Is love worth the risk?

Synopsis

A fresh beginning…

Esther Hamilton, is finally finding her feet after her split with her horrible ex, and is looking forward to her new single life. She has a job she loves in the busy Accident and Emergency department, a new home and for the first time ever, a chance to just have fun with her good friends. Love is very much off the cards…

An old friend…

Until the arrival of Joe Carter – the brother of Esther’s best friend, Danni. Joe is also newly single and still as gorgeous as ever, but Esther can’t lose her heart to Joe. If it all went wrong, she’d lose two of her best friends.

A second chance at love?

But working together over a troubled patient, the connection between them is undeniable. And when Esther’s parents’ marriage hits trouble, Joe is there for her, offering her support, and Esther knows she’s fallen hard.

Are they brave enough to take a risk on love, or are they destined to remain friends forever?

My review

After breaking up with her fiancé, Esther Hamilton is slowly finding her feet again. Luckily she has made amends with her best friend Danni, as they both have been fooled by Esther’s fiancé.
Even if things aren’t always easy, she loves her job at the A&E in the hospital. Now Esther is enjoying the single life, with love being the last thing on her mind.
And when Danni’s brother Joe returns, Esther is happy to have her old friend back in her life. When a troubled patient brings them working together, Esther cannot deny the deep connection she has with Joe. And when her own parents seem to be having a rough time, it’s Joe she can count on for support. But Esther could never risk losing her two best friends, as she knows how much that would hurt.
But isn’t love always worth the risk?

When I first started reading books from this author, it was a slow – growing love. But now I can proudly state that I am completely hooked and I am as happy as a little child whenever I start a new book!
And I found it wonderful to return to the Cornish Country Hospital, with all its great characters (with the exception of a few obviously!)

I was very curious to see how Esther was doing, after all the revelations (and drama) of the first book. But I liked it how positive she was, after everything. She realized on time what a douchebag her fiancé was, and even if there was a small glitch in the friendship with Danni, now everything is just like it should be. And even if there isn’t a significant other in her life, Esther is completely happy! She has loving parents, her examples of how love should be, she loves her job even if it isn’t always easy and her bond with Danni is stronger than ever.

It’s clear that she is also a very caring person. It shows in many different aspects, not only the care for her own family, but also how she does understand that Danni and her new love need some time alone (even if they don’t say it to her, or contradict her). But also how much compassion she shows towards the patients. And perhaps she cares too much about them, as she has been too close already before with far – reaching consequences, even if she wasn’t at fault at all.

Esther is the kind of person that is always thinking about others, wanting to help them. And that is so heart – warming to see, that there are good people in the world, wanting to help.

With Joe returning, I was very curious to see how that relationship would develop. It was great to read that there already was a bond, a connection between them, and that things would just develop from there. And it was sweet to see that no matter how much time had passed, and how far away Joe used to live, their friendship picks up like it never left.

I could understand Esther’s dilemma as her feelings start to grow. Because there are so many possible problems: how would Danni react, or what if things wouldn’t work out? Is Esther truly ready to risk so much? And while on one hand I could understand that, I also wanted them to just go with it! 😊

But I also found that this story wasn’t only about the blooming relationship between Esther and Joe. But it was also about the struggles people have in life, and how they can or cannot cope it. And Esther being the kind and gentle person she is, is doing her best to help. Yet it’s not easy to find the balance and cross the fine line.
Mental issues aren’t all that easy to talk about, but I also feel that it is a necessary thing. Because we need to learn to be open about it and not see it as a weakness. And we also need to see that getting the right help is not something to be ashamed of…

We also see in this book a second storyline, about Esther’s mother Caroline. While on the outside she seems to be in a happy marriage, ever since Patrick retired, the envisioned life she thought they would have, isn’t just happening…

I must admit, I got also frustrated at Patrick’s behaviour, because he seems so passive and I just couldn’t see that passion, that big love between them.
And I could understand that Caroline decides to things on her own, as Patrick just doesn’t want to do anything…

Even if that brings Caroline making choices I didn’t fully agree with. But in a way, I could comprehend her actions.

In its totally this was a wonderful story, once again a book from this author didn’t disappoint me. It is a heart – warming, compelling story, about characters at crossroads. For one reason or another, there are choices that need to be made, and it’s up to them to make the right choice.
But there is also so much love in it, a growing love, a broken love, a sisterly love and love and care for other people.
We see in this book that life isn’t always easy, and that there may be curveballs that we cannot avoid. But there is always room for caring, loving and forgiving. And in the end, it’s the care, love and forgiveness that truly matter…