it all starts with horrible grief, unlivable pain, and a ruined future. Yes, this phenix story has to start from a very hot smoldering fire. It is painful to read, many parts will rip at your soul, but there is a chance for something more. If you give it a shot you'll find a heartbreakingly lovely story, filled with pain and hope, and maybe even some happiness. Stop by the Crossroads Cafe and enjoy your biscuits and gravy while you're there.
The author brings two lost souls together in an unusual place. A place of solitude, comforts, and small town charms. A man suffering from grief after his wife and son are killed jumping from a tower on 9-11. A woman, a supermodel known for her beauty is burned and scared and alone in her floundering recovery. Everything they knew of who they are is gone, they must let go of the pain. That is always easier said then done. Suicide, drinking, overdoses, anger, solitude, these are many ways to hide from the truth of their lives.
Ms. Smith brought a lot of reality into her story. There are numerous scenes from the burn treatments which are nerve racking for me a burn surviver. But, they do relate the horrible pain that goes along with it. I imagine the pain suffered from the survivors of 9-11 is fairly accurate too. She handled the trauma very well without going to deep.
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I liked some things about this book--the characters were generally believable and engaging, it often made me laugh or smile, and the plot was not totally beyond the bounds of reality, mostly. However, there were problems with it as well. No one I know (and I converse daily with incredibly intelligent and educated people) talks like Cathy and Thomas often did. The conversations were well written, but too cerebral and psychological. On the plus side, I loved the descriptions of the area and now long to visit North Carolina and the Appalachians. ( )

An unoffensive book about love conquering all and how returning to your roots and embracing family will heal all. I found the writing very flat and the characters not very engaging. ( )

A beautiful and rich movie-star (Cathy) is scarred by fire after a horrific car accident. She struggles to get back into life. Meanwhile, a man (Thomas) who has a tragedy of his own, drowns his sorrows in drink in a hideaway town. The two meet and together they try to conquer the world - well, their world anyway.

If you love southern and sappy with a touch of living what you preach lessons, this is the perfect book for you. The main characters Cathy and Thomas were okay. I liked Thomas more, even though he got a little cooky, too. I love to be surprised in books, but there were none to be had in this one. It was extremely predictable. However, the writing was good, the story was told well and everybody's happy - including me! I have fulfilled a promise. Check. Finally!

Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy ( )

Movie star Cathryn Deen has a storybook life - until a freak accident brings it all crashing to the ground. Scarred, emotionally devastated and deathly afraid of fire, she retreats into her Beverly Hills mansion and starts making plans for her funeral. But some distant relatives and very determined recluse with more than a few issues of his own have different ideas about where Cathryn should go from here.

Ex-NYC architec Thomas Mitternich knows all about loss. 9/11 and the Towers coming down took his wife, son, and most of his will to live. But he's determined to accumulate enough karma to get himself to wherever his family ended up - and Cathryn's his latest project. At least, it starts off that way.

Folksy, biscuit and grave laden and sweet. The grieving process, addiction and what makes a family take a front seat, and if you're in the mood for a tear-jerking feel-good story, this isn't a bad place to start. Although it's a bit too reminiscent of Smith's When Venus Fell - I wish she'd have found a different name to christen the Netties with, as I found myself conflating them with the Nellies.... ( )