I’d like to go on record that I’m not really a believer in the theory that each of us has, “a one (and only) true love.” I think it’s more a matter of timing and being ready to meet someone, with whom you have chemistry. The whole karmic connection and auras and charkas are lost on me. With my kismet skepticism disclosed, I have to admit I was a bit intrigued by all the new age aspects that were in this book, The Karmic Connection.
Lorraine and Adam meet in Vermont at the Luna Wellness Center, where Adam is sent by his boss, who’s worried that he’s working too hard. (I’ve never worked for anyone like that!) Lorraine is on staff at Luna as a wellness coach and it’s obvious to everyone that there’s an immediate attraction between the two. However, these two spirits are the complete opposite of one another. Adam is type triple A, as the senior executive of a fortune five hundred company who works all the time and has very few personal relationships. Lorraine is the earthy vegetarian yoga type who believes in inner peace and harmony. They’re on opposite ends of the karmic spectrum.
Tragic circumstances have brought Lorraine to Vermont. The security that the retreat provides Lorraine has enabled her to heal and reinvent herself. She’s now a full-fledged new age wellness coach and certified yoga instructor, who believes in group sharing and the power of tea, decaf of course. Predictably, Adam believes it’s all hogwash, but he decides to pretend that he believes in everything, as a means to obtain “early release.” While pretending, Adam discovers that his fellow guests aren’t necessarily the wackadoos he thought they were. After being prodded, he shares some of his past with the group, which gives the reader insight as to why he’s the hard-driving executive who’s all work and no play.
I loved the premise of the book. Adam and Lorraine are well developed and their actions were in line with their backstory. The conflict was plausible and I appreciated the fact that they were aware of the improbability of them being together – but of course there’s the pesky, raging attraction thing to deal with. All the supporting characters are fun and offer levity to the angst of the couple. The environment of the wellness center was painted so perfectly that I want to check in there myself.
Mercer is a very gifted writer and her voice is authentic. The story is told in two points of view and I think she nailed Adam and successfully got inside his head. This is the second book of Mercer’s that I’ve read this year, and I think she’s grown as a writer. There’s more realistic conflict in this book, which made the characters very relatable.
An issue I had with the book is that everything happens so fast. Adam was supposed to be there for a couple weeks - as long as it took for him to learn how to chill out (per his boss). Very quickly, he was deemed a new man and sent on his way. I would have liked to have seen him develop more emotionally and address his abandonment issues. The same goes for Lorraine. The ending was a bit tidy, and I think more push and pull for the couple would have provided a bigger payoff.
I think this is a great chick lit story that is perfect for the upcoming beach season. If you’re looking for a fun, light read, set in idyllic surroundings, with real world problems, than this book is perfect. After finishing, I’m seriously considering having someone determine if all the colors of my auras are present and sufficiently bright enough – just in case I’m off in my skepticism.
Thanks to Libby Mercer for the book in exchange for an honest review. The Karmic Connection is only 99 cents for Kindle.
Allie Smith, a former CPA who five years into her career decided that she hated working with numbers and willingly gave it all up to be a stay-at-home mom, lives in suburban Atlanta with her husband and four children. In between carpool, play dates and refereeing the kids, she loves to read and write. The mother of a child with autism, she is currently working on a memoir of their journey. She can be found at her blog.
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