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Fighting Absolution
"She's a combat medic.
He's SAS, and her best friend.
They weren't supposed to fall in love."
At fifteen, Jamie Murphy finds herself broken and alone, convinced she doesn't need anyone.
Until she does.
Bear is the boy behind the fence, the one who was there for her when no one else was.
Until he's not.
Left with nothing, Jamie joins the army hoping it will give her purpose. The last thing she expects is the best friend from her past to reappear in the dusty plains of a war-torn country. No longer the boy she once knew, Bear is now a man: big, bearded, and SAS—one of the army’s elite.
Soon Jamie finds herself not only fighting against her enemies, but her feelings for a man who left her once before. Can she risk losing him all over again?
He's SAS, and her best friend.
They weren't supposed to fall in love."
At fifteen, Jamie Murphy finds herself broken and alone, convinced she doesn't need anyone.
Until she does.
Bear is the boy behind the fence, the one who was there for her when no one else was.
Until he's not.
Left with nothing, Jamie joins the army hoping it will give her purpose. The last thing she expects is the best friend from her past to reappear in the dusty plains of a war-torn country. No longer the boy she once knew, Bear is now a man: big, bearded, and SAS—one of the army’s elite.
Soon Jamie finds herself not only fighting against her enemies, but her feelings for a man who left her once before. Can she risk losing him all over again?
480 pages, ebook
First published September 10, 2019
1,280 people are currently reading
2,427 people want to read
About the author
Kate McCarthy
13books2,325followersKate McCarthy grew up in a small town outside of Port Macquarie, Australia. Raised in a house just a short walk to the beach, Kate enjoyed the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere and friendships that come from being raised in a friendly, small town area.
She now resides in Brisbane, Australia, a city in the state of Queensland where she works as an accountant, along with a sideline wedding cake business and her writing.
She is married with two children, has two dogs and house in the suburbs, and a pile of friends and family dotted all over the country that help keep her sane.
When she’s not busy running after naughty kids, filthy dogs, crunching numbers, piping buttercream and writing books, you can find her curled up in bed in the early hours of the morning reading new books and re-reading old favourites. Her favourite books are the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward in which she longs to eventually join the brotherhood and change her name to Phierce Mutha.
Please feel free to friend request Kate on ŷ :D
She now resides in Brisbane, Australia, a city in the state of Queensland where she works as an accountant, along with a sideline wedding cake business and her writing.
She is married with two children, has two dogs and house in the suburbs, and a pile of friends and family dotted all over the country that help keep her sane.
When she’s not busy running after naughty kids, filthy dogs, crunching numbers, piping buttercream and writing books, you can find her curled up in bed in the early hours of the morning reading new books and re-reading old favourites. Her favourite books are the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward in which she longs to eventually join the brotherhood and change her name to Phierce Mutha.
Please feel free to friend request Kate on ŷ :D
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
June 8, 2020
This book was a mix of romance, drama, action, passion and humor - which blended perfectly into the theme of WAR - a story about friendship, loyalty and lots of love. �
📚 “𝙔𝙤� 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙤. 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪.� 📚
15-year-old Jamie Murphy has built walls around her heart after her father died in a car accident and she had to move into a foster home. 💔
One day, while she was sitting outside, a boy from the other side of the wall sat down with her. She doesn't know what he looks like or what's his name besides the nicknames they gave each other (he calls her a 'Little Warrior', and she calls him 'Bear') but very quickly he becomes her only solace... In her 16th birthday, she finally gets the courage to go to the other side of the wall and meet him face to face - but she discovers he just... left.
To join the army. 😱💥
📚 "𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’� 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚." 📚
At 18, Jamie is independent and strong but can't figure out who she is - so she decides to enlist. The day before, she meets Jake Tanner, a soldier in the Australian SAS unit and the night they spent together was filled with sweetness and passion! 🔥�
Jamie finds her purpose as a medic in the fire lines of Afghanistan - but Bear's memory and the way he abandoned her still hurts... But sometimes the road to happiness is unexpected, because there, in the line of fire, she meets Jake and his friends. 💛
Everyone around Jamie is moving on, leaving the service and building a life for themselves - and she has nothing but the army. Will she find out what the world has to offer, apart from war? 💥
And will she ever find out why Bear left her...? 😭
📚 "𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠. 𝙏𝙤𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙏𝙤𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙧, 𝙛𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙." 📚
OK, so... WOW! 💥
The author definitely did some serious research, because this story was surprising and realistic. I enjoyed the journey - it was painful, sexy, touching... and although I really wanted to know how the story ended, I didn't really want it to end! 🙏
However, this book was long (460 pages) So, there were parts that felt too long and despite the amazing writing, there were some unclear jumps in the plot - for example, Jamie knocks on her commander's door - and right after that, it's the end of their conversation...
