Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Because Of Jade
SERIES: Vasquez And James #5
AUTHOR: Lou Sylvre
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 210 Pages
BLURB:
Luki Vasquez receives the news he’s still cancer free after five years, and he wants to celebrate with his whole family. He and his husband, Sonny James, take a road trip south, intending to gather at the home of his nephew Josh, Josh’s wife Ruthie, and Jade—a little girl who was still in the womb when she and her mother helped Luki beat lung cancer.
Halfway to their destination, Luki learns Josh and Ruthie have met a tragic death. The horrible news lays Luki low, but he pulls himself together in time to be the family’s rock and see to the dreaded business of tying up loose ends. The most important business is Jade, and when Luki and Sonny head home, they take Jade with them.
Luki and Sonny must combat self-doubt and fear and help each other learn to parent an unexpected child—and they must also nourish the love that has kept them whole for the past ten years. A relative’s spurious claim to Jade threatens the new family, and even if they prevail in court, they could lose their little girl unless they can rescue Jade from evil hands and true peril.
REVIEW:
Wow, what a poignant piece of work. I was so hooked from the very first moment I started this book. WOW!!
This installment begins with the 5-year checkup from Luki’s cancer. Sonny and Luki are happy and excited that things are going so well and they want to share their happiness and joy with their family. Yet, tragedy strikes and 5-year old Jade is left an orphan. Luki and Sonny become Jade’s guardians and try to help her deal with her grief and also find a way to move forward.
Luki has always been a protector and with the death of Jade’s parents, Ruthie and Josh, his instincts are in overdrive. Luki is this wonderfully strong, powerful man who has this untapped well of Love for those in his family. He’s gentle and kind and yet, he treats Jade as a person and not just as a child. But as a fully recognized person and it’s so sweet to see how they react to each. Luki has so much going on and he’s this tower of strength for everyone. But, luckily he has his own tower to lean-on, Sonny. Sonny gives him such strength and love, that keeps Luki going.
Sonny is this wonderful character that is the more openly emotional one in the relationship and that’s a great thing to see. Sonny has so much magic in him that it was wonderful to see how in love he is with Luki after 10 years of marriage. How he truly loves and accepts all that is that is Luki. I love how he became this tower of strength to Jade as she was dealing with all that had and is happening in her life. Sonny showed such strength of character and yet, he also brought this reserve of gentleness that was so wonderful to watch. Sonny has such love, kindness and devotion that I just wanted to hug him and be his best friend.
The secondary characters in this book, are just WOW!! They shared in the grief of the passing of Ruthie and Josh. They showed such love and kindness to each other. They showed that even scattered around the world, that they WILL ALWAYS be there for each other. They spoke the truth to each other and never with bad intentions, just filled with love. Even dealings done in amidst of grief, they loved each other and never spoke harshly. It was nice to see. Jade, now this little girl just had my heart. She was so precocious and such a great character. I loved that even in dealing with all that was going on in her life, she knew just how much she was loved. That Sonny and Luki loved her more than anything and would do anything for her. That Jade knew that she could go to them for different emotional needs and that they would indeed be met. Jade showed Sonny and Luki the wonders again of being a child. That things that we take for granted are still so new for children and that it is still so beautiful and should be seen in awe.
Now, there was a bit of suspense in this book. I have to say that while this was going on, I was so engrossed that I would have missed my bus stop if someone hadn’t nudged me. I wanted to see what was going to happen and I hated having to put it down even for a minute. This story had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t finish it fast enough. There was so much going on that my eyes watered and I felt so heartbroken. Then when the shit hit the fan, Holy Hannah, I was in it!! I wanted vengeance!! I wanted some serious booty kicking!! When the book ended, I was like NOOOOOO!! Not Yet!! I’m not ready.
Overall, this book was a great addition to the Vasquez & James series. I’ve read the first one and found that I really liked it. I was so happy that this was a great book that could truly be read as a standalone. You didn’t have to read the other books to follow what was going on in this book. You won’t be DISAPPOINTED IN THE LEAST while reading this book, so go out and get it!!
RATING: 
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