Holy moly, I'm so sorry it took me so long to pick this up!


I have to admit, I had this one sitting on my Kindle for quite some time. I can't even tell you why I was hestitant to pick it up, since I pretty much loved every other book by Marshall Thornton that I read so far.

And I love his writing! His style is unique, and very distinctive. I guess, you either love it or have a problem with in every book. Me? Total fangirl. Because with him, it's like getting a box of candy. You know there will be an overall greatness to it that you came to enjoy over the years, but you never know which aspect will rock your world today.

But first things first. I would not call this a romance. Because, it really isn't. Yes, there is sex in it - MF and MM. There is also love, devotion and a GFY- aspect. Or maybe a bisexual-for-you. Doesn't matter really. Because the main focus here is not on the romance. So, if you're looking for lenghty discussions of feelings, inner monologues and struggles with sexuality, philosophy or humanity in general, look elsewhere.

Don is a fighter, he has to be after one unfortunate night in Chicago made him run from home, family and friends. He's ex-army, he's a survivor, and he is nothing but practical. And when his past is catching up with him, leaving him with a body of a sweet girl, the mob on his heels and no money to his name, he has to find a solution and fast. Enter Harlan. Perceptive and resourceful Harlan is nobody's fool, but at least he understands that desperate times call for desperate measures.

I loved their journey! In a way, Don reminded me a tiny little bit of Jack Reacher, only with a bigger conscience and a smaller ego. But the action, the adventures, the running and fighting and sheet-burning was all there. Loved it! Although the historical part didn't come through as much as for example in the Boystown Series, it still was a great backdrop to the story. It shaped the atmosphere as well as gave me the right feeling in general to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Definitely recommended!

5 beautiful stars for an all-time favorite

Thank you, Kaje Harper, for this wonderful story!. I was so hestitant to read this. Mostly because I'm always reluctant when it comes to historical romances. More often than not the history is only used as a setting and everything else is ignored in order to make the romance possible. Which annoys me to no end. Because when you decide to write a story in a different time period, to me that means, you also have to do extensive research in order to make it at least a tiny little bit authentic.

If you ask me, Kaje did a formidable job here. Of course my "histotrical perspective" is somewhat different, since my country was the enemy in the war she described. But still, it felt right to me. The way she told the story of two young men deeply influenced and scarred by living and fighting during WW2 was impressive and felt unbelievably real. The anger, the depression, the naked fear, the love, the secrecy - all of it went directly under my skin and made me feel so much for the MCs.

I especially liked how she didn't end the story after they found each other again after the war was over. We were able to see this couple grow together, get even more close, fall even more deeply, grow old together and break free together. It took decades, and so many sticks and stones, before they could finally get married and even though I am not the type to cry easily over a story, I had to pick up a tissue or three at the end. Really, truly beautiful.