Plus, There were some twist I guessed too quickly. 😬
Yet... I finished reading this book with tears in my eyes, a smile on my face and a huge feeling of satisfaction... for me, THIS IS EVERYTHING! 😭💛💥
So just... READ IT!!!
▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️
📖 ᖴOᒪᒪO� ᗰE O� IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩ�:
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴO� ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ:
📖 GOOᗪᖇEᗩᗪ�:
💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: 💕
September 8, 2019
FULL RTC
This book right here was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year/the century/ to say I'm a fan of military reads is an understatement, they just seem to hit right in the heart, and this book was no different!!
As soon as I started this I was hooked, couldn't put it down, loved the journey the author set me on, raw, real, and riveting, I didn't want it to end!!
September 20, 2019
I absolutely love Kate McCarthy's books. Her,"Give Me"series, is one of my favorites and I re-read those books all the time...especially Casey's book ;) I also really enjoyed reading "Fighting Redemption" so, me reading this one was an absolute no brainer.
If you haven't read the previous book, you can still read this one as a stand-alone, but I assure you that you are missing out, by skipping it :P
Now, I will keep my review as spoiler-free as I can, as not to ruin it for anyone.
When I started this one, I knew I was gonna be in for a treat....and I am so happy my instinct was right. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions.
Jamie and Bear were both awesome characters, I loved them from the start. They have known each other since they were teenagers and became (fence) friends when Jamie was at the lowest of times. He gave her the strength she needed. He is the rock that she leans on. That is until he leaves her behind.... to join the army.
Now years later they are being reunited...he's a SAS soldier and she is a combat medic....
I cried and laughed right along with them. And even though there were times I wanted to smack some sense into Jamie ... I really enjoyed reading about how they fell in love...
I think falling in love with your best friend is the best thing there is... I should know, I married mine ;)
An ARC was provided to
in exchange for an honest review
September 16, 2019
� 4.5 STARS �
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆�
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February 9, 2021
3.75 “You and me against the world� stars ⭐️
January 25, 2020
4.5 STARS
I really enjoyed this one.
Thought it was even better than "Fighting Redemption", the only reason that I didn't give it five stars was that I didn't love the heroine.
I was also so ecstatic that the timeline practically ran in parallel to the first book and that this time I felt Jake had a bigger presence. He was a larger than life character that deserved to be a huge part of the storyline. It wasn't fun going through all that heartache over again and this time it hurt even more, but I loved that he was portrayed as one of the main characters as well and even though that was the case, Kyle still stood his own as the other Hero of this story.
I really enjoyed this one.
Thought it was even better than "Fighting Redemption", the only reason that I didn't give it five stars was that I didn't love the heroine.
I was also so ecstatic that the timeline practically ran in parallel to the first book and that this time I felt Jake had a bigger presence. He was a larger than life character that deserved to be a huge part of the storyline. It wasn't fun going through all that heartache over again and this time it hurt even more, but I loved that he was portrayed as one of the main characters as well and even though that was the case, Kyle still stood his own as the other Hero of this story.
September 10, 2019
Wow. Just wow. I don't have words for this story! It's just ... GAH ... no words do it justice. It's NEXT LEVEL good. And I almost need a minute to pull myself together. THE ROMANCE. OMG. I cannot even. THE FEELS. THEY KILLED ME. The story... kept me hooked and on the edge. I'm breathless, so emotional, so wowed. I just... yeah, this is a GUARANTEED BOOK HANGOVER kinda read. SO. DAMN. GOOD.
September 1, 2019
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
‘…the problem with shooting stars is that they burn too quick. Too bright. Too fast. And far, far too hard.�
Fighting Absolution by Kate McCarthy gave us chills. It was sheer perfection and the ultimate book love experience. Stunningly written and incredibly realistic, this story drew every single emotion out of us. Our hearts felt everything this brilliant Author clearly intended for us to feel. We loved Fighting Redemption and were surprised that it was possible to love Fighting Absolution even more. Both can be read as standalone’s however, we urge you to read both if you haven’t already.
‘I’ve never felt more alone than I do right now, never longed more for the spot by the fence with Bear, his voice deep and comforting. Instead, I’m here � on the front line in one of the world’s most harsh and hostile environments � by choice.�
We cannot begin to describe how breath-taking yet heart-breaking this book is, how utterly captivating it is in its ugly and tragic reality. The tremendous and detailed research Kate McCarthy clearly carried out massively showed, also it ensured that we felt like we were in the midst of war with the brave souls fighting for the freedom of others.
“You’re tough. And it pays to be a tough son of a bitch, Jamie. The world belongs to the strong. Go and get it.�
Jamie Murphy is all alone in the world after losing her father, who was her anchor. The only person who really cared that she was alive. It hardens her, as she adopts an impenetrable shield which hides her broken pieces and ultimately keeps people at an arm’s length. That is until an ‘unseen� boy on the other side of her foster home fence, manages to breakthrough. The intense friendship which forms over a short time -yet lasts but mere moments- is cemented by a mutual understanding of feeling lost and feelings of loneliness. Our Bear and Little Warrior had an incredible impact on each other, one which was unbreakable in their heart of hearts. A stronger and deeper love is hard to find.
