Review: Intensely Emotional M/M Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2013
In Boots on the Ground we get to revisit friends to lovers David and Jason as their relationship is put to the ultimate test as Jason goes MIA while in Afghanistan. As the second book in the Canada's Finest series, things pick up soon after the ending of the previous book as David has just found out about Jason deploying to Afghanistan and isn't happy about it.  Along with dealing with David and Jason's newly found relationship we also get to see the relationship between longtime lovers Ashley and Matthew as Ash too goes MIA along with Jason.  Told in flashbacks and real time we see the life they left behind as well as the traumatic events they're currently going through while hiding out and trying to stay alive amongst insurgents.  While some readers might find the flashback scenes annoying, I like this storyline technique as it showed the juxtaposition between their loving and secure relationships before and the danger and uncertainty they face now.  It leant a more emotional intensity to their precarious situation and made their reactions to their fears more understandable.The majority of the book is spent in Afghanistan where the inequalities amongst the sexes is vividly demonstrated as woman and young girls are treated as objects.  The arid and gritty environment of Afghanistan, along with the claustrophobia the darkness of the caves creates, keeps the characters and readers on edge as danger seems to be lurking around every corner.  The scenes of war are bloody with the fear of death rampant which leads to a particularly heartpounding opening sequence.  Along with vivid descriptions of war come the steamy and sometimes gritty sexual interludes that are nicely spaced throughout the story.  These scenes can sometimes take over a story but that's not the case here.  I greatly anticipated each and every one.  The two couples in this story are truly loving and seem to have rock solid relationships until fate intervenes and then we really see whose relationship is strongest.Even once they arrive home the emotional drama isn't over as each couple has to live with the ramifications of Ash and Jason clinging together at their lowest emotional point.  This act of infidelity, as well as another later on, are going to polarize readers and it does me as well.  I could forgive the first incident as they truly thought they were going to die but the second is less forgivable as they're already home.  I do applaud that both Jason and Ash came clean to their husbands and the ensuing responses were realistic and gutwrenching and have left Jason and David's relationship on the abyss.  With Jason's psyche in further turmoil the future is bleak as we fade to black......and wait for the next book in this immensely satisfying series.With so many positive aspects it was glaringly disappointing how Karen's storyline was handled.  She's a British nurse who's been amongst the insurgents for a year and forced to marry one of them and be physically and sexually abused repeatedly.  This storyline came out of nowhere and didn't really seem to serve much purpose and ultimately ends just as abruptly.  I'm not sure if the author will revisit this character, but if not then this part could easily have been cut and not missed at all.From start to finish I found myself deeply immersed in this story and the outcome of these two couples.  There are moments of intense joy amongst the gutwrenching life or death circumstances that keep you on the edge of your seat.  These are likable characters with believable emotions that I look forward to seeing more of courtesy of the talented writing skills of Angela S. Stone.