Unbearable is the third novel in the Port Fare series, this time following Booker and Tess. Booker finds himself drawn to the woman at the hospital who seems afraid of her own shadow and who will faint whenever she sees blood. Finally deciding that the hospital was too much for her, she got a new job working as Booker's secretary. They grow closer and closer until their haunted pasts come back to drive them apart.
This was my favorite book in the Port Fare series; I couldn't put it down. I loved Booker and I loved Tess. They were absolutely perfect for each other and I was rooting for them from the beginning. Booker had been cheated on and used by his ex-wife, while Tess' ex-husband repeatedly physically and emotionally abused her. Now, Tess is in hiding, after leaving her family behind, so she wouldn't have to encounter Garen again.
One thing that bothered me was that Tess was the PERFECT woman for Booker, down to the T. Booker said she had to be AB negative, and what was she? AB Negative. It's NOT common for you to be that picky and find someone. A lot of people end up alone because they're so picky when it comes to a man/woman. You should be picky when it comes to finding the right person, but don't make it impossible. Look for similar interests, beliefs, good character, etc. But blood type? Probably not.
I loved the flash backs to when Tess was with Garen. It was heartbreaking, but it kept me reading. I was waiting for her to stick up for herself and leave him. He's a real abusive prick and whenever something wasn't orderly enough for him, he'd hit her, or mentally annihilate her. She gets a B- in class, and he diminishes her self-esteem. He's basically the exact opposite of Booker.
Domestic abuse is a very serious issue and I feel Sherry Gammon handled it respectfully, and I think, unfortunately, realistically. Garen is controlling and will blame his rage on stress, but then after his episode, he'd apologize. While, I've never been in a abusive relationship or seen anyone in one, I believe this is a realistic adaption of what a really controlling person can do.
We get to see more of Maggie and Seth, and Lilah and Cole, in this story, but it's not an overload. They are open and loving to Tess, who has become socially awkward from fear of her ex.