OUT OF THE EMPTY RUINS OF YESTERDAY….
Penniless, desperate and determined, Maggie Stanley grabs her small baby and runs into the snowy Idaho night, fleeing a dangerous, hurtful life. Now, in her loneliest, blackest hour, a handsome, down-and-out stranger’s compassion shines forth like a torch in the darkness, offering her the warmth and comfort she has always longed for but has never known. But though tenderness lives buried deep in Rafe Kendrick’s heart and though Maggie sees a soul wounded like her own in the depths of his startlingly beautiful eyes she knows she must never, ever trust any man again.
TOWARD AN UNDREAMED-OF TOMORROW
Rafe, however, is more than he seems—an enigmatic man of secrets who could give Maggie the moon and stars, had he not solemnly vowed to spend the rest of his life alone. But sometimes, without warning, love can transform a cold, pitiless world into paradise. And a man who has lost nearly everything, a woman who has forgotten how to dream, and the helpless child who needs them both can truly become that most wondrous of creations: a family.
Have you ever read a book that you loved but forgotten all about it? That is what happened with me and this book. I read it years ago when it came out and loved it, I remember wondering if she was ever going to write Rafe’s brothers book. Fast forward to today and the RomCon Reading Challenge and while I am looking up authors and their books I stumble across this book and author and I go I loved that book, and I see that she did indeed write his brother’s story.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book after so many years and books have passed since the last time that I had read, and I was really glad to see that I did indeed still like the book.
One of the things that I liked best about the book, is that both of them were broken in some way, Maggie I think more than Rafe. It had been years since anyone had been kind to Maggie outside a very small group. She doesn’t trust easily, especially men and I can’t say as I blame her.
Rafe on the other hand comes from a completely different background and story that I am not going to share because I think it is an important part of the story that needs to be discovered while you read it. One of my favorite parts is when Rafe has to make a choice and the reasons behind the choice that he makes.
Catherine does an amazing job in showing the realism I think of people’s lives, the ones that we don’t necessarily care to know, and how they are human, and have been shaped by events in their past. This book is definitely not a cookie cutter romance book, however it is one of the best romance books that I have read.
I give this book a 4 out of 5
I have read a couple of Catherine Anderson's books and very much enjoyed them but noticed that they tended to go almost towards preachy when it came to the character's religeous beliefs. Did you notice this at all. Despite the religeous undertones of her books I really did like them and have looked forward to more of hers. I might have to see if I can't find my copy of this book and read it.
I loved this book too – the first McKendrick/Coulter book in the series. Your fave part is mine as well (I think I have it right) that Rafe would go outside "the box" to help her but hadn't wanted to do it for himself.
This one & Ryan's Phantom Waltz (Rafe's brother) remain my faves.
I don't remember this being preachy at all. I heard on other blogs that that came with more recent books although never enough to take me out of the story.
Christina, this book had no religion in it at all. This was more about overcoming the crap that they had been dealt with.
生活盡可低，志氣當高潔. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .