Review: Because of You by Jessica Scott

Title: Because of You (Coming Home #1)
Author: Jessica Scott
Genre: Military Romance
Heat Index: 3 out of 5
Release Date: Nov. 14, 2011
Word/Page Count: 224 pages
Format: Netgalley

Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there’s more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he’ll never see again—until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care.

Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there’s a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels—for the first time in a long time—like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty—it’s a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected—her deepest desire.

More military life or aftermath of injury than action-adventure suspense. If you are looking for a high-octane thrill-ride, this story isn't the right choice, but if you want a deep, angst-ridden journey, then this is a winner.

I have to say that I'm very impressed with story. From the beginning, I was interested and involved with the characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen and how they could possibly get through all of what they were facing. The fact that this was in essence a story about the homefront, the wives/girlfriends who get left behind to hold the fort, the soldiers who are trying to recover from devastating injuries, also gave this story a fresh tilt.

There are some flaws, however. For a short novel, there are too many secondary characters and story lines going on that it takes away from the 'romance' aspect of the story. In essence, they are sequel bait. Now I don't have a problem with that at all, but I did feel that at times there were too much of 'them' versus the main romantic story. Also, the depth of angst is so great that the resolution in the end feels too quick, too easy. This story is rich, but ultimately it feels rushed.

Because of You is deep in emotion, but hampered by its short length to realistically wring out every possible emotion from the reader. The solid writing and focus on the homefront aspect does make it for an easy, entertaining read that is well worth reading.