AUTHOR: Fay Lamb
DATE: 2014
PUBLISHER: Pix-n-Pens
STARS: *****
Charisse Wellman's husband has been gone a year, and she's about to lose the only home her son, V.J., has ever known. She's quit law school, but the money just isn't there. Her only option is to work as a law clerk for her ex-friend, Gideon Tabor. The only problem: Gideon is the judge who let her husband's killer go free, and Gideon doesn't know the connection.
Gideon Tabor can't believe that the woman interviewing for the job is the girl he loved in high school. Charisse is hesitant about accepting his job offer, and when she does, Gideon makes every attempt to apologize for his relationship-ending blunder in high school. Charisse accepts his apology, but she keeps him at a distance. When Gideon learns that Charisse's anger actually stems from his release of the man who ran down her husband, he tries to explain, but Charisse doesn't want Gideon's excuses or the love he has to offer. She wants her husband's killer to pay.
I love this book. Charisse and young V.J. come to vivid life through the author’s skilled writing. From the first paragraphs I cared about her predicament and her son’s stark grief. When Judge Gideon Tabor is introduced, it’s easy to picture the football quarterback turned successful lawyer. More handsome than any guy has a right to be, with the bonus of a soft side. The relationship between Charisse, VJ and Gideon tugs at the heart as they struggle through present and past disappointments and dreams. Misunderstandings become huge barriers, as they can in real life. But faith also plays an important role in this story, and that brings hope.
With its well-written, heart-warming message of forgiveness and second chances, Charisse readily earns five stars. Highly recommended.