THE EMPTY JAR
by
M. Leighton
"The ultimate love story!" - Marion
"It's a masterpiece." - Courtney Cole, NYT Bestselling Author
"M. Leighton's best work yet." - Teresa
"Heartbreaking. Hopeful. Brilliant." – Kat
~~~~~*****The Empty Jar*****~~~~~
Three months touring Europe.
Romantic. Dazzling. Unforgettable.
The trip of a lifetime.
But some lifetimes are shorter…
We couldn’t have known it would work out this way. No one could. No one could’ve guessed that something so beautiful could be so tragic.
But it is tragic.
Yet so, so beautiful.
That’s what sacrifice is—beauty and tragedy.
It’s pain and suffering for something or someone you love.
And this is the ultimate sacrifice.
One stunning act of true love.
This is our story.
Our true love story.
"When you look at this jar, don't think of it as empty. It's not. It's full of promise. Promise of all the bright and beautiful things that it will hold. Your life is the same way. It won't ever be empty if you can see the beauty that will fill it. You are full of promise, baby. Just like this empty jar."
It's been a few days since I read The Empty Jar and I'm still reeling from this beautiful and poignant story. These beautiful words by Ms. Leighton have opened my eyes wider to situations I have no personal experience of and hope I never will. I jumped in blind with this book, with no expectations as to what Lena and Nate's story would entail. I'll admit that if I'd known what their story was really about, I'm not sure I would have chosen to read it at this particular moment in time. I'm a firm believer there are books to suit all moods and I know I'd have given this one a wide berth right now, preferring something lighter or upbeat. Yet, now that I have read The Empty Jar I know that my presumptive thoughts are all wrong. Where there's sadness, there's also hope. A fact I was reminded of as I effortlessly turned the pages.
I was expecting to cry but instead stunned into silence, as I became embroiled in Lena and Nate's lives. This book is so much more than two soul mates who's lives are thrown into turmoil. My emotions were assaulted as I tried to comprehend Lena's actions. I felt frustration as I believed she acted selfishly by making decisions that would impact directly on Nate, only to realise her selfless act was done out of unwavering love for the man who loves her unconditionally. They say you shouldn't judge a person unless you've walked in their shoes. Never has a statement been so true.
You can tell Ms. Leighton's writing is straight from her heart as she takes us on this most incredible journey. The metaphors, heartfelt dialogue, and the heartbreaking narrative which is as romantic as it's thought provoking. This was a difficult book for me to read but I've finished it feeling enlightened.
***arc generously received courtesy of the author Michelle Leighton***
Note, since reading the early readers copy I've also bought two copies when the book went live – that's how much I loved this book
Connect with Michelle..Stay on top of all things M. Leighton and The Empty Jar here:
You loved Cash and and Olivia in M. Leighton's Down to You. And now you can love them again, just in time for a little mistletoe action! M. Leighton's giving everyone the best present ever--a FREE Cash and Olivia holiday story! A Davenport Christmas will be posted on her blog on December 21, just in time to be read with some eggnog, a sugar cookie, and carols playing in the background. Sign up to follow her blog via email, and you'll get it right in your inbox, the second it's posted! (...and--psst!--there may be some more Cash and Olivia action on the blog coming in the new year, so definitely make sure to sign up to get blog notifications!)
