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Come Back to Me #2
Stay With Me
From the author of Come Back to Me comes a heartwrenching novel about a forbidden romance, a wounded marine, and the girl who’s determined to save him.
Didi Monroe has waited her whole life for happily ever after. So when charming Zac Ridgemont sweeps her off her feet, Didi believes she might finally have met the one.
Until she begins an internship at a military hospital in California. There she meets wounded marine Noel Walker. Frustrated on the outside and broken on the inside, Walker’s an irritating patient who refuses any care, keeping his distance from everything and everyone—including Didi.
Walker is strictly out of bounds. Didi knows this, respects this, but the more she tries to help Walker the closer the two grow. Soon neither one can ignore the sparks flying between them as their attraction simmers into dangerous territory.
But Walker doesn’t believe in love or happily ever after—not after what he’s seen. Not after what he’s been through. He doesn’t want to hurt Didi, but he doesn’t want to push her away either. She makes him feel peaceful. Hopeful, even.
Then tragedy hits, shattering both their worlds, and Didi realizes that love isn’t as simple as happily ever after. Love isn’t easy. It’s difficult. Messy. Complicated.
Now all Didi has to do is decide if it’s worth fighting for.
Didi Monroe has waited her whole life for happily ever after. So when charming Zac Ridgemont sweeps her off her feet, Didi believes she might finally have met the one.
Until she begins an internship at a military hospital in California. There she meets wounded marine Noel Walker. Frustrated on the outside and broken on the inside, Walker’s an irritating patient who refuses any care, keeping his distance from everything and everyone—including Didi.
Walker is strictly out of bounds. Didi knows this, respects this, but the more she tries to help Walker the closer the two grow. Soon neither one can ignore the sparks flying between them as their attraction simmers into dangerous territory.
But Walker doesn’t believe in love or happily ever after—not after what he’s seen. Not after what he’s been through. He doesn’t want to hurt Didi, but he doesn’t want to push her away either. She makes him feel peaceful. Hopeful, even.
Then tragedy hits, shattering both their worlds, and Didi realizes that love isn’t as simple as happily ever after. Love isn’t easy. It’s difficult. Messy. Complicated.
Now all Didi has to do is decide if it’s worth fighting for.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2015
218 people are currently reading
12453 people want to read
About the author
Mila Gray
12 books1,372 followersMila Gray is the pen name for Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila, Losing Lila, The Sound, Fated and Out of Control.
Originally from London she has lived in Bali for the last four years with her husband and daughter.
As well as writing young adult fiction under the name Sarah Alderson and adult fiction under the name Mila Gray, she also writes screenplays.
You can find out more at www.milagray.com and on facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahjalderson
Originally from London she has lived in Bali for the last four years with her husband and daughter.
As well as writing young adult fiction under the name Sarah Alderson and adult fiction under the name Mila Gray, she also writes screenplays.
You can find out more at www.milagray.com and on facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahjalderson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 712 reviews
November 24, 2015
***5 huge "I SEE YOU" stars from me***
That book literally stole my heart!!!
Damn!!! It was perfect!!!
A heartbreaking, amazing story!!!
From the first moment, it held me captivating... Just from the prologue, guys!!!
And after.... i just couldn't put it down!!!
Thank you, Mila, for this lovely story. It will stay for me forever!!!
That was a story about loss, friendship, love and redemption...
That was a story about heartbroken people...
About people who had seen death and war and they survived...
People who survived but who had lost so much more...
That was a story about strong, brave warriors and about how they will survive and handle the after....
And i will say that the answer is with pride, acceptance and willpower...
But even the mighty soldiers are losing their courage sometimes when they have to face the aftermath of a war...
How will they manage to survive after the hell they lived???
How could they erase the horror of a war????
How will they vanish the nightmares that they follow them???
In this beutiful, sad story, we were having to deal with soldiers in recovery... Recovery from the wounds of war and the scars that it left inside their souls... Soldiers that they already had lost too many things...
Especially, we were following Lieutenant Noel Walker.
Walker was the one that everybody in the center were calling the "Grumpy" one...
Not too many weeks before he had lost his team to an unexpected ambush back in Afganistan. He lost them all, except one and the guilt eats him inside about those men that lost their lives under his commands.
He doesn't speak to anyone, and when he is doing it is in angry way...
He doesn't even try to recover... it's like he is punishing himself.
And he doesn't want to share with anyone what happened that day...
Didi Monroe is making her intership in the recovery center who is working her father... From the first moment, something drowing her to this grumpy patient who is unwilling to speak to her.
But she can't give her hopes up about him!!!
As the time is passing, Walker starts to open up to her and to welcome her in his messed up life. He can't see her, but it's like a sunshine in his dark world, he is longing for her visits...
Her presence trigger him a hope of life. But what kind of life can he have in his situation???
As all you could say, Walker and Didi started to have feelings for each other...
But the obstacles between them were big...
First of all, for Didi is not ethecal to involve with a patient!!!
As for Walker???
How can he condemn a woman with bright future to leave all that she had work hard for behind her for a scarred person who might never fully recover???
So will they manage to overcome those obstacles????
I loved that story very much....
I enjoyed the rythm that the things were unfolding...
I liked the way Walker was with Didi and i liked Walker without her beside him... Generally, i liked Walker very much... Grumpy, troubled, guilty, scarred and all...
And i also liked Didi very much. She was so kind and caring with everyone. She manage to earn them all in the centre, even the grumpy soldier...
I won't lie to you, near to the end and when i was about to say "Thank my sweet Lord, everything is as good as possible..." everything collapsed and i was really, really mad with both of them, but especially with Didi.
Yeah, she was hurting but she said and did awful things... And Walker made me furious because he just resign... after all those things that they've been through, they didn't have to reach that point!!!!
But i forgive them because i love them...
If i gave you the impression that this book was only full of heartbreakeness, i'm so sorry!!! This book also had its funny moments...
Firstly it was having inside Sanchez and his wife, Valentina and those two guys were hillarious!!!
And Dodds... Dodds paintings left you smiling even though your heart was bruising...
But i can't tell you more about all those guys. You will have to learn all of them by yourself!!!
And as a closure to this review, i will say that i will keep this story with me forever... I'll never forget it!!!
***ARC generous provided from Pac Macmillan via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
That book literally stole my heart!!!
Damn!!! It was perfect!!!
A heartbreaking, amazing story!!!
From the first moment, it held me captivating... Just from the prologue, guys!!!
And after.... i just couldn't put it down!!!
Thank you, Mila, for this lovely story. It will stay for me forever!!!
That was a story about loss, friendship, love and redemption...
That was a story about heartbroken people...
About people who had seen death and war and they survived...
People who survived but who had lost so much more...
That was a story about strong, brave warriors and about how they will survive and handle the after....
And i will say that the answer is with pride, acceptance and willpower...
But even the mighty soldiers are losing their courage sometimes when they have to face the aftermath of a war...
How will they manage to survive after the hell they lived???
How could they erase the horror of a war????
How will they vanish the nightmares that they follow them???
In this beutiful, sad story, we were having to deal with soldiers in recovery... Recovery from the wounds of war and the scars that it left inside their souls... Soldiers that they already had lost too many things...
Especially, we were following Lieutenant Noel Walker.
Walker was the one that everybody in the center were calling the "Grumpy" one...
Not too many weeks before he had lost his team to an unexpected ambush back in Afganistan. He lost them all, except one and the guilt eats him inside about those men that lost their lives under his commands.
He doesn't speak to anyone, and when he is doing it is in angry way...
He doesn't even try to recover... it's like he is punishing himself.
And he doesn't want to share with anyone what happened that day...
Didi Monroe is making her intership in the recovery center who is working her father... From the first moment, something drowing her to this grumpy patient who is unwilling to speak to her.
But she can't give her hopes up about him!!!
As the time is passing, Walker starts to open up to her and to welcome her in his messed up life. He can't see her, but it's like a sunshine in his dark world, he is longing for her visits...
Her presence trigger him a hope of life. But what kind of life can he have in his situation???
As all you could say, Walker and Didi started to have feelings for each other...
But the obstacles between them were big...
First of all, for Didi is not ethecal to involve with a patient!!!
As for Walker???
How can he condemn a woman with bright future to leave all that she had work hard for behind her for a scarred person who might never fully recover???
So will they manage to overcome those obstacles????
I loved that story very much....
I enjoyed the rythm that the things were unfolding...
I liked the way Walker was with Didi and i liked Walker without her beside him... Generally, i liked Walker very much... Grumpy, troubled, guilty, scarred and all...
And i also liked Didi very much. She was so kind and caring with everyone. She manage to earn them all in the centre, even the grumpy soldier...
I won't lie to you, near to the end and when i was about to say "Thank my sweet Lord, everything is as good as possible..." everything collapsed and i was really, really mad with both of them, but especially with Didi.
Yeah, she was hurting but she said and did awful things... And Walker made me furious because he just resign... after all those things that they've been through, they didn't have to reach that point!!!!
But i forgive them because i love them...
If i gave you the impression that this book was only full of heartbreakeness, i'm so sorry!!! This book also had its funny moments...
Firstly it was having inside Sanchez and his wife, Valentina and those two guys were hillarious!!!
And Dodds... Dodds paintings left you smiling even though your heart was bruising...
But i can't tell you more about all those guys. You will have to learn all of them by yourself!!!
And as a closure to this review, i will say that i will keep this story with me forever... I'll never forget it!!!
***ARC generous provided from Pac Macmillan via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
January 24, 2017
Stay With Me was an emotionally, beautiful story that will stay in my heart for a long time to come! While there are many reasons I fell hard for this book, it ultimately boiled down to two things. The characters and the sexual tension. The characters easily worked their way into my emotions. I couldn't help but feel everything they did. And the sexual tension and angst left me longing to read the pages as fast as possible while also slowing down so I could savor every sexy moment. So yes, I definitely recommend this book, and I can't wait for you to meet Walker and Didi! But before I go any further, I want you to know that this book can be read as a standalone. Although I love and highly recommend the first book too (Come Back To Me), it was about Didi's best friend Jessa.
