The demon drink - it's such a crippling thing to be in its grip, as the drug of choice, and then not a choice, and then hopelessness and misery, and self-destruction.

Most romance novels that touch upon addiction are about a character who has gone through the supreme struggle and got sober and then lives with the daily struggle to stay sober. And the role this plays when they find someone to love, and love them.

Here the love interest/best friend, Monroe, who doesn't seem to have a clue that he is a love interest! is an alcoholic, or on the brink of it, and can't see past his own misery, to Erik, the man who loves him.

Erik feels invisible, and as much as Monroe needs him, he doesn't see Erik beyond his being an ever present, devoted crutch he falls back on to rescue him from his off-the-rails behaviour.

Finally, Erik's own pain at feeling powerless to help Monroe, or to have his own needs met by Monroe, forces him to withdraw. Erik's family stages an intervention with Monroe, and arranges rehab. What follows, the therapy and recovery process, is a big and fascinating part of the novel.

Not exactly a romcom, or NR Walker's usual romance with her great comic touch, but still brilliant. I love her stories. They are so varied and always give me a fresh experience - the settings, the characters, and the stories that play out. ( )

I need to read this one again. I saw too much of me in it. ( )

4.5 ( )

A good romance with lots of drama. ( )