Really a 4.5 stars. This is a wonderful short book about a former doctor who has taken to living in the wilds of Alaska because he just doesn't feel like he belongs in regular civilization any more after the things he did and saw in the military. One day during a camping trip away from his cabin, he finds a woman in the snow. The woman has obviously been brutalized and starved and looks very close to death. He rescues her and takes her back to his cabin.At the cabin, he tries to comfort her as best he can in his outback home, knowing that she needs more help than he can provide. But while she's with him, she regains consciousness and is so frightened and skittish that she refuses to let him call in a helicopter to take her to a regular hospital. So he provides the best care he can and tries to get her to trust him and let him know what happened to her. Eventually she tells him her story about three men that killed her husband and kept her captive for two years.This is a beautiful story of two people, afraid of being in the real world, who find love and comfort in each other. And this love and comfort allows each of them to return to some kind of real life, together. A great read. Sexual abuse is a "trigger" topic for me. I usually avoid books that I know contain it as a subject matter. However, this author was kind enough to put a proper warning in her blurb regarding this "trigger" topic, so I knew what to expect. For that, I thank you SM for being responsible & considerate to those who cannot digest this topic well.As for the book itself ..... wow! SM wrote a very touching & moving story w/o trying to romanticize this demoralizing abuse. She never made the effects pretty, nor did she have a magical "peen" cure the trauma. She never lead anyone to believe that the results & effects of this abuse would go away & everything would be "alright". She acknowledges that this abuse damages, & some of that damage will always remain. The beauty of this story wasn't making everything "alright" & all better. The beauty of this story is the unconditional love, patience & acceptance one human being is willing to give to another despite them being damaged & not "alright". Well done SM. I am now a fan! :)
What do You think about The Hermit (2012)?
Great story and very emotional. I was very happy that Ryan and Daphne found each other.
—Hellokitty664
I enjoyed reading about the process of the bonding between Ryan and Daphne.
—laaddis
I loved how he took his time taking care of the fragile woman.
—camille
