The Last Goodbye

The last Goodbye

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Unlike many of the game's greatest cricketers, neither Pietersen nor Lara appeared to have to sacrifice any style in producing careers of incredible substance. Sure, both could be guilty of playing one shot too many on more than a few occasions, and even KP was prone to go into his shell when needs must. However, each rightly calculated that the rewards of giving their genius full rein amply compensated for the sort of risks that, say, Steve Waugh or even Sachin Tendulkar could never have countenanced, or Alastair Cook or Allan Border - for all their granite-willed attributes - could never have pulled from their lockers in the first place.

And for Pietersen, never was that more apparent than during that first, and still unequivocally greatest Test century. September 12, was Judgment Day for English cricket. Australia's champions were down but not out, and even KP himself was briefly caught in two minds early in his innings, as the Aussies clawed with savage intensity for their urn, and would surely have reclaimed it had Warne at first slip not spilled a fateful edge. But never mind that How Pietersen responded to that moment of luck, on 15, would define both his own career, and those of an entire generation of English cricketers.

Legend has it he asked his captain, Michael Vaughan, how to play it, as England, paralysed by anxiety, resumed after lunch on an extremely sickly for 5, with more than 60 overs of the series still to come. And there and then, Pietersen's natural game was revealed, gloriously, to be ego-fuelled Ninjutsu - 96mph bouncers from Brett Lee were there to be uppercut over fine leg; Glenn McGrath length balls were there to be flambeed back through the torso of the umpire.

Within six overs the game had changed beyond recognition, and though it took several more hours for England to dare to believe, Pietersen's onslaught - from balls all told - had proven a paradoxically subtle point. Though volume of runs are a batsman's ultimate aim, sometimes the "how" is every bit as important as "how many". Which leads directly onto the second fundamental reason for English cricket to be grateful for Pietersen's career. Sometimes, inevitably, his hubristic talents set him up for a pratfall - at Sabina Park in , for instance, where he lined up a whip through midwicket but lost his off stump to Jerome Taylor, as England crumbled to a humbling 51 all out.

Or at Cardiff five months later, when a hideous hoicked sweep against Nathan Hauritz opened the door to what, until a miraculous final-session escape , looked like being an Ashes-defining defeat. But the strength of mind he showed to shrug off the catcalls and keep the shots coming was remarkable. The World T20 win in the Caribbean in remains England's only global one-day trophy and one that Pietersen's Man-of-the-Tournament performance put beyond the reach of all comers. And, for the Ashes win in Australia in , in which Cook's rock-steady obduracy sapped Australia's will to live, it was Pietersen's frenzied double-century at Adelaide that flogged them into submission.

In his very best performances, arguably only the inimitable Viv Richards displayed a greater ability to intimidate with a bat in hand. And the lessons of Pietersen's attitude are apparent in another key aspect of England's modern-day approach, this time in one-day cricket. Under Eoin Morgan, a man of similarly independent mindset and who, had he been allowed to do so, would have recalled KP for the disastrous World Cup , England have turned themselves into serious challengers for the next event in And, if you listen very carefully to Morgan's brazen lack of apology on the occasions when his team's "express-yourselves" mentality has given way to an express-train wreck, you can almost hear his words being delivered in a slightly effete South African lilt.

There's an irony, too, in England's sudden willingness to embrace the lessons and lifestyles of the Indian Premier League. Though it was never explicitly acknowledged as the reason for the meltdown in relationships between Pietersen and England, the ECB's intransigence towards the tournament not only alienated their star player - who has always known his worth and knew what he was missing out on - it had ripple effects throughout the whole fabric of the English game. Now, all of a sudden, England's players are flocking to the competition, lured by the life-changing sums of money, but also absorbing the extraordinary life lessons that can come from sharing a dressing-room with the world's very best talents, and performing in front of enraptured crowds on a thrice-weekly basis.

