Tina Newcomb’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on 9/2/12
★★★★
Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love
“The title was true to its word. Noah meets the lovely Robin and through thick and thin, unanswered questions and heartbreak, he continues to love her. The unexpected ending was perfect. Sand Dollar is a beautifully written debut novel and an unforgettable love story.” — Tina Newcomb
S. Sprinkle’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on 9/2/12
★★★★
Lots of twists and turns
“This is the first book I have received as a Goodreads giveaway. I must admit that I thought maybe the giveaway books were going to be lame and not worth reading, but this one certainly disproved that. I enjoyed reading about Noah and could certainly imagine myself in his place if my true love just up and walked out of my life. I liked the twists and turns this book has, and can’t wait to see what Sebastian Cole is going to be writing next.” –– S. Sprinkle
Kiersten’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on August 29, 2012
★★★★
Reminds me of Nicholas Sparks
“I really, really liked this book. It was definitely my kind of book. Very Nicholas Sparks. I thought that maybe the plot sounded a little bit cheesy, but you know what, that’s what I love. I really liked the writing style of this book, and I just had a hard time putting it down whenever I picked it up.
Now, things really frustrated me in this book. The main things that just really irked me were Robin, and Noah’s parents. I JUST WANTED TO CHOKE THEM. Usually, by the end of a book, characters I really hate I end up liking, depending on what the author does with the character. By the end, I did like Robin, but I never quite liked Noah’s parents. But even though I was not Robin’s biggest fan throughout the book, I found myself wanting Robin and Noah to be together.
With that being said, my favorite character of course was Noah. How could it not be?
Just to sum things up, I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it to any Nicholas Sparks’ fans out there, like myself. If you are debating whether to read this book, DO IT.” — Kiersten
Janet Albanese’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on August 27, 2012
Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love
★★★★
“A story of love and ‘what really matters in life’. Surprising analogies throughout – great job Sebastian Cole! I finished the book in 2 days – couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to his next one -” — Janet Albanese
Donna Marie Taylor’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on August 21, 2012
Sand Dollar – a very special novel
★★★★★
“Sebastian Cole has written an outstanding debut novel. For those of us who have loved, been disappointed and heartbroken along the way and perhaps let someone we love down will find so very much to relate to in this novel. The characters grip you from the very start. The love story of Robin and Noah is realistic in every single way as along with joy comes heartache. I think Mr. Cole has the capacity to write eloquently what we often feel but cannot adequately express. He has already proven that in this novel. Without giving away too much, the novel brought me to tears and after reading what the author wrote at the end of the novel it was as if someone looked into my soul and wrote emotions I have felt for so many years. This is one of those books I will read and reread through the years. I highly, highly recommend Sand Dollar, this a novel not to be missed.” — Donna Marie Taylor
Review of Sand Dollar by Long And Short Reviews
Posted on August 7, 2012
★★★★
“Sebastian Cole has written a thought provoking and intriguing story in Sand Dollar… once the story hooked me, I could not put it down…I will say one thing, I did not see the ending of this one coming, and it brought tears to my eyes.” — Long and Short Reviews
Kelani’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on August 5, 2012
One of my all time favorites!
★★★★★
“I won this book for free on the goodreads giveaways! Not only did Sebastian Cole autograph my book but he sent me 2 cards (with the cover of his book as the picture). One card was a personalized note to me which made me feel special. The other card was blank for me to do as I pleased. He also had a stamp with the same beautiful picture on an envelope for me. Also, in the package was a beautiful bookmark with the same beautiful stationary. I was pleasantly surprised!!
The book exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved every part of it. I could relate to Noah so well it was scary. The book was about a man named Noah who does all he can to find a partner in life when one day he finds Robin unexpectedly. They quickly fall in love and marry. Shortly after they marry things fall apart. Noah has trouble getting over Robin because he believes they are soul mates. Add Robin’s hidden secret to the mix and it makes for an interesting story! (I will not go on because I do not want to ruin this story for you.) IT IS A MUST READ!!
