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Souls Reunited #1
Walking Wounded
John Hanson joined the military because he wanted to serve his country. Lacking a home and family of his own, the idealistic young man longed to be a part of something bigger than himself. He didn’t expect to find love in officer’s training—so when an assignment took him away from Kevin Kendrick, the love of his life, he sacrificed personal happiness and did his duty.
Kevin has made his own sacrifices. Career came first, and the impressionable Army brat, tired of living in his father’s shadow, pledged his loyalty to his country and followed his ambition.
Now, seven years later, when the Army Kevin so faithfully served has made him the scapegoat for their latest Middle East snafu, he can only think of one place to go, one man who can provide solace and heal his wounds—John.
Reunited, the two war-weary lovers once again discover their passion for life, love, and one another. But Kevin’s past isn’t through with him yet, and when an old enemy surfaces, the two men realize that they must face the nightmares of the past together if they are to have the future they dream of.
Kevin has made his own sacrifices. Career came first, and the impressionable Army brat, tired of living in his father’s shadow, pledged his loyalty to his country and followed his ambition.
Now, seven years later, when the Army Kevin so faithfully served has made him the scapegoat for their latest Middle East snafu, he can only think of one place to go, one man who can provide solace and heal his wounds—John.
Reunited, the two war-weary lovers once again discover their passion for life, love, and one another. But Kevin’s past isn’t through with him yet, and when an old enemy surfaces, the two men realize that they must face the nightmares of the past together if they are to have the future they dream of.
210 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 25, 2018
I didn't like this book. It isn't worth it.
July 12, 2012
For two soldiers, one formally with the SAS, both suffering from the ravages of war these men were way too 'nice'. I really don't know what to say except it was, so not, what I was expecting after reading the synopsis.
This was an audio book, the narrator was also very 'nice'.
This was an audio book, the narrator was also very 'nice'.
Read
March 30, 2009John and Kevin were lovers. They met at the military academy, they fell in love at first sight and spent a wonderful year together. Then the life and maybe some hidden fears kept them apart and they left each other not without regrets.
Seven years later, John has retired from army after a mental breakdwon in Bosnia, and a following attempt to suicide, and Kevin is out of a recent scandal and waiting to decide what to do with his life. For the first time in their life they can choose what to do in their life without ideals or family duties to decide for them.
And when finally they have the courage to take in hand their life, they discover that living together is not so impossible and the future could be a bright one, if only Kevin's past can be thrown behind their back.
John is an idealist. He believe in justice and in the force of good men. He is a quite strong character but is strenght lies in his mental piece and in the man he loves. Without that man by his side he has not found the force to go on and his nerves gave way. Someone has said that the most courage men are those who feel fear.
Kevin is an army brat with an hidden feeling of resentment for his father. He has to prove himself, to demonstrate he is good like his father, that he is better than his father. And a gay man doesn't fit this equation and so, when time is up to make a choice, he chooses to be a "good" man and to leave his lover. But when all the world he has fought for crash around him, the only man he wants by his side is John.
The love between John and Kevin is sweet and quiet: between them there aren't harsh feelings, they don't regret the past and when they are put in front of danger, they react together and not trying to solve everything alone. These are two charcaters who balance well. Even if the novel speaks about war and homophobia (and deals with matters like same sex marriage and homosexual parenthood), the feeling I have experienced reading it is of peace.
And BTW: Wonderful Cover too! I think one of the most beautiful gay covers I see till now...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602020523/?...
Seven years later, John has retired from army after a mental breakdwon in Bosnia, and a following attempt to suicide, and Kevin is out of a recent scandal and waiting to decide what to do with his life. For the first time in their life they can choose what to do in their life without ideals or family duties to decide for them.
And when finally they have the courage to take in hand their life, they discover that living together is not so impossible and the future could be a bright one, if only Kevin's past can be thrown behind their back.
John is an idealist. He believe in justice and in the force of good men. He is a quite strong character but is strenght lies in his mental piece and in the man he loves. Without that man by his side he has not found the force to go on and his nerves gave way. Someone has said that the most courage men are those who feel fear.
Kevin is an army brat with an hidden feeling of resentment for his father. He has to prove himself, to demonstrate he is good like his father, that he is better than his father. And a gay man doesn't fit this equation and so, when time is up to make a choice, he chooses to be a "good" man and to leave his lover. But when all the world he has fought for crash around him, the only man he wants by his side is John.
The love between John and Kevin is sweet and quiet: between them there aren't harsh feelings, they don't regret the past and when they are put in front of danger, they react together and not trying to solve everything alone. These are two charcaters who balance well. Even if the novel speaks about war and homophobia (and deals with matters like same sex marriage and homosexual parenthood), the feeling I have experienced reading it is of peace.
And BTW: Wonderful Cover too! I think one of the most beautiful gay covers I see till now...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602020523/?...
August 29, 2011
Abandoned for boredom. There’s nothing spectacularly wrong with this gay romance; there’s also just not much noticeably right. It’s one of those insulated ones where clearly the most important thing to the author is that these two men spend as much time physically together as possible, with the outside world/setting/sense of place barely intruding. Which would be fine if I’d found either of them particularly interesting, but there just wasn’t much there aside from paint-by-numbers military PTSD and some geeky pop culture references.
Nice enough for those times you want that sort of thing. Bland and uninteresting for those times you don’t.
Nice enough for those times you want that sort of thing. Bland and uninteresting for those times you don’t.
January 21, 2012
This was .... nice. Aside from the action sequence, it was a very quiet book, nothing much did happen except for two adults learning to live with their past traumas and making a new life together work.
May 31, 2015
1st read: 8/3/07
January 24, 2010
It was great to wake up to a 5 star review of Walking Wounded at Rainbow Reviews this morning!
http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=4407
http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=4407
March 13, 2011
Borrowed - Kindle
I go back and forth between a 3 and a 4, so I will split the difference. It is hard not to fall in love with John and Kevin and want the best for them.
I go back and forth between a 3 and a 4, so I will split the difference. It is hard not to fall in love with John and Kevin and want the best for them.
November 4, 2011
Good premise and ideas, but factual errors made it very difficult to get into the book.
May 5, 2014
Ooh! wow the begin to end i just could not put down. i
I loved it.
I loved it.
February 14, 2014
After 140 pages I just wasn't feeling it. :-(
March 31, 2018
I was keen to read this, having had a father who was a war survivor. I felt that the subject matter was well-presented. Indeed there are no winners. And what stood out for me was that the peripheral supporters {therapists and all} are also adversely affected by encounters with the walking wounded. The fragmented presentation mirrored the psyche of the shell shocked, who returned to discover that their places had been taken by others. Surviving to exist actually. Rather depressing - and probably all too insightful and real. Admire Llewelllyn for researching and writing this. It needs guts...
January 27, 2011
"I have adored all of Lee Rowan's previous work, so I'm sorry I can't give a more positive rating to this book. Unfortunately, while the premise was interesting, the novel just didn't work for me.[return][return]Kevin and John meet in officer's training and embark on a passionate affair before their army careers take them in separate directions. Fast forward 7 years. Having realised from bitter experience that the army isn't the dependable constant he thought, Kevin gets back in touch with John. Unfortunately Kevin isn't completely free from his combat past, and an old enemy returns to threaten their relationship.[return][return]I really warmed to the character of John - he's undoubtedly damaged but has managed to carve out a quiet, worthwhile life for himself. Kevin is more of an enigma and I'm afraid that by the book's end I felt I didn't know much about him other than how much he loves John. [return][return]That was the main sticking point for me, I'm afraid; not so much how quickly our heroes jump into bed, but how seamlessly they seem to slide into a committed relationship. Sweet quickly crossed over into sickly and I'm afraid I just didn't believe in their relationship at all. Even those of us who don't spend time in warzones change hugely between 23 and 30, so I find it stretches credibility that two soldiers are able to slot back together like two halves of a whole. Some more difficulties between the two would have been both more believable, interesting and satisfying to read.[return][return]All of the conflict is external and I'm afraid that I didn't feel in the slightest bit of suspense about the outcome of the 'old enemy' plot line. Its resolution was quite well done, but I didn't feel that any of the characters were in true peril at any time. Even afterward, our heroes don't seem overly affected by events, and the ending is very dull. I usually like epilogues - even the cheesy ones! - but I don't think I've ever read anything as utterly saccharine as the last few pages of this book[return][return]I also have to say that - as an English reader - the local details were a bit shaky. I know that can be hard to get right, so I'm not one to get too wound up about characters saying 'store' instead of 'shop'. But getting the terminology of our university system completely wrong - we don't have seniors and no one graduates 'cum laude', among other things - is a bit more serious. I'm sure this is a small point to some, but it really pulled me out of the story and made me doubt the accuracy of other details. [return][return]Overall this seemed far less assured than Ms Rowan's fabulous historical novels, and although I will still eagerly look out for new novels from her, I will be a lot less ready to buy any future contemporary efforts."
