Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

The Point of Love is a short story by Monique Mulligan, set in Rockingham, Australia. Lexie is a journalist at the local newspaper. Her latest article covers the upcoming Mangles Bay Marina – a project which is long overdue, according to some of the locals. It is then that she learns some of the reasons the project should not go ahead, as Point Peron at Mangles Bay has vast array of historical sites, with surrounding islands being home to rare species of penguins, birds and various types of marine life. Lexie meets with Andrew, a man whose Thor-like body is as sexy as his voice, and he shows her around the area, intent on keeping it safe from developers. As they are saying their goodbyes after the tour, Andrew asks Lexie out on a date. Like a giddy teenager, she accepts.

After a boat ride and a romantic picnic, a kiss deserving of fireworks eventuates and their day ends with pounding hearts and high hopes. The next morning, Andrew phones Lexie, abusing her for a front page article which made him look foolish. When Lexie realizes that her story has been altered without her knowledge, she tries to mend fences with Andrew, but her calls, messages and emails are met with silence. Weighing up whether to quit her job or continuing pursuing a man who won’t talk to her, Lexie decides to throw caution to the wind, with desperation calling the shots.

I found myself smiling throughout most of this story, as it was packed with so much positive emotion, regardless of the betrayal and heartache. Monique Mulligan has given a whole new meaning to romance, with such hard-hitting environmental and emotional issues condensed into a very well told short story. The Point of Love is a very clever title, as it was at Point Peron that Lexie and Andrew’s love unexpectedly exploded, before imploding shortly after. I strongly recommend this book to all adults who love a whole lot of romance and drama packed into some serious environmental issues.