This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Military Romance
Published by Timeless Scribes Publishing
Released on February 11, 2020
Pages: 121
Format: eARC
Source: Book Tour Provided
The Delight
They were the boy and girl next door, grew up best buds, and went into the military as doctors together. What happens when she dares to change the rules with the help of a magical, mystery woman? Everything!
Review
Everything begins with Gage coming off a duty assignment in Africa to be there for his father’s funeral. It is pathetic and sad. His father started dying years before when his wife left him for another man. That was when Gage walled off all his emotions and determined never to have a relationship after seeing what it did to his dad. The closest he has come is his long and deep friendship with Dani. Only, lately, Dani has been acting oddly and he fears what it can mean.
Dani has loved Gage for so long. Unrequited love and painful every time she has to watch him move from woman to woman. The latest is a former high school classmate who tends to sleep around and has her eyes set on Gage. He controls any emotion even between them as friends. She will try one more time, but if he won’t see her then she needs to get gone and is prepared to take the assignment in North Korea. A letter found in his dad’s things leads him to consult a woman who helps people find their soulmates. Dani urges Gage to discover what he can and hopes Juliana will help him find closure and open his eyes to love.
While this was a friends to lovers, it was more so a story of unrequited love for much of the book. Gage has severe abandonment issues because of the way his mom tore their family apart going after her soulmate. Maybe if I had gotten her full story, I’d be sympathetic and it’s not like people don’t run off with other people and get divorced all the time, but I definitely felt more sympathy for Gage and his dad.
However, the sympathy only went so far because Gage was so blind when it came to Dani and it was willfully so. He was so scared that he was willing to hurt her to protect himself. I wanted to thump him more than once. It was so obvious he loved her even as a teen when he didn’t want any other men near her and reacted badly to her seeing another guy as an adult. It took some past lives magic for him to get his head out of the sand.
Now, Dani was easy to love. She was funny and loyal, stood by him and overcame an abusive past. She was beautiful inside and out. She saw and brought out in Gage his best. I was really cheering her on and when she tossed in the towel and set other plans in motion, I can’t say that I disagreed.
The magical past lives part of the story was quirky and a little distracting, but Gage was in need of some big time motivating so it was good to see him confused and off his game when he went to Juliana for help.
All in all, it was an emotional, heartfelt piece with some bits of spice as these best friends fight hard to find their way to love. I loved that they were both military doctors and was interested in that side of things even if it was background. I can recommend this novella to those who enjoy military heroes and heroines, friends to lovers, and a sprinkling of magical realism in their contemporary romances.
My thanks to Caffeinated PR Services for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met
New Release #89
Books N Tunes #25 Jim Croce’s Time in a Bottle
Romance BINGO #16 doctor
Preview
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Excellent review. This sounds a bit frustrating but a good story.
He was so obtuse and stubborn. Argh! But, he worked it out in time. 🙂
great review. glad you enjoyed it
sherry @ <a href=”http://www.fundinmental.com/”> fundinmental</a>
Thanks, Sherry! I do love my military romances. 🙂
Wonderful review! I am delighted you enjoyed Everything.
Thank you! I did indeed. 🙂
I think Gage would test my patience. Just because your parents had a bad experience doesn’t give you leave to go from woman to woman. I would’ve been in Dani’s corner for sure.
I think so, too. He pulled some jerk moves with Dani. She was pretty loyal without feeling like a doormat.
this sounds so lovely, the heroine sounds amazing, I love a heroine that stands by and supports the hero.
She was amazing. I’m usually much harder on heroines, but it was the hero who was impossible most of the time. 🙂
I feel like this would give me a tear in my eye lol
It was sad a little, but mostly heated. 🙂