Review: So much emotional depth…
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 20, 2014
This is the third novella in the Secrets & Shadows series and should be read in series order.Christina Bell is the youngest of the Bell children and perhaps the one most affected by their mother’s disappearance for she was the one who needed her mother the most. She was always different and had issues in school. It was years before she was diagnosed as being dyslexic and having ADD.  She’s quite a strong woman who just deals with things in the way that is best for her and she is tired of her family coddling her. As a result of losing her mother she has not strived for things in life to protect herself from such a loss again. She has always been attracted to her best friend Guy but she keeps him at friend’s length. She doesn’t admit to herself how much he really means to her. With him around she is centered and without him she has to fight to not unravel which she finds she might have to do as the truth of what happened to her mother becomes known and consequences in the present play out.Guy Miller had a horrendous childhood and spent much of his young years at the Bell home being best friends with Chrissie’s brother and where he was always made welcome. They are the family he wished he had but he doesn’t think of Chrissie as a sister, he has been in love with her forever but she only wants to be friends. There is no one more loyal to Chrissie than Guy; he understands her needs better than her family and will always stand by her no matter how much he wants more. But when the truth of Nichole Bell’s disappearance comes to light will Chrissie still want him around?  Can she handle what he needs to do for everyone’s sake? Guy is tormented by guilt from his connection to the events of the past and faced with a decision that could cost him the good graces of the woman he loves.I think this novella is my favorite of the three, perhaps because both of them suffered so much from the one event in their differing ways and how together they completed each other. Their chemistry was palpable and everyone around them knew that there was love between these two even if it wasn’t admitted. There was so much emotional depth portrayed here as well as courage for one to do what needed to be done and for the other to face their fears. It never ceases to amaze me how Shiloh Walker manages to pack so much intensity into a novella. I’m left wanting for nothing for she hits every salient spot you could want.