Review: I loved the slow burn of Charlie and Ellie's relationship!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 13, 2014
This was my first adult novel by Ophelia London and I am so glad I picked this one up for review! I loved Ophelia's Definitely, Maybe in Love, so I was excited to read one of her adult contemporaries next!Falling For Her Soldier definitely didn't disappoint. When I first started reading I felt a little deja vu. Ellie has put herself on a year long dating ban because she always tends to fall for the wrong guys. Her last relationship ended badly and so she set a ban to basically detox herself of all jerk guys. She's been with cheaters and liars and she won't let herself fall into her pattern again. Upon being introduced to Hunter (who is really Charlie Johansson, but we'll get to that) by her brother, she realizes that she's heard stories of the notorious 'Big Game Hunter' and he is exactly the kind of man she needs to steer clear of. Hunter is known for his playboy ways, but after a frightening encounter in Afghanistan, realizes he needs to make a change in his life. I've read a lot of storylines with the hurt female and the playboy turned good guy and I was afraid that this story would follow the grain and not really be anything new. Not the case here! I was already fan of London's writing style and even though this particular trope has been done time and time again, she still manages to take it and really make it her own and I loved the direction she took Ellie and Hunter's story.Ellie was such a sweet character and I really liked her. Even though she has placed herself on a dating ban, she can't seem to get the soldier who emailed her after her brother's accident out of her head. What started as just an email to let her know what was going on turned into something much more. They essentially became pen pals and she really cherished those emails he sent. However, after not hearing anything in 2 months, she is a bit devastated as she really looked forward to seeing them. Charlie Johansson holds a special place in her heart even though she has not corresponded with him lately.Oh Charlie. Having earned his nickname Big Game Hunter by his playboy past, he is looking for something more in his life. After saving his best friend Sam in Afghanistan and surviving an attack like he did, he knows something has to change in his life. When Sam mentions meeting his sister Ellie at the Warrior Center, Charlie is a bit crazed. He thought about Ellie a lot and hated not continuing his emails to her. When they first meet, Sam introduces him as Hunter and Charlie just kind of goes with it, not realizing the repercussions that it may have. Ellie knows the stories about Hunter from her brother and yet she's having trouble associating this kind, sexy man with the one her brother described.I absolutely loved the slow burn of Charlie and Ellie's relationship. She is determined to stick to her ban and she won't let herself fall victim to another playboy. However, Hunter has given her no reason to believe that is the man he is. Instead, he shows her a kind, generous,  always willing to help man and she finds herself torn between Hunter and Charlie. She feels guilty over her feelings for Hunter when she knows she doesn't want to give up on Charlie. Whew, yeah that was some pickle he got himself into!Sam is not supportive of Hunter starting a relationship with his sister and warns him away. Hunter knows he should respect his best friend's wishes, but he can't get Ellie out of his head. Hunter's loyalty to his best friend is really great and all, but the heart wants what the heart wants and his wants Ellie's.Hunter has already decided to volunteer at the Warrior Center with Ellie and after finding out the Center is having financial difficulties, the two take it upon themselves to figure out a way to raise money to keep it open. Throwing a ball to help raise money is a great idea and I love how Hunter really stood up and took action, even going out of his comfort zone to do so. Watching him learn the tango is DELICIOUS and I absolutely cracked up over all the Michael Bublé references. However, Hunter knows he can't continue keeping the truth of who he really is from her and is afraid of how she will take the news that he is really Charlie.Fans of London's series will be happy to see Jack and Tess from Playing at Love and Rick and Mac from Speaking of Love make an appearance in this book as well. I am excited to go back and read the first two in the series now!Falling For Her Soldier was a beautiful story about love and forgiveness and is definitely worth the read.