And that, fundamentally, was how Pietersen's agitations retained a credibility that your common-or-garden egomaniac could never have sustained, for he saw the IPL as a career progression rather than just a cash cow. As if to underline the old saw about genius being 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, there was no-one in the course of his ten-year England career who trained harder than he did, and few of his contemporaries spoke about the game with more compelling insight either. Take his justification, in the summer of , for reversing his stance against Muttiah Muralitharan of all people, and slotting the first of his trademark "switch hits" into the stands at Edgbaston.

In his end-of-day press conference, he explained, with patience and passion, how the angle of the delivery, and the lay-out of the field, with two men back for the conventional sweep but none on the ropes at extra cover, had turned an outrageous piece of skill into an obvious percentage option. But of course, it could only be a percentage option due to the insane levels of preparation he was willing to put into his game. On the tour of New Zealand to name just one nets sessions in a cast of thousands , thanks to the lay-out of the practice wickets at Hamilton, I was able to watch his entire session as if I was standing at silly point, and it remains to this day the most immersive experience of my career.

He was FIGJAM to his closest acquaintances - particularly those standing behind him in the opposition slip cordon - and there were moments throughout his career when even his most ardent apologists would struggle to defend his crassness. But Pietersen's glories and his failings were the flip side of the very same coin. He made himself into a world-class batsman through the force of his own will, by refusing to accept any limitations on his technique, his opportunities, his geography or, ultimately, his modesty.

In time, the gaucheness, the gripes, the potshots and resentments will fade away from the tale of Kevin Pietersen. Once again, I was left with the feeling that we were dealing with teenagers or seriously immature young adults. The decisions they made and information they withheld from one another was absurd. It all was just too much. We can talk every chance we get, text, and email.

Similarly, I couldn't understand Josie's need to run away and live in Germany after everything she had been through with her father all those years. And why couldn't she go home for visits or make more of an effort to fight for the love of her life? She doesn't want to tell anyone about her mother and is left to deal with it without much support. Thank goodness she had Stella and West!

I liked where the author took us with this part of the story and the added support that Josie received even though she didn't originally want it. But then we move on to the second half of the book and so much more drama and unnecessary hurt and angst. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy of this book. I finished it This review covers both books in this duet within a series. Again, based on the blurb, this story was right up my alley but I gotta say I'm amazed I got through it and am relieved it's over.

I think this writer is a pleaser and is ambivalent when it comes to writing conflict. She doesn't want to fully commit to making her characters screw up in a spectacular fashion because it might sour the character in question in the eyes of the reader. In this story she made the hero 'sorta' screw I finished it This review covers both books in this duet within a series. In this story she made the hero 'sorta' screw up, but seemingly encouraged the heroine to think the worst of him by not fully explaining his intentions.

The heroine had just received very grim news of her own so what the hero did hit her extra hard. She overreacted, he didn't explain himself and, Boom. It all could have been avoided with just a few words of clarifications. Of course, then there would be no story, right? There were far better ways to handle this to give it more impact - for instance, having the hero actually do something wrong.

But the recurring theme in this story were the poorly conceived and often inexplicable actions of some of the characters. So much of this story didn't make sense, but I finally came to see that the principal characters in this story weren't developed well. They were one-dimensional and a little too perfect, particularly Max. He was so sweet and nice and always trying to redeem himself, and it made no sense for him to make the choice he made and not explain WHY. It was actually rather silly. It all seems very angsty and emotional, but you scratch beneath the surface and there is little of substance.

The second book positively dragged, like the writer couldn't end it until all her plot bunnies were used in the story. I thought I would be reading a romance, not what amounted to a family drama. Too much time was spent on Josie's mother and Josie's time in Berlin and Josie's issues with her father. We never really get any back story on Max to show motivation for many of his actions. And the repetition in this story is ridiculous.

Several times I wondered if the editor fell asleep. What conflict there was, was generic and shallow and over very quickly. The writer didn't seem to want to spend a lot of time on it. But the story didn't spend enough time on the romance and most of it was bogged down by the loooong account of Josie's drama. It just dtoned on and on. The editing was terrible. Again, I'll mention the the repitition. Loads of typos and errors in tense and grammar, improper or just odd uses of words Characters faces were 'consumed' quite often.

