"Stand" (Book 3 in The Fielding's Series)

When Sam Fielding returns home for her sister, Thea's, wedding, she knows she is going to have to deal with all the things she ran away from two decades ago. Tyler Cavanaugh is a single father of two, struggling to give his children a stable life after their abusive and toxic mother returns. After an especially public and violent incident where his ex-wife assaults him, Tyler decides that the best thing for his kids is to visit his friend in New Mexico. The traumatic experiences have created a bond between Sam and Tyler’s daughter, Alyssa, and when she realizes they are all travelling the same way, she pleads for them to travel together. Torn between wanting to be there for Alyssa and wanting to get as far away from old memories as she can, Sam agrees. The past continues to haunt Sam and Tyler while also bringing them closer to each other, and creating a bond that neither can resist. 

This is not a stand-alone book, and it takes a little bit to get a grip on the cast of characters if one has not read the prior books. Once the reader catches up, one becomes immersed in a deep and well-developed family who have struggled to function together after losing their parents, and trying to save the struggling family business. The reader is given an opportunity to see a unique perspectives on a familiar topic, which may also be a trigger for some - spousal abuse - in which the victim is the male partner. It is covered in a respectful and responsible way, and brings value to the story. “Stand” is worth reading, and it leaves a lasting impression.

 Valerie Vicars