Didi Monroe ends up taking an internship at a medical facility on a Marine Base, since she's a trainee psychologist. She's the bosses daughter and knows that it won't be easy, but she didn't expect her first day to be a total nightmare. And part of that nightmare has to deal with her run in with Grumpy aka Noel Walker. Walker was part of the Alpha Team and was one of the youngest Lieutenants in the Marine Core. But the majority of his team died while he was left blind with a knee injury.
Walker didn't even want to talk to Didi. But as her daily visits added up, he started to warm up to her. Slowly over time start they formed a friendship, yet it's not that simple. You see when Didi and Walker are around each other, there's an underlying sexual tension that is through the roof scorching hot! Their moments together had me holding my breath, because the electricity between them was mind-blowing intense. It couldn't be ignored. And anyone around them saw it too. There is a shaving scene and many, many others that you must read. Those moments contain the perfect amount of sexual tension and angst! I absolutely love when angst is done in such a fabulous way that I can't help but have my emotions on edge.
Underneath Walker's gruff exterior, he is suffering from PTSD. Watching him struggle through the flashbacks, mood swings and nightmares shattered my heart into a billion tiny pieces. Yet Didi's friendship starts to help, although they have a lot of obstacles in their way. She isn't allowed to have relationships, let alone even be friends, with patients. And he doesn't want to tie anyone down, since he is blind. But the connection between the two of them, even when they were talking about something as simple as music and movies, moved me. It was pure and so real.
The story was rounded out with side characters that I absolutely loved! Sanchez and Dodd were wounded Marines who were at the same facility as Walker. They added moments of laughter and moments of heartbreak. I became just invested in them, and I hoped they would get their happily ever after too. And I loved the friendship they not only had with Walker, but with Didi too. They saw that Didi had this huge heart and good head on her shoulders. I loved that she tried her hardest to help others and find good in the world. While some of her choices, cough Zach cough, made me shake my head, it made her that much more human. She had flaws, just like we all do, and it made me love her that much more!
So yes, I definitely recommend this book! Especially if you love tortured males and slow burn romances! Although I will say that I wish this story had an epilogue. There was an epilogue in Come Back To Me, the book about Didi's best friend, and it was absolutely perfect. So I wish Did got one too, since I had a few questions about the future. But then again, I'm an epilogue junkie. But regardless, I can't wait for you to read Didi and Walker's story!
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Everything can change in a heartbeat. - Didi
Didi Monroe ends up taking an internship at a medical facility on a Marine Base, since she's a trainee psychologist. She's the bosses daughter and knows that it won't be easy, but she didn't expect her first day to be a total nightmare. And part of that nightmare has to deal with her run in with Grumpy aka Noel Walker. Walker was part of the Alpha Team and was one of the youngest Lieutenants in the Marine Core. But the majority of his team died while he was left blind with a knee injury.
The goddamn darkness. I can’t get away from it. It’s like being slowly buried alive. Every day another shovelful of dirt gets thrown on top of me. - Walker
Walker didn't even want to talk to Didi. But as her daily visits added up, he started to warm up to her. Slowly over time start they formed a friendship, yet it's not that simple. You see when Didi and Walker are around each other, there's an underlying sexual tension that is through the roof scorching hot! Their moments together had me holding my breath, because the electricity between them was mind-blowing intense. It couldn't be ignored. And anyone around them saw it too. There is a shaving scene and many, many others that you must read. Those moments contain the perfect amount of sexual tension and angst! I absolutely love when angst is done in such a fabulous way that I can't help but have my emotions on edge.
His hand nudges closer across the bed. I move my own hand to meet his. Our fingertips brush— that’s all. But it feels like I’ve just leaped across a line, smashing every last boundary that lay in the way. - Didi
Underneath Walker's gruff exterior, he is suffering from PTSD. Watching him struggle through the flashbacks, mood swings and nightmares shattered my heart into a billion tiny pieces. Yet Didi's friendship starts to help, although they have a lot of obstacles in their way. She isn't allowed to have relationships, let alone even be friends, with patients. And he doesn't want to tie anyone down, since he is blind. But the connection between the two of them, even when they were talking about something as simple as music and movies, moved me. It was pure and so real.
What are the scars on the inside like? Are they just as bad? And how do you heal those ones when you can’t even see them? - Didi
The story was rounded out with side characters that I absolutely loved! Sanchez and Dodd were wounded Marines who were at the same facility as Walker. They added moments of laughter and moments of heartbreak. I became just invested in them, and I hoped they would get their happily ever after too. And I loved the friendship they not only had with Walker, but with Didi too. They saw that Didi had this huge heart and good head on her shoulders. I loved that she tried her hardest to help others and find good in the world. While some of her choices, cough Zach cough, made me shake my head, it made her that much more human. She had flaws, just like we all do, and it made me love her that much more!
There’s another pause before he asks, “What color’s the sky?”
I smile, but at the same time I feel a sharp tug in my heart. What must it be like to know you might never see the sky again, or colors?
I look upward. “It’s blistering blue. Swimming-pool blue. Like someone’s poured chlorine into it.
“Is chlorine blue?” he asks.
I laugh. “Actually, I have no idea. But the sky is very blue today. And there’s not a single cloud.”
He tilts his face up to the sun and I find myself staring at him, at the hard line of his jaw and the soft curve of his mouth. I look quickly away.
So yes, I definitely recommend this book! Especially if you love tortured males and slow burn romances! Although I will say that I wish this story had an epilogue. There was an epilogue in Come Back To Me, the book about Didi's best friend, and it was absolutely perfect. So I wish Did got one too, since I had a few questions about the future. But then again, I'm an epilogue junkie. But regardless, I can't wait for you to read Didi and Walker's story!
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
September 1, 2015
5 - "I see you." Stars!
I will be honest, I didn’t think that Mila Gray would be able to top Come Back to Me but This Is One Moment, was just as good if not better in some ways.
Didi and Noel, were so different in so many ways that it bought a refreshing mix to their story, add in the slightly forbidden aspect, in that she is a medical student and he is recuperating in the Military hospital she’s doing a summer internship at, and the sexual tension between them was off the charts.
This was an easy book to read, in that it was so well written that you cannot help but get lost in Noel and Didi’s slow build to an actual relationship. Noel's ornery moods, and Didi's bright character and persistence with him until he starts believing in himself as a person again, takes the reader on quite a journey.
I’m drawn to him like a crazed, suicidal moth to a blazing bonfire.
The author didn’t rush this, and it worked out really well because of it. I think it would have lost some of it’s’ impact they hadn’t dealt with all of the hurdles and emotional issues that came with the reasons that Noel was in the hospital in the first place.
”You can’t keep running, literally and metaphorically, for the rest of your life. One day it surely has to catch up with you.”
There is also a great supporting cast in this book, and although not all have happy endings, their additions to the story as a whole are invaluable, and give This Is One Moment a really great depth and plot diversity. The banter between the guys and the camaraderie that they have built up as a group generally kept the plot moving and were pretty pivotal in parts to the story the was developing between the lead characters.
"Just because the fairy tale doesn't exist doesn't mean the happily-ever-after doesn't either."
I loved this book, this author offers a unique perspective on a few popular tropes that are around at the moment. Everything balances out, and you are just left with a smile on your face (after going through the whole range of emotions during reading) when you finish.
I hope we have more to look forward to from Mila Gray/Sarah Alderson in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
I will be honest, I didn’t think that Mila Gray would be able to top Come Back to Me but This Is One Moment, was just as good if not better in some ways.
Didi and Noel, were so different in so many ways that it bought a refreshing mix to their story, add in the slightly forbidden aspect, in that she is a medical student and he is recuperating in the Military hospital she’s doing a summer internship at, and the sexual tension between them was off the charts.
This was an easy book to read, in that it was so well written that you cannot help but get lost in Noel and Didi’s slow build to an actual relationship. Noel's ornery moods, and Didi's bright character and persistence with him until he starts believing in himself as a person again, takes the reader on quite a journey.
I’m drawn to him like a crazed, suicidal moth to a blazing bonfire.
The author didn’t rush this, and it worked out really well because of it. I think it would have lost some of it’s’ impact they hadn’t dealt with all of the hurdles and emotional issues that came with the reasons that Noel was in the hospital in the first place.
”You can’t keep running, literally and metaphorically, for the rest of your life. One day it surely has to catch up with you.”
There is also a great supporting cast in this book, and although not all have happy endings, their additions to the story as a whole are invaluable, and give This Is One Moment a really great depth and plot diversity. The banter between the guys and the camaraderie that they have built up as a group generally kept the plot moving and were pretty pivotal in parts to the story the was developing between the lead characters.
"Just because the fairy tale doesn't exist doesn't mean the happily-ever-after doesn't either."
I loved this book, this author offers a unique perspective on a few popular tropes that are around at the moment. Everything balances out, and you are just left with a smile on your face (after going through the whole range of emotions during reading) when you finish.
I hope we have more to look forward to from Mila Gray/Sarah Alderson in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
April 12, 2022
This had strong potential and I was enjoying it for the most part but the ridiculous 3rd act conflict made me deduct another star cause it just pissed me off. I'm not even gonna bother being nice by rounding off cause seriously WTF was that? Didi's lack of emotional maturity and never knowing what to do or say and jumping to the worst conclusions so quickly just tested my patience and gave me whiplash. This girl is interning at a VA Hospital to become a therapist like her parents but couldn't seem to understand why her new boyfriend of like 2 weeks who has severe PTSD and is blind won't open up to her about his horrific accident during his deployment in Afghanistan. Um...it's called patience and understanding? She really contemplates leaving him so she can have--and I quote directly-- "a normal relationship" with another guy who has "no baggage". Ick. So gross. It just made it difficult to connect with her when she would say/think things like this and her petty behavior in the end justified why she kept rubbing me wrong. Everything had to be on her time table and if she doesn't get it, she wants to quickly bail. She's the "I want it all right now and if I can't have it then I don't want it" type. And sleeping with a guy who clearly has no respect for you but you can't resist cause he's "hot" and famous just leaves something to be desired. It was hard for me to respect a heroine like this who couldn't seem to respect herself and use that noggin of hers.
