Title:
All I Ever Wanted
Author:
Erin Moore
Published By:
Wings ePress
ISBN:
1-59088-280-6
Release Date:
Available Now
Format:
Electronic
 |
|
|
|
|
With a single phone call, Craig is transported back ten years, to a time of pain and betrayal. Ten years before he walked out on his own wedding and never looked back. The pain he felt at Amber's betrayal, with his best friend Brian no less, was something he'd never forgotten. Now ten years later, hearing Amber's voice, Craig realizes the wounds still haven't healed. However, what Amber has to say is far worse. His mother is sick. In fact, she's dying and he must come back home.
Amber had hoped to never have to see Craig again. Ten years ago he ran away and for tens years he stayed gone. His mother was dying and Amber could not deny Ruth her last wish of bringing him home.
Craig notices immediately that something happened between his mother and Amber to bond them. He knew that his mother was always fond of Amber, but he doesn't understand the intensity of the bond between them, a bond that would make his mother purposely choose not to tell him of her illness. Because if Craig had known she was sick, he'd have wanted her to move away. Moving away would mean being away from Amber; that was something Ruth would not have done.
When Ruth dies in the night, Craig is overcome with guilt and grief. For ten years he shut his mother out of his life, didn't ever speak to her because she always defended Amber, and now she was gone. What horrifies him even more is learning that maybe he was wrong all those years ago. What Craig begins to realize is that what he thought was the truth, wasn't. What he thought he saw wasn't as he perceived. Maybe, just maybe, he hurt them all terribly, and for nothing. When Craig finally learns what happened to Amber all those years ago and everything since, it isn't a matter of if he can convince her he has always loved her. He must contend with the fact that her love and ability to forgive him may no longer exist. Knowing what he knows now, Craig wonders if he can ever forgive himself for not being there when Amber truly needed him.
All I Ever Wanted is a powerful story that will seize readers from the first page. The raw emotions in this book will have readers astounded for quite some time. Craig's feelings of hurt and numbness at being betrayed by Amber, the overwhelming grief he feels when he learns he was wrong, and Amber's hesitation and fear at ever trusting Craig again are all expertly written by Erin Moore. Ms. Moore enhances this story with a couple that still love each other very much, but can't get past what they think happened ten years prior. The hurt each inflicts on the other is heart breaking. I couldn't stop reading this book. Ms. Moore takes a horrific incident, and writes it so well that I was in tears several times throughout this story. Amber's strength and conviction are uplifting and empowering. She has every reason to want to hide from the world, but every time she gets knocked down, she finds it within herself to get back up. With the plot of All I Ever Wanted, the realization these two people experience on their road to understanding is just awesome. Much praise to Erin Moore for a job well done!
Reviewed by: Jaymi
