Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Drive Your Truck
AUTHOR: Julia Talbot
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 130 pages
BLURB:
Home on compassionate leave for his brother’s funeral, Navy SEAL Garrison Matthews needs to blow off a lot of stress and grief before he returns to active duty. In honor of his brother, he takes Bettie, the brothers’ souped-up vintage truck, out for a spin. A bit of an adrenaline junkie, Garrison has no problem finding trouble. This time trouble’s named Walt, and he happens to be Garrison’s sister-in-law’s brother.
Neither man expects their fun to amount to anything else, but after an injury sends Garrison home for good, he turns to Walt, hoping to start a new life. Walt is a closeted sheriff’s deputy, and while he adores Garrison, he isn’t sure he’s ready to come out… or for such a big commitment. Being fresh out of the service isn’t easy on Garrison either. To find their happy ending, Walt and Garrison must overcome their trust issues and get ready to settle down together.
REVIEW:
This blurb shouted my name so loud, I just couldn’t ignore it. This book had all the things I love: military, police officers, and most importantly Special Forces. Military novels will always be my thing but when Special Forces are added in it really makes a book that much more special. I did enjoy Garrison and Walt (terrible name for a leading man) together; however, this book lacked any kind of emotional connection. I missed that but overall this book was enjoyable.
Garrison Matthews is a seasoned Navy SEAL. The military runs through his veins. So when he’s sent home to attend his brother, a Special Forces Airmen’s, funeral he’s prepared to deal with the loss. He isn’t however prepared to deal with being around several strangers giving him condolences. While at the wake he runs into his brother’s widow’s brother, Walt. Walt senses his unease around strangers and offers him a reprieve of a sexual nature.
Walt is immediately attracted to his sister’s brother in law, Garrison. They comfort each other in their time of need but Walt knows he can have nothing more sue to the fact that he is a cop in a very small, very conservative town.
When Garrison is hurt out on a mission in the Middle East he is sent home on a medical discharge. Walt leaps at the opportunity to nurse Garrison back to health. As they spend more and more time together things turn physical between them again. Garrison, however, keeps his feelings guarded because he knows Walt is deeply closeted.
After some pretty close calls the men decide to give their relationship a try but have to sacrifice some things to make that happen.
The last bits of this book were when we were really able to see any kind of emotional connection between these two men. I missed this throughout the book but I was happy to see it, at all.
Overall this was a good short story. I’d be interested in reading more about these men.
RATING: 
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