Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: May 22, 2016
Publisher: Encompass Ink
Length: 322 pages
Description: His war has just begun.
James (Jamie) Massey has been raised in a strict military household and grew up with the sole purpose of becoming a soldier. He never imagined the heartache his choices in love and war would weigh on his soul, and when he loses everything, he can’t imagine ever being happy again.
Chris Baker grew up in a small town, raised on the rodeo circuit. When he met Ben, he thought he’d live blissfully every after, but things have a way of not going along as planned. Chris, devastated by his loss, was barely hanging on.
When Jamie and Chris end up in the same small town diner, it can only be credited to divine intervention. But are both men too damaged? They say God works in mysterious ways. Well, he certainly had his hands full when he chose these two for saving.
Is it too late?
Triggers: Deals with PTSD, death, and realistic wartime violence.
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OUR REVIEW
Resurrection is an interesting story. Jamie is a soldier, a fighter, a survivor. Chris is a natural caretaker. Both men are alpha. They grow up very differently, and have extremely difficult lives before meeting each other. This makes their story all the more bittersweet.
This review is a little difficult to write because the book is split into three parts, and the writing style changes throughout the story. I must admit that while I love military men and their stories, Jamie's section (a full 1/3) of the book didn't grab me. What happens to him is heart-breaking, but the writing consisted of page after page of telling. The first 3% is entirely backstory with entire scenes about Jamie's father and grandfather. There are huge sections of narrative (telling) and only the occasional non-narrative scene (showing). But those few scenes were very good and are what kept me from tossing the book aside.
Fortunately, the second section about Chris was much better written with only the occasional long narrative passage. Although this section was shorter, I still connected better with Chris. I felt I knew him better and understood his struggles.
The third section, Resurrection, where Chris and Jamie finally meet made reading through the first two sections all worth it. It's very well written. The secondary characters are fleshed out, and the love story between these two men is realistic (given their pasts and health issues) and hot! They have great chemistry both in the bedroom and out. Both men have things they need to change about themselves if their relationship is to have a chance. They can't fall back into old patterns. The challenge is considerable and very exciting for the reader.
Had the first two sections been tighter (less backstory, less telling, more showing), I'd have given this story a 4.5 stars. As it is, I have to give it 3.5 stars.
Readers who enjoy sagas and epic stories of two men who struggle through life to achieve, finally, their happily ever after will love Resurrection.
OUR RATING: 3.5 stars!
