The most brazen terrorist attack in history. A country bent on revenge. A love affair cut short. A heart that never truly heals. I knew on the day of the attack that our lives were changed forever. What I didn’t know then was that I’d never see John again after he deployed. One day he was living with me, sleeping next to me, making plans with me. The next day he was gone. That was five years ago. … next day he was gone.
That was five years ago. The world has moved on from that awful day, but I’m stuck in my own personal hell, waiting for a man who may be dead for all I know. At my sister’s wedding, I meet Eric, the brother of the groom, and my heart comes alive once again.
The world is riveted by the capture of the terrorist mastermind, brought down by U.S. Special Forces in a daring raid. Now I am trapped between hoping I’ll hear from John and fearing what’ll become of my new life with Eric if I do.
From a New York Times bestselling author, Five Years Gone, a standalone contemporary, is an epic story of love, honor, duty, unbearable choices and impossible dilemmas.
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Five Years Gone is a beautifully written standalone full of angst, heart and hope. An indelible cast of characters will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Anyone who has enjoyed reading one Marie’s books in the past will love this story. The promise of a sequel next year is wonderful news and will bring welcome closure.
This is, hands down, my favorite Marie Force novel. I love the crazy setup, and the big bonkers family drama. And the twisty plot kept me guessing until the very end.
I’ll admit it’s been a while since I’ve read a title from Marie Force. And I have to say I’ve been missing out. Big Time. I knew from the opening that Five Years Gone was going to do things to me. My emotions were all over the map and I’m not even the teeniest bit mad about it because I was on that journey with Ava. I felt what she felt. My heart soared and broke and ached and hoped and bled and healed right along with hers.
I hurt for her. I wanted her out of the emotional purgatory she found herself in. She was just stuck. I was glad she gave herself a timeline. It was her chance to start over. I liked that she went at it with gusto and didn’t let her fear hold her back. Her guilt, well that was another story. But there was Eric, with his charm and smile and patience to help her through her doubts.
I loved how Eric loved Ava. Freely, boldly, unapologetically. That man is what book boyfriend dreams are made of. Especially with how he loved Ava enough to let her run through her emotions when things took a wildly unexpected turn. Her thoughts and emotions were all over the map. And rightfully so. I can’t say what I would’ve done if I was in Ava’s shoes.
One of my favorite things about this book was the multiple POV’s it was told in. That small facet added so much depth to the overall feel. I could really feel the impact of each action and reaction as events unfolded. I was engrossed and so wrapped up in Ava and Eric’s story. They both deserved so much happiness after all they had endured. They loved hard and fought harder for the future they wanted. Marie Force put my heart through the ringer with Five Years Gone. And I loved every heartbreakingly beautiful moment of it.
It feels so good to start a book written by a master storyteller! It’s like sitting in a very comfy couch with a comfy throw on your legs and a nice mug of tea. It’s comforting and delicious to read such beautiful and heartfelt prose. This book touches the heart of everyone!
Ava was twenty-one and a student in San Diego when she met John West. They met in a dingy bar near the naval station and from that moment on, they were inseparable. They lived two years together cocooned in their apartment, apart from the world, friends and family, except for work and studies. He was military but she never asked what branch, they kept to themselves and she never asked why but accepted because he was his world. Then one day, a terrorist attack on a cruise ship killed thousands of Americans, and he was deployed. Five years later, she still hadn’t heard from him. . .
Still ravaged from pain, but needing to move on, she moved back home, just in time for her younger sister’s wedding. In that wedding, she met Eric Tilden, best man and brother of the groom. Needing to escape from her memories and sadness, she got sloppy drunk and he took care of her. Thus starts the story of how Eric patched up Ava’s broken pieces and she did the same to him.
This was more than a love story, it’s a story about survivors. Both Ava and Eric had experienced huge losses and were still affected by them. Moving on was difficult but they provided each other the right incentive to fight their way out of the hole their depression had caused. Since Ava didn’t have closure, events and news related to the terrorist attack still buffet her emotions. She bravely deals with her emotions and her broken heart, and in doing so she reminded me very strongly of another Marie Force character, Natalie, from the book Victorious. They are both so brave and sensitive, kind and generous, witty, innocent and sexy. Eric is an astounding partner, so strongly supportive even as he lived insecure about his position in Ava’s life. He gave, and took care, and supported and rallied the troops when necessary, kept them apart also when necessary, and was totally and throughly a gentleman.