The latter word appeared often and was never used correctly. Very frustrating and long-winded story. This book was emotionally charged and I highly recommend that you have several boxes of Kleenex right from the beginning. This book starts right where the last one ended and goes from there. Josie and Max continue to have turmoil in their relationship which is always up and down. One of the things I love about this book is Josephine she is young but with everything she has gone through s 4. One of the things I love about this book is Josephine she is young but with everything she has gone through she is one strong woman who deserves the love of a good man.

I love that many of the unanswered questions I had from With The First Goodbye have been answered and the author ties this all into a wonderful read that left me on an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. This book must be read after With The First Goodbye so that you get the whole story and all the emotional and struggles this couple has been through.

Do I think max is wonderful If you are looking for an emotionally charged well written story with great characters then this is the book for you. In fact both of the books are for you. I have to give thanks to this author in reminding me what good quality poetic seamless reads are like. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Len Webster is the queen of emotionally beautiful stories with her way of writing stories that have a raw emotion of pain and hurt throughout them.

First with the previous story with the first goodbye and then with this story with the last goodbye. Both were beautifully written in a way to draw you to both characters. Maxwell grew a lot throughout this story and learned to forgive himself for his past mistakes. I really enjoyed the way he owned up to the mistakes that he previously made in the past. I found myself yelling at Maxwell a lot throughout the first chapters of the book because of the decision that he made. With the last goodbye follows the events that happen after With the first goodbye.

The Last Goodbye

It shows the implications of the choices that Maxwell made during the end of With the first goodbye and how it affected Josephine. With the last goodbye is a story about love, loss and fighting for the one you love. Jan 24, LaShanta Charles rated it really liked it.

I don't even know how to write this review! If you read this book without shedding any tears or feeling the absolute heartbreak Josie goes through, you are a dead, shriveled up creature and you need help. That being said, this book was beautifully written. It had angst, drama, love, heartache, emotions galore. Josie often spoke about how she wasn't strong and couldn't handle things, but she was wrong. She had an inner strength that couldn't be matched. I loved that when she felt she couldn't han I don't even know how to write this review! I loved that when she felt she couldn't handle it anymore she had people in her corner.

I didn't care for Max in this book. He wasn't my favorite in book one and I like him even less in this book. He will not be in the book boyfriend top this year. He was too fickle, too indecisive. He said he needed to do things and he made absolutely horrible decisions and I just could not find it in me to see him as being redeemed at any point.

When he was there, he was all in, but I never got the sense that he was reliable. I just couldn't trust him. And then a year?!? An entire year and oh look, here we go.

Sorry, couldn't see it, couldn't get on board with it. Overall, I enjoyed this book and devoured it just as I did with the first. I would definitely read more from this author and recommend this duet to other readers. Jan 23, Cee Cee Houston rated it really liked it. You have to read the previous book, With The First Goodbye first, and if you have the time, the rest of the series too.

I loved how strong she was throughout the story, she was the shining star for me. He was a bit of a selfish idiot at times. This story tore at my heart at times, it was that emotional. I cried, I wanted to crush Max through my kindle. I also smiled at the end thanks to the HEA that the characters finally got. But what a journey they travelled to get there.

Jan 21, White Hot Reads rated it really liked it. With the Last Goodbye is a heartbreakingly beautiful story of love - the kind of love my heart yearns for - that stands the test of time. Then follow it up with this one - With the Last Goodbye. Josie and Max are two people who fight for their love. The reader becomes one in their world. Jan 12, michelle Shelly rated it really liked it. We pick up where With the First Goodbye leaves off, you have to read this first or you will be completely lost.

This is not a standalone. This is an truly emotional book.

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The characters Max and Josie are wonderful and their story will pull your heart out. It is beautifully written and I am totally in love with it. This is one of those books that you totally invest yourself in and when you finally get the HEA you were hoping for those ugly tears turn to tears of joy. Jan 24, Paula M. Max choose something in his life, with it, Josie got the consequences. She got a heartbreak, now she's taking care of his mother until the last second of her life, she has her friend's support; although Max left her.

