Review & Giveaway: The Light in the Wound:Christine Brae

by Reviews by Tammy and Kim - Thursday, August 29, 2013

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Affected by her parents’ highly publicized divorce, Isabel grows up isolated and alone, with a resolve to never fall in love and repeat their mistakes.

When Jesse Cain enters her life, she falls hopelessly in love with him, and every sadness she’s ever felt is washed away by his intensity and passion. But people change as they grow up. Things can never stay the same forever.

Jesse and Isabel fight to stay together, determined to hold on to what they once had. Isabel wonders if a second love can ever be enough to make her forget her first.

"Do you still think of me? When you're with him, is it me that you see? Are you with him only because you fear that you have so much love to give? I'm here now, Isabel. I'm ready for all your love. I'm ready to love you, to fight for you. If you give me back your love, I promise never to waste it."

I really don't even know where to begin my review. I have so much to say, yet I really can't say much otherwise I may ruin the story for potential readers. I think each individual has to experience this book in their own way, so I will try to keep this straight and to the point without revealing or swaying any opinions. I was asked to read this book by another reader friend, and without knowing anything really about it, I agreed. Never did I realize the emotional turmoil I would feel after putting this book down. I knew there was going to be a love triangle. I knew that there was a heroine and two heroes that would play upon our hearts. I also knew that in the end I would have a chosen team. The epilogue would have my heart lying one way or the other. What I didn't know and what I am glad I didn't know is that nothing is clear-cut. The thing is, love is never clear-cut. My thoughts are still all over the place; I am still at a crossroads. I'm glad I wasn't persuaded by the thoughts of other reviewers, as I don't think this journey would have had the same impact. I needed to go into this read with no prejudgments.

The Light in the Wound starts out with one hell of an opener. One that immediately had me messaging Kim. I was floored and yes, all I could keep thing was oh no freaking way. What kind of bitch does something like that? I went into the story with this mindset. At that moment, I was not a fan of Isabel Francesca. However, little did I know the emotional journey Ms. Brae was about to take me on; that within just a few chapters, she would change my thoughts.

"Where did your love for me go?"
"It never left. "

We have three main characters: Issy, Jesse, and Alex. Each character created with a distinct role that carried a well developed depth and personality. They each fought and struggled to overcome their inner demons, their own personal flaws. The Light in the Wound is not a perfect love story; in fact, at times it is anything but. I know many readers struggled and even disliked Is, but not me. I got her, and I totally understood where she was coming from even if I didn't always quite agree with the decisions she made. For once, the heroine of the story didn't irk the day lights out of me. Her journey rendered me lost and heartbroken. Like Issy, I couldn't make a decision; I couldn't pick a side to root for. Why? Because I knew, no matter what team won the other would be left in annihilation. Jesse was so selfish, so consuming when it came to Issy. He changed her, took away pieces of her. If asked, I would say that the relationship they had was far from healthy. However, I saw more than that. I saw a guy who was in love for the first time, experience all of his firsts with this woman, and was so ambitious that he took things too far. His fears outweighed his love. He smothered anything good, but he came back fierce and with that, he stole my heart. Then there was Alex. Alex was safe; he was her best friend. He picked her up when she was down. Alex was the healthy choice. Alex was the man who stayed in the background waiting out his time. He was her anchor. The light in her otherwise dark world. Again, I was left confused because I also loved and adored Alex. He took the other piece of my heart.

"I love you Isabel. Don't forget me." he whispered and took a step back, letting go of my arm. Letting go of my heart. Setting me free. Was it over? Truly over?

I want to take a second and be brutally honest. For the first 50% or so I couldn't wrap my mind around the five star reviews. I was enjoying the story, but I just wasn't connecting with it on the same level as other readers had. I didn't understand what they were seeing and I feared this review was not going to go the good route. Around 60% or so I began to feel some pretty deep emotions. My heart started to beat faster and my chest started to tighten up. The tears threatened to fall from my eyes. I was more invested in this trio than I had originally realized. Suddenly, I NEEDED to know everything was going to be OK. Nevertheless, in the same sense I knew nothing would ever really be OK. I mean seriously how could it ever possibly be OK. This wasn't going to be your typical HEA and I knew there was going to be some severe heartache and pain. The more I read, the more I felt. The more I felt the more my heart crumbled into pieces. I was cursing Christine Brae for the devastation and huge tears falling down my face, in a span of a few hours she took every original thought I had and turned it upside down. With that last 40% of the book, she earned her four star review, and then again with the last 20% or so she earned a solid 4.5. My original rating was leaning on a three star review. With only a third of the book left, the author smacked me upside the head encouraging me take a closer look, she made me see past the obvious to the many layers of self discovery, redemption, sorrow, and hope that outlined the souls of these characters.

"He's engaged to be married and he's going to love her more than he's ever loved anyone before. Life isn't perfect. You take things one day at a time."

Isabel, Jesse and Alex will forever be in my heart; I have no doubt I will think of them over and over again. Their story moved me, touched places in my heart that haven't been reached in a while. Each of them taking a piece of me with them as the book closed. The Light in the Wound is not a simple read, the scenarios have you pausing to think, placing yourself in their shoes. I am not sure how Issy did what she did, I don't know if I would ever be strong enough to make those decisions. Did she always make the right move? I don't know. I just know Is did what she had too. I was just an innocent bystander, just someone coming along for the ride and as an outsider looking in even I couldn't tell you who I felt was the better choice. I personally wanted them to both win. I wanted both guys to get the girl, however that was not a possibility. Therefore, someone's heart shattered and so did mine. In addition, someone else walked away in love, happy, and with a huge smile on his face. So did I. I left this story with a sigh and a happy heart. I ended this journey knowing it moved and inspired me. I ended this book a huge Christine Brae fan.

Thank you, Christine Brae, for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Light in the Wound in exchange for my honest opinion.

Connect with Christine Brae:

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Giveaways:

(1) ecopy of The Light in the Wound: Christine Brae (International)
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Age 18 and over please. Ecopy giveaways are international. Signed or paperback giveaways are US only unless otherwise specified. Please allow time (up to two weeks, unless stated otherwise) for delivery of your book, please notify us if not received your book within two weeks. If the book has yet to release please keep in mind that the book will be distributed within 2 weeks of it's release date.
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(1) Signed Paperback copy of The Light in the Wound: Christine Brae (US & CANADA ONLY)
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Age 18 and over please. Ecopy giveaways are international. Signed or paperback giveaways are US only unless otherwise specified. Please allow time (up to two weeks, unless stated otherwise) for delivery of your book, please notify us if not received your book within two weeks. If the book has yet to release please keep in mind that the book will be distributed within 2 weeks of it's release date.
a Rafflecopter giveaway