Customer Reviews

Healing Luke

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Abby is an occupational therapist. She was about to get married when she found her fiancé with another woman. Abby needed to get away for a little while. She decided to go on her honeymoon alone. Hey, why not when she isn't going to get a refund.

Luke and his brother Aaron used to compete for women. They were a pair of players, only thinking about one night stands. That was than and this is now. Luke was in an accident that left him without the sight of his right eye and scars. Luke is a changed man both physically and emotionally.

Luke's father, Bart and Aaron can't stand to see Luke mope around. When they learn Abby is an occupational therapist, they convince her to stay for a while and help Luke. Luke isn't the only one that needs healing. Can Luke and Abby help each other?

Healing Luke is just what the doctor ordered. Luke was a grumpy guy and someone I wouldn't want to hang around with but due to his situation, I could understand why and forgive him. Of course though it didn't hurt that Luke is good looking. Abby has the patience of a saint. The words Abby and Luke didn't speak were way hotter than the ones they did speak. Just a look or a touch can be sexy. I like that Luke started out liking the typical blond model type girls and by the end of middle of the book, he saw Abby for who she was...a smart, pretty, loving woman. Abby really grew into a butterfly.

Have you ever read a romance read that after it was over you find yourself slightly crying and disappointed that the story is over? This is how this story was for me. The author did a wonderful job of creating characters you care about, and a romance you find yourself cheering for them to come together and be a couple. She obviously did her research in the department of burns and handicaps when creating the story of Luke. He had all the torment and depression that goes with the after math of his handicaps since the explosions. Abby showed all the normal grieving and second guessing of herself after a horrible breakup with her fiance. I was cheering for this couple all throughout the book and was so sad to see it end.
There is not a lot of hot and horny sex in this book. There is maybe one scene of them actually making love, but this story didn't need it. The story gave us enough romance and at humor at times that I was glad the author didn't fill the book up with sex scenes.
Now I just hope that the author would plan on making a follow-up book for Luke's brother and father! She certainly left the end open for sequels, but wrapped up Luke and Abby's story up very nicely. Another great author and find!

As a story of healing after tragedy, this book was so good. As Luke learned to adapt to his new limitations, he also grew closer to his brother and father.
As a romance, the book lacked. We do get a "happily ever after", but I really didn't love the heroine after all she put the hero through before finally giving him a bit of her heart. Still, a very good read and I am looking forward to reading the next book.


Luke's mother walked out on Luke, his big brother, and his father when Luke was only 8. When leaving she told Luke that there was nothing worth staying for. 20 years later, Luke still has trouble finding himself worthy of any woman's love. His good looks have always provided him with women willing to have one-night-stands, but Luke longs for something deep and meaningful. Now he has lost an eye and a thumb in an accident. He believes he will spend the rest of his life alone. His brother, Aaron, struggles with guilt over the accident that maimed Luke. His father walks on egg shells in an effort to spare Luke any further sorrow. When all seems hopeless, a miracle arrives in the petite form of a female physical therapist who won't allow Luke to give up on himself.

Over the weeks that follow, Luke struggles with the growing feelings he has for Abby. He believes she will never return his affection. Abby is too hurt from a past relationship to even consider making herself vulnerable to another man. The time they spend together provides healing to Luke's body and soul, but Abby believes that if she gives herself to Luke he will use her and break her heart. When she reaches a point where she can no longer deny him, Abby will leave for good. Better to get out before she loses her heart completely. Abby's rejection seems to prove Luke's worst fears... no woman would ever want a "freak" like him.

Luke is facing a bridge in his life. He can take a risk by crossing it in hopes of winning Abby, or he can spend the rest of his life with regrets. With his father and brother encouraging him, Luke decides to take the steps will lead to either happiness or heart-break. Will Abby meet him half-way across the bridge, or will she leave him stranded? Luke believes Abby is worth the risk.


Luke was a great character. We meet him when he is whole, experience the accident with him, then struggle through recovery with him. You can't help but hope for him. Unfortunately, Abby seemed to torment him more than boost him. She allowed him to kiss her, then turned away from him. She looks in his eyes with desire, then denies him when he acts on it. She lies around in a "tiny bikini" and rubs oil on her body while he watches, then gets mad and storms away when he goes to rub some on her back. She sleeps with him, then gets on a plane and leaves the state. Her reason is that he hasn't said "I love you", but she hasn't said anything close to that herself. She accuses him of being a player, but I have to say I got that impression much more from her than him. In the end, when he laid his heart and soul on a platter before her, she still cruelly walks away. She crushed him until he literally begged her to stay with him. She put him through so much pain that was totally unnecessary all because she wanted to hear, but would not say herself, "The Three Words". It killed the final joy for me.

Despite my disappointment in the heroine, the three men were terrific personalities. Luke, Aaron, and their father Bart were very well fleshed out. We get a hint about Aaron's story coming next. I will read it with hope that the heroine will not have a selfish personality like Abby.


If you love romance novels about triumph over tragedy, here are a few I recommend:

The Devil's Possession (Berkley Sensation)(Medieval Paranormal Romance)

Cry No More(Contemporary Romantic Suspense)

Under a Prairie Moon (Leisure historical romance)(Native American/Contemporary Paranormal)

Ride The Fire (Leisure Historical Romance)(Historical Romance)

Luke Morgan runs a snorkeling and fishing business with his brother Aaron and father Bart that caters to tourists. Both the Morgan brothers are ladies men and can have any woman who comes their way. But when Luke loses an eye and a thumb, and gets scars all over his body from a boating accident, he becomes a bitter recluse. His days of competing with his brother for women are over.

