this is her best work yet! Although I think that may have more to do with the book itself being AMAZING

Any additional comments?

OMG I CAN NOT GET OVER THIS BOOK!!!!! WOW this book was just amazing. My absolute favorite so far in the Plantain Series.

The Story:
The wallflower and the protector. Katy spends most of her days at the library, escaping her home life with her two horrible parents. The abuse that Katy went through was heartbreaking, and I have no clue how she had the strength to go on. One night her father drops her off at the library as usual but this time she sneaks off with her one and only friend to a house party. Her first one! This is where she meets Joey, instantly they connect and it was beautiful. I will leave it there because if I go any further we will enter spoiler town!

My thoughts:
Seeing their relationship blossom over the years was just such a pleasure. I was so happy with the way Amelia wrote this book, it was perfect for them. Seeing them at the start as kids and then all the way up until they were adults was awesome! I felt like a parent watching my children grow. The struggles they had to go through at each stage of their lives and how they persevered it was all so heartbreaking but at the same time I was gripped. I could not stop listening to the story. Hearing this book on audible was a fantastic way to experience the lives of Joey and Katy. Elizabeth Tebb told the story so well and made me feel like I was in the story myself. I am dying to read the next book! So happy the kids are getting their own books too.