The ‘Senses’ series is one of my absolute favorites, and it’s always a treat to see a new book published and looking forward to reading it for the first time. This latest installment nicely rounds out the collection by bringing back Ken and Patrick from book one; they are hosts to Arik, an artist recovering from his right hand getting severely burned in an accident. While there, Arik runs into Reg who is a biker and, at first glance, personifies Arik’s fears. But as the men get to know each other it becomes clear they both have things they need to deal with before they can move forward. Their romance is a slow burn, they encounter more than one obstacle, but perseverance gets them where they need to be. As fantastic as the previous five stories, ‘Love Comes to Light’ carries a message of hope and is a beautiful reminder that the human spirit is what counts when creating art – and being happy - not the human body and whatever condition it happens to be in.

Arik knows what fear is like. He has encountered it since being a young child and thinks he has seen the last of it, when an accident injures his right hand to the point that he can no longer hold a brush to create the detailed works in oil and other media his creativity drives him to produce. Despite his fear of never being able to paint again, at least not the way he wants, he agrees to work with Ken when the well-known painter calls him based on a contest Arik participated in before the accident. Arik is hesitant but is too tempted not to go. Ken makes him face the truth of his injury, challenges him to get over it, and gets Arik to a point where he realizes that it is up to him to find a way to deal with his past so he can move into the future.

Arik’s personal life is in as much of a mess as his professional/creative one. He is not exactly tall, and has suffered for it, so when he runs into biker Reg, who customizes motorcycles and has a heart of gold, Arik’s first reaction is to run for the hills. But there is something about Reg that draws him, not least the tall man’s advances and interest. Reg is not at all what Arik expects based on his looks, and the more time they spend together, the more attracted Arik finds himself. But Reg is also a member of a motorcycle club, and what goes on there makes Arik retreat quickly and completely. It brings back some of the most horrible memories of his childhood, and he refuses to even talk to Reg any longer. Reg sure has his hands full dealing with that obstacle!

As if these issues were not enough to make anyone wonder if life is trying to make them give up, there are other issues Arik and Reg have to deal with. Luckily Ken and Patrick are there to help, as well as Reg’s old friend Slasher. Arik and Reg's tale is suspenseful, deeply emotional, and held my attention from page one to the very end. Very powerful!

If you’re interested to see what happens when two men with dark and sometimes lonely pasts meet and realize they are attracted to each other, if you liked the themes and tone of the other books in this series, and if you’re looking for an intensely emotional read with lots of fear, hard decisions about what to live for, and a heartwarming romance, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. What a great addition to a stunning series!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )