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Between Love and Honor
The Courage to Love
Sequel to Between Love and Honor
In 1915, after his beloved Carl died from a vicious beating, David Harrison enlisted in the Army and went to war. He returns home to find a world seemingly unchanged, while he will never be the same. At Mrs. Gill’s boarding house, he meets Bernard Donnelly, a young man suffering the aftereffects of his own war experiences. David finds himself increasingly attracted to Bernard, but that terrifies him. He blames himself for Carl’s horrific death and fears he isn’t strong enough to lose another love to violence.
Bernard needs David to help him face each day and find a way they can be together without stigma—and without putting them in legal and physical danger—but David clings to his idea that the only way to keep a lover safe is not to have one. His fears threaten to destroy everything, unless he learns that sometimes the risk is worth it and finds the courage to love.
In 1915, after his beloved Carl died from a vicious beating, David Harrison enlisted in the Army and went to war. He returns home to find a world seemingly unchanged, while he will never be the same. At Mrs. Gill’s boarding house, he meets Bernard Donnelly, a young man suffering the aftereffects of his own war experiences. David finds himself increasingly attracted to Bernard, but that terrifies him. He blames himself for Carl’s horrific death and fears he isn’t strong enough to lose another love to violence.
Bernard needs David to help him face each day and find a way they can be together without stigma—and without putting them in legal and physical danger—but David clings to his idea that the only way to keep a lover safe is not to have one. His fears threaten to destroy everything, unless he learns that sometimes the risk is worth it and finds the courage to love.
185 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2013
3 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Montgomery
15 books8 followersE E Montgomery wants the world to be a better place, with equality and acceptance for all. Her philosophy is: We can’t change the world but we can change our small part of it and, in that way, influence the whole. Writing stories that show people finding their own ‘better place’ is part of E E Montgomery’s own small contribution.
Thankfully, there’s never a shortage of inspiration for stories that show people growing in their acceptance and love of themselves and others. A dedicated people-watcher, E E finds stories everywhere. In a cafe, a cemetery, a book on space exploration or on the news, there’ll be a story of personal growth, love, and unconditional acceptance there somewhere.
You can contact E E Montgomery at eemontgomery11@gmail.com, at her blog: www.eemontgomery.com/blog, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewynelaine.m..., on Twitter: @EEMontgomery1, or at her web site: http://www.eemontgomery.com/.
Thankfully, there’s never a shortage of inspiration for stories that show people growing in their acceptance and love of themselves and others. A dedicated people-watcher, E E finds stories everywhere. In a cafe, a cemetery, a book on space exploration or on the news, there’ll be a story of personal growth, love, and unconditional acceptance there somewhere.
You can contact E E Montgomery at eemontgomery11@gmail.com, at her blog: www.eemontgomery.com/blog, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewynelaine.m..., on Twitter: @EEMontgomery1, or at her web site: http://www.eemontgomery.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 1, 2013
The prequel Between Love and Honor was so heart wrenching, that I had to see David get his HEA.
In the prequel of this story we meet David who has an unfortunately short term relationship with Carl. Carl is taken away from David in a violent attack leaving David full of guilt and regret.
On The Courage to Love we find David back in Australia after serving 4 years in the war. He is back still full of guilt and regret and also a man dealing with PTSD from the war. Back in Mrs Gill's boarding house he meets Bernard. Bernard is also a war veteran in even worse shape than David. His PTSD is severe and makes him almost not functional in regular society.
This is a very slow burn romance story. Bernard and David get to know each other slowly as they help Mrs Gill around the house and as they help each other deal with their PTSD episodes. The conflict on this story comes from David's reluctance to act on his attraction/feelings for Bernard for fear that Bernard may face the same end as Carl. I have to admit that as the book went on I found his resistance was wearing ME out. Since despite what had happened and what could happen, David AND Bernard had found a very supportive and understanding set of friends.
