Semper Mine

Sons of War #1

by Lizzy Ford

A standalone novel in the Sons of War contemporary military romance series ... "A freak accident landed both of the Khavalov twins under my command, just before a routine mission turned into a nightmare. I brought home one twin in a coffin and the other in a coma missing his leg. I did everything right - and still people died. I can't forget that night or how many lives it changed, including mine. It's natural for their sister, Katya, to blame me. I made one decision in the middle of a firefight, and it shattered her sheltered world. I'm the ice to her fire, and when we first meet, it's not pretty. I don't fear war or death, and I am definitely not going to let a beautiful woman with a quick temper and broken heart scare me off, either. I know she's hurting, and I'm determined to make sure she's okay. It's the least I can do for the twins. I may have failed them that night, but I won't fail her. What I'm not counting on: the feelings she ignites within me." - Captain Sawyer Mathis

Genres: Military Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Military Romance, Ebooks

206 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

I breathe stories. I dream them. If it were possible, I'd eat them, too. (I'm pretty sure they'd taste like cotton candy.) I can't escape them - they're everywhere! Which is why I write! I was born to bring the crazy worlds and people in my mind to life, and I love sharing them with as many people as I can.

I'm also the bestselling, award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over sixty titles and counting. I write speculative fiction in multiple subgenres of romance and fantasy, contemporary fiction, books for both teens and adults, and just about anything else I feel like writing. If I can imagine it, I can write it!

I live in the desert of southern Arizona with a pack of spoiled dogs and Tubbs, the Godfather cat who rules them all.


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010
Email: LizzyFord2010@gmail.com
Radish: LizzyFord
Wattpad: LizzyFord

Lizzy’s books include:

Lost Vegas – young adult post-apocalyptic
Aveline
Tiana
Arthur
Black Wolf

Spell Realm Series (coming summer 2017) – young adult fantasy
Water Spell (2017)
Dragon Spell (2018)
Moon Spell (2018)
Sword Spell (2019)

History Interrupted – time travel romance
West
East
North (2017)
South (2018)

Omega Beginnings Series
Alessandra
Mismatch
Phoibe
Lantos
Theodocia
Niko
Cleon
Herakles

Omega Series
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2017)

Theta Beginnings Miniseries (novelettes)
Silent Queen
Mercenary
Shadow Titan
People’s Champion

Non-Series – 2014 - 2017
Black Moon Draw (about a reader sucked into her book)
White Tree Sound (2017)
Highlander Enchanted
The Door
The Fall of Esme (2017)
Sons of War – contemporary military romance
Semper Mine
Soldier Mine
SEAL Mine (2017)

Super Villainess
It’s Not Easy Being Evil
It’s Not Easy Being Good

Starwalkers Serials (with Julia Crane) – new adult science fiction serial
Severed
Trapped
Exiled
Revealed
Escaped
Ascended
Starwalkers – complete (#1-6)

Heart of Fire – sexy dragon shifter
Charred Heart
Charred Tears
Charred Hope

Incubatti – Buffy meets 50 Shades
Zoey Rogue
Zoey Avenger

Rhyn Trilogy – new adult paranormal with demons
Katie’s Hellion
Katie’s Hope
Rhyn’s Redemption

Rhyn Eternal – Death finds love
Gabriel’s Hope
Deidre’s Death
Darkyn’s Mate
The Underworld
Twisted Fate
Twisted Karma (2017)

War of Gods – paranormal with gods, guardians and exceptional humans
Damian’s Oracle
Damian’s Assassin
Damian’s Immortal
The Grey God

Damian Eternal
Xander’s Chance
The Black God

Hidden Evil – paranormal with angels and four horsemen
Hear No
See No (TBD)
Speak No (TBD)

Unnamed Series
Unnatural (TBD)
Unmade (TBD)

Omega
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2017)

Anshan Saga – new adult science fiction romance
Kiera’s Moon
Kiera’s Sun

Santa’s Ninja Elves (short stories)
Natasha & Hunter

Non-series titles – 2011 - 2013
Star Kissed
A Demon’s Desire
The Warlord’s Secret
Maddy’s Oasis
Rebel Heart

Witchlings – young adult paranormal
Dark Summer
Autumn Storm
Winter Fire
Spring Rain

Broken Beauty Novellas – new adult dramatic fiction
Broken Beauty
Broken World

Voodoo Nights - young adult paranormal
Cursed

As SE Reign, erotica writer
101 Nights Box Set (Serials 1-7)

Reviews

[Sleepless Readmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 SEMPIRE BE MINE STARS

Sawyer & Katya ♥

I may have failed them that night,
but I won’t fail her.
What I’m not counting on: the feelings she ignites within me..."

