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Soldiers Overseas Romance #4
The Bright Side of Brooding
After a training exercise gone wrong left me injured, I opted out of receiving meals during my recovery because I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Little did I know, refusing Summer Applegate wasn’t an option.
This woman is a menace. A nurse by trade and a cook by passion, she will force-feed you sunshine whether you like it or not. But apparently she’s also just as stubborn as I am, and she won’t go down without a fight.
At first, I want nothing to do with it. But then her cheerful determination starts to wear me down, and I start thinking she might just be the sunshine my storm cloud needs.
But I’ve lost everyone else. Can I really risk letting her in only to inevitably lose her?
The Bright Side of Brooding is book four in the OCONUS Bonus series, but can be read as a standalone. It’s a dual point of view romance told in first person that will give you all the sizzle and heat but keep it sweet.
This woman is a menace. A nurse by trade and a cook by passion, she will force-feed you sunshine whether you like it or not. But apparently she’s also just as stubborn as I am, and she won’t go down without a fight.
At first, I want nothing to do with it. But then her cheerful determination starts to wear me down, and I start thinking she might just be the sunshine my storm cloud needs.
But I’ve lost everyone else. Can I really risk letting her in only to inevitably lose her?
The Bright Side of Brooding is book four in the OCONUS Bonus series, but can be read as a standalone. It’s a dual point of view romance told in first person that will give you all the sizzle and heat but keep it sweet.
314 pages, ebook
Published August 2, 2021
66 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 26, 2021
Nick and Summer are extremely well developed characters with interesting backstories, pain points, and—as a result—reasonable concerns for involving themselves with each other. And that makes the way they navigate the dynamic of their developing relationship all the more satisfying. I devoured their story. Nick might be my favorite—the letters/poetry/journal…I mean, come on! I loved how constant he was. And Summer was just a ray of sunshine…but with depth to boot. Well done, Claire Cain. I can’t wait for Nate and Ariel, especially after that epilogue!
August 3, 2021
Slow paced and sweet romance
Summer and Nick are both nice persons, but she has a huge chip on her shoulders dating back to her childhood and he is suffering from what I would call depression. It takes her patience and her food to break through his barriers and his insistence to bring down her walls. I couldn't really relate to their problems and so found this book to be a tad drawn out until they reach their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Summer and Nick are both nice persons, but she has a huge chip on her shoulders dating back to her childhood and he is suffering from what I would call depression. It takes her patience and her food to break through his barriers and his insistence to bring down her walls. I couldn't really relate to their problems and so found this book to be a tad drawn out until they reach their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 2, 2021
The Bright Side of Brooding is the fourth book in Claire Cain’s series. I have enjoyed all of the previous books so I was excited to start this one. It took me a little while to get into this book but I still liked it. These characters were perfect for each other, they had not had easy lives but they were learning to live again.
Summer Applegate was a nurse who loved to help others. She found cooking relaxing and one of her favorite things was to cook meals for others. Nicholas Masters has known the loss of family and he doesn’t want to let anyone else in. However Summer challenges him by bringing him food and makes him want to wish for more.
Summer was a lovely character. She adored helping others but she hated feeling indebted. Her family had taught her that she can’t expect help from anyone or else she will need to pay them back. However she had to learn how to allow others to help her. It was sweet to see her start to trust Nick and let him into her life. She felt safe around him and she wanted to be with him but the scars from her past make her weary.
Nick was a sweetheart, he was just hurting. I liked Nick, he was kind but he was also shy. It was sweet to read about him falling for Summer. He wanted to talk to her but he didn’t know how. He also didn’t always know how to put his thoughts into words and so he wrote things down. I found his notes to Summer so much fun. However Nick also had to let himself be vulnerable with Summer and trust that she would not leave him.
Nick and Summer both had their issues that they had to work through. It was fun to read about them falling in love and I wanted to cheer when things started to work out. Nick and Summer worked out their feelings as they spent time together, helping out the people who Nick trained for competitions. The side characters were fun and it was lovely to see some old characters. The romance was interesting and I found the plot intriguing.
The Bright Side of Brooding was a good book and I would recommend it. It is a closed door contemporary romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Summer Applegate was a nurse who loved to help others. She found cooking relaxing and one of her favorite things was to cook meals for others. Nicholas Masters has known the loss of family and he doesn’t want to let anyone else in. However Summer challenges him by bringing him food and makes him want to wish for more.
