DEBUT Readers should be forewarned that a sexual assault takes place in the first few pages of this title. The central character, Edie, a record label talent scout, spends the novel coming to terms with the aftermath of her attack. Even after Edie meets Philip, the man of her dreams, her problems don’t automatically disappear. The emotions that she experiences as she works through her grief will be uncomfortably familiar to many readers who have experienced similar trauma. There are moments of comfort when Edie is understood and cared for by the sensitive Philip, but overall the story doesn’t shy away from darker places. Subplots involving further harassment from Edie’s coworker and an ex-boyfriend feel a bit heavy-handed, but the author skillfully portrays the reality of assault from a woman’s perspective. VERDICT A painful subject that may be too raw for some readers, while others may find solace in seeing this topic addressed in a romance novel.— Kathryn Howe, Saint John Free P.L., NB