And the fact that she never apologizes for her part in the breakup and what she said didn't sit right with me at all. I'm sorry but it's such a sore spot for me when authors do this during a couple's fight, where one throws a trauma or personal loss in their loved one's face to hurt them and then never even apologize for it? No ma'am. Absolutely not.
This is why I don't do well with NA books. The drama is usually OTT or the emotional depth is missing. But here I blame it more on the writing. There's a reason I attempted the first book in this series but gave up after 100 pages of heavy skimming. This series deals with heavy subject matters involving veterans who deal with PTSD, trauma, suicide, abuse, disability, etc. but the characters are written very shallow. In both development and way of thinking. And I'm not just talking about the h/hr but the adults and parents in this as well. Also the way the author tended to over-simplify things when it comes to relationships, physical looks and trauma made me a little bit uncomfortable. The tone felt off. It almost felt like this was written by a man, not a woman. Or someone who just didn't do their research and just making stuff up as they went along while writing this. That bothered me given the serious subject matter. Note to Mila Grey, alcohol doesn't just cause depression in people. Please do your research before making cringe statements like that. It makes your characters sound very green and stupid.
And the fact that she never apologizes for her part in the breakup and what she said didn't sit right with me at all. I'm sorry but it's such a sore spot for me when authors do this during a couple's fight, where one throws a trauma or personal loss in their loved one's face to hurt them and then never even apologize for it? No ma'am. Absolutely not.
My mom says that when people see a good-looking woman, they naturally assume she can’t be intelligent so you have to fight that bit harder to prove you have a brain. This I have found to be disconcertingly true. Though on the upside, it also means people tend to underestimate you.
This is why I don't do well with NA books. The drama is usually OTT or the emotional depth is missing. But here I blame it more on the writing. There's a reason I attempted the first book in this series but gave up after 100 pages of heavy skimming. This series deals with heavy subject matters involving veterans who deal with PTSD, trauma, suicide, abuse, disability, etc. but the characters are written very shallow. In both development and way of thinking. And I'm not just talking about the h/hr but the adults and parents in this as well. Also the way the author tended to over-simplify things when it comes to relationships, physical looks and trauma made me a little bit uncomfortable. The tone felt off. It almost felt like this was written by a man, not a woman. Or someone who just didn't do their research and just making stuff up as they went along while writing this. That bothered me given the serious subject matter. Note to Mila Grey, alcohol doesn't just cause depression in people. Please do your research before making cringe statements like that. It makes your characters sound very green and stupid.
October 8, 2015
DNF @ 73%
Okay so first things first, I didn't finish this book. That being said, I don't think this is a bad book. It's just that, LOVE TRIANGLES man! Sometimes they're bearable but most of the time they're just a pain in the ass AND my heart.
I thought we finally got rid of the other guy but then suddenly he pops up out of nowhere and I'm just not really in the mood right now to be front and center when all the shitstorm happens. I can already see bits and pieces of what's to come and I'm already annoyed this early on even though it hasn't even happened yet. Imagine when it finally does! Sigh.
Maybe this goes to show how such a chicken I am when it comes to facing problems but I don't care. Hmm at least I got some feels out of this book though. Thank god for that.
Okay so first things first, I didn't finish this book. That being said, I don't think this is a bad book. It's just that, LOVE TRIANGLES man! Sometimes they're bearable but most of the time they're just a pain in the ass AND my heart.
I thought we finally got rid of the other guy but then suddenly he pops up out of nowhere and I'm just not really in the mood right now to be front and center when all the shitstorm happens. I can already see bits and pieces of what's to come and I'm already annoyed this early on even though it hasn't even happened yet. Imagine when it finally does! Sigh.
Maybe this goes to show how such a chicken I am when it comes to facing problems but I don't care. Hmm at least I got some feels out of this book though. Thank god for that.
September 16, 2018
When I read Come Back to Me last year, I fell so in love with the military romance and its broken characters. When I saw that it was a series, I immediately bought the second book and couldn't wait to read Didi's story!
Didi Monroe knows her internship with a military hospital isn't going to be easy, especially when she meets Noel Walker, a Marine who was blinded when his unit was attacked. Noel is still fighting his demons from that attack and carries all of the blame on his shoulders. He isn't the friendliest soldier in the hospital, but for some reason, Didi is drawn to the brooding man. As the two spend more time together, the deeper Didi finds herself falling. But can she really fall in love with a man who is determined to forget he even has a heart?
Going into this one, I knew that it would be a very emotional romance. From the start, I loved Noel's character and how broken he was. I wanted so desperately for him to just open up to Didi and find a way to forgive himself for something that wasn't even his fault. I felt like this book represented PTSD so well and really opened my eyes to what it was like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders after experiencing war firsthand. Noel's story was so special and I'm so happy I was able to experience it, as well as the stories of the other men we got to meet that were staying at the hospital with him.
As for the romance, I was definitely swooning over the slow development of Didi and Noel's attraction. Yes, they both fought it, but I thought it was so sweet how they both spent more time with each other and were so drawn to each other. The romance did share the storyline with other emotional moments involving other characters, which I really appreciated. Didi and Noel had to figure out how to deal with their relationships with other people along with their own budding relationship that neither one of them could really understand.
Overall, this series still remains one of my favorite military romance series I've ever read. I fall in love with every single character and my heart breaks with every obstacle they all face. If you want a deeply emotional military romance with characters that will stay in your heart for a long time after putting the book down, you have to pick up these books!
Didi Monroe knows her internship with a military hospital isn't going to be easy, especially when she meets Noel Walker, a Marine who was blinded when his unit was attacked. Noel is still fighting his demons from that attack and carries all of the blame on his shoulders. He isn't the friendliest soldier in the hospital, but for some reason, Didi is drawn to the brooding man. As the two spend more time together, the deeper Didi finds herself falling. But can she really fall in love with a man who is determined to forget he even has a heart?
Going into this one, I knew that it would be a very emotional romance. From the start, I loved Noel's character and how broken he was. I wanted so desperately for him to just open up to Didi and find a way to forgive himself for something that wasn't even his fault. I felt like this book represented PTSD so well and really opened my eyes to what it was like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders after experiencing war firsthand. Noel's story was so special and I'm so happy I was able to experience it, as well as the stories of the other men we got to meet that were staying at the hospital with him.
As for the romance, I was definitely swooning over the slow development of Didi and Noel's attraction. Yes, they both fought it, but I thought it was so sweet how they both spent more time with each other and were so drawn to each other. The romance did share the storyline with other emotional moments involving other characters, which I really appreciated. Didi and Noel had to figure out how to deal with their relationships with other people along with their own budding relationship that neither one of them could really understand.
Overall, this series still remains one of my favorite military romance series I've ever read. I fall in love with every single character and my heart breaks with every obstacle they all face. If you want a deeply emotional military romance with characters that will stay in your heart for a long time after putting the book down, you have to pick up these books!
August 17, 2015
I liked this more compared to the previous book I read from Mila Gray (Come Back to Me), maybe because the romance had a better pacing and I could resonate with the characters a lot more.
The first half of the book was really entertaining, though the last part that didn't work for me. It's just that for a medical center that treats very special cases, everyone was quite oblivious to what happened to a particular someone - I saw it coming from miles away and I am not the philologist here. Then there was the misunderstanding between the main characters - so childish for a NA story. I get it that Walker is a bit messed up (a lot even), but our girl here is not much better. Also, she is supposed to be smart, she should know how to read people, but maybe all she needs is to find something better to do with her life, because this is definitely not her thing.
The book starts with a teaser that makes you wonder where the story will go. The author used this before, but what can I say.. It works. The focus remains on the couple through the book, but some of the characters are worth reading about and they made the story funnier and at times even more heartbreaking.
As per usual, the war theme is not working that much for me, I don't know but I think that soldiers should know better when they enroll in the army - if they go there to fight, with the guns in their arms, why is it a surprise for all of them that people actually get hurt or die? Are they stupid or something, or is someone brainwashing them into thinking that war is some sort of beach party full of booze and happiness? No, it's a place to die, a funeral for their souls, because no matter what, someone will be dead by the end of it, and the living ones will just be dead inside.
Anyways, for the fans of this genre and/or the author, this might be a book that you need to check out.
Happy midnight reading!
The first half of the book was really entertaining, though the last part that didn't work for me. It's just that for a medical center that treats very special cases, everyone was quite oblivious to what happened to a particular someone - I saw it coming from miles away and I am not the philologist here. Then there was the misunderstanding between the main characters - so childish for a NA story. I get it that Walker is a bit messed up (a lot even), but our girl here is not much better. Also, she is supposed to be smart, she should know how to read people, but maybe all she needs is to find something better to do with her life, because this is definitely not her thing.
The book starts with a teaser that makes you wonder where the story will go. The author used this before, but what can I say.. It works. The focus remains on the couple through the book, but some of the characters are worth reading about and they made the story funnier and at times even more heartbreaking.
As per usual, the war theme is not working that much for me, I don't know but I think that soldiers should know better when they enroll in the army - if they go there to fight, with the guns in their arms, why is it a surprise for all of them that people actually get hurt or die? Are they stupid or something, or is someone brainwashing them into thinking that war is some sort of beach party full of booze and happiness? No, it's a place to die, a funeral for their souls, because no matter what, someone will be dead by the end of it, and the living ones will just be dead inside.
Anyways, for the fans of this genre and/or the author, this might be a book that you need to check out.
Happy midnight reading!
December 6, 2016
I'm not usually one for the angsty-times, but I loved the first book and I was eager to read Didi's story.
Love love love Didi. She's smart and genuinely a nice person. Walker is gruff and hardened and exactly what you would expect from someone back from a war zone. Their friendship into a relationship is captivating and their chemistry is off the charts.
Yes there's a shitload of angst, but there's also some laughs and sweet parts too. The prologue really threw me off, but it definitely made the story turn in a direction I wasn't expecting.
My only complaint {if you could call it that} is that I wanted an epilogue, but considering how it ended, it wouldn't have worked. I'm just being greedy.
Love love love Didi. She's smart and genuinely a nice person. Walker is gruff and hardened and exactly what you would expect from someone back from a war zone. Their friendship into a relationship is captivating and their chemistry is off the charts.