‘Damn him and his noble heart, always trying to do the right thing.�
Jamie is at a crossroads and is heartbroken when Bear disappears from the other side of the fence before she even got the chance to see him face to face. Just where does Jamie belong, and just who is she meant to be? Joining the army in order to find herself, as well as her purpose in life, our Little Warrior goes from strength to strength showing how incredible she truly is in the eye of the storm and adversity. However, her shield is still going strong preventing her from truly living -that is- until tragedy and revelations obliterate her shield little by little. Sometimes, what we thought we’d lost paves a path to surprising happiness filled with a love that slowly mends the broken.
‘Jamie is my best friend, and I’m in love with her. How am I supposed to let her go?�
Fighting Absolution will stay with us as we struggle to let this story go. The characters safe in our hearts for a long time to come. The emphasis on friendship, loyalty, hardship, compassion, and love was outstanding and gave us goosebumps at times. Without question, this will be a top favourite read of 2019, one we will never forget. We closed this book with tears rolling down our cheeks and a smile on our faces from the sheer intensity of emotions we experienced whilst reading. You do not want to miss this epic read! Little Warrior and Bear, theirs was a story we never wanted to end�
‘All I do know is that when I push him away, he doesn’t leave, and it feels like a lifeline.�
“Don’t cry, Little Warrior.�
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August 31, 2019She was my best friend when we were younger, until I left her behind for the Army. I never expected to see her years later in the middle of a brutal war, combat uniform on, bruised and defiant. And I never expected her to be familiar with one of the 'brothers' in my team, their connection undeniable. She was never meant to be mine, but turns out I'm a selfish bastard.
Anger, pain, betrayal, trust, love and war --> preorder now!
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Fighting Absolution
� standalone
� friends to lovers
� flirty alpha male
� the love of a lifetime
Release date - September 10th
At fifteen, Jamie Murphy finds herself broken and alone, convinced she doesn't need anyone. Until she does.
Bear is the boy behind the fence, the one who was there for her when no one else was.
Until he's not.
Left with nothing, Jamie joins the army hoping it will give her purpose. The last thing she expects is the best friend from her past to reappear in the dusty plains of a war-torn country. No longer the boy she once knew, Bear is now a man: big, bearded, and SAS—one of the army’s elite.
Soon Jamie finds herself not only fighting against her enemies, but her feelings for a man who left her once before. Can she risk losing him all over again?
Anger, pain, betrayal, trust, love and war --> preorder now!
Blogger sign-up is open for cover reveal, release promo and ARC.
Sign up here -
Fighting Absolution
� standalone
� friends to lovers
� flirty alpha male
� the love of a lifetime
Release date - September 10th
At fifteen, Jamie Murphy finds herself broken and alone, convinced she doesn't need anyone. Until she does.
Bear is the boy behind the fence, the one who was there for her when no one else was.
Until he's not.
Left with nothing, Jamie joins the army hoping it will give her purpose. The last thing she expects is the best friend from her past to reappear in the dusty plains of a war-torn country. No longer the boy she once knew, Bear is now a man: big, bearded, and SAS—one of the army’s elite.
Soon Jamie finds herself not only fighting against her enemies, but her feelings for a man who left her once before. Can she risk losing him all over again?
September 15, 2019
This book gave me chills! I've read my fair share of military romances but this one was knocked it out of the park!
I know when a book is absolutely amazing when I fear writing a review.
My copy of this book is completely highlighted.
I had this big plan of writing down snippets of sentences that were beautiful, sneak peak into passages that will break your heart....I had this whole plan. But now, I just can't say anything besides this has been one of my favourite reads of the year.
I am guilty for overusing the words "over flowing with emotions", but that is most definitely true with this book. My heart has been ripped into shreds with Fighting Absolution.
The characters in this book are amazingly well written. They are strong, independent individuals and McCarthy has written them beautiful and so respectfully. I say respectfully because when you write about characters that go through so much, you have to give them the respect they deserve and not be so blasé because these are situations that were inspired by things that aren't fictional.
Fighting Absolution left me in a complete state of utter utter mess of emotions.
There wasn't a moment while I was reading the book where I felt the need to flip through or had a moment where I zoned out. Kate McCarthy captured my undivided attention with her storytelling ability.
This was my first book by Kate Mccarthy and if her other books are anything at all like this, I have CLEARLY been living under a rock.
I know when a book is absolutely amazing when I fear writing a review.
My copy of this book is completely highlighted.
I had this big plan of writing down snippets of sentences that were beautiful, sneak peak into passages that will break your heart....I had this whole plan. But now, I just can't say anything besides this has been one of my favourite reads of the year.
