My Brother’s Keeper

Ben Murphy is being blackmailed by his supervisor. It’s for his own good but that doesn’t mean he has to like it – quite the opposite. He is resentful and feels let down by the one person he thought he could turn to. He has suffered two great losses in the past year. First, ten months ago his father died in a fire months away from retirement. Then two months ago his younger brother, Chris, died right in front of him, falling six stories through a hole that appeared in the floor out of nowhere during a fire they were fighting. The Murphy family is well known for their firefighting. Murphy men have been firefighters for generations. But Ben has been disregarding department procedures and putting himself at risk. He seems to have a death wish since his brother died. Unwilling to stand by and do nothing, his supervisor forces him to take time off, fearful that with the way Ben is carrying on, he won’t live long. With his job at stake, Ben has no choice but to follow orders and sets off for the old Victorian house his boss has rented for him, where he eats little and drinks a lot (whiskey being his preference). Oh yeah, and starts having apparitions of his brother Chris. Only he is soon forced to acknowledge that Chris isn’t an apparition. His spirit really is there, trying to get Ben to forgive himself and move on with his life, thus preventing Ben from killing himself and allowing Chris to move on to the afterlife. Add one determined woman, Kate Donahue, who is very concerned over the state of the grounds of the rented house, and Ben has his hands full. Will his brother manage to snap Ben out of his depression? What place is Kate to have in helping Ben want to live life again – to the fullest?

The first tale I have read by Candace Sams, My Brother’s Keeper is not my usual reading fare but was nevertheless very enjoyable. This tale is less heavy on romance than I usually read, and more focused on Ben and his problems, which are numerous and have affected Ben very strongly psychologically. I really like the way Ms. Sams has developed Ben’s character, the way he goes from nearly suicidal, to helping others and finding pleasure in doing so, to wanting to live his life again – with Kate by his side. This tale most definitely fits its Sweet Ambrosia categorization – a romance with a gentle romantic approach and no sexual activity. If you are of the opinion that romance stories don’t have to have sex in them to draw the reader in, then this is one that is definitely for you. If you are an erotica fan, then this is not one that should have a place on your to buy list, unless you’re looking to find something different. Though rather short, this story is fairly well written. The characters are both likeable and developed, particularly Ben. Candace Sams has done well with My Brother’s Keeper.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth