Sandy M’s review of Her Miracle Man by Karen Sandler
Contemporary Romance released by Silhouette Special Edition 1 May 08

Usually a book that revolves around two people for nearly the entire book can get boring and lose itself very quickly. I’m mildly surprised that doesn’t happen with this one. The author does a good job of keeping the story moving along, giving us one big mystery to solve, while conveying some deep-seated emotion.

On his way home from a supply run, Jack finds Mia alone in the middle of raging storm when she is thrown over the side of a bridge by lashing, whipping wind and rain. Thinking there’s no way she could have survived, he finds her hanging on with one hand for dear life. Little does he know this is the first sign of how strong this woman is.

Once she recovers from this ordeal, a new problem surfaces. Mia doesn’t remember who is she, where she’s from, nothing about her life. They assume Mia is her name because she wears an ankle bracelet that bears the name. Trying to get her to the local sheriff to help her find about herself is impossible because of a rock slide from the storm, so they’re in for the long haul for at least a month. Getting to know Mia is obviously difficult, but he finds himself attracted to her nonetheless, something he tries to nip in the bud. The anniversary of his wife’s death is looming and it’s never a good time for him, even though it’s been five years since she’s been gone.

Knowing her amensia is due to something traumatic in her life is enough to keep Mia from really trying to find out who she is. When her nightmares and flashbacks begin, they only prove to her she’s right and she’s glad to be safe with Jack, tucked away from the world in his log cabin. But his behavior confuses her. First he seems attracted to her, then he acts as though she doesn’t exist. Learning about the horror of his wife’s death and its aftermath explains a lot, but after tasting what it would be like to be with Jack on a permanent basis has her wishing and hoping for things she knows he’ll never want. She should find out who she is and what has happened in her life to make her lose her memory. Or should she fight for the life she knows would be good for both her and Jack?

For at least two-thirds of this book, we’re embroiled in Jack and Mia’s discovery of one another, their suspicions, their hurt, their anger, their love. And it is an emotional roller coaster. Only two other people are ever introduced ino the story, one by telephone and one by webcam, until the end of the book. Both of those characters bring enlightenment to the story in their own way.

I thought at first Jack’s oscillation between wanting Mia and then denying her would become a little much, but it actually worked once you begin to learn of the hell he went through after his wife’s demise, let alone just the facts of her death.

The ending seemed to come a little too quickly once we find out who the culprit is for Mia’s problems, but it’s not enough to take away from the intensity and the emotion throughout the book.

Grade: B

Summary:

When Jack Traynor resced an injured woman during a winter storm, it was only fitting that he give her a place to recuperate. But then Jack was stranded in his mountain cabin with a woman who couldn’t remember who she was. Still, the plight of his beautfiful, elusive visitor melted his heart.

Mia’s search for her identity— was Mia even her name?—was made more urgent by her sense of intruding on a man’s very private grief. Yet he made her feel protected. Wanted. At home. Suddenly, Mia wasn’t so sure she wanted her old life back—starting over with Jack migh be all she needed…

Read an excerpt.