Review: Authentic Military Romance Between Two Hurting Souls
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 26, 2012
Because of You was such a strong start in the Coming Home series that I absolutely pounced when the second book in the series was offered up for review. While I was a bit surprised to realize that this was not a sequel to tie up those intriguing loose ends in the first one, I enjoyed being introduced to these new characters and their story.I was pleasantly surprised to also discover that this one had a different feel from the first one. In a comparison study, the two stories are very different in my mind. Because of You was a more plot-driven romance and Until There Was You leaned heavily on the character-driven style storyline. And what do I mean by that? I mean that this one was a more slow moving storyline with the movement in the story taking place mostly internally within and between the two main characters and less action. Now we all have our preferences about this. I, personally, can appreciate and enjoy both styles.The story is about two army captains, Evan and Claire, who have served together in the past and who quite often get on each others last nerve because their philosophies of leadership are so different. It is not until this new assignment places them together again with outside forces pushing on them that make them re-evaluate what they think they know. Their joint assignment to ready a new group for deployment is fraught with trouble because the training needed is not authorized and the training given not what is necessary. Many are uneasy and question the commander's notions including Claire because she worries that his decisions are going to get people sent in unprepared and killed all for the sake of a shiny new star on his shoulder. Evan may privately think the same, but he directs their focus on what they 'can' do not what they 'should' do or 'want' to do. His calmness and willingness to follow orders without question anger Claire.But this is not the only thing, there is also the alcoholism of Sgt. Iaconeli that Claire refuses to confront him about and covers for him because she's afraid of losing her friend and him ending his career while Evan seeks to counsel that Iaconeli will end of getting himself or others hurt and needed to get care.And finally, the bulk of the story is the romance between Evan and Claire. It is a painful, angst filled thing because they are hurting damaged people with Claire being the infinitely more damaged of the two.Now I do have to say that I got a bit irritated with Claire not long after I got things sorted and understood what was going on. She was definitely well acquainted with that famous river in Egypt. Claire's issues from her past were a tough thing for anyone, but what made me want to pop her in the back of the head was her refusal to pull them out and really look at them properly. She couldn't seem to see that her personal issues were coloring her ability to lead and caused her to blame Evan for things that were really all on her. Fortunately, her desire to protect her people, courage through her deployments and her tender care of Evan when he revealed his burdens were redeeming qualities that I could get behind.Troubled past and all, Evan is the kind of guy that is so appealing to me. Its not popular to be the one to serve in a by the books fashion and take the insults of your colleagues about being unfeeling and uncaring for sticking by the rules, but Evan does it with stoicism and care. He is a good leader and soldier in his own quiet way. Its not that he doesn't feel; its because he governs his feelings that he's good. And the way he learned to love and care for Claire made him a truly wonderful man in my books. He was just what she needed and probably the only guy on the planet who was strong enough to take her rebuffs and issues in stride.This was a deeply emotional slower read that I recommend for those who enjoy a contemporary military romance that has a strong authentic military feel.