Yours And Mine
Sequel To … Positively Mine
Freshman Forty Series
By Christine Duval
Buy: Amazon
Synopsis
The highly anticipated sequel to Positively Mine….
Picking up from the dramatic ending of Positively Mine, Yours and Mine continues the Freshman Forty series as we meet Laurel’s baby’s father, Danny Santoro, for the first time.
It’s been almost a year since he last saw her, that sultry morning she walked off the beach before dawn had even cracked the August sky. It seemed from her silence, she was out of his life forever.
But Laurel’s timing couldn’t be worse to tell him he’s a father. The last year hasn’t been easy. Danny’s own father was arrested for a DUI, his mother moved out, and Danny started sleeping with his brother’s old high school, drug-abusing girlfriend.
After Laurel shocks him with the news, she attempts to relinquish Danny of any parental responsibility leading to a heated custody battle. In an unorthodox arrangement, an eccentric judge orders Danny and Laurel to spend alternating nights with each other for the upcoming school year.
Told from Danny’s point of view, Yours and Mine explores the second chapter of a romance that never got off the ground, the challenges of young parenting, and the hope of rekindled love.
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Michel’s Review
Yours And Mine, the highly anticipated sequel to Positively Mine by Christine Duval has released. I highly recommend reading Positively Mine first.
Laurel hid her pregnancy from everyone during her freshman year of college until it got to a life or death situation. Now she has to face the realities of her life. She is a young mother trying to juggle her school schedule, her responsibilities to her child, and social life. She’s doing the best she can but she’s not quite emotionally mature enough to handle it all. She has a lot of growing up to do. The first thing she has to do is tell Danny about the baby.
Danny was shocked to learn he was a father but he’s willing to accept the responsibility that go along with fatherhood. He’s a few years older than Laurel and has been on his own for awhile. He works full time and is attending college. When Laurel falters on allowing him time with his daughter, he has to turn to the courts. The courts take their unique circumstances into account and create unique visitation schedules.
At first the schedule is working but it’s Danny who is making all the concessions. His relationship with Laurel is becoming closer but she is still a bit selfish. She only sees what she wants to see and wants to have a carefree college girl life when Danny has their child. After a while Danny just can’t handle her immaturity and once again returns to the courts to make his custodial rights more conducive to his life, school schedule, and work schedule. For the first time Laurel really has to face the realities of co parenting and compromising.
In the end Laurel will finally become a mature individual. Once she learns what is important, life will change for all three of them.
Christine Duval did a wonderful job capturing the maturity level a someone Laurel’s age. I have a daughter about the same age and a could see her being a lot like Laurel. At that age their life experience level is just beginning. They are just learning to be adults and make decisions for themselves. In most cases they are not completely independent of their families, financially or emotionally. It’s not that they are selfish, they are just self involved. They are in the learning process of making sound decisions for themselves. Sometimes they can’t see the bigger picture in the decision making process. Christine allowed Laurel to mature in a healthy, positive manner that was realistic. Like most kids, she turned out okay and found out what matters most in life.
Yours And Mine by Christine Duval was a realistic and emotional conclusion in the Freshman Forty series.
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The Freshman Forty Series
Positively Mine
Freshman Forty Series – Book 1
By Christine Duval
Buy: Amazon
Synopsis
It is four weeks into her freshman year of college, and Laurel’s first test was unexpected. Discovering she’s pregnant isn’t exactly what she had planned for her first semester, and while she intends to tell her emotionally-distant father, being away at school makes it all too easy to hide.
An imperfect heroine plagued by bad choices and isolated during what should be the best time of her life, readers are sure to identify with Laurel as she confronts teen pregnancy, in secret.
Michel’s Review
I am a little late to the game in reading Positively Mine by Christine Duval. The reason this book was brought to my attention is because I saw the blurb for Yours and Mine, the conclusion to this book that will be releasing soon.
I read Positively Mine in one sitting. I couldn’t put the book down. Not only did the author cover all the stages of pregnancy including the emotional aspects as well as the physical aspects, she added an emotional and realistic storyline. Being pregnant for the first time is scary and confusing. A woman doesn’t exactly know what to expect or how to react. The medical condition is easy to convey but the emotional side differs from woman to woman. But when you are an eighteen year old young woman not only starting your college career finding out your pregnant at the same time can be paralyzing. For Laurel it was devastating.
Laurel kept her pregnancy secret from her peers, her professors, her family, and the baby’s father. She struggled through her pregnancy as well as her academics. While her personal and academic lives are falling apart so is her family life. Her father has basically cut her out of his personal life and is remarrying. He’s starting a new family. There isn’t a place for her in his new life let alone a place for a baby.
Laurel has to figure everything out for herself. She hasn’t made the best choices but is determined to have her baby. Keeping a secret this big is destroying her.
When the truth finally comes out Laurel will have to face all the lies she’s told. She will finally be ready to become a grown up. She will be ready to become a mother.
Christine Duval did a fantastic job writing Laurel’s story. I believed every word and felt every emotion.
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Christine Duval is an author and freelance writer. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Women Who Write, and the Authors Guild. When not creating fictional characters, she writes for the luxury real estate industry, has overseen online content and social media for several well-known magazines, and is a regular contributor to the international Chick Lit Club’s new website WeHeartWriting.com, interviewing bestselling and debut authors for her monthly Fast Five feature.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads
Purveyor of all things witty & romantic, I love: iced latte’s, traveling, and bright, bold colors. On any given day, you can find me in my office, lovingly gazing at my bookshelf or shuffling my Bic felt-tip pen collection. I love hand writing letters, and sarcasm.
About THE FAILING HOURS
Next To Never
Penelope Douglas is a writer living in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to “just get the damn degree!” She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she HATED public administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later she was married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, The Originals, and she shops at Target almost daily.
Saucy Southern Readers 