A Sweet, ‘Happily Ever After’ Read – Four Stars
Well, I finally found some quiet time during the holidays to finish reading When the Words are Spoken by Simone Beaudelaire. This particular title is Book 2 in The Hearts in Winter Chronicles and it was certainly a fitting read for this time of the year. While this is the second compilation in what appears to be a four book series – it is still a stand-alone read. Each book in The Hearts in Winter Chronicles seems to focus on two specific people and their subsequent journey: overcoming obstacles from earlier years, growing closer to each other, eventually falling in love and then embarking upon their own version of ‘happily ever after.’
In When the Words are Spoken, Beaudelaire breathes life into two fictional characters: Sheridan Murphy and Dr. Michael Burke. And yet are they really fictional? These two protagonists have experienced some of the same hurtful pasts that many of us in the ‘non-fictional’ world either currently struggle with, or have struggled with in the past. Hmm – there’s some food for thought.
So, let’s start with Sheridan. A beauty of a woman (both inside and out), but she’s haunted by a violence in her past. Refusing to be defined by the experience, she hides her fears behind a sunny personality. Oh, and by the way, she’s also been in love with Michael (now a colleague of hers) for the past eight years – ever since she first sat down as a student in his Sophomore Writing Class.
Visually (for those familiar with the Harry Potter movies) Michael is somewhat of a cross between Professor Snape and maybe Jerry Lewis (Nutty Professor c. 1963). Good thing that Sheridan can see through his exterior, to the man Michael is on the interior. Of course, Michael himself isn’t without the experiences of a struggle-filled childhood. Because of this, he’s ‘shy’ and boy, is that ever the understatement-of-the-year.
Sheridan eventually realizes that if there is ever to be anything more than just harmless flirting between the two of them, she will need to make the first move. Eight years, coupled with growing impatience, allows Sheridan to push away her past so that she can tell Michael how she really feels about him. Now the only thing she’s stressing about is the possibility of his rejection. Luckily, the latter never materializes and Sheridan and Michael start down the relationship road – making certain to take things very, very, very slowly.
I won’t provide any more of the story in my review, but When the Words are Spoken was an endearing read. Were it a TV drama, it would most assuredly be found on the Hallmark channel – a medium where everything always works out and happy endings are the norm.
As far as the writing, Beaudelaire is a good writer with a firm grasp and understanding of what it takes to create a romantic read. When the Words are Spoken has everything a romance tale requires to allow it to be enjoyed by the (adult) romance reader. While the religious aspect (woven throughout the book in its entirety) was overmuch for my personal taste – I still enjoyed the tale nonetheless.
And finally, having personally experienced some of Sheridan’s struggles, I truly appreciated Beaudelaire’s desire to raise awareness about the abuse and/or mistreatment that many women have faced, and/or do face. For those who battle with the repercussions of mistreatment and/or abuse, it is so very important to maintain the knowledge that there is a better life on the not-too-distant horizon for each of you. While it may be difficult to see the ‘forest’ of this new (and much deserved) life due to the burden of its figurative ‘trees’ – it is exceptionally important to retain the faith within oneself that it is indeed there. Hopefully the sweet love story within When the Words are Spoken can be a reminder of this.
Review first published: http://blogcritics.org/book-review-when-the-words-are-spoken-a-romance-with-a-message-by-simone-beaudelaire/