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Love is a Wounded Soldier
by
Blaine Reimer (Goodreads Author)
Despite growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, and having to cope with the untimely death of his mother, Robert Mattox has retained his innocence and idealism. He woos and marries his first love, Ellen, and it appears his life is set for a happily-ever-after ending.
But World War II is raging, and its vortex snatches him away from his young bride. He finds himself fi...more
But World War II is raging, and its vortex snatches him away from his young bride. He finds himself fi...more
Kindle Edition, 287 pages
Published
March 13th 2012
by Backroad Books
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When I was asked to read this book and give my review, I went in knowing nothing about the author or his story. I certainly wasn't prepared for what I was about to experience because this book truly had it all; romance, tragedy, war, death, violence and finally a little bit of hope. The prologue started out through letters from a grandfather to his grandson. It immediately grabbed and pulled at my heart strings, but once the story unfolded, the writing alone absolutely blew my socks off.
Pre-WWI...more
Pre-WWI...more
Jan 05, 2013
Angela Mclaurin
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
indie-bookshelf,
5-star-books
Love is a Wounded Soldier is the phenomenally crafted journey of a man from a simpler time who experiences disappointment, love, war, loss, redemption, and ultimately courage to move forward with his life. Blaine Reimer is truly a gifted writer who carefully weaves his beautiful words into a story that will capture your heart and move you to tears. From the stunning cover art to the vivid images of love and tragedy Blaine transcribed, this is a work of pure brilliance that you simply must read!
3 likes · like · see review
I adored this book! I adore any book that get me emotionally charged and emotionally drained. I have to admit I cried a great deal towards the end of this book. It has a happy ending just not one that I was expecting until I was well into the climax!
Historically accurate and very well written, this book will keep you coming back for more. A treasure of a book the likes which I have not seen in a very long time. Told through a soldiers eyes it never lets you down, keeps you hoping that things wi...more
Historically accurate and very well written, this book will keep you coming back for more. A treasure of a book the likes which I have not seen in a very long time. Told through a soldiers eyes it never lets you down, keeps you hoping that things wi...more
The book tells many stories one of love, one of war, one of hurt and betrayal, and one of forgiveness. Like life all of those emotions of anger, love and betrayal have been packed into one book to make the life story of Robert all the more enjoyable and relatable.
The author goes into great detail of war time and his description comes through vividly in the story. If that's not enough Blaine also adds in very wise advice.
Some reviewers have said "If he can forgive a rapist--why can't he forgive E...more
The author goes into great detail of war time and his description comes through vividly in the story. If that's not enough Blaine also adds in very wise advice.
Some reviewers have said "If he can forgive a rapist--why can't he forgive E...more
I can't say for sure what drew me to this book. I liked the cover and the short description, and the all 5-star reviews certainly didn't hurt. For some reason, I was compelled to read this right away (I still have several inexpensive and free downloads in my yet to be read collection).
The technical writing is excellent, and it was very easy to get into the flow of the story. The surprising part was that Robert, the narrator and lead character, just seemed so very real. I wasn't a quarter of the...more
The technical writing is excellent, and it was very easy to get into the flow of the story. The surprising part was that Robert, the narrator and lead character, just seemed so very real. I wasn't a quarter of the...more
Robert's life has never been easy and at sixteen it just got a little harder. His father an abusive drunk is never around when he's needed. Robert finds his mother dead and must take charge of burying her. It's more than a sixteen year old boy should have to deal with. Then his life get better. He meets Ellen and falls in love. They are happy together and enjoying their new life when in 1940 he's drafted. World War II begins and he's right in the thick of it. Robert knows his life will be diffe...more
"A woman is a terrifying thing. A woman is a velvet hammer that softy pounds your will from around your heart, leaving it bare, vulnerable, defenseless." ~Love is a Wounded Soldier.
The above quote is not the exception to the kind of literary art between the pages of Love is a Wounded Soldier- it's the rule. Page after page of this work pounded away at MY heart and left me vulnerable and defenseless. Blaine's work of historical fiction/romance struck such a deep chord that reverberated in me the...more
The above quote is not the exception to the kind of literary art between the pages of Love is a Wounded Soldier- it's the rule. Page after page of this work pounded away at MY heart and left me vulnerable and defenseless. Blaine's work of historical fiction/romance struck such a deep chord that reverberated in me the...more
It's been a long time since I've read a historical romance like this. Love is a Wounded Soldier reminded me greatly of All Quiet on the Western Front but with more of a romance bent to it.
