Review: POWERFUL AND AMAZING READ!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2014
SUMMER'S BOOK BLOGAt the young age of 17, Caroline was swept off her feet and out of her mother's unrelenting eye by David.  He was a US Navy surgeon and many years her elder but he was worldly and her ticket out.  But it wasn't far into their marriage that she realized that she would never be able to live up to David's standards and even though he wasn't abusive, he was not a loving husband.  He treated Caroline like an employee instead of a wife.While David was stationed in San Diego, Caroline, then 21, made friends with one of David's comrade's children, Sebastian.  He was 8.  She taught him Italian and read to him, but like most military families David was soon transferred and Caroline and Sebastian's friendship came to an end.  This left young Sebastian heartbroken but such is the life of a military family.Many years passed (9 to be exact) when David received a promotion and transfer back to San Diego.  Upon her return, Caroline runs into a now 17 and rather attractive Sebastian.  They are immediately attracted to each other.  Caroline tries to fight the spark but whether it is her loveless marriage or the pure physical pull to Sebastian she finally gives herself over to him.Will Sebastian and Caroline be able to hide their forbidden affair until he is of legal age or will they be caught?SOOooo.... Once I got past the whole Sebastian being 17 thing I have to say this book was really, really good!!  I am not going to lie and say I wasn't a little taken aback at first but most of the time Sebastian seems way more mature than most 17 year olds I know.Jane Harvey-Berrick did an excellent job bringing Caroline's loneliness across to her readers.  The way that David speaks to her, dismisses her and most importantly treats her during sex is appalling.  It's no wonder she finds comfort in the arms of another man.  The only time he ever complimented her was when he wanted something and he may as well have been speaking to a dog.The same goes for Sebastian.  Jane gave Sebastian AWFUL parents who treated him as if he was nothing more than a burden.  He was sensitive and an all around smart and good kid but he was never good enough for his horrific mother or father.  They were a nightmare.  I truly think that was what drew Sebastian to Caroline- his mommy & daddy issues.  He finally had the approval of someone older than him.The Education of Sebastian was all the way around well written.  Jane words flowed nicely and the plot had me completely in a trance.  I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next.  I was on the edge of my seat wondering if and when they were going to get caught.I did find myself humming "Mrs. Robinson" during the sex scenes but honestly she wrote them in a way that made it hard to not enjoy them and the entire book in general!!Amazing Story Jane!! Now for the Education of Caroline!!Caroline had "come a long way since arriving in New York ten years ago, penniless and unhappy, fleeing a failed marriage and a doomed affair."  She started out with nothing living in cheap hotels, working to build her journalism career until she could afford a comfortable life for herself.  There was one thing she could never shake, her undying love for Sebastian.  She had taken a job with The New York Times writing about military men overseas and was sent to the front lines of the war to get her story.  On her latest assignment, she was sent to Switzerland for safety training before going to Afghanistan where she comes face to face with the one man she could never shake.  The man who changed her whole life, Sebastian.Sebastian had grown up to be a very angry and callous marine.  He never fully recovered from Caroline leaving those 10 years ago and it had changed him in a bad way.  He tried to mask his hurt by jumping into bed with any woman who looked his way but none of them ever took the place in her heart that Caroline held.  Upon seeing Caroline for the first time his reaction was that of shock and he treated her terribly but soon his true feelings came to the surface and he apologized, hoping if nothing more they could mend their friendship before Caroline's travel orders came through.Sebastian convinces Caroline to take a road trip with him and it is both enchanting and heartbreaking.  Their connection is almost tangible but their past is heart wrenching.  They do end up connecting again on both on emotional and physical level just before Sebastian is swept away to war.Once again Caroline ends up in the same place as Sebastian and that is where their relationship really starts to heat back up.  But war is unpredictable and tragedy soon strikes Caroline and Sebastian.  Will they be torn from each other so soon after fate finally brought them back where they belong?The Education of Caroline proves that not only is life too short but you can not help who you love.  Jane Harvey-Berrick serves us these lessons on a silver platter!  I was expecting this story to be a lot like the Education of Sebastian but I was totally wrong.  It was raw!  The emotions were insane!  I was completely sucked in from the gate.Sebastian's transformation was a little unsettling but then again Jane showed us how real life heart break can really change a person.  He was such a sweet boy but that was a complete 180 from the man he had become.  Thankfully, with the love of the right woman his true colors shined through at the end.Jane wrote about the war with such grittiness and emotion.  I think she paid perfect homage to all of our service men and woman in this story!Without giving too much away I will say this- The Education of Caroline was not only a story about love and lust and hope and passion but it was a story about new beginnings.  I loved this book and I really would like to thank Jane for writing such a magnificent story!!