kaje_harper's review
4.0
I've missed having new books by this favorite author. Here we meet two veterans, who were once lovers but have been separated for three years, first by the realities of rank and Army life, and then by guilt and losses. Now Easy comes looking for James, for his help finding a young veteran they both feel responsible for. As they cross the Southwest in Easy's truck, following a breadcrumb-trail of postcards, they're forced to spend time together and finally talk. In fits and starts, in moments of clarity and anger and pain, they clear the air between them, enough to maybe let love see the light again.
These guys feel real. They don't have college-professor revelations in rounded paragraphs. The conversations proceed slowly, punctuated by the antics of James's one-eyed Chihuahua Tino, flavored by the countryside they pass through. The end has a hint of mystery, a lack of reveal, that may leave some readers wanting that tiny bit more. Fortunately Sarah has given it to us in the free story epilogue "Tino Takes the Cake" which can be found on the Dreamspinner Press blog here : https://blog.dreamspinnerpress.com/2018/03/16/tino-takes-cake-epilogue-american-road-trip-sarah-black/
I love this author's style, and even more I love her characters. I'll reread this someday, as I do her others. A character-driven story, more slow-build than angsty, recommended.
These guys feel real. They don't have college-professor revelations in rounded paragraphs. The conversations proceed slowly, punctuated by the antics of James's one-eyed Chihuahua Tino, flavored by the countryside they pass through. The end has a hint of mystery, a lack of reveal, that may leave some readers wanting that tiny bit more. Fortunately Sarah has given it to us in the free story epilogue "Tino Takes the Cake" which can be found on the Dreamspinner Press blog here : https://blog.dreamspinnerpress.com/2018/03/16/tino-takes-cake-epilogue-american-road-trip-sarah-black/
I love this author's style, and even more I love her characters. I'll reread this someday, as I do her others. A character-driven story, more slow-build than angsty, recommended.
iguana_mama's review
3.0
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
This is a nicely written, lightly humorous romance about two Army veterans, Captain James Lee Hooker and Sargeant Easy Jacobs, who were former lovers. Separated for three years because of demands of their rank and the injury of a soldier in their charge, Easy now needs Jamie’s help tracking down the young soldier, who is Easy’s cousin.
I love road trips and second-chance romances, and this story was full of tenderness and heart, but I was missing the intense emotional scenes, the pain, and the healing that come from such a long separation and guilt about Austin’s injury.
This is a slow-burn romance. Long hours in Easy’s truck force both men to talk about the past, share their feelings, and rekindle their love. I enjoyed their journey and the people they met on the way.
Truth be told, I crave the angst, which this story had none of. The conversations Jamie and Easy had were superficial, mostly in an attempt to avoid conflict.
Tino, the one-eyed Chihuahua, was full of personality and his antics made me laugh out loud. I loved all the reasons the guys came up with for how Tino lost his eye.
Overall, a pleasant enough story, but not one I’d visit again.
Thanks to Mercedes from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
This is a nicely written, lightly humorous romance about two Army veterans, Captain James Lee Hooker and Sargeant Easy Jacobs, who were former lovers. Separated for three years because of demands of their rank and the injury of a soldier in their charge, Easy now needs Jamie’s help tracking down the young soldier, who is Easy’s cousin.
I love road trips and second-chance romances, and this story was full of tenderness and heart, but I was missing the intense emotional scenes, the pain, and the healing that come from such a long separation and guilt about Austin’s injury.
This is a slow-burn romance. Long hours in Easy’s truck force both men to talk about the past, share their feelings, and rekindle their love. I enjoyed their journey and the people they met on the way.
Truth be told, I crave the angst, which this story had none of. The conversations Jamie and Easy had were superficial, mostly in an attempt to avoid conflict.
Tino, the one-eyed Chihuahua, was full of personality and his antics made me laugh out loud. I loved all the reasons the guys came up with for how Tino lost his eye.
Overall, a pleasant enough story, but not one I’d visit again.
Thanks to Mercedes from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
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