Michelle Leah Olson's Reviews > A Reason to Love

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Vivacious Valkyrie - Marta:
*Copy gifted for an honest review

This is the third full length book in The Snowberry Creek series. Written by an author who to this reader is usually a name more famous for paranormal tales , this new contemporary series features veteran service men finding new lives and new loves in a civilian world.

Spence is believed to have been killed whilst serving in Afghanistan but in reality he was captured and hideously tortured by insurgents. Now he's come back to the only place and person that's ever felt like home to him but it's not the welcome that he expected. The girl he always loved is about to get married and what's worse is it's to one of his unit who left him behind! Spence is angry and confused but what does he do now?

Melanie was the poor little rich girl at school who never really felt that she fitted in but she remembers the local bad boy Spence and still can't quite believe that someone so vibrant is dead. Imagine her shock when she sees him standing in the local cometary by his own grave stone. It's all been a hideous mistake but there's no mistaking the sheer anger that's coming off him! When Spence seems to lose it Melanie offers him a place to stay whilst he sorts out what he wants but sometimes what you want and what you really need are not the same thing. Melanie still has feelings for Spence but it's clear he's totally messed up and not looking for a relationship. Can he ever find peace in Snowberry Creek? Or is Spence going to leave again?

I usually read paranormal romances and previously had only read the Paladin series by this author but I'm glad I read this book. It's not the usual sort of contemporary military romance that seems so popular recently no it's a far deeper tale than that. The author has bravely tackled the subject of post traumatic stress disorder and done a very good job of it. It's not slushy or sentimental in any way , nor does it glorify suffering . This book tries to show that some things will stay with us no matter what and running away is never an option. Spence is an angry young man but he feels he has good reason . He is trying to make sense of his life but everything has changed. Luckily the friends he has made will fight to get back the man they know and love.

This was a poignant read but definitely not sentimental. It's heart warming and written with a genuine sense of humour that animal lovers particularly will recognise! A story that shows how forgiveness can truly alter our lives and that anger and bitterness will always hold us back. It is a romance but it's a slow build that feels far more realistic then some I've read. It's not particularly a sexy book as it's the story and characters journey that matters here . It's not essential to have read the previous books but the same characters do crop up so if you enjoy this then you really ought to find the time . A good contemporary romance that tackles real issues and I'd definitely like to journey back to Snowberry Creek soon!