Review: Completely Blown Away!!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 11, 2014
Vital Sign by J.L. Mac5 out of 5 stars!Vital Sign is a heart pounding, soul stretching, gut gripping read that leaves no doubt that you are alive and able to feel deeply!  From the opening scene to the last period this felt more like a voyeuristic journey into Sadie Parker and Alexander McBride's souls then a book, a complete encapsulation into their skin of love, grief, passion, anger, freedom.  I've been reading for a quarter of a century and this is the first book that spoke words for me that I couldn't speak myself, that made me cry, not once but multiple times in grief and joy, and left me feeling like I needed to thank the characters for letting me experience their growth and life with them.Left as a widow, after 20 years of friendship and love starting as childhood neighbors and friends and a short 2 year marriage, Sadie Parker is distraught.  She has no true desire or idea how to build a life without the man who has been by her side for every event since she can remember.  Unable to explain her hollow brokenness, she hates the entire world for moving on when the only good thing she's known is gone, the only therapy is wine, emergency cigarettes, anxiety pills, Jake's voicemail message, and the times she allows herself to lash out to relieve the pressure.  Especially when both sets of parents pressure her to move on and meet some of Jake's organ recipients.  Hoping that the life that came from Jake's death will encourage her to see a future for herself, they push her to contact them and see who would be willing to meet in person.  Three is her destiny, one is the heart, Alexander McBride is possibly her lifeline.After a childhood dictated towards perfection where he always felt lacking and college years used to spite the parents that alienated him, Alexander McBride feels less than worthy of the man's heart he received.  Struggling to live the straight and narrow life of a heart recipient after having lived the active life of a partying Professional Golfer is a struggle in and of itself, but when Alexander finds out there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the organ donation it causes the pressure to build to a level he can't contain.  Running from Atlanta to the seclusion of Tybee Island he is swallowed alive by loneliness and guilt, until he gets a short, direct email asking him to meet his donor's wife.Finding a strange solace in the abruptness of the others comments, Sadie and Alexander set a date to meet that will start a relationship built around silent acceptance, longing, guilt, peace, and a heartbeat that answers so many unasked questions.I found this to be such a profoundly well sculpted book; the characters are so well developed I felt as though I could drive to Tybee Island and they would be there, the emotions are beyond spot on, and the flow is just smooth and unrushed.  Absolutely a must read and a new favorite Author of mine!**A complimentary copy was given in exchange for an honest review**Pepper, My Secret Book Spot