Because of You by Jessica Scott

Because of You by Jessica Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 flames

I don’t typically read contemporary romance or military romance (former SEALs etc), for a few reasons. The number one reason is that I tend to not want anything similar to my own life. I love werewolves, Dukes, vampires, and Highlanders, you get the picture. Military contemps tend to hit a little too close to home for me, so I usually avoid them like the plague. The last thing I want to read about is a woman dealing with her man when he comes back from the Desert.

But when I saw some of the high ratings given to this one by my friends, I had to take a chance.

I had a really hard time putting this one down, and while it has a slow-build romance, the whole story is so much more than just a romance. The writing in this story is fabulous. I think having two flawed characters meet before one was flawed is what helped this one become so much more intense and believable.

The heroine Jen went through chemo a couple years ago, and had a mastectomy. Her bff Laura is dragging her out w/her since it’s been close to 2 years since Jen went out. Also, it’s Jen’s first night wearing a falsie. She fidgets with her blouse and can’t get used to looking normal again. But her scar burns to remind her that while she may look normal, she isn’t “whole” anymore.

Shane is babysitting his platoon on their last night Stateside, when he accidentally bumps into Jen, one of the wives’ friend. He and Jen hit it off, they have a “moment,” and then they say goodbye, knowing that “moment” will be all they have. (meanwhile, their friends Laura and Trent bailed intentionally trying to give these two the push they need).

***Possible Spoiler***

The war-time action felt realistic, and was very easy to visualize. The injuries that occur are the kind too many of our troops are coming home with. And our hero comes home near death. [FYI I don’t consider that a spoiler because half the book and most of the romance is dedicated to how he and the heroine interact after his injury] Jen’s a nurse and she and Shane will be seeing a lot of each other during his recovery and rehab.

I think what amazed me about this story is the way it was written-starting 5 years before, yet making it still feel real, and believable. I agonized over Laura and Trent’s relationship, and I waited on pins and needles for Vic and Nikki to come to terms with his loss.

This book did feel very real to me and it did hit close to home. The only thing I actually didn’t like was how Trent and Laura’s relationship was left hanging. Maybe because I was Laura for a while, maybe because my husband didn’t/couldn’t talk to me for months while he was in Baghdad, or maybe because I just don’t like not having resolution, but for whatever reason, I hope they get a book, because their business was nowhere near complete.

I absolutely suggest this to all who want a well-written and realistic romance.

***Thank you to the author for the review copy

ETA:

I’ve spoken with the author, and Ms. Scott says Laura and Trent do have a book coming out in 2013 called Back to You.

View all my reviews