Review: Dark Mixed With Hope
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2014
Jeremy’s story is a dark but necessary addition to the Sulfur Heights series. After he turned his family’s world upside down in BLIND LOVE, it’s only been a matter of time before we needed to hear Jeremy’s side of the story.If you’ve read any of the Evans brothers’ stories, you know that each of the Evans brothers would do anything for their family. Even with Jeremy, who was always a bit more mysterious and reserved even to his own family, there was never a doubt that deep down he had the best of intentions where his family was concerned. But after Jeremy was arrested by the DEA for being a drug dealer and the brothers realized he’d been connected to Carter, the family wondered if they’d ever really known Jeremy at all. Jeremy had struggled with the darker parts of himself for a long time and had only been comfortable letting a few people see both sides of him. His family saw the good, reliable Jeremy. The drug world saw the dark and murderous Jeremy.But Cami knew both sides of Jeremy and loved him completely. From the moment she’d first laid eyes on him, she knew he was different. After he saved her life, Cami knew he’d been put in her life for a reason and she wasn’t going to let him go, no matter how hard he pushed. Before Jeremy went to prison, he insisted Cami leave Sulfur Heights and move on with her life. He knew she deserved better than he could give her and he didn’t want her waiting for someone who might never make it out of prison alive. But when he’s released and returns to Sulfur Heights to finally come clean to his family, he realizes just how much his choices have impacted everyone he loves. Each person in the Evans family is forced to face old wounds and Cami must decide once and for all if Jeremy’s good side can prevail or if he’ll always be ruled by his darkness.The Sulfur Heights series has always dealt with dark subject matter, but these last few books in the series seem to be increasingly heavier as a whole. While Darcie faced unimaginable horrors in SCARRED LOVE, there was always the hope that Reggie could save her. But Drake’s second story in SURVIVING LOVE and Jeremy’s story in REDEEMED LOVE were on a different level. Drake was so buried in pain and grief that I couldn’t help but feel helpless along with him. Jeremy is so sure he doesn’t have any redeeming qualities that even I started to question if he could ever find a happily ever after. Is there ever a point of no return? For Jeremy, it certainly seemed like he might have crossed it.M.S. Brannon once again refused to shy away from the darkness and for that I appreciate her bravery. If, like me, you read multiple books in the Sulfur Heights series in a row, you might need a couple rainbows and sunshine books afterwards to recover, but I’d still strongly recommend the series. It is dark mixed with hope and above all highlights a family that has faced every adversity imaginable and chose to face their hardships together rather than allow their struggles to tear them apart. The series concludes in the fall of 2014 with EVERLASTING LOVE, the Evans family epilogue, and I can’t wait to see what Ms. Brannon has in store for this incredible family.**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.