Review: Heartwarming and sexy romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 17, 2014
Mira was eighteen and Jake was twenty and they had three amazing weeks together, until circumstances drew them apart.  Now eight years later, Jake has returned from fighting for his country, an injured war hero struggling to find purpose in his life.  Mira sees Jake at a physical therapist’s office and she gives him life-altering news - when he left her, he left behind a part of himself - in their son, Sam.  Now Mira and Jake need to find a way to be there for Sam and just maybe, find what they lost those eight years ago, if they hold on tight (sorry couldn’t resist ;)).The Very GoodI love Ms. Bell’s “voice” - she has a way with words that is beautiful and captivating and can really pull you into a moment with her characters.  Jake and Mira’s love story is very much about their internal struggles as opposed to external forces - a style I adore - and is very grounded.  These are two fully realized characters who are struggling to stand on their own two feet - him literally, her metaphorically.I adored that Mira didn’t do the stereotypical thing and hide their son but *mild spoiler* told him the very first chance she got. There were several instances that this could have easily turned into a very typical antagonistic relationship, but instead what I got was two good people who still feel that connection with each other and want to do the right thing - they aren’t out to hurt the other in an attempt to make themselves feel good, they just screw up.Jake’s an alpha hero struggling to re-define himself after losing his leg and his struggles made him all the more human to me. It was truly a lovely story.  Their son Sam is adorable, and better yet - he still felt like a kid, not a mini-adult.  I don’t say this often but this was a genuinely heartwarming tale and I loved seeing them re-connect.  Their love scenes were also compelling - beautifully, sexy, awkward, smoldering, and above all, they felt genuine.  Really good stuff.The Minor QuibbleAs character driven as this story is, I would have liked to see the characters spend a little less time in their own heads - for example, there would be long internal monologues explaining their choices...during a conversation, which interrupted the flow.The Bottom LineIf you’re looking for a realistic second-chance at love story, I think this would be a fantastic choice.  This is my second Serena Bell book and I have yet to be disappointed.**ARC provided to me via netgalley in exchange for an honest review**