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cyndibecker 's review for:
Heartbreak Warfare
by Kate Stewart, Heather M. Orgeron
Hands down, Heartbreak Warfare is the most gut-wrenching books I've read in this year, at least in my most recent memories! I cannot convey more strongly how this crushed me, then built me back up again. I started this with my heart pounding. I could hear the blood rushing through my head, and this didn't let up the entire time. I absolutely could not put it down. Centered around medic Katy Scott and Private Chris Briggs the story speaks to the savagery of war and shows how trauma creates a bond between people.
I read this is in one afternoon and when I woke in the wee hours of the morning, after having slept for all of 3 hours, I found myself thinking about this book and wondering how the heck I would write a review. How could I talk to the profound impact that the trauma of the experience of being on the ground in a war zone holds? The trauma of being the spouse or a child and fearing the loss of their being (physically and mentally). And the story, the conditions the authors wrapped around the characters. It's certainly not a romance, and yet maybe it is. It's definitely a love story, and most definitely a hate story. There are some particularly brutal moments (that could be triggers for some) and these left me sobbing. There are moments that I think I read, I certainly recall the outcome, but I don't recall the details. I think my mind went away for a moments at a time. And some of these are on US soil. It's just so tragic and there are times bad decisions are made that left me reeling.
"It’s the one relationship I can end on my terms. Even as my body forces tears of mourning from me, I rebuke them for weakness, and instead of cleansing me, it fuels me. Because I’m still angry. And this time it’s got everything to do with the choices I’ve made because of the foolish muscle."
I don't think I have to say it, but the writing is stunning. Heather and Kate create an outstanding story of extraordinary circumstances and the havoc it wreaks upon a person and their family. I expected drama and I was surprised by everything else. I was heartbroken for Gavin and Noah, but mostly for Katy. I was heartbroken for Chris and I flipped and flopped on what I wanted the outcome of his story to be. When I thought my heart couldn't take anymore Heather and Kate gave me reason to hope and want things to end the way they did.
I read this is in one afternoon and when I woke in the wee hours of the morning, after having slept for all of 3 hours, I found myself thinking about this book and wondering how the heck I would write a review. How could I talk to the profound impact that the trauma of the experience of being on the ground in a war zone holds? The trauma of being the spouse or a child and fearing the loss of their being (physically and mentally). And the story, the conditions the authors wrapped around the characters. It's certainly not a romance, and yet maybe it is. It's definitely a love story, and most definitely a hate story. There are some particularly brutal moments (that could be triggers for some) and these left me sobbing. There are moments that I think I read, I certainly recall the outcome, but I don't recall the details. I think my mind went away for a moments at a time. And some of these are on US soil. It's just so tragic and there are times bad decisions are made that left me reeling.
"It’s the one relationship I can end on my terms. Even as my body forces tears of mourning from me, I rebuke them for weakness, and instead of cleansing me, it fuels me. Because I’m still angry. And this time it’s got everything to do with the choices I’ve made because of the foolish muscle."
I don't think I have to say it, but the writing is stunning. Heather and Kate create an outstanding story of extraordinary circumstances and the havoc it wreaks upon a person and their family. I expected drama and I was surprised by everything else. I was heartbroken for Gavin and Noah, but mostly for Katy. I was heartbroken for Chris and I flipped and flopped on what I wanted the outcome of his story to be. When I thought my heart couldn't take anymore Heather and Kate gave me reason to hope and want things to end the way they did.