Out of Goodbyes

Out of Goodbyes (Hopelessly Devoted #2)

by Gen Ryan

This picks up where the other one left off with another very emotional read that is a big roller-coaster ride as much as the first one was. This is a very talented author that really knows how to pull on your heart strings. We start off with Parker going to Rainey’s home and begging for another chance, he will do anything to get back the woman he loves. Will Rainey’s give that chance and will Parker be willing to give her what she needs or could there be someone else putting a tailspin on the outcome?

Rainey gave their marriage her all where Parker didn’t give her what she needed, he never put her first. She gave him respect he didn’t always give it to her. Everything she did, she did out of love having no trouble showing how much she loved him. He has a hard time with showing love after all he went through he just has a hard time with most things. It is easy for me to understand both sides of the story and my heart breaks for both. The last straw for her was how Parker acted and how the break up came about. Rainey has always made her marriage the center of her world and tries hard to keep it that way. But something has to give and it doesn’t look like it will be Parker. I really loved how the author shows how strong Rainey is even when she doesn’t see it herself. She works so hard to keep her marriage together looking for ways to make it work. What I really like about this story is how the author shows both sides making it easy to step back and understand both worlds and see all that is going on with them both.

In walks Levi who know just what she is going through he has been down that road his self. It is a struggle for him to give her room to work out her feelings for Parker as he tries to build a trust with her. You can’t blame her for having trust issues. Both have issues they have to work out as the work on building a relationship together. To be truly happy first you must find peace inside yourself, love yourself and make yourself happy. This is something Rainey has yet to find. Depression has so many side effects, it isn’t an easy thing to deal with and it makes it harder for one to find that enter peace and be happy as Rainey is finding out.

As I turned the last page I have very mixed emotion between who I want Rainey with. Levi is such a great character, he is so strong, caring and loving. BUT Parker is going through so much and I see where he is coming from. I don’t know if I could forget or forgive the cheating, but I am not important here it is what Rainey wants. I think her feelings are just as mixed up as mine are. There are so many emotions you will feel and when you close the book you still are an emotional mess. The author knows how to draw her readers in giving a compelling read that has you so invested you start talking to the characters. I have to say I am hanging on until I get my hands on the next book in this series to see just where the author is going to take it. I sure hope Parker finds his HEA after all he is dealing with and has been through. WELL worth your time but you must read the first book in the series.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Out-Goodbyes-Hopelessly-Devoted-Book-ebook/dp/B076PVGWT2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525138224&sr=1-1&keywords=9781925655285

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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-goodbyes-gen-ryan/1127190171?ean=9781925655292

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/out-of-goodbyes

Summary

Just when Rainey finally gets her life together, her high school sweetheart, Parker, decides he’s ready to fight for her. His promises threaten to tear apart all that Rainey has fought for. Her happiness and heart included.

Levi Hayes has fought hard for Rainey’s trust. When he finally wins her heart, he fears it all might be taken away. But he’ll fight for Rainey, even if doing so threatens to bring up memories he’d rather forget.

For Rainey to make her choice, she must let go of a past that took everything from her and hope she can finally live for herself, and find her forever happiness.

When We Were Young

When We Were Young (Hopelessly Devoted #1)

by Gen Ryan

I totally loved this story it is such a touching read filled with such emotions that really touches your heart. The author gives an amazing emotional roller-coaster ride first up and then down and back around we go. The base of this story I hold dear to my heart as a big military supporter I have seen firsthand what military life and war does to our soldiers and their spouses. It is truly heart breaking. I thought the author did a great job with detail, explaining it to a T as well as showing how emotional this life is. This was a big win for me.

Rainey and Parker are high school sweetheart, they marry, and he goes into the military. Rainey is ok with this until he re-enlists saying this will be the last time but it never is. Rainey just wants to be put first before country and you can’t blame her. Military life is hard for a wife waiting at home month after month, year after year, all alone worrying and wondering until you go nuts. The author does a great job showing the wife’s side it is very emotional and at times very trying. Being a couple but being the one left behind, you can’t date, you can’t go out to bars, not much else is left, you are a couple but you are couple less you can't hang out with the other couples. Rainey hangs on until she isn’t sure what she is hanging on for. Something happens that makes her make her mind up and tears her world apart.

