Because of You: A Loveswept Contemporary Military Romance [Kindle Edition]

Jessica Scott (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jessica Scott is an exciting new voice in romantic fiction who bursts upon the scene with an unputdownable debut novel!"
~Robyn Carr | New York Times Bestselling Author

 

"Edgy and current--and a truly satisfying love story. Put this book, Jessica Scott's BECAUSE OF YOU, on your "must read" list."  
Suzanne Brockmann | New York Times Bestselling Author

 

"BECAUSE OF YOU is powerful, timely and wonderfully executed. Jessica Scott should be on every reader's list." 

~Brenda Novak | New York Times Bestselling Author

 

"Jessica Scott writes with a soldier's heart. BECAUSE OF YOU is touching, authentic and a fantastic read."
~ Cindy Gerard | New York Times Bestselling Author
 
"Crackling with realism, sizzling with sexual tension, and pulsing with emotion, Jessica Scott has penned an unforgettable military romance that delivers heartache and hope on every page."
~ Roxanne St. Claire | New York Times Bestselling Author
    

 "Watch out Navy SEALS, there's a new hero in town and he's wearing Army gray!  BECAUSE OF YOU is a beautifully crafted, wonderfully emotional debut."
~ JoAnn Ross | New York Times Bestselling Author

   

  

Product Description

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.

Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there's more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he'll never see again- until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care.  Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there's a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels - for the first time in a long time - like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty -it's a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected - her deepest desire.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2087 KB
• Publisher: Loveswept (November 14, 2011)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005GFBQWU
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,712 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

The Soldier

I'm a career soldier, with 16 years in the Army and I love everything about Army life. I joined right out of high school and was promptly shipped off to Germany where I met my husband. I went from Sergeant First Class (E7) to Second Lieutenant (01E) in 2007.
Now, I'm a company commander in charge of 130 soldiers, a mom with two young kids who never sit still, and an Army wife, whose husband is back in Iraq.
Join me at my blog, Twitter, and Facebook because the Army adventure never stops!


The Author

Until a few years ago, I had no idea hard writing really was. I'd always written and started several projects over the years, burning out after a few dozen pages. After the War was the first novel I ever finished and it will always hold a special place in my heart because of that, even if it now remains under my bed. Blogging from Iraq landed me a spot on PBS Point of View, tackling tough issues involving women and war. Its an experience I'll never forget.
After the War was followed by multiple novels, all pulled from my experiences as an soldier who has lived through both being deployed and being the spouse left at home with the kids. Most of those books will never see daylight.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exceptionally emotional, moving and overwhelming read I can only recommend to everyone!, November 14, 2011

By 

Stella (Ex Libris) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Because of You: A Loveswept Contemporary Military Romance (Kindle Edition)

First of all I would like to state so that there is no misunderstanding: Because of You is not a military romance, but a contemporary romance having military heroes/heroines. I warn you so you don't expect to read about thrilling and suspenseful war scenes, the novel mostly takes place in the US and is not about some suspenseful military action but the emotional healing of wounded soldiers and how they find their way to love.

That said, I can now tell you what an amazing read Because of You was. Jessica Scott wrote such a deeply emotional and overwhelming story, that reading about the internal struggles of these wounded men and women, portrayed in such a realistic way teared me up quite a few times, and I'm not really the tearing up kind.

Meet the heroine: Jen St. James, who is a nurse and breast cancer survivor. I found it incredibly brave and laudable of Jessica Scott that she chose to feature a cancer survivor who lost her breast as the heroine of her romance novel. Despite being grateful for still being alive, Jen still hasn't come to terms of having lost such a primordial part of her feminity and herself and she considers herself a "freak" and damaged goods.

The hero of Because of You is Shane Garrison an infantry platoon sergeant and a dreamy hero: besides the swoonworthy physical attributes (tall, strong and handsome), he is extremely responsible, honourable and generous. Following a vicious attack Shane is sent back home to heal and Jen is one of the nurses taking care of him.

The love developed gradually and in a very realistic way between Shane and Jen, Jessica Scott didn't gloss over Shane's injuries and make them "alibi wounds" just to land him near a nurse. No, Shane's suffering because of him losing his identity was real and heart-wrenching.

"I don't want help. I don't need your help. I want to get fixed and get back to Iraq."

