Full review: (originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks) I'll Be Home For Christmas appealed to me because I love husband and wife stories in romance novels and this one is just that: funny army man Vic and beautiful Nicole are married but they keep getting separated because of Vic's deployments. This novella wasn't the usual road to love or finding love because Vic and Nicole already love each other. Instead, it's a look into marriage in the military.
This was my first by Jessica Scott and I really enjoyed this intimate view of military life. From the author bio page I found out that that Ms. Scott was a soldier herself and this fact lend the novella true authenticity. I don't know anyone in the military and could only imagine what the spouse of a soldier goes through whenever their loved one leaves for their tour of duty--seeing just that through Vic and Nicole was interesting.
Vic is a clown and jokester and uses jokes to keep his men's spirits up. That's his thing and sometimes his jokes are the only thing that get through the men on bad days. But inside he can't help but worry about his wife waiting for him at home and what his constant deployments mean to their marriage and relationship. For Nicole, being a career military wife means loneliness, constant worry and stress but she's there for her husband and supports him. I love that strong love and support these two had between them.
I'll Be Home For Christmas was a nice, quick read though sometimes the writing does get a bit stilted. But overall I enjoyed it and makes me want to read more by Jessica Scott. The next in the series is a full-length novel featuring another military couple in a troubled marriage and I'm definitely interested in reading that.
I'll Be Home For Christmas is the first book that I have read from this author here, and I have heard so many amazing things about her work, especially in her talent in crafting such beautiful military romance novels. And I have to say after just reading this novella, I can definitely see why she is raved about so often because there is such a intense emotional vibe that is portrayed and a sense of realistic love that vibrant and real and I honestly couldn't believe that I had taken so long in reading this one because Jessica Scott crafted such a powerful story within this short read, and its not very often I am impressed by a novella but I definitely was with I'll Be Home For Christmas.
In this story we have a married couple, Vic and Nicole. In this story we see what a deployment does to a marriage and how it tests the bounds of resilience. Nicole knows that this deployment is very different from the others, the danger has escalated to terrifying levels and she doesn't know if her husband will survive this time. Vic on his end, is trying to keep the morale of his men and trying to keep his wife from worrying by making her life and playing his role as the "jokester" but as they are separated and the heat in the "sandbox" is increasing, he also knows he must do everything he can do get his R&R so he can be home for Christmas...
I found this journey of this marital couple through the military struggles to be so enriching and packed with so much raw emotion. You can just sense the edge that they are both on and that the future for them is so uncertain. I loved seeing the strength and courage of these wives that stay at home and have to continue living despite the dangers to the men that they love. We also get some teasers for some other couples that I am really curious about, and I just want to jump into book 2 because this book really showed them in a light that you need to have their story. As for Vic and Nicole, they were such a fun pair. I rarely see a hero like this though, he is so sarcastic and playful and doesn't take too much seriously. He is much more lighthearted and his wife takes it all in stride and really balances him out. I do like how he isn't naive to emotion or the depth of love his wife has for him. This pair definitely gets pushed to the limits here but I admired seeing them confront it and move forward with courage.
Overall I found I'll Be Home For Christmas to be the perfect holiday read that was quick, deep, and riveting and won my heart completely.
Loved it! Jessica knows how to make you laugh and cry all within the same story! She has a gift for writing truth into her stories that tug at your heart.
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" is a holiday novella that gives us more insight into the sarcastic, smart-mouth and funny SGT Vic Carponti. I have a soft spot for him. Perhaps he reminds me of someone I know............. lol!
Jessica Scott's ability to give the readers an insight look at the military lifestyle, both of the soldier and that of the spouse is realistic and heartfelt. The relationship between the men in the unit and the women that love them is beautiful. The friendship between the guys and how they each handle things differently, both at work and their personal lives showcase the traditional male relationships and the sensitivity of their fears.
The woman are smart, individuals, and strong. I always said it takes a special person to be with a soldier. It takes a strong person who is devoted and committed to their relationship! As with any relationships, there are ups and down and one must work at staying together. Being with a soldier..... added stress and life changing possibilities are always on the horizon. We get to see a glimpse into the life of a soldier and their families.
One of the things I love about these stories, is that it takes the "taboo" out of the conversation. It brings to light, not only the major struggles of both the life of the soldier and that of their families but also the regular day to day struggles of being a soldier and their family. We owe our soldiers more than we are currently giving them. This includes our respect.
Once I started reading "I'll Be Home For Christmas" I couldn't put it down. The characters came to life and their journeys each made an impact. This was a quick and easy read that gave you everything you would look in a great story: character development and growth, emotions (both on the page and that brought to the reader), ability to relate to one or more characters, and this being a romance..... the smexiness we all enjoy in our romance books! I cannot wait for the next installments in the Coming Home Series: "Back to You (Coming Home Series, #3) and "All For Your (Coming Home Series, #4).