First, book reading by Lizzy Ford and not counting on it to be the last. I FLEW right through this book .. mostly because it was short ... TOO SHORT. It would have definitely 5 star worthy if it had been LONGER and given more to the ending (I NEEDED more). Although, the story was nonetheless wonderful in a non conventional way. Katya is a fiery one and the only person that can tame that flame is non other than the Captain .. Captain Sawyer Mathis. They are absolutely HILARIOUS together and that anger and tension they HAD turns into something else..

Semper MineLizzy Ford

- Sleepless, Readmore.

[Belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5 stars

** this is mostly a rant, and therefor contains lots of spoilers and a vague timeline of important, spoilery events. You have been warned, read at your own risk **

This book had so much potential, parts of this story that I’ll discuss were at least worth four stars, but so many other parts were only worth a star. This was such a weird mash up of a timeline and point of views that just did not work together.

I detested Katya, she’s completely unhinged and incredibly selfish, it genuinely seemed as if she couldn’t string a sane thought together. She physically abused a stranger at her brother’s funeral, blaming him for his death. Captain Sawyer Mathis was her brother's commanding officer during the tour he died in, but he was in no way at fault, but silently takes her blame. It only adding to his own guilt.

At that point I could look past it, she’s grief stricken and people make mistakes.

But again and again she uses physical violence when she doesn't get her way or she doesn't like someone. I mean, the twenty-something girl got in a literal cat fight with another girl because she didn't like her.



Fast-forward a couple months when Sawyer and Katya get thrown together as camp counsellors, she continuously needles Sawyer Mathis. It was extremely irritating to see her just keep kicking the same dead horse, the girl had nothing new or sane to say, just her continuous mutters. She seems to not be able to understand the concept of war, her brother enlisted with the knowledge that it was a dangerous job and he may not come home. A sad truth, but a truth none the less. And yet Kayta holds Sawyer responsible for an IED.

To make matters worse, she eventually sends a letter she wrote for her therapy, that she was advised not to send, to Sawyer while he’s overseas. It’s an awful letter again blaming him for something that wasn’t his fault, which she logically knows, but feels like he 'deserves to know her feelings.' What? Why? This is why I had such an issue with her character, she seems to be so confused that he's hurt by the letter and doesn't even comprehend the ramifications it could have had on him.

Again, selfish character.



I think this girl needs to do more counselling sessions and less speaking. Everything she says is dangerous shaming and blaming.

During this whole debacle, Sawyer is slowly but surely falling in love with her?



I was just flabbergasted, I absolutely adored his character, I thought he was strong and dimensional. He dealt with his emotions in a closed off manner but the death of Kayta’s brother haunted him, blaming himself for something that he couldn’t of known. But why on earth did he suddenly get feelings for this psychopath?

I did enjoy the middle of the book where it was set at the youth camp, I loved their banter (that wasn’t related to her brother’s death) and learning more about the characters. But after there, it quickly went downhill, it was disjointed and was way too fast paced. It switched perspectives and skipped forward so quickly that it was hard to keep up.

And that ending. That ending. I just couldn’t, I could not believe that this was where the story suddenly jumped, there was no natural occurrence to their new found relationship and it was pure fantasy—not realistic in the slightest.

This book had so much potential, I went in enjoying the story and expecting the rest to follow, but the author chose to write the story in a timeline and way that didn’t make for a cohesive story, unfortunately.

[rj · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I did not enjoy this couple at all. They fought like cats and dogs throughout the book. It's not a cute 'enemies to lovers' story. They each have some serious baggage that just got old after a while.

And the hero called the heroine a "bitch" so many fucking times. Yeah, she's a bitch. But you're an asshole.

But what really sealed the deal was: He goes back to war at around 70% and he sleeps with another woman there. After that I dropped it. I was so done. I did skim a little and it looks like the heroine also gets herself a boyfriend when he leaves. Ugh. Total turn off.

