Review: Five plus stars
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2013
I need a breather after reading this book.  In a good way.  I just want to digest all the feelings it evokes and absorb the emotional intensity.  This is not a light read.  The subject matter is dark but Teresa Hill handles it with the utmost care and the story is one of healing and optimism and ultimately a HEA that will lift your heart.Amanda is the daughter of an ambassador who was stationed in the Middle East and Africa while she was growing up.  She goes back to Africa to become an elementary school teacher when a political uprising occurrs and the school is stormed by gunmen.  Will is a Navy Seal who was training local troops in the area  and gets a call from her father begging him to find her and rescue her.  He gets her out alive but she is severely traumatized and loses her memory of the events.  What happens next is told in the present and through a series of flashbacks as Amanda seeks to regain her memory and develops a deep connection with Will.  Their relationship begins to bloom as Amanda starts to remember and Will helps her face her fears. They need each other in ways they don't realize at first and Will turns out to be such a gentle and tender lover.  He is perfect for Amanda although he is convinced he doesn't deserve her.The author does a wonderful job of tying in current events to the story ( she explains this in great detail at the end of book ) and although it is difficult to relive them they give us the perspective we need to get inside Amanda's head and identify with her thoughts, fears and emotions.  This is a story of hope, of learning to overcome tragedy, loving and living.  It's a perfect addition to the series and we get to revisit the McRaes from the first four books although this takes place before Grace's story.  You must read it.