I am guilty for overusing the words "over flowing with emotions", but that is most definitely true with this book. My heart has been ripped into shreds with Fighting Absolution.
The characters in this book are amazingly well written. They are strong, independent individuals and McCarthy has written them beautiful and so respectfully. I say respectfully because when you write about characters that go through so much, you have to give them the respect they deserve and not be so blasé because these are situations that were inspired by things that aren't fictional.
Fighting Absolution left me in a complete state of utter utter mess of emotions.
There wasn't a moment while I was reading the book where I felt the need to flip through or had a moment where I zoned out. Kate McCarthy captured my undivided attention with her storytelling ability.
This was my first book by Kate Mccarthy and if her other books are anything at all like this, I have CLEARLY been living under a rock.
September 4, 2019
“Home is wherever you are.�
6 stars!!
Wow, what a read! What an amazing, emotional, incredible, beautiful read! A military-themed friends-to-lovers love story that is surprising, unexpected, unique and absolutely epic! I was completely captivated from start to finish and I loved every moment of it. Definitely a fave for 2019.
First up, be aware that this book ties in with McCarthy’s incredible . You can read this one as a standalone and don’t have to have read that book first, but if you are planning on reading it, then I would recommend reading it before this one. Not only does the timeline crossover (this book is set before, during and after), but there is also character crossover, and the way these two stories link together is just brilliant, and as a hardcore fan of Fighting Redemption, I loved watching those ties unfold.
Jamie is 15 years old when her world crashes around her. Grief-stricken and completely alone, she finds her only solace in the boy who lives in the house behind hers. They talk through the back fence of their properties, sharing secrets and opening their hearts to each other without revealing who they are, instead going by the nicknames ‘Bear� and ‘Little Warrior�. But they share something that is significant to both of them, until it all stops.
Years later and Jamie has followed Bear’s lead and joined the Army in an attempt to find herself and find meaning in her life. As a combat medic, she is exposed to horrific situations, but she finds a sense of purpose and close friends while on deployment. She also endures heartbreaking tragedy. What she doesn’t expect is to run into the boy who was her whole world all those years ago, now a member of the elite SAS and fighting right alongside her.
I’m not going to say anything else about this story because you just need to dive in and experience it. And OMG, what an experience it is! Yes, it’s heartbreaking and tragic, and yes, I cried right along with Jamie and all that she goes through. What I wasn’t expecting was to laugh as much as I did. As Jamie and her Bear reconnect, there is a wonderful sense of camaraderie and fun between them as these two friends recapture the magic from their past. They tease, they joke, they banter and they flirt, and they have a lot of fun together. They have a true connection that is beautifully written, and I loved seeing that explored in such wonderful detail.
Their story takes us from war-torn Afghanistan to the sunny beaches of Perth, Western Australia (my home town, which made this an extra-special read for me), and an epic road trip all up and down the coast. We get to see an incredible friendship that slowly, naturally and quite unexpectedly becomes something so much more.
But it’s not an easy road for these two. Jamie has built walls around herself to protect her heart, and after her difficult childhood, I could absolutely understand why. She is looking for meaning in her life, and she believes the Army is it and that it’s all she’s capable of. Whereas Bear, who is also without family, has big dreams of creating his own � complete with wife, kids and a house by the beach. It’s a heartwrenching journey for them to find their happiness, and with Jamie’s strong, funny, fearless best friend by her side, I loved watching their story unfold.
The book is written in dual POV, which I love, and with strong themes of friendship and finding your own family, there’s also a wonderful group of supporting characters � some that we’ve already met in Fighting Redemption (including Ryan and Fin), and a bunch of fantastic newbies that had me laughing and crying and wishing that I had more people like that around me.
This is a really special read, and I adored it so much. The blend of drama, emotion, fear, suspense, humour, fun and heart-pounding romance is so beautifully combined, and blends perfectly with the serious subject matter and the realities of war. I read it in a day, unable to put it down, and then went to bed unable to stop thinking about it. It captured me heart and soul, and, like its predecessor, I know it’s one that is going to stay with me for a long time to come.
6 massive stars (because 5 stars aren’t enough).
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
6 stars!!
Wow, what a read! What an amazing, emotional, incredible, beautiful read! A military-themed friends-to-lovers love story that is surprising, unexpected, unique and absolutely epic! I was completely captivated from start to finish and I loved every moment of it. Definitely a fave for 2019.
First up, be aware that this book ties in with McCarthy’s incredible . You can read this one as a standalone and don’t have to have read that book first, but if you are planning on reading it, then I would recommend reading it before this one. Not only does the timeline crossover (this book is set before, during and after), but there is also character crossover, and the way these two stories link together is just brilliant, and as a hardcore fan of Fighting Redemption, I loved watching those ties unfold.
