Book Review: Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love by Sebastian Cole

Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love
By Sebastian Cole
Release Date: May 1st, 2012
Publisher: Sebastian Cole LLC
Format: Paperback 223 pages
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Goodreads Summary: LOGLINE:
A man on his deathbed describes his life of love and loss to a wise orderly, only to discover a far greater truth about the past, present, and future.

OVERVIEW:
What if you lost your true soul mate, the one person in life you were meant to be with? Would your love ever truly die? Not if you’re Noah Hartman, who refuses to let go of Robin after she inexplicably abandons their love and disappears from his life seemingly forever, her hidden secret yet to be discovered.

And when you finally accept your fate and do your best to move on with your life, what do you say when the unthinkable happens: your true love Robin reappears as your wedding ceremony to another woman is about to commence, looks deep into your soul with her loving, tear-filled eyes, and tells you the one thing you’ve desperately longed to hear for all of these years?

But the ending to this heart-wrenching love story has yet to be written, as Noah, old and sick in a hospital bed, tells his story of love and loss to Josh, a wise orderly at Mount Sinai Hospital. As his family members arrive to bid him goodbye, Noah discovers a far greater truth about his past, present, and future. Things are definitely not as they appear as the pieces of a shattered love are put back together in the remarkable final chapter of Noah’s life.

DESCRIPTION:
Sand Dollar is an epic, heart-wrenching love story about the one who got away. It is best described as a romantic fantasy, kind of like The Notebook with a splash of The Sixth Sense. Similar to a Nicholas Sparks novel, but uniquely different, Sand Dollar is a thought-provoking, emotional read with real life situations that might even have you yelling at the main characters at times. And not only is it filled with plenty of twists and turns, but the ending will knock your socks off!

For more information, please visit http://sebastiancoleauthor.com.

SYNOPSIS:
Noah Hartman, eighty years old, lies sick in a hospital bed recounting his life of love and loss to Josh, in his sixties, a wise and compassionate orderly who stopped in to bring him dinner. As Noah’s loved ones arrive one by one to see him, they listen in on his story, and we’re transported back in time to Noah’s younger years.

Though outwardly seeming to have it all, Noah, now thirty-five, is actually an empty, lost, and broken man running on automatic pilot. He has no true identity due to having allowed his powerful, wealthy parents to manipulate, control, and brainwash him from a young age. With the threat of disinheritance and withholding love and approval if he doesn’t comply with the plan they have for his life, Noah is lured in by the reward of great wealth and the illusion of running the family business empire some day. In truth, however, Noah is like a regular, everyday guy living a life that was not meant for him.

Enter Robin, twenty-five years old, who — in direct contrast to Noah — is a vivacious, free spirit. Full of life and always living in the moment, Robin’s love saves Noah by inspiring him to stand up to his parents and live his own life at all costs, reclaiming his true self.

While snorkeling in the Caribbean, the captain of the boat warns them not to disturb anything in the sea. Ignoring the exhortation, Noah dives down and snags a sand dollar from the ocean floor, whereupon it explodes in his hand. With the fragile sand dollar taking on new significance, Robin inexplicably leaves Noah shortly after returning from their trip. Like a passing breeze, she disappears out of his life without a trace, seemingly forever.

Years pass, and Noah still can’t get her out of his mind and out of his heart. After all, she’d always be the one who got away, the one he loved the most. That’s when he finds out about her hidden secret, the underlying condition responsible for her having left. Noah has no choice but to move on with his life without her, meeting Sarah and pursuing a relationship with her.

Years later, it’s Noah and Sarah’s wedding day, and Robin discovers a clue that Noah had surreptitiously sent her, inspiring her to race to the wedding to try to stop it. With the wedding in shambles, the scene jumps back to present day, with both Robin and Sarah placed in Noah’s hospital room. But which one did he choose?

Things are definitely not as they appear as Noah discovers a far greater truth about his past, present, and future. As Noah finishes telling his story, we are brought up to present day, where the pieces of a shattered love are put back together in the remarkable final chapter of his life.

Cindy's Review: I'm sorry I took forever to read this book. First there was the book I was reading one month ago. Then, I had to do my book report for English. Next there were some blog tour books I gotta catch up too. But now, I have finished it! ;) And it was a great read.

But either way, first off, I would like to thank the author, Sebastian Cole for giving me a chance to read this wonderful book. Thank you so much!

I love the title Sand Dollar. I don't know, there's something with me and sand dollars. ;) I've got to say, even though I love romances, I'm not the kind of person who goes for undying love, but this book may have changed my mind. It's so romantic how Noah still loves Robin after all she has done to him. 

Robin gave me different views of her. At first, I'm like, "Robin, go get him back. What are you doing?"

Then, I started to hate her. Like seriously. Like "For real. Are you even a person? You left Noah seven years ago, then seven years later, you go to him and ask for money? Is something wrong with you?" It turns out though, there is. Robin has a disease called Borderline something disease. I forgot what it was called. LOL. Now, I'm like, "Well. Robin. At least you got back to him. You didn't let him down completely."

On the other hand though, when Noah finally moved on with his life, Robin has to come back. Sarah seems like a happy, chirpy person. Noah and Sarah was getting married when Robin barged in. What about Sarah?

And of all things I really loved out of this book, I have to say it's the ending. I loved the ending! Sometimes, authors don't know how to end a book. Even endings have to captivate the reader, or they'll feel like they read the book for nothing. Sand Dollar's ending was magnificent. I like how God was named Josh and I actually enjoyed seeing Olivia and Brittany grown up. (You'll learn who they are when you read it!)

Overall, I really enjoyed this wonderful book sent to me by Sebastian Cole.You guys gotta read this book too!

Rate: (1-10) 8.85

Happy Reading~