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
Vic Carponti is an Army sergeant being deployed (again) to Iraq. As a military wife, Nicole is better prepared for this latest separation but it doesn't mean it's any easier. In fact, knowing the emotional toll makes their last days together bittersweet. His promise to return for Christmas is her lifeline and becomes Vic's as well.
This prequel to the series gives us insight into Vic's experience in Iraq before his injury. Because it's his nature to always joke about any situation, Vic makes it easy for people to believe he's not taking life seriously. He especially thinks it's his life's mission to keep Nicole laughing and he loves hearing her do it. It was so special to see what lies beneath all of that and find a really sensitive man who desperately loves his wife and cares deeply for the men under his supervision. That serious side drives the humor.
It was also so important to learn more about the extent of the contributions of our military families, including how they support one another even as they cope with their individual stresses. What makes the story even more compelling is how all of this is blended with a really great romance. Vic and Nicole manage to keep the flames burning even when they're continents apart. I loved their relationship in the first book and now knowing what sacrifices each made for one another makes it more of a treasure.
This is a wonderful addition to an extraordinary series and a great start to the season. Vic's promise that he'd return home to Nicole for Christmas was the best present both could imagine. The story is timeless, appropriate beyond the holidays. It also was perfect for one of the more interesting characters in the series. For a short story, it managed to achieve everything I normally expect from a full length novel.
When I was finishing highschool, one of my best friends was dating someone in the military. Although I live in Canada and that means that most Canadian officers are serving as peacekeepers, I still found it hard to contemplate being in that sort of relationship. Loving someone who goes overseas to fight... Hard to cope with!
This book explores exactly that idea, with Vic Carponti being sent overseas on deployment. He's been deployed before, but that doesn't mean that this time is any easier, especially considering that the fighting is even deadlier than before.
The story examines the tension that develops when someone you love is overseas and under tension - as the POV goes from Nicole to her husband and back again, we see their innermost thoughts and fears, and the way each reacts to the other as their emotions are stretched to the breaking point.
Ultimately, the two of them are put under even more strain as the story takes a sudden turn, and there's no doubt that any reader will find themselves pulling for the couple, especially considering the subject matter and the season.
My main caveat about the book is the writing. Although the story is compelling, it could have used a lot of smoothing and editing - it comes across very disjointed at times, almost stilted. A lot of short sentences are used, making it hard to fall as deeply into the story as would have been possible, and the plot climax was also not as fleshed out as it could be. The latter could be attributed to the fact that this is a novella, but the writing could really have been looked at.
Overall, a sweet little story that is a nice, light read for the season.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for a good military romance. I'm also a sucker for a good Christmas romance. Combine the two and it's a 5-star read for me. I love the fact that it's an already married couple fighting to keep it together between deployments. Vic and Nicole Carponti have a beautiful relationship but Vic fears his deployments are taking a toll on his wife. Vic is always the funny one. He's always keeping it light so the mood doesn't get too dark. This deployment feels different to both him and Nicole but neither says anything about it. Travel down that military road with Vic Carponti and see how this funny guy deals with the tragedies of war.
This is an emotional, real-life-like look at the toll war takes on married couples. Jessica Scott has captured the feelings, fears, and all of the military member and his/her spouse. I have not read the first 2.5 books in this series but I will correct that oversight immediately! I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this fantastic author!
I was lucky enough to get a review copy from the author through NetGalley. I'm a huge fan of Jessica Scott and love her Coming Home series so much.
I have to say how much I've loved Vic Carponti in the other books and was so happy we would get a book that featured him. Vic's humor has always had me laughing out loud and I love how protective he is of his friends and the people he loves. Vic and Nicole totally work for me as a couple, even as I saw them as so different from one another. I kinda felt like their differences brought them closer together. Add in their chemistry, and they were perfect.
Much of this story takes place with Vic on the front lines and Nicole at home. I'm not in the military and have never had anyone I'm in love with deployed, so this book gave me incredible insight into the lives of the men and women in the military. This book wrung so many emotions out of me, which I've really come to expect from any book from Ms. Scott. Vic's humor gave me all the laughs I could ask for in this book. I also felt his pain when anyone on his team was injured and could feel his despair about not talking to his wife about what all was going on. I also could totally feel Nicole's pain, fear, and loneliness as she waited for Vic to come home. When Vic is hurt and Nicole goes to him, not knowing what she might find, my heart broke for them both. I have to say Vic's humor in the situation still made me laugh and I loved that Nicole totally even threw in a few of her own jokes to get them through everything.
Nicole and Vic's story was so beautiful and I'm already counting down the days for the next book from Jessica Scott. Back to You will be Trent and Laura's book and I've been chomping at the bit to read it since we first me them.
