New Release: Between Ghosts by Garret Leigh

Title: Between Ghosts

Author: Garret Leigh

Publisher/GR Link: Riptide, GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: War, Military

Rating: 4 stars

Lock this book up: 3 keys.  The sex is hot and fits the story

Length: Novel

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: I like it. 

Best Line:  "Nat shivered, exposed and laid bare, but for the first time in his life he didn’t give a shit. “I’m okay. It’s just being with you, like this, I can’t hide . . . from you, from anything.”

Synopsis: 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.

Impressions:  I always love Garret Leigh’s work and I was very excited to read her latest release.  I felt very connected to Connor right from the start, and I could immediately feel his connection to Nat.  I really liked seeing some of Nat’s view of their connection, and as the novel progressed I felt that both of those pieces worked very well together to give us a full sense of the story and a perspective on their deepening feelings.

I found the military aspect to this story to be fascinating and very believable.  I hadn’t known much about the military experiences of British soldiers, and I found the combat scenes gripping and gritty.  Leigh must have done the necessary research because I was completely pulled into the story, and I found myself itching to get back to my kindle!

The love in this story is a slow burn with periods of explosive sexual energy, which is appropriate to the situation.  Leigh can write a heart wrencher, and though this book was still filled with emotion, it was about men at war, literally fighting for their lives.  There isn’t a lot of sentimentality allowed in those situations, and I am glad that the love story really suited the setting and context. 

Despite the gritty setting, this story centers around two men who find each other and get the love and closure that they both have been needing.  I loved every page, and I was sorry when it was over!

Highly recommended.