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the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Commander Travis Wilson, United States Navy, was once a fighter pilot, until an accident on the flight deck of a carrier left him behind a desk and guilt ridden over the outcome of the final flight that ended the career of a good friend. But Wilson did not walk away unscathed, either. Along with his guilt, his spine was severely damaged, leaving him with bouts of mind-numbing pain.
Lt. Commander Clint Fraser use to remotely pilot drones in the Middle East. The incident that took him away from that part of his Navy career was classified more than top secret, meaning Clint cannot discuss the incident and its aftermath, even with Navy psychiatrists. The fallout wrecked his marriage and left him nearly an alcoholic and suffering PTSD for being the cause of a horrible mistake.
When the two meet at a Navy celebration, they are each with other people and convinced the other is out of reach. In the post DADT Navy, you can be gay, but cutting in on another officer’s territory is still a no-fly zone. After a few silly misunderstandings, the pair begin a relationship that is meant to be fun, casual, and a distraction for the things that live in both their minds. But love grows in even the driest desert. These men must negotiate their own guilt, their own fear of bringing another man into their past mistakes, and the deep emotional bond they clearly feeling for one another.
This is the second book in the Anchor Point series, but you need not have read the first to enjoy this story. Nick J. Russo returns to narrate Afraid to Fly, and his performance is just as wonderful as in Just Drive. The characters here are fully fleshed out by his expert voice acting. Both male and female voices are done with care, and each character has their own consistent voice.
This book is a great buy, and the series has the promise to continue for some time. We can only hope that Russo returns each time there’s a new story to tell. Buy this book, buy book one (if you haven’t already), and be prepared for a treat. While the characters are not perfect, their obstacles are not impossible to overcome. Russo tells us this in moments of tenderness, anger, and pure joy. You will be glad you entered this world with these men, and you will be glad that this voice is the one picked for the narration; they are perfectly paired.
Audio Reviewed by Mike
Lt. Commander Clint Fraser use to remotely pilot drones in the Middle East. The incident that took him away from that part of his Navy career was classified more than top secret, meaning Clint cannot discuss the incident and its aftermath, even with Navy psychiatrists. The fallout wrecked his marriage and left him nearly an alcoholic and suffering PTSD for being the cause of a horrible mistake.
When the two meet at a Navy celebration, they are each with other people and convinced the other is out of reach. In the post DADT Navy, you can be gay, but cutting in on another officer’s territory is still a no-fly zone. After a few silly misunderstandings, the pair begin a relationship that is meant to be fun, casual, and a distraction for the things that live in both their minds. But love grows in even the driest desert. These men must negotiate their own guilt, their own fear of bringing another man into their past mistakes, and the deep emotional bond they clearly feeling for one another.
This is the second book in the Anchor Point series, but you need not have read the first to enjoy this story. Nick J. Russo returns to narrate Afraid to Fly, and his performance is just as wonderful as in Just Drive. The characters here are fully fleshed out by his expert voice acting. Both male and female voices are done with care, and each character has their own consistent voice.
This book is a great buy, and the series has the promise to continue for some time. We can only hope that Russo returns each time there’s a new story to tell. Buy this book, buy book one (if you haven’t already), and be prepared for a treat. While the characters are not perfect, their obstacles are not impossible to overcome. Russo tells us this in moments of tenderness, anger, and pure joy. You will be glad you entered this world with these men, and you will be glad that this voice is the one picked for the narration; they are perfectly paired.
Audio Reviewed by Mike
punkrockromance's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
5.0
Two people dealing with fallout from trauma, and, yay, love didn't magically cure all that. Exploration of PTSD, the toll on family, constructive and destructive coping mechanisms.
robiok's review against another edition
4.0
If you are looking for a good romance that still manages to push some actual thinking into your brain and not just all the feels out your heart then I would say this is a good pick!
We have Travis and Clint respectively 45 and 40 years old Navy Officials.
Obviously this is the story of how they fell in love but also:
-how chronic pain actually affects the life on those who suffer it and the people close to them;
-how PTSD affects individuals, how it's different the way it manifests and is triggered, how it's different how anyone can come to suffer of it and how hard and long is the recovery road for every individual.
-how you can bounce back from the mistake you made;
-how some risks are worth it;
-how guilt can cripple you just as a physical wound would;
-how patience is a beautiful form of affection;
-how sex is so much more than 'put it in'!!
-how love is the best friend of compromise.
I enjoyed it, it was cute and refreshing even when it made me think!
All the points for telling a story about a couple that found a way to be loving and sexy despite all the curveballs life threw them!
