Lina Ragelis prides herself on her bravery and strength, two traits that have served her well in her career in the US Army. Having been disconnected from her family since she turned eighteen, Lina has learned to rely solely on herself—and her slightly overbearing best friend—and she swears she prefers it that way.
It's an easy lie for someone who has spent her entire life dodging love. Lina's pretty certain that she's damaged goods. But the truth is, she's the kind of person everyone wants in their corner, and the kind of woman many women want to love.
Having had more than her fair share of challenges and hardships, there isn't much that scares Lina. Life would be so much easier if she were afraid of something basic—like spiders—instead of something significant. Something like real, true, healthy love.
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"4.75 stars.
Ooof. What a story.
While there is a romance (and a HEA), most of this book is a woman's slow journey to accept her PTSD and past traumas and begin to move past them. There's not a lot of closure here—things are messy and complicated and unclear. It's a good story, but it's not fluff or popcorn.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more depth to Regan, as the single-POV in this book really limits why Regan is so taken with Lina. But that's only a minor thing, IMO. (But I would also love, love, love if Kat Jackson would do a follow-up book about Regan's obviously complicated history.)
Rep: FMC with PTSD and dissociative episodes
Sex: a few R-rated scenes, but be aware that while there is no SA, the POV FMC is emotionally mistreated with sex as a component, and ends up in cycles of making bad choices due to this. It's not all happy fun times.
Tags: #AttachmentDisorder #Cheating #Military #Misunderstandings #NuisanceEx #PanicAttacks #PTSD #RehabRecovery #SinglePOV #Therapy #ThirdPersonPOV #Trauma
Similar reads: the _Ask, Tell_ series by E.J. Noyes covers some similar themes around PTSD and recovery, especially the second book, _Ask Me Again_. I don't think one book is objectively better than the other—just different perspectives on the subjects.
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Rick O (5 out of 5 stars)