Book Review: The Lives Between Us

The Lives Between Us

By: Theresa Rizzo

Published By: Rizzo Publishing

Publication Date: July 1, 2015

Page Count: 441

Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Source: Kindly Provided by Author

Audience: Adult - Womens Fiction

The Lives Between us is a wonderful book by Theresa Rizzo. This book does have some romance, but it's so much more than a romance novel! It delves into the political and ethical debate of stem cell research. Add a little mystery to that and you have the recipe for a fantastic novel. 

 Skylar Kendall is a sometimes reporter/sometimes bartender in Detroit, MI. She is devastated by the death of her niece Niki. She is convinced Niki could have been saved by stem cell therapy, if only Michigan Senator Hastings hadn't blocked the type of therapy that could have saved her. 

Mark is Senator Hastings best friend and runs into Skye in a bar. Somehow they become friends and end up falling in love. But they keep withholding secrets from each other (like that fact that his best friend is your "sworn enemy", Senator Edward Hastings!) and having to learn how to trust each other through various dilemmas. 

 Eventually, Skye and Edward call a sort of truce. Skye sees Edward on a personal level and becomes friends with his wife so it becomes harder to hate him for what she thinks he may have done done to Niki. It also makes it more difficult for her to write a "tell all" article for the newspaper about Senator Hastings. 

 Throughout the book, numerous things happen to the characters that cause them to question their priorities. And eventually, Senator Hastings must rethink his staunch opposition to embryonic stem cell research. 

 I really enjoyed this novel. However I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for several reasons. It was written in 3rd person, which I don't have a problem with. But eventually it was switching between so many characters' points-of-view that it got slightly confusing. I also was confused on what Skye really wanted to do with her life. It seemed at times she really wanted to be a reporter. Then she was a girl who was flighty and had done all sorts of jobs. Then she was also bartending. So I didn't really get the feeling she knew what she wanted out of her life career-wise. It just seemed a little immature for the character. The other thing that really bothered me was how both Mark & Skye seemed to have to so little trust in each other. The minute something major happened, one of them flew off the handle and their relationship was in the toilet. The first couple of times, I understand that. But eventually it was slightly tedious. 

 Even with my few issues, I thought this was a fascinating novel. It was very thought provoking and had a twist at the end that I did not see coming! I am grateful for the opportunity I had to read this. If you are looking for a book with some substance, I highly recommend The Lives Between Us!

Summary:

How far would you go to save the one you love?

Reporter Skylar Kendall has run from commitment all her life, pushing people away before they leave her, until her niece worms her way into Skye’s heart and settles in tight. Skye relaxes into a career she enjoys and relishes being a doting aunt.

Then her niece becomes gravely ill. Unable to bear yet another loss, Skye is determined to find a cure, but the girl’s only hope lies in the embryonic stem cell therapy Michigan Senator Edward Hastings repeatedly opposes. When Skye fails to find alternative treatment in time, she vows to end the senator’s political career.

Curious about the woman behind the scathing articles on his best friend, Mark Dutton pursues Skye. Dating Mark gives her access to Hastings’s life and secrets that would launch Skye's career and satisfy her need for retribution… Only she hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Can she avenge the lives lost to politics at the expense of her new love and friends?