But this book, isn't just drama, we got a different perspective of these characters, now we have the chance to see Max and Josie, not the perfect couple.

We see a daily fight for their love. A new chance for making something right. They accept the challenge to see that not everything Max choose something in his life, with it, Josie got the consequences. They accept the challenge to see that not everything in life is totally perfect and we have to fight and not give up in what our hearts believe; in my personal opinion, this book is beyond a romance, isn't just a simple romance novel, is a life lesson.

Josie got a sad chapter in her life, however love showed her a new world. I love second chances! Len's writing still got that thing poetic in the air. She writes with a passion, that is not possible to not fall in love with the characters once again. I really enjoyed this story, the whole story about them since the first book, I mean. I think this one got a good end. And with every end we have a new beginning. Len officialy got her space in my must-read list forever. Jan 24, Madamoiselle Moi rated it really liked it. You absolutely need to read With the First Goodbye prior to reading this book as this is a continuation.

Such a heart wrenching and emotionally raw story. It sinks into you as you read and you cannot help but to feel the raw emotionally strains as they wrench through this story. By the conclusion of this story I was a mess, but it was so well thought out and fill With the Last Goodbye, by Len Webster, is the sixth book in the Thirty-Eight series. By the conclusion of this story I was a mess, but it was so well thought out and filled upon the pages, I couldn't imagine it done any other way.

Max was an idiot and so was Josie. The ending was so underwhelming that I just could stay on board with them. Jan 24, Cynthia rated it really liked it. Grab those tissues lots of them, this is one emotional read. This is the conclusion to Max and Josie's story. A heart wrenching story of love and loss. Embracing love to be stronger, more fulfilled. To live for the moments, make the most as the next is never a guarantee. Jan 24, Tracey rated it it was amazing. OMG josie and Max where a treat to read I was hooked into there character.

I had so many emotion while reading this story Len wrote a great book. I voluntarily review this book for my honest opinion. Jan 22, Anna K rated it it was amazing Shelves: Max wanting to leave Melbourne with Andrea to redeem himself in the US. And Josie heartbroken because of her mother and Max leaving her. You already know the characters and how they react and make their decisions. This makes it so much more emotional and heartbreaking.

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And With The Last Goodbye is everything and more. It is a powerful and poetic love story about two imperfect people. Max and Josie are both such heartfelt characters. Their feelings, their mistakes and their decisions are sometimes frustrating as you just want them to get their happy ending.

But every action they make is just human. You get why they make the decisions they make I mean Max leaving for the US?! Yet she still put Max's needs and wants before her own. Because that was how true her love was for him. Especially after such a cliffhanger in With The First Goodbye.

With the Last Goodbye is filled with so much love, it will make you feel, it will make you cry and it will make you hope and believe in true love. A memory he wouldn't hold on to. Jan 24, nicandbooks rated it it was amazing. A box of tissues and a shoulder to cry on "Because Josie was so tired. So tired of life and its unfairness. Tired of knowing what pain felt like when it consumed you.

Josephine Faulkner was tired. She wanted to rip his goddamn heart out.

She wanted his love. I felt like they both knew the other was right for them but bad, horrible, crummy timing was a massive player in their relationship.

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And what I loved about these two leads was that both Max and Josie had flaws - real, relatable flaws. And this made the whole story more realistic and what helped me really connect to these two wonderful characters. With the Last Goodbye is an emotional, angst-filled story and I ugly cried harder than I ever have before.

Reading it the first time, I was so desperate to find out how it all ends and rereading it will allow me to enjoy the story telling even more, not just the end result. But this book was worth every tear I shed. Jan 07, Konny rated it really liked it. The story picks up where the previous book left off. Maxwell Sheridan is a lawyer in his fathers law firm. Josephine, a 22 year old law student became his everything, but he broke her heart and left her behind.

While Max is a brilliant lawyer, the maturity in his decisions in personal matters is questionable.

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