Jamie is 15 years old when her world crashes around her. Grief-stricken and completely alone, she finds her only solace in the boy who lives in the house behind hers. They talk through the back fence of their properties, sharing secrets and opening their hearts to each other without revealing who they are, instead going by the nicknames ‘Bear� and ‘Little Warrior�. But they share something that is significant to both of them, until it all stops.
Years later and Jamie has followed Bear’s lead and joined the Army in an attempt to find herself and find meaning in her life. As a combat medic, she is exposed to horrific situations, but she finds a sense of purpose and close friends while on deployment. She also endures heartbreaking tragedy. What she doesn’t expect is to run into the boy who was her whole world all those years ago, now a member of the elite SAS and fighting right alongside her.
I’m not going to say anything else about this story because you just need to dive in and experience it. And OMG, what an experience it is! Yes, it’s heartbreaking and tragic, and yes, I cried right along with Jamie and all that she goes through. What I wasn’t expecting was to laugh as much as I did. As Jamie and her Bear reconnect, there is a wonderful sense of camaraderie and fun between them as these two friends recapture the magic from their past. They tease, they joke, they banter and they flirt, and they have a lot of fun together. They have a true connection that is beautifully written, and I loved seeing that explored in such wonderful detail.
Their story takes us from war-torn Afghanistan to the sunny beaches of Perth, Western Australia (my home town, which made this an extra-special read for me), and an epic road trip all up and down the coast. We get to see an incredible friendship that slowly, naturally and quite unexpectedly becomes something so much more.
Jesus Christ, I’m in love with my best friend.
But it’s not an easy road for these two. Jamie has built walls around herself to protect her heart, and after her difficult childhood, I could absolutely understand why. She is looking for meaning in her life, and she believes the Army is it and that it’s all she’s capable of. Whereas Bear, who is also without family, has big dreams of creating his own � complete with wife, kids and a house by the beach. It’s a heartwrenching journey for them to find their happiness, and with Jamie’s strong, funny, fearless best friend by her side, I loved watching their story unfold.
“You keep talking like nobody needs you, Little Warrior, but I do. I need you.�
The book is written in dual POV, which I love, and with strong themes of friendship and finding your own family, there’s also a wonderful group of supporting characters � some that we’ve already met in Fighting Redemption (including Ryan and Fin), and a bunch of fantastic newbies that had me laughing and crying and wishing that I had more people like that around me.
This is a really special read, and I adored it so much. The blend of drama, emotion, fear, suspense, humour, fun and heart-pounding romance is so beautifully combined, and blends perfectly with the serious subject matter and the realities of war. I read it in a day, unable to put it down, and then went to bed unable to stop thinking about it. It captured me heart and soul, and, like its predecessor, I know it’s one that is going to stay with me for a long time to come.
6 massive stars (because 5 stars aren’t enough).
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2019
This book is BEAUTIFUL!
I cried, laughed with the characters.
It’s intense and so powerful!
WOW.
I cried, laughed with the characters.
It’s intense and so powerful!
WOW.
August 31, 2019
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
‘…the problem with shooting stars is that they burn too quick. Too bright. Too fast. And far, far too hard.�
Fighting Absolution by Kate McCarthy gave us chills. It was sheer perfection and the ultimate book love experience. Stunningly written and incredibly realistic, this story drew every single emotion out of us. Our hearts felt everything this brilliant Author clearly intended for us to feel. We loved Fighting Redemption and were surprised that it was possible to love Fighting Absolution even more. Both can be read as standalone’s however, we urge you to read both if you haven’t already.
‘I’ve never felt more alone than I do right now, never longed more for the spot by the fence with Bear, his voice deep and comforting. Instead, I’m here � on the front line in one of the world’s most harsh and hostile environments � by choice.�
We cannot begin to describe how breath-taking yet heart-breaking this book is, how utterly captivating it is in its ugly and tragic reality. The tremendous and detailed research Kate McCarthy clearly carried out massively showed, also it ensured that we felt like we were in the midst of war with the brave souls fighting for the freedom of others.
“You’re tough. And it pays to be a tough son of a bitch, Jamie. The world belongs to the strong. Go and get it.�
Jamie Murphy is all alone in the world after losing her father, who was her anchor. The only person who really cared that she was alive. It hardens her, as she adopts an impenetrable shield which hides her broken pieces and ultimately keeps people at an arm’s length. That is until an ‘unseen� boy on the other side of her foster home fence, manages to breakthrough. The intense friendship which forms over a short time -yet lasts but mere moments- is cemented by a mutual understanding of feeling lost and feelings of loneliness. Our Bear and Little Warrior had an incredible impact on each other, one which was unbreakable in their heart of hearts. A stronger and deeper love is hard to find.
