Review: After the War by Jessica Scott

After the War by Jessica Scott
Publication date: May 5th 2015
My rating: 4 stars 
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The second book in the emotional new Homefront series from USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott

A terrible loss…

Captain Sarah Anders lost her husband to the Iraq war and has nearly lost the career she loves. Sent to Fort Hood, she only wants to do her job and take care of the daughter she’s raising on her own. She never counted on running straight into a memory she’d tried to forget.

A love he never forgot...

Captain Sean Nichols never got over Sarah. He simply tried to forget her amidst the war and the chaos of combat. But when she’s assigned to investigate his unit, he comes face to face with the woman no war or any amount of time could make him forget.

A dark secret…

As Sarah gets closer to the truth, Sean must accept that actions he took during the war may end the tentative love building between them. And even if Sarah can forgive him, Sean may never be able to forgive himself.

My Thoughts:

Captain Sarah Anders never counted on being a single mother, but being in the Army she understood the risk when she married a soldier.  But before she married, there was another man in her life, one she’s tried and failed to forget, Captain Sean Nichols.  Now years later when an injury brings her back to the States, serving at Fort Hood, Sarah is face to face with the man that broke her heart. Can they put the past behind each other and work together peacefully or even better (IMO) have a second chance at love?

Captain Sean Nichols has never loved another woman since Sarah, but she chose the Army over him, or at least that’s what he thought so many years ago. It’s funny what growing up can do to your perspective and Sean realizes now what an idiot he was to let Sarah get away back then. When he comes face to face with her again, pain overrides his sensibilities and Sean lashes out, but an investigation forces them to put the past behind them and work together.  Realizing the amazing opportunity he has before him again, Sean sets out to right the wrongs of the past and win the woman he never forgot.

Life in the Army is no walk in the park. Navigating the politics and personalities is difficult. Dealing with the demons these soldiers dragged home from war complicates things further.  Sean’s team has two men fighting in what seems like a cut and dry situation until Sarah is called in to investigate.  It’s tricky and heartbreaking trying to do right by these men who’ve given up so much for their country.  Sean struggles to balance what’s right with loyalty to a man that had his back in battle years ago. My heart went out to all involved. 

After the War was a touching second chance romance, and I found myself tearing up over Sean and Sarah’s story.  Jessica Scott writes beautiful, emotional romances, and I think her background in the military makes the stories feel authentic and relatable. The troubles and growing pains Sean and Sarah went through felt realistic, and I could easily understand how they bungled things up when they were young, even though they were so passionately in love.  Of course, I was thrilled that these two would have a second chance at happiness.  

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