Review: Come Home to Me - Jessica Scott

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

From USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott comes an all new novella about a woman who came back from war changed and the man who loves her enough not to let her go.

All Major Patrick MacLean wanted was Christmas with the woman and child who were his family in everything but name. But Captain Samantha Egan has come back from the war a different woman than the one who left - and she doesn't know if she can love him anymore.

But neither of them counted on the determination of a little girl they both call daughter and if Natalie has her wish, her parents may have no idea what's coming for them. It's going to take Christmas miracle to bring these two wounded warriors back from the edge of a broken heart.

This story has been featured in Home For Christmas: A Holiday Duet with JoAnn Ross.

Homefront Series:
(This is a spin off from the Coming Home Series but can be read completely separately)
Come Home to Me (Novella, previously published with the title All I Want for Christmas is You)
Homefront
After the War
Forged in Fire

Coming Home Series:
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Novella)
Because of You
Anything for You (Short Story)
Back to You
Until There Was You
All for You
It's Always Been You

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
Jessica Scott always writes such incredibly realistic military characters, it's so obvious that she puts part of her own experiences into her stories and that makes them feel all the more real. In Come Home to Me (which was previously published as All I Want for Christmas is You) we meet Captain Samantha Egan not long after she has returned home from a tour of duty where she saw her best friend die in front of her. She's grieving as well as suffering with PTSD and she isn't coping very well so she's packed up her daughter and moved back in with her parents looking for support.

Major Patrick MacLean may be the love of Sam's life but she doesn't know how to connect with him anymore so she finds it easier to walk away rather than try to deal with her issues. Patrick isn't about to give up on the woman he loves though, he knows exactly what she's going through and he knows that burying her head in the sand will only make it worse.

I'm not going to say too much more about the plot but this was a really emotional story about finding your way back to yourself and the people you love. Jessica Scott makes it very easy to feel exactly what both of the characters are going through and you can't help but root for them to make things work. This i perfect Christmas read that shows what's really important in life and it's a great introduction to the author's writing since it's the start of her Homefront series.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Homefront - Jessica Scott

He's always loved her . . .

First Sergeant Gale Sorren waited a war and half a lifetime for a chance to get stationed near the ex-wife who left him years ago. When he finally musters the courage to see her, the life he imagined she was living was nothing close to the reality.

She's never stopped loving him . . .

Melanie never stopped worrying about Gale each time he headed off to war. But he's never been there when she needed him and she's had fifteen years to steel her heart against him.

But when Gale moves to Fort Hood, he finally has a chance to make things right with Melanie and the daughter she raised without him.

Can Mel trust her heart to a man who has always let her down?

Homefront Series:
(This is a spin off from the Coming Home Series but can be read completely separately)
Come Home to Me (Novella, previously published with the title All I Want for Christmas is You)
Homefront
After the War
Forged in Fire

Coming Home Series:
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Novella)
Because of You
Anything for You (Short Story)
Back to You
Until There Was You
All for You
It's Always Been You

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
I love Jessica Scott's Coming Home series so I was really excited to find out she was writing a spin off and couldn't wait to read Homefront. Although you'll spot some familiar faces if you've read the previous stories each full length novel focuses on a different couple and works really well as a stand alone. I've loved all of the books I've read by this author though and would happily recommend any of them!

Homefront is a story about second chances, it's about reconnecting with old loves, letting go of past mistakes and forgiving people for the hurt they've caused. It's about rebuilding trust and focusing on the future you always wanted but never expected to have. Mel and Gale were young when they fell in love and married, they were crazy about each other but the pressures of a new baby and Gale's long deployments overseas tore them apart. Mel felt that Gale was never there for her when she needed him and decided she would be better off alone but she never stopped loving him and was never able to move on and start a new relationship. Gale never meant to let Mel leave him without a fight but spending so much time downrange didn't give him much of a chance to talk her around. He never felt worthy of her anyway and came to the conclusion that she was better off without him.