Here it becomes very emotional as the author shows just what PTSD is and how it affects so many. It isn’t easy telling your love ones what you have been through. It isn’t easy to talk about at all so Parker turns to those that have been his support through it all his brothers of arms. Been there with soldiers I have supported it is tough wanting to be strong and protect those you love from the scars you have. You don’t want them to see that side of you it isn’t a pretty side to see. Lord how my heart went out to both of them. It is so easy to understand both sides as you read you just want to hold them and take the pain away.

I really doubt you can read this and not feel emotional, it is a story that will stay with you for many days to come. The author really brings the story to life giving details you have no trouble picturing. This is a very believable read with real characters that become your friends. I have to say I am not a fan of cliffhangers and I can’t wait to see what happen next. It is very much worth your time giving you a story from a very talented author that pulls you in and keeps you invested with tears in your eyes.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Young-Hopelessly-Devoted-ebook/dp/B0765Z7SVR/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525135498&sr=1-1&keywords=When+We+Were+Young+Gen+Ryan

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-we-were-young-gen-ryan/1127190152?ean=9781925655278

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/when-we-were-young-9

Summary

When she fell in love with her high school sweetheart, Rainey Matthews thought it’d be forever. But life has a habit of sneaking up and throwing a sucker punch when you least expect it.

Parker’s military career has become his top priority, leaving Rainey behind while he pursues his dreams. A combination of Parker’s PTSD and his actions threaten to tear Rainey’s heart right open, and she can no longer keep it together.

Then an unexpected lifeline appears and shows Rainey what it’s like to be cared for and loved. She finds herself happy for the first time in a while, but those sneaky sucker punches aren’t done, and keeping happiness will be an uphill battle.

Defending Hannah: A Delta Force Defenders

Defending Hannah: A Delta Force Defenders Novel

by Jennifer Becker

There is a lot going on between the pages of this book, just when you think nothing else can happen, the author throws a twist you just don’t see coming.  The plot is great, the characters are fun, it is filled with action with a lot going on.  I can promise you there is no way you will work out who is behind all this until the author is ready to hand that information over.

Ben and Hannah grew up together each had a crush on the other but neither did anything about it. Just when things were about to gets hot and heavy Ben left running as fast as he could. Fast forward years later he is on a mission to stop terrorist, get intel and get the hostage and bring them back alive.  From the start this is one big mess, things are too easy and then get very complex.  When he see the women from his past he is shocked but doesn’t have time to work it all out. They must get to the office, get the women out before all hell breaks loose.  One thing leading to another, they find someone has set them up. Can they get what they came for and get the women out without losing their lives?

I really liked the characters of the delta force they are very alpha, kicking tail and not taking any names but very gentle when it comes to the women they find there. Ben is very protective and it doesn’t take long for Hannah to mean the world to him. He is very caring and loving that is until someone messes with what is his. Hannah is very strong but she would have had to have been to be able to live through what she has. The author never really goes into deal but gives you enough that you have no doubt what this women has went through.

I really liked the characters and the plot. I did find a few places that were a little confusing. The drugs were in the women but the author didn’t really say where. I didn’t get the feeling they were ingested through the mouth. The author said they went back to Hannah place when it wasn’t her place but Ben’s. Just a few little things like that which made me do a doubt take.  For the most part it was an easy read. One that does pull you in with excitement, thrills and a few breath holding moments.  I was lost into a world of terrorist, selling women and drug on the black market from the first page until the last I was hooked. I really enjoy the read which was very exciting and dangerous. The thrills kept me on a high but at times I did hold my breath waiting hoping and praying they would get out alive. The ending is kind of just cut off with them in love and going back to take care of business. This is where book 2 will pick up but for me it was a little fast and not enough information give for that Happy Ever After. It was a good read that I enjoyed very much.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0732B2519/ref=x_gr_w_glide_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0732B2519&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/defending-hannah-jennifer-becker/1126625087;jsessionid=3B95872170704198ED641E15C5EBCA47.prodny_store01-atgap13?ean=9781537880440#

