Love in the Light by Laura Kaye
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars
Followup to Original Novella Emphasizes Survivor Guilt, PTSD and Redemptive Power of Love
“He’d never been happier in his life. And he was having a damn hard time trusting it.”
FINAL DECISION: This book is sometimes dark, always emotional and a great story of how a man with demons fights for the woman he loves. The story is painful to read in parts because Caden is such a wonderful character that you want him to prevail and it takes a while. Feels real but ultimately has a happy ending.
THE STORY: Two months ago, Makenna James and Caden Grayson met in a dark elevator. The elevator allowed the two to get to know one another without appearances getting in the way. Makenna is a straightlaced accountant and Caden is a tattooed, pierced and scarred paramedic. They have been together since that night. Now on Thanksgiving, Caden is coming to meet Mackenna’s father and brothers. As the two get closer, Caden becomes more and more afraid that he is not worthy of Makenna and it is beginning to strain their relationship.
OPINION: The first book of this series was serious but not overly so. In fact, part of the attraction of the novella was that these two connected despite the reality of their lives. This book answers the question — what happens after the happy ending. The answer this book provides is that messed up people have to resolve their problems or it messes up the happy ending.
This book takes the problems that Caden has and addresses them head on. There is no simple answer. This is one of the most realistic take on PTSD, survivor guilt and depression. As with the first book in the series, I liked seeing a hero portrayed as having problems while the heroine is strong and supportive.
This is a great book but difficult to read at times because it is so sad. Ultimately, I was happy to see the journey that Mackenna and Caden take and am happy where they end up.
WORTH MENTIONING: This is a book where I didn’t think the blurb adequately described the book. The problems that MaKenna and Caden have arise not from her family but from Caden’s own past, PTSD and guilt.
CONNECTED BOOKS: LOVE IN THE LIGHT is the second novel in the Hearts in Darkness Duet. Both books deal with the same couple and should be read as a pair because this book has a lot of pain in it and readers should see the good from the first novel before tackling this one.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.