Shane had difficulty defining himself as anything else than the infantry platoon sergeant he was/is. His whole life revolves around the army and his boys. His sense of responsibility and commitment for his men was both troubling and astonishing. Troubling because it added heavy weights to his shoulders and conscience and astonishing that he felt so deeply responsible for other grown up people.

"I am. That's what I do. I fix my soldier's problems. I let them lean on me when things in their lives are broken. I take care of them."

His devotion to his men moved me to tears. It was heartbreaking reading about his terror, revulsion and despair at having lost the main part of his identity, the part which he feels defines him, how he feels completely lost and confused not being a soldier anymore.

(and I have to note here that Shane's inner thoughts and memories were written in such a distinctly male voice that I find it extraordinary a woman managed to channel such a masculine character and train of thought, so kudos to Jessica Scott!)

In Because of You Jessica Scott showed us how two strong but scarred and lost people surmount their vulnerabilities to open themselves to love and each other. An exceptionally emotional, moving and overwhelming read I can only recommend to everyone!

What I loved more than anything about Because of You was the authentic voice of Jessica Scott, how believable the story was because she wrote most of it from personal experience. Being a European civilian I don't have any connection to the army besides the occasional military fiction novel I read, but through her vivid and emotional narrative I got a glimpse at what it must feel like to have someone in the army or be in the army. Reading Shane's thoughts, reading the wives' and girlfriends thoughts on their men's deployment was both eye-opening and moving. Jessica Scott showed the not so glossy side of being an army wife, the constant worrying, struggles, heartache and fear of drifting away emotionally from your husband.

"I'm not a single parent by choice, I'm a single parent by my husband's choice. He's literally been home for long enough to get me pregnant and that's it." She bit her lips and stared into space.

The truth behind Jessica Scott's words resonated through the pages.

"It doesn't get any easier no matter how many times you say good-bye."

"Deployments were filled with long bouts of boredom and loneliness, punctuated by bursts of pure terror and an overdose of adrenaline."

But I have to mention that besides being such a heavily emotional story, Jessica Scott managed to pepper the novel with laugh out loud humour (Thundercock, hospital erection scene just to mention two of my favourites *wink*).

Verdict: Prepare several boxes of tissues because you will need them. Because of You is an incredibly raw read, it held my heart in a painful squeeze and made me try to swallow my tears so many times I lost count. It is not a light roses and sunshine romance, it is full of angst, pain and emotional suffering because the story is so very real. I teared up, my heart aching for these poor men and women and their torment. Because of You is an extremely powerful and emotional debut novel, one that will squeeze your heart and resonate with you for several days.

I can't wait to read the next novels in the series, I am completely wrung but happy, Jessica Scott took me on an incredibly emotionally exhausting journey but the ending couldn't have been more perfect, so I await the next book with a happy sigh. :-)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkably well-written debut for Jessica Scott, November 14, 2011

By 

Anne W (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Because of You: A Loveswept Contemporary Military Romance (Kindle Edition)

The best part of discovering a new author whose talents grip your attention immediately is sharing the good news with other readers. In all my years of reading military romances, there has been only one other that moved me as much as this one did. BECAUSE OF YOU is a beautifully written and poignant love story between two individuals, broken both in body and spirit. It also honorably portrays the lives of the everyday heroes and heroines who serve in the military and gives them the credit they so deserve.

When Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison regains consciousness after being critically wounded in an attack on his team in Iraq, he finds himself starring into the eyes of Jen St. James. On the night before his deployment four months ago, they shared one heated kiss and then gone their separate ways.

Jen St. James is a nurse and a survivor. After fighting her own personal battles, she fears never again being accepted and loved for herself because of the scars she carries. Seeing Shane again reminds Jen of the feelings that his unforgettable kiss triggered months ago, but also reinforces the pain of knowing that he might reject the real her.

Shane, who has an almost desperate need for fixing the problems of others, particularly those of his soldiers, suddenly finds his independence taken away by his injuries and he feels completely useless. Asking for help is and always has been a totally foreign concept to him. His divorce left him with no home or money and now because of his injuries he's unable to fend for himself. Jen understands some of what Shane is going through and steps forward offering Shane not only a place to live while he recovers but a much-needed lesson in self-worth. Shane really doesn't know how to handle his feelings for Jen. She's touched his heart with kindness the likes of which he's never known before, and much to his surprise he realizes his future is bleak without her in it. They are flawed characters who have each suffered betrayal, loss and pain, but find in each other the kind of love that looks beyond the physical imperfections and deep into the soul. There is an exceptionally touching scene between Jen and Shane where he proves beyond a doubt that his feelings for her reach way beyond the physical. Even the most critical and demanding romance fans will find the chemistry between them powerful and satisfying.

