Review: Emotionally satisfying
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 9, 2013
RUNNING SCARRED, by Jackie Williams, is a perceptive, emotionally satisfying, contemporary love story. The physical and emotional scars the characters must cope with give it much poignancy and depth.Ellen, a wealthy young heiress whose confidence has been battered by her abusive fiancé, struggles to reclaim her self-respect and her independence. She purchases a deteriorating chateau in France, intending to restore the neglected old building and transform it into a retreat for wounded veterans and their families. Her brother and several friends, all of whom have suffered severe war injuries, pitch in to help with the restoration.When she first discovers the chateau, Ellen also discovers its resident recluse - Patrick, an army veteran whose soul has suffered even greater scarring than his body. Blaming himself for leading his command into ambush, devastated by his wife's desertion, he shuns the company of others. Ellen is the first one to see past his scars to the worthy man beneath, and he is drawn to her despite his determination to remain aloof.Theirs is not an easy journey. There are setbacks, uncertainty, even danger. Ellen's and Patrick's previous experiences have left them quick to fear betrayal and abandonment. Trust and love are not easily won.Ms. Williams' characters are well-developed and believable, and the supporting characters are fleshed out nicely and add interest, especially David, Joe, and Geraldine. It's very easy to root for these people, who have a full range of human strengths and foibles. My only quibble was with the villain, Justin, who was so blatantly shallow, loathsome, and sociopathic that it was hard to believe sensible Ellen would not have seen through him immediately, much less have stayed with him for years. The beginning of the novel deals with Justin quite a bit, so for me, it was a bit hard to get through. I'm glad I did, however, because once Ellen buys the chateau, the story really starts rolling and is very good indeed.