As with other books by this author, friends and family are prominent in the plot. They provide the love and support, gossip and scandal that every story needs to be juicy and fun. Eric is a triplet with Rob and Amy (womb-mates, as Amy calls them). We also read about Juliane, their younger sister and Camilla, Ava’s younger sister. There are other characters in the book that also suffer and overcome loss, more survivors! At one moment in the book, the mood was dire, with so much emotional baggage, but this writer is brilliant and she took us on a redemption road and uplifted our hearts. The plot is fraught with drama, emotion, laughs, family time and sexy time, and it keeps us sitting on the edge of the chair, reading and desperate to find what happens next. I loved this book, I was so sorry to finish it but now I’m happy because there’s another one coming next year, so I’ll be revisiting these friends again.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. All of the characters in the book have their POV, so it was also a very well rounded read. This is going in the top of my recommends list. I can’t wait for the next one!
Reviewed by: Clare M.
This is a very well written, extremely interesting, multiple points of view book! WOW! There’s the small San Diego story told by Eva and referred back to often and then the majority of the story takes place in New York City. I thought of the saying, “you can run, but you can’t hide”. The story is both heart breaking and beautiful. I would hope that given all the same circumstances, I’d make the same decisions as Eva! AMAZING STORY, to be read again!
I read the paperback!
Five Years Gone is the newest standalone release from author Marie Force and it was a captivating and emotional roller coaster of a read. Oh boy where do I start?? First off I love Marie Force’s writing style from her Gansett Island Series to her Fatal Series and her standalone’s in between.
Five Years Gone is a heart-breaking love story and I don’t know how to put my review into words without giving spoilers away. I was rooting for Ava and John right up until about 45% of the way then I was rooting for Ava and Eric. I felt like I was experiencing all the emotions along with these characters and holy moly I was left wrecked and drained from reading this but in a totally good way – it’s the way you know you are reading a one of a kind romance that is an absolute page turner!! #OneClickNow
I’m going to begin by saying that I almost didn’t buy this book. I don’t do well with knowing that there will be a huge roller coaster ride. Nor, do I do well with back and forth characters who don’t know who they want to end up with. The final reason was that my son is getting ready to leave for basic training, and I’m just not ready to read military romances. But, I decided that since the author was Marie Force, I’d dig in. I’m glad that I did. The storyline isn’t anything that I want to discuss as it needs to remain a surprise for readers. I will say that Marie did a good job of making me feel good about the choice that I made of how I wanted the book to go. Dual point of view. Actually, many points of view (which I love). No cliffhanger, but there will be another book coming.
Five Years Gone is the new release from author Marie Force. It is a standalone contemporary romance. I won’t give a big summary here because it would include some spoilers, and I hate spoiling any part of a book for you guys!
This book gutted me. Part of it was due to the fact that 9/11 was that event in my life that had me terrified my wedding wouldn’t happen. It was scheduled for 2 & ½ weeks after 9/11, and I was marrying an active duty Airman. Therefore, the beginning of this book brought all of those doubts and fears I went through at the time back to the forefront of my mind. Then it took me on a journey of what might have been.
I loved all of the characters in this book. Even though I thought John was a bit of a jerk for leaving Ava in the dark about the possibilities of what could happen at any moment, I could understand it. And there was a part of me that rooted for them as a couple. But I loved how Eric and Ava were together, too. I swear that Eric deserves a medal for being the most patient man in history! I typically hate love triangles because usually at some point in the story, someone gets treated terribly. In this story, that’s not the case. It’s all due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control. Hence the angst level is high in Five Years Gone.
NICUnurse’s Rating: I have to give this story five stars, hands down. The emotions this book evoked literally had me emotional for daaaaaayssss…. It’s not your typical love triangle book, so even if you hate stories like that, I encourage you to dive in anyway. I doubt you’ll be disappointed! And for fans of Marie Force…it’s a very different story than what we are used to, but it’s no less than what we have come to expect from her.
WOW!! This is definitely one of my top 5 listens/reads for 2018. It is absolutely phenomenal!!! I wish there were more than 5 stars to give, I truly do. Andi Arndt and Joe Arden will make you feel every emotion from every character these incredible narrators voice. Marie Force certainly brought her A- game with this unbelievably epic emotional story about tragedy, grief, healing and finally being able to open yourself up to love again. These characters are all incredible, believable and so darn lovable. Ava’s dilemma honestly shook me to the core and I really wasn’t sure how she was even holding it together or what she was going to do. At times this book will rip out your heart and stomp on it, but will ultimately put it back together and fill it to the brim with all the good emotions.
Bravo Marie Force! This is a must listen or read, either way, just do it!!!!
