Return to Me

Covington Cove #1

 By Kelly Moran

ISBN# 9780425276877

Author’s Website:  http://www.authorkellymoran.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Synopsis:

Ten years ago, Cole Covington was just another rich kid who got everything he wanted—including young and trusting Mia Galdon. Then one night everything changed, and two hearts were shattered. Cole buried his guilt in the military, where love was just part of the past. Now Cole has come back home, emotionally damaged, guarded, and unprepared for what’s waiting for him…

At the urging of Cole’s sister, Mia has returned to the Covington family’s coastal home in Wilmington as a private nurse to help Cole recover. With her uncertain personal life at a crossroad, Mia doesn’t have the luxury of saying no to the job. And she soon finds out that the attraction is still alive. So are memories of betrayal. But Mia will discover more than the power of resilience. She’ll discover a secret Cole has held for years, one that will force them to confront the past and give new meaning to letting go, forgiveness, and a future worth fighting for.

Review:

The opening segment when Cole was in the desert after the IED went off was SO moving.  It grabbed me and would not let me go until the story was done. I truly appreciated the way that the author handled Cole’s PTSD.  How Cole’s coping mechanisms and lifestyle following his time in the war was very captivating.

And the following was a memorable and compelling quote to me:

“Most of the other guys were angry after coming back from leave.  Some even said the country wasn’t worth fighting for when civilians cared so little about life. All the crimes and murders in the States were an insult.  The protesters were the worst.”

Now on to the love story….so sweet, endearing and enthralling.  Mia is a nurse, hired to assist the love of her life recover when no one else could.  Mia has changed through the years, no longer a shy young girl, but a confident and talented nurse.  From the moment she steps back into the Covington Cottage (well – to you or I it is a mansion …but I digress), she took charge and her behavior was exactly as I would have imagined a nurse to vet’s with PSTD (no nonsense or coddling allowed) should be.  We get snippets of history from everyone’s perspective…Cole, Mia and Lacey…on the death of Cole and Lacey’s older brother, Dean.  That is a very heart wrenching story, which is more than worth the read.  And I must say….Mia is so wise for her years.  I LOVED her character.   The flashbacks to Mia and Coles relationship 10 years earlier was done in such a manner as to NOT be annoying (frequently flashbacks bother me).  I loved how as we got to know the current Cole and Mia we also slowly got the know the younger Cole and Mia.

The tools and techniques Mia engaged to assist Cole in his recovery were very interesting.  I loved how she would try something and if it did not work, she would quickly come up with another method.  I LOVED her no nonsense attitude about coming downstairs for meals and being part of the household.  And of course…being so stubborn that it did not matter how many times Cole fired her…she never accepted being fired!!!

I was pleased in the end that Lacey and Cole each got a backbone when it came to dealing with their parents.  The portrayal of being rich and in the public eye definitely showed how power can change what should be near and dear to a parents heart….the well-being of their child – regardless of age.  And this of course got me madder than a hatter at Mr. and Mrs. Covington.  That story line had quite a little twist!

There were certainly some highs and lows, but the ebb and flow of the love story was just perfect.  It allowed for other storylines to shine through and give the reader a full bodied reading experience.

I will most certainly read the following books in this new series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*