(Just Like) Starting Over by Pepper Espinoza, July 22, 2009

I like a lot this short novel by Pepper Espinoza. It's really angst, it's not a simple and sweet romance, but I like it.

Guillermo Rivera, Guy, is a 27 years old Spanish MBA student; while he is in United States he had a bad car accident. Now, one month after, he not only has bad injuries that force him in a wheelchair, he has also a short term amnesia. He doesn't remember his previous life, nor who he knows or doesn't know in this stranger country. He needs a caregiver and lucky him he has Dane.

Dane is the perfect nurse, he always knows what Guy wants, like he has the memory that Guy lacks... he is so perfect that Guy is becoming dependent from the man. And it's not what Dane wants... Dane is not an unselfish nurse who is paid for doing a job. Dane is Guy's former lover, and in their past relationship, Dane did unforgivable things. But now Guy needs him, and Dane can't mistake a second time. This time he will do the right thing, and not to have a second chance with Guy, but to have a second chance for his own life: for Dane is vital to do at least one thing right, to have the right push to continue in doing the right thing.

Guy and Dane, in different way, are needing a caregiver: one for physical injuries and the other for emotional ones. In this perspective, Dane is not a saint, and he has his reasons to fear what will happen when Guy will remember everything.

Pepper Espinoza is very good in rendering Guillermo uncertain behavior the first day after the accident. The reader lives with him his fears, his needs of comfort and reassurance. And she is also very good in penning, with only few words, Dane's world and life outside the safe heaven of Guy's apartment. The story could be short, but it's a complete tale and very good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602728623/?tag=elimyrevandra-20