Review: Heartbreaking and emotional but oh so wonderful
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2014
Captain Trent Davila has a beautiful family and a good career in the army. When he got wounded on a mission and died, luckily brought back to life after two minutes, something went missing inside of him. He lost a piece of himself and was convinced he didn't deserve to live when so many of his men were lost in combat. After getting fired and dragged in front of court martial for crimes he did not commit, his wife also filed for divorce. Trent has volunteered year after year for deployment, giving the military his all and now back home he doesn't know what to do. Because of this constant need to be in battle, he has taken distance from his wife and kids. Still he finally realises how much he loves them and needs them, though making it up to them might be hardest task he ever had to face.Laura Davila has always been the good military wife, supporting Trent's career for years while she stayed home and raised the kids. Until the moment Trent nearly died and that distance between them started to grow. All those times he went of to war she stayed behind heart broken and hoping each time that he would come back to them. When Laura finds out that Trent volunteered for his missions and wasn't ordered to go, that became too much for her. Knowing he choose to leave his family on purpose each time is what finally does her in and so she files for divorce. Hoping she and the kids can move on with their life and no longer holding on to Trent. Still when she finds out about the court martial, Laura agrees to help Trent by pretending they are still happily married, as long as he signs the divorce papers afterwards.I want to point out here that Trent never asked Laura for helping him, his lawyer did and Trent was absolutely against it. He did not want to ask anymore of Laura after all she has done for him so far and because of all the things he put her through. All Trent wants is his family back.When Laura and Trent start spending time together, things of course start to heat up again between them. Slowly Laura realises her attraction for her husband never went away, he just wasn't there in the past to act on it. They still love each other so much after all these years, that kind of love is beautiful to read about. Before Laura can really give them a chance again, Trent must learn how to deal with his anxiety and burn-out and try to let her in once in a while. So far Trent has always dealt with the war and its consequences alone, he did not want it to taint his family therein pushing them away. Now it is time to accept that if he wants his wife back, he will have to work for it.Also I loved the parts where Trent tried to reconnect with his children. He missed so much of their lives already and he doesn't want to miss another moment. Every situation felt very real when for example his kids got him so crazy that he started to yell, which they are not familiar with. Then he is afraid he might hurt them in the future and that the kids might not forgive his behaviour. This are real fears and hang close together with his anxiety issues, but I applaud the way he gets through it.Back To You is told from both their POV and the insight you get will meld your heart as you get to know them. Trent, a broken man, who needs to find his normal again and refuses to give up on his family. He is not perfect, but real with flaws and vulnerable emotions. Laura is the mother hen, patient with everyone and the rock that kept her family going. She was heartbroken in her love for her husband, but now she might be ready to give it one last shot.Throughout the book you feel the love Laura and Trent have for each other pour from the pages. The years of growing distance between needed to be fixed, they needed to find a way to communicate and become a family again. I loved the journey they both went through, individual and as a couple.The things Laura and Trent go through are realistic marital problems and you could feel that Jessica Scott gave it her all with this story. I haven't read the previous books in the Coming Home series, but after reading Back To You I definitely will. After meeting the other couples, I want to know their story. All the books can be read as a stand-alone.*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*