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Fault Lines
Sarah Murphy plans other people's weddings. She's gorgeous and successful, but she also carries a dark secret.
At one of her events, she meets Joe Sullivan, a sexy photographer with a difficult past of his own. When he snaps a rare unguarded photograph of her and captures the real person hiding behind the facade, she feels exposed. To restore the upper hand, she tries to do what she always does: use sex to defuse the situation.
While Joe is eager to deepen his relationship with Sarah, he's aware of her emotional shield and the way she disconnects from her body. Seeing her at her most vulnerable doesn't scare him off, but he needs to know what she's hiding.
Sarah has a tough decision to make. Does she want to go on living a lonely, emotionally frozen life? Or can she finally risk revealing the truth and move forward with Joe?
At one of her events, she meets Joe Sullivan, a sexy photographer with a difficult past of his own. When he snaps a rare unguarded photograph of her and captures the real person hiding behind the facade, she feels exposed. To restore the upper hand, she tries to do what she always does: use sex to defuse the situation.
While Joe is eager to deepen his relationship with Sarah, he's aware of her emotional shield and the way she disconnects from her body. Seeing her at her most vulnerable doesn't scare him off, but he needs to know what she's hiding.
Sarah has a tough decision to make. Does she want to go on living a lonely, emotionally frozen life? Or can she finally risk revealing the truth and move forward with Joe?
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2012
1 person is currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Rogers Maher
11 books58 followersRebecca Rogers Maher writes gritty, realistic stories that push the boundaries of contemporary romance. Publishers Weekly describes her writing as “gripping and touching,” Library Journal calls it “gut-wrenching,” and USA TODAY declares it “very well-done romance…so satisfying.”
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 30, 2012
This is my first Rebecca Rogers Maher book and it certainly will not be my last. This book was nothing I expected. Reading the description I was thinking light, fluffy, fun, quick little romance. I couldn't have been more wrong. There is a very good chance this book will haunt me for years to come.
Sarah Murphy is party planner extraordinaire. She works hard to make a special occasion even more special. On the outside, most people would never see that she's struggling just to keep it together. Her mother is needing her help more than ever now that her uncle has been diagnosed with cancer. This has triggered a terrible storm in Sarah's life. A storm that Sarah doesn't know if she'll make it out of whole or in pieces.
Joe Sullivan is not most people. Photographing a wedding Joe takes a picture of Sarah and captures the pain that she is hiding. One thing leads to another and they fall into each others arms at the end of the night. For Joe this is an amazing union of lust and want. For Sarah this is a way too block out the pain and punish herself. Joe, being the observant soul that he is, sees this. Instead of pushing him away it makes him want to help. Slowly he breaks through Sarah's shields and together they help her to the path of healing.
Let go. You have control over your own breathing. You have control over your body. But today, right now, you cannot control this. Let go. Take your oar of the water.
This book is heartwrenchingly beautiful! I cried sad and happy tears througout. It's a story of acceptance and strength. I can't even say enough. You just have to read it!
This book was provided by NetGalley for my honest review.
http://tinar1121.blogspot.com
Sarah Murphy is party planner extraordinaire. She works hard to make a special occasion even more special. On the outside, most people would never see that she's struggling just to keep it together. Her mother is needing her help more than ever now that her uncle has been diagnosed with cancer. This has triggered a terrible storm in Sarah's life. A storm that Sarah doesn't know if she'll make it out of whole or in pieces.
Joe Sullivan is not most people. Photographing a wedding Joe takes a picture of Sarah and captures the pain that she is hiding. One thing leads to another and they fall into each others arms at the end of the night. For Joe this is an amazing union of lust and want. For Sarah this is a way too block out the pain and punish herself. Joe, being the observant soul that he is, sees this. Instead of pushing him away it makes him want to help. Slowly he breaks through Sarah's shields and together they help her to the path of healing.
Let go. You have control over your own breathing. You have control over your body. But today, right now, you cannot control this. Let go. Take your oar of the water.
This book is heartwrenchingly beautiful! I cried sad and happy tears througout. It's a story of acceptance and strength. I can't even say enough. You just have to read it!
This book was provided by NetGalley for my honest review.
http://tinar1121.blogspot.com
August 24, 2012
3.5 stars
I'm having a really hard time rating this book.
On one hand, it was an engaging, thought provoking and heart wrenching read. On the other hand, it was not at all what I signed up for.
I thought I was getting romance with a bit of a traumatic past thrown in. What I got was a metric ton of trauma with a tiny bit of romance. The cover didn't help with that, either. I know, I know...don't judge a book and all that. But seriously - you see a cover like that, all bright and white and fresh and you certainly don't think about things like dark pasts and secrets and trauma.
Let me start by saying that this is not for the faint of heart. I do not have a traumatic past, and this was overwhelmingly uncomfortable for me to read in many, many spots. If you have triggers (rape, molestation, or incest), I would highly suggest you skip this book.
That said, I did enjoy the book. This was the first book I'd read from Maher, and I don't think it will be the last. Subject matter aside, she has a beautiful way of weaving her words together that was like a breath of fresh air. It wasn't overly flowery or poetic, but it was definitely her. Her voice, her style shone through.
Besides the fact that I thought I was getting a romance and this turned out rather to be a story about Sarah's journey to forgiveness (both in herself and in those who hurt her), I was disappointed in the small romance we did get. Don't get me wrong, the scenes were intense and memorable, but unfortunately, so much time was spent on Sarah's issues that the love between Joe and Sarah seemed forced and awkward. When the ILYs came out, I was shocked, quite frankly, because I didn't feel it. I think this is a time when a book could have benefited from another even five-thousand words. We needed more of them as a couple to buy into their blossoming relationship, and their (apparent) love.
All in all, it was a memorable book, and one that will stick with me for a while. However, if you're looking for a romance to read--whether dealing with dark themes or not--this isn't it.
I'm having a really hard time rating this book.
