Review: Valerie Willis is not an easy woman to love, but Ex Marine Justin Singleton is up for a challenge.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2014
Valerie Willis is a woman of determination. She has determined that after a failed marriage that both her social and personal life were over. She was content on being a successful business owner of her pet grooming shop and being a hermit in her home. Who would want her anyways after the lies her ex husband had spread about her and the fact that she has fertility issues? In the small town of Rock Canyon people thrive on scandals and gossip anyway.Enter in Ex Marine Justin Silverton. He has a past with Valerie Willis and now that they are both adults he plans on exploring his feelings towards Valerie. She wants no part of him or of anyone else.Enter in Valerie's Father into this picture and you begin to see why Valerie might be the way she is. Control over a person can damage more then the mind; it most certainly can damage the heart.OK down to my business. I started this book with a reluctance because I have read all of the Author's other books that feature Rock Canyon, Idaho. I fell in LOVE with all of the characters in the other 2.5 books. The challenge was on for me to read this book with an open objective and not let my feelings of loving the other characters in Codi's other books get in my way to cloud my judgement about Valerie and Justin.Without spoiling ANY more of this book; I can honestly say that once again Author Codi Gary has blown me away with the depth and details with her Rock Canyon, Idaho residents. She took on addressing serious issues in her fictional characters that an everyday person wouldn't want to have to confront. The biggest one to me was dealing with family. Hatred, forgiveness, love, and patience are all words to describe Val and Justin's families. Codi drew a clear picture of what Valerie had to deal with while dealing with her own emotional turmoil and Justin is not the typical Alpha male. Justin posses qualities that make him a man with passion, compassion, and real emotions.This is a very compelling 5 star read for me. It was difficult for me to read at first because my serious disdain of Ellie, a supporting character and Val's younger Sister, but when I realized that having this serious disdain toward the reckless Ellie was actually a good feeling to have; I was able to understand Valerie's family life a lot better. Side note * disliking a character as much as I did Ellie in the beginning is a sure way to see that Codi doesn't leave out details and emotions.* It even turns out that I have a change of heart towards my feelings for Ellie in the end.In conclusion; if you want to read a book that has no depth, quick sex, and no real emotion than please skip right along and pass this book up! This book takes it's reader through a very personal journey with family, love, and raw emotion on the line. If you believe that a heart of a woman that has been scorned can find love again then this is a MUST READ Book! I know my heart was touched by Codi Gary's dedication to her characters!Bravo Codi Gary! Bravo!