Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Book Review: Summer in Bliss

Title: Summer in Bliss 

Author: Freda Ann

Date: 2020

Publisher: Freda Ann

Quote: "I feel like there's things I need to sort out on my own and Bliss will be the perfect place for me to do that."

Bliss Cay is the island where the writer known as Freda Ann has set a series of novels. It's where Mia, a survivor of a house fire, goes to calm her jangled nerves after a very small electrical fire at the office throws her into panic. Like many people who feel stuck to unpleasant memories from the past, Mia feels guilty; she doesn't know whether the fire was her fault. 

Dash (for all we're told, that might actually be his given name) has survived some horrible memories too; the mother of his daughter died from cancer. Luckily for him, our society regards cancer as something that is nobody's fault, so he doesn't suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and is in a position to coach Mia through hers.

It's a sweet romance. It's not a specifically religious romance, although Dash's darling daughter does say her prayers at night. Families are loved, and Mia lives with an especially lovable "Emotional Support Dog." It's short and simple, but more realistically paced and plotted than some of the shorter romances I've been reviewing lately. If you like sweet romances, you'll probably like this one.

How helpful would Dash's counselling be to real PTSD patients? I think being able to evaluate this would add something to any evaluation of the story. I am not in a position to evaluate Dash as a counsellor. 

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