Book Review: The Bridge

By Sara Steven

One Bridge. Five Strangers. A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.

On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.

Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland’s St. Johns Bridge, Archer’s expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.

Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. Then her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor, and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the unfolding drama.

Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee’s baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.

Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He’d intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he’s praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn’t pull the trigger.

Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian’s running late when his car won't start the morning of his big interview. His rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, sending Ian on an unexpected path of his own.

The Bridge is the perfect uplifting holiday read and a story of how one frozen moment can thaw even the loneliest of hearts. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I can appreciate when various characters within a story weave together in ways that weren’t entirely expected, and there is a lot of that in The Bridge. One moment in time and one decision serves as a rippling effect that causes all sorts of chaos, starting and ending with Archer and his need to serve at all cost. Through his eyes and experience, we get to see why he decided to assist a struggling man on Christmas Eve, as well as gain more insight as to why the man struggles and makes the choices he’s made that holds everyone up during the Christmas holiday. 

The relationship that forms between Nova and Rosalee was very sweet. I think out of all of the partnerships, I liked theirs the most. Nova becomes a support for Rosalee during a difficult time, even though it means Nova is setting aside her own plans and interests in order to do what she can to make Rosalee feel safe. I think the humanity that is presented between the two women was an excellent nod to the holiday spirit, and what we’d all come to expect and crave from that time of year.

One by one, the reader discovers how each and every character is somehow connected to the last, with all of them trying to put the pieces back together. Despite the scary situation the majority of the characters have recently experienced, they all persevere and deal with it, because they all have a greater need to do more and be more than their shared trauma. 

I love reading books that take place in familiar places, and having grown up and lived in Oregon for most of my childhood and young adult life, it was neat to read about the Portland hot spots and more importantly, the almighty Willamette River. Having walked across the Union Street bridge late at night in Salem, while witnessing the flowing current of the Willamette below, I can attest to the severity of Archer’s need to protect the struggling man he is trying to save. It took me back to those feelings of awe and fear while I scurried as fast as I could to get from one side of the river to the other. The Bridge captured that awe and fear perfectly, while also blending in many a holiday miracle that made this a great holiday read.

Thanks to Roger Charlie for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Shanna Hatfield:
Baker City Brides (series)
Pendleton Petticoats (series)
Summer Creek (series)

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