Stepping Stones

by Elizabeth Morgan

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Every now and then I come across a book that causes me to pause and reflect. STEPPING STONES by Elizabeth Morgan is one such book. While reading I was reminded that at times I am guilty of the very thing that Maggie was faced with. The circumstances may have been different, but the actions and the outcome are the same. I am sure that most of us can relate to the fact that sometimes things are staring us in the face, but we fail to see that thing for what it really is; just like Maggie who failed to see the real reason for her running away. She allowed her denial to take over leading to her being estranged from her family and friends for 6 years. At first, I thought it was a long time for someone to be in denial, but then I was reminded that there are persons out there who have been in denial their whole lives.

Maggie was forced to confront her fears when she was invited to her sister's wedding. The irony of the situation was not lost on me. She ran away because of a wedding and she was now forced to return because of one. She blamed everyone else for her actions, instead of placing it where it belongs, which was with herself. In doing this, she demonstrated that she was afraid to face her fears, but now she had no choice. She would learn that her actions had consequences.

The reunion was awkward, which was to be expected. She had been harbouring resentment in her heart and when faced with the truth, she lashed out. It was at this point that I saw her has being insecure and overly sensitive. She never stopped to think about the effects that her leaving had on her family; it was all about her. Seeing Maggie finally coming to terms with her feelings and in the process healing the rift that existed with her family brought joy to my heart. I was glad to see her finally understanding and accepting the truth.

STEPPING STONES is a sweet contemporary romance, which addresses the topics of love, healing, forgiveness and self-discovery. It demonstrated that to err is human and that it's a natural reaction to feel ashamed for the mistakes made. However, if we allow the feeling of shame to dominate our minds and heart it opens the door for fear and insecurities to enter. This fear will prevent us from seeking healing and forgiveness from the persons who are affected by our actions.

VERDICT: This was a well-written story, which I enjoyed from start to finish. It is not my first time reading this author's work, however, I never read a contemporary romance written by her prior to this. She has proven that she has the ability to hook her readers no matter the genre she writes. My recommendation for you is, get a copy of STEPPING STONES.