~V~ Whirlwindbooks

“No! Dalton, come back!” “Why are you leaving me?” The dark timbre of his laughter vibrates through me, and he taunts me unseen, “You killed me, Rhaney baby. Are you happy now?”

Rhane Evans is no longer the woman she once was. After months in the hospital following a tragic accident, Rhane can finally go back to her life…or what’s left of it. Without her voice, Rhane is just an angry shell of who she used to be; forever a reminder of the loss she suffered, her career, her spirit, her soul mate. Disowned by more than just her parents, she finds solace with her Uncle Thomas “T” and Gwen, the nurse hired to care for her in her new home; left to her by her grandmother many years before. Forced to make something out of nothing, Rhane is bitter. Not being able to remember how she ended up the way she is now doesn’t help her already short temper.

“Being pissed off is something I’ve mastered over the years. But I felt it was much more productive when I was actually able to vocalize it. I’ve got to find a way to release all of this built-up energy or I am going to lose my friggin’ mind for good.”

The house Rhane has inherited is less than shiny and new. The pipes leak and creak, the basement is dark and damp (not to mention—spiders) and over all needs a good sprucing up with some TLC. Rhane and Gwen set out to make a list to give to T in order to have repairs made. What Rhane never counted on was the copper-headed, gorgeous man to show up on her doorstep…
Ian Callahan.

“All at once it becomes crystal clear to me. My fascination with Ian isn’t just because of how attractive he is or how his presence affects my breathing and heart rate. No, it’s because, in so many ways, he reminds me of Dalton. F~ck.”

This man. This rugged, strong man. A man with his own demons, cannot possibly know what lies in store for him with Rhane Evans. To him, she is just “Sunshine.” Drawn to her as she is him becomes too much to bear and neither one is willing to give up the stubborn streak they share. The differences between Rhane and Ian fall on deaf ears as gossip swirls and pasts come back to complicate their new and fragile relationship. There is always more to the story than what you hear on the street…and Rhane is scared of what that means for her and Ian; but it can’t be any worse than what she’s running from in her dreams.

“Let’s face it, I’m falling. Hard and fast, and I’m powerless to stop it.”

Seeking an outlet and finding none, Rhane’s temper flares more and more often. Because of her outbursts, as well as her lack of sleep (for fear of nightmares) along with her memory staying locked up tight; not only is she seeing a doctor but is also enlightened on a family trait she had no idea about. Deciding to redirect her anger and focus on her music, Rhane knows it’s only a matter of time before she has to face the truth of her past; and how it will affect her future…with or without Ian…

“Something my grandma used to always say to me pops into my head. ‘If someone takes a piece of your heart, hunt ‘em down and get it back. You’re a strong girl, Rhane, but ain’t nobody able to live with half a heart.’”

This review is one of the harder ones for me to write. When a story touches me, but in many different ways, I find it difficult to pin-point and share my thoughts…especially, without giving too much away.

So, here goes:

I loved this book, absolutely loved it. It was a very smooth, easy read; filled with both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. The way the author uses her characters is wonderful. I never expected things to go the way they did and I am so happy I was surprised by many different elements. I love how the dialog was clear even though there wasn’t a clear voice, and how communication never ceased, no matter who was doing the talking. I loved the inner struggles of each character and how real it made them in my eyes. This is definitely a story that will haunt me…it holds a rhythm all its own.

**4 Speaking Without Words Stars**