Cocktails and Books
Written on Sep 7, 2013
I absolutely loved, loved, loved, this story. Lisa Desrochers took a somewhat touchy subject and created a story that showed just how much the couple struggled with what had been done and their feelings. Sprinkle in a relationship with a man of the cloth that could or couldn't be considered inappropriate and it makes for a read that was both a joy and made the reader uncomfortable at the same time.
Lexie Bank thought her love life was complicated when her long time boyfriend cheated on her. But when she sleeps with her step-brother, Trent, the one person who knows all her dark secrets, she gladly jumps on the plane to Rome for her one year studying abroad. She feels as if she's committed some terrible sin and seeks out advice from the church to right the wrong. There, Lexie meets Reverend Alessandro Moretti. Between them, they forge a relationship that once again her crossing a line and re-evaluating her life and just what she wants.
Poor Lexie was stuck in a hard spot. She crossed what she felt was a line with her step-brother when they had hot, scorching sex before she left for Rome. She agonizes over what they did, how she feels about it and what thinks is the loss of her best friend. That agonizes leads Lexie to develop a relationship with the reverend she's been tasked to work with: Alessandro Moretti. Lexie thinks what they have it safe because he's a man of the cloth, but when she discovers Alessandro's secrets and looks forward to the time they spend together, she starts to realize that maybe she's replacing Trent with another impossible relationship she has to take a step back and figure out what lead her down this path.
Rome, in all it's glory, and the relationship with Alessandro did teach Lexie about herself and helped her rebuild her faith. It helped her understand that sometimes you just have to put it out there and hope the person your sending the message to get it. It wasn't an easy journey for Lexie and she often times questioned herself, Trent, Alessandro and what it all means, but in the end, she makes the right decision about who and what she wants.
There is a line for readers in this book as well. Some may cringe at the subject matter and turn away from the book, but other will be able to see past the line to a great story of self discovery. I will credit Tiffany Reisz for introducing me to my line and helping me be a little bit more open minded when it comes to subject matters such as this. If this were eighteen months ago, I may have shied away from this book and truly missed something fabulous.