Abby Stanford comes to Florida on what was to be her honeymoon, until she catches her fiance in bed with another woman. She feels hurt and betrayed and decides after cancelling her wedding she will still go off to Florida to get away from it all. Perhaps a few days in the sun and relaxing on the beach will clear her head and keep her from wondering why she was so lacking in her former fiance's eye that he would turn to another woman for sex.

Abby is not the type to sit around and brood, so she will enjoy herself and take up some snorkeling. When she meets Luke, he is rude and cold to her. And when she meets Aaron, she finds him very attractive, much to Luke's dismay. Luke thinks that Abby will eventually succumb to Aaron's charms even though he finds her attractive. She will surely never even look at him twice.

Aaron and Bart think Abby is wonderful and ask her to help Luke with his injuries and therapy since Abby is an occupational therapist. She will stay on because she wants to help Luke even though he is very surly around her. Abby is used to working with patients who act like Luke, but she has never been attracted to them like she is to him. Luke continues to wallow in his self-pity even though he allows Abby to help him. Soon, he is falling for the beautiful young woman and wants more from her than just her professional hands on techniques.

Beth Cornelison's Healing Luke is about forgiving ones self and finding the ways to go on in life, especially after a horrible accident. This is one book that showcases the importance of family devotion and how important it is not to turn your back on those who have your best interests at heart. Cornelison's portrayal of Luke is very real to life. His reactions and actions are everything I would expect from a man who feels he has lost everything. His whole life has been destroyed and he doesn't know how to deal with the aftermath, even when Abby walks into his life. The way he treats her may annoy some readers, but this is a man who has gone though a great trauma.

Abby is a nice heroine, even though she almost ventures into the wholesome and innocent territory. When Abby is first introduced, you feel her emotional pain because of the betrayal of her fiance and her lack of self-esteem. It doesn't help matters that Aaron at first seems to want to seduce her but then decides against it because he finds Abby to be a great person. Then you have Luke who continually pushes her away, until he can't deny his attraction to her. There is a lot of pushing and pulling between Abby and Luke and you may get to the point where you have decided that enough is enough.

Luke and Aaron's father, Bart is the voice of reason and I really loved the family dynamics of the Morgan clan. These men are essentially good people when it comes down to it. There is also an interesting reaction from Aaron in regards to Abby's friend Brooke who comes to visit that may lead to a sequel of sorts.

Healing Luke is a nice tender romance that has a great setting and characters you wouldn't mind sitting down and having coffee with if they were real.

Katiebabs

This is a new author for me and I have to say I would read anything with her name on it! Loved all the people, Luke was sweet but a little messed up and not all from the accident. Aaron was a total player but had a soft side and at times you felt sorry for him. Bart(the Dad) was a caring parent who has made some mistakes in the past. Abby is the person who they all needed in their lives and helped them fix their relationships and move forward, the interaction between these characters makes the book. The dialog especially between Luke and Abby was intense and emotional!! I would highly recommend this book!!

This book was a wonderful read. You can really get into the emotions and feelings that Luke was facing after the accident. It was very insightful of Aaron to find Abby and have her help with his family in which he obviously missed and wanted to get back. I let my 17 year old daughter read this book. She has been seriously thinking about going into that career field of Occupational Therapist. She is finally excited about maybe going to college and actually having a career that would mean something to her and give others hope as well.

This was a surface book, light with not much too it. I think it tried to be deep, but wasn't. The only character that felt at all real was Luke. Aaron was an annoying character. Abby was all right, but she felt fake, as did her whole dramatic "break up" with her fiance. What I did like was that BC didn't "prettify" the characters. She told it like it was. I liked that Luke was missing an eye...imperfect heroes are the best.

I found it rather annoying that Abby fell for Aaron first, because he was the one without scars, and it took her too long to get over him. The romance felt pretty fake, but BC really tried. I could feel that much. Overall, a fun book, nothing special.

I really liked this story in many ways. Luke and Abby are an engaging couple and I like that it portrayed Luke's emotions and the impact of a family tragedy realistically. I appreciated that.

Unfortunately, there is one aspect of this story that really ruins it. It casts a pall over the whole book and you are just waiting for the end to come. I don't feel bad about saying it because other posters have... and this is the set up for Aaron's love affair with Brooke. Come on, do you really have to kill off a character, destroy a woman's life and leave a child without his natural father, just so two characters can hook up? The author wants us to believe that Aaron is not a shallow individual but how shallow is it to destroy a person's life, even a fictitious person, just so two people can "fall in love." Like other posters, if the author goes this route, I probably won't read the book, I certainly won't buy it, and that is too bad because I really would like to read more about this family.

My advice, leave Brooke out of this, give Aaron another love, and have Dad fall in love, either with Mom, or with a new love.

I really liked this book and I sincerely hope that the author doesn't go down that road with Aaron. I think it would be a big mistake. Give us love but not at the expense of destroying a young woman's life.

Dena

I liked this novel a lot. It's about a man, Luke, who has been seriously hurt in an explosion, and a woman, Abby, who has been betrayed by her fiancé. I enjoyed this romance because, unlike many of the other romance novels out there, Healing Luke was more tender than just reading one raunchy sex scene after another. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the sex scenes, but in some novels it's overkill. This book had just the perfect amount of sex, humor, and the story kept moving forward. The author did an excellent job in creating sexy scenes with just Luke and Abby kissing. I enjoyed this story quite a bit and would recommend it to someone who is looking for a tender love story without the overkill of repeated sex scenes.

Luke and Abby made a beautiful couple with insecurities and emotional baggage. The story was realistic and powerful.