[Lučka · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 75%

To think I stayed up till midnight for this book because it was so good, slept for 5 hours and then got to work all bleary- eyed.



I should have read spoilers, but I didn't.


I love enemies-lovers and military trope. It was cleverly written with the whole camping thing for children who lost their parents, amazing chemistry between MCs and their complete opposite characteristics. I loved it all. It gave me the fuzzy feels. I tell ya it was a 4 or 5*.
Then it all went down the toilet!

H goes back to Iraq and because he doesn't want to deal with his intense feelings for h, he has sex with OW. Because he can't stop thinking about the h. Way the go, fucker! Let me just mention that the guy was celibate for a freaking year before he met h. So he mantains this casual sexual relationship with his coleague while still heavily pinning after the h and obsessing over her. I don't care if he and h weren't in a relationship. What I do care is that he was celibate for a year, but suddenly couldn't keep it in his pants. Even worse, he goes back to the h to figure out his feelings, but is still in a casual sexual relationship with OW. I'm sure he's very in love with the h."eye roll"

I don't even want to know how this turns out. This book definitely put me in a reading slump!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on iBooks today (5/16/2019)! 🎁

[~`*Ella Lee*`~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a GREAT read.
It was EMOTIONAL, sweet, angsty and HOT!
I loved that the author had these two characters stay true to themselves. The h didn't all of a sudden because less of herself to be with the H. The H knew who she was, knew what she needed and accepted it. The h needed a strong Alpha, because, like so many of us women, would run over any man that tried to put her in her place. Not with the H.
It was very sexy and fun to read. Had just the right amount of smex, angst, craziness and OTT Alpha.
There is a separation while these two figure out what they want/need. Some times spent where they don't think either of them want each other - warning - the H does sleep with another woman during this time. A woman who's in his Marine unit in Afghanistan. It's strictly a "release" relationship only. It does't go into detail and doesn't address it.
The h also sleeps with another man.
Neither are able to not think of each other.
When these two decide that they are it for each other (close to the end), there is no more anything. The sleep with each other for the first time, say their I Love You's, forgive each other and state they are getting married to each other all toward the end within a span of probably 5 hours.
Sounds crazy, but it worked.
The h is a little OTT with her hardheadedness, but that's just her. It's nice every once and a while to have a h is more realistic - not perfect, not a martyr and not the most physically attractive thing that ever hit this earth to every male around her.
Loved it. Totally recommend.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book just didn't measure up for me. A wonderful premise, a Marine commander attends the funeral for one of his men who died under his command. The soldier's twin was also in his unit and was seriously wounded, losing a leg and in a coma for awhile. At the funeral the Marine commander meets the soldiers' sister who is angry and blames him for what happened to her brothers. She says horrible things to the Marine who is already suffering terrible guilt over the incident. Well, of course, these two must fall in love somewhere down the line.

The romance just wasn't very romantic to me. The sister was really nasty to the Marine saying just awful things to someone trying to defend his country. Yes, she was angry but she could have suffered a little in silence. They were thrown together at a camp for children of fallen soldiers and we did get just a little of the beginning of a romance but then things turned nasty again, the Marine went back to Iraq, the sister sent him a terrible letter just adding to his guilt all the while he is in the middle of the battlefield! Then, all of a sudden, she seems to be pining for him.

Confusing and kind of ruined what could have been a really good story.

[Lourdes Caamano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Lizzy Ford. This one hits close to home, eventhough I am ARMY not a Marine the story deals with the trauma of war and the wounds soldiers carry after returning home, not only the ones we see but the ones we don't. How each caracter deals emotionaly with the loss of someone they love is dead on of how real veterans and their family cope with such a tragedy, and after all the rage, pain and tears the light at the end of that dark tunnel is love.

[Ginette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆

[Zeljka · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

For an unbelievably emotional story that made me want to cry out in frustration and laugh in joy at the same time, feeling my hope in humanity - and in love - grow.

Katya was such a strong character. She is so not a girl... she is a grown woman, and she has been one for a long time. Ever since her mother died when Katya was only nine, she has taken on herself the role of a caretaker - she has been taking care of her family, two older brothers and her father. When she unexpectedly loses one of them, she feels so lost.