Yes there's a shitload of angst, but there's also some laughs and sweet parts too. The prologue really threw me off, but it definitely made the story turn in a direction I wasn't expecting.
My only complaint {if you could call it that} is that I wanted an epilogue, but considering how it ended, it wouldn't have worked. I'm just being greedy.
July 13, 2025
4.5⭑
Didi was introduced in book one of the series and I really liked her character during that book. I loved that we got to see her as the focus and I loved her character throughout the entire book.
Walker is an amazing guy and has been through so much pain and suffering that it was great to see him want to work hard because of Didi.
I also loved Walker’s friendship with Sanchez. Sanchez is so funny and was a fantastic side character.
Although I had to laugh when I found out Walker’s first name is actually Noel. HAHAHAHHA!! I mean this dude is only 24 and has an old man name. Anyway that made me laugh a little.
Didi was introduced in book one of the series and I really liked her character during that book. I loved that we got to see her as the focus and I loved her character throughout the entire book.
Walker is an amazing guy and has been through so much pain and suffering that it was great to see him want to work hard because of Didi.
I also loved Walker’s friendship with Sanchez. Sanchez is so funny and was a fantastic side character.
Although I had to laugh when I found out Walker’s first name is actually Noel. HAHAHAHHA!! I mean this dude is only 24 and has an old man name. Anyway that made me laugh a little.
September 8, 2015
I'm a huge fan of Mila Gray / Sarah Alderson so I couldn't wait to read the sequel to Come Back to Me and had very high expectations for This is One Moment. We already met the heroine Didi in the previous book, she is Jessa's best friend, and after everything she's been through I was looking forward to seeing her get a happily ever after.
Didi is a romantic at heart, her parents have a fantastic marriage and Didi has always dreamed of having the same but her love life has always been disastrous. Things finally seem to be looking up though, she's finished her degree in psychology, she's dating movie star Zac, a guy most girls would kill to be with, and now she's about to start an internship at a military hospital while she studies for her masters. She has her whole life planned out and it doesn't include falling for one of her patients, especially not a frustrating and grumpy Marine like Noel Walker.
Only two members of Walker's team survived the roadside ambush that cost him his sight and although he was able to get Sanchez to safety he is full of guilt about those who were left behind. Suffering with PTSD makes Walker's life unbearable, he has no idea what to do with his life and no hope for the future because he is being crippled by the guilt he feels. The first meeting between Walker and Didi doesn't go well but she is determined to find a way to get through to him and the more time they spend together the more she starts to realise that her feelings are in no way platonic.
I really enjoyed the romance between these two, it's such a slow build up as they become friends and slowly start to open up to each other and it was nice that nothing felt rushed between them. They obviously have chemistry but it takes a long time before they act on it because Didi is worried about crossing lines and losing her internship but the wait just made things that much sweeter when they finally give into temptation. Didi is such a kind and caring person, she wants to do her best by Walker and the other guys she's working with but at the same time she's aware that she's risking getting her heart broken if Walker doesn't learn to open up and let her in. Walker's back story broke my heart, he had been through so much and he did his best to survive and help his team mates but he can't forget the ones he wasn't able to save. He wants Didi but doesn't feel worthy of her love so he tends to push her away thinking he's doing it for her own good and there were definitely times when I wanted to shake some sense into him.
I think one of the things I enjoyed most about this story was meeting the other wounded soldiers on the ward though, Mila Gray does a fantastic job of showing the challenges that these guys face after coming home with horrific injuries and how they all have different coping mechanisms. Sanchez lost an arm and a leg but he's just grateful to be alive, he's the life and soul of the party who is determined to live life to the fullest and his banter often had me laughing out loud. On the other hand Dodds who lost both of his legs and is really struggling to come to terms with what happened. He's deeply depressed and seeing how miserable he was just broke my heart.
Although This is One Moment is at it's heart a romance novel there is a lot more to it than that and some of the other story lines can be quite painful to read at times. This isn't all sweetness and light, there is a realness that will tug on your heartstrings and make you feel grateful to be alive. Mila Gray has given us a fantastic follow up to her first novel and I'm definitely excited to see what she comes up with next.
Didi is a romantic at heart, her parents have a fantastic marriage and Didi has always dreamed of having the same but her love life has always been disastrous. Things finally seem to be looking up though, she's finished her degree in psychology, she's dating movie star Zac, a guy most girls would kill to be with, and now she's about to start an internship at a military hospital while she studies for her masters. She has her whole life planned out and it doesn't include falling for one of her patients, especially not a frustrating and grumpy Marine like Noel Walker.
Only two members of Walker's team survived the roadside ambush that cost him his sight and although he was able to get Sanchez to safety he is full of guilt about those who were left behind. Suffering with PTSD makes Walker's life unbearable, he has no idea what to do with his life and no hope for the future because he is being crippled by the guilt he feels. The first meeting between Walker and Didi doesn't go well but she is determined to find a way to get through to him and the more time they spend together the more she starts to realise that her feelings are in no way platonic.
I really enjoyed the romance between these two, it's such a slow build up as they become friends and slowly start to open up to each other and it was nice that nothing felt rushed between them. They obviously have chemistry but it takes a long time before they act on it because Didi is worried about crossing lines and losing her internship but the wait just made things that much sweeter when they finally give into temptation. Didi is such a kind and caring person, she wants to do her best by Walker and the other guys she's working with but at the same time she's aware that she's risking getting her heart broken if Walker doesn't learn to open up and let her in. Walker's back story broke my heart, he had been through so much and he did his best to survive and help his team mates but he can't forget the ones he wasn't able to save. He wants Didi but doesn't feel worthy of her love so he tends to push her away thinking he's doing it for her own good and there were definitely times when I wanted to shake some sense into him.
I think one of the things I enjoyed most about this story was meeting the other wounded soldiers on the ward though, Mila Gray does a fantastic job of showing the challenges that these guys face after coming home with horrific injuries and how they all have different coping mechanisms. Sanchez lost an arm and a leg but he's just grateful to be alive, he's the life and soul of the party who is determined to live life to the fullest and his banter often had me laughing out loud. On the other hand Dodds who lost both of his legs and is really struggling to come to terms with what happened. He's deeply depressed and seeing how miserable he was just broke my heart.
Although This is One Moment is at it's heart a romance novel there is a lot more to it than that and some of the other story lines can be quite painful to read at times. This isn't all sweetness and light, there is a realness that will tug on your heartstrings and make you feel grateful to be alive. Mila Gray has given us a fantastic follow up to her first novel and I'm definitely excited to see what she comes up with next.
May 23, 2021
”It’s not ‘I can’t live without you’ love. It’s ‘I don’t want to live without you’ love.” - Stay With Me
I am so glad I discovered this series when putting in a Book Outlet order. The second book in Mila Gray’s series, Stay With Me, was even better than the first.
Didi Monroe, who was introduced in Come Back to Me, is interning at a military hospital. She is studying to become a psychologist, and she must spend some time with wounded patients for the semester. She is off to a rocky start, with some patients hitting on her and others just plain hating her.
One angry patient in particular, Noel Walker, wants nothing to do with Didi, or anyone else for that matter. Walker has lost his eyesight after his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan. Being the Lieutenant in charge at the time of the attack, Walker blames himself for the loss of his men, and he’s slowly falling into a deep depression.
Didi doesn’t know how to get through to Walker, but she also can’t stay away from him, feeling a connection to him and the need to help him. While she is just an intern and he isn’t technically her patient, the lines between them get blurry when they form a bond, and Walker begins to open up to her. Despite their best efforts to stay just friends, their attraction can’t be denied.
I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down, and when I wasn’t reading it, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. My only complaint was the ending. It sort of wrapped up quickly, and with no epilogue, I was left wanting more, which I guess isn’t actually a bad thing.
While I was reading Come Back to Me, something felt off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. After reading, Stay With Me, I realized what the issue was: pacing. The first book in Mila’s series sort of jumped right into the relationship without much build up, and it was hard to believe in it at times. But with Stay With Me, the relationship build-up was perfectly paced, making it more believable and also way more fun to read.
There is a bit of a love triangle, but it didn’t bother me too much because Didi was clearly more attracted to Walker, so I sort of just dealt with the other guy, knowing he wasn’t going to be sticking around. (That’s not really a spoiler, you can tell right away that Didi and Walker have a stronger connection.)
This book had serious Me Before You vibes, in my opinion. While Didi isn’t exactly like Lou, they were sort of similar, both quirky and likable. And Walker was like Will in the sense that he was angry at his inability to live the life he was used to living.
Now, I’m off to read Run Away With Me. 😙
I am so glad I discovered this series when putting in a Book Outlet order. The second book in Mila Gray’s series, Stay With Me, was even better than the first.
Didi Monroe, who was introduced in Come Back to Me, is interning at a military hospital. She is studying to become a psychologist, and she must spend some time with wounded patients for the semester. She is off to a rocky start, with some patients hitting on her and others just plain hating her.
One angry patient in particular, Noel Walker, wants nothing to do with Didi, or anyone else for that matter. Walker has lost his eyesight after his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan. Being the Lieutenant in charge at the time of the attack, Walker blames himself for the loss of his men, and he’s slowly falling into a deep depression.
Didi doesn’t know how to get through to Walker, but she also can’t stay away from him, feeling a connection to him and the need to help him. While she is just an intern and he isn’t technically her patient, the lines between them get blurry when they form a bond, and Walker begins to open up to her. Despite their best efforts to stay just friends, their attraction can’t be denied.
I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down, and when I wasn’t reading it, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. My only complaint was the ending. It sort of wrapped up quickly, and with no epilogue, I was left wanting more, which I guess isn’t actually a bad thing.
While I was reading Come Back to Me, something felt off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. After reading, Stay With Me, I realized what the issue was: pacing. The first book in Mila’s series sort of jumped right into the relationship without much build up, and it was hard to believe in it at times. But with Stay With Me, the relationship build-up was perfectly paced, making it more believable and also way more fun to read.
There is a bit of a love triangle, but it didn’t bother me too much because Didi was clearly more attracted to Walker, so I sort of just dealt with the other guy, knowing he wasn’t going to be sticking around. (That’s not really a spoiler, you can tell right away that Didi and Walker have a stronger connection.)
