Carina Painter lives a life she created in between the pages of her bestselling novel. At least, that’s what she outwardly portrays. A heart-rending childhood followed by an abusive engagement leaves her broken in all ways possible. A chance encounter provides the fork in the road she so desperately desires.
Navy SEAL Smith Eppington is fighting the war of his lifetime. One that isn’t fought with weapons and highly sought intelligence. It’s a battle to remember his past. The accident that scarred seventy five percent of his body, and stole the life of his best friend also seized parts and pieces of his memory. When an author asks to interview him for a fiction novel, he’s ready to pour his heart out no matter the cost.
The friendship that blossoms between Smith and Carina is something extraordinary. It’s a living, breathing love story about finding yourself, change that is out of your control, grasping what you can, and letting go of everything else.
In a twist of kismet, remembering could destroy everything, but fiction may be what saves the day. A friendship built on new truths and a relationship torn apart by old lies collide in a poignant novel by International Bestselling Author, Rachel Robinson.
UNEXPECTED.
My initial reaction when finishing this book was that.
I really do not know what to do with this book. One restless night of sleep later I still don’t know.
I have come to the conclusion while I am writing my review on tram that I’ve decided to split this review into two parts.
Part I
I shall review as the blogger that I am.
Ms. Robinson knows how to spin a realistic story full of pain, heartache, honor, tragedy. A solitary beauty I haven’t read in a long time.
Our characters are complex just like all humans are in real life. They are flawed, they are messy, emotional and alive. We as the readers experience a rollercoaster of a ride. The ups, the downs. The twists and the turns.
The story is unique and different. Different is meant in a positive way. There is a slow and steady pace.
You can’t help but not get emotionally involved with the characters in the book. Even the secondary characters.
I would recommend this to everyone who wants angst, frustration, a beauty of hope, love and need.
Tragedy can happen at any given point of time and we concentrate on our lives so much that we don’t realize it.
Part II
My personal opinion on this book.
I was pushed out of my comfort zone and it was hard to read. I’ll try to put into words why I feel uncomfortable. Bear with me here.
I think because I’m a cynic and some of the words written in the book have never been said in real life. See cynic. Very mixed feelings here and maybe I’m contradicting myself here.
Sometimes the book reminded me of a modern day Jane Austen book combined with philosophical elements. I read to escape if I want to read philosophy then I’ll read Kant. Just saying.
On a more personal level I’m not the most romantic person. Bless the hubby for loving me anyway. And on a scale from 1 to 10 in how sappy this is I’m going to go with 22. Half the time it made me want to be sick. Sorry not sorry.
A slow and steady pace that is excruciating for me.
I was close to a DNF or1* to 2*. This book is just colorful and clashing. Maybe I’m just too stupid to get the real beauty and depth behind it? Maybe I’m an emotionally stunted individual.
In her acknowledgements Ms. Robinson wrote the following.
“I will never deviate from accuracy. I will write characters that are flawed and cringe worthy. Yes Ms. Robinson you managed to hit the nail on the head with this one.
My verdict in the end? With all my confusion, issues and discontent with the book I give it 4 stars. Why? Because it is deserved.