Sawyer - or Captian Mathis - has been lost for suh a long time. An orphan, with no real family, he acts like he cares about nothing and no one in the whole wide world apart from serving the country. It appears he even doesn’t want to care... because he doesn’t want to risk getting hurt. Military, his job – it’s his life. But when one of his soldiers, Mikael, loses his life in a mission went wrong, and Petr, Mikael’s twin, loses his leg, he finds himself in a line of fire of their feisty, overprotective sister – Katya.

And he doesn't want to run away from her.

Katya is angry, Sawyer is frustrated. She breathes fire while he’s cold as ice. They are insanely attracted to each other... but can’t stand being in vicinity of the other.

And still – how can they stay away from one person who might help them find their way in life again? They are lost only without the other...

#militarymen
#allyours
#serve&protect

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and I would've given it 5 stars if not for one little (huge) detail..... The Green Berets are NOT I repeat NOT part of the Marine Corps!! Seriously I bugs me so much when an author doesn't bother to do the tiniest bit of research!
That being said I loved the characters and the chemistry between the two main characters. And I admit it, I did tear up at the end.

[Olga therebelreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It dragged in places, like badly. And I'm still not totally sure that I buy the relationship beyond 'casual f***'.

[Roxanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

She never broke up with Oliver...She cheated with Sawyer and got engaged before her boyfriend even knew she wanted to break up.

Also there was no chemistry whatsoever, the characters were more than a little dull, we never really hear about them and what they like.
We also don't really know what happened the night Mikael died and the story behind Brianna.

This was kind of an empty book.

[Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

“Mikael understood that, too,” he continues. “We all knew what we signed up for and that we might not come back one day. It doesn’t make it easier to lose someone, but his death is not your burden. She knows it, too. If she hated you, truly hated you, she wouldn’t be near you. I think some part of her wants to understand you. Mikael chose to save you as much as me, and you are the only reason any of us made it out. Whether or not she will admit it, that means something to her. You mean something to her, because Mikael gave his life for yours.”

Holy smoke! Did I enjoy Semper Mine or what!

After reading countless number of military themed books, I was constantly disappointed by the substance or solidity of the stories. They were either scraping the surface of the issues too simply or attacking them in a way that didn't appeal. Unlike those stories I've read, Semper Mine didn't disappoint. Boy it didn't disappoint at all.

I love how Ms Lizzy Ford didn't jumped into having both Sawyer and Katya to fall in love straightaway and have to use that to deal with their emotional problems with regards to death of the soldiers, especially Mikael. The time frame for which that took Sawyer and Katya to love was actually appropriate and I appreciated that it wasn't that fast paced. Both dealt with their problems, despite with a tinge of immaturity and massive amount of sensitivity (due to the fact that they were only able to communicate their actual feelings though letters and not via face-to-face interaction), quite adequately. So the issues that surfaced were fantastically written and dealt with.

In conclusion, Semper Mine is the first book I've read from Ms Lizzy Ford and probably isn't the last. Recommended!

P.S. I just wished that a story could be written about Mikael. I would probably fall for him as hard as I did for Sawyer.

xxx

“I can see my wounds.” Petr slaps his metal leg. “I think yours are just as important to take care of.”

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously loved this book. I wasn't sure about it because I have mixed feelings about military from personal experiences of my own. I have quite a few friends in different ranks including one is a marine. The minute I opened this book I could not put it down.
Sawyer and the emotion behind the loss of his four crew members was so well written especially Mikael. The connection between Sawyer and Katya was great. I loved the banter between the two. And I loved that they were made for each other even though they were so different.
This story has family, friendship, and the importance of what those face every day when in the military. It is not only a toll on the individual facing the war but on the family and friends as well.
I wished we could have known a bit more about Sawyer's buddy who got him into joining the marines. Maybe a flash back of some sort in the story or in the letter to Katya. But I know that wasn't important to put into the story.
I look forward to what Lizzy does for the next Sons of War books. I really enjoyed the emotion and back story of each character. I loved Petr and his relationship with his sister. I really enjoyed that it starts at a camp that helps children. That is something that is needed more. I went to a grief camp after my grandma passed away from cancer and that was a great experience because it really does help you get past that difficult time. So it hit home when I read about the camp that Katya and Petr's family made for Mikael's memory.
I really enjoyed the other members in the group as well. They added to the characters and added a lightness to the story. Though this story had a sadness to it, it also has a light side to it. It shows that even through hard times everyone needs help and they need to live in the moment.
The end scene (I won't give away what happens) but it is my favorite scene.