‘Damn him and his noble heart, always trying to do the right thing.�
Jamie is at a crossroads and is heartbroken when Bear disappears from the other side of the fence before she even got the chance to see him face to face. Just where does Jamie belong, and just who is she meant to be? Joining the army in order to find herself, as well as her purpose in life, our Little Warrior goes from strength to strength showing how incredible she truly is in the eye of the storm and adversity. However, her shield is still going strong preventing her from truly living -that is- until tragedy and revelations obliterate her shield little by little. Sometimes, what we thought we’d lost paves a path to surprising happiness filled with a love that slowly mends the broken.
‘Jamie is my best friend, and I’m in love with her. How am I supposed to let her go?�
Fighting Absolution will stay with us as we struggle to let this story go. The characters safe in our hearts for a long time to come. The emphasis on friendship, loyalty, hardship, compassion, and love was outstanding and gave us goosebumps at times. Without question, this will be a top favourite read of 2019, one we will never forget. We closed this book with tears rolling down our cheeks and a smile on our faces from the sheer intensity of emotions we experienced whilst reading. You do not want to miss this epic read! Little Warrior and Bear, theirs was a story we never wanted to end�
‘All I do know is that when I push him away, he doesn’t leave, and it feels like a lifeline.�
“Don’t cry, Little Warrior.�
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September 11, 2019
After enjoying a happy childhood with her beloved father, Jamie’s world was ripped apart by an awful tragedy, leaving her remaining years as a child in the foster care system.This is where she finally found a little bit of hope via a friendship she made with Bear, who lived over the back fence. They found solace in their friendship and it was formed with words, they never physically met. Just as they were getting to the point of removing that fence, Bear disappeared. After dealing with the anger and the familiar feeling of abandonment, Jamie eventually discovers the reason for his disappearance and she feels terrible. It now seems that the connection they had not only kept her going but she was putting light into his life too.
At the end of her time in foster care she decides to follow in Bear’s footsteps and join the army, training as a medic. Maybe she thinks that dedicating her life to saving people will in turn save her? Maybe she is hoping to see Bear again? All she knows is true is that anyone she loves leaves her. First her father and then Bear. Jamie fully immerses herself into her new way of life and is eventually deployed to Afghanistan. After growing up as the daughter of am MMA champion she is skilled in martial arts. She is fiercely independent, strong and resilient. Working in the Middle East was always going to be dangerous and even more so for a woman. Here she forms some great new friendships and has a sense of family once again.
Fate then steps in and her path crosses with Kyle, an SAS army elite - more commonly known to her as Bear. After patching him up after a tragic shooting affects not just his team but her wider circle of colleagues, she is gobsmacked to discover this is the boy who extended the gift of friendship to her over the fence. Jamie is struggling to deal with the loss of a much loved friend and all the emotions she is going through finding Bear.
'She was my best friend when we were younger, until I left her behind for the Army. I never expected to see her years later in the middle of a brutal war, combat uniform on, bruised and defiant.'
Despite the initial shock, a new friendship develops between them. In the beginning they found solace in each other’s company as they dealt with their individual grief but they soon relax into the way it used to be with their fun banter. Bear wants nothing more than to have more with Jamie but she continuously proclaims that the army is her life. However, in doing so she denies herself a life she could have if only she would be open to it. She was the queen of her own island and invaders were not permitted.
‘I tried so hard not to fall in love with her, but it was like scooping water out of a sinking ship with my bare hands. I was so fucking sunk.�
Can Kyle convince her that there is more to life than fighting a war on the other side of the world? That she is worthy of love. That her self imposed life sentence will not end until she forgives herself.
‘But you can’t find forgiveness in war. Believe me, I’ve tried. We need to somehow let go. The only way I can think to do that is in living the best way we know how. Wouldn’t they want that for us?�
This will go down as one of my top reads of 2019. I loved Fighting Redemption when I read it five years ago and this book brought back a flood of memories during the moments of this overlapping that story. This is a story rich in emotion and I cried so much, seriously, SO MUCH. I also laughed a lot, swooned even more and did not want this story to end. Freaking fabulous read!
‘Jamie patched up the cracks,� he said, his voice gruff because he knew. He’d been there too. ‘She’s my duct tape.�
At the end of her time in foster care she decides to follow in Bear’s footsteps and join the army, training as a medic. Maybe she thinks that dedicating her life to saving people will in turn save her? Maybe she is hoping to see Bear again? All she knows is true is that anyone she loves leaves her. First her father and then Bear. Jamie fully immerses herself into her new way of life and is eventually deployed to Afghanistan. After growing up as the daughter of am MMA champion she is skilled in martial arts. She is fiercely independent, strong and resilient. Working in the Middle East was always going to be dangerous and even more so for a woman. Here she forms some great new friendships and has a sense of family once again.
Fate then steps in and her path crosses with Kyle, an SAS army elite - more commonly known to her as Bear. After patching him up after a tragic shooting affects not just his team but her wider circle of colleagues, she is gobsmacked to discover this is the boy who extended the gift of friendship to her over the fence. Jamie is struggling to deal with the loss of a much loved friend and all the emotions she is going through finding Bear.