Jessica Scott has paved the way nicely for upcoming books in the "Coming Home Series," by introducing a remarkable cast of supporting characters who skyrocket the first book from being excellent to exceptional. Among them, you'll meet Captain Trent Davila and his wife, Laura, who are facing changes in their once solid and loving relationship. When Trent suddenly goes silent and Laura hears rumors accusing her husband of improper behavior with a female soldier, along with other worrisome concerns related to his job, she begins to fear her marriage is in real trouble and that the father of her children isn't being honest with her. In addition to Jen and Laura, there are a number of other strong female characters who exhibit an appealing combination of toughness and vulnerability. Sharing girls night out with the female cast offered up some delicious girl-talk, as well as giving us their take on the more serious matters of the heart.

In the category of supporting characters, first prize goes to the young man wrapped in a bright yellow tracksuit resembling Sesame Street's Big Bird. Sergeant Vic Carponti bugs his platoon sergeant more often than not, but Shane admires Carponti's special gift for sharing his wicked sense of humor and making the best of otherwise grim situations for everyone's benefit. Severely wounded in the same attack as Shane, Vic faces his future a changed man. Yet he proclaims he'll be fine and that he's lucky that he made it home without "TC" being blown away; otherwise, "he probably would have to kill himself." I think you'll be amused and entertained by Carponti's personal account as to why he places so much importance on this "TC" character. Sgt. Carponti provides many laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book but this one certainly made me hoot and holler the loudest.

Opening a window for us to look through into the realistic world of military life, the author details the daily concerns and problems facing soldiers and their families along with the toll it takes on them. Their stories are told with compassion and great skill. Whether she's writing dialogue between the characters or using military terminology, the authenticity is front and center. The quick-witted banter between the soldiers seems very natural. I would bet that the bonafide soldier who authored this book has mixed in some actual conversations she's participated in or overheard in her own experiences at one time or another in her military career.

From the beginning I was completely enthralled in this story. The hero will capture your heart and you can't help but love and admire the heroine. At times, the story is heart wrenching and confrontational. All of the characters become real. You don't just like them - you feel their hurt and share their pain. But most importantly, you'll cheer for each and every one of them to achieve their happily ever after. Keeping your kleenex nearby is probably a good idea.

The hallmark of a great book not only excites, thrills, and keeps you thinking about it for a long time to come, but it leaves the reader begging for more - and this one certainly fits that description. BECAUSE OF YOU, by debuting author Jessica Scott, is an impressive start to a new series and I am pleased to recommend it without hesitation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Emotional Read, November 26, 2011

By 

J. Legacy (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Because of You: A Loveswept Contemporary Military Romance (Kindle Edition)

3.5 Stars

There was a lot of buzz about Because of You before it's release since it's the 1st new release of the revitalized Loveswept line and I was really looking forward to reading this. I was a big fan of the Loveswept line of books back in the day and I'm glad they're making a comeback.

I found this book to be quite a heavy, angst-filled book. I personally wouldn't recommend reading it if you are looking for a light, fun-filled story or if you are feeling even slightly depressed.

There is some comic relief in the book in the character of Vic Carponti, but even all his antics seemed liked a defence mechanism to hide from the pain he was experiencing. But the naming of his penis TC and what that stands for made me laugh out loud.

I will admit to being intrigued by the heroine Jen St. James and her physical handicap. I found it very realistic and not usually something you read about in romance novels. Jen's been through her own hardships with her health, so she knows a little something about having experienced a massive low point in her life. It makes her the perfect person to be right by Shane's side for his recovery and rehab when he returns home from the war - barely alive, his body broken and his spirits hanging on by a thread. His whole identity is so closely tied to who he is as a military leader and now he's the last person who can be there for his men.

I'm not going to lie - I found this story to be a bit depressing, but maybe that was because it hit too close to the truth...about the pain and suffering men (and women) returning home from war go through.

There is a second book in the series Back to You and I will probably read it because of the set up for Trent and Laura's story - I do want to see how it gets resolved.