Guest Review: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – Heather Long

Have you ever woken up every day afraid of everything?

For single mom and widow Melody Carter, six months passed since an IED ripped her life apart. Everyone is sympathetic and offers platitudes of comfort and support. Everyone thinks they know why she’s grieving but Melody isn’t mourning her broken heart. She’s ashamed to be grateful her abusive husband won’t hurt her anymore and scared for her child. Born with a mild heart defect, her daughter needs lifesaving surgery and with her funds tight and her emotional scars tighter, she’s running out of options. When she receives an offer for assistance from Mike’s Place, can Melody put her faith in the men her husband called friend?

Have you ever woken up, day after day, to discover your body’s betrayal?

Marine Captain, Joe Anderson Cooper, received the Silver Star for Valor when he led his unit through heavy fire to rescue fellow Marines. Despite numerous injuries, the Captain refused medical aid, insisting that the medics attend others. A broken back and shattered bones put Captain Cooper in a wheelchair and every day is a battle to keep his recovery on track and his sanity intact. When a single mom moves in to the apartment next door to his and he recognizes a kindred—damaged—soul, can he overcome her fear and be the man she’s always needed?

Can these two lonely souls rise to the challenge or will their scars trap them forever?

Series:  Always a Marine #10
Release Date:  January 8, 2013
Publisher:  Decadent Publishing
Source:  Provided by Publisher
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Whiskey tango foxtrot has a great storyline.  The African-American male character “”Joe”” is a wounded marine that steps in to help Melody, the abused widow of a former marine and parent of their daughter, Libby.  I thought this was surely going to be a winner after all  the story had the handsome military officer coming to the aid of a damsel in distress.  This was far from what I found within the pages of this book.  This story has many dark, heavy issues that never quite got off the ground in the storyline.  This is probably because the novella length was too difficult to really explore and resolve these issues while building a romance between the characters.

I felt no connection with the characters.  I didn’t like them, and I didn’t dislike them. I just didn’t connect.  Normally somewhere within the first few chapters I start to be drawn into the plot but I was never drawn in and never felt remotely involved in the story.   It was difficult for me to process Joe’s injuries and feelings as a Marine on the mend because he reaches out to Melody and her issues are brought into the story.  Melody’s daughter had a very serious heart defect.  Joe was there for her during the baby’s surgery, and Melody seemed guarded but glad.  However,  Melody’s character was very distant and there was absolutely no chemistry or connection between the two.  I never felt like they were a couple or that buildup to them developing feelings for each other.  I put my kindle down several times sighed and went back because I hate to start a book and not finish.  It was painful at best.

The storyline was more or less that Joe fell in love with her at first sight , determined to help her overcome her past and help with her daughter.  Then he waited until she was ready.  Eventually she was ready and they had sex, became a couple and decided to get married.  All literally in the last 2-3 pages.

I would not recommend this book.  I think the author had a very noble idea that went wrong.  This novella was too short for the multiple very layered, elements in the story.