Precious and Fragile Things - SA

Gilly Soloman has been reduced to a mothering machine, taking care of everyone and everything except herself. But the machine has broken down. Burnt out by the endless days of crying children and menial tasks, and exhausted from always putting herself last, Gilly doesn't immediately consider the consequences when she's carjacked. With a knife to her throat, her first thought is that she'll finally get some rest. Someone can save her for a change. But salvation isn't so forthcoming. Stranded in a remote, snowbound cabin with this stranger, hours turn to days, days into weeks. As time forges a fragile bond between them, she learns her captor is not the lunatic she first believed, but a human being whose wasted life has been shaped by secrets and tragedy. Yet even as their connection begins to foster trust, Gilly knows she must never forget he's still a man teetering on the edge. One who just might take her with him. From Publishers Weekly Hart segues from the erotica she's known for to a dark hostage story that, due to its unrelenting grimness, risks turning readers off. Harried mom Gilly Soloman is carjacked, kidnapped, and held hostage on an isolated, snow-bound mountain by Todd Blauch. Their relationship evolves over the months they're trapped together, transforming from one of captor and captive to something approaching creepy confidantes as Gilly freezes when an opportunity to flee arises, and, as they remain in close quarters, the two share intimate details about their lives. That Todd never planned to kidnap Gilly--he just wanted her truck--but now cannot let her go because he fears going back to prison, generates a palpable tension as readers try to determine how or if Gilly will get away and return to her family. Hart's generally assured writing stumbles when she delves into Gilly's faith, but her sympathetic depiction of Todd redeems that and much of the unnecessarily traumatic backstory she shoves in as the book winds down. This may do the trick for readers whose diversionary tastes lie on the dark side. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.