The Emma Effect: By Gordon Bocher
Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing
Rating:
After suffering a traumatic experience at the hands of two beautiful students during his school days at Widmark College, Mitch Lavin gladly accepts an offer to work as an overseas mining expert with Mining Consortium International. However, his new boss—General Creighton Wheeler—warns him that he will be required to perform an "extremely challenging and dangerous" mission that involves traveling to the northern tier of Afghanistan to search for the rare elements that are needed for national defense.
After accepting the perilous mission, Mitch finds himself falling for a charming girl at work, Emma
Waterson. Emma, who is a calm and graceful lady, happens to admire the handsome and tough man at her workplace. As Mitch battles the ashes of his traumatic past, he falls deeper for Emma the closer he gets to her. Will Mitch find true, lasting happiness and love, despite his traumatic past?
The Emma Effect tells an adorable young adult tale rife with daunting challenges, profound biblical messages and values, and several intriguing developments that will keep readers glued to the pages and salivating for more. I enjoyed reading about the differences between the two daughters who have the same father—one is more of a tomboy than the other, and they were brought up with different religious values. The book's vivid description brings the story to life, like a virtual reality experience. Christina, one of the girls, is described as "a blond, blue-eyed beauty" with a long hair that "fell well past her waist."
I fell in love with the main characters as their warmth radiates through the pages, and I felt a sense of happiness and calmness the more I read about their thoughtful and kind interactions with one another. That Mitch was advised by his boss to seek a trusted professional's help to heal from his trauma is quite touching and inspiring. This kind of display of compassion would make the world a much better place if practiced by all.
The Emma Effect is skillfully woven around the themes of romance, forgiveness, abuse, empathy, Catholicism, war, career, diligence, psychology, and parenthood. Readers who enjoy romantic stories that portray daunting, lifelike challenges should make sure to read The Emma Effect. The sex scenes will appeal to romance fans who like such sensual storylines.
Gordon's captivating narrative is a flawless combination of breathtaking action, heartwarming love and kindness, and deep psychological smiggles. The Emma Effect inspires readers to heal from pain and remain hopeful for better days, no matter one's present challenges. I can't wait to explore more of Gordon Bocher's books, since The Emma Effect has completely won me over!
- Reviewed by Foluso Falaye
Seattle Book review
The Emma Effect: By Gordon Bocher
Newman Springs Publishing
The Emma Effect is a heartfelt and stirring novel written by Gordon Bocher. The story follows Mitch, whose parents died in a tragic car accident when he was six years old and was taken in by his great-aunt who raised him as his own. This pediatric grief weighed in on him as a young child. Luckily, Helen, his great-aunt, did her best to raise him into an emotionally stable young man who after high school, bags a prestigious scholarship to Widmarch College, where he plays center midfielder on the school's soccer team. In his senior year at college, Mitch is psychologically manipulated by his then-fiancée and her friend who subject him to a distasteful sexual experience which leaves him traumatized and wounded for years. This internalized abuse slips through into his mental health and general well-being and he abruptly leaves college to join MCI (Mining Consortium International), a position that sends him to Afghanistan to source suitable sites for mining ore. It is also through this role that he meets the quiet and pensive Emma, an administrative assistant working at the company who he falls in love with. Emma had a transcendent calming and comforting effect around her and would consequently play a crucial role in Mitch's healing. With the help of an in-house therapist as well, Mitch confronts his troubled past and the unfortunate experience that scarred his life. Gordon Bocher's book is not merely a simple narrative of pure escapist entertainment but something more challenging and potentially eye-opening to the reality of abuse in men, the trauma it causes, and possible solutions or pathways to healing. The writer presents readers with plausible-hewn characters that bring into sharp focus the complex themes which the writer intends to discuss. The narrative aptly carves out the landscapes and terrain around various locations immersing us in a rich world of detail and candor. This unequivocally results in sophisticated text that says volumes with just a few lucid words. The Emma Effect is a novel with a startlingly staying power from an author worth listening to. Its plot arc amplifies the voice of the voiceless and is an altogether moving text that readers will mine many nuances
- Reviewed by Lily Amanda
Pacific Book review
