Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: Love’s Return
AUTHOR: Trina Lane
PUBLISHER: Totally Bound Publishing
LENGTH: 79 pages
BLURB:
Will love get a second chance or is history destined to repeat itself?
Critical care pediatrician Dean Whitten spends his days working with pint-sized people who hold the power to bring him great joy or, when the situation takes a turn for the worst, break his heart. He finds himself having a rare day off and he really wants to make the best of it. However, it happens to be Valentine’s Day and Dean hasn’t had anyone special in his life for a very long time—fifteen years to be exact. Dean is resilient, though, and is determined to make the best of the day alone. Cupid, however, decides to give Dean a little surprise when his past comes back in a big way.
Just out of the Marine Corps, Eric Sparks is starting over in life. When he decides to break from preparing for his new job by going to the movies, he isn’t expecting to encounter the boy—now a grown man—who stole his heart as a teenager.
Fifteen years ago, Eric left the country with his military family, ending his and Dean’s budding relationship. The two quickly discover that their dormant feelings are erupting again, especially once they’re back in each other’s arms. But Dean is settled in his life and Eric is scheduled to move across country in a matter of days. Will love and life give them a second chance?
REVIEW:
It has been over 15 years since Dean Whitten has last seen Eric Sparks, but when he comes across him at the movie theater, on Valentine’s Day, Dean is not surprised that the spark between them is just as hot as it was that memorable summer before Eric moved away. Eric, just freshly out of the Marine Corps, is as thrilled as Dean was to find his first love, but his life is pulling him across the country and he doesn’t know if their relationship can withstand the pressures of long-distance. Both men can’t deny that they love each other, even after such short a time, but when keeping together means one of them has to give up their home, it is unclear if finding love again means that they can keep it.
For a short story this did a pretty good job of setting up two character that I had no problem believing. Not only in what they said, but what they did. And I really liked the decisions that they ended up making. It got the desired result, but it also didn’t feel like anyone was foolishing giving up their lives on a whim and a hope that what they felt was the real deal. This was a bit insta-love, but they had the history to back it up, so I didn’t mind all that much. The hot sex scenes didn’t hurt either, I must admit.
I do wish I got a little more on why Eric was so adamant to move across country. The way that Eric didn’t even want to live in the same city as an Army base even after he had left the force, seemed a bit odd. Though this might just be my lack of understanding on how safe/unsafe it is to be out in the military now (even after the repeal of DADT). Or even how safe he felt despite the actual reactions of his friends and former comrades. Maybe a bit more time spent explaining this would have helped me, in the end, I guess.
Overall not a half-bad story and maybe something to look into now that Valentine’s Day is around the corner. It’s well written, with the right amount of steam, and short. A good combination when you want a break from some of the heavier stuff out there.
RATING:
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