"Juliana" was held prisoner for seven years by her husband. She lost all contact with family and friends. When he was killed in an auto accident, she was finally able to contact her sister. After the abuse she endured would she ever be able to trust another man? "Rosa" had an unusual plot because the woman who gave birth to her died. She was entrusted to a woman she barely knew. Rosa’s pursuit of complete understanding and acceptance was greatly hampered because she was deaf. Finally,"Shani" was devastated when she found out her life was a lie. As an adopted daughter, she took a seriously dramatic turn trying to understand the lies she had lived with.

This is my first experience with author Adelle Laudan. However, I can promise it will not be my last. Her characters were unique, beautifully described and authentic. All three, while complete opposites, endured overwhelming obstacles. They were able to overcome the constant barrage of adversity with the help of family and friends. This plot was so unique that I was hooked from page one until the last chapter.

All the characters had dynamic personalities even though they each faced circumstances which could have made them weak. The emotional conflicts were dealt with in such a way that each story seemed realistic. The poignancy they faced was riveting. This fast-paced book was compelling and the storyline lingered long after I read the final page. The endings were surprising but the last story was shocking!

I cannot give enough accolades to this author. I highly recommend that anybody read this book—as quickly as possible. Readers will see why Laudan has become a ‘must read’ for me. Great job, Ms. Laudan!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Brenda Talley
February 23, 2010