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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This was a story of heartbreak and healing, beautifully written from each of the main character’s perspectives. The story of Calida’s tragic past comes to us in waves as she works through the guilt and fear that allows her deceased husband to retain control of her life. Malcolm, a man from her past, is patient and understanding, wanting to give Calida the love she deserves and hopes to be part of a future with her and her son.
One character is crippled by the past, the other is blinded by the future, and they realize along the way that they need to look below the emotional surface the other shows. There can be pain in a smile, or fear laced in a joke and it is their journey to understanding how to truly listen that allows them each to heal. I loved Malcolm’s easy-going nature, even when he was frustrated and confused; his love for Calida really came through.
This is a steamy and passionate read; one that I’m sure won’t be my last by this author.
One character is crippled by the past, the other is blinded by the future, and they realize along the way that they need to look below the emotional surface the other shows. There can be pain in a smile, or fear laced in a joke and it is their journey to understanding how to truly listen that allows them each to heal. I loved Malcolm’s easy-going nature, even when he was frustrated and confused; his love for Calida really came through.
This is a steamy and passionate read; one that I’m sure won’t be my last by this author.
So far it’s interesting but I have no idea why these two people are trying to be together. I know it’s going to get better and they will end up together. I just don’t understand using this much trauma as a plot device. It’s such an overused narrative and I think I’m just exhausted with it. Calida is so fucked up and broken, so why is she trying to be in a relationship? It’s OK not to be in a relationship. It’s as if being single is such a bad thing, but she just has to be with Malcolm. There’s nothing wrong with being single, but alas, this is a romance book. And Malcolm is having to do so much damn emotional labor to put up with all of her trauma and BS hot / cold behavior that it doesn’t even feel like it’s worth it. So I’m not sure where this book is going. Other than I know they will eventually be together, but so far I’m sick of both of them. UPDATE: DNF. Too much romanticized brokenness.
medium-paced
I read The List first and was so curious I had to pick up this book.
I almost dnf’d this in the first 20% and I am so happy I didn’t. I love Malcolm’s dedication to helping Calida in her healing journey after she finally opened up and told him how she was feeling.
Check content warnings before reading.
I almost dnf’d this in the first 20% and I am so happy I didn’t. I love Malcolm’s dedication to helping Calida in her healing journey after she finally opened up and told him how she was feeling.
Check content warnings before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
I really loved the slow pace of this book and its well-reflected timeline for healing from prolonged trauma. Calida's story in Fiendish was heartbreaking. Here, as she lets love back into her life, her story becomes heart-healing and life-affirming. It helps to Fiendish first...but that book sits on my Horror shelf, so it's not appropriate for some readers. Ms. James does a good job of alluding to Calida's past without putting in details for the more sensitive reader.
So, this book sort of found me, instead of the other way around, and I’m sure glad I decided to read it. (Read: I won it in a giveaway on Twitter!)
What I liked about this book is that instead of centering on a broken relationship, it focused on the aftermath of an abusive relationship. Moreover, it focused on the recovery and the difficulty in learning to trust again, and the difficulty that the loved ones of a person who was in an abusive relationship might face. It’s a very raw book in places, but also very touching.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way that Malcolm was portrayed. He’s a good guy, and he wants to do what’s best, but that does not mean he’s perfect. He makes mistakes, he stumbles and most of all he is human in a fantastically real way. My favourite part is the absolutely adorable relationship between him and Shawn. I love it when men are shown with great parenting skills (there are lots of amazing dads out there!).
Calida is a woman who has shut herself into a glass case and won’t let the rest of the world in. She hides so much of her pain from her family and friends. I loved her journey throughout the story, I won’t get too specific cause spoilers, but I think it speaks volumes about the nature of pain and it’s relationship to the people around us.
The relationship between the two characters was fantastic. I didn’t feel like either character compromised too much for the other, rather there was very much a sense of what can we do to be better for each other, together. Relationships are a two-way street guys, so it’s nice to see them written that way.
My one complaint is that it felt like Calida and Malcolm’s relationship came to a natural climax (yeah, I’m giggling at this wording too) and then everything resolved itself really easily and then there was a long drawn out part about the happy ending. I guess, I just feel that the build-up to it was great and then it was a little anti-climactic.
But seriously, I highly recommend this book. It’s a raw book about the struggles of healing and finding love after a great pain and a testament to the strength of the human heart.
What I liked about this book is that instead of centering on a broken relationship, it focused on the aftermath of an abusive relationship. Moreover, it focused on the recovery and the difficulty in learning to trust again, and the difficulty that the loved ones of a person who was in an abusive relationship might face. It’s a very raw book in places, but also very touching.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way that Malcolm was portrayed. He’s a good guy, and he wants to do what’s best, but that does not mean he’s perfect. He makes mistakes, he stumbles and most of all he is human in a fantastically real way. My favourite part is the absolutely adorable relationship between him and Shawn. I love it when men are shown with great parenting skills (there are lots of amazing dads out there!).
Calida is a woman who has shut herself into a glass case and won’t let the rest of the world in. She hides so much of her pain from her family and friends. I loved her journey throughout the story, I won’t get too specific cause spoilers, but I think it speaks volumes about the nature of pain and it’s relationship to the people around us.
The relationship between the two characters was fantastic. I didn’t feel like either character compromised too much for the other, rather there was very much a sense of what can we do to be better for each other, together. Relationships are a two-way street guys, so it’s nice to see them written that way.
My one complaint is that it felt like Calida and Malcolm’s relationship came to a natural climax (yeah, I’m giggling at this wording too) and then everything resolved itself really easily and then there was a long drawn out part about the happy ending. I guess, I just feel that the build-up to it was great and then it was a little anti-climactic.
But seriously, I highly recommend this book. It’s a raw book about the struggles of healing and finding love after a great pain and a testament to the strength of the human heart.