Title:  Another Side of the Heart

Author: C.H. Lazarovich  

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

 

As the first anniversary of her daughter’s death approaches, Mary Devere finds herself mourning alone on Kilkare Island, while her neurosurgeon husband, Mark, travels through Europe, honoring work commitments.

Then, an encounter with a young woman, Juliet, forces Mary to confront buried memories and uncomfortable truths when she realizes Juliet’s father is Antonio Zelada, Mary’s first love whom she left without good explanation thirty years ago.

At first glance, Another Side of the Heart gives the impression that the story may veer into chick-lit territory. This assumption would be incorrect.  The novel owes more to literary fiction with its beautifully nuanced and multi-layered narrative written in elegantly measured, emotive, and descriptive prose.

Mary instantly hooks the reader as she navigates her environment with clear-eyed precision and a level of detail that is deeply human, yet almost forensic.

She immediately lets the reader into her world, intimate but not chatty, exploring and sharing her thoughts candidly but with a measure of detachment and introspection.

Among her grief and regret for Lily, Mark, and Antonio are separate parcels of guilt for each. This self-blame has its foundations in the decision she made as a young woman which precipitated her leaving Antonio.

The loss of Lily is examined and carried with much soul-searching and poignancy. Lily is equally a part of the story as the living characters, and as the novel unfolds, both her life and death are the touchstones for Mary to make the choices she does.

Despite the theme of bereavement driving the novel, the writing has a light, uplifting tone. The innate chemistry and sexual tension between Mary and Antonio softly crackles from the page, hinting at their past, shared experiences whilst appreciating each other anew.

Antonio is slightly elusive with, the reader suspects, hidden insecurities and possible resentment. What he truly feels for Mary is never entirely transparent, although it’s intriguingly obvious his feelings run with deep complexity. Their conversations are fascinating, loaded with emotion and weighted by silence.

The reader senses an internal struggle that Antonio’s surface attitude does not always mirror his inner intentions, which is compounded by the presence of his smugly sinister ex-wife, Mercedes. Antonio could have become a romantic cliché, but doesn’t, remaining credible and arresting.

Lazarovich has expertly conjured up Kilkare Island and its quirks, using the landscape to suspenseful, atmospheric effect.  The fickle coastal weather and fluctuating tides reflect Mary’s brooding, yet fluid contemplation, as she searches for direction.

Kilkare provides a reassuring haven for Mary threaded with symbolic recollections, but one that also urges change. The lesser characters on the island are as developed as they need to be, with nicely individual flourishes. All have subtle points of importance and connections to Mary’s story.

As Mary’s self-realization sharpens, the plot begins to twist and the reader is finally introduced to Mark. His physical appearance contrasts with the assured, brilliant neurosurgeon and he impresses as a deflated figure, for which there is a reason, but their showdown appeared anti-climactic.

The side tangent involving Juliet and Hunter is a little expected, but its consistency serves to highlight the unpredictability of the situation between Antonio and Mary.

Their trust and purpose become shifting ground and, combined with some unforeseen yet convincing events, Lazarovich skillfully plays with reader expectations to provide a gripping, enigmatic ending.

Another Side of the Heart is a stunningly good novel full of depth and originality and driven by a compelling central character. The moving and enthralling story explores difficult issues with insight and inspiration, leaving the reader with a sense of thought-provoking fulfillment.

 

 

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