Heartbreak Warfare by Heather M. Orgeron, Kate Stewart Published by Self-Published on November 1, 2018
Pages: 382
Format: ARC
Genres: Contemporary, Military, Romance
Amazon
Briggs,
Remember when we parted ways in Germany? It was the day I broke your heart. What you didn't know was that I was breaking mine too.
I thought they’d be enough–my husband and my son. That I’d get home and everything would go back to the way it was . . .
Before the war. Before the ambush. Before you.
But, no matter how hard I try, I can’t erase the trauma we shared. I can’t seem to forget the way my heart beat in time with yours.
The truth is I’m lost without you.
I thought the nightmare was over when they pulled us from that hole in the ground, but nothing could have prepared me for the war I’d face at home.I know it’s selfish of me to ask, but, please, I have to see you one last time. . .
All my love, Scottie
Heartbreak Warfare deserves to wear its title like a badge of honor. The book is a military romance unlike any I have read before. It is unflinchingly raw, poignantly real, astoundingly passionate, and compulsively readable.
Fair warning: If you can’t handle angst or love triangles, step away now. Personally, I have to be in the right mood, and this story is one emotional adrenaline rush that I welcomed. I read the book straight through and held my breath the entire time. Actually, that’s a lie. Maybe I had to take a quick breather a couple times, but then I dove right back in.
Katy is a fresh-faced Army nurse who underestimates her own strength and bravery. Briggs lives to serve his country and is fueled by facing enemy fire. They are stationed in the same unit in Iraq, and charismatic Briggs instantly rubs Katy the wrong way. They have an intriguing dynamic that grows more intense when crap hits the fan. Waiting at home for Katy is her husband, Gavin, and their young son.
I loved the complexity of the relationships and the way in which duty, trust, and love are equally important to all the characters. I also appreciated the multiple perspectives the story provides. From the military battlefield in Iraq to the emotional war raged at home, the balance between selfishness versus selflessness is an issue that is repeated. The content is graphically violent at times, but necessarily so. Much to my respect, returning to life after deployment is explored in an honest and unyielding way without being romanticized.
Heather M. Orgeron and Kate Stewart are a formidable writing team. Their styles mesh seamlessly, and the story is told with such fluidity that it is hard to believe this is the work of two different authors. They have created characters that are vivid and unwaveringly compelling.
Heartbreak Warfare ruthlessly clutched my cynical and battered heart in its hands from the very first chapter, and yet I regret nothing. My soul felt settled in the end. I know a book is good when it challenges me to re-evaluate my perceptions after “The End”. This story will linger with me for some time. Hello, book hanger.
Recommended for fans of:
Military romance
Love triangles
Chap Stick
* I received an early copy to voluntarily read. This does not affect my opinion. *
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About Heather M. Orgeron
Heather M. Orgeron is a Cajun girl with a big heart and a passion for romance. She married her high school sweetheart two months after graduation and her life has been a fairytale ever since. She’s the queen of her castle, reigning over five sons and one bossy little princess who has made it her mission in life to steal her Momma’s throne. When she’s not writing, you will find her hidden beneath mounds of laundry and piles of dirty dishes or locked in her tower(aka the bathroom) soaking in the tub with a good book. She’s always been an avid reader and has recently discovered a love for cultivating romantic stories of her own.
About Kate Stewart
USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. She pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate’s title, Drive, was named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice awards for best contemporary romance of 2017. Her works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, and translated in five languages.
Kate is a lover of all things ‘80s and ‘90s, especially John Hughes films and rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.
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