I just finished my 2nd reread of Five Years Gone. Wow. I can now understand why this stand alone book has received raving reviews. It starts out as 2 people crashing into each other at a bar where Naval Officers go and falling so hard and fast in Love . They stay cocooned for 2 years and then he is Gone. What Marie writes next had me so incredibly vested into the life of Ava that I felt I was Ava. Then she met Eric and he turned out to be my Hero. When Marie writes any book , I am completely into and part of the characters. I become one with the characters. I am so glad that Marie gave Ava and Eric a happy ever after and that John gets another chance at love… at least that’s what I think will happen in the sequel to One Year Home
Great read!
As usual Marie Force never disappoint. I love this book and look forward to the next book in this series.
I really loved this book. When you got almost to the end, you really weren’t sure how it would end or who you were pulling for as your heart went out to both of the men, John and Eric. Really felt for the Ava. The struggle she went through and the decisions she had to make. Can’t wait for the next book in this series.
An amazing emotional story line. Could not put it down. Am so waiting for John’s story.
Loved this Book, exceptional characters, and wonderfully moving story
Heart wrenchingly captivating! From the beginning of this story, Marie Force paints a vivid picture of a woman who’s life as she knew it ended in the blink of an eye and how she deals with it. The depth of the emotions written into this character makes us feel her heartbreak, her despair, her brokenness. When Eric comes on the scene, we start to be hopeful that she can love again, but then news of John comes up all around her and she feels torn in her loyalty between memories of John and her actual life with Eric. It’s an excellent story and I really enjoyed it!
Ava Lucas was the happiest she’d ever been. She was in love with a man who completed her like no other, never expecting that one terrorist attack could wipe away the existence of life as she knew it. One day she was on top of the world with the man that she loved by her side and the next day he was deployed and she had no idea where he was or when she’d see him again. Her life trudged on day by day while she waited on his return.
Five years later, Ava has come to the point where she has to make a change in her life. She never saw or heard from John again. Now she has made the decision to leave their home in California and move back to New York to be closer to her family, and to be away from the memories she shared with him. She never expects to feel re-awakened when she meets the groom’s brother at her sister’s wedding. Eric is such fun to be around! They slowly begin to spend time together and grow their friendship, but both have been through heartbreak in the past and are tiptoeing into whatever this might be. Can she love again? And just as she’s starting to think life can be complete again, the terrorist mastermind that started her nightmare is caught and a secret elite team of soldiers is coming home. She’s spending her days and nights with Eric, but she’s wondering if this could mean John is on his way home to her. If he is, what will become of her love for Eric?
This book was truly an incredible, gripping, all-consuming TOP READ for 2018! I was so immersed in this story about loss, grief, finding love again that it was unputdownable. I was so consumed, page after page, chapter after chapter, I couldn’t stop because I NEEDED to know how this story ended. This read will take you on an emotional journey that will have you crying, laughing and on the edge of your seat with hope, hope for two broken people to find that once in a lifetime love. This book, this read is one that I highly, highly recommend. If you read anything the remainder of this year READ this heart-wrenching, soul searching, amazing beautiful love story!
Ava has spent the last 2 years with the love of her life, John, in San Diego. In the blink of an eye there’s a terrorist attack and he’s gone. He was in the military attached to a special unit. 5 years. Ava waited for his return. Finally, her sister is getting married in New York and it’s time for Ava to start her life over. Or at least try to…
Ava has suffered so much over the past five years. So when she meets her sister’s husband’s brother, Eric, she actually begins to feel again. Eric, he is the total package, blonde, tall, fit, smart, funny. Eric makes Ava feel. And Eric has a painful past of his own. They begin to heal each other. But Ava’s grief does not end. With new developments in her story with John, will Ava be able to finally leave the past in the past? This story was sweet, and gut-wrenching, at the same time. Totally worth the read, I give Five Years Gone 4 stars! And I’m REALLY looking forward to the next story in the series!
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I was by far from being disappointed. An amazing 5 star that was an intense raw emotional ride.
Ava waited 5 years for John to come back to her after disappearing without a trace. He left when the army called for him to go. She gave him that time and then she decided to move on. What she didn’t expect is to fall in love with her sister’s brother in law. Eric is caring and kind. Having been through some difficult time himself, he decide Ava is it for him. Ava can’t forget her first love now she must work on grieving for him and letting go.
This is so much more than a romantic story, it’s about loss and grieving. Needing that time to do so and sometimes people need help with that. Ava seeks help to get through it. Ava and Eric lean on each other to get through it too. This was an intense, powerful and raw emotional ride. Beautifully written with an amazing storyline that flowed well. Bottomline this is a must read.
Standalone told in a multiple POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this amazing story.