LAUGH by Mary Ann Rivers

LAUGH 

(Burnside #2)

Mary Ann Rivers

ARC Review

Released: May 6, 2014

My rating: 5 of 5 ⭐️

"Dr. Sam Burnside is convinced that volunteering at an urban green-space farm in Lakefield, Ohio, is a waste of time—especially with his new health clinic about to open. He only goes to mollify his partner, suspecting she wants him to lighten up. Then Sam catches sight of Nina Paz, a woman who gives off more heat than a scorcher in July. Her easy smile and flirty, sizzling wit has him forgetting his infamous need for control.

Widowed when her husband was killed in Afghanistan, Nina has learned that life exists to take chances. As the daughter of migrant workers turned organic farmers, she’s built an exciting and successful business by valuing new opportunities and working hard to take care of her own. But when Sam pushes for a relationship that goes beyond their hotter-than-fire escapades, Nina ignores her own hard-won wisdom. She isn’t ready for a man who needs saving—even if her heart compels her to take the greatest risk of all: love."

*****

Phenomenally beautiful!!

Sam is wrapped so tight, it's a miracle he doesn't implode....a complex man who never asks much for himself but asks too much of himself. A heart overflowing with a turmoil of feelings, predominantly love, for all those close to him, and a mind in constant movement, preoccupied with how to keep it and them all contained. Always a losing battle and he knows it. Sam is a smart man, brilliant even, but socially hindered by a disorder that has all but alienated him from the family that he loves more than anything.

Nina has known loss and has committed herself, at a fairly young age, to be content living in the bittersweet aftermath of what she imagined was her life's love lost, but finding satisfaction of growing and nurturing crops, making friendships and building community. She too, doesn't ask for much of anything for herself. More important to her are those whose future is dependent on her farm, those who still have futures to look forward to. Nina moves forward, but is emotionally stagnant. 

When Sam and Nina meet, there is a kind of instant recognition, despite their quite obvious differences. They seem to be able to see through the other's behavioral patterns straight through to the truths at the core of it and understand. For Sam it brings a sense of quiet, peace, a silence in his soul that he can't find anywhere else. For Nina it allows her to let go, to feel and experience with all her senses, without the dulling cloud of perpetuating grief.

This is a beautiful story written by the extremely talented Mary Ann Rivers, who has the ability to create characters who are appealing in their imperfections and so honestly portrayed in full context, they become as real as family members. Her insight in and knowledge of the human psyche stuns me every time I read one of her books.

The erotic scenes in Ms. Rivers' books truly heighten the experience of the overall read, simply by merit of the added dimension to the relationship described, and the manner in which she writes them is as gorgeous and as enticing as everything else. Steeped in thought, feeling and sensation, she never allows you to lose touch with the underlying connection and dynamic between the characters, in favor of the physical action taking place. 

If you want to read superb quality writing, be challenged intellectually and emotionally AND be stimulated sensually - Mary Ann Rivers is the author to grab! Trust me on this!

✨An emotional, sensual and vigorous novel.✨

**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**