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/defending-hannah?open=true

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jennifer_Becker_Defending_Hannah?id=oPgoDwAAQBAJ

Summary

Ben “Midas” Gates is the leader of his Delta Force team and is leading a mission to shut down a known terrorist working out of Panama and rescue hostages. When he arrives he discovers the mission is anything but easy and becomes even more complicated because he knows one of the hostages. It was a woman he had been in love with growing up and ran away from thirteen years ago.
The mission isn’t a complete failure but the team discovers someone set them up to fail and they don’t take failure as an option. With the aid of Hannah who has inside information on their terrorist and who may know who set them up, Ben does all in his power not to fall for the only woman he has ever loved

A Soldier's Vow

A Soldier's Vow

Written by: Jackie M. Smith

Narrated by: Denise Kahn

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:02-01-17

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC

A Soldier’s Vow has a little bit of everything from finding love from afar, jealousy, pain, sorrow, death, fun, at times humor, love, lose, starting over, sadness as the author spins a story of fighting, dying and the pain it brings with it. You will have your heart ripped out only to have it thrown back at you as you turn the pages waiting to see what twist the author gives you next. I really enjoyed the story and thought the plot was wonderful. This is one story you will not be able to get through without it touching your heart and soul from so many different angles.

Ms. Kahn really needs to get some type of filter. Her narration is wonderful but there is a bad echo throughout the audio. Her character voices are great, she puts emotion in her audio’s. Her voices are very pleasant from her normal voice to her character voices. Her male voices are wonderful, her children voices are a delight and her women ones are delightful. There is no background noise but for the echo. There are a few places where she repeats wording. The volume stays the same throughout. You always know who is talking and what they are feeling. I really had no trouble picturing the scenes from the battles to the love these two share as well as the pain from the lose of friends and love ones. I did very much enjoy the audio and most likely will listen to it again. The narrator must really work on her sound system and get rid of the echo which does take away from it.

Winnie decided to do what she loved best and went to Paris to do her part by sharing pictures of the war from the good and bad side. Being a woman in this time period it was hard for a woman to take on a job such as this. They didn’t want her near the front line. Over time she got what she wanted and met the love of her life. This is a very hard time for her setting on pins and needles waiting to see if Henry would make it out alive so they can start their family and love each other until the end of time.

Henry wasn’t very nice at first but overtime he came to understand what drove Winnie. He has lost so many friends. Winnie was good for him in her he found a soul mate that really pulled him out and took away the nightmares of the things he saw. She might not have been there in body but her soul got him through some very tough times.

There are so many wonderful characters and some not so nice. The author gives you a well blended mixture of drama, happiness, sorrow and pain as she pulls you in with her humor. There will come a time when you will just want to cry at the injustice done to this couple from those around them. To really tell any part of this story would give too much of the plot away. I promise you will be very entertained but you best have a tissue ready just in case you need it.  My heart broke and went out to this couple more than once. I did laugh with them as I wrapped my heart around their soul trying to bring them peace. What a wonderful story that really pulls you in. I had trouble putting it down. It is well written with such passion. I am really looking forward to reading more of her work.

Buy links

Audible

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/A-Soldiers-Vow-Audiobook/B01N4TIKLG

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Vow-Jackie-M-Smith-ebook/dp/B01LC0K31C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493677586&sr=8-3&keywords=a+soldier%27s+vow

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-soldiers-vow-jackie-smith/1108539470?ean=2940156781294

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-soldier-s-vow

Summary

Winnie Douglas always loved taking pictures of her family and her hometown. One day, while reading a war magazine, she admires pictures of the soldiers, whose strength and courage touch her. With her family's blessing, she journeys to Paris where a French magazine hires her to take pictures of the war.
Henry Whitfield answers the call of duty and travels halfway across the world to fight in the war. Far away from his family and Canadian hometown, he feels the loneliness. On the battlefield, he meets an angel. Afraid she is just a dream, he befriends Winnie.
Can two strangers brought together by war find love amidst the turmoil and tragedy?