[Jessica Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Semper Mine was such a beautiful story. This is the story of a marine returning home from war with the body of four fallen soldiers from his team. It begins at the funeral of one of the fallen soldiers, with a family who is not only grieving the loss of their son, but also another son who was also injured and has lost a leg. Sawyer, our main hero, who was in charge that fateful day is such a wounded man. He is haunted by the choices he has made and the death he has seen. The sister of the fallen soldier blames him and their interactions together throughout most of the story is explosive. A true hate to love story, this is about forgiveness and moving on. There is so much heart break, but I loved how much time was spent establishing these characters and their connection to each other. They both really grew in this story. I loved that they were both given time to heal, time to sort themselves out and offer themselves and each other forgiveness. It was beautifully written and I fell completely into this story. A must read for Lizzy fans and any military fans too. Beautiful.

[Ginelle Blanch · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I listened to the audible version of this book**

I loved this story. It was well told and the narrator was perfect.

Emotional.
Frustrating.
Funny.
Satisfying.
Hot.

I loved Katia and Sawyer. They were the perfect comination of headstrong and level headed calm. I loved their fire and ice, their banter, and their sincerity.

Really good read.

[Amelyn Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I love an author that can make me cry, and write a lovely romance without a triangle. Military hero meets feisty girl who doesn't approve of war. There was not a dull moment until the end. I wasn't thrilled with the ending, but that didn't destroy my overall enjoyment of the book.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - I wanted to be able to give this a higher review but I could not, due to the fact that I felt towards the end, the story felt rushed and I felt that it did not do the hero and heroine justice.

Parts that I wanted more details to were left hanging, such as when he encounters his female military counterpart and makes his decision to take her up on her offer. Some love scenes we're just not well developed at all and that was very disappointing. The scene in the sleeping bag was much better then there real encounter.

Captain Sawyer Mathis and Katya Khavalo seem to make the pages sizzle, but unfortunately it fizzled out for me. The plot to the story was excellent and it felt like it was developing at a great pace but again towards the end it felt like the time was not taken to fully developed the story towards the end.

Sawyer has just lost four men. Of these four men one of them was a twin. He had the twins in his platoon. One dies and the other has a severe injury to overcome. He attends the funeral of the twin who died and comes across the little sister, who is a beautiful woman. Katya received him with a slap to the face. Then within a short period of time they are forced to be paired up at a kids camp in memory of her brother.

I am going to read the next story in the series and I'm hoping the development issue and the love scenes or more developed.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love military romance, and I found this story to have so many good elements, it was hard to stop listening. Sawyer Mathis comes back the US to bury one of his men, and meets the family. Little does he know how his life will change. Katya Khavalov is burying her brother, and help nursing her other brother back to health from this attack. Blaming Sawyer for all the misfortune is the easy way out. But circumstances bring the two together and as opposite as they are, get to see each other first hand dealing with things. Their banter back and forth is priceless, ramping up the attraction and heat while trying to deal with the pain. The emotions this book evokes are incredible. From helplessness and guilt to love and compassion, the feelings between Sawyer and Katya are many. The question comes to whether the two will be able to overcome their pasts and meld together. The infusion of the kids from camp is integral to the story, giving sides of both characters that would not have been seen otherwise. It also let us get to know Peter, Katya's brother a little while a stand alone novel makes you want to know more about him, picking up the next book in the series.

Narration by Katie Mills is enjoyable. She does the characterizations well,though at times it was hard to distinguish between her male voices. She has a good pace and her voice is smooth and pleasant.

[Wonder Tre Reads -Tre Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review:
I do enjoy a good military romance and listening to Sawyer and Katya’s story was both heartbreaking and joyful wrapped together in one. The dual POV’s for these characters connected us on a deeper level as they try and move forward after burying a brother, one as blood and one as a team member all while trying to adapt to another brother that survived and is healing. The banter between Katya and Sawyer will make you chuckle. Seeing them both crack open their shells little by little let’s us see the kind and open hearted people they are. The narration was easy to listen to, although it was just a short scene I was thrown off with Katya’s father’s change in accent. While listening I thought there was a new character thrown in out of nowhere. I curious to listen to book 2 in this standalone series next.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. Katya is the sister of twin brothers that end up in a special ops unit in Iraq. One is killed and one loses his leg and comes back in a coma. Sayer is the officer in charge of her brothers unit and she blames him for what happened to her brothers. This is a great book that deals with survivors guilt and grief and loss by family and friends.