This book had serious Me Before You vibes, in my opinion. While Didi isn’t exactly like Lou, they were sort of similar, both quirky and likable. And Walker was like Will in the sense that he was angry at his inability to live the life he was used to living.
Now, I’m off to read Run Away With Me. 😙
September 5, 2015
4.5 stars
Didi is doing an internship at a hospital for wounded veterans. Walker is a patient, having survived an attack that left him injured and blind. When he got to the hospital, his fiance couldn't deal with his injuries so she broke up with him. He's angry and doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. The only person who he can open up to in the intern, Didi.
I loved so many things about this story. The writing was really good. It pulls you in from the beginning. I loved Walker. He's struggling with everything that happened to him but he's a good guy who really deserves to find happiness. My only complaint about this book that kept it from being a full 5 star book is the drama towards the end and the lack of an epilogue. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Didi is doing an internship at a hospital for wounded veterans. Walker is a patient, having survived an attack that left him injured and blind. When he got to the hospital, his fiance couldn't deal with his injuries so she broke up with him. He's angry and doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. The only person who he can open up to in the intern, Didi.
I loved so many things about this story. The writing was really good. It pulls you in from the beginning. I loved Walker. He's struggling with everything that happened to him but he's a good guy who really deserves to find happiness. My only complaint about this book that kept it from being a full 5 star book is the drama towards the end and the lack of an epilogue. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
August 19, 2017
3.5 stars
This started out incredibly strong. The development and pacing of the relationship between Walker and Didi was perfect.
But then towards the end, things just got messy.
And not the good kind of messy.
So many things are thrown at you that it threw off the balance of the story.
This was an enjoyable, quick read but I connected much more with Come Back to Me.
This started out incredibly strong. The development and pacing of the relationship between Walker and Didi was perfect.
But then towards the end, things just got messy.
And not the good kind of messy.
So many things are thrown at you that it threw off the balance of the story.
This was an enjoyable, quick read but I connected much more with Come Back to Me.
September 12, 2015
Review-Jo
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This was yet another fantastic story from Mila Gray. I was hooked on Didi and Walker's story from the very first page and I felt so sad when it ended. I highly recommend reading this one, even if you haven't read "Come Back to Me", it really doesn't matter as this book can be read as a standalone.
Didi was a psychology student about to start her internship, working alongside injured military personal. This was when she met Walker, a marine who had returned from Afghanistan an utterly broken man. Not just on the outside, but on the inside too. As soon as I met Walker, I knew that he was going to steal my heart. After discovering his awful experience of war and finding out that he was so damaged, you would have to have had a heart of stone not to feel sorry for him. Walker was living in a world of pain and guilt that no-one could break into, but then Didi came along and Walker's hard shell began to crack.
I loved Didi, she was loving and caring and demonstrated so much patience with all of the men at the hospital, not just Walker. Because Didi did not have much experience when it came to men, I felt as though she was letting men use her, especially her on/off boyfriend, Zac, but with Walker everything changed for her. She realised what real love was and that Walker was the perfect man for her, despite his demons. Didi and Walker had such an intense connection, there was so much chemistry between the pair that it was impossible for them to be just friends and ignore their true feelings for one another. Being with Walker meant that Didi would need to take a huge risk, a risk that could mean jeopardising her career. Their relationship had forbidden written all over it, but Didi and Walker were already far too lost in each other to seriously think about the ramifications until it was too late.
Despite the tears that were shed and the emotional turmoil that this book caused, what shone through the most was Didi and Walker's beautiful love story. A love story that won't be easily forgotten. Didi and Walker's relationship truly warmed my heart, I was so wrapped up in their story that I hardly noticed the time going by. I was unable to put my kindle down, reading late into the night. Mila Gray has once again captivated me with another brilliant story. I can't wait to read more from this fabulous author.
"This Is One Moment" gets ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ from me.
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This was yet another fantastic story from Mila Gray. I was hooked on Didi and Walker's story from the very first page and I felt so sad when it ended. I highly recommend reading this one, even if you haven't read "Come Back to Me", it really doesn't matter as this book can be read as a standalone.
Didi was a psychology student about to start her internship, working alongside injured military personal. This was when she met Walker, a marine who had returned from Afghanistan an utterly broken man. Not just on the outside, but on the inside too. As soon as I met Walker, I knew that he was going to steal my heart. After discovering his awful experience of war and finding out that he was so damaged, you would have to have had a heart of stone not to feel sorry for him. Walker was living in a world of pain and guilt that no-one could break into, but then Didi came along and Walker's hard shell began to crack.
Somehow she's making the darkness a little lighter.
I loved Didi, she was loving and caring and demonstrated so much patience with all of the men at the hospital, not just Walker. Because Didi did not have much experience when it came to men, I felt as though she was letting men use her, especially her on/off boyfriend, Zac, but with Walker everything changed for her. She realised what real love was and that Walker was the perfect man for her, despite his demons. Didi and Walker had such an intense connection, there was so much chemistry between the pair that it was impossible for them to be just friends and ignore their true feelings for one another. Being with Walker meant that Didi would need to take a huge risk, a risk that could mean jeopardising her career. Their relationship had forbidden written all over it, but Didi and Walker were already far too lost in each other to seriously think about the ramifications until it was too late.
I want to be with Walker. I'm drawn to him like a crazed, suicidal moth to a blazing bonfire.This story wasn't just about Didi and Walker, it was also about the other patients that I met at the military hospital. I got to know so many different characters and my heart went out to every single one of them for what they had each been through. They each had their own journey to make during the story and I was there to love, laugh and cry alongside everyone of them. This story definitely wasn't all hearts and flowers, that's for sure. Just like "Come Back to Me" this book also dealt with the ugliness of war and it once again made me think about the military heroes and how truly courageous they are. The characters from this story will stay with me for a long time to come.
Just because the fairy tale doesn't exist doesn't mean the happily-ever-after doesn't either.
Despite the tears that were shed and the emotional turmoil that this book caused, what shone through the most was Didi and Walker's beautiful love story. A love story that won't be easily forgotten. Didi and Walker's relationship truly warmed my heart, I was so wrapped up in their story that I hardly noticed the time going by. I was unable to put my kindle down, reading late into the night. Mila Gray has once again captivated me with another brilliant story. I can't wait to read more from this fabulous author.
"This Is One Moment" gets ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ from me.
September 12, 2015
**ARC kindly provided by Pan Macmillan via Netgalley**
5~I See You Stars
Mila, Mila, Mila, Oh my. That was beautiful!
The prologue had me instantly not to mention I could not put this down!
I'm tickled to death! Multiple LOVEABLE characters.
Wounded warriors, the brave men and women who make the biggest sacrifices everyday. The ones who go into the unknown when any second could be their last. The ones who deal with the aftermath if tragedy occurs. Tormented soldiers who carry guilt and or shame. Their lives turned upside down in the blink of an eye.
That would be our main hero in this story, Lieutenant Noel Walker. AKA~ "Grumpy". Walker's unit was ambushed with nearly all of his men being killed. He is left blind, sustained an arm injury and punishes himself with self blame. He doesn't talk much at all and if he does it's in anger. Being a patient in a facility during recovery he meets an intern which happens to be his doctors daughter Didi Monroe.
After a very rough start, they gradually become friends, and Walker welcomes her company. Eventually opening up somewhat. Didi is just what he needs, she makes him more at ease, temporarily. Sparks start to ignite but her father reminds her, no emotional involvement with a patient. But they can't deny their attraction. Didi is in somewhat of a relationship with a famous actor so that leaves Walker feeling he's no match anyway. He has nothing to offer her, he's blind and can't do anything. You will read about Walker's fiancé as well, This story is sad yet beautiful and I loved it!
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The characters, they were fantastic but who really stole it was Valentina, the wife of Sanchez, one of his men. Oh my, (LAUGHING) she is hilarious!
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Friends, this story is so beautiful I recommend it to everyone!
5~I See You Stars
Mila, Mila, Mila, Oh my. That was beautiful!
The prologue had me instantly not to mention I could not put this down!
I'm tickled to death! Multiple LOVEABLE characters.
Wounded warriors, the brave men and women who make the biggest sacrifices everyday. The ones who go into the unknown when any second could be their last. The ones who deal with the aftermath if tragedy occurs. Tormented soldiers who carry guilt and or shame. Their lives turned upside down in the blink of an eye.
That would be our main hero in this story, Lieutenant Noel Walker. AKA~ "Grumpy". Walker's unit was ambushed with nearly all of his men being killed. He is left blind, sustained an arm injury and punishes himself with self blame. He doesn't talk much at all and if he does it's in anger. Being a patient in a facility during recovery he meets an intern which happens to be his doctors daughter Didi Monroe.
After a very rough start, they gradually become friends, and Walker welcomes her company. Eventually opening up somewhat. Didi is just what he needs, she makes him more at ease, temporarily. Sparks start to ignite but her father reminds her, no emotional involvement with a patient. But they can't deny their attraction. Didi is in somewhat of a relationship with a famous actor so that leaves Walker feeling he's no match anyway. He has nothing to offer her, he's blind and can't do anything. You will read about Walker's fiancé as well, This story is sad yet beautiful and I loved it!
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The characters, they were fantastic but who really stole it was Valentina, the wife of Sanchez, one of his men. Oh my, (LAUGHING) she is hilarious!
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Friends, this story is so beautiful I recommend it to everyone!
August 8, 2015
3.5 stars
I never quite know where to start with books like these. I can tell you that I liked it, that I nearly cried, and while it’s not a feel-good story, it did make me feel good in the end. Veterans are often a difficult subject, certainly when some of them are so young, in their early twenties. Returning home from war, they are never the same. Honorably discharged often and thanked for their services, but they’re lost at what to do next. They’ve lost limbs, sight, hearing, suffer from PTSD and now they need to enter society again, not quite fitting in.
Didi is interning at a military hospital, or rather a rehabilitation clinic, for soldiers like that. From day one she figures out that keeping an emotional distance will be impossible. Even though Walker might be the grumpiest of them all, she wants to know his story. Every day she visits with patients, talks to them, plays poker with them, but it’s Walker that intrigues her the most. She is drawn to this broken guy, and she falls hard.
