Nick is recovering from a war injury. He is also dealing with the death of his friend Spence and the return to a "normal" life. He goes to Spence's hometown to see his friend Callie and to see if Callie would like to give Mooch a home. Mooch is a dog that saved their life in Afghanistan. Callie was Spence's BFF and inherited his home on his death. Callie is dealing with the loss of her best friend and trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She was a contract employee and traveled all over never staying in once place for long. She's trying to decide if she wants to put down roots.
This felt realistic with Nick's PTSD and the struggles with adapting to a "normal" life. I also liked Callie and when Nick (or Lief) where being less than nice, she's call them out on it. This is more of a slow burn romance. What annoyed me was Nick thinking of Callie as "Spence's woman." Callie didn't have the same feelings. I also noticed how Mooch was called "dog" several times by Nick (and I think Callie at least once too). Was annoyed. Y'all named him Mooch, call him that. Or by a nickname (and "dog" didn't come across as a nickname). It wold have been nice for a little compassion/resolution for Austin. Not ignoring what he did, but he was also a victim.
This felt realistic with Nick's PTSD and the struggles with adapting to a "normal" life. I also liked Callie and when Nick (or Lief) where being less than nice, she's call them out on it. This is more of a slow burn romance. What annoyed me was Nick thinking of Callie as "Spence's woman." Callie didn't have the same feelings. I also noticed how Mooch was called "dog" several times by Nick (and I think Callie at least once too). Was annoyed. Y'all named him Mooch, call him that. Or by a nickname (and "dog" didn't come across as a nickname). It wold have been nice for a little compassion/resolution for Austin. Not ignoring what he did, but he was also a victim.
What a beautiful story, I loved this. Reeling from the choices he made in Afghanistan that cost his friend, Spence's life, Nick's in Snowberry to bring Spence's friend, Callie, the dog Spence rescued oversees. Spence left everything to Callie instead of his greedy uncle and Callie is thinking about turning Spence's house into a B&B. At loose ends, Nick sticks around first only agreeing to help with the overgrown lawn but his attraction to her fights against his need to leave.
What I loved the most about this story was how simple and gentle it was. Callie understands the issues returned soldiers face and gives Nick the space he needs. Nick's attraction to her is tempered by his guilt over liking "Spence's girl". They are attracted to each other, but that doesn't consume their thoughts 24-7. There's a B&B to put together, break ins, and theft to contend with and a fun cast of secondary characters, some of which I hope show up in future books.
Nick's guilt and hot and cold reactions to Callie get a little tiring but it was a minor irritant and I'm looking forward the other books in the series.
What I loved the most about this story was how simple and gentle it was. Callie understands the issues returned soldiers face and gives Nick the space he needs. Nick's attraction to her is tempered by his guilt over liking "Spence's girl". They are attracted to each other, but that doesn't consume their thoughts 24-7. There's a B&B to put together, break ins, and theft to contend with and a fun cast of secondary characters, some of which I hope show up in future books.
Nick's guilt and hot and cold reactions to Callie get a little tiring but it was a minor irritant and I'm looking forward the other books in the series.