My Love Will Set You Free

My Review: 3.5 Stars

This short work of fiction by Ms. Storm is quite charming. In a poignant journey to the 1950's we meet Rip Rockwell and Deborah Walker, two souls trying to survive having had their hearts and psyche's torn apart.

Rip Rockwell's character is tenderly written. The trauma of watching his best friend die in battle, and then surviving, is an anguish we can keenly feel. For those who have experienced something such as this in real life, the depiction may be simplified, but I appreciate Ms. Storm taking on the challenge of finding the path and purpose to survival.

Deborah Walker is a simple girl of the era. She finds out that her boyfriend, James, whom she'd hoped to marry, has died in battle as well. The news, delivered by his friend Tommy, leaves Deborah wondering what her future will be. In a time when marriage and babies were a woman's future, things look bleak for Deborah. She has few skills and little ambition. The loss of James forces her to take a long look at herself and the changing world around her.

When Deborah and Rip meet, the attraction is instant and sweetly written. Ms. Storm manages to convey physical and emotional connection through a series of innocent encounters. Deborah's loss allows Rip to share his PTSD with her, and there begins the journey of their healing.

It is challenging to write a short story. In very few words one most convey the descriptive narrative, dialog, and emotions succinctly, yet paint a full enough picture that the reader feels the story has been completely told. My Love Will Set You Free has many threads worthy of pursuing more completely, leaving me wishing for many more pages. I felt like a rock skipping across the water, splashing down on pivotal moments, wanting to fully experience them.

This book is a great taste of her work as an author, and I look forward to reading Ms. Storms other work.