Book review
“WOW” is this first thought that comes to mind as I try to get my head back on straight after reading this book. Once again Corinne Michaels has taken me on an emotional roller coaster ride, one that I truly loved every minute of it. I first fell in love with Corinne Michaels’ writing when I picked up her debut novel, Belonging. I absolutely loved her Belonging series and fell in love with her characters so when I heard that her new series was a spinoff of that series I couldn’t wait to pick it. Although I knew it was going to be another emotional ride, nothing ever truly can prepare you for one of Corinne’s books.
After reading the Belonging series which tells what happens to Aaron and then reading the synopsis, I knew going into this book things were not going to pretty, I knew this was definitely not a book you can be sitting in public and reading, but I truly was not prepared to have such an ugly as I did these first few chapters of Consolation. The author from the very first line truly pulled me into Natalie’s story and with her writing, made me feel completed gutted by Aaron’s death and all that face her. She was at the end of her pregnancy waiting for her husband to come home only to have that knock on her door that every military family member dreads. I have to say after the reading the first three chapters of this book I had to put it down and try to pull myself together, I was a blubbering mess. I also needed a break, I needed to take all that in before I could move on, yes a book did that to me, doesn’t happen often, but it happened. I was truly left feeling like it was me that lost that loved one and I just wasn’t ready to move onto what would happen next, or should I say who, Liam.
To be completely honest, I went into this book with apprehension. I have read many stories of losing a loved one but finding a second chance of love and I do enjoy them but find myself a lot of times left with that feeling of it being too soon to move on, to love again so deeply so soon after losing the love of their life. I didn’t want that to happen with this book, I love this author’s writing style and I love the stories she has created and I wanted to completely love this one. The moment I met Liam and realized how the author was planning on building their relationship into more, my apprehension completely faded away. I loved how Liam slowly healed Natalie, how slowly the old Natalie came back. I loved how over time their feelings grew, they both struggled with those feeling but they also talked about them. The author truly made me want this to happen without making me feel like it was too soon for her to move on.
I loved Natalie, she was such a strong and amazing character. Although to be a Navy wife, especially a wife of a SEAL, you would have to be strong. Here she was, pregnant waiting for her husband to come and then shortly after they would welcome their new baby girl. Instead of her husband coming home, she was left to deal with the fact that he was gone and she was on her own, being a new parent but also now a single parent. She was devastated but she was able to go on somehow. I also loved that as we see and learn more of Aaron through Natalie, through his letter to her and other characters, she is constantly challenged again and again with his death and each and every time she deals with it amazingly, she truly was meant to be a military wife.
OMG Liam, could he be any more perfect. He sets out to help his best friend’s wife after he dies overseas, he is there for her when she needs that person to lean on for strength. Somehow without even trying he makes her smile and laugh again but he soon realizes he now sees her differently, and tries to fight those feelings. I love that he tries to step back and respect the fact that it’s his best friend’s wife but I also love that when he decides he want to see what comes of them, he doesn’t pressure he, he takes things slow and he makes sure they don’t do anything they will regret. But he also promises her that no matter what, he will always be her friend if that is all she wants. He can very Alpha at time, what Navy SEAL isn’t but he is also thoughtful and sweet, putting her and Arabelle first. I have to say I think I am in love with Liam even more so than Jackson, there is just something about him, I just can’t stop thinking and dreaming about him.
I truly cannot put into words how much I enjoyed this book and how truly amazing it was. From the very first few words, I was pulled into this story, instantly connected with Natalie and feeling every gut wrenching emotion she was feeling. This book had me in tears, had me laughing at some of their banter, it had my heart in my throat a few times as to what would happen next and it had me totally swooning and all hot and bothered. It was a great mix of so many things and so many emotions. And I must say, for a new author, the writing is superb. I was pulled into this story from the start, their story played out slowly but never dragging. There were so many times I was left thinking “I didn’t see that coming” and as I got to the end of this book, I was left floored, blown away and suffering from a sever book hangover. Many hours later after I have finished reading, I am still sitting here with my mind on overdrive with so many thoughts going through my head about this book.
- Goodreads rating – 4.34
- REVIEW – Lustful Literature