Like the last few years we at Love Bytes are reviewing the whole dsp advent calender
There will be a review posted each day throughout the month of December.
Let us know what you think of the reviews and the stories and have a chance to win a fabulous giveaway.
First Prize: 10 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)
Second Prize: 5 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)
Third Prize: 3 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)
Day 27
Reviewed by Caroline
TITLE: Welcome Home Soldier
SERIES: 2017 Advent Calendar – Stocking Stuffers
AUTHOR: Deanna Wadsworth
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 84 Pages
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2017
BLURB:
Clay and Daniel fell in love as enlisted men during Desert Shield, but Don’t Ask Don’t Tell meant they had to keep it secret. After Clay’s convoy was ambushed, PTSD changed him, and their relationship ended in a horrible fight on Christmas Eve.
Twenty-five years later, they’ve reconnected on Facebook, and Clay finds out Daniel will be alone on Christmas Eve. Impulsively, he sets out for Daniel’s hometown of Gilead, Ohio—where Daniel is now the mayor—to surprise him with a visit. But a blizzard strikes and Clay wrecks his car. All hope of seeing Daniel is lost—until a mysterious old man named Nick offers Clay a ride. The weight of past wounds and the scars of war might make their reunion awkward, but Clay is willing to take the risk to win back his lost love. Despite a lifetime of disappointing holidays, Clay hopes that this soldier is finally coming home for Christmas.
REVIEW:
Welcome Home Soldier is a brief glimpse into the lives of Clay and Daniel and is a second chance at love for the two men who haven’t seen each other for a quarter of a century.
I can’t remember when I last read a story that had virtually no secondary characters – this story centres around Clay and Daniel and although not entirely realistic Clay’s impulsive decision makes for a better Christmas Eve for the pair than the last one they spent together. The story is mainly told in the blurb so there is nothing I can really add to that except that I didn’t really feel any connection between the two men. Knocking on what is essentially a stranger’s door after 25 years after a few brief messages on Facebook and picking up where you left off just felt too quick and easy – I’m not a huge fan of insta-love so maybe that’s why this one didn’t work so well for me.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Sorry to hear this one didn’t work out for you. Insta-love stories can go either way for me I’m not opposed to it but I don’t exactly seek it out. Thanks for the review!
Again, seems like more length might have helped!
Thanks for the review.
Thank you for the review, Caroline. Too bad it did not work for you. I loved that cover
That’s too bad; I am not a fan of insta-love as well. So I think I’ll give this one a pass. Thank you so much for the review
I like that they are older MC’s though insta love can be hit or miss for me
Instalove works for me depending on the rest of the story and my expectations going into a story.
Thanks for the review. I’m about halfway through the stories this year – I always pre-order, but things have gotten away from me a bit 😉
Thanks for the review. Though nicely written, I didn’t know what to make of this story either.