He came home a hero and lost the only woman he’s ever loved...

John
I have no idea how to survive without my beloved Ava. She had no choice but to move on with her life during my six-year deployment and has now married Eric. I hate him for taking her from me. I’d prefer to wallow in my depression and heartbreak, but the whole damned world wants a piece of the SEAL Team leader who helped capture the world’s most-wanted terrorist. I need help handling the relentless requests, and when Ava sends her new sister-in-law to manage the media circus for me, I’m prepared to hate her on principle. Her brother took my Ava. What else do I need to know about her?

Julianne
It takes five seconds to realize Ava’s ex is going to be the most complicated and difficult client I’ve ever had, but the opportunity to represent the most celebrated man in the world could make my career. I’m determined to do the job, even if I dislike John from the moment I meet him. And I like everyone. So much so that my brothers worry about me being exploited by those who would take advantage of my unwavering love for others. But John… He’s in a class by himself, and his bitterness is a festering wound that I begin to wish I could somehow fix for him. The more time we spend together, the more our mutual disdain morphs into something that feels an awful lot like desire. There’s no way I can want this man, or so I tell myself, and when Eric finds out I’ve developed feelings for the man causing trouble in his new marriage, well…

That’s going to be a hot mess.

One Year Home by Marie Force is the happy for the third character in a top read of mine from 2018 Five Years Gone.

If you had not read Five Year Gone, top reading this review and go immerse yourself is a story that will take a hold of your heart. A truly unique story; written with pure literacy genius.

I adored that One Year Home did not take place in a vacuum; it showed the continued impact of John’s return. John’s world is so much different than the one he left behind after a major terror attack on the US.

John’s returned home wounded and with the media chasing him…… Julianne is sent to help deal with the whirlwind he finds himself in.

Julianne was such a great character; strong while being compassionate; clearly attracted to John while being cognizant of the ramifications. She was also supportive of John without babying him and her admiration for him shone through.

Watching John and Julianne’s bond develop was so enjoyable. The time they spent together which is a most of the book really made me knowing each was better for having the other around them.

It was so clear to me that these two were meant for each other. The happy they find was the one meant for them…..  was it a happy either would have imagined the 5 years before book 1 takes place NO but I think that is the point here… Life happens… what you make of it is all you have control over.