Sebastian Cole did an AMAZING job with this book. It is a great love story with real life characters and real life problems. He reminds me of Nicholas Sparks with his ability to play on your heart strings throughout the entire book. At the end of the book in the, “A note from Sebastian Cole,” there is a part that touches my heart intensely. Cole writes, “Perhaps you know someone whose heart clutches onto the bittersweet memory of the one who got away. Someone who secretly bears the weight of this imperceptible burden wherever he or she goes, everyday of his or her life. Someone who’d gladly travel back in a time machine to a day when paths diverged, to mend together that which has been torn apart, setting destiny back on its rightful track- if only he or she could.”
That, in turn says it all. Read this book!” — Kelani K
Afullbookshelf’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on July 25, 2012
Heartbreakingly beautiful
★★★★
“Sand Dollar is the story of Noah and Robin. Not only does it span their lives individually throughout the years, but also their relationship as well. Mr. Cole did a fantastic job of bringing Noah, Robin and all other characters to life. I was hooked from the beginning. I found Noah to be extremely likeable and could understand where he was coming from with his family background. Never did I get the impression that Noah was selfish or greedy like you would expect with his upbringing. Robin is a different character altogether. She is kind of a mystery. We don’t really get answers to Robin until closer to the end of the book, but it’s easy to guess which direction the story is going.
The story is told back and forth between present day Noah and his past. Sometimes I found it hard to know if we were in the present or past, but once I got a hang of how the story was written, it wasn’t difficult to follow.
I had an incredibly hard time putting this book down, because I needed to know what happened. It’s a heartbreaking story, even up to the end, but it’s beautifully heartbreaking.” — Afullbookshelf
Kristina Circelli’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on July 25, 2012
A Story of Love Across Time
★★★★
** spoiler alert ** “First of all, Sebastian Cole has the coolest freakin author name ever. I am jealous, and seriously considering stealing his name for a book character. Sebastian Cole. How can a name like that not produce an awesome book?
But I digress. Sand Dollar is not my usual read, and being the cynic I am, there were parts I had trouble getting through. Noah’s language, for one. Do men really talk like that? Do they really show such public displays of emotion? I don’t know.
I also felt like his love for Robin, at times, felt forced because I don’t really understand why he loved her. She was a pretty awful person for most of the book, and he wasted a lot of his life essentially being her stalker. Again, I’m a cynic, so this kind of fairy-tale love is a hard concept for me to grasp. But hey, it’s a story, so I went with it.
BUT, things changed at the end. In a good way. I was really interested in the revelation about Robin’s condition, and while I still think she was pretty crappy most of the time, I started to sympathize a bit more. I was also happy to see their reunion mainly because it pissed off Noah’s family so much (seriously, Miriam is a terrible person. I have no love for her at all).
One of the reasons I gave Sand Dollar a 4-star rating is because of the end. When a book makes me feel a range of emotions – even if one of those emotions is completely hating a character and then deciding maybe she’s not so bad after all, or that another is creepy and desperate but in the end simply an embodiment of true love – then that’s a good thing. I’m still not sure if I fully came around to liking Robin, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing because, like I said, I like the emotions that came from the book. I finished the book pleased with the way it ended and imagining Noah and Robin’s new life in heaven.
Speaking of heaven, I knew this book was about God going into it based on the reviews. I was a little hesitant because I’m not exactly a religious folk. I do love stories of epic battles between heaven and Hell, angels versus demons, but lighter love stories with God? Not really my thing. I am happy to say that the religious undertones are very slight, and that Cole tells the story with God in a way that isn’t preachy or corny. It’s simply a man’s first and last conversation with God, and it works well.” — Kristina Circelli
Karen Thaxton’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted July 18, 2012
Love we can’t forget
★★★★★
“Special thanks to Mr. Cole for offering this book as a Good Reads free book to me. I started reading this book and I could not put it down. I was so meserrized by Robin and Noah’s love for each other and all the hardships they had to endure during their relationship(s). Very, well written, love story that keeps you wanting more and more. We all need to find a love like this and cherish it. I can’t wait for Mr. Cole to write another novel! Loved this book!!!!!” — Karen Thaxton
Johanna’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on July 6, 2012
An excellent book…
★★★★★
“Sand Dollar is a love story reminiscent of “The Notebook”, as the author confesses, but still remains uniquely its own story. I won’t bother with a lengthy synopsis as other readers have done a fantastic job summarizing it.
