Review: Not without pain, but uplifting instead of depressing
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2014
Rating: Solid 4 starsGrace in the start of this book is a fearful shell of a person. She physically has survived a rape, but her mind and spirit are battered. She meets Ben, a survivor himself of some brutal acts. Together though they find they are meant to heal each other, help each other past the pain and into a future that entails more than just surivival.With the above description, this could be just your very very typical new adult novel of late, two very damaged souls meeting up, though in this case Ben isn't a "bad boy" type of character. The heroine herself describes him as a "gentle giant." What separates this book from the pack of new adult though is the writing, which is wonderful, and the hope that is carried throughout. Yes, both hero and heroine have pasts that left some damage. But both during the course of the book really work towards mental health and sanity in positive and uplifting ways. In their journey, they also are shown some setbacks that are realistic, and some friends who provide support that is also realistic. Nothing totally bizarre or really angsty happens here, but I was kept engrossed instead in the beautiful story of two people getting better. It was a story very well told and very heartwarming. Last but not least, the author didn't leave out the steam factor either, though it wasn't excessively done either. Great balance, great book, and left me with a smile this evening for a great ending.I received a complimentary copy of this ebook via Netgalley for an honest review.