Review: Flawed but intriguing heroes
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 9, 2012
4 1/2 stars"Until There Was You" by Jessica Scott is a realistic and heartwarming military romance that portrays some of the stresses experienced by soldiers and their superiors as they try to prepare to face deployment in a hostile environment.  The conflict between following rules and achieving acceptable results is highlighted as are the complicated reactions that each person uses to cope with virtually impossible situations and responsibilities.  Two officers, Evan Loehr and Claire Montoya, want to do all they can to ensure that the brigade they are preparing to deploy are as ready as they can possibly be given the limitations facing them.  Unfortunately, they have diametrically opposing reactions to the agenda that they are tasked with.  Evan is a strictly by the books officer whereas Claire seems to believe that the ends justifies the means but that difference in style doesn't keep them from being attracted to one another.  The burdens from the past that each carries is another story entirely and may derail their ability to work with each other, let alone develop any potential personal relationship."Until There Was You" is another sobering yet incredibly romantic military story that provides glimpses of the sacrifices endured and the apparently insurmountable obstacles that must be overcome by both soldiers and the officers tasked with preparing them for virtually impossible tasks.  This author understandably can provide incredible detail to provide realism based on knowledge obtained through personal experience even as she peoples her stories with richly textured characters who must fight battles both within themselves and externally.  I was touched by the physical representation of Evan's penance and saddened by the emotional scars that so many of the characters carry yet hopeful that each of them will find some method of coping that will ease a little of their burden.  This story mesmerizes one even as it provides stark reminders of the price being paid by so many brave men and women who unselfishly thrust themselves into danger time and time again. It makes us aware of how grateful we should be for all those who serve our country.  Another enthralling tale from a talented author, can't wait for the next in the series which revisits characters from this author's first book, "Because of You" even as I hope that we will also eventually learn more about the characters who were introduced in this book.A copy of this work was provided in exchange for an honest review.Submitted to Night Owl Reviews