Unfortunately, her realization has come too late for Gavin, who cannot bear to watch the woman he loves marry anyone else, especially not an abusive creep like Dillon. In response, Gavin has fled abroad beyond Emily’s reach, desperate to forget her.
Emily is brokenhearted and in despair, but determined to find him and at least explain her heart to him, whether or not he rejects her. Can she get him to take her back? Can their relationship survive Dillon’s interference, their own past wounds, and unexpected and traumatic surprises? Will it be happily-ever-after for Emily and Gavin, or are they both doomed to remain broken and empty?
This is an intense novel, full of passion, erotic energy, and emotional drama. The main characters are quite likeable, and it is heartening to watch Emily regain her courage and her backbone after having been the helpless victim in an abusive relationship. Gavin’s tender protectiveness of her, and his willingness to conquer his own anger at Dillon’s treatment of her for her sake, will warm the reader’s heart. Any melodrama, of course, needs a thoroughly evil villain, and Dillon fills the bill admirably.
The story does not, however, dial down the melodrama to any reasonable degree; it begins on a note of emotional intensity so vigorous that it practically vibrates the page, and continues that way for the entire novel. This has the paradoxical effect of dulling the reader’s emotions rather than enhancing them. This is especially true given that the plot is rather flat, without much real conflict to justify the emotional drama, other than that provided by Dillon’s manipulations. (Indeed, at one point the author inserts an entire dream sequence whose sole point appears to be to add emotional fervor to a relatively calm plot; unfortunately, it only leaves the reader feeling a bit cheated.)
If you are looking for a book chock-full of dramatic energy and erotic charge, this will fill the bill; however, it could use some emotional modulation and a bit more attention to plot.
Reviewed by Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader