Review: It's Sad to Belong to Someone Else...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 3, 2012
The title of this particular review is taken from England Dan and John Ford Coley's 1977 adult contemporary hit, and exemplifies yet another one of Sandra Ross's numerous love triangles created by her in her books: two people are in a relationship, a third suddenly appears in one of the former's life one day, and boom! The Eternal Triangle is formed. In "Love's Lightning: Love At First Sight Story," Ross weaves yet another tale of internal conflict within one of the characters, Lani, and develops a complex tale of struggle over whom she should love unconditionally---her loyal fiance, Rick, or Rick's good friend, Connor, whom the author describes Lani as stating that Connor "was one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen in her life," and that she "had never reacted like that to any man before, including Rick" (ch. 1).Lani's predicament might hit very close to home with more than a few readers.Let's not kid ourselves. Relationships take work. There's emotional, financial, sexual, and social involvement at all levels, and communication is paramount for long-term success. At the same time, however, situations can arise where rationale, decorum and logic are forgotten when we suddenly find ourselves face to face with someone with whom we make a connection that, for whatever reason, may not even be able to be explained; nevertheless, it is there and it is very real. (Witness John Lennon and his fateful encounter with Yoko Ono in a New York City Art museum when he was still married to his first wife, Cynthia.)Our daily routines allow each of us to interact with all types of people with whom we may only share a passing glance or even a cursory "Hi, how are you?" For those of us who happen to be within even the most committed of relationships, however, every day is fraught with the possibility that another individual may present themselves to us in such a way that we start to question our loyalty to our partners, even if (s)he is ideally suited for us in every particular way otherwise. Ross draws the reader into Lani's conundrum throughout "Lightning" and allows for self-doubt and unspoken fears to manifest themselves.It can be an incredibly frightening feeling---all of a sudden the life we have built for ourselves and our significant other is called into question, at least for the moment. What do we do? How do we go about resolving the situation? What if we choose to pursue this other individual? Do we even begin to consider the myriad combinations of possible consequences that inevitably will follow? Or do we stop to regain our senses and be thankful for what and whom we have in our lives, despite the occasional flare-ups over uncapped toothpaste tubes and being late for church/synagogue services?Relationships are never static. Change is inevitable within even the most committed and loyal of relationships, and Lani and Rick are certainly put to the task when she simply falls in lust for Connor and must learn to reconcile her feelings for both men. Emotion is part of the relationship bedrock, and in Lani's case, that bedrock has shifted to create emotional turmoil in her life---which, in turn, affects both Rick and Connor as the story progresses."Love's Lightning" is a tale of introspective self-doubt blended with lust and sweet, steamy thoughts. It highlights the fragility found in human relationships and underscores the innate human tenacity to seek closure to problems that periodically arise from within.