Sandy M’s review of Shaken by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Romance short story published by Samhain 19 Oct 10

What a powerful story this is. And the fact it’s a short story makes it that much more poignant and emotional. Shaken is such an appropriate title for this book. Not only do the main characters have the foundation shaken from underneath them, but their belief in everything they shared together is shaken as well by the most unimaginable tragedy.

Grant doesn’t want a divorce. He still loves Julia, has loved her since the day his medical treatment of her mother ended and he asked her to dinner. But if she’s determined to go through with ending their marriage, he’s determined to make sure she’s taken care of, despite her refusal to accept his support. His guilt won’t let him do any less.

All she’s wanted from her husband was for him to share in her grief, her sorrow, her turmoil over losing their daughter. But Julia now realizes he never really cared. He couldn’t have if he’s never shed tear, never mourned their loss, never once helped her through her grief. So getting out is the only thing she can do to survive. She’s taken a position with the Dallas Orchestra, going back to her first love before giving it up for Grant.

We get to know these two in a few pages. You can already feel the anguish they each feel, the despair, the fear. And then you’re thrown into the maelstrom of their passion. Julia has entered the elevator to begin her forlorn trip home when Grant spies her and makes a dash into the compartment before the doors close. His intent is to make her see reason, make her see they can’t lose the one last good thing between them, the one way they still communicate, the one way for them to survive together. Her intent is still to get away so she can heal as much as possible, but she’s not even close to immune to Grant. Her mind tells her one thing, but her body tells her another.

And the world begins to shake. An earthquake tumbles the elevator and them around a bit, coming to a stop along with their passion. Though Grant doesn’t let that deter him. He’s of a mind to have Julia here and now, to have what he’s been missing for the past couple of months she’s been gone. Amid some intense and exquisite lovemaking, Grant and Julia eventually get to the core of what’s between them for too long now.

They both realize that need to come totally clean with one another, and once that happens, my heavens, the fear, the heartache, the guilt, the tears just drop off the pages. I thought my tears would begin with Grant going over the accident and how he tried to save their daughter, but that was more heart-pounding and intense, and though I found myself getting misty-eyed, my tears didn’t come until a tad after that as he describes his daughter, the very same one Julia thought he didn’t love. Grant also finally lets his guilt out at the same time, his need for Julia to forgive him, and when she realizes how he’s hurt all this time without sharing it it all, she then knows how selfish she’s been in her own grief.

The reliving of the crash is palpable from Grant’s point of view. And his grief, his remorse, his sorrow is just as palpable. It’s always said that mothers feel the loss of a child more than a father, but Ms. Tenorio pulls no punches in the pain that Grant goes through as a result of his loss. After such an emotional upheaval in a five by five space, you can only hope this kind of therapy has done its job for this couple.

I didn’t mean to write so much on a short story like this, but I can’t help myself. This is a story you have to read. It pulls at you, it tears you into pieces, it pounds at you, it moves you, and it gives you hope in love and forgiveness.

Read this book.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Thirteen stories up. Two broken hearts. One last chance…

Surgeon Grant Sullivan’s once-perfect life lies in ruins. His daughter is gone—lost in a tragic accident he dare not allow himself to remember—and his beautiful wife now stares at him from across a legal table, insisting she wants nothing from him.

Julia Sullivan lost everything, especially her illusions about her marriage, after the accident. Her grief only seemed to drive Grant farther into his emotional shell—except for the nights he turned to her in silent, furious passion. Unable to live like a ghost in her old life, she’s packed up what’s left of her broken heart and is ready to move on. Alone.

Determined to break their stalemate, Grant follows Julia onto the elevator just in time for an earthquake. Trapped for hours in a building pressure cooker of unspoken pain, he’ll do anything to remind her what she’s leaving behind, as deliciously as he can. But giving her what she needs to save their marriage is the one thing that could destroy his soul.

Read an excerpt.