4.5 rounded to 5 for the plot alone
While not pristinely perfect, this story overall had a totally different vibe to it than its predecessors, its own unique flavor. It involved circumstances and scenarios that felt more harrowing, dramatic, and even a bit uncomfortable, which only magnified how much more mature things felt. Through the personal lives and conversations from both the hero (Kyan) and heroine (Ivy), we get exposure to one of the many possible aftermaths of PTSD and how people deal (or don't deal) with it. It's not an easy subject to tackle at all, and both Kyan and Ivy make some imperfect choices throughout the book to battle their demons (particularly Kyan). I definitely appreciated the more serious routes this story took to unfold, several of which were actually quite stressful for yours truly.
Speaking of Kyan and Ivy, though, I was very much on-board. Kyan intrigued me from the get-go, so I was already delighted enough to finally be in his book. Revelations are explored for both of them, though it's mostly Kyan who bears the brunt of it all. His pain showed on the pages well and I found myself really feeling for the guy. Ivy has her own spice to explore too, though I admit I was a bit taken aback that her perspective was written in 3rd-person instead of first person like the previous two entries. But when the two share pages, it's a wild ride. I'm quite a fan of enemies-to-lover romances above all others because I love seeing love blossom in harsh environments. Kyan and Ivy? Ooph. The two are at each other's throats quite a bit in this book, but it made me appreciate their growth all the more. I like that neither one of them allowed themselves to be pushovers. In fact, that's a common theme I'm seeing in this series so far: No excess alpha male, doormat female crap. What a breath of fresh air that is.
Did I have complaints? Yep. Sure did. Much of them are petty, though, centering on the decisions made by the author in regard to character actions or plot points. Things were introduced that I was looking forward to reading more about, but sadly weren't fleshed out, such as the implementation of Kyan and Ivy's pact, as well as the aftermath of one specific spat between the two that was kinda left on the backburner. While part of me understands that sometimes things are written to better magnify drama, an entirely other part of me prefers being allowed to "participate" in a story that doesn't leave things unaddressed or unexplored. Not gonna spoil, but I was quite grumbly when things were uttered by a character that totally contradicted their words and actions from the whole dang rest of the book. It made no sense, characteristically, and served to annoy me more than anything.
At any rate, though, this was a great read and my favorite of the series thus far. The plot's more somber mood helped earn that coveted 5th star outta me, despite my petty complaints. I love all the comradery between characters, namely all the guys in all their feisty brotherhood. Dialogue was top notch, and the drama level was still addictive, namely when it felt it was being written to occur organically rather than forcibly. I think it's safe to say I'm a fan of this series so far, though I'm not sure how much I look forward to the next installment, considering that the next SEAL starring is Liam, who has already been established as one with a fixation on BDSM (which doesn't appeal to me in the least). But I positively LOVE Jaz, so...that's a pickle. Oh well. Maybe it will surprise me in a good way? We shall see.