3,5 stars ( )

I respect the research the author did, limited as it is. I enjoyed both characters well enough, but as time goes on, what I remember of this novel is irritation that River is so emotionally cowardly. I didn't get a sense of real improvement so much as a mild perspective change. And though I am biased against spirituality, having done my own research many years ago, concluding that I could use my energy in much better ways--that's not why I remain disappointed in this one. ( )

The Redemption of River is the fourth, and I think final book, in the ‘Sex in Seattle’ series. It stars Brent McKay, a widower and coffee magnate, and River Larsen, a tantric healer and reiki practitioner. This is told in third person from both Brent and River’s povs.



First the cover. I like it, but I don’t think it looks like River other than he has long hair. I thought River had blond hair, and the cover model has brown hair. Also, the model looks like he’s in his late twenties or early thirties. I got the impression River was in his early to mid-twenties. Image wise, the cover model doesn’t look like River.

The blurb does a good job of explaining the plot, but what it doesn’t convey are the emotions that Brent goes through as he awakens again from the dark depression after his wife’s death. He blossoms under River’s care and tutelage, and then falls in love. I loved Brent, he was willing to work at getting better even though at first he was scared and hesitant. River’s calm demeanor helped Brent not feel so embarrassed. At first it seems like Brent is the one with all the problems. But once Brent breaks out of his depression, he embraces everything new that River has to offer. Brent’s creativity returns and now he's ready for adventures. The author did a terrific job conveying Brent’s wonder at everything new.

As Brent blossoms, we learn more about River. At first he seems secure and pulled together, but as the story goes along, it’s revealed that River has some issues with trusting people enough to be there for him when he needs it. It comes down to issues with his mother. River is interested in spirituality and healing, but he also uses it as a crutch, and excuse, to hide behind and to flee away from emotional commitment. Honestly, I ended up disliking River the more that was revealed about him and the further I read. Brent was opening his heart, to give love, to commit, and River was too afraid to embrace what was offered. Instead, he ran. In the end he created a lot of heart break for Brent and himself. River was looking for answers from the wrong people. Thankfully, he listened to Harrison the older gentleman, when Harrison straightened him out about River’s obsessive mantra of a ‘dandelion puff.’ The author did a good job of making River a jerk.

I very much enjoyed the healing and spiritual aspects of this book. I also really enjoyed the trip that Brent and River took to India to research information for the Kombucha shop idea that Brent had. What I didn’t like about the trip, was the sanitized version the author created. India was presented as perfect everywhere the pair travelled. There was no mention of the homeless, or the caste system and how it affected life in India. The author could have woven that information into the philosophy of what River could have talked about to Brent. Instead, everything was perfect, including the scene where Brent walked outside and breathed in a lungful of air and he liked it. Seriously? India is one of the most air polluted countries in the world. The scene was so opposite of reality that it threw me out of the story because that ‘lungful of great air’ was out of whack.

Overall, I enjoyed The Redemption of River. I loved Brent and the spiritual and healing aspects of the story. I didn’t like River and his cowardice, and I also didn’t like the way the author sanitized India into a perfect landscape so that it didn’t resemble reality at all. Therefore, I can only give this book, 4 Stars. This is still an interesting story and I would recommend it to others. Just don’t believe the perfect version of India.

( )

I liked this story. When I read the blurb I was under the impression this book was all about helping Brent through his grief, but that was only the first part, and in the grand scheme of the book it seems almost insignificant other than to establish a meeting of our two MCs. This book was all about River and him realizing that putting down roots can be a good thing and overcoming his own trauma. Brent was wonderful and patient with him and is definitely my favorite character. ( )

This was lovely. A gentle romance with a real feel good vibe.
I cried for almost the entirety of the last 20% even though I knew it was coming but the last few were tears of joy. ( )