On one hand, it was an engaging, thought provoking and heart wrenching read. On the other hand, it was not at all what I signed up for.
I thought I was getting romance with a bit of a traumatic past thrown in. What I got was a metric ton of trauma with a tiny bit of romance. The cover didn't help with that, either. I know, I know...don't judge a book and all that. But seriously - you see a cover like that, all bright and white and fresh and you certainly don't think about things like dark pasts and secrets and trauma.
Let me start by saying that this is not for the faint of heart. I do not have a traumatic past, and this was overwhelmingly uncomfortable for me to read in many, many spots. If you have triggers (rape, molestation, or incest), I would highly suggest you skip this book.
That said, I did enjoy the book. This was the first book I'd read from Maher, and I don't think it will be the last. Subject matter aside, she has a beautiful way of weaving her words together that was like a breath of fresh air. It wasn't overly flowery or poetic, but it was definitely her. Her voice, her style shone through.
Besides the fact that I thought I was getting a romance and this turned out rather to be a story about Sarah's journey to forgiveness (both in herself and in those who hurt her), I was disappointed in the small romance we did get. Don't get me wrong, the scenes were intense and memorable, but unfortunately, so much time was spent on Sarah's issues that the love between Joe and Sarah seemed forced and awkward. When the ILYs came out, I was shocked, quite frankly, because I didn't feel it. I think this is a time when a book could have benefited from another even five-thousand words. We needed more of them as a couple to buy into their blossoming relationship, and their (apparent) love.
All in all, it was a memorable book, and one that will stick with me for a while. However, if you're looking for a romance to read--whether dealing with dark themes or not--this isn't it.
January 10, 2014
I was so impressed with Rebecca Rogers Maher’s novella,The Bridge (one of my top 2013 reads), that I knew I was going to have to check out everything else she had written.
The summary & cover for Fault Lines is largely off target. While there is a romance, this is not a romance story. Joe and Sarah meet and hookup but he’s a catalyst for breaking open feelings that Sarah has long locked away, not the main focus.
Frankly, I was relieved. It’s clear early on what Sarah’s traumatic past is and I just hate when an author tries to *hot sex* a broken character out of sexual trauma. There is hot sex, and I was worried at first. But then Maher turns that trope on it’s head and instead uses the feelings it evokes in her to rip Sarah’s carefully constructed world wide open so the real healing can begin. For me, there was a perfect balance of romance and healing.
This is a novella, but as with The Bridge, there is no detour or quick fix. Sarah has to make some heartbreaking decisions that leave her raw and vulnerable.
Joe is wonderful, patient and supportive but only one piece of the puzzle that includes an elderly woman, her best friend and a very complicated relationship with her mother and uncle.
I’m not gonna lie – this was a tough one to read. I had a friend from high school who went through this situation and I can tell you that Maher nailed it. There was no sugarcoating, yet Sarah’s journey was quite brave and in the end, hopeful.
The truth is, as much as I complain about angst overload in books these days, I find that I don’t mind it when it’s handled well. Maher is becoming my go to author when I’m looking for sexy, honest, thought provoking stories.
Review also posted to my blog: http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2014/01/re...
The summary & cover for Fault Lines is largely off target. While there is a romance, this is not a romance story. Joe and Sarah meet and hookup but he’s a catalyst for breaking open feelings that Sarah has long locked away, not the main focus.
Frankly, I was relieved. It’s clear early on what Sarah’s traumatic past is and I just hate when an author tries to *hot sex* a broken character out of sexual trauma. There is hot sex, and I was worried at first. But then Maher turns that trope on it’s head and instead uses the feelings it evokes in her to rip Sarah’s carefully constructed world wide open so the real healing can begin. For me, there was a perfect balance of romance and healing.
This is a novella, but as with The Bridge, there is no detour or quick fix. Sarah has to make some heartbreaking decisions that leave her raw and vulnerable.
Joe is wonderful, patient and supportive but only one piece of the puzzle that includes an elderly woman, her best friend and a very complicated relationship with her mother and uncle.
I’m not gonna lie – this was a tough one to read. I had a friend from high school who went through this situation and I can tell you that Maher nailed it. There was no sugarcoating, yet Sarah’s journey was quite brave and in the end, hopeful.
The truth is, as much as I complain about angst overload in books these days, I find that I don’t mind it when it’s handled well. Maher is becoming my go to author when I’m looking for sexy, honest, thought provoking stories.
Review also posted to my blog: http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2014/01/re...
September 24, 2012
My Review:
I rate my books based on how much I enjoy the book. Honestly this is not a book that I enjoyed. Not because there's anything wrong with the book...there absolutely is not. But this is not a happy book. This book is about Sarah facing the demons from being sexually molested by her uncle when she was 14 years old. There's nothing happy about the book...except for the fact that she's getting better, but that's not an easy process to watch as you read this book.
The book is extremely well-written and interesting, but I kept reading it wondering why I was doing so when the entire book was extremely depressing (at least to me.) This is not a book about romance...although there is a side-story that is somewhat romantic between Sarah and Joe. But that's not the focus of the book. The focus is on Sarah and her learning to forgive and love herself... as well as learn how to deal with her mother and dying uncle for perpetuating and letting this horrible awful thing happen to her.
This is one of those gritty, soul-searching style of books that you see in places like Oprah's book club. While I understand that some people love them, I am not one of them. I like to leave a book feeling happier than when I started it. This book deals with very difficult and reality-based situations that make it a very difficult read. While, not for me, it was a very well-written book...so if those kinds of books appeal to you, then this very well may be a book that you need to add to your TBR pile.
I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I rate my books based on how much I enjoy the book. Honestly this is not a book that I enjoyed. Not because there's anything wrong with the book...there absolutely is not. But this is not a happy book. This book is about Sarah facing the demons from being sexually molested by her uncle when she was 14 years old. There's nothing happy about the book...except for the fact that she's getting better, but that's not an easy process to watch as you read this book.
