Readers will find themselves quickly engrossed by this heartfelt contemporary tale of living life to the fullest as their emotions will run the gamut from teary-eyed to happiness. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Before I’m Gone by Heidi McLaughlin, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!
Palmer Sinclair has never needed anyone’s help. A successful loan officer, she’s all work and no play. But when splitting headaches and blurred vision begin to affect her job, she begrudgingly sees a doctor and receives a diagnosis that leaves her shaken to her core and with little time left. Facing an uncertain future, Palmer makes a bucket list, determined to do the things she’d only dreamed of before she goes.
Kent Wagner has dedicated his life to helping others. An army medic turned paramedic, he’s a regular at Palmer’s bank who makes his monthly car loan payments in person just to see her radiant smile. After responding to not one but two 911 calls involving Palmer, he learns about her bucket list. Touched by her circumstances—and needing a distraction from his own—Kent offers to take Palmer to the places on her list.Neither is prepared for the emotional journey ahead…or how little time they have left together, but the friendship they find in that brief time might be the most lasting legacy of all.
EXCERPT:
“Palmer stood, brushed her hands down the front of her skirt, and tugged on her jacket. Appearance meant a lot to her. She wanted people to see her as put together and professional. When she came out of her office, she noticed the lobby was beginning to fill up with the lunchtime crowd.
She walked behind the long counter and greeted each of her tellers. When she came to Shaunie, she quietly told her to go to lunch once she finished with her customer and then made her way to the workstation Palmer kept available in case of emergencies. At her terminal, she logged in and called for the next customer to step forward without looking up. When she did, she saw a man who often made her heart skip a beat or two—Kent Wagner.
Kent was a client and off limits as far as Palmer was concerned, not that she’d ever shoot her shot or let anyone know she had a crush on him. He was a favorite at the bank. All the tellers liked him and thought he was too cute for words. Palmer thought he was handsome, with his deep-blue eyes and dirty-blond hair. Kent kept his hair short and often buzzed it during the summer months.
“Hey, Palmer,” Kent said as he approached her station. Today, he wore normal clothes, or what he referred to as his “street clothes.” Most of the time when he came in, he was in his EMS uniform. “How are you today?”
“I-I’m well,” she stammered. “How are you?”
Kent smiled the most adorable, crooked smile Palmer had ever seen. “I’m well. How are you?” He ducked his head and his cheeks flushed with a pink hue, probably realizing he’d asked the same question twice. “I’ve missed you the last couple of times I was here.”
Over the years, Palmer had gotten to know most of their long-term clients, whether it was from being their bank teller, opening new accounts, or helping them with loans, which was how she’d met Kent. She had a knack for memorizing the little things when it came to the clientele, although lately she’d felt her memory slipping more than usual. Palmer loved to listen to their stories, always fascinated by what they could tell her in their minutes-long transactions, but it was her interactions with Kent that had left a lasting impression. He was a kind man and always had a compliment for the staff.
“You have to come at lunchtime,” she told him. “What can I help you with today?” Kent slid a check toward her. “Just paying my car payment.”
Palmer brought the thin paper toward her and typed his name into her computer. “You know, you can make this payment online.”
“I know,” he said. “But then I wouldn’t get to come in here and say hi...to you.” He muttered this last part, so Palmer barely heard him. She tried not to smile, but the giddy emotions she felt took over. It was her turn to duck her head and be coy.
She walked behind the long counter and greeted each of her tellers. When she came to Shaunie, she quietly told her to go to lunch once she finished with her customer and then made her way to the workstation Palmer kept available in case of emergencies. At her terminal, she logged in and called for the next customer to step forward without looking up. When she did, she saw a man who often made her heart skip a beat or two—Kent Wagner.
Kent was a client and off limits as far as Palmer was concerned, not that she’d ever shoot her shot or let anyone know she had a crush on him. He was a favorite at the bank. All the tellers liked him and thought he was too cute for words. Palmer thought he was handsome, with his deep-blue eyes and dirty-blond hair. Kent kept his hair short and often buzzed it during the summer months.
“Hey, Palmer,” Kent said as he approached her station. Today, he wore normal clothes, or what he referred to as his “street clothes.” Most of the time when he came in, he was in his EMS uniform. “How are you today?”
“I-I’m well,” she stammered. “How are you?”
Kent smiled the most adorable, crooked smile Palmer had ever seen. “I’m well. How are you?” He ducked his head and his cheeks flushed with a pink hue, probably realizing he’d asked the same question twice. “I’ve missed you the last couple of times I was here.”
Over the years, Palmer had gotten to know most of their long-term clients, whether it was from being their bank teller, opening new accounts, or helping them with loans, which was how she’d met Kent. She had a knack for memorizing the little things when it came to the clientele, although lately she’d felt her memory slipping more than usual. Palmer loved to listen to their stories, always fascinated by what they could tell her in their minutes-long transactions, but it was her interactions with Kent that had left a lasting impression. He was a kind man and always had a compliment for the staff.
“You have to come at lunchtime,” she told him. “What can I help you with today?” Kent slid a check toward her. “Just paying my car payment.”
Palmer brought the thin paper toward her and typed his name into her computer. “You know, you can make this payment online.”
“I know,” he said. “But then I wouldn’t get to come in here and say hi...to you.” He muttered this last part, so Palmer barely heard him. She tried not to smile, but the giddy emotions she felt took over. It was her turn to duck her head and be coy.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Readers will want to keep a box of tissues close by as they start reading this tale of living life to the fullest, embracing the little moments as well as the big, and finding a loving soul when you least expect it. This story pulls you in from the very start, warming your heart before breaking it in little increments in a powerful tale that you won't forget easily.
Palmer Sinclair's the kind of heroine you root for, a heroine who had a tough beginning with being a foster child and never having a soft place to land. She's always felt alone, dealt with life on her own, exuding toughness while still being immensely likable. When headaches and dizziness lead to a terminal diagnosis, Palmer decides to finally start living instead of dreaming. She creates a bucket list that will change her life irrevocably, especially once a regular visitor to the bank where she works joins her on her journey. Everything Palmer felt and experienced felt real, with raw emotions being laid bare as friendship and love were balanced with fear on a haunting journey that weighed on my heart with each day that passed on her diagnostic timetable.
Kent Wagner has a painful past of his own as a veteran. Add in an unexpected and life-altering change thrown his way and he's got a lot weighing on him. He does have one bright spot in his life though...his monthly visit to the bank where Palmer works which creates a very flirtatious and cute connection between them. With Kent's job as a paramedic it's not long before he sees Palmer elsewhere too, as her condition starts to deteriorate, and he's the one to take her to the hospital once 911's been called. Kent's an immensely appealing hero, one who's just what Palmer needs on her journey. He has a true heart of gold and in helping her live he found a way to heal himself. I was glad she had someone as loving and supportive as him on her journey as their interactions added a bit of romance as well as some much-needed moments of humor to this emotionally intense story.
Readers will be captivated by this story from start to finish with each and every high and low, each tear and every smile being earned. The beginning may be a bit heavy-handed emotionally but it's ultimately an empowering tale of living life to the fullest now because you might not get a tomorrow. It's a tale of not living in the past, making the most of every precious minute you're given, on a journey that I'm still thinking about. Even if you think you know how this story will end it's still an epic, heartfelt journey that will make readers appreciate their own lives more.
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.
