Review: Romantic story that attempts to address a heavy issue but falls short
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 14, 2014
3.5 StarsJake North is the middle child in an affluent North Dakota ranch family. He enlists in the army after graduation to find his place in life. Olivia (Livie), three and a half years younger and his little sister's friend, comes from a broken home--neglectful father and mother who abandoned the family. Her older brother is friends with Jake and his family. Jake and Livie crush on each other before he ships off and then find that the feelings are still there when he returns home a public war hero but broken and with secrets.At times I think this book suffers an identity crisis. It's not sure it wants to be a fantasy romance or a gritty real life struggles book. As a result, there are abrupt changes from sweet and feel-good to traumatic and dramatic. I suspect that if the author would have picked one and went with it, the book would feel less like a draft and more like a final product.  More chapter breaks or time headings would have also been helpful as too many places the story jumps a couple weeks or months ahead without warning.While the story brings up an important issue of PTSD and the treatment of soldier both during and after deployment, it feels more like a prop to create drama in the story rather than as a gripping look into a serious subject. Likewise with Livie's abusive alcoholic father. By the end of the book the PTSD is all but dropped in favor of a love heals everything approach.The story is told solely from Livie's point of view. Chapters from Jake's perspective would have been beneficial for his character development and for the reader to relate to his struggles.  I also had to wonder if the author actually interviewed any real life couples who PTSD effected their relationship. That kind of research might have gone a long way to adding substance to the story. Otherwise, some parts read like Livie's Psych 101 text book.There are some sweet moments between the two and there is no cheating. The "paint scene" was probably the cutest and best part of the book. It was the best blend of romance and emotional struggle.The story plays a bit to the teenage girl fantasy of saving yourself for your one true love. That and the excessive musical references (particularly in the beginning where they appear multiples times in a single scene distracting from the text) probably make this story more appealing to a young adult audience than a mature reader.The book is listed as #5 in War and Military Romance. If you are choosing this book for that genre, I'd first recommend a similar title and topic (Private North by Tess Oliver) that better and more subtly blends the PTSD angle into an engaging romantic story along with a touch of mystery. I have no affiliation with either author; I have simply read both books and am making a recommendation based on the topic.