The book is extremely well-written and interesting, but I kept reading it wondering why I was doing so when the entire book was extremely depressing (at least to me.) This is not a book about romance...although there is a side-story that is somewhat romantic between Sarah and Joe. But that's not the focus of the book. The focus is on Sarah and her learning to forgive and love herself... as well as learn how to deal with her mother and dying uncle for perpetuating and letting this horrible awful thing happen to her.
This is one of those gritty, soul-searching style of books that you see in places like Oprah's book club. While I understand that some people love them, I am not one of them. I like to leave a book feeling happier than when I started it. This book deals with very difficult and reality-based situations that make it a very difficult read. While, not for me, it was a very well-written book...so if those kinds of books appeal to you, then this very well may be a book that you need to add to your TBR pile.
I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
June 28, 2022
3.5 stars
I'm having a really hard time rating this book.
On one hand, it was an engaging, thought provoking and heart wrenching read. On the other hand, it was not at all what I signed up for.
I thought I was getting romance with a bit of a traumatic past thrown in. What I got was a metric ton of trauma with a tiny bit of romance. The cover didn't help with that, either. I know, I know...don't judge a book and all that. But seriously - you see a cover like that, all bright and white and fresh and you certainly don't think about things like dark pasts and secrets and trauma.
Let me start by saying that this is not for the faint of heart. I do not have a traumatic past, and this was overwhelmingly uncomfortable for me to read in many, many spots. If you have triggers (rape, molestation, or incest), I would highly suggest you skip this book.
That said, I did enjoy the book. This was the first book I'd read from Maher, and I don't think it will be the last. Subject matter aside, she has a beautiful way of weaving her words together that was like a breath of fresh air. It wasn't overly flowery or poetic, but it was definitely her. Her voice, her style shone through.
Besides the fact that I thought I was getting a romance and this turned out rather to be a story about Sarah's journey to forgiveness (both in herself and in those who hurt her), I was disappointed in the small romance we did get. Don't get me wrong, the scenes were intense and memorable, but unfortunately, so much time was spent on Sarah's issues that the love between Joe and Sarah seemed forced and awkward. When the ILYs came out, I was shocked, quite frankly, because I didn't feel it. I think this is a time when a book could have benefited from another even five-thousand words. We needed more of them as a couple to buy into their blossoming relationship, and their (apparent) love.
All in all, it was a memorable book, and one that will stick with me for a while. However, if you're looking for a romance to read--whether dealing with dark themes or not--this isn't it.
I'm having a really hard time rating this book.
On one hand, it was an engaging, thought provoking and heart wrenching read. On the other hand, it was not at all what I signed up for.
I thought I was getting romance with a bit of a traumatic past thrown in. What I got was a metric ton of trauma with a tiny bit of romance. The cover didn't help with that, either. I know, I know...don't judge a book and all that. But seriously - you see a cover like that, all bright and white and fresh and you certainly don't think about things like dark pasts and secrets and trauma.
Let me start by saying that this is not for the faint of heart. I do not have a traumatic past, and this was overwhelmingly uncomfortable for me to read in many, many spots. If you have triggers (rape, molestation, or incest), I would highly suggest you skip this book.
That said, I did enjoy the book. This was the first book I'd read from Maher, and I don't think it will be the last. Subject matter aside, she has a beautiful way of weaving her words together that was like a breath of fresh air. It wasn't overly flowery or poetic, but it was definitely her. Her voice, her style shone through.
Besides the fact that I thought I was getting a romance and this turned out rather to be a story about Sarah's journey to forgiveness (both in herself and in those who hurt her), I was disappointed in the small romance we did get. Don't get me wrong, the scenes were intense and memorable, but unfortunately, so much time was spent on Sarah's issues that the love between Joe and Sarah seemed forced and awkward. When the ILYs came out, I was shocked, quite frankly, because I didn't feel it. I think this is a time when a book could have benefited from another even five-thousand words. We needed more of them as a couple to buy into their blossoming relationship, and their (apparent) love.
All in all, it was a memorable book, and one that will stick with me for a while. However, if you're looking for a romance to read--whether dealing with dark themes or not--this isn't it.
September 23, 2012
Reviewed on: http://readyourwrites.blogspot.com
****This book deals with sexual abuse of a minor and how that abuse has affected the abusee years later.****
Before I start, I need to point out this book isn’t your typical romance. The main character, Sarah, has serious issues.
This is the first story I’ve read by Rebecca Rogers Maher. In fact, before this book, I’ve never heard of her. I went to her website and looked her up. I will say that it was quite a treat to find an author who made a conscience decision to write about real people in real situations.
I’m going to do what I don’t like to do with reviews and actually tell you what happened with the book. I generally HATE giving away too much about a book, because then why would you buy it.
Like most victims of sexual abuse, Sarah knew her abuser. She was even very close to him and loved him with all her heart. The abuse occurred when Sarah was fourteen. She feels that she was old enough to have said no and thus feels in some ways she encouraged it and that it was fine. She finds relief from her demons by cutting herself. Throughout the book Sarah is a nurturer and protector. She protects her abuser by making excuses for him and she protects her mother by not telling her about the abuse and talking about her feelings for all of these years, and talking about all the sacrifices her mother made for her and feeling she has to be with her mother, when she’s going through a horrible loss. To a certain extent, it would appear that Sarah’s mother unbeknownst to her encouraged the abuse.
I don’t want to say that Sarah is your typical sexual abuse survivor, because there isn’t anything typical about this sort of thing. Sarah continues to abuse her body by hooking up with guys she doesn’t care about and know will never care about her, until she made a mistake and mis-read Joe. Sarah likes to be in control and after one night, Joe turned the tables on her.
I found Joe to be a remarkable man in that at the first sign of trouble he didn’t run. Through photography, Joe has learned to read people. He immediately knows that Sarah is hiding something. He just doesn’t know what and how bad it actually is. Joe isn’t a perfect man and he doesn’t pretend to be. He has his own past that he works hard to overcome every single day. Joe is a strong man and he fights for Sarah every single day.
