Book Review: Trouble Me by Eliza Peake

Trouble Me by Eliza Peake is a story that the reader needs to give it some time before gleaning enlightenment, clarity and satisfaction from the narration.  The final five chapters move quickly and really dig deep emotionally into the two protagonists, Emmaline Reynolds and Shane Kavanagh.  Before arriving at that destination of happily ever after, Peake slowly leads the reader through the development of Reynolds and Kavanagh's relationship, leaving the reader with questions about what binds the two together other than a steamy attraction.  All is answered by the ending.

At the heart of the story is the hardship and struggles that arise from dealing with an addiction and a partner who succumbs to addiction.  Reynolds is on the journey to overcoming an alcohol addiction, and Kavanagh is on the journey to self-realization that it was not within his power to stop his deceased wife's drug addiction.  Peake's insight into the human condition is enlightening and leaves a lasting impression on the reader

The story is well written with intense characters evolving through a slow plot progression that winds up the loose pieces together by the close of the read.  The secondary characters are also interesting and add dimension to the tale, especially Kavanagh's dying father whose words of wisdom resonate loudly in the reader's ears and Kavanagh's younger brother whom he misreads as his nemesis.

The struggles and conflicts that Reynolds and Kavanagh face are relatable to the reader.  The story intertwines four tropes, first, being a modern day small town romance, second, honing an office romance, third, having characters who seek redemption, and fourth, describing the tingles of love at first sight.  These are common tropes that Peake refreshes to make for a satisfying read.

Artist Site:  https://elizapeake.com/