Content warning: mention of sexual assault 

Sarah was raped when she was in high school by a boy who belonged to a very wealthy family. When she found out she was pregnant she moved away to have her baby. Deciding to keep her daughter who is now 8 years old Sarah is past the detachment phase between her and her daughter. Now she is a devoted mother who wants to keep her daughter safe. Living in Maine has provided the safety net Sarah was seeking, until she gets a call that her father is sick, and she needs to return home.  Being back home in Savannah Sarah is afraid she will come face to face with her attacker’s family and that her secret will be exposed. Sarah didn’t expect to find comfort and love with her attacker’s identical twin brother. 

Jacob returned home after staying away for the last 8 years after the death of his sister left the family broken then his brother Daniel ‘s sentence to prison breaking what was left of their family. After finding out his brother has cancer, he knows he must find a way to forgive his brother. A chance run in with a little girl that looks just like his deceased sister leads him to knowing Sarah’s secret which, he agrees not to tell his family for a chance to be a part of their lives. One night changed Sarah and Jacobs lives now eight years later they are both learning to love and forgive.

I had to sit with this book for a while to process my thoughts. By the time I got to the end of this book I way in tears. I had no idea what to expect, I just knew I wanted to give it a try because it was something different. This book was an amazing story of forgiveness. Sarah’s courage was so admirable. I couldn’t image the strength it takes to move forward with a pregnancy due to rape. Not only did she raise her daughter with love and care she was honest about her struggles to love her in the beginning and how it took time for her to come around. I understood why Sarah kept Alana away and why she evaded the answers to her questions but for her to put her hurt and pain aside so Alana could meet her other family showed the depth of a mother’s love. I loved that Alana was a baby genius. That little girl was too cute. 

What left me conflicted was the romance. I love a different romance story but falling in love with your rapist identical twin brother left me conflicted. On the one hand love is love and you can’t help who your soul connects with but at the same time I couldn’t understand how Sarah could look at Jacob’s face and not think about Daniel and the night of her attack. Terah did a great job separating the two brothers’ personalities and it was clear Jacob hated Daniel for what he did, but I still have a hard time with the romance. 

With that being said, the storyline had me intrigued and kept me fully engaged in the book. I also enjoyed the two points of view. Terah did a good job with the complexity of Daniel and Jacob’s brotherhood. Jacob didn’t take it easy on his brother and made him take accountability, while building a new relationship with Daniel. Jacob hated what his brother did and the affect it left on Sarah and their family but the love and care he had for his brother was felt throughout the book as well. I was impressed with how Terah left me rooting for Jacob and Sarah but also completely against them being together. Sounds crazy I know.