What I like about this book is that it shows Sarah as a survivor. She doesn’t see herself as that, but she is. She’s conflicted about a lot of things in her life and she tries for perfection. "Sarah", like so many other women in the world is REAL.
When I got this book, I had absolutely no idea what it was really about. You don’t see a happily ever after ending. Part of me wants to say that this isn’t even a romance book. What you do get is a story that’s real. I’m sure there are hundreds, if not thousands of “Sarahs” out there. For those “Sarahs:, I think this book lets them know there is hope.
The book is rather short. It’s only 126 pages. I found the ending to be very abrupt. You can only assume that Sarah and Joe were actually able to overcome all the demons from their past and realize that it’s okay to be happy and in love with someone who truly loves you and would never ever hurt you.
I don’t usually recommend books which I haven’t read. However, Fault Lines is part of a trilogy written by Rebecca. The first book in the series is I’ll Become The Sea. This book showcases the story of Jane, Sarah’s best friend. Fault Lines vaguely mentions Jane having a tattered past. I am curious to see what it was and how she truly managed to overcome her demons to find her happy ending. I am definitely adding it to my to read list.
I was provided an Advanced Readers Copy via NetGalley in order to review this book.
****This book deals with sexual abuse of a minor and how that abuse has affected the abusee years later.****
Before I start, I need to point out this book isn’t your typical romance. The main character, Sarah, has serious issues.
This is the first story I’ve read by Rebecca Rogers Maher. In fact, before this book, I’ve never heard of her. I went to her website and looked her up. I will say that it was quite a treat to find an author who made a conscience decision to write about real people in real situations.
I’m going to do what I don’t like to do with reviews and actually tell you what happened with the book. I generally HATE giving away too much about a book, because then why would you buy it.
Like most victims of sexual abuse, Sarah knew her abuser. She was even very close to him and loved him with all her heart. The abuse occurred when Sarah was fourteen. She feels that she was old enough to have said no and thus feels in some ways she encouraged it and that it was fine. She finds relief from her demons by cutting herself. Throughout the book Sarah is a nurturer and protector. She protects her abuser by making excuses for him and she protects her mother by not telling her about the abuse and talking about her feelings for all of these years, and talking about all the sacrifices her mother made for her and feeling she has to be with her mother, when she’s going through a horrible loss. To a certain extent, it would appear that Sarah’s mother unbeknownst to her encouraged the abuse.
I don’t want to say that Sarah is your typical sexual abuse survivor, because there isn’t anything typical about this sort of thing. Sarah continues to abuse her body by hooking up with guys she doesn’t care about and know will never care about her, until she made a mistake and mis-read Joe. Sarah likes to be in control and after one night, Joe turned the tables on her.
I found Joe to be a remarkable man in that at the first sign of trouble he didn’t run. Through photography, Joe has learned to read people. He immediately knows that Sarah is hiding something. He just doesn’t know what and how bad it actually is. Joe isn’t a perfect man and he doesn’t pretend to be. He has his own past that he works hard to overcome every single day. Joe is a strong man and he fights for Sarah every single day.
What I like about this book is that it shows Sarah as a survivor. She doesn’t see herself as that, but she is. She’s conflicted about a lot of things in her life and she tries for perfection. "Sarah", like so many other women in the world is REAL.
When I got this book, I had absolutely no idea what it was really about. You don’t see a happily ever after ending. Part of me wants to say that this isn’t even a romance book. What you do get is a story that’s real. I’m sure there are hundreds, if not thousands of “Sarahs” out there. For those “Sarahs:, I think this book lets them know there is hope.
The book is rather short. It’s only 126 pages. I found the ending to be very abrupt. You can only assume that Sarah and Joe were actually able to overcome all the demons from their past and realize that it’s okay to be happy and in love with someone who truly loves you and would never ever hurt you.
I don’t usually recommend books which I haven’t read. However, Fault Lines is part of a trilogy written by Rebecca. The first book in the series is I’ll Become The Sea. This book showcases the story of Jane, Sarah’s best friend. Fault Lines vaguely mentions Jane having a tattered past. I am curious to see what it was and how she truly managed to overcome her demons to find her happy ending. I am definitely adding it to my to read list.
I was provided an Advanced Readers Copy via NetGalley in order to review this book.
September 27, 2012
Review posted on Talk Supe
I’m having a pretty difficult time in rating this book. While part of me found the writing of Fault Lines to be good and the subject matter that the main character has to struggle with engaging, the other part of me was hoping that there would have been a little more romance in the story. Not that it lacked romance; I guess I just wanted more.
This is my first Rebecca Rogers Maher book but the series title should have been an indication of what I should have expected. Fault Lines isn’t your typical sugar coated; let’s live happily-ever-after kind of romance story. Fault Lines is about two adults who each try to hide a dark past and do their best to recover and move on with what life has dealt them.
As a party planner, Sarah Murphy likes to have control of the situations she’s in especially when it comes to her sexual relations with men. When Sarah meets wedding photographer, Joe, she momentarily lets her guard down and shows how fragile she truly is. As Sarah tries to make her encounter with Joe as just another night of meaningless sex, Joe realizes there’s more to Sarah and wants to get to know her better. Maybe even develop a relationship with her. Joe understands that Sarah is dealing with some very serious issues and decides to give her just enough space to deal with her demons without totally abandoning or giving up on her.
“You were a kid. Fourteen is not an adult. Especially not when the person hurting you is someone you trusted and someone you loved. It is not your fault, Sarah. Do you hear me? Just because your mother didn’t see it doesn’t mean it wasn’t wrong. Even if you tell her and she ends up defending him, it won’t mean that it wasn’t wrong. He raped you. You were not to blame for that.”