[Sarah Porcelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you want to read a fairly mindless romance, this series is good. More fluff than smut, and deals with the traumas of war in a fairly realistic way.

[Alexandra G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

A really nice book. Easy to read and very relaxing.
I liked that at some point I didn't now if they will end up together. I liked that. It gets boring sometimes when you practically know what's going to happen.

Overall it was an enjoying read.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

He gave the order that sent his team in on a mission that got four men killed and one injured. Though he and the team did everything right, the unthinkable still happened. Captain Sawyer Mathis thought nobody could blame him more than he blamed himself, but he was wrong. He holds everything in and tries not to feel and when he gets the full force of the fiery woman at the funeral, he knows why. It's nearly torture to feel. She may be a rich, spoiled, ill-tempered witch, but she's right about where to place the blame.

Having one brother brought back in a coffin and the other brother return with one of his legs blown off rocks Katya's world and sends her spiraling into the darkness of anger and hate. Her target for this black grief is the man who survived and stands before her so cold and unemotional. Her surviving brother idolizes him and her father respects him, but Katya holds her hate close and lashes out at him with blame, vicious words and attitude every chance she gets. She puts everything on hold to care for her surviving brother who loves her, but can't get her to stop nagging at him and smothering him.

The two are thrown together for one week that alters both of them when they are counselors at the camp for kids who lost a parent in the service that was organized in honor of Mikhail's memory. The experience opens both of their eyes to how broken they are and makes Katya get a glimpse of the man behind the icy exterior even as he sees the caring woman under the hard shell. The attraction is there, but Katya's hate, Sawyer's guilt and the vast differences between the two make them realize that being together isn't going to happen.

Alright, so yes, this was not an easy, light romantic read about two well-adjusted, likeable people. Nope, not at all. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that all, but a quirky few are going to hate Katya for some portion of the book because the reader isn't meant to like her until she begins to heal. The book is her journey back to humanity. Sawyer won't get as strong a reaction and he's the one who anchors things so the reader can have some moments to gather themselves before they're back in Katya's head. This is told first person alternating points of view. Sawyer is on the same journey as Katya just from a different direction. She is all hot, fiery emotion and he shuts down all emotion. Somehow through all the brangling and heavy emotions, they help each other.

These two broken people portray a romance set against the ugliness of war- what it can do to those who serve and what it does to those who lost a loved one or have to watch a loved one come back with horrific injuries both physical and not so visible. Most of the book, the couple is at odds and its hard to observe the way Katya lashes out at Sawyer and Sawyer calmly takes it because he thinks he deserves it- well and because he is the one man on the planet that finds the tempestuous Katya sweet and adorable when her temper is high. Not every scene is dark, in fact, I smiled and laughed a few times. The kids in their cabin lend some levity as do the other members of Sawyer's military team that are also counselors in honor of their fallen comrade.

Katya's surviving brother, Petr, has a strong presence in this story as he learns to function as an amputee and moves on with his life. He had such a sunny, laid-back surface attitude, but he too struggled with the burdens of war. Although, its fun to see the way he gets around Katya's temper and struggles to get her to stop mothering him.

In the end, I was rewarded after watching Sawyer and Katya struggle through their own darkness to find a certain level of peace and happiness. They weren't easy, but they were worth it. I would recommend this book to contemporary romance fans who enjoy tough romance in a military setting.

My thanks to Barclay Publicity for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn Zagrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this audiobook free for an honest review. I thought this was a great war story. The heartache in losing someone in the war and the injured that come home brings the reality of the casualties of war to the forefront. The author did a great job with the characters. Katya and Sawyer's characters are so realistic. The story has some minor twists and turns but ends on a good note. I have never read this author, but will look for additional books. Having never heard this narrator before, she did a good job.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In general, I either really like or love most of what Lizzy writes. Most of her books are paranormal in nature, but when she does decide to write a serious, more contemporary book, she always surprises me in that she manages to grab my attention in a way that often surpasses my expected reaction to a book. What I mean by that is the book drew me in, and even when I wanted to be annoyed with Katya, I couldn't because the pain of losing someone close to you is something many of us who have lost someone can relate to. We're irrational...we're sad, angry, tearful, a whole range of emotions that may or may not make sense to others. The book is definitely a romance novel, but the situation that introduced them to each other isn't fun or flirty.

