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Fault Lines

by Rebecca Rogers Maher (Goodreads Author)

3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 · rating details · 37 ratings · 20 reviews

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...more

ebook, 126 pages

Published September 24th 2012 by Carina Press

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Sep 30, 2012 Tina "coffee and books" rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, made-me-cry, reviewed-netgalley, gifted-or-free-read, reviewed

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. H...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Brie C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

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. Sh...more 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.(less)

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Sep 27, 2012 Debbie (Cimmaron of Talk Supe) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, review-copy-from-publisher, romance, this-broke-my-heart

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. F...more 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(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Crystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 th...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Bri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, netgalley-read

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...more 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.(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Kim (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 conscie...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Lillie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arcs, awesome-angst, reviewed-at-novel-thoughts

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...more 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.

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.
(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Stephanie Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 a...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Hsiau Wei rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, books-read-in-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 th...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: abused-heroine, betrayal

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...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Aliaa El-Nashar rated it 4 of 5 stars

The other day I was reading "One Wrong Move" and although it didn't really concentrate fully on the protagonist, since there was a lot of stuff going on around, it still mentioned some history of abuse in her life. The male lead pointed out that women who suffer from such abuse go two ways, either they try to make themselves invisible or they get extra slutty. One Wrong Move was an example of the first, this book is an example of the latter. It is such a coincidence that I read those two books d...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Beate rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: tragedy

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 trag...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 3 of 5 stars

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-...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Iris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, contemporary, epubs

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 tou...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-review, contemporary-romance, women, litconnect

Just signed up to host a review on the soon-to-be released blog tour. *crossing fingers.*

Rebecca Rogers Maher has crafted a powerful story of courage and resiliency in heroine Sarah Murphy. A survivor of childhood sexual trauma, Sarah has learned how to cope and adapt and to keep true intimacy, true connection at bay ... that is until Joe Sullivan enters her life. Joe's background as a photographer has lead him to recognize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, leading to a hunch that...more

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Aug 26, 2012 K. Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 some...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Kristin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, nob, romance

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 d...more

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May 01, 2013 grumpybybirth rated it 5 of 5 stars

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!!!

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Sep 16, 2012 Liza rated it 3 of 5 stars

Full review to come.

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May 22, 2013 Natalie is currently reading it

May 09, 2013 Alyanna rated it 2 of 5 stars

May 06, 2013 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporaries

Apr 28, 2013 Robot marked it as to-read

Apr 27, 2013 Sadie Luna marked it as to-read

Apr 22, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 21, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 31, 2013 Valorie marked it as to-read

Shelves: comptr-nook, romance

Mar 10, 2013 Kristy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Feb 20, 2013 Texas rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jan 17, 2013 Reese Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Rebecca Rogers Maher

Rebecca Rogers Maher writes bold contemporary romance novels with strong, flawed heroines. She’s a Vassar graduate, a former community organizer and Brooklyn public school teacher, and a mother to two insanely sweet boys. She believes messed-up ladies deserve happy endings too, as well as lots of hot sex with genuinely kind men. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her hot, kind husband and their...more

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