Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Wilde Love

SERIES: Forever Wilde #6

AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox

NARRATOR: Michael Dean

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 7 hours, 20 minutes

RELEASE DATE: May 24, 2019

BLURB:

Weston “Major” Marian

After running away at the age of 17, I found a new home in the army. It wasn’t long before my fellow soldiers became my new family, giving purpose to my time in Vietnam.

But everything changes when Doc Wilde joins my medevac crew. A night alone in the jungle after a helicopter crash forces us to rely on each other for survival, the secrets we share cementing a bond between us deeper than any other I’ve known.

Doc begins to play a starring role in my late night fantasies even though I know he can never be anything more than a friend, a brother-in-arms. He’s straight, with a wife and kids back in Texas, and there would be devastating consequences if anyone in the army discovered my secret.

But Doc was never a lifer like me. When our tours end, we go our separate ways. He heads home to his perfect family while I continue to serve. I thought that was the end of our story. Turns out I was wrong.

Liam “Doc” Wilde

When I wind up on the front lines in Vietnam young and afraid, it’s Major Marian who comes to my rescue. He’s tough, brave, and quiet, and he vows to keep me safe. He’s the only reason I make it home to my wife and kids alive.

For some, a friendship like that might have ended once we left the jungle behind, but as time passes, our bond only continues to grow. Years later, when an unexpected illness turns my life upside down, Major is the first person I turn to for help, and he drops everything to rescue me as always.

I soon realize that at every step of my life, Major has been there, by my side, putting me first. All this time he’s been standing in the sidelines, waiting patiently to hand over his heart into my safekeeping.

I never imagined building a life with another man, but seeing Major in this new light is like a revelation. And suddenly I can’t imagine it any other way.

REVIEW:

It’s Friday and normally I only post Flashback Friday reviews on this day. But today isn’t just any other Friday, it’s Valentine’s Day. A day to celebrate love. And I couldn’t think of a better book (from my recently read pile) that celebrates love more than Wilde Love, so this review just had to go up today.

Like many others I was hesitant to pick this book up. I can’t really put my fingers on anything specific, but that’s how it is sometimes. Yet the book kept popping up, so did these raving reviews and I figured I needed to know for myself if this story was everything it seemed to be. It was. And so much more. By far, this was the best book in this series, I would also go as far as say this is the best book this duo has produced yet.

From the start I was hooked. I found myself in the middle of a war, fighting for survival alongside Doc and Major. It felt real. It was clear Lennox did her research for this book adding military terminology and the horrible descriptions of war, the losses, the fear, the despair. Yet somehow in the middle of all this the bond that was forged between Doc and Major was so strong it made them survive the war. It wasn’t a romantic love they shared, at least not from Doc’s perspective – he had a wife and kids waiting for him back home. Major though, he fell for Doc the first time he laid eyes on the man.

We follow them through the war, returning back home, in Doc’s case, Major was a lifer and stayed on in the military. But between tours he called Doc’s family ranch home. He found a place within their family, was loved by all of them. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for him at that ranch. Living there, having everything he ever dreamed about right at his fingertips – but for the small detail that the man he loved and wanted wasn’t in love with him, but lived there with his wife. Watching them together must have been excruciating.

I loved how Betsy, Doc’s wife, was never portrayed as the villain. She wasn’t nasty, spiteful or uncaring. I loved the fact that Doc did love her and their family. It might not be what any of them had planned for themselves, but I don’t believe any of them would change a thing either. Betsy was a lovely woman, friendly, loving and smiling. There was genuine affection there. Between her and Doc but also for Major. Theirs wasn’t a romantic love, but one of friends, of family.

The first half or so of the book was by far my favourite part. I can’t really explain it, but it was more heartfelt and emotional than the rest of the book. There was so much love pouring from the pages (earbuds), love of all kinds. But there was also heartbreak and sorrow. Not a single moment left you untouched.

I listened to this book at work. And there were times I prayed no one would come walking past my office and see me brawling my eyes out. Trying desperately to sniffle discreetly and wipe the tears from my face when anyone peeked their noses in. Those kinds of reactions are definitely a credit to Michael Dean and his incredible performance. He made you feel the love and pain, the longing and the losses. It was heartfelt from beginning to end, and I can only thank him and Lennox for the privilege of this listen.

Major and Doc had one heck of a ride. They went through so much together, good and bad. No matter if you’ve read any of Lennox’s books prior to this one, it’s definitely one you shouldn’t miss out on. It’s a love story that spans time and space and truly does conquer all.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible

Amazon