Summer was a lovely character. She adored helping others but she hated feeling indebted. Her family had taught her that she can’t expect help from anyone or else she will need to pay them back. However she had to learn how to allow others to help her. It was sweet to see her start to trust Nick and let him into her life. She felt safe around him and she wanted to be with him but the scars from her past make her weary.
Nick was a sweetheart, he was just hurting. I liked Nick, he was kind but he was also shy. It was sweet to read about him falling for Summer. He wanted to talk to her but he didn’t know how. He also didn’t always know how to put his thoughts into words and so he wrote things down. I found his notes to Summer so much fun. However Nick also had to let himself be vulnerable with Summer and trust that she would not leave him.
Nick and Summer both had their issues that they had to work through. It was fun to read about them falling in love and I wanted to cheer when things started to work out. Nick and Summer worked out their feelings as they spent time together, helping out the people who Nick trained for competitions. The side characters were fun and it was lovely to see some old characters. The romance was interesting and I found the plot intriguing.
The Bright Side of Brooding was a good book and I would recommend it. It is a closed door contemporary romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
August 6, 2021
This book has my whole heart!
I was sold on the grumpy x sunshine premise alone but I got so much more from this sweet military romance! Nick Masters isn’t a run of the mill grump, he’s got a depth of loss & sorrow, he’s got a soft spot for his kitten, and he’s a poet for goodness sake. Nick Masters is SOULFUL, and he made my heart flutter a bit on every page. Summer brings the sunshine, but she’s not all light & radiance, either. Her strict upbringing still haunts her, even if she wants to be completely past it. There’s strength beneath her sunny disposition & I loved her for it. But these two together…my heart just burst.
Claire Cain rocked the slow burn on this one so hard, but softened the blow by giving not just peeks at Nick’s poetry, but he also writes Summer the most delightful letters as their friendship gets off the ground. She could have fallen for him sight unseen (although the sight is pretty darn wonderful, too!). It takes time to get under this warrior poet’s outer shell, but once Summer is in, she’s in for good! *swoon city*
Claire’s writing always blows me away with true depth of heart to her characters, poetic turns of phrases & descriptions that make her books sing, and endless sweet moments that bust out the happy endorphins. If you love a military guy with layers & a woman striving to bring joy where she was once denied it, get your hands on this one ASAP!
I was sold on the grumpy x sunshine premise alone but I got so much more from this sweet military romance! Nick Masters isn’t a run of the mill grump, he’s got a depth of loss & sorrow, he’s got a soft spot for his kitten, and he’s a poet for goodness sake. Nick Masters is SOULFUL, and he made my heart flutter a bit on every page. Summer brings the sunshine, but she’s not all light & radiance, either. Her strict upbringing still haunts her, even if she wants to be completely past it. There’s strength beneath her sunny disposition & I loved her for it. But these two together…my heart just burst.
Claire Cain rocked the slow burn on this one so hard, but softened the blow by giving not just peeks at Nick’s poetry, but he also writes Summer the most delightful letters as their friendship gets off the ground. She could have fallen for him sight unseen (although the sight is pretty darn wonderful, too!). It takes time to get under this warrior poet’s outer shell, but once Summer is in, she’s in for good! *swoon city*
Claire’s writing always blows me away with true depth of heart to her characters, poetic turns of phrases & descriptions that make her books sing, and endless sweet moments that bust out the happy endorphins. If you love a military guy with layers & a woman striving to bring joy where she was once denied it, get your hands on this one ASAP!
July 29, 2021
I have loved all of Claire Cain’s books that I’ve read and highly anticipated this one! It did not disappoint! One of my absolute styles to read is for romance novels is dual-perspective because you can really hear the thought process and emotions of the male lead, rather than it all being about the woman’s POV. I really loved Masters. Claire Cain did a wonderful job bringing him to life with an intriguing personality, backstory, etc. I loved his letters and journal entries! Definitely read this book (also the rest in the series and the Rambler Battalion series)!!
October 2, 2023
This is a continuation of the series. It was enjoyable to have familiar characters make an appearance while focusing primarily on Summer and Nick. Two beautiful people with boatloads of issues. Nick is a 37-year-old orphan. Yeah, he’s an adult but it’s sobering to realize how alone one can be. Summer has her own issues but rather than having no living family, she has too much but still battles loneliness. These two were frustrating in their interactions but heartbreakingly vulnerable even within an emotional fortress. But Nick, oh my, what poetry of the soul! Beautifully done.
