Review: An interesting story of a relationship facing lots of hurdles - lots happening!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 1, 2013
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed this book and the overall story of Mike and Will. It follows a really interesting journey as the two men embark on a relationship that is littered with hurdles. There was an emotional element to the story in which lots happens, and kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next.The blurb (surprisingly?) gives away a lot of the plot - Mike and Will start a relationship in which Will accepts the rules of their partnership so long as Mike promises not to be redeployed. Things don't go according to plan, Mike is sent back to the war zone, friends undermine Will's relationship by questioning the terms of this relationship with Mike and doubting Mike's fidelity and finally Mike suffers a terrible injury which threatens the very nature of their relationship. There is definitely heaps going on!On the positive side I liked both characters. Mike is so honest and caring and Will shows the depth of his love when he cares for Mike on his return from hospital. I struggled at the beginning to imagine the men together, finding Mike's OCD a bit over the top and Will's acceptance of it just a bit too easy, but by the end of the book they were wonderful together. I loved the concept of 'no flag' and the inscription Will arranged for Mike's wedding ring. Ending their calls with 'no flag' was such a lovely romantic symbol of love and promise.I liked the fast pace. I liked the tension and the drama. The bombing and the government involvement made for an interesting story (but you've got to be concerned that the military couldn't solve the mystery of the bombers without Mike's help!)So what were the short comings in my opinion? Firstly, I actually missed how Mike and Will got to the place where they were negotiating a domestic discipline relationship. I understood Mike with his OCD and need for order and control but didn't feel as sold on Will's submissive tendencies. It all just seemed a bit rushed. And when they finally had sex, I couldn't understand the reasoning for Mike's bottoming on their first encounter. I just found it a bit too confusing. Secondly, I didn't really get the story line involving the psycho friend and why they behaved that way. From the sounds of both comments I just made, I think I need to read the book again to see if it gets clearer second time around! :) Finally I disliked some of the terminology in the sex scenes and didn't find the sex all that sexy. But I wasn't really reading for the sex, more the other interactions between the men.There were minor editing issues in my copy (from Netgalley) but nothing that really stood out too much.This is a "liked it and enjoyed it" book.By the way, do any other readers have the same problem I do with chapter headings that are dates? By the time I get to the next chapter with the new date I have no idea what the previous date was so have no idea how long has passed. And since the dates are there I feel knowing this is significant so feel like I'm missing something important (but not so much that I feel the need to flick back and forth in the Kindle).