A Soldier's Devotion

WYATT, CHERYL
A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION

An accidental meeting : U. S. Air Force pararescue jumper Vince Reardon was headed to a lifesaving mission. Until a too-pretty lawyer crashed her fancy car into his motorcycle -- sidelining him for two weeks. Vince can barely accept Valentina Russo's heartfelt apologies. Ever since his brother was wrongly convicted -- and killed -- in prison -- Vince has lost respect for lawyers. But wait -- is that Val volunteering as his refuge for underprivileged kids? If Vince isn't careful, this lady of the law might just earn his respect and his heart.

A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION HAD ME ENTHRALLED FROM THE GRIPPING FIRST PAGE TO THE HEART-WARMING CONCLUSION. THE SOLID ISSUES THAT VINCE AND VAL BATTLE ELEVATE THIS BOOK FROM AN ENJOYABLE LOVE STORY (THOUGH IT IS THAT) TO AN INCREDIBLE AND UPLIFTING MUST-READ.

IT IS FILLED WITH THE STUFF GOOD BOOKS ARE MADE OF -- TENDER MOMENTS...ROMANTIC TENSION PULLED SO TAUT THAT YOU'RE SQUIRMING. IN FACT, THE BOOK IS PEPPERED WITH DROP-DEAD, HEAR-PALPITATING MOMENTS WORTHY OF A FULL BLOWN SWOON! BUT CHERYL ALSO ALLEVIATES TENSION WITH HILARIOUS, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD SCENES.

WHAT STRUCK ME MOST AS I READ THIS BOOK WAS CHERYL'S ABILITY TO CREATE TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT CHARACTERS WITH HER EXQUISITE CHOICE OF WORDS.

VINCE IS A MEMORABLE HERO. HE IS ANGRY, BITTER AND HURTING AND HASN'T LET GO OF HIS PAST. THIS IS CONVEYED BY TERSE, SINGLE WORD SENTENCES PUNCTUATED BY FRAGMENTS OF THOUGHTS. GRITTY AND REALISTIC, IT HAD MY HEART POUNDING IN FEAR FOR VAL EVEN THOUGH I KNEW VINCE WAS GOING TO BE THE LOVE INTEREST.

BY CONTRAST, VAL'S THOUGHTS AND WORDS ARTICULATELY FLOW WITH EMOTION AND COMPASSION. THIS TECHNIQUE CARRIES THROUGHOUT THE STORY UNTIL VINCE BEGINS TO CHANGE. AS HE GROWS SO DO HIS THOUGHTS AND WORDS WHICH ARE CONSTRUCTED INTO LONGER SENTENCES THAT GIVE US A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS MAN. I THINK THIS IS A FANTASTIC TECHNIQUE TO CONVEY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A CHARACTER. IT ALSO SHOWS HOW FAR APART VAL AND VINCE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION AND HOW UNITED THEY BECAME BY THE END OF THE BOOK.

CHERYL TELLS THIS STORY WITH COMPASSION BORN OF AN UNDERSTANDING HEART WHICH DEFINITELY MAKES IT STAND OUT AMONG OTHER CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES. A BRILLIANT BOOK BY A BRILLIANT AUTHOR.