Love Struck

by S.E. Davis

A split-second is all it takes to fall asleep at the wheel and change someone's life forever.
Orion Windwalker's dreams of retiring from the Marines come to a crashing halt when he is medically discharged. Not ready to share his shame with his family, Orion decides to get lost, and in doing so, hopefully find a new direction in life.
His journey of self-discovery is sidelined when he meets Thor, a scared, injured stray who unexpectedly finds their way into Orion's heart. Then an unexpected fender bender brings them into contact with the enigmatic veterinarian, Dani, and things start to heat up.
Dr. Dani Lavigne is different in every way from Orion; she is a bright light amid his darkness. She's also brilliant and sexy as hell.
As they spend more time together, their undeniable chemistry heats, quickly turning into something more real than either of them expected. Can two guarded hearts find the courage to open up and embrace true love and a happily ever after? Or will their secrets tear them apart?

Genres: Romance, Amazon, Contemporary, Military Fiction, Ebooks

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2023

About the author

Author also writes under Sarah Davis

Reviews

[Mary Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Struck has the most understanding, and for me, educational aspect of PTSD that I have ever read. I was fascinated from the first chapter.

When two very different people with PTSD meet, and start to heal each other, it seems to be fate.
What a great story from a new author for me, I'll be looking for more of her books for sure. Highly recommend this book. I received and advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving an honest review.

[Mimisays411 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What excellent love story! Straight hallmark feels! Author, Sarah Davis has done it again! Absolute masterpiece that will make you feel the feels and warm the heart! Handsome marine, alone, suffering from PTSD, and a beautiful veterinarian full of love, her own PTSD and pain, collide in a kaleidoscope of life. Both of them with secrets that could either bring them closer together or tear them apart. The characters are absolutely believable and you just fall in love with them! Absolutely well written with no plot holes. This is an absolute delight to read! A wonderful pallet cleanser for the mind and the heart. The spice perfect! Sweet and spicy in all the right places. Davis’s writing is so sophisticated, and a delight to read. Easy, with an excellent flow.

Tropes; small town, found family, dark side, secrets, stalker/violent ex, hero, cute animal (dog) sidekick.

4/5🌟 3/5🌶️ (It might be 4/5🌶️ for some readers. I just read really spicy stuff 🫣)

Enjoy my bookish friends and remember; if you love/like a book, talk about it!


*I received this book as a beta/ARC read but I can assure you, the thoughts on this review are my own.

[Tracey Cramer-Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the portrayal of both Orion’s PTSD and Dani’s mental challenges to be extremely believable; I hung on every sentence at the beginning, especially Orion when he rescued Thor (the dog) and began to see his inner self. I also loved that both characters showed strength and vulnerability, and the way their relationship grew was sweet and compelling. However, my enjoyment of all this amazing angst was tempered by the fact that the story needed a thorough edit. As a side note: the cover makes this look like a lighthearted read. It is not. Subject matter is serious and heavy (see the trigger warnings in the description). I happen to like this kind of romance, but it is not for everyone.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off- thank you to BookSirens for this ARC!

This was a cute military romance! & THE DOG 🥹🐾

The character development in this story was so amazing & my heart was so happy with how Dani & Rion’s story ended.

4 ⭐️

[Taylor Chitwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please take the animal death TWs seriously! There are several graphic dog deaths (NOT the MMCs dog! That was important for me and hopefully you to know that he survives) and it’s heartbreaking. I skipped every one of them. I don’t know if my heart could take rereading this, but gosh I am so glad I did at least once. It’s a beautiful story.

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani a very tired veterinarian fell asleep at the wheel and hit Orion the recent medically discharged vet and his new dog. This accident was the best thing for them mentally since they both have ghost in their closets.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orion and Dani are both dealing with traumas from their pasts. Could a chance run in be what they both need to heal? Sexy military romance mystery with the cutest dog. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up to read!

I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

In all honesty I would have paid to read this book it was a great read!!

[Kris McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the accurate portrayals of PTSD and anxiety, and I appreciated the fact that both the civilian and the Marine both had PTSD. Too often, there is the belief that only military service members can be diagnosed with PTSD, and as someone who both never served and has PTSD, it was nice to see myself in Dani in that way.

However, I was taken aback by Dani’s accounts of what her ex did to her. There was no warning, and had I been warned of the sexual assault, I may not have picked this book up. Her retelling of her story is a tad graphic. The climax of the end was also graphic.

The book overall was good, and I had a fun time reading it, I just wished for more clarity. The romance felt a little rushed and a little bit like a trauma bond, but it was still cute. The banter was clever and full of chemistry. The spice was spicy. Rion’s blossoming friendship with Dani’s brothers was heartwarming.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐s Rion and Dani with Thor and Bunnie, too.

Orion "Rion" Indigo Windwalker is mourning the end of his career with the Marines after being injured in Syria. He's suffering from PTSD. He finds an injured and malnourished Weimaraner puppy that he names Thor. Thor is helping draw him out of his downward spiral.

