Title:  What Doesn’t Kill You
Series:
Author:  Laura E. James
Genre:  Romance
Published:  November 27, 2015
Publisher:  Dark Choc Lit
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – but how strong can one person be?

Griff Hendry knows what it is to be strong. After a turbulent past, he’s dedicated himself to saving lives, working as a coastguard along the breath-taking shores of Dorset. It’s Griff’s belief that everyone is worth saving – which is why he can’t forgive his father, Logan, for what he did.

Griff’s future is plunged into uncertainty when his wife, Evie, tells him she wants a separation. The revelation is a shock and leads Griff to question what Evie could possibly be hiding – and she isn’t the only one holding back. Griff’s troubled stepdaughter, Tess, also harbours a dark secret.

As the truth is uncovered, Griff is forced to accept that perhaps he’s never understood what real strength is.

From Dark Choc Lit – compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story.

Read on for my thoughts on What Doesn’t Kill You.  No true spoilers, promise.

Be prepared.  What Doesn’t Kill You is a vibrant, emotional and intriguing darker romance.  This is a family in turmoil, people that loved each other,  yet harbor secrets that they cannot or will not share.

Griff loves his wife Evie and his step-daughter Tess.  To learn that Evie wants a separation has turned his world upside down.  With no idea of what is wrong, he has no way of fixing it – and if anything, Griff is a fixer in life.

Told in multiple points of view, we are given the story and the secrets from Griff, Evie and Tess in alternating chapters.  There are some serious things going on for this family – and sensitive issues that will come to light.

Because of the secrets that are being held back from the other characters, I truly feel that I must be vague in this review in order not to spoil a touching, compelling and emotional story for anyone who picks up What Doesn’t Kill You.  It is a story that will touch you on many levels.  And will perhaps make you pause and wonder how you would react to similar situations in your own life.  I don’t know that there ever is a “right” way, perhaps more our own way would be more realistic.

This is certainly not the lighthearted love stories that we readers see coming out of Choc Lit Publishing.  And there is a reason and a need for the Dark Choc Lit line to be in existence.  Some love stories are darker because of their underlying content or the way the characters are feeling and dealing with their situation.  I wish life could alway have the answers we need but often we are left with the questions and the answers we get – it’s not the same thing.

I enjoyed What Doesn’t Kill You very much.  It is compelling and will make you think.  And since life often throws us a curveball, that’s not a bad thing to have to do some deep thinking now and then.

*I received an e-ARC of What Doesn’t Kill You from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available for the Kindle