Series: Standalone
Traits & Tropes: forbidden romance; hero has PTSD
Setting/Genre: Contemporary; New Bern, North Carolina, USA
Publication Date: 9/29/20
Heat Level: 1/5
Rating: 3/5
When Navy doctor Travis Benson's life and career are upended by a mortar blast, he winds up back in New Bern, NC, where he spent childhood summers with his grandfather. His grandfather recently passed away, leaving Trevor his slightly tumbledown house and it's as good a place as any for Trevor to grieve and deal with his PTSD before he starts a residency in psychiatry.
As he waits for his move to Johns Hopkins, Trevor keeps up his grandfather's beehives and tries to remember his stay is temporary. Even so, he winds up falling head over heels in love with local sheriff's deputy Natalie Masterson. She seems to be feeling the same, yet she keeps a stiff distance from him and Trevor can't pinpoint the reason for her aloof attitude.
Trevor has an additional complication to his supposed relaxation in the form of his mysterious neighbor, a girl named Callie who claims to be 19. When he learns she befriended his grandfather, Trevor tries enlisting her help in clearing up the circumstances of his death. She's less than forthcoming with the truth even when it becomes imperative to her health. Through all these unexpected circumstances, Trevor and Natalie both learn love means something different than they thought and so does moving on.
So far I've only really enjoyed two of Sparks' books despite reading quite a few of them. I loved one of them though so I keep waiting for a repeat of that experience but it seems that was a one-off for me and I'm not sure when I'll learn. I'm not sure why I can't remember that Sparks doesn't really write romance. The bees and the PTSD angle were both interesting but really nothing happened otherwise and this just got caught up in the mundane details of routine. I never really saw a likable, working relationship between these two; they just never seemed to click to me. I saw the plot twists coming and this book just made me feel lonely and left me wanting better for both MCs, but especially for Trevor. I loved the descriptions of places I'm familiar with as a native of eastern NC, but the romance of that cute little town just didn't convey here.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3439206126
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/56956620
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