The relationship that Joe and Sarah embark on isn’t an easy road and Rebecca Maher does a beautiful job of engaging you in their story. Sarah’s horrific past is both heart and gut wrenching. As a teen, Sarah was molested and raped by a family member whom she had trusted. For years she’s kept this secret to herself (with the exception of her best friend Jane) and continues to blame herself for what happened. As a woman, I really felt for Sarah because NO woman or child should feel any guilt for the wrong that was done to them. To see Sarah torture herself for years was excruciating and I just wanted to reach out to her. And then to find out the position that she’s put in was even more disturbing.
Like I said, Fault Lines isn’t your typical romance. It doesn’t leave you high on lollipops and gumdrops. Instead, it paints you a raw, gritty and realistic picture of a woman’s struggles to love and forgive herself while learning how to receive someone else’s love. While I wasn’t left utterly happy, I did find comfort in the fact that Sarah was heading towards a path of recovery. Fault Lines might not appeal to everyone but Rebecca Maher does a brilliant job of making you care for the characters she’s created. This is the reason why I ended up giving Fault Lines a 4 out of 5 star rating, because at the end of the day, Rebecca Maher makes care for these people like they were real.
*ARC provided by author for an honest review
I’m having a pretty difficult time in rating this book. While part of me found the writing of Fault Lines to be good and the subject matter that the main character has to struggle with engaging, the other part of me was hoping that there would have been a little more romance in the story. Not that it lacked romance; I guess I just wanted more.
This is my first Rebecca Rogers Maher book but the series title should have been an indication of what I should have expected. Fault Lines isn’t your typical sugar coated; let’s live happily-ever-after kind of romance story. Fault Lines is about two adults who each try to hide a dark past and do their best to recover and move on with what life has dealt them.
As a party planner, Sarah Murphy likes to have control of the situations she’s in especially when it comes to her sexual relations with men. When Sarah meets wedding photographer, Joe, she momentarily lets her guard down and shows how fragile she truly is. As Sarah tries to make her encounter with Joe as just another night of meaningless sex, Joe realizes there’s more to Sarah and wants to get to know her better. Maybe even develop a relationship with her. Joe understands that Sarah is dealing with some very serious issues and decides to give her just enough space to deal with her demons without totally abandoning or giving up on her.
“You were a kid. Fourteen is not an adult. Especially not when the person hurting you is someone you trusted and someone you loved. It is not your fault, Sarah. Do you hear me? Just because your mother didn’t see it doesn’t mean it wasn’t wrong. Even if you tell her and she ends up defending him, it won’t mean that it wasn’t wrong. He raped you. You were not to blame for that.”
The relationship that Joe and Sarah embark on isn’t an easy road and Rebecca Maher does a beautiful job of engaging you in their story. Sarah’s horrific past is both heart and gut wrenching. As a teen, Sarah was molested and raped by a family member whom she had trusted. For years she’s kept this secret to herself (with the exception of her best friend Jane) and continues to blame herself for what happened. As a woman, I really felt for Sarah because NO woman or child should feel any guilt for the wrong that was done to them. To see Sarah torture herself for years was excruciating and I just wanted to reach out to her. And then to find out the position that she’s put in was even more disturbing.
Like I said, Fault Lines isn’t your typical romance. It doesn’t leave you high on lollipops and gumdrops. Instead, it paints you a raw, gritty and realistic picture of a woman’s struggles to love and forgive herself while learning how to receive someone else’s love. While I wasn’t left utterly happy, I did find comfort in the fact that Sarah was heading towards a path of recovery. Fault Lines might not appeal to everyone but Rebecca Maher does a brilliant job of making you care for the characters she’s created. This is the reason why I ended up giving Fault Lines a 4 out of 5 star rating, because at the end of the day, Rebecca Maher makes care for these people like they were real.
*ARC provided by author for an honest review
October 8, 2012
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
Source: A copy of the book was provided by the publisher.
I first heard about this book on Carina Press’ Dear Reader Letter included in every book, where Angela James talks about the upcoming releases. It sounded interesting so I decided to read Rebecca Rogers Maher’s previous book, I’ll Become the Sea. I was very impressed and couldn't wait to read Fault Lines.
Sarah was a victim of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. Her story is heartbreaking. She doesn't know how to be in a relationship, doesn't even know if she’s capable of it. Her family life is very complicated because her mother ignores what happened to her. Sarah has to deal with her attacker, who happened to be a family member. And her only close relationship is the one she has with her best friend. But her friend recently found her happy ending, and Sarah doesn't want to intrude in her happiness. So she feels lonelier than ever.
She finds normalcy in her work as a wedding planner, where she has control of everything. One day she meets Joe, a wedding photographer. They flirt and end up spending the night together. But she treats him as a one-night stand, because in her mind, that’s all she’s capable of. But Joe is attracted to her and wants to meet again. That encounter is what sets in motion the events that will finally help Sarah regain her life.
The first thing you should know is that Fault Lines isn't a Romance. There is a love story and a romantic interest, but the focus is Sarah. I think the Women’s Fiction label fits it much better because Sarah’s journey isn't really about the romance and she mostly walks it alone. Joe helps, but he’s not the answer to her prayers. He doesn't heal her, and that’s as I think it should be.
It wasn't an easy book to read and if sexual abuse is a trigger for you, then you shouldn't read it. I liked Sarah and found her struggle authentic. Her relationship with Joe starts rocky and he’s the one who does all the work, first pursuing her and then staying by her side. He also had a difficult past and is in a place where he can understand what Sarah is going through and maybe even help her. Or at least stand by her side while she figures things out.
I liked the book a lot but its biggest flaw is the length; 126 pages aren't enough to fully develop a story so complex, and to give a character like Sarah a satisfactory ending. The book ends in such an abrupt way that I thought my copy was incomplete.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a compelling heroine and a sweet love story. The tone is dark and the romance scarce, so it won’t be for everyone, but I liked it a lot. I liked the author’s voice and I can’t wait to read her next book.
3.5 Stars
Note: I'll Become the Sea is the first book in the series, featuring Sarah’s friend. They stand alone well, but I recommend reading them in order just because both are great books.
Source: A copy of the book was provided by the publisher.