There were several things I really enjoyed about this book, most important of which, I think, is that the story always felt “real”, and never forced. I also loved how the author chose to go back-and-forth between the past and the present, revealing layers of the story as they become relevent. I was totally taken by surprise by the ending (sad in a way but ultimately it was a happy one), which I didn’t see coming at all, another plus!
My one complaint? Not really with the story itself, but I couldn’t help but notice the absence of an author bio and picture, something which I compulsively seek out before I ever start a story. Its not really a big deal, but I like to be able to read about an author to sort of get to “know” them before I read their work so I have an idea of where they’re coming from. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see what such a hopeless romantic looks like?
Marvellous book, it brought a smile to my face, and I would certainly love to see Sand Dollar become a movie as the author wishes, I have a feeling it would do very well 🙂
I have received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads” — Johanna
PamelaLA’s Review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on June 23, 2012
Fabulous!
★★★★★
“Upon finishing the book last night, my husband asked me what I thought of it. The best response I could come up with was, “It was like a plate of spaghetti and meatballs on a crisp fall day.” (And this is coming from an Italian girl!) I love it when you start a book, and within the first few pages you have an immediate sense of the characters, what they look like, their environment, etc. Noah and Robin burst out of the pages- it was great! The story of Sand Dollar went on to tell the lives of these two main characters, past and present. There were many times I wanted to reach into the book and honestly shake Robin, but luckily her character went on to be thoroughly explained, rectifying my need to smack her! The end was a slam dunk; totally unexpected.
There were only 2 slight criticisms that I encountered: One was occasional confusion bouncing back between past and present. The other was how many times Noah’s Ferrari was mentioned. The author is however, a man… So I guess it’s understandable 😉
Beautiful cover, superb writing, completely enjoyable. GREAT READ!” —pamelaLA
Reesa’s review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on June 17, 2012
Awesome Read****
★★★★★
“I loved this book- This one pulls at your heart strings and if it does not pull at yours~ you should have been searching for a new heart instead of a new book to read. Sebastian Cole not only has one or two tricks waiting for you towards the end*** but many. The writing in this book is superb, and also makes you think. Sand Dollar is my second favorite read for 2012. I’m glad I was able to read & enjoy this story~ as I’m sure anyone would. I look forward to reading more from this author. The cover is beautiful~*~ I highly recommend adding Sand Dollar to your bookshelf.” — Reesa***
Bea’s review of Sand Dollar at Amazon
Posted on June 16, 2012
A Unique Twist to Undying Love
★★★★
“**Note that this book was given to me by the author; it does not influence my review. 🙂
This was such an unusual book from what I have been reading lately, but I was glad I got the chance to read it. It was a very emotional read for me, I spent time yelling at the characters, and then crying with them at the end.
It is a story about the love and life of Noah and Robin, two lovers who through their relationship are tossed apart. We see an old man, Noah, in the hospital, spending his time talking to an orderly, Josh about his love and his one true soul mate. We follow his memories, both high and low, as he describes his journey to finding, losing, and eventually regaining his true love.
This is a lovely book about one man’s emotional growth into being the man he should always have been, and about learning that love is always there and if you give it enough room, it will return to you.
I am very glad that I read the book. Keep in mind you might begin by cursing the characters, but by the end you will need your hankies!
A great read.” — Bea
Book Review For Sand Dollar by Kate Patrick
Posted on May 27, 2012
“Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love is Sebastian Cole’s debut novel, but I think he will have a long list of best sellers if he keeps going at this rate. Cole twists and turns this plot (which is why I couldn’t put it down) to where you can’t assume anything about the ending. You HAVE to read it. It will renew your faith in finding and keeping that one true love.” – Kate Patrick
Sand Dollar’s First Book Review
Posted on May 16, 2012
“Sand Dollar, a fantasy romance by Sebastian Cole,
lives up to its subtitle, A Story of Undying Love.
… bookreview.com considers Sand Dollar an excellent romance novel
and looks forward to reading more from Sebastian Cole.”
— BookReview.com
sebastiancoleauthor.com 