Readers longing for an unforgettable romance will get just that with this tale of unlikely friends finding support when they're at their lowest. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Hard Truth About Sunshine by Sawyer Bennett, along with my impressions of it, then add this heartwarming and thought-provoking romance to your bookshelf too!
New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.
Despite having narrowly escaped death's clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It's only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.
What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again... can he learn to love again?
He's about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can't decide whether she wants to live or die.
Four people with nothing in common but their destination. They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss and love. And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.
The hard truth about sunshine...
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
People who don't think romance novels have substance will find themselves chagrined by this unforgettable tale full of heart and soul. When an eclectic group of individuals who lives are far from perfect bond during an emotionally intense road trip readers will find themselves put through the wringer alongside them every step of the way.
Christopher lost his leg and parts of his hand in the war and it's left him bitter and alone as the life he ran away from now wants nothing to do with him. When a bar fight puts him in mandatory counseling he forms an unexpected bond with people who are just as damaged as him. His compatriots in pain are varied in age and issues but they all just click as they travel the countryside, finding commonality and affection. Christopher's antagonistic attitude is tempered by Jillian who's going blind and has a heart condition that could kill her at any time, but who's a bundle of light and serenity that he can't help being drawn to. As they form a fragile and loving bond, time becomes the enemy of them all as the youngest among them is dying of cancer. Connor sees this trip as an opportunity to live before he dies and it's his journey that broke my heart the most. He's wise beyond his years and his presence brings the others out of their shells as each moment they're all together is magical. The most bitter of them all is Barb, a survivor of sexual abuse who longs to commit suicide. She, like Christopher, is full of rage and it takes her far longer to let down her walls and be vulnerable. Each one of them left me hopeful at times, but when tragedy befalls one of them it left me shaking.
From start to finish this was a tough tale to read, but sooo worth the time invested. The pain these individuals were going through was easy to relate to, especially as I'm a quadriplegic, and I ached with them as the miles passed. Their unlikely friendship was heartwarming, and heart-wrenching, but ultimately uplifting for those left behind. The romance between Christopher and Jillian was subtle but no less powerful as he changed in her presence, became a better man. Friendship is what this story is about though and on that level it crackles. The ending isn't conventional, like the story as a whole, but it is reaffirming. Love and friendship, random moments of joy, are what life's all about...and this memorable group of people did a whole lot of living and it's was has me recommending this book wholeheartedly.
Christopher lost his leg and parts of his hand in the war and it's left him bitter and alone as the life he ran away from now wants nothing to do with him. When a bar fight puts him in mandatory counseling he forms an unexpected bond with people who are just as damaged as him. His compatriots in pain are varied in age and issues but they all just click as they travel the countryside, finding commonality and affection. Christopher's antagonistic attitude is tempered by Jillian who's going blind and has a heart condition that could kill her at any time, but who's a bundle of light and serenity that he can't help being drawn to. As they form a fragile and loving bond, time becomes the enemy of them all as the youngest among them is dying of cancer. Connor sees this trip as an opportunity to live before he dies and it's his journey that broke my heart the most. He's wise beyond his years and his presence brings the others out of their shells as each moment they're all together is magical. The most bitter of them all is Barb, a survivor of sexual abuse who longs to commit suicide. She, like Christopher, is full of rage and it takes her far longer to let down her walls and be vulnerable. Each one of them left me hopeful at times, but when tragedy befalls one of them it left me shaking.
From start to finish this was a tough tale to read, but sooo worth the time invested. The pain these individuals were going through was easy to relate to, especially as I'm a quadriplegic, and I ached with them as the miles passed. Their unlikely friendship was heartwarming, and heart-wrenching, but ultimately uplifting for those left behind. The romance between Christopher and Jillian was subtle but no less powerful as he changed in her presence, became a better man. Friendship is what this story is about though and on that level it crackles. The ending isn't conventional, like the story as a whole, but it is reaffirming. Love and friendship, random moments of joy, are what life's all about...and this memorable group of people did a whole lot of living and it's was has me recommending this book wholeheartedly.
My rating for this is an A+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.
Wow, sounds like an emotional journey. Thanks for the lovely review.
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