Now, 15 years later, Gale has been assigned to Fort Hood and is living near his wife and daughter for the first time in years. He is determined to take the opportunity to reconnect with the woman he never forgot and to build a relationship with his daughter but it's not going to be easy to convince them that he is home for good and that he wants to be a solid presence in their lives. Things haven't been easy for Mel and her daughter, Jamie is a troubled teen with a lot of issues to deal with and their mother/daughter relationship is very strained. I actually found this side of the story quite hard to read at times because it reminded me so much of the issues my mother and I had when I was Jamie's age but that just shows how realistic the writing is and how much I connected with the characters.

Mel isn't used to Gale being someone she can rely on, in the past whenever she has needed him the army has got in the way but now Gale is making a determined effort to be there to support her and she realises how much she enjoys having him around. I absolutely loved seeing them reconnect, they obviously had a deep and long lasting love between them but they realised that they had both made mistakes in the past. They were able to talk through their issues though and find ways to get past previous hurt and disappointment. They are a great couple with fantastic chemistry and a deep respect for each other. Seeing them working as a united front against Jamie was great and I enjoyed the added emotional pull of seeing Jamie's relationship with each of her parents slowly improve throughout the story.

Homefront was a great start to this series, it was great to catch up with a few familiar faces but what I enjoyed most was spending time with this little family and watching them put their lives back together so I hope we get to see more of them in the next few books. After the War is definitely at the top of my wish list.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: I'll Be Home for Christmas - Jessica Scott

There's nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke...except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war...and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband's tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic's bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

Coming Home Series:
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Novella)
Because of You
Anything for You (Short Story)
Back to You
Until There Was You
All for You
It's Always Been You

Homefront Series:
(This is a spin off from the Coming Home Series but can be read completely separately)
Come Home to Me (Novella, previously published with the title All I Want for Christmas is You)
Homefront
After the War
Forged in Fire


Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
We first met Vic and Nicole Carponti in Jessica Scott's debut novel Because of You and I have to admit I fell for Carponti immediately. I never expected that we'd get to see their story though because they were already a couple so I was surprised but thrilled when I heard about I'll Be Home for Christmas. I have to say I wasn't disappointed and I think this was my favourite story in the series so far! Although it isn't essential I would recommend reading Because of You before you pick up this one, the time line for this one crosses over with the full length book and I think you'll be more invested in this story if you know the background and some of the other side characters who get a mention.

Vic and Nicole are head over heels in love, they have a solid relationship and a happy marriage but that doesn't mean it is easy for either of them when they are separated while Vic goes on tour of duty. Vic worries that Nicole will get sick of waiting for him and meet someone else, he also worries that something may happen to him and how she would cope if he doesn't make it home. That's on top of the pressures of war, worrying about his men and the horror of seeing his friends injured or worse. Nicole may be safe at home but that doesn't stop her stressing about what Vic is going through, she misses him like crazy and hates it when he is out of contact for long periods of time but she knows how much strain he is under and doesn't want to add to it by complaining. She does her best to support her man but it's not easy, especially when she is facing Christmas alone not long after the death of her father.

I love how honest Jessica Scott is about how hard it can be not just for soldiers but also for their loved ones who remain at home. You can tell that she writes from experience and that just makes her stories all the more heartfelt and poignant. I can't say too much without giving spoilers but if you've read Because of You you'll already know what happens to Vic in this story. I think knowing what was to come made this even harder to read but I loved him even more for the way he deals with everything that happens to him. I also have a huge amount of respect for Nicole for the way she supports him. What drew me to Vic in the first place was his sense of humour, he is full of one liners and snarky comments that often get him into trouble but they really help to lighten what could have been quite a dark read. You quickly find out that Vic uses humour as a coping mechanism and as a way to keep up moral within his team but he does have a much more serious and responsible side that he keeps well hidden.

It's not often that I give 5 stars to a novella but I'll Be Home for Christmas deserves every single one of them. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside which made it a perfect Christmas treat! It also really helped build my excitement for Back to You, I've been desperate to read Trent and Laura's book since I read Because of You so I'm very relieved that it is finally being published in January.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Anything for You - Jessica Scott

From the author of Because of You comes an all new Coming Home short story.

Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison has spent a year recovering from his combat injuries. A year spent in the arms of the woman of his dreams. But loving Jen comes with a price: every time he touches her, he faces the uncertain fear that loving her might mean losing her forever.

Jen is a breast cancer survivor and with Shane, she’s found a man who loves her despite her scars. But her scars may be too much for their love to survive.

As their love grows, so does the risk to Jen’s life. And Shane must make the toughest decision any man can make to save the woman he loves.

Coming Home Series:
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Novella)
Because of You
Anything for You (Short Story)
Back to You
Until There Was You
All for You
It's Always Been You

Homefront Series:
(This is a spin off from the Coming Home Series but can be read completely separately)
Come Home to Me (Novella, previously published with the title All I Want for Christmas is You)
Homefront
After the War
Forged in Fire

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
I loved Jessica Scott's debut novel Because of You and I fell in love with Shane and Jen as a couple so as soon as I found out that Anything for You was a follow up to their story I knew I had to read it. There is no cross over of characters with Jessica's second book Until There Was You though so you don't need to have read that one before you pick up this story but it is essential to read Because of You first.

I always love getting the chance to catch up with a couple when they've had time to settle into their relationship and I couldn't wait to see how Shane and Jen were getting on. Shane is now a year into his recovery process and is slowly building his strength thanks to physiotherapy and he and Jen are happier than ever. There is one major issue that they need to work through though and it isn't going to be easy to find a solution that will keep them both happy.

I can't say much more because it would be too easy to give spoilers but if you loved the first book then I'm sure you'll enjoy catching up with the characters as much as I did. Shane and Jen really do come across as perfect for each other and I loved the fact that they are able to talk out their problems and that they really do care about what the other one wants. It was also great to see a couple of familiar faces (I love Carponti!) and this has just made me even more excited about Back to You which is Laura and Trent's story and will be published later this year.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Until There Was You - Jessica Scott

Though he plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed military leaders will prove that opposites attract . . . even under fire.

A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. Since that brief lapse in judgement, Evan has been at odds with her. But when he is asked to train a combat team alongside Claire, battle-hardened Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to achieve her high military rank. In Evan Loehr, Claire sees a spoiled commander who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. Army orders force them together and Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He too has dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

Coming Home Series:
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Novella)
Because of You
Anything for You (Short Story)
Back to You
Until There Was You
All for You
It's Always Been You

Homefront Series:
(This is a spin off from the Coming Home Series but can be read completely separately)
Come Home to Me (Novella, previously published with the title All I Want for Christmas is You)
Homefront
After the War
Forged in Fire

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
I absolutely loved Jessica Scott's first novel Because of You so I couldn't wait to read the second book in this series, Until There Was You. I was a little surprised to find that this story wasn't about one of the couples we got to know so well in the previous book, I had been particularly hoping to find out what is going on with Laura and Trent after the way things ended between them so it was quite a relief to know that the next book, Back to You, will be their story. I don't remember either Claire or Evan from the previous book so if they have already made an appearance then I'm pretty sure it wasn't a major one. I enjoyed their story but I have to admit that I missed the close knit friendships from the first book, we do have a supporting cast this time around but I didn't feel as connected to them as I was to all of the other characters.

Claire and Evan are both officers and they have been tasked with training a group of soldiers who are about to go on tour. They both have very different approaches to their work and often disagree with each other in regards to the best way to proceed. It doesn't help that they are on a tight time frame to get the training done and their boss has them focusing on teaching the soldiers presentation skills rather than how to survive in a combat situation. Both Claire and Evan can agree that the training plan is flawed but they can't agree on what they should do about it. Evan has been an officer since he joined the army, he sticks rigidly to the rules and wouldn't dream of going against the plan that has been set in place. Claire on the other hand was an enlisted soldier before she became an officer and thinks the rules are there to be bent if not broken completely. She is much more worried about making sure her team has the training that could save their lives than she is about keeping the commander happy.

