Dancing with Statues by Caroline Doherty de Novoa

Will our history always define us? 

What does it take to move on from a tragic past? 

These are questions Laura has been avoiding since she was fifteen, since that day ten years ago when her mother took her own life. Until she meets Miguel, a lawyer investigating a horrific bombing that took place days before her mother’s death, towards the end of the Northern Irish “Troubles”. 

When Miguel starts to pursue her, she initially resists. With her housebound father completely dependent on her, and Miguel returning to his native Colombia in six months’ time, she’s convinced any relationship with him would ultimately bring her pain. However, with his charm and persistence, she can’t stop herself from falling, despite her better judgment.

Initially, his love gives her hope for a brighter future. But when he starts delving into the past, asking questions about her mother and the circumstances surrounding her death, their relationship begins to unravel and Laura is finally forced to revisit her family’s history in search of answers of her own.

Dancing with Statues is a sweet story with a punch.  Two different people on different paths, but with a common thread between them.   Miguel lost his mother when he was young, as did Laura.  But while Miguel's mother died from illness, Laura's took her own life.

Now, years later, Miguel is investigating the bomb that took Laura's mother's life.  He's only visiting for a short six months before he must return to his homeland.  So when he first admires Laura and approaches her, she doesn't look any deeper into it.  She doesn't have time for a relationship since she takes care of her father.  But Miguel is persistent and before long, they find themselves falling in love.  But then Miguel starts asking some hard questions about Laura's past, her mother's death.  Laura will have to face her past if she hopes to have a future with Miguel, but sometimes the truth is a hard pill to swallow.

An engrossing read, Dancing with Statues is easy to read and become immersed in the lives of Laura and Miguel.  I love the cover, but it's the writing within that held me riveted for hours.  I became invested in their story and wasn't sure how everything would turn out.  I won't ruin it for you but I'd recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys stellar contemporary fiction!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.