Shaken

Shaken
ebook
Published October 19th 2010 by Samhain Publishing Ltd.
ISBN13 9781609282288

Thirteen stories up. Two broken hearts. One last chance…

Surgeon Grant Sullivan’s once-perfect life lies in ruins. His daughter is gone—lost in a tragic accident he dare not allow himself to remember—and his beautiful wife now stares at him from across a legal table, insisting she wants nothing from him.

Julia Sullivan lost everything, especially her illusions about her marriage, after the accident. Her grief only seemed to drive Grant further into his emotional shell—except for the nights he turned to her in silent, furious passion. Unable to live like a ghost in her old life, she’s packed up what’s left of her broken heart and is ready to move on. Alone.

Determined to break their stalemate, Grant follows Julia onto the elevator just in time for an earthquake. Trapped for hours in a building pressure cooker of unspoken pain, he’ll do anything to remind her what she’s leaving behind, as deliciously as he can. But giving her what she needs to save their marriage is the one thing that could destroy his soul.

The doctor fought.

The father begged.

In the end they both failed.

I was possessed by a damn fool when I got this book. Because not only is the fear of divorce and child-loss a living, breathing thing inside my soul, but I'm also claustrophobic. So, yeah, being stuck in an elevator isn't a grand thing.

In the aftermath of their young daughter's death, Grant and Julia face the end of their once perfect marriage. She wants only to let go while Grant, he can do nothing but try to hold on.

I saw myself mirrored in Julia. And allow me to ramble here.

I fall apart in the face of disaster while my husband bottles it, locks it down, and hides it away. I related all too easily to the frustration of needing to see the physical expression of her mate's pain and consequently, I saw and accepted the selfishness of it. For even though Grant's heartache manifested just as hers had, it proved itself in a radically different way. She shattered. He pulled back.

Then there comes the second problem. For not only do we yearn to see our mate's outflow of emotion, but it must be done in a way familiar to us for it to have any meaning at all. When Grant deals with their loss by shutting down, Julia foolishly interprets his lacking outbursts as him being numb. She comes to believe that he never loved her. That he never loved their child.

Dee Tenorio conquered this story with such raw and honest feeling I had to wonder if it wasn't a personal subject for the author. When the climactic moment arrived, when Grant was forced to finally let go, the entire outflow of devastation washed over me. This book is an emotional experience, beautiful and inspiring. Definitely willing to read this author again. 4 out of 5 stars.