BOOK REVIEW: ... and you thought Goan women couldn't be good romance writers?
By Maria de Lima Pereira [email protected] Two sweethearts Darrell Correia and Michelle Albuquerque are ruthlessly separated on the eve of their wedding day by the ruthless hands of selfishness, greed and debauchery through an intricately spun web of lies and deceit. They are manipulated by Craig and his mistress Wendy -- who pretend to be well wishers of the couple -- to accomplish their own nefarious goals. Darrell and Michelle are very pained, even so many years later, about the tragedy of that horrible, fateful evening, that was caused by each other's 'misdeeds' and 'betrayal'. But through pain, distance and time one beautiful emotion remains constant -- Darrell and Michelle's love for each other. They meet again after five painful, tumultuous years; each one a changed person. Can Darrell and Michelle overcome the obstacles of all the misunderstandings, secrets and cynicism to find their way to each other once again, and understand that the same love and trust they shared five years ago can be had even today? Will Darrell realise that for him it's 'Heaven In Her Arms' only? Ria Gomes debut novel 'Heaven In Her Arms' spans seven years and deals with various emotions -- love, desire, fear, betrayal, mistrust, cynicism - the main players experience as face life's myriad occurrences. The pain Darrell, Michelle and Armand have needless suffered and their inability to do anything about their hapless circumstances at that point of time, is both heart wrenching and poignant. The author writes with an effortless flair that is very sensitive towards her characters' experiences and emotions and her readers' sensibilities at the same time. Making this romantic plot convincing are genuine characters which are well sketched enough to create a vivid pictorial thus making them very real and alive. The novel succeeds in tugging at the readers' emotions and the heart strings with every scene and page, sparking anger and indignation at the injustices done. So much so that a sensitive reader will feel for them; will laugh with them, cry with them, share their pain, joys, sorrows and beliefs; understand their circumstances, their mind and beliefs, rejoicing in their triumphs, as if they are not fictional characters anymore but are part of our lives. They have carved a niche for themselves in our hearts. "I had intended to write a story people would cherish a long time," explains Ria. Gomes was born and raised in Salcete, Goa, and has been residing in Oman, the Middle-East, for more than a decade. The pain Darrell, Michelle and Armand suffered needlessly brings tears to my eyes "For me, as I write my stories, e characters I create slowly begin to take a life of their own. My characters tell their own story, I write it for them and yes, that includes the love scenes. So yes, in a way, they are my friends. I still know Darrell and Michelle and her father as I would know real people who are my friends," she agrees. The tender intimate moments between Darrell and Michelle, which are absolutely essential to the story, are beautifully and intricately woven into the plot and well-scripted in such a way to show that a body is a means for the heart, soul and mind, to really become one in sacred act of love (not lust in this instance) between soul-mates. And it feels absolutely right, not wrong. Ria confirms this thought. "When I write romances with sizzling hot love scenes between a man and a woman who are on their way to creating an everlasting bond of love, for me, those are the most amazing moments of my characters' lives. That is where the heart and mind and soul of my characters are laid bare along with their bodies. It is that sacred act where the most life-altering changes occur, and that, for me, is simply beautiful." Goan readers will certainly be able to identify with the characters, settings, plots, emotions and lifestyle in the story. As they get acquainted with this young 'couple-next-door', readers will understand that Darrell Correia is a strong, earthy kind of man but also a passionate, deep-feeling one, on matters of the heart; while circumstances and upbringing force Michelle to take certain the decisions. The novel is an engaging and stimulating read from the beginning to end. A 'can't-put-down' book and then you need to read it again and again until every word; every nuance and emotion is absorbed. This is a must read book for those who believe in soul mates and their power of eternal love. Ria is a talented romance writer who has shown that we Goan women have it in us to be great romance writers. I love this novel and forward to reading all the novels that flow out from the pen of this talented and sensitive Goan writer in the future. -- The reviewer is the author of The Perfect Match [http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/5284748913/] Contact the author Ria Gomes at [email protected] Heaven In Her Arms is available through Asylett Press, Amazon and http://dogearsetc.com ISBN 978-1-934337-42-4 and 1-934337-42-0 Published in 2010. Her novel can be purchased, both in print and as an e-book from http://bit.ly/nJrFxF See also: http://bit.ly/roVmMn FRONT COVER: http://bit.ly/qaPa94 BACK COVER: http://bit.ly/rgPYB5
