Between Ghosts

Title: Between Ghosts
Author: Garrett Leigh
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: March 14, 2016
Genre(s): Military, Hurt/Healing/Comfort
Page Count: 226
Reviewed by: Gigi
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

In 2003, journalist Connor Regan marched through London to add his voice to a million others, decrying the imminent invasion of Iraq. Eight months later, his brother, James, was killed in action in Mosul.

Three years on, Connor finds himself bound for Iraq to embed with an elite SAS team. He sets his boots on the ground looking for closure and solace—anything to ease the pain of his brother’s death. Instead he finds Sergeant Nathan Thompson.

Nat Thompson is a veteran commander, hardened by years of combat and haunted by the loss of his best friend. Being lumbered with a civilian is a hassle Nat doesn’t need, and he vows to do nothing more than keep the hapless hack from harm’s way.

But Connor proves far from hapless, and too compelling to ignore for long. He walks straight through the steel wall Nat’s built around his heart, and when their mission puts him in mortal danger, Nat must lay old ghosts to rest and fight to the death for the only man he’s ever truly loved.

Hurt/Healing/Comfort between military men? SIGN ME UP!

Connor Regan is a journalist who lost his brother, James, when he was killed in combat during a mission in Mosul, Iraq. Conner’s brother was part of an elite and very secretive team in the British Army called SAS, Special Air Reserve. (As a side note, when I searched for images to make my pretty cast collage above, almost all pictures of real SAS members have their faces blurred out.) Because of the secret nature of the mission, Conner never found out how or why his brother died.

Determined to get to the bottom of his brother’s death, Conner spends a year preparing himself physically and emotionally to join the SAS unit as a member of the media. He joins the current SAS unit headed by Sergeant Nathan Thompson in Iraq after his year-long preparation.

Battle-worn veteran Nat is also in mourning, after having lost his best friend, Pogo, in the war. He blames himself for Pogo’s death and feels dead inside. When Connor shows up, his emotions start to come alive again.

The chemistry and connection between Nat and Connor is wonderful. I am happy to report that the military mission, while being the main subject of the book, is littered with an emotional connection between these men. A lot of time with military themed M/M romances, you only get one. There wasn’t a huge amount of sex here, but when these men were able to secret themselves away from the unit, is was hot and passionate.

I do have to say that the ending got a little soap-operay and unrealistic.

Spoiler

Connor is kidnapped by a crazy militia leader named Abdullah Behrouz and Nat pulls a knight-in-shining-armor rescue. The two men are separated during Connor’s recovery and Connor believes he’ll never see Nat again. When Nat finally finds Connor, they fall into bed with tears and declarations of love.

The ending didn’t really match the mood of the first part of the book, but I totally rolled with it and was happy for the boys and their HEA.

M/M Military romance fans, this one is for you! Recommended!

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