Karyn has nothing left. Her ex-boyfriend beat her up, killing her unborn child, and stole all her money, just in time for Christmas. Now lonely, unemployed, and having nothing left, she decides to put an end to her misery, when a chance encounter with a strange man at the mall may change her whole life.

Jared sees the shadows in the woman’s eyes and identifies the depression she is lost within. Something about her touches him and Jared makes it his mission to put life back in Karyn’s eyes. With a little help from a special Christmas elf, Karyn and Jared may find peace together.

I seem to be in a trend this month without even realizing it, reading multiple books where domestic abuse plays a crucial role in the character growth. I applaud the authors for tackling such a sensitive subject. Trista Bane does a beautiful job in Petals in the Snow detailing Karyn’s mindset by showing the more extreme results abuse can have on a woman.

Karyn’s spirit is crushed, beaten down so thoroughly that she truly believes suicide is her only option. Her ex-boyfriend has successfully caused everything Karyn cares about to be stolen away. This is most evident in how Karyn feels about losing her job at the day care center. We really get a true representation of Karyn’s emotions when we see her interaction with the children afterwards. Karyn’s spirit may be as bruised and battered as her body but at heart she is still a compassionate woman who can put the needs of others before her own.

Jared has his own personal reasons for wanting to help Karyn and it is through helping her that he finally begins to heal himself. What starts as a personal mission to keep Karyn hanging on through Christmas turns in to deeper feelings when he learns of her recent history. Oftentimes, I find a hard time buying into the “love at first sight” concept in books as it often feels forced and tenuous at best, so that I don’t believe the happy ending will be ever after. I am happy to say that Bane made me believe it to be true in Petals in the Snow. Through Jared and Karyn’s nurturing personalities, I can totally believe that their chance meeting one day has turned their lives around. Jared is so sensitive to Karyn’s needs and that I just knew they had found a love that will last. What more can you ask for in a romance?

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2007. All rights reserved.