October 30, 2012
Romance established through a lot of dialogue
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- The emotional connection between John and Kevin is well established. Rowan spends just the right amount of time establishing the men’s romantic history and then provides a detailed look at their reconnection, mostly in the form of conversation. (see cons below also) There’s sexual connection too, but the sex scenes are understated and relatively inexplicit.
- Part of my brain was skeptical at how quickly the men fall into a routine together after seven years apart, but mostly I was able to convince myself not to dwell on it because their past feelings for each other are explained pretty much right off the bat.
- Some of the comments the men make, especially pertaining to their rescued kittens, are funny.
- Although the main order of business in the book is romance, there’s a decent enough plot that emerges in the second half.
CONS:
- At times I felt there was a bit too much conversation. Or maybe not too much, necessarily, as just…too much at once. I always like to see characters talking to one another because that’s what makes love believable to me, but there are long conversations in this story that are very rarely broken up by any description or action.
- In the same vein, I found some of the conversation a little hard to follow. The dialogue is mostly lifelike, which means that there aren’t a lot of unrealistic context clues thrown in. The guys will say something about the British military, for example, which I know nothing about, and not explain what they’re talking about because they both KNOW what they’re talking about. So again, good writing, but confusing sometimes.
- A couple of contradictions occur in the story that had me scratching my head as to whether they were editing mistakes or I simply missed something. The most puzzling to me is the fact that Kevin tells the military that he won’t allow any sound recording equipment in his and John’s flat because he doesn’t want anyone listening if they decide “to have sex in the bedroom or on the sofa or hanging from the chandelier.” But then later, there IS recording equipment set up, because John says at one point, “If you’re feeling as festive as I am, there’ll be nothing for them to hear.”
Overall comments: Much of this book is “treacley romantic,” as John says at one point, but it also has a pretty good plot and some sweet sex scenes. The sex scenes aren��t very graphic, though, so if you’re looking for anything hardcore, you’ll likely be disappointed with this one. There’s also a lot of dialogue that gets a little dense at times.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- The emotional connection between John and Kevin is well established. Rowan spends just the right amount of time establishing the men’s romantic history and then provides a detailed look at their reconnection, mostly in the form of conversation. (see cons below also) There’s sexual connection too, but the sex scenes are understated and relatively inexplicit.
- Part of my brain was skeptical at how quickly the men fall into a routine together after seven years apart, but mostly I was able to convince myself not to dwell on it because their past feelings for each other are explained pretty much right off the bat.
- Some of the comments the men make, especially pertaining to their rescued kittens, are funny.
- Although the main order of business in the book is romance, there’s a decent enough plot that emerges in the second half.
CONS:
- At times I felt there was a bit too much conversation. Or maybe not too much, necessarily, as just…too much at once. I always like to see characters talking to one another because that’s what makes love believable to me, but there are long conversations in this story that are very rarely broken up by any description or action.
- In the same vein, I found some of the conversation a little hard to follow. The dialogue is mostly lifelike, which means that there aren’t a lot of unrealistic context clues thrown in. The guys will say something about the British military, for example, which I know nothing about, and not explain what they’re talking about because they both KNOW what they’re talking about. So again, good writing, but confusing sometimes.