However even after finding David's slow acceptance of their circumstances trying, I LOVED this story! I think the author did a great job transporting me to that time period and developing not only the main characters but also the secondary ones. I found her writing style smooth and appealing and I would read more books from her.
In the prequel of this story we meet David who has an unfortunately short term relationship with Carl. Carl is taken away from David in a violent attack leaving David full of guilt and regret.
On The Courage to Love we find David back in Australia after serving 4 years in the war. He is back still full of guilt and regret and also a man dealing with PTSD from the war. Back in Mrs Gill's boarding house he meets Bernard. Bernard is also a war veteran in even worse shape than David. His PTSD is severe and makes him almost not functional in regular society.
This is a very slow burn romance story. Bernard and David get to know each other slowly as they help Mrs Gill around the house and as they help each other deal with their PTSD episodes. The conflict on this story comes from David's reluctance to act on his attraction/feelings for Bernard for fear that Bernard may face the same end as Carl. I have to admit that as the book went on I found his resistance was wearing ME out. Since despite what had happened and what could happen, David AND Bernard had found a very supportive and understanding set of friends.
However even after finding David's slow acceptance of their circumstances trying, I LOVED this story! I think the author did a great job transporting me to that time period and developing not only the main characters but also the secondary ones. I found her writing style smooth and appealing and I would read more books from her.
June 23, 2022
Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded down)
Damn. This started out really great but very quickly went down hill. The first 25% was fantastic with a strong focus on both MMCs struggling to re-adjust to civilian life after having fought in WW1. David and Bernard both suffer from different forms of PTSD as a result of their combat experiences and I loved how they used their experiences as soldiers to comfort and help each other. Over time, they figure out exactly what they each need in order to get through triggering situations and neither of them care if those coping methods attract negative attention or are embarrassing. A great example was when their landlady gave them food and made them go out for a picnic. They found an isolated spot to sit at a nearby park and they sat back to back while eating (ie they both watched each other's six) and this made them feel comfortable enough to eat out in the open while surrounded by other park goers.
I also loved that the author included different types of characters in the boarding house they lived at. Mrs. Gill (their landlady) was amazing and I loved how patient and understanding she was with both boys. She allowed Bernard to pay very little rent because she knew his severe PTSD (vivid flashbacks combined with violent outbursts, night terrors and inability to cope with loud noise or crowds) prevented him from being able to get a job in town. She also made David stop drinking and made sure both boys were eating properly and spent time outside. This was beautifully contrasted with the other men in the boarding house, none of whom had fought in the war but who had spent 4 years reading the propaganda that the government had forced the media to print so they had no respect or patience for Bernard and David's issues.
Overall, I loved the historical details throughout and it's clear that the author did a lot of research. It was really cool having this story take place in Australia because that's a rarity for MM romance anyway, never mind post-WW1 romances. The way the author effortlessly wove historical details into the narrative was beautifully done and I was immediately transported to that period of time and every word and detail helped keep me there. So that was a big plus.
Unfortunately, David was extremely annoying. I started the story thinking he's in his early 20s and I was shocked to discover that he's supposed to be 30 because his behavior reminded me of a teenager. He's constantly bursting into tears, dramatically running out of rooms when he doesn't want to deal with a situation (this wasn't connected to his PTSD) and at one point, he even falls off his chair when he's surprised by something. Then there's his constant woe-is-me attitude and that's where my other big problem came into play.
David comes into the story with major baggage. Not only is he dealing with his PTSD from WW1, but his former boyfriend (Carl) had been beaten to death just before the war (which is what prompted David to run away and enlist). After the first 25% of the story (during which David's WW1 PTSD is the major focus), that gets pushed to the background in favor of David's grief over losing Carl and his constant paranoia that he or Bernard will meet the same fate if anybody discovers that either of them are gay, never mind together. His fears are so intense that it's all he thinks about and talks about. At the same time, he decides he's 'in love' with Bernard after just a few months of knowing him and having spent limited time together and these combined factors result in David constantly being hot/cold towards Bernard. Not only was this behavior annoying and repetitive, but David's immaturity made the whole thing much worse because it made him seem selfish and ignorant of Bernard's feelings. I wanted to strangle David by 50% and I was so annoyed with him that I skimmed through the last half of the book.
