Ever once in awhile you read a book that deeply touches your soul. This was one of those books that I will remember forever. Several times throughout the story, I had to put the book down, long enough to wipe the tears from my eyes. As a child I was abused, and my broken spirit was healed by those that loved me. I could empathize with the struggles that Gillian faced. She was one beautiful, and strong heroine. I admire her for the person she became in the story.
Gillian, and her little brother Justine was abused by their father. The mother died when Gillian was 14. Gillian took care of her brother, and always protected him from the drunk, abusive dad. When her dad left her no choice, she ended up shooting him. He was going to shoot her, but she got the gun away from him, and knew she had to shoot, or he would kill her. After she shot him, he pushed her out a two story window before he died. She landed on top of a car. She lived but as you can imagine, she was hurt really bad. A grandfather she never knew she had, invited her to his ranch to live, and heal.
This was a beautiful story. It took time for Gillian to learn to trust others, and to know what love was, and to know she was loved. Justine, and Gillian had a real family for the first time. I loved Dee. She had married Bud Gillian's grandfather later in life. She was thrilled to be a grandma, and she had so much love in her big heart for everyone in her life. She was also a good cook.
This was also a romance between Gillian, and Blake. I loved the way Blake gave Gillian time, and space, but was always there for her. He was so patient. He also loved playing with Justine. I couldn't help but fall in love with his character. He was always giving Gillian her favorite foods, or giving her flowers. He was so thoughtful.
Sample from chapter 5 - When I was five, I used to think he'd come into my room and kill me one night in a drunken, doped-up rage. By the time I was ten, there were a lot of days and nights that I thought if he hit my mom or me one more time I might just kill him. When I was fourteen, I knew I'd lay down my life if he ever crossed the line. He knew the line, and he crossed it. He brought the gun, not me. I did what I had to do. He had a choice. He didn't give me one.
Sample from chapter 8 - "No one could pity you, Gillian. You've got guts and strength and a will and determination anyone would admire. I do. When I look at you I see -" "A dozen bruises, a broken arm, a sprained wrist and knee, and a baker's dozen stitched up glass cuts," she said sarcastically. " I see," He went on, ignoring her interruptions, " a woman with enough guts to take on raising a newborn baby. I see a woman who worked her ass off to graduate high school and work a part time job at whatever she had to, in order to feed and clothe her brother. I see a woman who thinks about a little boy's welfare in exclusion to her own. I see a woman who is fearless and took on a drugged out man with a gun in order to prevent him from hurting or killing a defenseless little boy. I see a woman who is fearless enough to put herself in the path of that man over and over again to spare her brother. I see a woman who is fearless enough to come to a new state, to a family member that she isn't sure will be decent to her, because she wants her brother to have a normal childhood, and she's hoping this is his shot. I see a woman who has enough guts to stick it out and see if it works, and who knows that if she has to turn around and leave, she'll do everything in her power to give that little boy that normal childhood even if it kills her. "I don't pity you, I have an overabundance of respect and admiration for you."
Sample from chapter 23 - Eager to be skin to skin with her, he playfully pushed her back on the bed. She landed with a bounce and a saucy smile on her lips. She wore her slinky sandals. He took each foot, pulled the shoes off, and dropped them to the floor. He worked off his socks and stood before her in nothing but his boxer briefs. Her eyes slid down his chest to his hard length. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband and slowly slid the boxers down his legs. The heat in her eyes scorched him.