- A couple of contradictions occur in the story that had me scratching my head as to whether they were editing mistakes or I simply missed something. The most puzzling to me is the fact that Kevin tells the military that he won’t allow any sound recording equipment in his and John’s flat because he doesn’t want anyone listening if they decide “to have sex in the bedroom or on the sofa or hanging from the chandelier.” But then later, there IS recording equipment set up, because John says at one point, “If you’re feeling as festive as I am, there’ll be nothing for them to hear.”
Overall comments: Much of this book is “treacley romantic,” as John says at one point, but it also has a pretty good plot and some sweet sex scenes. The sex scenes aren��t very graphic, though, so if you’re looking for anything hardcore, you’ll likely be disappointed with this one. There’s also a lot of dialogue that gets a little dense at times.
July 14, 2015
4 Heart Review by Lily
Idealistic John joins the army because he wants to “belong”. Kevin who was raised as an army brat joins the army to get out of his father’s shadow. So many things happened and hard decisions were made which separated the two men. Seven years later, they are reunited and both are emotionally wounded souls, matured and wiser but certainly there is still trouble ahead…
Whilst the writer touches on PTSD elements in the story which left me feeling very moved, it was the drama in the story that kept me absolutely engaged in the plot. I read it as a lover of emotional fiction rather than focusing on the hard facts, and as such it was an emotional story for me.
I loved how these two danced about each other regarding their sexuality and tentatively hinted and tested the waters;
It was the usual caution at first, hints about pubs and films, the little signs and countersigns of establishing their gay identity, until Kevin said, quite frankly “ Why don’t you just ask? I don’t have a girlfriend – have had, but probably won’t again. Don’t have a boyfriend either.”
The unapologetic challenge in those beautiful eyes captured John’s heart, there and then. He’d always been shy, never good at quick, clever signs, but he heard himself say, “Mind if I apply for the position?”
I found both the characters hauntingly beautiful and completely lovable, and I especially adored the story’s end.
Overall, it was easy to read but still an emotional journey. I read the whole story in one sitting. I added this writer’s name to my must read list and definitely recommend this book to other readers.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Idealistic John joins the army because he wants to “belong”. Kevin who was raised as an army brat joins the army to get out of his father’s shadow. So many things happened and hard decisions were made which separated the two men. Seven years later, they are reunited and both are emotionally wounded souls, matured and wiser but certainly there is still trouble ahead…
Whilst the writer touches on PTSD elements in the story which left me feeling very moved, it was the drama in the story that kept me absolutely engaged in the plot. I read it as a lover of emotional fiction rather than focusing on the hard facts, and as such it was an emotional story for me.
I loved how these two danced about each other regarding their sexuality and tentatively hinted and tested the waters;
It was the usual caution at first, hints about pubs and films, the little signs and countersigns of establishing their gay identity, until Kevin said, quite frankly “ Why don’t you just ask? I don’t have a girlfriend – have had, but probably won’t again. Don’t have a boyfriend either.”
The unapologetic challenge in those beautiful eyes captured John’s heart, there and then. He’d always been shy, never good at quick, clever signs, but he heard himself say, “Mind if I apply for the position?”
I found both the characters hauntingly beautiful and completely lovable, and I especially adored the story’s end.
Overall, it was easy to read but still an emotional journey. I read the whole story in one sitting. I added this writer’s name to my must read list and definitely recommend this book to other readers.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
May 27, 2015
Sadly, PTSD stories are pretty common right now. This one focuses on British officers. Kevin and John were lovers during their training, but they haven’t seen each other since Kevin joined the SAS and John went to Kosovo as a UN peacekeeper. Several years later, and both men have left the army. Their respective experiences have left them emotionally fragile when Kevin turns to John for support.
The story starts gently as the men get reacquainted and begin to help each other through their PTSD experiences. But the second half of the book sends them running from mercenaries, assisted by Kevin’s former SAS teammates. It is an odd combination of events and I didn’t feel the book was long enough to accommodate both storylines.
