A soldier struggling after two years of being held prisoner returns home to discover he's not as alone as he thought, courtesy of a woman who's unknowingly been writing to him for years in an emotionally intense romance of healing and acceptance. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Nobody Knows by Lani Lynn Vale, along with getting my impressions of this powerful read, then add this eleventh installment in the SWAT Generation 2.0 series to your bookshelf!
All he ever wanted was to matter to someone.
What he didn’t know was that he did matter to someone.
Someone that worried about him every single day that he was gone.
*****
Malachi Gabriel Gnocchi was missing for two years. Thanks to a mission gone wrong, not only had he been captured, but his best friend along with his fellow teammates had been taken, too.
He spent two years in hell, hoping and praying that one day he’d get to go home.
And one day he does. Only, he isn’t the same person that left. Every single thing that made him Malachi is no more.
*****
Sierra started writing to soldiers overseas through the soldier pen pal program when she was in high school. Years later, she had no idea that the one soldier that she’d been paired up with in the very beginning would be the one man that would change her world eight years down the road.
When the letters from her soldier stopped, she knew that something bad had happened.
When they started back up again two years after the last letter, she thought that someone was playing a joke on her.
Only, that joke wasn’t a joke at all.
The man on the other end of those letters is a man that’s dying slowly from the inside out. He’s a living, breathing, mess and there’s only one thing she can do to help him.
Write him back and hope that she can bring him back from the edge.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From the moment readers first encountered Malachi Gabriel Gnocchi in Say It Isn't So, they knew his story was going to be intense and with each turn of the page here it is indeed a story that pulls at the heartstrings! In a tale of trying to readjust to a world that he doesn't feel part of, Malachi/Gabriel is the Wounded Warrior I just want to help heal as he's clearly trying to hide the inner demons keeping him from HEA. As years-long friends unexpectedly become something more I was left cheering and charmed by this couple and the heroine who never gave up on him...and never let him give up on himself.
The foundation between these two was started years ago as a pen pal project brought high schooler Sierra and soldier Malachi together through letters sent back and forth through every high and every low moment in their lives. They were there for each other unconditionally and I loved seeing their connection grow through each heartfelt word, charmed by these literary exchanges that gave special insight into both of these characters. Just when I got comfortable with their letter writing though, the rug was pulled out from underneath me (as well as from under Sierra) when fate intervened to set Malachi/Gabriel on a rocky precipice of physical and emotional pain that haunts him still. Malachi's time as a POW was heartbreaking, his trying to adjust to returning home even more so, and it made me misty-eyed while reading about his ups and downs. I was sympathetic towards him, drawn to his guarded heart, and wanted to hug him at every turn. He's a lonely man, one who sets himself apart from others while battling his demons on his own, but he never struck out in anger and it had me rooting for him every step of the way.
Sierra was an immensely likable heroine, stronger than she knows, and she was exactly what Malachi needed to finally find his way back from the war. She's a people pleaser at times though, doing what's best for others without regard to herself. When Malachi needs support most however she's there without question, finally doing what SHE wants, unconcerned with what others around her think. She was drawn to Malachi all those years ago, knew him better than he knew himself, so when they reunited she knew he was hurting and didn't hesitate to ride to his rescue. Theirs isn't an easy journey though, it's a journey full of ups and downs which kept me on the edge of my seat.
The connection between Malachi/Gabriel and Sierra pulled me in from the very start with letters that made me smile through their witty banter while charming me with their honesty. Their connection grew organically from there, captivated me, and had me rooting them on as they waged war for Malachi/Gabriel's heart and soul. Along with a sweet and sensual romance there was plenty of suspense, thrilling and scream-inducing scenes that reintroduced readers to past characters while leaving one in jeopardy. It all added up to an unforgettable rollercoaster ride that continues to highlight Ms. Vale's talents....and if you haven't read her yet what are you waiting for?!?!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading. Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
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