Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: The Beautiful Moment

AUTHOR: Kristoffer Gair

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 281 Pages

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022

BLURB:

“This paranormal-flavored romance doesn’t just tug at the heart strings, it plays them like a virtuoso. Sprinkled with moments both humorous and poignant, it is a fabulous story that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.”
–Kiernan Kelly (author of Seti’s Heart)

The decade from hell.
First, Wesley Traylor lost his father and grandmother, then COVID took his mother. His sole remaining family member will stop at nothing to steal his inheritance. In desperation, Wesley escapes to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where no one knows him and he can exist without fear of his uncle’s brutality.

Circumstances force Wesley to the emergency room and face to face with the beguiling Dr. Clark Matsuda. The last thing Wesley needs—between dealing with strange occurrences at his new house and emergency surgery—is a doctor who’s made it his personal mission to get to know Wesley.

Destiny offers the possibility of love and, for Wesley, the one thing that has eluded him his entire life: a beautiful moment.

REVIEW:

A feuding, dysfunctional family, won’t leave Westley – so he leaves them. Tragedy surrounds his past and present, so Westley heads for what he hopes is a happier future and the life of a near recluse. But fate had other ideas that put Westley in the path of Dr. Clark Matsuda. And the good doctor wants to get to the bottom of the enigma known as Westley Traylor. Unfortunately, fear has a multitude of uses and inhibitors.

Oh damn. If I thought I could get away with a review filled with the words – READ IT – I would. So, let us start with some basics before I go into full gush mode.

The story is told in the third person, mainly from the viewpoints of Westley and Clark, with others sneaking in for a brief paragraph or two. I wouldn’t know if anything was technically amiss because the story outshone everything.

I love reading – no surprises there. I always have my nose in a book, and I enjoy what I read. So, when a story such as this crosses my path, and it captivates me so much that I have no intention of putting it down until it’s complete – I know I’m reading something special.

The journey begins with the beautiful atmospheric cover – it made me want to see what it hid. The words dysfunctional family is putting it mildly. It’s akin to saying the sea is deep. The story contains dementia, alcoholism, COVID, bullying, paranormal experiences, torture, love, laughs, melting moments, and yes, a fair amount of crying. (Take a deep breath before continuing.) I experienced an emotional rollercoaster that I simultaneously did and didn’t want to end. I wanted to see Westley and Clark get their HEA, but I didn’t want to leave their world either. Everything was plausible and written with such sensitivity – I was awestruck.

The opening chapters had me soaking my shirt with tears, and before long, I was laughing at Westley’s reaction to medication. The uncles are twisted individuals whose inclusion, with other characters, allows for aspects of human behavior to be highlighted. These provided some thought-provoking moments that I’m sure will stay with many readers.

The story is impressive in how, to relieve the fear, Westley tries to take control of his life and safety in the only way he knows how. Clark, too, albeit in more of a supporting role, is a delight to read. Although his assistant, Rachel, is a total scene-stealer, her snark can cut anything in half, and some of her phrases had me laughing out loud.  Oh, and Joshua – well damn – melt.

Ghostly experiences are also a delicately inserted feature that had me smiling, cheering, and crying. Given how the paranormal activity emanated, there was only one instance where I wondered why they stayed quiet – and it still bugs me. I know that sentence is somewhat cryptic, but to give any more information would give away spoilers. Regardless of this one niggle, the story contains so much more that it remains over and above the five-heart realm.

In short, I found The Beautiful Memory an absolutely captivating read and an emotional high seas ride that I’m sure to read again. It is among my all-time favorite stories.

RATING:

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