Jill Shalvis has the uncanny ability to dig deep into the emotions of damaged characters and take you along for the ride. Aftershock was an emotional roller coaster, from the beginning where the characters face their mortality to the aftermath, when they realize they've stumbled onto something much bigger than a moment of impulse. As always, Ms. Shalvis delivers a heart-wrenching, soul-baring, emotion-jerking story that leaves you yearning for "the perfect man" who can see past the damaged facade into the woman hiding inside.