'She was my best friend when we were younger, until I left her behind for the Army. I never expected to see her years later in the middle of a brutal war, combat uniform on, bruised and defiant.'
Despite the initial shock, a new friendship develops between them. In the beginning they found solace in each other’s company as they dealt with their individual grief but they soon relax into the way it used to be with their fun banter. Bear wants nothing more than to have more with Jamie but she continuously proclaims that the army is her life. However, in doing so she denies herself a life she could have if only she would be open to it. She was the queen of her own island and invaders were not permitted.
‘I tried so hard not to fall in love with her, but it was like scooping water out of a sinking ship with my bare hands. I was so fucking sunk.�
Can Kyle convince her that there is more to life than fighting a war on the other side of the world? That she is worthy of love. That her self imposed life sentence will not end until she forgives herself.
‘But you can’t find forgiveness in war. Believe me, I’ve tried. We need to somehow let go. The only way I can think to do that is in living the best way we know how. Wouldn’t they want that for us?�
This will go down as one of my top reads of 2019. I loved Fighting Redemption when I read it five years ago and this book brought back a flood of memories during the moments of this overlapping that story. This is a story rich in emotion and I cried so much, seriously, SO MUCH. I also laughed a lot, swooned even more and did not want this story to end. Freaking fabulous read!
‘Jamie patched up the cracks,� he said, his voice gruff because he knew. He’d been there too. ‘She’s my duct tape.�
February 8, 2021
I lost interest as soon as Jake died. Sorry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2020
3.5 Stars ⭐️
February 24, 2021
4.5 stelle
La storia di Jamie (Piccola guerriera) e Kyle (Orso) mi ha appassionata molto di più del libro precedente, è sempre molto angst, soprattutto nelle parti in cui sono in missione, ma qui troviamo un po' di leggerezza nell'umorismo di Kyle, le sue interazioni con Jamie mi hanno strappato più di una risata, ma mi hanno altrettanto emozionata; Jamie è una tosta che si tiene dentro tutte le brutture della guerra, mentre Kyle le nasconde nell'umorismo, sarà un viaggio on the road nella natura selvaggia dell'Australia, a consolidare il loro rapporto e allegerire il peso che hanno nel cuore, naturalmente non mancheranno i fraintendimenti prima di arrivare al lieto fine, Jamie dovrà capire cosa è veramente importante per lei...
Bellissimo il gesto d'altruismo e amore di Kyle per Jamie, che non potrà che corrispondere con uno, altrettanto importante per Kyle ❤️
La storia di Jamie (Piccola guerriera) e Kyle (Orso) mi ha appassionata molto di più del libro precedente, è sempre molto angst, soprattutto nelle parti in cui sono in missione, ma qui troviamo un po' di leggerezza nell'umorismo di Kyle, le sue interazioni con Jamie mi hanno strappato più di una risata, ma mi hanno altrettanto emozionata; Jamie è una tosta che si tiene dentro tutte le brutture della guerra, mentre Kyle le nasconde nell'umorismo, sarà un viaggio on the road nella natura selvaggia dell'Australia, a consolidare il loro rapporto e allegerire il peso che hanno nel cuore, naturalmente non mancheranno i fraintendimenti prima di arrivare al lieto fine, Jamie dovrà capire cosa è veramente importante per lei...
Bellissimo il gesto d'altruismo e amore di Kyle per Jamie, che non potrà che corrispondere con uno, altrettanto importante per Kyle ❤️
September 12, 2019
4 emotional stars
Writing this review without spoilers will be tricky as the synopsis brushes a big element of the book under the rug!
And not speaking of it feels like not doing this book justice but so is the review’s law�.
Anyway let’s focus on the characters and all the emotions I felt while reading this book!
� Jamie’s the type that if you told her not to do something, she would not only do it twice, she’d take pictures too, all while giving you the middle finger.�
This is the best quote to describe Jamie!
Jamie has lost her dad in an awful accident and has been placed in a foster home.
She carries so much guilt and grief.
Throughout the whole story she will fight for absolution. She will fight to save lives. She will join the army in the hope of discovering who she is, what her path is.
With no family left, she thinks no one needs her and that’s just sad.
When Jamie met Bear for the first time, she was a teenager grieving the loss of her father. She existed under a dark cloud. Feisty and rebuking at first, Bear was not discouraged by her attitude. He saw right through it. Day after day he became her anchor and she became his.
Years later they will meet again in the army.
They will fight at first and they will both experience an awful loss.
Bear is ..like a huge bear but all marshmallow inside.
He is huge, muscled, an SAS fighter. He is the one to crack jokes and poke others till they leave their bad mood behind. His coping mechanism faced with the horror of war is humor.
And Bear’s big weakness are kids!
