Review: Insightful and Delightful!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 18, 2012
Once the mystical tale of the Soul Bearers is revealed, the impending sorrow is evident. However, the story is not about this loss. It is about the journey that surrounds the loss. It is about discovering unconditional love, about letting go of the past in order to rejoice in the present, about learning how to love yourself enough to be open and receptive to life. Author Sylvia Massara does an excellent job of weaving the psychological evolution of the characters into the story, drawing you into their pain as well as their joy.Alex is a woman who was damaged by her stepfather's abuse and left home at fifteen, eventually becoming a travel writer, which allows her to avoid commitments to people or places.  Her life begins to change when she makes her first commitment to putting down roots and facing her fears because it draws her into the world of Matthew and Steve.Matthew is the gay and extraordinarily handsome partner of Steve, who is dying of AIDS. Thrown out of his home when his father discovered he was gay, Matthew depended on friends for support until he met Steve, who became the love of his life. Despite the joy of having Steve in his life, Matthew has never reconciled his feelings about being rejected so completely by his parents or the superficiality of those attracted solely by his looks.Steve has had to face the ultimate challenge--the knowledge that he is dying. He has developed a sense of peace around the process--a peace that allows him to offer those around him unconditional love and understanding. It is a gift that both Alex and Matthew need if they are going to survive their pasts.It takes courage to change one's life, and Massara's characters exhibit this reality of change. Massara doesn't trivialize the effort required or sugarcoat the angst involved, which makes it all the more real for the reader. You may be surprised at the turn of events in this novel, but Massara doesn't disappoint as she takes you on an emotional journey that will touch your heart.Reviewed by Dannye Williamsen for Breakthrough Bookstore