Walker hates being in the hospital. Like many soldiers he suffers from survivor’s guilt. He lost many friends, and yet he is still alive. It doesn’t seem fair to him, and it’s that mental blockade that keeps him from accepting real help. The only thing he is now looking forward to are the daily visits of Didi. Somehow he feels connected to her, and he can talk to her. Still getting too close wouldn’t end well, and he believes she deserves someone not broken.
Seeing this connection between them develop from an almost reluctant friendship to lovers was amazing. Didi sees beyond Walker’s broken facade, and wants him to let her in. It’s a slow progress and I liked that pace, they take their time. Walker almost doesn’t dare to hope for someone like Didi. He has no clue what to do about after, but he does know that now he wants her.
Two wonderful characters, superb writing, striking tragedy, and intense depth, all make This Is One Moment a heartwarming story. That real feeling, ’cause there is more heavy thoughts and drama than almost happy moments, is what makes me love this so much. Above all though it’s a tale about hope and never giving up.
*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I never quite know where to start with books like these. I can tell you that I liked it, that I nearly cried, and while it’s not a feel-good story, it did make me feel good in the end. Veterans are often a difficult subject, certainly when some of them are so young, in their early twenties. Returning home from war, they are never the same. Honorably discharged often and thanked for their services, but they’re lost at what to do next. They’ve lost limbs, sight, hearing, suffer from PTSD and now they need to enter society again, not quite fitting in.
Didi is interning at a military hospital, or rather a rehabilitation clinic, for soldiers like that. From day one she figures out that keeping an emotional distance will be impossible. Even though Walker might be the grumpiest of them all, she wants to know his story. Every day she visits with patients, talks to them, plays poker with them, but it’s Walker that intrigues her the most. She is drawn to this broken guy, and she falls hard.
Walker hates being in the hospital. Like many soldiers he suffers from survivor’s guilt. He lost many friends, and yet he is still alive. It doesn’t seem fair to him, and it’s that mental blockade that keeps him from accepting real help. The only thing he is now looking forward to are the daily visits of Didi. Somehow he feels connected to her, and he can talk to her. Still getting too close wouldn’t end well, and he believes she deserves someone not broken.
Seeing this connection between them develop from an almost reluctant friendship to lovers was amazing. Didi sees beyond Walker’s broken facade, and wants him to let her in. It’s a slow progress and I liked that pace, they take their time. Walker almost doesn’t dare to hope for someone like Didi. He has no clue what to do about after, but he does know that now he wants her.
Two wonderful characters, superb writing, striking tragedy, and intense depth, all make This Is One Moment a heartwarming story. That real feeling, ’cause there is more heavy thoughts and drama than almost happy moments, is what makes me love this so much. Above all though it’s a tale about hope and never giving up.
*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
April 20, 2025
3.75 Stars
Walker, a wounded Marine vet struggling with guilt and PTSD falls in love with Didi, a psychology intern at his rehab facility.
I adored Walker. What happened to him and what he lived through is heartbreaking. While this didn't delve as deep into mental health as I had expected, it did talk about many issues such as survivor's guilt, depression, and PTSD. Walker is also struggling with blindness resulting from the trauma he experienced and learning how to cope with it. . While I can understand the plausibility, it also seems .
Stay With Me had amazing supporting characters as well, Sanchez and Dodds. Both men were facing their own struggles, although in very different ways. In this aspect, the author did a great job showing that healing is not linear and not everyone heals in the same way. They both added a lot of depth and emotion to the story and I loved both of them.
My biggest gripe would have to be the OW/OM. The stuff at the beginning I could have ignored but that manufactured drama towards the end I certainly could have done without. It did nothing but annoy me and actually detracted from Walker and Didi's romance IMO, with not enough closure to heal from the hurts inflicted. Overall, I liked the story but it wasn't quite what I had expected emotionally and I felt a bit let down. I would recommend reading the previous book first if you ever plan to read Jessa's story, as it's hinted as to what happened and might ruin the book for you.
Walker, a wounded Marine vet struggling with guilt and PTSD falls in love with Didi, a psychology intern at his rehab facility.
I adored Walker. What happened to him and what he lived through is heartbreaking. While this didn't delve as deep into mental health as I had expected, it did talk about many issues such as survivor's guilt, depression, and PTSD. Walker is also struggling with blindness resulting from the trauma he experienced and learning how to cope with it. . While I can understand the plausibility, it also seems .
Stay With Me had amazing supporting characters as well, Sanchez and Dodds. Both men were facing their own struggles, although in very different ways. In this aspect, the author did a great job showing that healing is not linear and not everyone heals in the same way. They both added a lot of depth and emotion to the story and I loved both of them.
My biggest gripe would have to be the OW/OM. The stuff at the beginning I could have ignored but that manufactured drama towards the end I certainly could have done without. It did nothing but annoy me and actually detracted from Walker and Didi's romance IMO, with not enough closure to heal from the hurts inflicted. Overall, I liked the story but it wasn't quite what I had expected emotionally and I felt a bit let down. I would recommend reading the previous book first if you ever plan to read Jessa's story, as it's hinted as to what happened and might ruin the book for you.
June 16, 2017
**** 4.5 Beautiful Stars ****
"You're so Beautiful"
"You can't even see me"
"I don't need to"
This is One Moment is truly a beautiful story. Walker is an injured marine trying to recover from his injuries. He's in a dark place full of guilt and sorrow. His fiance even left him as soon as she heard that he couldn't see.
Didi is an intern working on her PHD. The more time she spends with Walker, the more she falls in love. But there are a lot of obstacles in their relationship. Walker doesn't want her to be stuck with a man that can't see. He thinks she deserves more. Didi is scared that she won't be able to get her PHD for being involved with a patient at the centre.
I loved how Walker touched her. He sees her better than anyone... it's just not with eyes. I really enjoyed the POV switching from Didi to Walker. It's cute how sometimes they think the same thing. There are characters involved from the previous series, but this can be read as a standalone.
This wasn't overly emotional for me, but it was still an amazing story.
"You're so Beautiful"
"You can't even see me"
"I don't need to"
This is One Moment is truly a beautiful story. Walker is an injured marine trying to recover from his injuries. He's in a dark place full of guilt and sorrow. His fiance even left him as soon as she heard that he couldn't see.
Didi is an intern working on her PHD. The more time she spends with Walker, the more she falls in love. But there are a lot of obstacles in their relationship. Walker doesn't want her to be stuck with a man that can't see. He thinks she deserves more. Didi is scared that she won't be able to get her PHD for being involved with a patient at the centre.
I loved how Walker touched her. He sees her better than anyone... it's just not with eyes. I really enjoyed the POV switching from Didi to Walker. It's cute how sometimes they think the same thing. There are characters involved from the previous series, but this can be read as a standalone.
This wasn't overly emotional for me, but it was still an amazing story.
March 12, 2016
It's been a while since I bought a paperback so the other day I went to the bookstore to find some to fill my bookshelf when I saw this book. I was hesitant to buy it because usually I would read Goodreads reviews first before I buy a book. So, I decided to get the ebook version first.
Overall, this book's an okay read for me. It's sad and heartbroken at some point, as it always is with books that revolves around military. I like both Hero and heroine, their relationship build up and everything. Though, there's one thing that happened around 80% ish mark that really bothered me.
I'm not gonna spoil it for anyone but for me, it was so obvious that it was gonna happen so I was expecting people to do something about it, but alas, no.
Overall, this book's an okay read for me. It's sad and heartbroken at some point, as it always is with books that revolves around military. I like both Hero and heroine, their relationship build up and everything. Though, there's one thing that happened around 80% ish mark that really bothered me.
I'm not gonna spoil it for anyone but for me, it was so obvious that it was gonna happen so I was expecting people to do something about it, but alas, no.
August 15, 2019
I liked it. But I had to take out one star because of the many cliches and common tropes this story has. I liked the first book a wee bit better. Also I wish they featured more of Jessa and Didi’s friendship. I also did not like the fact that both of them were, of course, extremely attractive people, as constantly mentioned by the other characters.
July 31, 2015
UGH. This book was going so well until shit hit the fun at like the last 25%. It could have been completely avoided. I was actually loving it until that point.
I have to think about my rating for this one.
Review to come.
I have to think about my rating for this one.
Review to come.
January 4, 2018
5 Stars
I really love this series for many of reasons. I loved this book as much as the first book. In this book there is a lot that is going on. In this book it is not about Jessa and Kit. It is about Didi and Marine Noel Walker love when they first meet while Zac is away awhile filming. I think that Didi and Marine is cute just as Jessa and Kit. I really can´t read the third book. I am so excited. I would read this series over again. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I really love this series for many of reasons. I loved this book as much as the first book. In this book there is a lot that is going on. In this book it is not about Jessa and Kit. It is about Didi and Marine Noel Walker love when they first meet while Zac is away awhile filming. I think that Didi and Marine is cute just as Jessa and Kit. I really can´t read the third book. I am so excited. I would read this series over again. I would recommend this book to anyone.
September 13, 2015
I'm a huge fan of Mila Gray's Come Back to Me. It's one of my favorite military romances and a must read. When I saw the arc for Didi's story was available I had to read it immediately. And boy was I in for a wonderful ride, because this book is just amazing!!! I totally loved it. The book holds you tight from the moment you start reading the prologue. It's so powerful, you immediately want to know what will happen.
This book is about love, about war, about healing, about friendship and family. The book is set up in a center for wounded soldiers and it touches deep into not only soldiers trying to rehabilitate from physical wounds but also PTSD. Sometimes the internal wounds are harder to heal.
Didi is an amazing strong girl. If you’ve read Come Back to Me, she's Jessa's best friend. She's the daughter of two therapists and a PhD student herself and working at the center as an intern for the summer. She's a romantic at heart. She's looking for love, often in the wrong places, she's longing for that deep meaningful connection that her parents and her best friends have.
"I want someone who’ll tell me that I’m their north star. Someone who’ll look at me and really see me. Someone who isn’t cynical about love and, most importantly, someone who won’t break my heart."