I was annoyed by the odd Americanism in the story. Having married into a family of British army officers, the actions, accents and dialogue between these two men was less than convincing. John and Kevin alternately sounded like Americans and British squaddies - not like Sandhurst graduates at all.
I also found the timeline of the book confusing. The war in Kosovo started in 1998. But the men only had a seven year army career - there’s a ten year gap if the book ended in 2015.
Leaving my concerns aside, I liked these two characters and I believed in their relationship. I wanted them both to succeed and to build a life together.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reviews.
The story starts gently as the men get reacquainted and begin to help each other through their PTSD experiences. But the second half of the book sends them running from mercenaries, assisted by Kevin’s former SAS teammates. It is an odd combination of events and I didn’t feel the book was long enough to accommodate both storylines.
I was annoyed by the odd Americanism in the story. Having married into a family of British army officers, the actions, accents and dialogue between these two men was less than convincing. John and Kevin alternately sounded like Americans and British squaddies - not like Sandhurst graduates at all.
I also found the timeline of the book confusing. The war in Kosovo started in 1998. But the men only had a seven year army career - there’s a ten year gap if the book ended in 2015.
Leaving my concerns aside, I liked these two characters and I believed in their relationship. I wanted them both to succeed and to build a life together.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reviews.
October 14, 2014
This wasn't horrible but at the same time it wasn't very good either. The beginning starts out as a very quiet story of two guys getting back together after letting each other go in the past. They both now carry a lot of baggage and trauma that they are struggling to deal with. The problem is they just pick up where they left off as if nothing has change and they don't really deal with their past other than to spew it out to each other in an info dump. We do get more of John's internal thoughts but Kevin's isn't really explored.
But what make this just an off balance book is that about 2/3 of way in it shifts directions completely. It goes from a hurt/comfort relationship focused book to an action suspense type book with a someone out to kill Kevin. I was just scratching my head at this twist the book took. I really made this story feel out of balanced. I would have much preferred this book explore each guys PTDS and thrown in some internal problems between the couple than this little adventure trip in the end.
But what make this just an off balance book is that about 2/3 of way in it shifts directions completely. It goes from a hurt/comfort relationship focused book to an action suspense type book with a someone out to kill Kevin. I was just scratching my head at this twist the book took. I really made this story feel out of balanced. I would have much preferred this book explore each guys PTDS and thrown in some internal problems between the couple than this little adventure trip in the end.
August 20, 2011
This started out as a story about two men, Kevin and Johnny, reconnecting with each other after going their separate ways as soldiers in the British army. After spending years apart serving, and now finished, Kevin reaches out to Johnny with a single phone call. The results brings them back together. They find after all the time spent apart, they still love one another. They pick up where they left off. Both are wounded soldiers their wounds more mental than physical. They seem on the verge of living 'happily ever after' when something unexpected happens and they are both tossed into a situation neither one expected.
I thought it was going to be a story that there is no real conflict other than them both dealing with their own demons from the bad memories of their service while trying to make their relationship work. But turn of events makes it just that more interesting. It might seem a little slow to others, but I liked it and will probably re-listen to it again in the future.
I thought it was going to be a story that there is no real conflict other than them both dealing with their own demons from the bad memories of their service while trying to make their relationship work. But turn of events makes it just that more interesting. It might seem a little slow to others, but I liked it and will probably re-listen to it again in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2017
I'm not sure what happened.
I'm reading along and old flames are reuniting. It seems awfully easy for them to slide back into a relationship. They have both had some major life changing experiences. After what they have gone through separately, I'd think they'd have changed. I'm sure they could fall in love again, but they aren't the same people, so why would they just jump right into the deep end as if nothing ever happened.
That sounded really negative. But I was kinda enjoying the story. Reuniting. Uhhh breaking 7 years of celibacy? Oh wait. ONE of they had sex 1 time in 7 years. Really? Doesn't sound realistic.
Now, life got busy and I had to put the book down.
A day later I pick it back up.
WHAT? Now suddenly Kevin's past is putting them both into danger. It just seemed like a different book than what I put down a day ago.
This wasn't a bad development. It did make the book more exciting, and easier to read.
