Review: Beautiful Sequel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2013
The Education of Caroline was an incredible way to finish up the series. I fell in love with Caroline and Sebastian in the first book and was devastated when it ended and I couldn't wait to get back in to their world. Jane delivered, and in a big way!The Education of Caroline takes place a shockingly long ten years after the ending of The Education of Sebastian. After their dramatic parting both Sebastian and Caroline haven't heard a word from each other, much less seen each other. Half of Caroline's dreams had finally come true and she was currently a well respected journalist, on her way to Afghanistan to write a series of papers on servicemen and women being deployed to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Sebastian is 9 years into the marines having signed up as soon as he reached 18.A chance meeting at training program for journalists in Geneva caused Caroline and Sebastian to finally face the hurt that was their past and see what, if anything they could salvage from it. Unfortunately for Caroline it wasn't as easy as that, their first few meetings were less than easy and she began to think maybe nothing could come of their second chance meeting - Sebastian was far too angry and hurt."My beautiful boy, my lover, my friend. The man I thought I'd never see again. Sebastian."What started off as a drink in a Switzerland hotel soon turned in to more and before we knew what was happening Sebastian and Caroline were off on the road trip of a life time - travelling across France and Italy on the back of Sebastian's motorbike.The first half of this book was absolutely wonderful for me. I loved seeing the new, sexy, older Sebastian trying to win back the love of his life and rekindle some form of relationship with her. I also liked how Caroline wasn't quick to jump in to anything without really thinking about it first. It would have been so easy to just say yes and let it be, but then there wouldn't be much of a story.The last half of the book was where it really got interesting and nail biting for me. Caroline and Sebastian are both in Afghanistan together, on the same team, facing the hard war together. Both for very different reasons. I was completely glued to my Kindle for the last 50% of the story and I couldn't have put it down if you begged me. Everything they went through, I felt, everything that tore them and made them grow closer was completely believable. My heart broke for them at times and I couldn't try and predict the ending if I wanted to, but it was the uncertainty that kept me glued the whole way through."Caro... I don't understand - why do you love me?""Just because... because the sky is blue and the sea is green."There is so much I could say about this book and the series but the bottom line is it is wonderful and I highly recommend them. The series has a great mix of all my favourites - forbidden love, second chance love, military and most importantly real and honest characters. The author had done an amazing job and I can't wait to read more by her."Thank God for you, Caro."