It didn't help that the author switched focus AGAIN at the halfway mark. Mrs. Gill suddenly has multiple health issues and gets pushed into the background permanently, which was a huge loss because I adored her and I hated that the author randomly decided to replace Mrs. Gill with another character (Ms. Taylor) who basically served the same purpose without having that rich history with the boys. Then Bernard and David decide to get out of town and they apply for and receive land grants so they go off to became cattle ranchers. The author's meticulous researching once again was on display with tons of details regarding how the boys would set up a cattle ranch, what supplies they needed to take with them and what their first few months were like.
Unfortunately, David's overly emotional woe-is-me attitude made the whole thing a boring slog, not to mention that I hated having so many different plotlines combined in one short story. If the story had focused only on David and Bernard's struggles to re-adjust to civilian life after WW1 and deciding to be cattle ranchers from the start, that would have been great. Or if David was grieving from losing Carl and he meets Bernard when they both arrive in the Outback to start their ranches. Or if they had remained in town with Mrs. Gill remaining part of the story and the whole narrative had focused on them falling in love while learning how to cope with their PTSD. But having all of these things crammed into such a story gave me mental whiplash and resulted in none of the plotlines being satisfying.
What a shame because the author's researching skills and historical fiction writing abilities are great. I only wish the entire book had been what the first quarter had promised.
Damn. This started out really great but very quickly went down hill. The first 25% was fantastic with a strong focus on both MMCs struggling to re-adjust to civilian life after having fought in WW1. David and Bernard both suffer from different forms of PTSD as a result of their combat experiences and I loved how they used their experiences as soldiers to comfort and help each other. Over time, they figure out exactly what they each need in order to get through triggering situations and neither of them care if those coping methods attract negative attention or are embarrassing. A great example was when their landlady gave them food and made them go out for a picnic. They found an isolated spot to sit at a nearby park and they sat back to back while eating (ie they both watched each other's six) and this made them feel comfortable enough to eat out in the open while surrounded by other park goers.
I also loved that the author included different types of characters in the boarding house they lived at. Mrs. Gill (their landlady) was amazing and I loved how patient and understanding she was with both boys. She allowed Bernard to pay very little rent because she knew his severe PTSD (vivid flashbacks combined with violent outbursts, night terrors and inability to cope with loud noise or crowds) prevented him from being able to get a job in town. She also made David stop drinking and made sure both boys were eating properly and spent time outside. This was beautifully contrasted with the other men in the boarding house, none of whom had fought in the war but who had spent 4 years reading the propaganda that the government had forced the media to print so they had no respect or patience for Bernard and David's issues.
Overall, I loved the historical details throughout and it's clear that the author did a lot of research. It was really cool having this story take place in Australia because that's a rarity for MM romance anyway, never mind post-WW1 romances. The way the author effortlessly wove historical details into the narrative was beautifully done and I was immediately transported to that period of time and every word and detail helped keep me there. So that was a big plus.
Unfortunately, David was extremely annoying. I started the story thinking he's in his early 20s and I was shocked to discover that he's supposed to be 30 because his behavior reminded me of a teenager. He's constantly bursting into tears, dramatically running out of rooms when he doesn't want to deal with a situation (this wasn't connected to his PTSD) and at one point, he even falls off his chair when he's surprised by something. Then there's his constant woe-is-me attitude and that's where my other big problem came into play.
