Title: Aren & Élise
Author: Ettenig Sayam
Publisher: Ewings Publishing LLC
ISBN: 979-8886400984
Pages: 308
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Reviewed by: Christina Avina

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Is there anything more mysterious and powerful in this universe than love? That all consuming emotion that takes us over completely and without regard for any other aspect of our lives often sneaks up on us when we least suspect it. The moment we meet that special person and feel the wealth of emotions that they spring up inside us can last a lifetime. While often something that happens to younger people, is there ever truly a time-limit on when a person can find love in their life?

In author Ettenig Sayam’s “Aren & Élise”, the author explores this type of romance through mid to late age Aren & Élise. Aren is a widowed sixty-two year old solar technology engineer who grew up in Armenia, while Élise is a fifty year old French teacher out of Boston. Having grown up in Canada and born in French Saint Martin and Haiti, the teacher goes on a hiking retreat to come to terms with her turning fifty. After a fall during a morning hike, Élise is rescued by Aren, who finds himself drawn to the beautiful and intoxicating grey-haired woman instantly. As romance flourishes, the two will find themselves forced to endure heartbreak and hardships to find themselves and see their relationship blossom.

The author does such an incredible job of layering this narrative with both a depth of character development between both protagonists and rich imagery that allowed the narrative to come to life on the page. The emphasis on each protagonist’s cultural backgrounds and history showcased the journey each had taken to get to this point in their lives, and the blend of humorous musings in the character’s inner monologue and a plethora of heavy emotions as each comes to terms with their pasts to move forward individually and together made this narrative shine brightly.

This was the perfect read for those who enjoy a blend of contemporary Christian fiction and contemporary romance novels. The emphasis the author put on the intimacy not only between these characters but the intimacy of their own lives kept these protagonists relevant and relatable to the reader. The way the author was able to hone in on the theme of life and love never being something that needs to be tied to a person’s age was so engaging, as the events that unfold showcase a relatable romance that readers can get invested in.

Thoughtful, entertaining, and gripping, author Ettenig Sayam’s “Aren & Élise” was a memorable and emotional contemporary romance meets Christian fiction read of 2022. The romance and character work that the author put into the book and the engaging atmosphere the author crafted for this narrative kept me as a reader invested in the couple’s story, making this a one of a kind story that readers won’t be able to down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!