Lieutenant Noel Walker is a wounded soldier that has experienced recent trauma overseas and it’s recovering from his injuries, both external and internal. He lost a great number of his soldiers on the field and is struggling with his recovery, especially the fact that he survived. The book is told in dual POV and being inside Walker’s head is fascinating.
“Some days are worse than others. Some days I’m not just lying in a coffin hearing someone shoveling dirt on top of the lid, some days I’m buried miles underground and nothing reaches me, not even sound, just the terrifying roar of silence.”
Walker is kinda stalled in his progress, he is considered a special case and he is very resisting to therapy, he doesn’t talk to anyone, hates any interaction, and then he meets Didi. Their connection is fantastic, you can feel it since the first moment that what they have will be special. Didi is very apprehensive because any type of relationship could jeopardize her future career, and Walker simply doesn’t think he has any chance of a future. But the connection is obviously there.
“But at the same time I register somewhere deep down inside me that same feeling I had this afternoon, that I don’t want her to go anywhere. She doesn’t even have to touch me. I just want her here. In the room. With me.”
“I should leave, go home, get some sleep. But I can’t stop thinking about Walker.”
The romance is slow building, despite the strong attraction, they develop a great friendship but it eventually turns into an intense relationship and they are both in too deep.
“Her cheek rests briefly against mine and I close my eyes and find myself holding her tight, like a man clinging to a buoy in a storm-swept ocean. She’s keeping me afloat. How do I let her go after this?”
“I wish there was a way inside that chest of his, a way to find the wounds in there and heal them.”
An unexpected tragedy changes the course of the story and rocks them both hard. Honestly, I’m not super happy about some of the decisions the main characters (and some secondary ones) make and how some things are resolved, but the ending is absolutely beautiful. In the end is all about redemption, for all.
“‘What’s between us . . . this exists. It’s real. It’s not always perfect, and I can’t promise you it won’t sometimes go wrong, like it just did, or that we’ll last forever. I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to plan for the future, and I know you want that. I’ve seen too much, witnessed too much, to be able to put stock in the future any more. But what I can promise you is that every single moment of the present I’ll be with you. And I know this –that what we have means something. It’s significant. It’s not “I can’t live without you” love. It’s “I don’t want to live without you” love.’”
I truly loved this book. The writing is beautiful and it keeps you hooked. The main characters were amazing, brave and strong. I also loved the secondary characters, Sanchez, Valentina and Dodds. It is one of those books that you will always remember. I would've loved an epilogue, but I truly recommend this one!
*ARC generously provided by Pan Macmillan via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
This book is about love, about war, about healing, about friendship and family. The book is set up in a center for wounded soldiers and it touches deep into not only soldiers trying to rehabilitate from physical wounds but also PTSD. Sometimes the internal wounds are harder to heal.
Didi is an amazing strong girl. If you’ve read Come Back to Me, she's Jessa's best friend. She's the daughter of two therapists and a PhD student herself and working at the center as an intern for the summer. She's a romantic at heart. She's looking for love, often in the wrong places, she's longing for that deep meaningful connection that her parents and her best friends have.
"I want someone who’ll tell me that I’m their north star. Someone who’ll look at me and really see me. Someone who isn’t cynical about love and, most importantly, someone who won’t break my heart."
Lieutenant Noel Walker is a wounded soldier that has experienced recent trauma overseas and it’s recovering from his injuries, both external and internal. He lost a great number of his soldiers on the field and is struggling with his recovery, especially the fact that he survived. The book is told in dual POV and being inside Walker’s head is fascinating.
“Some days are worse than others. Some days I’m not just lying in a coffin hearing someone shoveling dirt on top of the lid, some days I’m buried miles underground and nothing reaches me, not even sound, just the terrifying roar of silence.”
Walker is kinda stalled in his progress, he is considered a special case and he is very resisting to therapy, he doesn’t talk to anyone, hates any interaction, and then he meets Didi. Their connection is fantastic, you can feel it since the first moment that what they have will be special. Didi is very apprehensive because any type of relationship could jeopardize her future career, and Walker simply doesn’t think he has any chance of a future. But the connection is obviously there.
“But at the same time I register somewhere deep down inside me that same feeling I had this afternoon, that I don’t want her to go anywhere. She doesn’t even have to touch me. I just want her here. In the room. With me.”
“I should leave, go home, get some sleep. But I can’t stop thinking about Walker.”
The romance is slow building, despite the strong attraction, they develop a great friendship but it eventually turns into an intense relationship and they are both in too deep.
“Her cheek rests briefly against mine and I close my eyes and find myself holding her tight, like a man clinging to a buoy in a storm-swept ocean. She’s keeping me afloat. How do I let her go after this?”
“I wish there was a way inside that chest of his, a way to find the wounds in there and heal them.”
An unexpected tragedy changes the course of the story and rocks them both hard. Honestly, I’m not super happy about some of the decisions the main characters (and some secondary ones) make and how some things are resolved, but the ending is absolutely beautiful. In the end is all about redemption, for all.
“‘What’s between us . . . this exists. It’s real. It’s not always perfect, and I can’t promise you it won’t sometimes go wrong, like it just did, or that we’ll last forever. I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to plan for the future, and I know you want that. I’ve seen too much, witnessed too much, to be able to put stock in the future any more. But what I can promise you is that every single moment of the present I’ll be with you. And I know this –that what we have means something. It’s significant. It’s not “I can’t live without you” love. It’s “I don’t want to live without you” love.’”
I truly loved this book. The writing is beautiful and it keeps you hooked. The main characters were amazing, brave and strong. I also loved the secondary characters, Sanchez, Valentina and Dodds. It is one of those books that you will always remember. I would've loved an epilogue, but I truly recommend this one!
*ARC generously provided by Pan Macmillan via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
December 25, 2016
Spoilers Alert:
Wanted to rate this better, because the basic premise was excellent. There were just extraneous details that dropped it to 3 stars.
Everything dealing with Noel's recovery seemed spot-on. He led his fellow Marines into an ambush, five died, he managed to save one despite being seriously wounded himself, and now he's in a rehab facility being crushed by PTSD and guilt. He can't move forward because he's too mired in what happened that day.
On the other hand, Didi seemed to be a bit of a twit for a Ph.D. candidate. She jumps into bed with Zac because he's a big Hollywood star and then he ignores her completely for three months. But as soon as his assistant sends her flowers she hops right back in the sack with him. After that she figures out she's just a booty call for him, but that doesn't stop her from going back to him for a third round.
But the relationship between them actually worked because it was illicit (as an Intern she'd been warned away from getting involved with patients, which could kill her career), so there was a slow build-up and a whole lot of "we shouldn't be doing this but I can't help it." Since he's still blind, the sex between them, when it happens, is described in excruciating detail based on his remaining functioning senses.
So what didn't I like:
1) The most glaring was the multiple references to Noel being "the youngest lieutenant in Marine Corps history," which made no sense whatsoever. He didn't mention anything about graduating from high school early, so he was presumably 17-18. Then he went off to the US Naval Academy. Four years later, he graduated and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. just like every other of his fellow graduates that chose the Marines instead of the Navy. So how does that possibly make him the youngest ever in 240+ years (the Marine Corps was founded in 1775)?
2) For a military facility, it just seemed like she was able to get away with quite a few stunts without dad finding out (ex. taking him out sailing for a day with his brother). Everyone in the whole facility was willing to conspire to keep Dr. Dad in the dark, until things blew to hell (and heads rolled).
3) What exactly was Didi doing for her internship? It seemed like she was spending every waking moment with Walker, without Dad knowing she was involved. She was never home, coming in late, but apparently there were never any questions or follow-up from Dad on what exactly she was accomplishing?
4) Dr. Dad was a slightly anal-retentive "you must follow the rules at all times or else" at the facility, but at home he walks around naked, and he and the wife engage in frequent PDAs more appropriate for horny teenagers. The two aren't exactly congruent.
5) And her mother, a sex therapist, is really a squirrel. Did we really need to know that she encouraged Didi to lock her door and do self-exploration? And she's unprofessional enough to screw around with an employee where anyone (like her daughter) could walk in on them?
6) This is supposed to be a new crowded state of the art military rehab facility. Yet several days after Dodds killed himself his room is still empty and after Walker is discharged his room is still vacant as well. And yet another room is empty for Didi's mom to be screwing a nurse in. With such a demand for services, how are all these beds conveniently empty for the purposes of the story?
7) Angela was a totally overdone plot device. Sanchez, a fellow patient, has a sister-in-law that his wife is CONSTANTLY trying to push off on Walker. Sanchez claims she's so ugly that if Walker ever regained his sight he'd blind himself again out of shame. She's overbearing and grasping and gets trotted out WAY too many times as an obnoxious alternative to Didi.
8) The whole Miranda reappearance was also contrived. She bailed on their engagement after he was wounded, but conveniently trots back into the picture and now wants him back right as Didi is about to express her undying love for him. So Didi gets the one-two whammy of Walker supposedly being engaged and Mom jumping someone else's bones and flees back into the sack with Zac.
9) The ending is ambivalent, so I guess it's left up to us to contrive their future. She's a doctoral candidate in Los Angeles, he's moved to Miami, and now they've finally decided they're in love. So where do they go from here? Does she give up her studies, does he move to the West Coast, or do they Skype?
Wanted to rate this better, because the basic premise was excellent. There were just extraneous details that dropped it to 3 stars.
Everything dealing with Noel's recovery seemed spot-on. He led his fellow Marines into an ambush, five died, he managed to save one despite being seriously wounded himself, and now he's in a rehab facility being crushed by PTSD and guilt. He can't move forward because he's too mired in what happened that day.
On the other hand, Didi seemed to be a bit of a twit for a Ph.D. candidate. She jumps into bed with Zac because he's a big Hollywood star and then he ignores her completely for three months. But as soon as his assistant sends her flowers she hops right back in the sack with him. After that she figures out she's just a booty call for him, but that doesn't stop her from going back to him for a third round.
But the relationship between them actually worked because it was illicit (as an Intern she'd been warned away from getting involved with patients, which could kill her career), so there was a slow build-up and a whole lot of "we shouldn't be doing this but I can't help it." Since he's still blind, the sex between them, when it happens, is described in excruciating detail based on his remaining functioning senses.
