Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko

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About the book:

Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point—“fall in love again.” At least until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband’s death.

While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and sees her moving on with another man.

When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?

My Review:

I have read several of Ms. Calvert’s novels before. They are lighthearted, with a touch of suspense in them, with threads of heartbreak, similar to the old TV show ER.

I was not expecting to be as challenged by this novel as I was today. Through a novel, Ms. Calvert takes you through the steps of grieving, dealing with unexpected loss, how to deal with well meaning, but offensive outsiders in your grief, and before you know you are facing your own grief in a way you didn’t realize you could.

I loved the idea of a crisis unit, but some of the parts of the training spoken of throughout the book spoke very deeply. As a doula, I learn how to sit silently and support. There are times when this is so difficult as you wish you could fix, or do, but you just have to have patience and let the body do it’s job. I saw the crisis support team idea as sort of a “doula” team for emergencies.

The story had the hints of suspense like her others did, but I have to say this was one of the best books I have ever read by this author. Well done. I for one, couldn’t put it down.

This book was given to me for review by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions expressed herein are my own.

martyomenko@yahoo.com

Martha Artyomenko is an unpublished fiction author who has published some nonfiction magazine articles and reviews over the years. An avid reader and mother of four sons, she brings her many years of expertise to play when writing realistic fiction about topics of mothering, domestic violence, and childbirth. In her free time, if she is not reading, you will find her walking while musing about her next story to write or traveling to learn history for another story. Martha Artyomenko supports authors by running an active social media group (Avid Readers of Christian Fiction) and newsletter promoting niche fiction authors that would otherwise be unknown. Join me by leaving a comment or signing up for the newsletter.

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