The Ever After of Ella and Micha

Sorenson’s fourth Secret erotic contemporary scrambles to tie up loose ends from previous installments while giving the title couple their hour in the spotlight. Ella begins her series of confusing decisions by leaving Micha at the altar. Micha makes his first show of endless patience when he agrees to postpone the wedding until Christmas, when they can have the ceremony at their childhood home. Several glimpses into the past are shown through the exploration of Ella’s mother’s journal, the discovery of which prompted the sudden change in wedding plans. Flashback sequences illuminate portions of Micha and Ella’s shared history, but these detours steal most of the focus from the present day, making this novel paradoxically lugubrious despite intense emotion and sizzling erotic interludes. The best part is the satisfying resolution, which does feel earned through effort and commitment. Agent: Erica Silverman, Trident Media Group. (Dec.)