This kind of love deserves a second chance.
MattI didn’t mean to come back like this. A bullet in my arm, a chip on my shoulder, and violent nightmares that transport me back to Afghanistan. My wife Olivia wants to help, but no one should see me like this. She needs to move on and forget about the man she married … He died in that desert half a world away. I’m nothing more than his shell.But now … than his shell.
But now I’m trapped with her on a couples’ trip, and I’m finding it hard to resist her warmth, her sweet smile, and her determination to fix what I broke—us.
Olivia
One thing Matt may not understand about me is that I’m a fighter. He’s falling apart, and I have to step up. See, I made a vow to him that no bullet or nightmare can erase. I won’t walk away from him when he needs me the most.
Now I have one week to prove to him that what we have is worth saving. That’s he’s worth saving … whether he likes it or not.
Away from You is a sweet romance told from alternating POVs, set in the world of The San Diego Marines. Each book can be read as a standalone but are fun to read in order.
Check out the rest of the series:
Prequel: Forever with You – Vince & Sara (get it free on my website!)
- Back to You – Spencer & Ellie
- Away from You – Matt & Olivia
- Christmas with You – Cooper & Angie
- Believing in You – Jake & Ivy
- Memories of You – Brooks & Cat
- Home with You – Owen & Rachel
- Adored by You – Noah & Paige
more
In this book we re-meet Matt and Olivia as they deal with the stress and dangers of a life in the military. Matt has been injured while deployed and has returned with physical wounds as well as PTSD. The author deftly shows the impact of the PTSD not only on Matt and Olivia but on their family and friends as well. She handles this sensitive and difficult topic with grace and realism. But she does not let the story bog down. The dialogue is realistic and the characters we met in the prior books clearly are growing. I highly recommend this book
I couldn’t wait for Matt and Olivia’s story, and it did not disappoint! There were so many layers and dynamics to this second chance, and I was glued to it from the beginning.
The main characters love each other. It’s obvious. That is not the issue between them. Their separation would be easier if they didn’t.
This week away gives them time to consider reconciling and working through their hardships as a team.
Wow I love Matt & Olivia’s story! Such a wonderful book showing how things aren’t always perfect and how sometimes you have to be able to work through things together to grow as a couple. I loved seeing how Matt dealt with his PTSD and how he learned to grow and work through.
I also love that we got to see more of Spencer & Ellie, and meet Brooks & Cat
I loved this book just as much as the first in the series, back to you. I love that we are able to follow the characters through the many troubles and triumphs they face with each new book. The author does a great job in making her books for everyone. I am not a Marine wife not do I have any Marines in my family but there was not one second that I didn’t understand what was going on. It gives a lot of insight into those suffering with PTSD and I feel I now have a better understanding on the hardships those suffering and those around them deal with. This book is serious, funny, sweet, and just overall a great read. I never hesitate reading a book by this author because they are all amazing and so hard to put down! 5 stars all day everyday.
Have you ever picked up a book, started reading it and instantly knew you were going to have the hardest time putting it down? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me with this book. The only thing that stopped me from staying up all night reading was my kindle continually hitting me in the face every time my body drifted off to sleep. But, the moment I woke up this morning, you better believe I grabbed my kindle, curled back up under my blanket and picked up right where I left off. It was the perfect way to start my Sunday.
Matt and Olivia have been together since their freshman year in high school. Their relationship was strong and they knew that when hard times came, they would be able to weather them together. Neither one of them were prepared for Matt getting injured in combat and coming home with PTSD. Words were said, trust was broken, and Matt’s decision to end their marriage crushed them. But when your love is as strong as theirs and your friends know the only way to overcome this trial is by being together, you have to give it your all and trust that, in the end, it will all work out the way it should.
I knew from the moment I started reading this book that it would be an emotional rollercoaster. I found myself rooting for Olivia and Matt from the very beginning. They were young, barely starting out in their marriage, and were dealing with something that no one around them had ever gone through before. To say their journey was tough is an understatement. But it made them better and brought them closer together. I loved every single minute of this book! It’s one I know I’ll be reading over and over again.
There are several reasons why authors become one of my favorites. One of those reasons is their ability to take a very hard, taboo subject that no one wants to read about, and address it in a respectful way that has you opening your eyes and understanding, even if it’s just a little bit, what others who are suffering with it may be going through. Ms. Mastorakos does an exceptional job writing about the hard stuff that most of us will never face in real life. PTSD is one of those hard subjects no one wants to talk about but that everyone should be talking about it. It’s real and it probably tears more families apart than most of us realize. I’ve always had a deep respect for our military men and women and their families. But after getting a “behind the scenes” look into what they can and do face every day, my respect for them has grown even more.
I am absolutely loving this series! I’ve been in a bit of a reading funk lately but this series has completely captivated me and I don’t want to do anything BUT read. I can already tell you I’m going to have a major book hangover when I finish this series.
After Matt comes back from deployment, he and Olivia have a lot to work through in their marriage. It takes perseverance when you truly love someone.
This is a page turner that will have you cheering for the growing relationship between Olivia & Matt. I LOVED everything about this book; the banter, the sweet swoon-worthy moments and the heartbreak that made me cry for them. The author tackles a subject (PTSD) that many don’t want to discuss, much less mention in a romance novel. PTSD is very real and needs to be talked about more. Shoving it “under the rug” only hurts everyone living with PTSD. Highly recommend this series, story, and really all of this author’s work, because every story sucks you in. Each story highlights the importance of strong friendships as well as strong romantic relationships, and I LOVE that particular theme!!
Loved book #2 in this series every bit as much as the prequel (free with her newsletter signup) and book #1. Can’t start reading book #3 fast enough! Big new Jess Mastorakos fan here.