The Lovelock

“This is my tribe now. A tribe of broken, wounded people.”Having read other Eichin Chang-Lim novels, I was eagerly looking forward to ‘The LoveLock’, a somewhat darker excursion into the tribulations of life and love that were present in her earlier books. I also appreciated the clever use of backward and forward timelines to give a slow reveal of the characters’ motivations.A catastrophic trip to Hawaii, a family tragedy, childhood trials, the challenges and penury of pursuing an acting career, an unwise marriage, and a descent into the abyss … For Violet and Dylan, love might just hold the key – if it doesn’t become another prison for them.Written with empathy, and artfully paced, ‘The LoveLock’ is a great read for lovers of the romantic, and for romantics everywhere.

What a fantastic read Eichin proves a quote “if it’s meant to be it will happen” thoroughly enjoyed this book

Author Eichin Chang-Lim weaves a story to enjoy and reflect upon during the winding, divergent path of two people’s relationship. The storytelling is delivered in succinct pieces that capture a reader’s imagination while taking them right into this emotional story. The three-dimensional character development is a result of the choices made by the individuals during their life-journey.The evolution of the personalities is executed to perfection. The reader sees a view of the resilient Violet when she tries so hard to regain her parents’ attention following the death of her twin sister.“ “Got up earlier, hmm?” he whispered. Violet nodded excitedly and proceeded with her top-secret operation. After extracting a chef’s knife from the knife set, she carefully cut the pepper in long strips, paying special attention to keep them the same length and width. She cut the tomato in the same fashion. An hour later, the kitchen was filled with the invigorating aroma of sautéed vegetables. Now it was time for the finishing touches. The veggie-ham omelet sat folded in the center of a plate, flanked by a mug of creamy, freshly brewed coffee. Aidan offered to carry the tray, undoubtedly a little worried that his sometimes overly enthusiastic ten-year-old daughter would spill it. Violet carried a bouquet of daffodils she had picked from their yard. She was lured to the yellow flowers, thinking that no one could be unhappy looking at such a bright and cheerful color.”The author carefully sets the stage for love between Dylan and Violet, aka Cheetos with a gift. Dylan presents Violet a heart pendant, with his associated key necklace to represent their forever love. Life deals both Violet and Dylan with a hefty share of hardship, that they each must conquer. As they individually grow, dealing with the real-world issues you will question if these lovers are star-crossed or destined for success. You’ll need to read to the end for that though provoking answer.I must admit this is my first experience with Eichin Chang-Lim, but it won’t be my last. I highly recommend The Love Lock if you enjoy romantic suspense that is not a cookie cutter story but rather a well thought out suspense. Five stars for a haunting yet realistic plot with a remarkable ending.

The LoveLock by author Eichin Chang-Lim is not a typical “happily ever after” romance with the common themes many people expect from a love story. It is much more. It’s a beautifully written, emotional story about enduring love. The kind of love that tests every fiber of your being to survive. As children, Dylan and Violet were acquainted through school and the friendship their parents shared. They are brought together as friends through the tragedy of her twin sister’s illness and his mother’s illness, both with cancer. The loss of both relatives has a profound emotional effect on each of their family’s dynamics, as well as Dylan and Violet’s abilities to cope with the loss. They lose touch when Violet is enrolled in another school but reconnect in college. That is where their love grows. Dylan gives Violet a heart with a lock neckless, and he holds the key on his neckless. It is the symbol of their forever love. This couple’s relationship is not just tested with a few obstacles, but more like a tsunami of them. Emotional abandonment. Mental illness. Violence. Those are only a few. The twists and turns that face these star-crossed lovers are riveting. What I really admire about Ms. Chang-Lim’s writing, is her ability to perfectly set the stage of her scenes. She uses the location, the time of day, the surroundings, smells, food, music---every detail is carefully crafted to set the mood and evoke the emotion the characters are feeling. The subtle foreshadowing is spot on. The characters are authentic. The struggles with tragedy and mental illness are realistically portrayed. This is a story about love, endurance, perseverance, and the hope of forgiveness. I highly recommend it.

Violet and Dylan seemed destined to be together from their first meeting. They shared death in common, with Violet's twin sister, Amber, dying at a very young age, and Dylan losing his mother to cancer at the same time. I felt for Violet as her mother sank into a deep depression removing herself from all interactions. On the other hand, Violet's father tried to fill both shoes. The author took me through Violet's difficult childhood up to the point that she and Dylan got engaged to be married. From there, I felt that she abandoned me in a crucial point of the book, suddenly switching to the present time and Violet is working in a strip club addicted to drugs without any explanation. Then the author moved on to Dylan and his life which included a stint in the Peace Corps, again with no explanation as to why he would suddenly leave Violet. Just as he is determined to find her, he is in an almost fatal motorcycle accident and ended up married to his nurse, Tess. I won't spoil the book by telling what happens after that. It's a good story, but I felt cheated by the way the author chopped the story into bits that didn't flow together and left me hanging for so long before ever revealing what happened to drive Violet and Dylan apart. I will say the ending was satisfactory.