As CEO of Langor Associates, Dylan Clayburn has a private jet at his disposal, a huge expense account, a great retirement portfolio and a lush executive office. This office had been his dad’s and Dylan still missed him. The cancer had taken him away just over eighteen months ago. The last thing he and his father had done together three years ago was to outfit the office. Dylan steered clear of women with emotional and financial baggage, yet he could not help having sympathy for the woman he had bumped into last week. She had had such a sad look in her eyes and today, he had heard her weeping as he passed by the door of her apartment, which was on the same floor as his. He had seen her underlying strength and quick wit and was attracted to her.
With no job and no money, Alana was is scrimping to get by; reusing tea bags, unplugging anything electrical when it is not in use, but still her cable had been cut off recently and she knew her power was next. This was something she was trying to avoid as it was the middle of winter. When she ran into her neighbor recently, he had invited her out to dinner. But she had no way to reciprocate so she would not let him into her private world, rebuffing him instead.
However, Dylan sticks in there, determined not to give up on this woman he is beginning to love although he doesn’t really know her. He is bewildered by that, but then he witnesses a horrendous accident in which she is involved and knows that his life will not be complete if he doesn’t have her in it. As she recovers, she continues to hold out, always waiting until things have improved for her before letting him into her life. But then her daughter Emily reminds Alana of the words her own mother always spoke when something bad happened in their lives – ‘THIS TOO SHALL PASS.’ Despite everything, Alana begins to realize she has a lot to be thankful for. Can Alana get beyond her past and let Dylan into her life, or will she condemn herself to a life of loneliness?
A poignant story, THIS TOO SHALL PASS, the latest novel by talented author Cynthia Roberts, is a touching, emotion-packed contemporary romance that reminds us not to take life for granted. Each chapter begins with a few words of wisdom about life and living it to the fullest. At times, it will bring a smile to your face and at other times, tears will appear, as you find yourself empathizing with Alana and the struggles she goes through. You also cannot help but love Dylan who sticks with her through thick and thin. Ms. Roberts brings these complex characters to life right before your eyes until it almost seems as if Dylan and Alana are people you know. With creativity, passion and emotion, Ms. Roberts fills her story with life’s hardships and blessings, beautifully clever dialogue, vulnerable characters with realistic problems, a real life plot, romance and true love, making this moving story one you will want to read and then read again. It will remind you of how truly fortunate you are and how important it is to make the most of the limited time you have here on Earth. I highly recommend this book and look forward to see what Ms. Roberts comes up with next.
