Review by Angela McLaurin4 Stars
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Synopsis from Goodreads: When Derry and Amedee fall in love, it is a collision of destinies, and they are sure it will last forever. But when it ends in tragedy, Derry, beset by remorse and guilt, sets off on an improbable, reckless crusade for redemption. When it finally ends abruptly, he has found someone to help him build a new life from the ashes of the past, and readers are left to ponder a poignant question: How can a lie be wrong when it makes so many people feel so good?
My thoughts....
I went into this book thinking I was going to read a traditional love story, and when I discovered it was written by a man, I was intrigued. This story was anything but traditional and Dan Chabot did an excellent job of delivering a work that was unique, thoughtful, and touching. I was a bit confused when I began reading; trying to figure out the timelines and where the characters I read about in the synopsis were. Their story soon came together as did the timeline and unusual funeral services I was reading about. The pieces fit together creating a beautiful story about a man who is so consumed with the death of his true love that he makes it his mission in life to try and make families dealing with grief have something special to remember their loved ones by.
"It's all so fleeting anyway. A hundred years from now, who'll remember any of us? All the people we ever knew will be dead, too. As least one day maybe somebody will find your obituary and you'll live again for a moment."
Dan Chabot
It hard to write this review without giving away anything in the plot that you need to discover yourself as a reader. What I can tell you, however, is that Dan Chabot has an eloquent way with words that wove together a story I won't soon forget. Derry's crusade to help the mourning was a touching tribute to Amadee and a testament to his belief in true love; be it the love of a woman, friends, or family. Their love was beautiful until it came crashing down around them and I cried right along with Derry as he tried to pick up the pieces of his life and move on. The end of the story brought everything together brilliantly and it all became apparent to me. The funeral scenes made sense and I was left in a awe thinking how brilliantly he had crafted this story.
This is a romance, but don't expect lots of steamy love scenes and angst. They aren't there. All you will find is an old fashioned journey of a man who was so affected by the woman he loved that he fabricated a web of beautiful lies to help ease the pain of others who were grieving as well. Grab some tissues and power through, knowing that the story will all come together and you will be touched by this charming story of love, loss, and Godspeed to all of those left behind.
"Isn't a beautiful lie better than the boring, mundane, maybe even unpleasant truth, especially when it eases somebody's sorrow, makes their grief a little easier to bear?" Dan Chabot
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