David comes into the story with major baggage. Not only is he dealing with his PTSD from WW1, but his former boyfriend (Carl) had been beaten to death just before the war (which is what prompted David to run away and enlist). After the first 25% of the story (during which David's WW1 PTSD is the major focus), that gets pushed to the background in favor of David's grief over losing Carl and his constant paranoia that he or Bernard will meet the same fate if anybody discovers that either of them are gay, never mind together. His fears are so intense that it's all he thinks about and talks about. At the same time, he decides he's 'in love' with Bernard after just a few months of knowing him and having spent limited time together and these combined factors result in David constantly being hot/cold towards Bernard. Not only was this behavior annoying and repetitive, but David's immaturity made the whole thing much worse because it made him seem selfish and ignorant of Bernard's feelings. I wanted to strangle David by 50% and I was so annoyed with him that I skimmed through the last half of the book.
It didn't help that the author switched focus AGAIN at the halfway mark. Mrs. Gill suddenly has multiple health issues and gets pushed into the background permanently, which was a huge loss because I adored her and I hated that the author randomly decided to replace Mrs. Gill with another character (Ms. Taylor) who basically served the same purpose without having that rich history with the boys. Then Bernard and David decide to get out of town and they apply for and receive land grants so they go off to became cattle ranchers. The author's meticulous researching once again was on display with tons of details regarding how the boys would set up a cattle ranch, what supplies they needed to take with them and what their first few months were like.
Unfortunately, David's overly emotional woe-is-me attitude made the whole thing a boring slog, not to mention that I hated having so many different plotlines combined in one short story. If the story had focused only on David and Bernard's struggles to re-adjust to civilian life after WW1 and deciding to be cattle ranchers from the start, that would have been great. Or if David was grieving from losing Carl and he meets Bernard when they both arrive in the Outback to start their ranches. Or if they had remained in town with Mrs. Gill remaining part of the story and the whole narrative had focused on them falling in love while learning how to cope with their PTSD. But having all of these things crammed into such a story gave me mental whiplash and resulted in none of the plotlines being satisfying.
What a shame because the author's researching skills and historical fiction writing abilities are great. I only wish the entire book had been what the first quarter had promised.
August 29, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Oh my God!
Ok, I’ll admit it. At first I didn’t realize what this book was (a sequel to one of my favorite shorts) so I went and read two or three pages and the names David and Carl kept haunting me. The pain and mourning, the intense emotional shower you get the moment you start reading all were so familiar, but then it hit me and good God, it really hit me. I had to go and restart it from first line, I just had to.
You see there was a short story I read back in March that amazed me with the depth of it. It left me feeling so sad about its characters and I wished it was longer so I could keep on reading. Well David and Carl’s story was just that, short, and the loss and pain David suffered were heart-wrenching, but life continues and this sequel shows you just that.
After his beloved Carl died David went to war. The irony, a war that shattered his dreams long before he went. But the return is worse than he could imagine. Forced to go live in with his Mother until he gets a job and sorts his life again into a semblance of normalcy, forced to mourn in private when no one can witness his pain, forced to a life full of nightmares that blend the war atrocities and the loss of his reason to live, forced to the emptiness his nature has cursed him.
At least his dear Mrs. Gill was still there and while his old room had been given already, she still had one left, Carl’s room.
What a book, I tell you. I loved seeing Mrs. Gill again; I loved meeting her and her incredible personality that bled in the text whenever she was in a scene. Her subtle acceptance and love were truly great, which made what happened later in the story even more tear-evoking. And we got to meet the new man that would capture and haunt David’s mind and heart.
Bernard. I loved him. This is one character that makes other’s pale. A man both strong and determined, and weak and in need of care. What a wonderful mix. What a great work describing warriors and their ptsd. Both David and Bernard suffered from it, both differently and with different levels of effect. It was incredible seeing their differences, and it was brilliant seeing the parts where their strength was great. I loved seeing them work together and stand by each other when the nightmares hit them, how terribly dangerous they were in those small moments when they were the most vulnerable at the same time.
What also captivated me was the picture of 1920 Australia. We are so used to see the historical romances deal with aristocracy or with middle class people, that when you read this book and see that time the way this author means you to, you can’t fail feeling the great job she has done with describing the area. The daily life the people led, the difficulties they faces, the reality of that time when you had to work, and work hard in order to have the simple things. Great, great work indeed.