Veterinarian Dr. Dani Lavigne is accustomed to pressure. It started with just trying to get accepted into vet school. The clinic where she works is understaffed, and she's called in on her day off. Her abusive ex-husband also seems to have found her again.

She falls asleep while driving and hits Rion's Bronco. While her brother is repairing his vehicle, she offers him the use of her rental guest house.

These two imperfect people seem to fit together perfectly. Is it an answer to their wants and needs?

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Belle (on hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐️

Lol... what happened in this book? Do we know if he was the father or not? Cause I still have no clue and think that entire plot line was useless and served no purpose at ALL!

He mentions falling in love fast at one point, then says he's never had a relationship, then said the OW was just a fling, then alludes to her not just being a fling... Ugh!

Do not recommend - sorry!

– Dual pov
– H 5 months celibate/h celibate for awhile
– Ex-marine H with PTSD/veterinarian h with history of domestic violence
– No cheating or OM drama
– OW drama: the woman H says was a fling (but maybe wasn't?) has been calling him for months, which he's been ignoring, finally he picks up and she says she's pregnant with his baby - he does a DNA test but we don't ever see him getting the results, just the test saying he's most likely infertile from a vasectomy he had years ago as a kid from an injury)
– HFN ending

[Floraljoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had its moments:
There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed but then it fell apart in other areas. It was emotional and raw; dealing with some quite heavy and dark subjects such as depression, PTSD and abuse. However, I appreciated the raw honesty and that it wasn't too overwhelming. My heart went out to Orion and Dani as they both fought against their inner demons and the thought that they couldn't have a future together.
Unfortunately, I found this book to be rather wordy and in need of additional editing as there were quite a few discrepancies. Whilst I did enjoy the suspense aspects, I was disappointed with the climax and final outcome. I was also left with questions with the ending and not everything was explained.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veterinarian Dani and Marine Orion who was just medically discharged, meet when their vehicles collide on the highway. They start to get things figured out, between the vehicles, the pup named Thor, where he is staying and all the other animals. Loved the characters, the vivid locales and range of feelings they deal with from PTSD and abuse. The storyline has all the feels from romance and steam to fear and intrigue. Will her ex find her and what she loves? Will an ex of his really be pregnant? Was Thor sent to him, to help him move on in life? Terrific banter, entertaining situations, danger, lots of baggage on both sides, twists and surprises. Great ending that fits perfectly.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two people suffering from pasts they can’t seem to get away from, literally crash into each other and change their lives forever.
Beautifully written story with realistic, likable characters, a bit of spice, and lots of emotion, Love Struck hit me in the feels, big time. I couldn’t put it down and, though the ending is very satisfying, I didn’t want it to end.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explicit. This dealt with such heavy topics (PTSD, domestic abuse, rape, recovering from abuse), but it was still such a heartwarming story. I loved how Thor the dog got to be such a big part of the story and how the characters connected. I wish the ending had explored Dani's life change a bit more, but it was a lovely ending either way.

[Julie Kay LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twists + Turns X Danger = HEA

A wonderfully twisted tale of how we each struggle with our demons, both real and imagined! The characters are richly fleshed out with lives we can easily identify with multiple stressors. Challenges are only as big as we allow them to be, making them survivable, but often some refuse to disappear. Plus, Thor is simply AWESOME!!

[Amanda Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Read This!

Such an emotional story about 2 people, struggling with their trauma and scars, who trying to find their way while healing. Veteran, PTSD, abuse, and violence are present so please be aware. They are portrayed in a realistic yet respectful way that the story to shine while not taking away from what the characters are experiencing.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A storyline filled with lots of misunderstandings, heartbreaking and heartwarming moments.
It has all the ingredients for a great read even with triggers that were mentioned.
I highly recommended it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christina Luberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Dani and Orion's story. Orion's life has not gone as planned. Dani has her own demons. What will happen when they meet? Can they find happiness in there life? I think this is a good story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, the story of Orion and Dani. Both have past issues to work through, but will this stop them being together. I enjoyed reading, but felt some of the plot not resolved.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love struck

What a delightful story! I loved the way two people were able to overcome trauma that most of us never know and the drama that had them stuck trying to overcome, I couldn't put it down but the ending was so sweet.

[Cheryl McCrork · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book

I liked this storyline and the characters were fun too. This book touches many emotions and how the past can hold you in turmoil. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.

[Adison Kapitzke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 🌟
2/5 🌶️

This book was a very sweet read. I like that the plot wasn’t lost with the character growth and both got their happy ending. I also loved when the animals were talked about in the book. Very sweet reas

[zen_s]

[dnf @ 37%] i was bored...

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Rion and Dani’s story. I thought it was an interesting read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Gail Wesson-Spivey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It was a rollercoaster ride of lows and highs but very worth the ride. Great character development . They went through hell

[Christa Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written although there was one piece of the storyline that never concluded.... otherwise I loved this book.