Disclosure: This is a themed tour through Prism Book Tours. I received the book to review. Opinions shared are mine.
Reading After the Silence was a wake-up call for me. It all started with Day 3 of a snowy week. Snow days are unheard of in our school system, so three consecutive days feel like spring break to me. Well, except the fact that we haven’t left the house in those three days. The kids played outside and all, but we’ve been cooped up for too long. When I got up this morning, I felt a bit like Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Snapping at the kids and pushing the dog away, I was all prickles. Then a show came on TLC that featured these kids who suffered from a terrible, unidentifiable illness. I realized that those mothers would give anything to watch their children hula-hoop one more time, or listen to them howl with laughter while they played yet another video game. The thaw around my heart started to crumble when I read After the Silence. When Zoe’s family is left to suffer the devastation of her loss, I knew that I was shortchanging my own kids. Here I was sitting in the same house, yet ignoring the wonderful opportunity to spend this day with my children. I didn’t break out the craft supplies or anything, but I did pick up the video game controller and play a few rounds of Indiana Jones Lego Adventure. That counts for something, right?
Although I felt sorry for widower Ben, it took me a while to grow to like him. He seemed so out of touch with his family, especially his children, and blamed everyone else for that disconnected feeling. His reaction to his daughter’s school was completely entitled and unreasonable. His ingratitude toward those who tried to help him, such as his mother-in-law, made me angry. When he treated Hope like the hired help rather than a woman who sacrificed her time (and vacation) to help him raise his kids, it ruffled my feathers. However, his pain was dreadful to endure. I can’t imagine how tough it would be to suddenly be Mr. Mom when he was so accustomed to being a tough guy. On the other hand, Hope was a beautiful person who made me strive to be a better mom. She treated Zoe’s kids with respect, kindness, and love. Any mom would be grateful to have someone so caring watch over her children in her absence. The story is gentle yet heartbreaking; the contrast makes the sweet parts even sweeter. This clean romance has a tender story that all women, especially moms, can appreciate.
by Rula Sinara
Adult Contemporary Romance
Does following her passion mean losing her way?
Marine Ben Corallis is an expert at facing death, but nothing comes close to the terror that grounds him when his wife is killed in a car accident the day he returns from duty. He’s left to raise an infant, a toddler and a ten-year-old girl who hasn’t uttered a word since her mother’s death.
It’s hard not to care for the widowed marine with three young children. Yet he’s still grieving, too burdened with guilt to fall in love again. And Hope Alwanga’s future as a doctor awaits her on the other side of the world, in Nairobi. If two such opposites can’t agree on a common country, how can they ever create a safe place to call home?
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Harlequin
by Rula Sinara
Adult Contemporary Romance
He wants to take her child out of Africa…
The Busara elephant research and rescue camp on Kenya’s Serengeti is Anna Bekker’s life’s work. And it’s the last place she thought she’d run into Dr. Jackson Harper. As soon as he sets eyes on her four-year-old, Pippa, Anna knows he’ll never leave…without his daughter.
Furious doesn’t begin to describe how Jack feels. How could Anna keep this from him? He has to get his child back to the States. Yet as angry as he is with Anna, they still have a bond. But can it endure, despite the ocean–and the little girl–between them?
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Harlequin – iTunes
Rula Sinara lives in Virginia’s countryside with her husband, three boys and zany but endearing pets. When she’s not writing or doing mom stuff, she loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard (cool bugs included) or watching romantic movies. She also enjoys interviewing fellow authors and is a Special Contributor for USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog. Her door is always open at her website and blog.
These books all sound great. I have an angel grandchild. It is a hard loss.
I am amazed by these books
The book sounds great.