Review: an exquisite masterpiece that showcases the transforming power of love and hope
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 19, 2014
Before You Break is an exquisite masterpiece that showcases the transforming power of love and hope on the deadly effects of this life. The story that lies within the pages of this book is utterly boundless in its depth and power.  Few realize the true impact of giving generously of your heart and soul to another, and fewer still actually offer their help to another. It’s not easy to give of yourself in order to help another rise from the ashes of their life, but it is immensely worth the reward of watching them change into the person that you have always seen in the depths of their soul. To help save a life is one of the most treasured and fulfilling endeavors that you can ever undertake. Please do not allow fear and insecurity to stop you from touching the life of one who is waiting for your words of healing and compassion to keep them moving forward and to spur them to come to life.Ella is a girl who has faced horrific tragedy and has pulled herself out by the sheer power of her will. She now wants to dedicate her life to helping others deal with similar horrors. Her heart drives her to give of herself, but is it also holding her back? She has gotten very comfortable with the life she has created, but is she really happy with it? It is really her life, or does it belong to another? Quinn has faced his own personal horrors, and he lives a shell of a life in order to honor another. He has lost himself, and in the process has watched his heart grow cold and wither. He doesn’t know who he is anymore, and he desperately needs a change of perspective. His jolt back to life comes in the form of Ella who brings out his desire to really live, his hope for true forgiveness, and his long repressed need to allow himself to love. Will Ella bring light into Quinn’s world and help raise him above the darkness, or will his darkness only end up consuming and destroying her along with him?I was completely entranced by Ella’s and Quinn’s world. While coming from different social statuses, they are two hurting souls who are inexplicably drawn to each other in many different ways. Quinn finds himself wanting to protect and love Ella as he watches her being sadly neglected by her boyfriend. While Ella can take of herself, she is only beginning to understand who she really is and what she desperately needs and wants. Her desire to reach out and help others who have gone through what she has experienced leads her unknowingly straight to Quinn. While their friendship begins to deepen into something that neither of them expected and cannot easily deny, they find themselves captivated by each other and wanting to do all they can to heal the hurts that they see reflected in the other’s eyes.There is an immense amount of depth and intensity in the supporting characters that took my breath away.  I wasn’t expecting them to be so well fleshed out and intriguing. I felt a tinge of sadness at not hearing more of their stories after falling in love with them as well.  There are so many dimensions that play out on these pages that I don’t feel that this review could ever give it its proper justice. This is something that you have to read and experience for yourself, and you will walk away with a completely different mindset.This is the first book that I have read by Christina Lee, and I have been completely blown away by it. Her story ripped through my heart, tore it shreds, and then quietly and tenderly healed it back together. The intensity and pain that flowed through the pages were lovingly offset by its passion and hope.  The brilliant complexities of the characters and their relationships have given me a deep admiration and humble respect for this amazing author. Her heart and her passion shine through the words and hopes of the individual characters, and their journey has instilled a deeper appreciation within me for taking on the role of an encourager and helper. Such roles have always been looked down upon as being weak and meaningless, but in retrospect, if not for people who have played those roles in my own life, I would not be where I am today. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks and immense gratitude to those who tirelessly offer up kind and encouraging words to those they see growing dim and weary from the troubles of life. I pray that you always feel the powerful impact of your words and that your heart would swell with love for those hurting souls that you come in contact with.