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The Life O'Reilly by Brian Cohen iUniverse
book review by Claudia Pemberton
"...this is the way life should be lived. To be able to stop at any moment and say, I am proud of and very much at peace with who I am."
Brian Cohen's first novel is an affecting and haunting story that captures the attention of the reader and holds it throughout, lingering long after the final page is turned.
As a partner in an affluent law firm, Nick O'Reilly is at the top of his game, but what Nick does not realize is that the rules are about to change. When the high profile attorney is assigned to a pro bono case, his focus is shifted from that of his wealthy clients on Wall Street to a young wife and mother, Dawn Nelson, seeking asylum (along with sole custody of her little boy) from her violently abusive husband.
Nick is drawn to Dawn both emotionally and physically. After listening to her heartrending account of life with her sadistic spouse, Nick becomes determined to win Dawn and Jordan's freedom. In the process of building his case, Nick's inappropriate attorney/client relations with Dawn results in devastating consequences to his career that will change his life forever.
Cohen has a fluidic writing style. His story is well paced and his characters have dimension and distinctive personalities. It is inspiring to watch Nick's heroic battle for survival as he evolves into the kind of man (and life) that will leave a lasting and impressionable legacy.
It is not often that a work of fiction leaves the reader contemplating his or her personal outlook on life. The trials that Nick endures are easily applicable to reality. His story gives us pause to think, leaving us grateful for having made Nick's acquaintance.