The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred

After seeing another review on this book I wanted to read it...Hope it's as good as the review I read said it is! :)

The Sweet Gum Tree By Katherine AllredSweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever.Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer.Suddenly, Nick is gone leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happyf{until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back Kand he's not alone.Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.

My review - this book started out kind of slow for me and didn't actually grab my attention until around page 90 or so. I kept thinking this has to start going somewhere but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. It was an amazing story after I got sucked into it. I loved Alix and Nick. I honestly cried about Katie though. And after reading that part I had to constantly start checking on my 7 month old. And I didn't even guess about Daniel until it was about to come out. Last, I loved the ending of this book, it's rare that I actually like an ending but to love one is a stretch. I'm glad I read the review of Brandie and splurged my $1.49 on it for my Nook. I'm glad that I read this and will probably look into more books by this author.