So what didn't I like:
1) The most glaring was the multiple references to Noel being "the youngest lieutenant in Marine Corps history," which made no sense whatsoever. He didn't mention anything about graduating from high school early, so he was presumably 17-18. Then he went off to the US Naval Academy. Four years later, he graduated and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. just like every other of his fellow graduates that chose the Marines instead of the Navy. So how does that possibly make him the youngest ever in 240+ years (the Marine Corps was founded in 1775)?
2) For a military facility, it just seemed like she was able to get away with quite a few stunts without dad finding out (ex. taking him out sailing for a day with his brother). Everyone in the whole facility was willing to conspire to keep Dr. Dad in the dark, until things blew to hell (and heads rolled).
3) What exactly was Didi doing for her internship? It seemed like she was spending every waking moment with Walker, without Dad knowing she was involved. She was never home, coming in late, but apparently there were never any questions or follow-up from Dad on what exactly she was accomplishing?
4) Dr. Dad was a slightly anal-retentive "you must follow the rules at all times or else" at the facility, but at home he walks around naked, and he and the wife engage in frequent PDAs more appropriate for horny teenagers. The two aren't exactly congruent.
5) And her mother, a sex therapist, is really a squirrel. Did we really need to know that she encouraged Didi to lock her door and do self-exploration? And she's unprofessional enough to screw around with an employee where anyone (like her daughter) could walk in on them?
6) This is supposed to be a new crowded state of the art military rehab facility. Yet several days after Dodds killed himself his room is still empty and after Walker is discharged his room is still vacant as well. And yet another room is empty for Didi's mom to be screwing a nurse in. With such a demand for services, how are all these beds conveniently empty for the purposes of the story?
7) Angela was a totally overdone plot device. Sanchez, a fellow patient, has a sister-in-law that his wife is CONSTANTLY trying to push off on Walker. Sanchez claims she's so ugly that if Walker ever regained his sight he'd blind himself again out of shame. She's overbearing and grasping and gets trotted out WAY too many times as an obnoxious alternative to Didi.
8) The whole Miranda reappearance was also contrived. She bailed on their engagement after he was wounded, but conveniently trots back into the picture and now wants him back right as Didi is about to express her undying love for him. So Didi gets the one-two whammy of Walker supposedly being engaged and Mom jumping someone else's bones and flees back into the sack with Zac.
9) The ending is ambivalent, so I guess it's left up to us to contrive their future. She's a doctoral candidate in Los Angeles, he's moved to Miami, and now they've finally decided they're in love. So where do they go from here? Does she give up her studies, does he move to the West Coast, or do they Skype?
August 8, 2015
Being a huge fan of Mila Gray/Sarah Alderson I find myself always looking forward to a new release from her and waiting for This is One Moment was no different, especially when I found out it was centered around Didi.
Didi, who we first meet in Come Back to Me has always been a romantic at heart. So when she meets Hollywood heartthrob Zac Ridgemont, Didi believes she's possibly found the one she's supposed to spend her life with. It's not until Didi beings her new internship at a military hospital that she meets Noel Walker - a marine with a wounded body and heart. Didi find some connection to Noel but he's struggling to come to terms with his new life. But with Zac in the picture and Noel being her patient, can Didi choose between her love for each guy?
This Is One Moment is a great follow-up to Come Back to Me. Although it can be read as a standalone because it's about a different set of characters I would still always advice to start with Come Back to Me because you can get the back story on Didi more and see what happened before. I've always been a fan of Didi so I'm pleased she finally got her story told.
Didi is a great character. She's caring, honest and has a great soul. Being a romantic at heart she's always on the lookout for love and it's kind of typical it comes at the same time. For me there was simply no contest between Zac and Noel. The more I read about Hollywood heartthrob the more the characters become predictable and boring - this is how I felt about Zac. I didn't like him. I didn't want to like him because I wanted Didi to be with someone more down to earth and that person was Noel - even despite the problems he had. It's understandable that someone that has come back from war would be struggling with the events that happened and with any injuries that they had have. Noel's character was written perfectly. He's not perfect by any means and he has struggles and mood swings, but I felt his character was written well. He and Didi have a slow burning relationship that comes with time and patience and Didi was fantastic with Noel. I really liked the two together!
The story has a few twists that will keep you guessing but it's also a story about hope, love and loss that will easily capture your heart. Well done Mila Gray for another fantastic story!
Thank you to Mila Gray & Pan Macmilliam for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
Didi, who we first meet in Come Back to Me has always been a romantic at heart. So when she meets Hollywood heartthrob Zac Ridgemont, Didi believes she's possibly found the one she's supposed to spend her life with. It's not until Didi beings her new internship at a military hospital that she meets Noel Walker - a marine with a wounded body and heart. Didi find some connection to Noel but he's struggling to come to terms with his new life. But with Zac in the picture and Noel being her patient, can Didi choose between her love for each guy?
This Is One Moment is a great follow-up to Come Back to Me. Although it can be read as a standalone because it's about a different set of characters I would still always advice to start with Come Back to Me because you can get the back story on Didi more and see what happened before. I've always been a fan of Didi so I'm pleased she finally got her story told.
Didi is a great character. She's caring, honest and has a great soul. Being a romantic at heart she's always on the lookout for love and it's kind of typical it comes at the same time. For me there was simply no contest between Zac and Noel. The more I read about Hollywood heartthrob the more the characters become predictable and boring - this is how I felt about Zac. I didn't like him. I didn't want to like him because I wanted Didi to be with someone more down to earth and that person was Noel - even despite the problems he had. It's understandable that someone that has come back from war would be struggling with the events that happened and with any injuries that they had have. Noel's character was written perfectly. He's not perfect by any means and he has struggles and mood swings, but I felt his character was written well. He and Didi have a slow burning relationship that comes with time and patience and Didi was fantastic with Noel. I really liked the two together!
The story has a few twists that will keep you guessing but it's also a story about hope, love and loss that will easily capture your heart. Well done Mila Gray for another fantastic story!
Thank you to Mila Gray & Pan Macmilliam for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2022
There were parts that this book was a 5 and other parts a 3. First of all, there are a lot of unethical things going on here. Some major HIPAA no no’s and then the whole having an intimate relationship with YOU PATIENT. The health care worker in my had my eyes twitching. But I was glued to this, reading it at every chance I got, and then we hit the last quarter and things started to unravel. I didn’t feel like it had to go that way. Too much unnecessary drama and miss communication. Haven’t these people been through enough?? Overall, I gave it a 4 because I seriously fell in love with ever single character…except Zac… and Miranda.
July 21, 2015
*Arc kindly provided in Exchange of an honest review*
This is one moment is a story about so much more than the main couple. This is a reflection of war. So many people dying and suffering from stupid wars. Yes, I hate war with all in me.
We have Didi - she was on Come Back to me - this incredible girl, working with wounded soldiers.
She believes in romance, soul mates and HEA. I loved the way she treated all the soldiers, like friends and normal people.
But she has this deep connection with Walker, a blind soldier.
Walker... oh, I adore a broken man. A man in pain after everything that happened. He didn't lost all his war friends, was so much more.
He lives in hell and Didi is his angel.
She does everything for him.
Together they are amazing. Brilliant. Perfect.
"Lobsters". Real.
We also have other hospitalized soldiers and I love them. Dodd and Jesus are amazing! And Valentina can be my BFF.
My only complaint (not really a complaint) is: Why, Mila . Why?
I was expecting him to be the next hero!
I was thinking the all book:" I really need his story. "
Why?
I can write more because you need to read this if you like stories about finding hope and falling in love in the dark.
This is one moment is a story about so much more than the main couple. This is a reflection of war. So many people dying and suffering from stupid wars. Yes, I hate war with all in me.
We have Didi - she was on Come Back to me - this incredible girl, working with wounded soldiers.
She believes in romance, soul mates and HEA. I loved the way she treated all the soldiers, like friends and normal people.
But she has this deep connection with Walker, a blind soldier.
Walker... oh, I adore a broken man. A man in pain after everything that happened. He didn't lost all his war friends, was so much more.
He lives in hell and Didi is his angel.
She does everything for him.
Together they are amazing. Brilliant. Perfect.
"Lobsters". Real.
We also have other hospitalized soldiers and I love them. Dodd and Jesus are amazing! And Valentina can be my BFF.
My only complaint (not really a complaint) is: Why, Mila . Why?
I was expecting him to be the next hero!
I was thinking the all book:" I really need his story. "
Why?
I can write more because you need to read this if you like stories about finding hope and falling in love in the dark.
October 26, 2020
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
Not gonna lie they had me at the first part!
It was addicting and fast paced until it wasn't. Didi gurl, I expected so much from you!! You were supposed to be smart since its been mentioned NUMEROUS times how you're on your way to getting that PhD in psychology!!! You were supposed to be good with people. Instead you were just a mess, scattered all over!!! It was soooo frustrating. You mentioned at about 30% of the book that you were done with Zac- what a joke. Because guess what at 90% of the book just because of some misunderstanding first thing you do is run to him and SLEEP with him. THE AUDACITY. You need to get your shit together gurl. Walter deserves better, sorry not sorry 🤷🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2017
First and foremost, a HUGE Thank you to every person who is currently protecting our country, and to all those who sacrificed their life to keep us safe!!
It takes a VERY special someone to do what they do, and from the deepest part of my soul, I cannot Thank you enough.
This book.............I honestly cannot comprehend or begin to understand what a person suffering with PTSD goes through. This book scared my heart, but the connection that Didi has with Walker.........it was the balm to sooth those scars.
No recapping from me, read the synopsis. I eagerly wait for more NA contemporary stories by Mila Gray :D
It takes a VERY special someone to do what they do, and from the deepest part of my soul, I cannot Thank you enough.
This book.............I honestly cannot comprehend or begin to understand what a person suffering with PTSD goes through. This book scared my heart, but the connection that Didi has with Walker.........it was the balm to sooth those scars.
No recapping from me, read the synopsis. I eagerly wait for more NA contemporary stories by Mila Gray :D
December 2, 2016
So far past absurd. Uses a veteran suicide to move a love plot forward. Absolutely disgusting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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