Review: Deeply satisfying
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 17, 2014
As engaging as it is deeply satisfying, Marie Michaels’ ‘Quiet Passions’ is that gem of a romance novel you only get to read so rarely. Think ‘Bridges of Madison County’ meets ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ (not essentially in terms of plot, but in the emotional depths this book dredges up) but set within the romance-conducive confines of a cruise ship—then you’ve barely scratched the surface of ‘Quiet Passions.’At its heart, the book touches upon a subject that many might prefer to never mention. Claire is middle-aged and is in the point of her life when her child is all grown up and her husband is more interested in other things, leaving her brooding over what she has accomplished in her life and whether there is something more to look forward to. When she ends up alone on a cruise ship—a journey she is supposed to share with her often-absent husband—it’s all so easy to find the invitations of another attractive man—Thane—quite irresistible. What follows is a romance you won’t soon forget.It’s important to mention that this book is written well—there are no awkward moments, no scenes where you find yourself detached and wondering about where verisimilitude has gone. Even at the get-go, you recognize the author’s uncanny talent in painting scenes that emotionally reel you in. Your intellect loves the technical achievements of the writing, and your heart revels in the story’s delicious plot and twists. Indeed, ‘Quiet Passions’ is a highly recommended read—if Marie Michaels writes another book, especially a much longer one, then I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Two thumbs up!