Sawyer first meets Katya at her brother's funeral. Although it wasn't his fault, because he was charge she blamed him for her one brother's death, and for the other being in a coma. He didn't fault her for this since he blamed himself. Even though it wasn't logical, he still carried that guilt, buried deep. 4 months later, Petr is being released from the hospital and Sawyer is back. Katya will be spending time as his partner at a camp dedicated to military children who have lost a parent. She was definitely a handful and I give him credit for not losing his patience with her. Over time, she begins to realize he carries his own demons and that she wasn't being fair holding him responsible for the tragedy. He also learns there is a very caring person underneath all the bratty anger.

At the end of the day, they've only known each other for less than a year, but in that time, especially the short time they spent in very close quarters (sharing the same tent / bedroom at camp), they'll both see something in the other that will eventually lead to love. I'm not a true believer in love at first sight, nor do I believe you can fall in love with someone in less than a week, but I want to believe. I loved Sawyer. He wasn't the warm and fuzzy type. Orphaned at the age of 2, on the streets by his early teens, in a gang and up to no good by the time he was 16, and definitely headed down the wrong path if not for the helping hand of a complete stranger...it's no wonder he didn't do emotional. He was military through and through. No family, no significant other, no real home to go back to...his career and fellow soldiers were what he lived for. That didn't mean he didn't care about his men, nor did he take his responsibilities lightly. Ya gotta love the strong military type. Katya was his complete opposite. Loving family, rich, spoiled, no goals in sight, but with a really big heart. She loved her family fiercely and was very protective of them. She was great with the kids, and aside from Sawyer, friendly to the other guys on her brothers' team. She was definitely a handful, and not someone her brothers thought many men could handle. However, they both respected and were loyal to Sawyer, so if any man were up to the task...it would be him.

Bottom line, this was a sweet, somewhat bittersweet love story. It's a little sad, but definitely not a huge tearjerker.

[Christina Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHH PERFECTION! I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS!

I read SOLDIER MINE, the second book in the Sons of War series, before this one and that is what prompted me to read this! While both books can be read as stand alone reads, it still felt nice to finally get the backstory on one of the couples mentioned in SOLDIER MINE. And it only made me fall in love with Ford's writing and storytelling even more.

Lizzy Ford had a way of making you feel each and every emotion that ALL of the characters, primary and secondary, are feeling. Because I'm such an empathetic person, it became overwhelming at times. In the best way possible. I just could NOT put this book down. I ended up reading it in 2.5 hours.

SEMPRR MINE follows Katya and Sawyer, in their journeys of healing and love. Together, as well as separately. And that's what drew me to Lizzy's writing style. She made sure each character could stand well enough on their own, as well as together. I loved Katya's spitfire personality and I would read a whole book on her alone, because she was real and genuine. I saw immediately what Sawyer saw in her. Same can be said for Sawyer's character -- he was so likable, for me. I understood a lot of why he did things the way that he did. His character was just so well-written and very strong.

The character development of both Katya and Sawyer was SO SO SO good! From Katya's anger to her reconciliation over a tragic situation? It was brilliantly handled. From Sawyer's guilt over a tragic situation to his healing and forgiveness of himself? Such great storytelling. I almost forgot it was a romance! It progressed so nicely, the pacing of the plot was perfect. There weren't any moments where I felt Ford was pushing it. She took the reader on such an emotional adventure. I was exhausted by the end of it.

One thing that I want to mention is that Ford doesn't a great job of giving each character something that is quite honestly not that likable about them. Katya's rudeness got to me more times than not and Sawyer's dominant decision making took me over the edge. But despite those things, I loved both of them because of the overwhelming amount GOOD qualities within each one of them. That's so hard to do, in my opinion. But Lizzy Ford does it SO well!

There's no real "action" in the book, but the plot is so involved and the characters are so complex that I don't think any of that "action" was needed. It was just a well written contemporary romance of a damaged man and woman finding their way together through friendship and healing, eventually leading to love. I just LOVED it! So much!

Another fantastic read by Lizzy. I can definitely say that I am a HUGE fan. I can't wait to read more of her stuff!