“This is the story of a love with no end…”
“If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.”
Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.
It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.
And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.
And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings.
But most of all… a love story.
NOTE: If you want to go into this book 100% blind, then just click here to purchase and don’t bother reading any reviews. However, the genre of the book is not what it seems to be. The genre was something I wish I’d personally known in advance of reading. If you’d like to know what genre to expect from the book, then read on. Nothing I mention is a twist. It’s just literally what this book is about.
First and most importantly, I want to say that Amy Harmon is an incredibly gifted author. The way she writes is absolutely beautiful. I love her style, I love the unique quality that each of her stories have, and I will always auto-buy any book she writes.
However, with this book, there was a crucial element not mentioned in the blurb that held me back from fully connecting until after the 50% mark and that is that this is a paranormal story and there was no indication of that anywhere. The hero has a special ability which is revealed quite early on and, as the book progresses, becomes a stronger and stronger part of the story. Moses can literally see the dead. For real. He sees them, communicates with them, and paints images of the memories they show him. This is a huge part of the book and, for me at least, “genre” is something I really want to know before starting.
If I had been told it was paranormal from the start, then I have no doubt I would have connected quite easily to the story. There’s a certain mindset that you get when you read paranormal where you instantly become accepting of what happens because you know that the story is no longer confined to the natural laws of our real world. But because this book is not classified as paranormal and because there are no hints of anything “otherworldly” in the blurb, that told me that this was a “real world” story. So as I read, I kept trying to figure out how this guy seeing the dead could possibly fit into our real world. Was he crazy? Was it just in his mind? What was happening? … About halfway in, I accepted that it had be paranormal for sure (because enough people knew that Moses could see and communicated with the dead so the whole “he’s crazy” possibility was out) and from that point on, I really began to enjoy the story much more.
“There was a Times article about him and about his ability to “paint for the dead,” and People magazine had done a small feature about the “other-worldly brilliance of Moses Wright.”
Aside from this, I really enjoyed the whole story itself. It started out when they were teens in a small town. Moses’ past was well known by all the locals and now that he was older, he was the guy everyone warned Georgia away from — an unwanted child who then turned into a misunderstood teen with a juvie record and abilities that no one could understand and what seemed like a blatant disregard for the law. But she ignored all the warnings and followed her heart. And her heart always led her straight to him.
“Maybe it was being seventeen, maybe it was first love, or first lust. Maybe it was just hot. But I wanted him with a desperation that consumed me. I had never wanted anything so much in my life. And I couldn’t imagine wanting something so much ever again.”
In the second half of the story, there’s also a turning point in the plot. As the blurb hints, this is in fact a second chance romance — which is a type of story I absolutely love. I love the emotions brought about from reunions. I love everything about seeing a couple who truly belongs together reconnecting. And I also most certainly love Amy Harmon’s writing so the second half of the book was really great reading for me.
“Georgia had haunted me for more than six years, and from the look on her face when I’d stepped on the elevator, my memory hadn’t left her alone either.”
There’s also a lot more than just a romance. It’s not just about them, it’s also a lot about him. Moses’ journey itself is an integral part of the story. And there’s also a murder mystery threaded throughout the whole book which was really well done — especially the way it all came together at the end. I got chills!
There’s no denying that this is a really great book — with beautiful writing, a well developed plot, an emotional strength, and an original idea. I really do wish I had known about the paranormal elements before I read the book. I think if I had known the genre from the start, I’d have given it a 4.5 star rating.
Several of you have also asked me about the ending so I’m here to reassure you that you will be just fine. While there certainly is heartbreak and loss, I promise that there’s also happiness and healing.
“I hope you can forgive me. Because this is happening.
Me and Georgia. This is happening.”
Here are my 5 Greats about The Law Of Moses:
- Unique concept
- Beautiful writing
- Gorgeous romance
- Fully resolved storyline
- Strong message about forgiveness
Standalone with paranormal elements.
Denise W says
I’m so glad you said it was paranormal! I dont mind the genre but I want to know if it’s going to be that before I read too. Thank you!
Aestas says
I’m really glad it helped!! Happy reading 😀
Greta says
really appreciate your honesty here. Sounds like a great book:)
Aestas says
Very welcome!! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
patches says
I totally agree with you! I freaked out with chills because I hadn’t expect any parnormal action within the book. And yes, other than that, the book was phenomenal. The connection with Eli turned out beautiful!
Aestas says
I agree about Eli too!!
Cynthia says
Thanks so much for the great review. I just bought this one and I plan on reading it soon. I had no idea it was a paranormal book. I will still read it, but it is good to know. 🙂
Aestas says
You’re so welcome!! Happy reading! I hope you love it 🙂
TK says
While I respect your opinion, I hope that people keep an open mind when starting this book. I don’t understand the need to be told what to expect. It’s GREAT writing plain and simple. And Amy Harmon is one the very few ORIGINAL authors out there in her genre. Some of these well-know authors just keep re-cycling their stories and just add different names. I am so happy Ms. Harmon doesn’t pigeon-hole herself into a corner — all of her stories and characters are so different from each other. Imagine if Stephen King just wrote ONLY horror stories — the thing you expect from him? There would be no Shawshank Redemption!! The Law of Moses is the real deal.
Aestas says
While I also respect your opinion, please note that I never once said I was upset by her choice of storyline or genre, and I never said that I wished this wasn’t paranormal. I was just upset that I wasn’t told what the genre was before I read it. There’s a big difference.
I value uniqueness in stories as probably the most important thing to me, however, I don’t like being blindsided by the genre. Especially when there is absolutely no hint of anything supernatural in the blurb and the book was not classified as paranormal. Had it been made clear in advance that ghosts were in fact a major component of this story, then I would not have been in the least bit upset and would likely loved the story the whole way through.
Dee Dee says
This book is so beautiful and so well written that every part of it is well appreciated. I have been inspired greatly by Amy and I just wish I had more of work. On the top of my list of my 5 Greats is The Law of Moses. Will never forget it anytime soon
Nancy C. says
Love this book!!!
Kayrie says
I know you mentioned that you would not spoil the ending but can you at least tell me if Moses and Georgia live? Otherwise I might not even read the book with that in mind. Hence why I never read john green
Linda Faughn says
On the other hand, for people who are not into paranormal, who would not have even started the book had they known before hand about the paranormal aspect, Amy Harmon had me suckered in and enjoying the book so much I would never have put it down. Clever author.