What I disliked though was how much David’s fear dominated the story. He wouldn’t let go of his fears and while this story was about him and Bernard, Carl was very much there the entire read. I’m not exactly sure if that gave it a stronger air of credibility or if it was a bit overwhelming. At times even I felt like hitting David and wake him up from his stupidity.
In the end though all I have to say about this book is that if you like intense emotional rides this is definitely the book for you. Don’t miss it.
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Oh my God!
Ok, I’ll admit it. At first I didn’t realize what this book was (a sequel to one of my favorite shorts) so I went and read two or three pages and the names David and Carl kept haunting me. The pain and mourning, the intense emotional shower you get the moment you start reading all were so familiar, but then it hit me and good God, it really hit me. I had to go and restart it from first line, I just had to.
You see there was a short story I read back in March that amazed me with the depth of it. It left me feeling so sad about its characters and I wished it was longer so I could keep on reading. Well David and Carl’s story was just that, short, and the loss and pain David suffered were heart-wrenching, but life continues and this sequel shows you just that.
After his beloved Carl died David went to war. The irony, a war that shattered his dreams long before he went. But the return is worse than he could imagine. Forced to go live in with his Mother until he gets a job and sorts his life again into a semblance of normalcy, forced to mourn in private when no one can witness his pain, forced to a life full of nightmares that blend the war atrocities and the loss of his reason to live, forced to the emptiness his nature has cursed him.
At least his dear Mrs. Gill was still there and while his old room had been given already, she still had one left, Carl’s room.
What a book, I tell you. I loved seeing Mrs. Gill again; I loved meeting her and her incredible personality that bled in the text whenever she was in a scene. Her subtle acceptance and love were truly great, which made what happened later in the story even more tear-evoking. And we got to meet the new man that would capture and haunt David’s mind and heart.
Bernard. I loved him. This is one character that makes other’s pale. A man both strong and determined, and weak and in need of care. What a wonderful mix. What a great work describing warriors and their ptsd. Both David and Bernard suffered from it, both differently and with different levels of effect. It was incredible seeing their differences, and it was brilliant seeing the parts where their strength was great. I loved seeing them work together and stand by each other when the nightmares hit them, how terribly dangerous they were in those small moments when they were the most vulnerable at the same time.
What also captivated me was the picture of 1920 Australia. We are so used to see the historical romances deal with aristocracy or with middle class people, that when you read this book and see that time the way this author means you to, you can’t fail feeling the great job she has done with describing the area. The daily life the people led, the difficulties they faces, the reality of that time when you had to work, and work hard in order to have the simple things. Great, great work indeed.
What I disliked though was how much David’s fear dominated the story. He wouldn’t let go of his fears and while this story was about him and Bernard, Carl was very much there the entire read. I’m not exactly sure if that gave it a stronger air of credibility or if it was a bit overwhelming. At times even I felt like hitting David and wake him up from his stupidity.
In the end though all I have to say about this book is that if you like intense emotional rides this is definitely the book for you. Don’t miss it.
Thommie
June 13, 2014
David's story started in Between Love and Honor, a short story from the Dreamspinner Press Bittersweet Dreams series. David met and fell in love with Carl but they were not destined to have a future together. David is devastated at the loss of his lover– and holds himself responsible. The Courage To Love picks up his story once he returns from the horrors of the war.
As with the first story, this book had a wonderful sense of time and place and appeared to reflect what it was like to live in Brisbane in the period after the war– the attitudes, the way of life, the hardship, the illness...
This is a story of fear of loving. And David's fear is understandable due to what he'd been through– the death of his lover, his guilt, the war experience, his own mother's attitude. The result is that his love for Bernard meant he kept him at arm's length, afraid to get too close.
It was a moving story with wonderful characters– I loved Mrs Gill– but I do admit to wanting just a touch more of a physical relationship between David and Bernard. I know that their level and amount of intimacy was appropriate for the story but I couldn't help but hope.
