...someone once wrote: "When I approach the closing pages of a great novel, a feeling of profound regret comes over me, for I realize I am about to sever a relationship with characters I have grown to love. And to abandon a corner of the world in which I have spent rewarding weeks, months and even years, for I read slowly and carefully. I feel, when the pages dwindle, as if something good were being stolen from me, something precious that would not be replaced. You may laugh at what I say next, but when I realize how few pages are left I ration myself, only so many each day, and when the final one looms, and I close the book, I stare at the back for many minutes, aware that something precious has touched my life."
Ms. Belfrage has such an astounding talent of delivering precise and explicit narrative balanced with superb, emotional dialogue. Description of emotions and feelings are spot on direct and completely, deliriously consuming...propelling the reader...enthralling and engulfing us ..and placing us within the story lines with absolute precision. In little time, you're quite invested emotionally with Alex and Matthew and all the secondary characters....and it's very, very difficult coming to the end of the story --- for now I am forced to say "farewell" to my dear friends. Brilliant!