I first heard about this book on Carina Press’ Dear Reader Letter included in every book, where Angela James talks about the upcoming releases. It sounded interesting so I decided to read Rebecca Rogers Maher’s previous book, I’ll Become the Sea. I was very impressed and couldn't wait to read Fault Lines.
Sarah was a victim of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. Her story is heartbreaking. She doesn't know how to be in a relationship, doesn't even know if she’s capable of it. Her family life is very complicated because her mother ignores what happened to her. Sarah has to deal with her attacker, who happened to be a family member. And her only close relationship is the one she has with her best friend. But her friend recently found her happy ending, and Sarah doesn't want to intrude in her happiness. So she feels lonelier than ever.
She finds normalcy in her work as a wedding planner, where she has control of everything. One day she meets Joe, a wedding photographer. They flirt and end up spending the night together. But she treats him as a one-night stand, because in her mind, that’s all she’s capable of. But Joe is attracted to her and wants to meet again. That encounter is what sets in motion the events that will finally help Sarah regain her life.
The first thing you should know is that Fault Lines isn't a Romance. There is a love story and a romantic interest, but the focus is Sarah. I think the Women’s Fiction label fits it much better because Sarah’s journey isn't really about the romance and she mostly walks it alone. Joe helps, but he’s not the answer to her prayers. He doesn't heal her, and that’s as I think it should be.
It wasn't an easy book to read and if sexual abuse is a trigger for you, then you shouldn't read it. I liked Sarah and found her struggle authentic. Her relationship with Joe starts rocky and he’s the one who does all the work, first pursuing her and then staying by her side. He also had a difficult past and is in a place where he can understand what Sarah is going through and maybe even help her. Or at least stand by her side while she figures things out.
I liked the book a lot but its biggest flaw is the length; 126 pages aren't enough to fully develop a story so complex, and to give a character like Sarah a satisfactory ending. The book ends in such an abrupt way that I thought my copy was incomplete.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a compelling heroine and a sweet love story. The tone is dark and the romance scarce, so it won’t be for everyone, but I liked it a lot. I liked the author’s voice and I can’t wait to read her next book.
3.5 Stars
Note: I'll Become the Sea is the first book in the series, featuring Sarah’s friend. They stand alone well, but I recommend reading them in order just because both are great books.
September 12, 2012
When Sarah is unable to control the situation with Joe with sex as she has done many times, it starts a cascade of emotions that she never wanted to deal with. Not only has she found a man that she can't go numb on, the mentally ill uncle that raped her as a teen is back in her life, dying of cancer. As she tries to push all those feelings down and be the support system her mother needs, everything comes tumbling down. The fear, guilt, and self mutilation she thought she had conquered years ago are back and she can't get the emotional distance she has used to survive all these years.
Fault Lines is a stark and raw story of recovery. While beautifully written, it was difficult to read at times. It's novella length but I had to take frequent breaks because it can be overwhelming. It brought tears more than once as Sarah broke and struggled to find her way back. The moment when she decides to confide in Joe was perfect and the scenes with her best friend Jane were some of the best moments of female friendship that I've read in romance. There are no secrets between them and Jane is fierce in her love for her troubled friend.
The only problem I had with Fault Lines is it is labeled as romance and I don't feel that it is. Sarah and Joe have very little page time together and when the "I love you"s came, I didn't buy it. It is also told entirely from Sarah's POV and I think that added to the non-romance feel. Joe was more of the supporting cast than the hero and his importance to the story was less than Jane's or Sarah's mom.
If the book was just fiction, I would have given it 5 stars. It was amazing and I would love to read another story about Sarah a few years into her recovery. But given the romance label it has and the unfulfilled expectations that gives, I'm giving it a 4.
Fault Lines is a stark and raw story of recovery. While beautifully written, it was difficult to read at times. It's novella length but I had to take frequent breaks because it can be overwhelming. It brought tears more than once as Sarah broke and struggled to find her way back. The moment when she decides to confide in Joe was perfect and the scenes with her best friend Jane were some of the best moments of female friendship that I've read in romance. There are no secrets between them and Jane is fierce in her love for her troubled friend.
Jane gripped Sarah’s wrist, hard. “You listen to me.”
“No, Jane, it’s—”
“No! Listen to me. You were a kid. Fourteen is not an adult. Especially not when the person hurting you is someone you trusted and someone you loved. It is not your fault, Sarah. Do you hear me? Just because your mother didn’t see it doesn’t mean it wasn’t wrong. Even if you tell her and she ends up defending him, it won’t mean that it wasn’t wrong. He raped you. You were not to blame for that.”
Sarah wrapped her fingers around Jane’s grip and leaned her forehead against their joined hands. Her whole body shook.
“Don’t worry about forgiving him, Sarah. Whatever it is you think you did…you need to see it for what it is. It wasn’t your fault. If you want to forgive someone, start with yourself.”
The only problem I had with Fault Lines is it is labeled as romance and I don't feel that it is. Sarah and Joe have very little page time together and when the "I love you"s came, I didn't buy it. It is also told entirely from Sarah's POV and I think that added to the non-romance feel. Joe was more of the supporting cast than the hero and his importance to the story was less than Jane's or Sarah's mom.
If the book was just fiction, I would have given it 5 stars. It was amazing and I would love to read another story about Sarah a few years into her recovery. But given the romance label it has and the unfulfilled expectations that gives, I'm giving it a 4.
July 27, 2015
I started this book months ago, and didn’t like it so I put it down. I picked it back some time later, and I got a little over half-way through this book before I finally threw in the towel. This is not the book I signed up for. Sure, the summary says that the heroine has a dark secret, but I had no idea how dark that secret was.
Still, I do not like to give books terribly low ratings just because I don’t like them. So keeping in mind that I only read the first half, here are my thoughts about this book.
Sarah is a wedding planner and meets photographer Joe at an event that she coordinated. He’s hot, so is she–of course they’re going to hook up that night.
