Review: Good, engaging read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2014
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Getting By is the story of two people who have experienced loss in their lives and how their relationship evolves over time. Emma’s parents are dead and all we know about her sister is that she is a troubled person who is estranged from Emma. Jake is a successful business man who was injured in a covert operation that killed the rest of his team. They meet once and sparks fly, but Emma feels she is not able to handle a relationship so she is determined to leave it up to fate to bring them together again. No names or numbers are exchanged, just some flirtation in a broken elevator. Fate does in fact, have plans for them, as they meet in different places, different cities, and finally realize they should listen to fate. Jake is perfectly happy with light and casual – just a fling – that is all Emma wants. Their casual fling lasts almost two years. They travel together, become friends and lovers, but share only parts of their lives. Neither one share much of their past or their hopes for the future, then one day Emma announces they are done. She can’t do this casual fling anymore.But fate still has plans for Emma and Jake. Emma’s childhood friend is marrying Jake’s cousin. They never shared much about their personal lives and never meet each other’s families, so they are both surprised to see the other turn up at the pre-wedding festivities after three months apart. Emma doesn’t really want to be there because she is returning to the place she grew up and where her parents died. It is pretty apparent she has never really accepted their loss and that she feels some blame for their deaths. Jake is still trying to move on from Emma, the girl he can’t get out of his mind, but he never wanted more than light and casual. Or so he keeps telling himself.We get to know Jake’s family as they meet Emma and as she begins to open up to them, in ways she never did to Jake, we get to know more about her past and what motivates her. Jake begins to realize the feelings he has for Emma are far more than light and casual, but he doesn’t feel that he can ever give someone a happy life because of the guilt he feels over the loss of the team of men he once led. Emma is also having a difficult time keeping her feelings for Jake at bay, knowing he can never give her what she realizes she really wants.I really liked how the author took you on a journey with these two people. This was not a whirlwind romance with easy solutions, but a real life, slow path to trust, love, forgiveness, and family. The story was a bit awkward initially, as it told about Jake and his brothers businesses and the fact that his younger brother is Emma’s boss. It took a little while to build up steam, but once it did, the story was worth the wait.This was the first thing I read by Claudia Burgoa but it won’t be my last. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.