Review: A Powerful Story in a Small Package
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2012
For a short book, this one certainly packs a punch.  An emotional roller coaster that tells the story of Portia, whose husband and unborn child were cruelly taken from her during a violent home invasion.  Two years later, she still hasn't completely recovered from the trauma.  Her recovery from the attack, and subsequent coma, are mentioned, but the story picks up two years later, and offers a brief description of Portia's tragic past.Her best friend tries to help her cope, planning a 30th birthday party that goes horribly wrong.  It is only when she meets the handsome Brock that she starts to explore the possibility of starting over.The steamy love scenes are appropriate to the story, without being too sensational.  It is a believable premise, and Portia's heartache and loss are realistically portrayed .  You really feel for her character, and the unfair events that have happened to her really tug at your heart.  You will really cheer her blooming romance with the hunky Brock, and hope for a happy ever after for the sad heroine.I initially had a hard time with the best friend's insistence that Portia go out and find someone new, but since it ended up being what she needed to heal, it worked out fine.  Brock could have used a little more detail and depth, but for a short story the characters were illustrated as best they could be in the short amount of story.This was a great short read that kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen to the unfortunate Portia in the end.  I was rooting for her the whole way through!  I wanted to see just how much she was going to have to go through before life was finally going to give her the happiness she wanted.Although the book was a short one, it did manage to include high emotion, creepy suspense, and steamy romance, plus the promise of a happy ending for Portia with Brock.  It would be nice to see another story featuring Portia, possibly telling her back story in more detail.  You get the sense that she was truly in love with her husband, and that his murder and her subsequent miscarriage really devastated her.  It is nice to see a story that deals with love, loss, and happiness in such a believable way.If you are looking for a sweet, happy story, this probably isn't exactly what you have in mind, considering the depth of the material.  But, read it anyway...it is definitely worth it, and shows the author's great skills with her characters and storylines.  Sandra Ross has delivered another great read with real substance, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a short, satisfying tale.