This book deals with a sensitive issue (actually a couple of them), but the one that disturbed me the most is the secret that Sarah harbors, and I cannot explain what completely turned me off from this book without revealing that secret. So, if you don’t want to know, don’t highlight the text below:
Because of Sarah’s lack of trust in men and her inability to get too close, she pushes Joe away. He comes back, figures out that he has to be gentle with her. Almost immediately after determining that he can’t touch her any way he wants, things like this happened:
So it’s not just the issues that the characters face that made me not like this book. I didn’t like Sarah. I didn’t connect at all with Joe. And I thought the lemons barely made sense. #flounce
Still, I do not like to give books terribly low ratings just because I don’t like them. So keeping in mind that I only read the first half, here are my thoughts about this book.
Sarah is a wedding planner and meets photographer Joe at an event that she coordinated. He’s hot, so is she–of course they’re going to hook up that night.
This book deals with a sensitive issue (actually a couple of them), but the one that disturbed me the most is the secret that Sarah harbors, and I cannot explain what completely turned me off from this book without revealing that secret. So, if you don’t want to know, don’t highlight the text below:
Because of Sarah’s lack of trust in men and her inability to get too close, she pushes Joe away. He comes back, figures out that he has to be gentle with her. Almost immediately after determining that he can’t touch her any way he wants, things like this happened:
He fucked her like an animal would, all restraint gone.
So it’s not just the issues that the characters face that made me not like this book. I didn’t like Sarah. I didn’t connect at all with Joe. And I thought the lemons barely made sense. #flounce
September 24, 2012
I'm not going to give away the main part of the issues with the heroine but I will say the treatment the author gives the subject was refreshing as it felt incredibly real. It hit close to home for me although I didn't have everything happen to me that she did I personally did feel most of what she did and still occasionally deal with the same issues of trust and nightmares.
Sarah has issues with control and uses sex as a way to keep men at an emotional distance. She doesn't do relationships or any real connections other than to her best friend. I liked her and as you get to know her secrets you will feel for her and hope she gets some true happiness. She's driven and really just wants to be honest but is convinced that what happened to her was her fault... trust me it isn't but there are times when I felt that way as well. I'm proud of the journey she took in this book and even happier the author didn't completely whitewash the subject.
Joe...what an incredible man he is. He's a recovering alcoholic and brilliant photographer that sees beyond the masks we all present to the world. He has his own demons that are faced in this book and seeing him make steps in his own way was heartwarming. He's a great great sexy man and even though we don't see much of the two of them together what we do see is beautiful. I'm so happy that he was such a patient person with her and I beleive what they build will be an incredible life.
Thanks to NetGalley.com and Carina Press for bringing this to my attention and allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.
One note... Please do not go in to this without understanding it deals with some difficult topics but.. I cannot say this enough... These topics deserve to be talked about with honesty no matter how uncomfortable they can make some people.
Sarah has issues with control and uses sex as a way to keep men at an emotional distance. She doesn't do relationships or any real connections other than to her best friend. I liked her and as you get to know her secrets you will feel for her and hope she gets some true happiness. She's driven and really just wants to be honest but is convinced that what happened to her was her fault... trust me it isn't but there are times when I felt that way as well. I'm proud of the journey she took in this book and even happier the author didn't completely whitewash the subject.
Joe...what an incredible man he is. He's a recovering alcoholic and brilliant photographer that sees beyond the masks we all present to the world. He has his own demons that are faced in this book and seeing him make steps in his own way was heartwarming. He's a great great sexy man and even though we don't see much of the two of them together what we do see is beautiful. I'm so happy that he was such a patient person with her and I beleive what they build will be an incredible life.
Thanks to NetGalley.com and Carina Press for bringing this to my attention and allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.
One note... Please do not go in to this without understanding it deals with some difficult topics but.. I cannot say this enough... These topics deserve to be talked about with honesty no matter how uncomfortable they can make some people.
September 26, 2012
My thoughts
The Novel Fault line by Rebecca Maher is a book that will engage you, it will bring forward certain thoughts and emotion that will make you feel the character’s hurt.
This is not your typical girl meets guy, they fall in love, and everything is then sunshine in rainbows. This is a story about real characters. That is flawed, and is facing some problems that most are facing today but it’s rarely talked about.
I loved that Maher’s characters are real and broken. Maher doesn’t shy over the topic of sexual abuse and through Sarah you learn that it isn’t something one can just “Get Over”.
Fault lines is about Sarah a party planner who loves to be in control and one way she controls situations is through sex. She is the type to “love them and leave them”. She doesn’t do relationships because she can’t control them, she figures if you just have sex and don’t form any connections then nothing can go wrong, no one can hurt you. Joe a gifted photographer they met up at a wedding and by the end of the night end up together. Instead of the rainbows you get a pair of adults who are trying to overcome their troubled past and maybe have a better future. The only thing is their journey is not a smooth one, and their past problems are anything but light. This story deals with alcoholism and the aftermath of sexual assault. It’s not for the faint heart-hearted.
Only gripe I have with fault lines is that it was not a romance novel. It was a story about recovery first and romance was little and far in between. But after you get over that piece of information the book was pretty good.
Overall, the writing was good, the message behind it good, but a bit depressing and not enough romance for me!
Source:ARC giving from netgalley courtesy of Carina press
October 4, 2012
This book tell the story of a sexually abused victim who struggle to come term with her past. Sarah, is a wedding planner and strive to make a happy and joyous occasion for the couple that engaged her. Untold to others, Sarah is a victim of sexual abuse by someone close to her except Jane, her childhood friend. And worst of all, the aggressor is her own uncle. many years have past since the incident but Sarah doesnt seem to be able to come to term with her past what more when her uncle was at the verge of dying from stage four cancer. she have to come to term with her past in order to forgive her uncle. In the meantime, she met Joe and fireworks seems to sparked almost immediately for them. Yet, she still holding back because of her past.
