reviewsbyerin

Please be aware that this book covers very sensitive topics, which I will mention in this review.

Candi Reynolds has gone through what no woman should have to face. Kidnapped for weeks, she suffered multiple beatings and rapes, and finally was abandoned to bleed out on a snowy November day. By God's grace, she was found and rescued, and our story begins with her recovery.

Although Candi is still alive, everything about her life has changed. She no longer wants to live by herself, so she moves back in with her brother Cam, who had raised her after their parents' deaths. Her engagement is broken when her fiance cannot deal with her attacks. Weeks later, Candi discovers she is pregnant. How could God have allowed her to go through so much, and now burdened her with this on top of everything?

As Candi wrestles with PTSD and morning sickness, decisions loom ahead. Should she abort the baby? It goes against her brother's faith, but he's not the one having to deal with everything. If she doesn't choose abortion, it seems overwhelming to think of either keeping the child or putting it up for adoption. Perhaps dealing with it sooner rather than later would save her some pain.

All along her journey, God places just the right people in Candi's life. Not only her compassionate brother and his best friend Mack, but the family of her 10-year-old rescuer also play a huge role in helping her through everything.

This is a very gripping read. Although it deals with intense issues, none of them are presented in a graphic way. Candi's assaults are not detailed, even when she suffers flashbacks and nightmares. There are some medical situations discussed very factually, but it is never explicit or edgy. Dealing with such heavy topics, you might think this would be a dark read, but while it is momentous, it is also a page-turner. I actually sped-read through the book the first time I read it, because I had to find out what would happen. Even when I tried to go back and read it slowly the second time, I still had to read the final 150 pages in one sitting. It's that good. That captivating.

This blend of women's fiction and romance is not for everyone, but it could be life-changing in the hands of the right reader. I enjoy deep contemporary stories, and if you do too I would suggest you look into this novel. I can't wait for Joy Avery Melville's next release!