My only criticism is that the author yielded a time or two to the temptation of using the story as a medium to use large words and phrases instead of letting the words and phrases tell the story.
Other than that, it's a beautifully written book about a character named Robert and his experience of undergoing seve...more
My only criticism is that the author yielded a time or two to the temptation of using the story as a medium to use large words and phrases instead of letting the words and phrases tell the story.
Other than that, it's a beautifully written book about a character named Robert and his experience of undergoing seve...more
1 like · like · see review
Aug 18, 2012
TuRtLeFaEiRe
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
a-wish-list-book,
book-library
This book has a similar feel to the very great old movie "The Best Years of Our Lives". I love that movie, and I am not ashamed to say that I developed a huge crush on Dana Andrews after I saw it. He can melt my heart anytime!
Also, I feel that this book put into retrospect the way that the brave men and women who fight for the freedom of this once great country felt upon coming home. The PTSD, and horrifying nightmares they must have, and yet they all come home to the USA, the nation they are fi...more
Also, I feel that this book put into retrospect the way that the brave men and women who fight for the freedom of this once great country felt upon coming home. The PTSD, and horrifying nightmares they must have, and yet they all come home to the USA, the nation they are fi...more
This book had me from page one. I couldn't put it down, and finished it in a day. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engaged the whole way through. The challenges that Robert endures in his life, both internally and externally, are both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and reminds you to never give up hope.
This is a very well written book, and I highly recommend it. I laughed, I cried, I suffered and I rejoiced. I like that it has a Christian theme. It does have some rough language, but...more
This is a very well written book, and I highly recommend it. I laughed, I cried, I suffered and I rejoiced. I like that it has a Christian theme. It does have some rough language, but...more
From the very first page of Love is a Wounded Soldier by Blaine Reimer you know this book is something special. It's a book that deserves a review full of all those lofty literary words that trained critics, professors, and true literary aficionados use. Unfortunately for this review, and you, I write my reviews for the everyday reader who just wants to know in everyday terms how the story was.
It was great. Reimer is a true story teller. He has the gift. From the first page you can tell this is...more
It was great. Reimer is a true story teller. He has the gift. From the first page you can tell this is...more
1 like · like · see review
Wow. I had no idea what to expect when I started this book but it kept me interested until the very end. This book broke my heart many times over. It may have been written as a fiction but it was so realistic and raw. Love is a Wounded Soldier brought that time period to life in my mind with all it's romance, heartbreak, violence, and finally hope. It felt as though I was really with the characters and seeing what they saw. I would say I wish the author would have made it a bit longer so the end...more
Love is a Wounded Soldier, by Blaine Reimer, is one of the most touching, well-written books I have ever had the privilege of reading. I am seventy-nine years old, and many of my family served in WWII. All came back changed forever by what they endured and saw, especially one cousin, a B-17 pilot, who was in a German Stalag for over a year before the war ended and he was liberated. Blaine pulled no punches. He allowed his readers to experience the horror along with his characters. Thank you, Bla...more
I have read a great number of books on my Kindle since I received it as a Christmas gift, most of them absolutely great but Love Is a Wounded Soldier is the VERY best book I have read in years and I have read thousands. I learned from its pages about the horrors of war, the marvelous gift of friendship and the power of forgiveness. This young man has wisdom far beyond his years and he has a writing style that immediately pulls you into the story until it is no longer a story but a life experienc...more
I started out loving this book and its characters, the way the author explored their personalities and psyche. The story flowed effortlessly--until the main character got back from the war. After that, it seemed like he was finished storytelling and was set on wrapping up all loose ends. The ending was disappointing. Very trite, too neat. We never learn to whom he was writing his memoir, or why. That said, I'm not sorry I read the book. This author has promise. I would read something by him agai...more
I just couldn't get enough of this book. The writing style is wonderful and thought provoking. I'll save the recaps of the story to everyone else. I loved this book from start to finish. The very best part is every time you think you know what's going to happen, you're wrong. Beautifully written story. Did I highlight the whole book? I may have. Cannot wait to see what this author has for us in the future. I look forward to rereading it in the future.
This book has been moved up to my top books E...more
This book has been moved up to my top books E...more
This is the story of Robert Mattox,from his childhood days, living with a drunken abusive father, through the horrors of fighting in Europe during WWII, onto his heartbreaking homecoming after his injury and release from the army,and what happens afterward.
The characters are so real that I felt I knew them personally. The plot has more twists and turns than a back road through the Hill Country.
I loved this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an excellent story superbly told.