And after the tears of book 1, thank goodness David got his happy ending!
For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
As with the first story, this book had a wonderful sense of time and place and appeared to reflect what it was like to live in Brisbane in the period after the war– the attitudes, the way of life, the hardship, the illness...
This is a story of fear of loving. And David's fear is understandable due to what he'd been through– the death of his lover, his guilt, the war experience, his own mother's attitude. The result is that his love for Bernard meant he kept him at arm's length, afraid to get too close.
It was a moving story with wonderful characters– I loved Mrs Gill– but I do admit to wanting just a touch more of a physical relationship between David and Bernard. I know that their level and amount of intimacy was appropriate for the story but I couldn't help but hope.
And after the tears of book 1, thank goodness David got his happy ending!
For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
August 25, 2013
I adored this book, it's a hauntingly beautiful love story of two men trying to build a future together in a time when it was dangerous for two men to be seen to more than friends.
The writing is beautiful, it’s descriptive and eloquent. The story is told mainly through David’s POV, but that doesn’t make the story one sided as we learn equally as much about Bernard through his interactions with David. I adore historical stories and have a weakness for this part of history, for stories that show the unbreakable human spirit and that’s what this story does, it shows how two men, back from the war to end all wars, can build a future in a world not yet ready for them.
This book is a sequel to Between Love and Honor, but can be read as a standalone.
My Full review can be found at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
The writing is beautiful, it’s descriptive and eloquent. The story is told mainly through David’s POV, but that doesn’t make the story one sided as we learn equally as much about Bernard through his interactions with David. I adore historical stories and have a weakness for this part of history, for stories that show the unbreakable human spirit and that’s what this story does, it shows how two men, back from the war to end all wars, can build a future in a world not yet ready for them.
This book is a sequel to Between Love and Honor, but can be read as a standalone.
My Full review can be found at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
February 20, 2014
A fabulous love story, perfectly paced, that flows in a realistic manner. I absolutely love the relationship between David and Bernard and their ups and downs. Highly recommended!
August 27, 2013
A beautifully written and gripping love story.
November 15, 2016
A lovely beautiful and heartbreak story. Loved it and Bernard and David so right for each other.
January 15, 2015
This story is so powerful and emotions are all over the place. I'll admit that the first few shell shock induced nightmare scenes are a little confusing but afterwards, I realized that the mild confusion I felt only added to the severity of what both David and Bernard were dealing with. I've always been a bit of a history buff, so this is not my first story surrounding World War 1 veterans but the author still managed to tug at my heart when dealing with the shell shock. Some people might see the continued nightmares and David's reluctance to open his heart again after losing Carl as repetitious but I see them as showing how far they've actually come and at the same time reminding us that it's not a clear cut scenario that can be bad one day and completely fixed the next, it's ongoing. David and Bernard and even the memory of Carl, David's first love, are the main focus of the story but those around them are so important to story. Mrs. Gill is amazing, she's the mother that David should have had, she's caring but she's also right to the point. As for David's mother? She's not actually in the story much but she certainly leaves a lasting impression and it's not a nice one either. This is the first time I've read E.E. Montgomery but it won't be the last.
December 25, 2014
This hit several of my buttons: set in Australia this historical m/m romance is between two recovering WWI vets. This is hard for me to rate because I loved so many elements of the story but ultimately the romance was short-changed. While I do love angst, one of the main characters is so anxious about his sexuality that his nervousness, self-loathing and self-consciousness overwhelmed the romance for me. Still I like the author's writing and I would try others by her.
June 11, 2014
Other than the fact that this is the first book I've ever read to have no typos, I found it quite boring, redundant and lacking. I didn't care for it enough to expound any further...
November 29, 2015
I truly loved this book, well written and heart rending. My only issue is the abrupt ending.....I need more! Give us an epilogue to wrap it up. It just....ended
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews