Thirty-five year old Matthew Mark McConnell is reduced to being an Internet Lawyer following his melt down in a trial when working for an extremely high paying but soul-sucking legal firm. Not only is he striking out professionally, but all the women he seems to hook up with, turn sour. After each failed date Matthew turns up at the local Brooklyn "best" coffee house in the area. Smith's Sweet Treats and Coffee sports the freshest homemade pastries anywhere, accompanied by a brilliant smile.

Angela Smith, a gorgeous woman with a mixed heritage of black, Dominican and Haitian is the proprietor of the establishment. At the end of each new date, Matthew indulges in Angie's beautiful smile, wonderful coffee and delicious pastries. Angela continues the forty year old business which was previously operated by her parents.

Matthew, a white man, is drawn to women of dark and mixed heritage. This one is friendly and so amused at his various conquests and failures. Seeing Angela for the witty and beautiful woman she is, he eventually convinces her to let him become partner to help keep the business afloat and claim a back booth to conduct his practice from.

It soon becomes apparent that Angela has something in her past she is hiding, as she hasn't stepped foot outside her place for 4 years. She allows no one to be behind her and doesn't like to be touched. Time brings Matthew closer to the truth of her secret of terror and at the same time creates a new fulfilling life for himself. When the secrets unfold at a trial, Angela is the hero that puts a stop to her PTSD and the man who started it all. Matthew didn't know how lonely he was until the moment he saw Angela's smile.

I was completely taken in by the fear and terror that grips someone that has endured absolute terror, whether it is visions of horrendous war actions or something that is of a personal nature. PTSD is an illness that takes strength and bravery to overcome, if ever. There was humor, horror, fear, sex, and true love and compassion throughout UNTIL I SAW YOUR SMILE. There wasn't a page that didn't teach me a lesson about this illness. J.J Murray certainly is an expert at conveying the emotions in this story. There was no way I could possibly lose interest in this book.