The characters are so real that I felt I knew them personally. The plot has more twists and turns than a back road through the Hill Country.
I loved this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an excellent story superbly told.
I loved the realism in this book. It was full of emotion that was conveyed beautifully. I love that it didn't follow the happy ever after formula to the letter. The war scenes were very vivid and the character development throughout was engaging. The only reason it didn't get five stars is because I found the start of the book a bit slow and the introduction wasn't followed through (letters to his grandson). A beautiful story that mimics real life without being cliche.
I loved the way this author writes the story. Their was quite a few instances where you did not expect the outcome to happen. The telling of the war made me feel like I completely understood what the main character was feeling. I understood what it was like fighting in WWII because you felt like you lived during this time period. Lastly, I LOVED how the author made you understand a males feelings and reactions. Sometimes, I misjudge how I perceive a males reaction. Since they show emotion differ...more
"In my Life, I have experienced many things. I've seen unbelievable beauty and felt unbearable pain. I've witnessed human beings exhibit both savagery that would shame a beast, and love and grace I'd thought only god could be capable of"
Love is a Wounded Soldier is a beautifully written story narrated through the eyes of a man who has experienced life, love, loss and redemption.
I loved every word written, and this story will stay with me for a very long time.
Love is a Wounded Soldier is a beautifully written story narrated through the eyes of a man who has experienced life, love, loss and redemption.
I loved every word written, and this story will stay with me for a very long time.
Go. buy. this. book. I can't say enough about it. I went from a farm in the South to the western front and back again, lulled by the seamless beauty of Blaine Reimer's words, the vividness of his characters, and my overarching NEED to see what happened next. I think I'll even read it again, ugly crying or not, just to spend more time in Robert Mattox's shoes. "How could love not grow in a soil so fertile?" Sigh.
I really enjoyed this book! The writing was beautiful and I found myself highlighting several passages. The story was also wonderful, about love, war, pain, and the struggle of moving on. I couldn't put this down and found myself wanting more after every chapter. The only thing I didn't like was that the ending felt a little rushed and choppy. It was still a great read though, one that I will definitely recommend to others!
I read this book on a whim, deciding to go outside my normal genre of books. I found it rather easy to get into, which is a huge bonus. Some parts were well written and well constructed. Others left me saying, huh?? over and over again. Certainly not enough of those moments to put the book down though. I will admit I found the ending a little weak. Quite possibly the biggest huh? moment of the entire book.
This is about a wounded warrior from WWII. The descriptions of the war are very vivid and difficult to read because they are so horrifying! So is the extreme depression the wounded warrior went through when he came home. While these parts of the book are very realistic, other parts are extremely hokey! These kinds of inconsistencies are why I only gave it 3 stars.
I've read several memoirs of WWII, and this novel rings as true as the real thing. Reimer skillfully weaves the story of a young man's life, filled with emotional complexity and just enough details to create an image without becoming too much to bear. The ending is satisfying, with only enough loose ends to prevent it from seeming like a fairy-tale.
I really liked this book. I am currently a wife to a deployed soldier. I thank god for modern technology. Though I do speak to my husband often. I can relate to the loneliness. The challenges we go thru. This was a very sad story, bit told from a soldiers point of view, which is rare. Makes you take astep back and realize what matters.
4/5 stars: This is a great book. I bought this book on a whim when Amazon offered it for $0.99. What a lucky find for me! It is a beautiful story about forgiveness, hardship, love, and the strength of character that grows from all of these things. This book is eloquently written as obvious right from the prologue. It is a captivating mix of history, war, and romance. You will not be disappointed.
I love this book. It was well written, good character development and a sadly happy ending. I recomend it to anyone interested in WW2 and the result on the lives those who fought it and those left behind. A bit too much language for me so beware! But that said the story very good and the author pulls it all together in the end.
For me, this story touched my heart in a way that most haven't ever been able to. It's a love story. It's a story of perseverance. It's a story of comradeship. It's a glimpse into reality, unlike some novels that depict some fairy tale land. This was the author's debut novel, and in my opinion, she really did an incredible job.
What an amazing book. I have always been a fan of historical fiction. Especially if it's done well. This one was done AMAZINGLY well! Mr. Reimer made you feel as if you yourself were going through D-Day and other battles in WWII.
The book had me from the very beginning and I was unable to put it down.
The book had me from the very beginning and I was unable to put it down.
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Jul 20, 2012 12:32pm
Tori, I just saw your post, I'm sorry!
Happy endings are overrated, right? Seriously, the ending was we...more
Sep 27, 2012 12:16pm