I'm reading along and old flames are reuniting. It seems awfully easy for them to slide back into a relationship. They have both had some major life changing experiences. After what they have gone through separately, I'd think they'd have changed. I'm sure they could fall in love again, but they aren't the same people, so why would they just jump right into the deep end as if nothing ever happened.
That sounded really negative. But I was kinda enjoying the story. Reuniting. Uhhh breaking 7 years of celibacy? Oh wait. ONE of they had sex 1 time in 7 years. Really? Doesn't sound realistic.
Now, life got busy and I had to put the book down.
A day later I pick it back up.
WHAT? Now suddenly Kevin's past is putting them both into danger. It just seemed like a different book than what I put down a day ago.
This wasn't a bad development. It did make the book more exciting, and easier to read.
December 10, 2007
This is a nice love story. Of two men who found each other early in their lives, loved each other, chose different paths and come together again years later. Both military, both living with the scars of such of life. John rebuilt his life with school, studying psychology but living day to day without any joy. Kevin, forced to retired after a disastrous incident where soldiers and prisoners were killed. This is a nice long original fanfic like story with some short cuts (the Lord of the rings references become annoying fast) that I could overlook because I liked Kevin and John. No over the top cutsey stuff, just two men that find each other again and who love each other very much.
November 25, 2012
To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I think the author could have gone further with some of the themes/parts of this book. Maybe it's just me, because when I asked for something dark, I recommended this title. Sure, there were some darker aspects to this (like apparently their pasts), but the latter half of the book wasn't so much. Certain parts that were supposed to be climactic weren't very much so - it felt short and not done too well. Anyways, I loved the first half of the book, and was expecting it to be as enjoyable or more enjoyable. But by the end, I don't know, I was just like blugh. In a way, I may be judging it too critically - because there were many parts of this book that I did enjoy. And it's not like it's a very long book - so I would say go ahead and read it because I love how the two main characters interact.
March 1, 2010
I fell in love with this book. The relationship between these two guys was very sweet and believable. While a lot of times any sex scenes in lgbtq books are hot a dirty, the ones in this book were sweet and romantic, not about the sex but about the emotions.
But where it fell a little short (and lost one star) was the non-sex action. See, Kevin's life is in danger. When him and John nearly get killed and the bad guy is in a wreck, they aren't sure if he is alive or dead. And they don't go immediately to find out. They instead hug and make sexy talk. Not the time, boys! That whole scene, starting from the roadblock, was just confusing and lacked the tension it should have. It was the one part of the story where I couldn't picture clearly what was happening.
But where it fell a little short (and lost one star) was the non-sex action. See, Kevin's life is in danger. When him and John nearly get killed and the bad guy is in a wreck, they aren't sure if he is alive or dead. And they don't go immediately to find out. They instead hug and make sexy talk. Not the time, boys! That whole scene, starting from the roadblock, was just confusing and lacked the tension it should have. It was the one part of the story where I couldn't picture clearly what was happening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2015
This story is about minutia and would have been a good read if it were cut in half. The leads were likable and their reunion romance was enjoyable too but OMG was it boring! E-ver-y single thing was described in minute detail (and no, not just the good kind, i.e. sex!) For instance, the men moving in together takes a chapter: getting the bed up the stairs was two paragraphs and making it another paragraph. Making breakfast is like a cooking show, not a romance novel. This would have been a good read if only an editor had cut half the book. As it was, I struggled to finish and was glad it was over.
March 20, 2011
I enjoyed the characters and was interested in their journey until the author introduced an outside conflict. The MCs were dealing with PTSD, reunited love, careers ending and lost faith in system and they were dealing with it in a reasonable and enjoyable manner. I didn't think the story needed a bad guy to cause conflict.
Read
August 15, 2015It's easier to write historical than contemporary in a different country. Thank Dog for British friends who catch the worst errors!
August 4, 2011
A bad case of chicks with dicks, kittens, babies and lesbians. Ugh...
October 16, 2011
re read for me
I love the English voices and the feel of the book.
It is an entertaining story and I will read it again.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews