On the surface, Ash Elleston appears to be an ordinary girl. She lives in a house with two guys, Ronan and Mike, and a girl, Kay. Ash is holding down several jobs. She has fun with her roommates. She likes her jobs and she is always willing to offer a smile to make someone’s day happy. Ash’s entire goal in life is to help people find what makes them happy. When she meets acclaimed war photographer, Noah Golitison while helping Kay out on a catering job, Ash is immediately aware of Noah’s pain. Noah, for his part, is attracted to Ash and willing to act on it, if only she’ll agree.
Elsborg draws a picture of two wounded souls. Ash is hiding a dark past filled with pain and death. Noah is fighting the demons of post-traumatic stress disorder. His time in Afghanistan left deep and lasting wounds on his spirit. An Ordinary Girl starts slowly with alternating vignettes of Ash and Noah’s lives. Elsborg picks up the pace when Noah and Ash meet during a party. Noah is there to take photographs and Ash is helping Kay with a catering job.
Everything changes for them when fireworks start exploding overhead. Elsborg has a strong voice and her characters are rich and evocative. She paints a picture of Ash and Noah that can be blistering hot one moment and so painful in the next moment that tears come to your eyes. An Ordinary Girl is not a light read, but it is definitely a great read worth 4.5 stars.
Stars: [rating=4]
Review originally appeared on Blackravens Reviews
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Image courtesy of Ellora’s Cave