Claire and Evan are both strong characters, they both have things in their pasts that have made them wary of relationships and despite the fact that they are attracted to each other neither of them is willing to act upon it. Although they are opposites in a lot of ways they actually have a lot in common, they care about their fellow soldiers and they both want to do whatever they can to ensure their teams are fully trained. They both love their army careers and neither of them can imagine life as a civilian. They also both have a hard time adjusting to being at home rather than on another tour of duty.

As much as I admired them both for some reason I had a hard time connecting to them emotionally. Their relationship just didn't resonate with me in the same way that Jen and Shane's did in the first book. I'm not sure if it was because the focus was more on the issues that they faced at the training centre than on them getting to know each other but it did mean that I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first one. I have to admit there were times when I found it difficult to keep track of all the military terminology and the different ranks because that is something I'm not overly familiar with. Until There Was You is still a solid story though and the fact that Jessica Scott is herself an army officer shines through in her writing as she gives you an insider look at not just how much training is required before soldiers are sent to combat but also how quickly they must prepare themselves. This is a series I'm happy to recommend and I can't wait to get my hands on Back to You when it is released next year!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Kindle:

Review: Because of You - Jessica Scott

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.

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.

Coming Home Series:
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Novella)
Because of You
Anything for You (Short Story)
Back to You
Until There Was You
All for You
It's Always Been You

Homefront Series:
(This is a spin off from the Coming Home Series but can be read completely separately)
Come Home to Me (Novella, previously published with the title All I Want for Christmas is You)
Homefront
After the War
Forged in Fire

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
I've only recently started to get back into reading contemporary romance but Because of You has definitely put me in the mood to read more stories about military heroes! This is an incredibly emotional book, one that bought tears to my eyes several times but also had me laughing out loud. This impressive debut from Jessica Scott has left me desperate to get my hands on her next book and luckily I only have a few months to wait for it's release!

Shane is a Sergeant in the army and his whole life revolves around protecting the men he serves with. His only focus is getting his men through the war with as few injuries as possible and it tears him up inside when one of them is hurt or even worse killed. When he is injured in a bomb blast he hates being stuck in an American hospital while his team are still out in Iraq fighting. Being a soldier is what he does best, it's the only life he knows and the idea of not being able to continue the fight leaves him feeling lost, angry and frustrated. Jen is a nurse who works at the hospital where Shane is recuperating. They had met in a bar before he left for Iraq and there was definitely chemistry between them but they both have reasons not to pursue a relationship. Jen has emotional and physical scars from a battle with breast cancer and although having a mastectomy saved her life she feels like less of a woman because of it. She is afraid of getting close to a man in case he rejects her because of her scarring.

Both Shane and Jen are incredibly strong characters, they always put other people's needs before their own and they are the kind of people who will do anything to help or protect those around them. They may be dealing with very different problems but their experiences give them unique insight into what the other is facing and together they are able to work through their issues. I loved watching the way their relationship develops as they slowly fall in love. They share some really sweet and emotional scenes but they also have scorching chemistry that is impossible for either of them to resist. They make a wonderful couple and I loved every scene with them both in it.

One of my favourite things about the book was the interaction with the secondary characters though. Jen is friends with the wives of several of the men in Shane's unit and we get to know them and their husbands. Jessica Scott shows all the different sides of being a military wife - how much they love their husbands and are proud of what they do but also how hard it is to effectively be a single parent for so much of the time. How difficult it is to constantly have to say goodbye to the one they love and know that there is a possibility that their husband won't come home safely. I'm left in awe of all military wives - you'd have to be a very strong woman to deal with everything they face on a daily basis. As much as you get to see things from the wives point of view you also see it from the side of the husbands. These soldiers are every bit the heroes we all know they are but it takes a toll on them spending so much time away from their families and facing the horrors that they see in the war zone they are stationed in. They all deal with things in different ways and I loved the humour and banter between them.

As much as we follow Jen and Shane's story we also get to know some of the other couples and I fell in love with all of them. I hope we get to see more of Carponti and Nikki as the series continues but I am also left desperately wanting a resolution to Trent and Laura's story. Because of You was a wonderful book, at times it makes for uncomfortable reading because you can see how true to life it is but it is also full of humour and the romance is lovely. Until There Was You is at the top of my wish list and I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading about military heroes.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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