About the Book:
One Bridge. Five Strangers. A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.
On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.
Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland's St. Johns Bridge, Archer's expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.
Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. Then her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor, and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the unfolding drama.
Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee's baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.
Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He'd intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he's praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn't pull the trigger.
Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian's running late when his car won't start the morning of his big interview. His rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, sending Ian on an unexpected path of his own.
My Review:
This is a delightful novel, one I thoroughly enjoyed. Hatfield explores a number of themes in it. One is how the actions of one person can affect the lives of so many others. Another is how many people help others, even when complete strangers, and even when they are weary and just want to go home and rest. It was so rewarding to see how the lives intersect, coming together to a rewarding and touching conclusion. There were some twists and surprises that made the novel more meaningful in the end, showing how the lives intersect.
Hatfield's writing style is engaging and this is a heartwarming novel to read during the fall and winter holidays. She has included questions at the end for reflection or discussion, making this a good novel for a book discussion group. The only thing I did not like was the use of nicknames, hiding the actual identity of some characters until a later time. It did make for an emotional and rewarding finish to the novel, however. Have a box of tissues near as you may need it as you finish this touching novel.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author:
Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller. You can find out more at https://shannahatfield.com/.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
1 comment:
Thank you so much for reviewing The Bridge! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Post a Comment