Review: An extraordinary story of overcoming emotional hardship
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 26, 2013
Two men, both damaged souls, come together at the nadir of their will and ability to deal with crushing emotional trauma. Nick was abused as a child, and that abuse is so horrific, one can understand how and why this tortured soul acts out as he does. And the abuse continued into adulthood with in a damaging relationship with a domineering, viscous bully. Nick's solution is to hide, yet he cannot hide from the nightmares consuming him.Owen cannot move past losing his lover to an act of violence, the man dying in his arms. It's a blow to the heart that cuts him off from all but the most transient relationships, leaving him hollowed out, unresponsive but not uncaring. Compared to Nick, his choices seem self-indulgent, perhaps because we spend less time inside his head than we do with Nick. That doesn't make his pain any less, nor does it trivialize the emotional baggage he carries with him everywhere.The character of Nick is beautifully crafted: with sympathy, not pity; with understanding and compassion for the darkness that haunts his existence. How and why he has survived to that point is a miracle, yet at no point is it set in stone that he will continue to do so, for that kind of pain can overwhelm and destroy everything in its path. Owen is an enigma, traumatized yet keeping up appearances, so much so that at first he comes across as shallow. But it doesn't take long to determine that here is a man willing to stay the course, especially when his protective instincts kick in as the puzzle that is Nick unfolds.The author treats the subject matter with honesty, never going for the easy solution, staying the course with her characters, never dodging the realities, the legacy of this kind of abuse.The cast of supporting characters adds depth and color, and the subplot of impending danger is artfully woven into the fabric of two men learning to overcome their own limitations, to open to the possibility of love and to redefine who they are.When and if this comes out in print, I will want a copy, because, quite simply, this is a novel... Worth Keeping.