Southern Sunrise

I will not sugarcoat this, as by now based on the synopsis you will figure out that this story will gut you. If you have been following the series from the beginning, you will understand my reasons for saying this. After the last installment, I was waiting for the ball to drop and drop it did, and the outcome was devastating. The story was bittersweet, and it was one heck of an emotional rollercoaster ride.Southern Sunrise demonstrated how secrets can destroy the best of relationships. The hero, Ethan, was living his best life. Plans to marry his childhood sweetheart and graduating from college were on the top of his list. However, the revelation of a devastating secret would rock his world and derail those plans. The pain and the anger stemming from the revelation led to him walking away from all he held dear. Five years later he returned home to face the devastation his actions caused and to win back the heart of the only woman he ever loved. Along the way, he would learn the true meaning of sacrifices.Throughout most of the story, I straddled the fence as it relates to Ethan’s actions. I understood how he must have felt, discovering the secret his family kept from him for years, but I did not agree with the way he handled the situation. The shock and perceived betrayal led to him abandoning his loved ones for five years. At the time I found his actions selfish, but I figured it had a lot to do with his level of maturity.I felt for the persons affected by Ethan’s decision, but the person my heart broke most for was Emily. Despite being engaged to another man, her heart belonged to Ethan. A fact which would reveal itself on Ethan’s return. To say their reunion was bittersweet would be an understatement. It was gut wrenching and heart-breaking. Ethan knew he had a lot to make up for and it would prove harder than the tragedies he faced in the past five years.I admired the growth Ethan showed. He recognized the pain his actions caused and tried to make amends. ‘It takes a real man to realize his mistake, but an even better one to make things right’.Southern Sunrise by Natasha Madison showed the importance of family, friendship, forgiveness, healing and second chances. It revealed that amidst pain and loss, hope shines like a beacon.Conclusion/RecommendationOverall, I found this to be a wonderful addition to the series and would recommend it without reservation. A note of caution in the series needs to be read in order. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading