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alisonhori's review
3.0
Really I would like to give this one 2.5 stars....for me, two stars means I really didn't like a book much at all but that is not really the case here...it was just really, truly OK. I didn't really relate to any of the characters particularly...there were all fine but none really rang true to me at all. Both the sex and the romance rely pretty heavily on some cliqued writing which tends to generally amuse me. Light, fast, fluff read which is what I wanted as I continue to struggle though my more serious book,,honestly, though, I didn't really mean to read this book at all. I meant to read the novella that finished up the first story...which kind of ended mid story and has always bugged me but I read the wrong one. Guess I will have to read that novella sometime soon.
ranoeptn's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jigsawgirl's review
3.0
This is definitely not a instalove novel. You get a lot more military references and background information. Claire and Evan's road to a HEA, was not easy at all. I think the sheer fact that there was more insight into military life, and more realistic observations regarding relationships among people with baggage made this book more engaging.
I don't want to give the impression that there is no heat or romance. There absolutely is, but, it was hard fought and hard won.
I don't want to give the impression that there is no heat or romance. There absolutely is, but, it was hard fought and hard won.
teresajluvs2read's review
5.0
A lesson in patience for two soldiers
This addition to the series introduces us to Claire and Evan who are in the midst of a training exercise in Colorado during the winter. It gives you a harsh look at what happens when officers try to give their unit a realistic idea of what going to war is like. Especially when the brass decides you won't be teaching them, what it will really be like. You will also meet Sarah and Reza who each have their own stories later in the series. Ms. Scott's books don't disappoint because they tell it really how it is to go to war and that coming home is very hard to not bring back harsh memories of their time served in Iraq. I highly recommend reading this series in order because their are several references to "The Colorado Incident", I didn't and was a bit confused. Excellent storytelling makes this series of love and war worth reading and Jessica Scott doesn't disappoint.
This addition to the series introduces us to Claire and Evan who are in the midst of a training exercise in Colorado during the winter. It gives you a harsh look at what happens when officers try to give their unit a realistic idea of what going to war is like. Especially when the brass decides you won't be teaching them, what it will really be like. You will also meet Sarah and Reza who each have their own stories later in the series. Ms. Scott's books don't disappoint because they tell it really how it is to go to war and that coming home is very hard to not bring back harsh memories of their time served in Iraq. I highly recommend reading this series in order because their are several references to "The Colorado Incident", I didn't and was a bit confused. Excellent storytelling makes this series of love and war worth reading and Jessica Scott doesn't disappoint.
booklovinmamas's review
4.0
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
Evan is a character who needed to lighten up in the book, but once he's secret came out, I understood him better. The supporting characters in the story were not like the supporting characters in the first book. Reza was getting on my nerves on what he was doing and then LT Engle who is in the story also, and she was hard to understand at first until the end when she had a secret as well. The Colonels in the story were scary. LOL. I felt compelled to stand at parade rest with them when they handed butt chewing to the characters. LOL This was a delightful read, and I look forward to the 3rd book in the series. =) If you're a contemporary military romance reader, you need to check out these books.
Evan is a character who needed to lighten up in the book, but once he's secret came out, I understood him better. The supporting characters in the story were not like the supporting characters in the first book. Reza was getting on my nerves on what he was doing and then LT Engle who is in the story also, and she was hard to understand at first until the end when she had a secret as well. The Colonels in the story were scary. LOL. I felt compelled to stand at parade rest with them when they handed butt chewing to the characters. LOL This was a delightful read, and I look forward to the 3rd book in the series. =) If you're a contemporary military romance reader, you need to check out these books.
xakyr's review
1.0
After my mediocre reaction to the first book in the series, and the lackluster novella installment between the first book and this one, I was hoping for a really good showing. Sadly, I didn't get it.
First off, I think the author changed the reading order again, because this used to be book 2 in the series. Imagine my irritation to find it is now book 3! The book felt a bit off to me. I could never connect with Claire and Evan, and it seemed like they preferred to bicker at and about one another than actually put in effort to creating a relationship. I spent the better part of the day resisting the urge to throw my Kindle through a window.
The military detail in the book was exquisite, but I was often lost in it, which made the story bog down a good bit for me. It came across loud and clear that the author had had prior military experience, but she took it a bit too far the other way in my opinion.
At this point, this is the third book by the author I haven't enjoyed, so I'm giving up on her. I know a lot of people really enjoy her books, sadly I am not one of them.
First off, I think the author changed the reading order again, because this used to be book 2 in the series. Imagine my irritation to find it is now book 3! The book felt a bit off to me. I could never connect with Claire and Evan, and it seemed like they preferred to bicker at and about one another than actually put in effort to creating a relationship. I spent the better part of the day resisting the urge to throw my Kindle through a window.
The military detail in the book was exquisite, but I was often lost in it, which made the story bog down a good bit for me. It came across loud and clear that the author had had prior military experience, but she took it a bit too far the other way in my opinion.
At this point, this is the third book by the author I haven't enjoyed, so I'm giving up on her. I know a lot of people really enjoy her books, sadly I am not one of them.
emilyhei's review
4.0
Once Evan Loehr met Captain Claire Montoya, he had an uphill battle. The follow the rules military specialist is intrigued and yet resistant to get involve with the saucy red head. When they are both assigned to train the same team, Claire finds there is a lot more to Evan than the burly exterior and Evan finds that Claire has reasons for everything she does, even if it is against policy or makes no sense to him. Her loyalty to a friend whose life is derailing is beginning to become noticed and Claire could lose her career if she can't make difficult choices, including if she wants something more with Evan or if she is willing to let him go without a fight.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=8022
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=8022
jonetta's review
3.0
Captain Evan Loehr is a straight arrow West Point graduate and does everything by the book, and doesn't have time for pleasure. He's got some baggage from his youth that seems to be the driving force behind his current identity. Captain Claire Montoya earned her rank the hard way, first enlisting in the Army and then completing Officer Candidate School and moving into the officer corps. Claire has her secrets, too, and they have shaped her current behavior. She and Evan had one brief interlude years ago but since then seem to have butt heads at every juncture. Both end up in Colorado to train a team for deployment to Iraq, forcing them to confront their differences and passions for their careers and each other.
I really liked Claire and Evan and found them to be compelling characters. It worked for me that she was brash and often bucked the system because of her roots in the enlisted ranks. Claire was passionate about her career, those under her command and her assigned missions. There was a lot to admire and respect about her, especially her loyalty to her friends. Evan's dedication was clear and even though his approach was different, it was no less passionate. He behaved with honor, even if it didn't always seem his feelings were invested in the people. It made sense that these two would connect because of their level of commitment and being opposites.
What didn't work so well for me was the romance between Claire and Evan. It lacked the passion we found in everything else they did. There were numerous starts and stops with these two that didn't quite ring authentic. We went from a sensuous interlude to a point of time three years later. It would have helped if there was more of the story about what happened in between to drive them so far apart other than just knowing they clashed on a regular basis. That would have made their coming together electric. When they succumbed to their attraction years later, those things that happened in between made a big difference in me being able to connect with them and tumble into the romance along with them.
The story was really interesting and the pitfalls of military command and politics were extraordinary. It's well written and the characterizations were really strong. I'm hoping, however, that some of the secondary characters (Reza, Sara, Lt. Engle) show up in the next installment of the series as their fates remain a mystery. I was also surprised to learn that some of the open ended issues regarding the characters from the first book were not included in this story, which was a disappointment.
I'm enjoying this series, even though the romance in this book fell a little flat for me. It was compensated by the strength of the story and the compelling characters. I'm looking forward to the next installment as I am dying to learn the fates of all those secondary characters from the first book and this one. I'm rating this book 3.5 stars.
I really liked Claire and Evan and found them to be compelling characters. It worked for me that she was brash and often bucked the system because of her roots in the enlisted ranks. Claire was passionate about her career, those under her command and her assigned missions. There was a lot to admire and respect about her, especially her loyalty to her friends. Evan's dedication was clear and even though his approach was different, it was no less passionate. He behaved with honor, even if it didn't always seem his feelings were invested in the people. It made sense that these two would connect because of their level of commitment and being opposites.
What didn't work so well for me was the romance between Claire and Evan. It lacked the passion we found in everything else they did. There were numerous starts and stops with these two that didn't quite ring authentic. We went from a sensuous interlude to a point of time three years later. It would have helped if there was more of the story about what happened in between to drive them so far apart other than just knowing they clashed on a regular basis. That would have made their coming together electric. When they succumbed to their attraction years later, those things that happened in between made a big difference in me being able to connect with them and tumble into the romance along with them.
The story was really interesting and the pitfalls of military command and politics were extraordinary. It's well written and the characterizations were really strong. I'm hoping, however, that some of the secondary characters (Reza, Sara, Lt. Engle) show up in the next installment of the series as their fates remain a mystery. I was also surprised to learn that some of the open ended issues regarding the characters from the first book were not included in this story, which was a disappointment.
I'm enjoying this series, even though the romance in this book fell a little flat for me. It was compensated by the strength of the story and the compelling characters. I'm looking forward to the next installment as I am dying to learn the fates of all those secondary characters from the first book and this one. I'm rating this book 3.5 stars.
franjessca's review
4.0
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
Evan is a character who needed to lighten up in the book, but once he's secret came out, I understood him better. The supporting characters in the story were not like the supporting characters in the first book. Reza was getting on my nerves on what he was doing and then LT Engle who is in the story also, and she was hard to understand at first until the end when she had a secret as well. The Colonels in the story were scary. LOL. I felt compelled to stand at parade rest with them when they handed butt chewing to the characters. LOL This was a delightful read, and I look forward to the 3rd book in the series. =) If you're a contemporary military romance reader, you need to check out these books.
Evan is a character who needed to lighten up in the book, but once he's secret came out, I understood him better. The supporting characters in the story were not like the supporting characters in the first book. Reza was getting on my nerves on what he was doing and then LT Engle who is in the story also, and she was hard to understand at first until the end when she had a secret as well. The Colonels in the story were scary. LOL. I felt compelled to stand at parade rest with them when they handed butt chewing to the characters. LOL This was a delightful read, and I look forward to the 3rd book in the series. =) If you're a contemporary military romance reader, you need to check out these books.
beckymmoe's review
4.0
Wow--this book was gritty and real. You could definitely feel the characters' fears and frustrations, and boy, is it clear that Jessica Scott really knows her stuff--both writing and the military. A few times, however, the military aspect slowed me down--even though Scott does take the time to explain what is going on, I was occasionally pulled out of the story a bit while trying to wrap my mind around some of its technical aspects. I loved, loved, loved the ending, though, and had already purchased her first book before I was quite halfway done with this one. I will definitely be looking for more from this author!