Christine has a secret. For years she's kept it hidden from everyone important in her life with the one exception of her therapist whose's been trying to help her move on, but for her otherwise close knit family? Not a word.
Months ago, when Craig and Christine first got together, things were intense. The attraction they shared was overpowering and they got real close real quick, and in that maelstrom of emotion things went pear shaped. Craig, who has a history of being hurt by women who keeps secrets, realized that Christine had a secret that she point blank refused to come clean about.
Both of them being stubborn and pig headed ... that was that. They broke up, but still that connection is there, and since they live in each other's lives Craig's best friend and business partner being engaged to Christine's sister, something's got to give.
Written as an interconnected standalone, told from dual POVs, we get a recap of what happened between these two in the background of the latter part of Healing, book one of Rachel Caid's Finding Home series woven through the opening pages of Eyes Open.
Rachel employs a delicate touch as this story meanders around before eventually crashing headlong into Christine's secret. One that, at least in broad terms, you'll probably see coming a mile away, but the writing is so engrossing that, if you're anything like me, you'll be captivated and heartbroken as past and present collide, and sympathize with Craig who is, in large part, powerless to act, at least in the caveman way that his male instincts urge him to.
So much darker than its predecessor, it nevertheless captures the same spirit of family and closeness that permeates both, this story tugs at the heartstrings until they're strained and taught, soothes them only to snap them right to breaking point once more.
Even still, there's room between the covers for fun and hilarity, joy and togetherness, some rather hot sex, and a few twists and turns.
Beautifully told, I absolutely loved it.