We have Travis and Clint respectively 45 and 40 years old Navy Officials.
Obviously this is the story of how they fell in love but also:
-how chronic pain actually affects the life on those who suffer it and the people close to them;
-how PTSD affects individuals, how it's different the way it manifests and is triggered, how it's different how anyone can come to suffer of it and how hard and long is the recovery road for every individual.
-how you can bounce back from the mistake you made;
-how some risks are worth it;
-how guilt can cripple you just as a physical wound would;
-how patience is a beautiful form of affection;
-how sex is so much more than 'put it in'!!
-how love is the best friend of compromise.
I enjoyed it, it was cute and refreshing even when it made me think!
All the points for telling a story about a couple that found a way to be loving and sexy despite all the curveballs life threw them!
anitalouise's review against another edition
4.0
Well done military romance that is the second in the Anchor Point series written by the outstanding LA Witt. We met Travis Wilson in [b:Just Drive|31689633|Just Drive (Anchor Point #1)|L.A. Witt|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472309487s/31689633.jpg|52364685]. He is one of Paul's friends and co-workers. Clint is new to the base and to Oregon. Both have had traumatic lives. Travis was horribly injured when his jet missed landing on an aircraft carrier and tumbled into the sea. He has unrelenting chronic back pain, along with PTSD. Clint flew drones and also had a terrible experience worsened by the fact that what happened has to remain classified. He is recently divorced and recently sober trying to deal with his new normal - new job, newly sober and new identity as bi. His marriage ended badly and he's missing his kids. I really liked this book although I think I liked Just Drive better. That both of them have PTSD takes up a good deal of the conversation and their inner thoughts. Additionally, we spend A LOT of time hearing and discussing and experiencing Travis' pain. It is sad and you just cringe every time Travis winces, but I think the focus on the pain moved some of the focus away from Clint and Travis' romance. I do understand that to be with each, they have to accept and understand their respective issues. This one also doesn't have the sexiness of Just Drive but that's ok. I love how the sex between them is handled. I just wanted more Travis/Clint time. The writing is classic LA Witt. Awesome! "We both tensed. Both trembled. Both shuddered. Our strokes were suddenly slick and he didn't stop, and I didn't stop, and the left he'd hooked over mine pulled me in tighter, and he breathed "Oh my God" as if he'd felt the shudder that was curling my toes and straightening my spine." Earlier in the book, one of them is thinking such good thoughts about the other and Ms. Witt writes "what sorcery is this.." My gosh, I just love her books. This it the LA Witt that I know and love!!
terriaminute's review against another edition
3.0
(So. Um. By the time y'all see this, I'll have given a star rating. But I had to write the review first in order to decide if it was two stars or three. Below is how I decided.)
Usually I can start a review by clicking the star rating, but I'm not sure what it will be this time. I have to write first. While there's nothing wrong with the plot, or the characters as such, there are several things wrong with the writer's choices. Repetition is a big problem, not just some phrases, but identical ones when they're supposed to be in separate people's heads - that's just lazy writing/editing. Repeating laundry lists of reasons and stresses and I mean, I was tired of it by the middle of this book. It didn't stop. From both characters. I remember his story, dammit, and his, stop repeating it! I GOT IT ALREADY.
*clears throat*
So that's insulting, to this reader. And it's confusing. The first book, Just Drive, had some of these issues, but it wasn't this bad. What happened? One careful edit pass could've fixed all of the problems, though it would've made a shorter book. Shorter but better is BETTER. I wish it had been better. But I was relived to get to the epilogue, and that's just sad.
1 star for plot, 1 for characters, and 1 because I could finish it. Minus 2 for the reasons above. *sigh*
Usually I can start a review by clicking the star rating, but I'm not sure what it will be this time. I have to write first. While there's nothing wrong with the plot, or the characters as such, there are several things wrong with the writer's choices. Repetition is a big problem, not just some phrases, but identical ones when they're supposed to be in separate people's heads - that's just lazy writing/editing. Repeating laundry lists of reasons and stresses and I mean, I was tired of it by the middle of this book. It didn't stop. From both characters. I remember his story, dammit, and his, stop repeating it! I GOT IT ALREADY.
*clears throat*
So that's insulting, to this reader. And it's confusing. The first book, Just Drive, had some of these issues, but it wasn't this bad. What happened? One careful edit pass could've fixed all of the problems, though it would've made a shorter book. Shorter but better is BETTER. I wish it had been better. But I was relived to get to the epilogue, and that's just sad.
1 star for plot, 1 for characters, and 1 because I could finish it. Minus 2 for the reasons above. *sigh*
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