A widower finds himself back in the dating world, feeling lost and uncertain, in this sentimental story of second chances when he meets a woman the exact opposite of the love of his life...but who could very well be just what his life now needs. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Dumpster Fire by Elise Faber, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this third installment in the Life Sucks series to your bookshelf too!
dumpster fire
noun
1. an utterly calamitous situation
2. mismanagement for the ages
3. something very difficult no one wants to deal with
4. Rob Hansen
Rob was single.
That hadn’t been the plan. But it turned out that his plan wasn’t immune to car accidents. It couldn’t stave off death, couldn’t stop bad things from happening.
Now Carmella—his wife, his best friend, the other half of his heart—was gone. And she’d been gone long enough for the tendrils of loneliness to creep in, for him to risk dipping his toe back into the dating world. The only problem was that dating was a hell of a lot different in this world than when he’d been in college.
He wasn’t good at apps and profiles, his banter skills were rusty, and his flirting...well, some might say it was atrocious.
Then came high, high heels.
Then came a sharp voice with an impressive repertoire of curse words.
Then came a woman who was definitely not Carmella...but who might be the possibility of something more.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
With her most recent releases I've come to count on Ms. Faber for compelling stories and unforgettable characters. I add this release to that list as she once again captivated me, while pushing many of my emotional buttons in a tale full of tears and triumph. It's a small town romance that will keep readers glued to the pages as we root for an emotionally bruised pair to keep their painful pasts from overtaking their futures.
From the moment he met Carmella when they were children Rob saw a life only with her. As they evolved from friends to lovers to mates, he always saw her there beside him. The day that a car accident took her from him was the day he lost the love of his life. Since then he's just been going through the motions, living as a shadow of the man he once was. On the anniversary of his wife's death though he finally decides he's had enough, but instead of ending it all he creates a beginning. Encountering Sophie sees her becoming his savior in more ways than one. In a slow burn connection built on their mutual emotionally painful pasts, they slowly become a support to one another in an epic and heartwarming journey to HEA. Through it all Rob's a delicious hero, one who's not afraid to show a soft and caring side. He's a nurturing man, a hero with a heart of gold, and with each subtle word and deed he won over the emotionally bruised Sophie in a beautiful romance featuring the healing power of love.
Rob's past is a painful one indeed, but Sophie's is even more tragic due to years of abuse that has battered her self-esteem and left her doubtful of other's motives. Becoming a renowned actress has only made those feelings worse and a break from all the pressures brings her to the small town where Rob lives. From the moment they meet there's an instant attraction, a connection that has them slowly gaining strength from each other through friendship and eventually more. I enjoyed watching these two grow closer, loved watching their trust in one another slowly evolve, in a sweet and sensual journey. Their relationship grew slowly yet steadily, brick by brick, and through each cheer-filled moment and through each tear. It was an uplifting journey full of heart and soul made all the richer by this couple being immensely likable.
On a whole this was a very satisfying read with a thoughtful flow and a powerful romance. The issues surrounding Rob and Sophie were emotionally engaging, realistic in their depictions, and they grabbed onto my heart from the very first page to the last. My only quibble involves what pulls the couple apart late in the story...It's trite and soap opera-ish and felt intrusive to the epic romance that came before. It felt unnecessary as they both had enough inner demons all on their own to keep them struggling to reach their HEA. Despite that small issue this was a wonderful story, a powerful romance of healing that utterly charmed me. The main couple was immensely likable and easy to relate to and I was rooting for them from the very start. Surrounding them were the equally appealing denizens of this small town. They too were likable and were another support to this couple and added a familial vibe to the story that charmed me and fully immersed me in this tale's outcome. The glimpse we were given of what's to come has me greatly anticipating Ms. Faber's next work...and in the meantime I wholeheartedly recommend this story to all those looking for a story full of heart and soul.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team -- the Sharks! -- are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys.
She lives in Northern California. Connect with her in her Facebook group, the Fabinators or email her HERE.
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