July 1, 2021
*Advanced reader copy*
I was so so excited to get my hands on Summer and Nicks book! And it definitely didn’t disappoint. They both have interesting and complex backgrounds and the author did an amazing job unpacking. I have to say that this is has been my favorite book in the OCONUS series!!
This book can stand alone but I would highly recommend reading the others in the series, I have really enjoyed them all.
I was so so excited to get my hands on Summer and Nicks book! And it definitely didn’t disappoint. They both have interesting and complex backgrounds and the author did an amazing job unpacking. I have to say that this is has been my favorite book in the OCONUS series!!
This book can stand alone but I would highly recommend reading the others in the series, I have really enjoyed them all.
August 3, 2021
I absolutely loved this story. I think it might be my favorite of the series yet. It was such an emotional read. The healing that both Summer and Nick go through is beautifully written. You can tell that the author lived the life and the location- the town and community are almost like extra characters in the story. Can’t wait for the next one!
September 5, 2023
Hungry for more
Be prepared to be hungry. I was hoping for recipes at the end but I was left satisfied with the 2nd epilogue. I throughly enjoyed this book and was excited to meet the famous summer that was mentioned in several books. I enjoyed the characters growth. I did get tired of them apologizing to each other over and over. Overall a good read.
Be prepared to be hungry. I was hoping for recipes at the end but I was left satisfied with the 2nd epilogue. I throughly enjoyed this book and was excited to meet the famous summer that was mentioned in several books. I enjoyed the characters growth. I did get tired of them apologizing to each other over and over. Overall a good read.
July 31, 2021
The book is a good, and enjoyable sweet military romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2021
Great read
This sweet, military romance story is well written & narrated beautifully. Off the charts chemistry and burn you to the ground feels. God this book, it will grab your heart and squeeze and not let go.
This sweet, military romance story is well written & narrated beautifully. Off the charts chemistry and burn you to the ground feels. God this book, it will grab your heart and squeeze and not let go.
May 22, 2023
another great book!
I live how the characters have so much personality- everyone has their troubles and past problems to deal with yet they all are better with a friend to lean on who understands and supports them!
I live how the characters have so much personality- everyone has their troubles and past problems to deal with yet they all are better with a friend to lean on who understands and supports them!
March 1, 2025
Good characters and I liked the introverted, silent but deep character of Nick, and Summer’s was well developed in the needing to help but not be helped. Some of it felt a tad repetitive but good progression overall
August 10, 2021
The Bright Side of Brooding
Another good story about believable and likable characters. I have enjoyed reading this story and I look forward to reading more.
Another good story about believable and likable characters. I have enjoyed reading this story and I look forward to reading more.
August 16, 2021
Review of The Bright Side of Brooding
I really enjoyed this book and I will recommend her books to anyone who loves romance novels. She is a very good writer.
I really enjoyed this book and I will recommend her books to anyone who loves romance novels. She is a very good writer.
September 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this romance novel. It was pretty awesome and sweet. The characters had great chemistry and were amazing. Highly recommend.
Read
October 16, 2021[did not finish @ 18%] read seven chapters and don't really understand the story.
May 14, 2023
Sweet story
I received a copy of this book.
Sweet story and characters.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book.
Sweet story and characters.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
June 27, 2023
Summer and Nick are so sweet and extremely stubborn. It was beautiful to see them both create a place of emotionally healing for one another.
June 9, 2024
Great story
Loved the back and forth with this couple. They both have problems but I love the way the author worked it out between them.
Loved the back and forth with this couple. They both have problems but I love the way the author worked it out between them.
June 23, 2025
Nick and Summer
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May 24, 2023FREE today (May 11, 2023) on Amazon.
January 14, 2022
I read this book in paperback. It is my first military romance, and I absolutely loved it. From start to finish, I loved how the main characters interacted, how their chemistry flowed, and how they gave each other space when things turned a little confusing between them. Being a writer and letter-writer myself, I was especially smitten with Nick’s journal entries and his letters to Summer. Throughout the book, I love how the author kept the pace interesting by going back and forth between each of their perspectives, not veering off in areas that were irrelevant, and how she transitioned into her next story. I’m afraid I just might be hooked on her books! That’s a good thing, right?
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews