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Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
In These Hands: A Love Story, Darcy Daniel introduces nuanced characters and a tale that grips readers from the first page. Meet Lucas, a young boy with a unique—and burdensome—ability to heal. Rather than being a blessing, this power is a life sentence of isolation, robbing him of the companionship he craves. As a child, Lucas can’t resist reaching out to Kelsey, the new girl next door, despite his overprotective mother’s warnings. Kelsey eventually takes a liking to him after discovering his secret. Their friendship blossoms through shared moments. When Kelsey is hurt, she unwittingly becomes a victim of Lucas’s power gone wrong, leaving her with life-altering scars on her face. Fearing that Lucas’s secret will be revealed, his mother whisks him off to start a new life. The only trouble is that Kelsey moves to the rural town where he has successfully hidden for decades, and everything changes.
These Hands is deftly plotted with themes of romance and fate. The story answers the question: Can you escape yourself and your fate? Lucas is an elaborately written character who instantly caught my attention. I didn’t find it hard to sympathize with him. He is forced to live a reclusive life because of his gift. That fear, especially mirrored through his mother's actions, who takes him away and changes their identity, is cleverly captured in the early chapters. The connection between Kelsey and Lucas reflects the innocence of children and the longing for a genuine connection, and author Darcy Daniel explores this with insight. The emotional strength of this story kept me turning the pages. The exquisite writing is sprinkled with strong imagery and well-crafted dialogue. This story is delightful with excellent prose, intriguing characters, and suspense.