Sarah, being the main character have many things in her hand at the same; and as a reader, i really pitied her. At times, i can feel her being too crowded and hardly have a space to breathe. Many issues that she needs to overcome and it is an emotional taxing to me just to read her story. Overall, albeit that it have limited pages (155 pages), it was a rather heavy read for me.
Sarah, being the main character have many things in her hand at the same; and as a reader, i really pitied her. At times, i can feel her being too crowded and hardly have a space to breathe. Many issues that she needs to overcome and it is an emotional taxing to me just to read her story. Overall, albeit that it have limited pages (155 pages), it was a rather heavy read for me.
August 28, 2012
I thought this was a good story about someone who was really damaged due to circumstances in her childhood. Sarah has always kept a wall up between her and the world. It isn't until Joe comes along and see's the real Sarah underneath that she starts to reevaluate her life. She was raped as a child and due to that, she suffers greatly when it comes to the opposite sex. However, Joe is a patient man and isn't willing to let Sarah go through this alone. He stands by her and helps her confront her demons.
The story was rather short and I think that might be why I had some trouble really connecting with the characters. Sarah's childhood story was heart wrenching but I just didn't find myself fully engrossed in the characters. The story covers a lot about Sarah coming to terms with what happened and not only forgiving herself but the man who raped her.
The story was rather short and I think that might be why I had some trouble really connecting with the characters. Sarah's childhood story was heart wrenching but I just didn't find myself fully engrossed in the characters. The story covers a lot about Sarah coming to terms with what happened and not only forgiving herself but the man who raped her.
August 24, 2012
Wedding coordinator Sarah Murphy wears a mask when interacting with others, appearing confident and at ease with who she is. In a rare moment, Sarah is captured by photographer Joe Sullivan through his lens revealing the vulnerable woman inside. Sarah feels confused by Joe but does not want to explore her feelings, rather treat him the way she treats all men, use them for sex. One night though is not for Joe and he realizes he has met someone who is haunted by something in her past, if she will let him he wants to be by her side as she lets go of the shadows of her past.
Captivating story, you are not sure what has caused Sarah to be so aloof and Joe is a true saint with patience as he gives Sarah the space she needs to figure out how she feels about him. I thought the way the author mingled photography into the story added a visual aspect to the story.
Review on Sensual Reads
http://sensualreads.com/?p=10547
Captivating story, you are not sure what has caused Sarah to be so aloof and Joe is a true saint with patience as he gives Sarah the space she needs to figure out how she feels about him. I thought the way the author mingled photography into the story added a visual aspect to the story.
Review on Sensual Reads
http://sensualreads.com/?p=10547
October 1, 2012
This is being sold as "romance". Sure, there is some romance in it, but the main theme in this one is child abuse and as an adult having to deal with that abuse. Oh, and then there's all these people dying.
Why this is being promoted as romance, puzzles me. It's really not a "romantic" book. In a romance book you expect the characters to be happy-go-lucky for more than half the book. You expect the focus to be on how to get them together. You don't find that in this book.
This is a book about tragedy, and finding yourself again after a tragedy, and it should be sold as such. Putting this book on romance and/or erotica shelves is wrong.
I'm giving this book only 2 stars because I started reading it expecting a light and fluffy romance, but was instead met with tragedy.
Why this is being promoted as romance, puzzles me. It's really not a "romantic" book. In a romance book you expect the characters to be happy-go-lucky for more than half the book. You expect the focus to be on how to get them together. You don't find that in this book.
This is a book about tragedy, and finding yourself again after a tragedy, and it should be sold as such. Putting this book on romance and/or erotica shelves is wrong.
I'm giving this book only 2 stars because I started reading it expecting a light and fluffy romance, but was instead met with tragedy.
September 15, 2012
This book was not at all what I expected. First I want to say I took one look at the cover art, read the blurb and expected to read a romance with some emotional trauma thrown in. Instead I was drawn into the turmoil that is Sarah's life. I can honestly say I've never read a book that affected me as deeply as this one did. Do I feel mislead by the cover and the description? Yes, of course. However, that was quickly forgotten the longer I read. There's no way you can read this book and not be touched by Sarah's story and be happy for her that she finally found someone who really sees who she is, not just the persona she projects.
November 25, 2015
I was intrigued to read this book because of the author's essays on the depiction of rape in romance novels that I've seen on a few blogs. I did like this book, but felt it was much more of a family drama than a romance. The heroine had been sexually abused as a young teenager and has struggled to cope with it since. Now a successful wedding planner, she meets the hero, a photographer, and another stage of the healing process begins. It focused a lot on the role that other people (aside from the hero) play in a survivor's recovery. The heroine did not fear sex, but an emotionally intimate relationship was difficult and the hero was a very good guy.
August 27, 2012
Fault Lines is a truly remarkable book. Yes, it's about a sexual-abuse survivor, but it's also a beautiful story of love and recovery. It might not be what some people are expecting, but the results are pretty powerful. Even though it's a romance novel, the author reminds me of writers like Jim Thompson or David Goodis -- they took traditional stories but added personal touches and created something special. I was also reminded of Willy Vlautin's tone, his books deal with painful topics but somehow do it with a realistic optimism that resonates with me.
Read
June 25, 2015I gave this three stars because the writing was very good, and I would've felt bad giving it anything less. That being said, I read this looking for a fun, sexy contemporary and instead got a story about a rape survivor and a recovering alcoholic. Yes, this is a romance, but it was very dark and was more about the heroine's healing journey as opposed to her connection with the hero. There's nothing wrong with this book, but it's not what I was expecting or looking for, so be warned--this is not a fun, frothy contemporary romance.
September 17, 2012
Full review to come.
May 1, 2013
Holy cow awesome book. It hurst really bad though. For some it may have triggers. BE SAFE
Definitley worth reading, an amazing book. Can't wait to read more by this author!!!
Definitley worth reading, an amazing book. Can't wait to read more by this author!!!
to-buy-small-publisher
May 31, 2013I like this review of the book posted at Romance Novels for Feminists.
November 6, 2013
See full review at:
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...
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