Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
I enjoyed my trip back to Apple Grove and catching up with Caitlin, the middle Mulcahy sister. She works in the family handyman business and is especially busy because her very pregnant older sister isn't able to do much. She'd love more time to spend on her true calling - carpentry and furniture making. Sometimes, she just needs a minute or two to reset herself. She'd also like to have a marriage like her sister's, but in a town as small as Apple Grove, eligible bachelors are few and far between.
Jack Gannon is Apple Grove's hometown hero. He joined the Navy and became a corpsman, attached to a Marine unit in Iraq. After being injured by an IED, he left the Navy, went to medical school, and is now back in Apple Grove to take over his retired father's practice. He is scarred, physically and emotionally, but doesn't let anyone close enough to see it. Besides PTSD from the attack, he also has some survivor's guilt from his final mission, where he wasn't able to save one of the men.
Caitlin and Jack have known each other all their lives, but when Caitlin encounters Jack and a puppy along the side of the road, she looks at him in a new light. The two bond over caring for the puppy, whom they name Jamie, growing closer as they spend time together caring for him. Jamie provides plenty of lighthearted moments to balance the complex subjects of Jack's injuries and PTSD. I liked their ability to talk about almost anything, though it takes time and persistence on Caitlin's part to break through Jack's reluctance to talk about his past. With a little helpful intervention from their fathers, Jack finds himself on the road to healing. His big moment at the end was terrific.
I enjoyed the small-town setting. Apple Grove is tiny, so everyone knows everyone else. It's not unusual to have friends or family up in your business - for your own good, of course. The characters were realistic, with relatable attitudes, fears, and actions.
Jack Gannon is Apple Grove's hometown hero. He joined the Navy and became a corpsman, attached to a Marine unit in Iraq. After being injured by an IED, he left the Navy, went to medical school, and is now back in Apple Grove to take over his retired father's practice. He is scarred, physically and emotionally, but doesn't let anyone close enough to see it. Besides PTSD from the attack, he also has some survivor's guilt from his final mission, where he wasn't able to save one of the men.
Caitlin and Jack have known each other all their lives, but when Caitlin encounters Jack and a puppy along the side of the road, she looks at him in a new light. The two bond over caring for the puppy, whom they name Jamie, growing closer as they spend time together caring for him. Jamie provides plenty of lighthearted moments to balance the complex subjects of Jack's injuries and PTSD. I liked their ability to talk about almost anything, though it takes time and persistence on Caitlin's part to break through Jack's reluctance to talk about his past. With a little helpful intervention from their fathers, Jack finds himself on the road to healing. His big moment at the end was terrific.
I enjoyed the small-town setting. Apple Grove is tiny, so everyone knows everyone else. It's not unusual to have friends or family up in your business - for your own good, of course. The characters were realistic, with relatable attitudes, fears, and actions.
