Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his … his heart… and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.
Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets — that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?
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Read: 5/22/16
Unravelled, the third book in the Woodland series, focused on Sgt Gray Phillips and Samantha Anderson.
The gorgeous Gray Phillips was on military leave for forty five days to determine the next phase of his life. While visiting his marine buddies, Noah and Bo, for perspective, he met Samantha (Sam) Anderson, the local bartender and young military widow. Sam had just been existing the past two years but was beginning to come to life again. Frederick walked us through their developments, past hang ups, new challenges and overall chemistry.
I loved the premise of the story as well as both characters. However, it was a little slow coming together for me and at times the story seemed fragmented. It was a great foundation but I craved more depth, detail and substance to both the storyline and the characters.
True to the series, Frederick utilized the supporting cast of characters increasing the entertainment and humor, providing additional substance to the storyline and experience. Frederick also introduced new characters whose story I would love to hear, such as Tucker and Hamilton.
All in all, it was enjoyable and entertaining. The next book of the series is Unrequited, Finn O’Malley’s saga; which Frederick has been providing teasers within each book this far. I’m invested in Finn and looking forward to seeing how Frederick brings it to a close.
This was Gray and Sam. Gray is a friend of Bo and Noah’s that was in the service with them. Sam is a young widow that lost her husband in the military. Starts out pretty good, these two have instant chemistry and make out against the wall of the bar she works at. Then he sees her wedding ring and goes a little crazy on her, I understood, but he should have looked first…just sayin. Later he finds out she’s widowed. He blows up a couple of irrational times after that and then one of his friends, well not really a friend, goes way to far and just pushed me over my line. She’s a genuinely sweet person and I got sick of reading her taking his crap. I get he has his own issues, but she was really struggling and trying to move on, but I felt he just kept knocking her down…and she kept coming back to him. I just wasn’t a Gray fan at all, being mean to Sam is the equivalent of kicking puppies….and damn it, I freaking love puppies. She’s always making the big gestures and he’s just there. Even at the end when she goes to him, she has a roommate that isn’t him. Picks ip and leaves her family for him. I just was not a Gray fan…not even a little bit and I felt after everything Sam had been through, that she deserved way better.
This actually was a safe read, some really sad parts, no om drama, but a little ow drama, too much couple drama, at least I got to read a lot of my man Bo, an epilogue and a hea.