“Bear: I want kids. Lots of ’em. I haven’t told anyone this before either, but I want to be a dad. So bad. I want to find a girl and fall in love. I want to know what it feels like to look at someone knowing I could never live without them. I want to get married. I want to watch her walk down the aisle towards me, my heart busting from my chest at the knowledge she was mine. I want to feel my babies growing inside her belly, and watch them grow with her by my side. I want to fill that house by the beach with all their little personalities. Take them camping. Teach them about the Earth.�
Their friendship was a wonderful one. The one you find when you went at war together. When you both experienced grief. When you both are trying to patch the holes in your heart left by too many deaths. It’s one friendship that will have you go through hell and back if it means saving the other.
I loved seeing their feeling evolve. I cried for their losses. I laughed at their banter and Bear’s antics. And my heart bled for the reason I can’t talk about without spoiling this review.
If you want an emotional story with a brave Little Warrior becoming a wonderful and courageous woman thanks to her best big grizzly of a friend, just read it!
Writing this review without spoilers will be tricky as the synopsis brushes a big element of the book under the rug!
And not speaking of it feels like not doing this book justice but so is the review’s law�.
Anyway let’s focus on the characters and all the emotions I felt while reading this book!
� Jamie’s the type that if you told her not to do something, she would not only do it twice, she’d take pictures too, all while giving you the middle finger.�
This is the best quote to describe Jamie!
Jamie has lost her dad in an awful accident and has been placed in a foster home.
She carries so much guilt and grief.
Throughout the whole story she will fight for absolution. She will fight to save lives. She will join the army in the hope of discovering who she is, what her path is.
With no family left, she thinks no one needs her and that’s just sad.
When Jamie met Bear for the first time, she was a teenager grieving the loss of her father. She existed under a dark cloud. Feisty and rebuking at first, Bear was not discouraged by her attitude. He saw right through it. Day after day he became her anchor and she became his.
Years later they will meet again in the army.
They will fight at first and they will both experience an awful loss.
Bear is ..like a huge bear but all marshmallow inside.
He is huge, muscled, an SAS fighter. He is the one to crack jokes and poke others till they leave their bad mood behind. His coping mechanism faced with the horror of war is humor.
And Bear’s big weakness are kids!
“Bear: I want kids. Lots of ’em. I haven’t told anyone this before either, but I want to be a dad. So bad. I want to find a girl and fall in love. I want to know what it feels like to look at someone knowing I could never live without them. I want to get married. I want to watch her walk down the aisle towards me, my heart busting from my chest at the knowledge she was mine. I want to feel my babies growing inside her belly, and watch them grow with her by my side. I want to fill that house by the beach with all their little personalities. Take them camping. Teach them about the Earth.�
Their friendship was a wonderful one. The one you find when you went at war together. When you both experienced grief. When you both are trying to patch the holes in your heart left by too many deaths. It’s one friendship that will have you go through hell and back if it means saving the other.
I loved seeing their feeling evolve. I cried for their losses. I laughed at their banter and Bear’s antics. And my heart bled for the reason I can’t talk about without spoiling this review.
If you want an emotional story with a brave Little Warrior becoming a wonderful and courageous woman thanks to her best big grizzly of a friend, just read it!
September 12, 2019
Wow! I am so crazy emotional after reading this book! This is a military romance that spans over several years and takes us from Australia to Afghanistan. An epic love story that that has ruined me for all other books!
There were definitely some surprises in this plot that kept me fully engaged and intrigued to see where the direction the story was headed. I loved every moment of Jamie's journey! This was not only a story of finding love but also of finding herself and ultimately finding what made her happy.
Jamie enlists in the army as she tries to escape the demons of her past. She becomes a combat medic which puts her on the front line of battle. We experience the brutality, loss and grief of war and we also get to see the difficulties that face women in the army. I have read many military romances but the way the author spin's this tale felt so refreshing and unique. I must tell you that my heart hurt a lot in this book! We get our HEA but just know there are some gut wrenching painful moments.
There are also moments of pure romance that made my heart swoon! I loved this hero so much! His love for Jamie was so selfless and unconditional. His grand/romanctic gestures had me completely undone and his overall cocky and jovial personality made him so damn loveable.
This is a love story that will long be remembered! Sexy, flirty and fun to read while also full of pain, passsion and yearning. I absolutely recommend! I have also read and loved Fighting Redemption but this can definitely be read as a standalone.
5 Stars
Military Romance
Heat Level: Moderate
POV: Multiple
HEA
Follow me for your next comfort read!
There were definitely some surprises in this plot that kept me fully engaged and intrigued to see where the direction the story was headed. I loved every moment of Jamie's journey! This was not only a story of finding love but also of finding herself and ultimately finding what made her happy.
Jamie enlists in the army as she tries to escape the demons of her past. She becomes a combat medic which puts her on the front line of battle. We experience the brutality, loss and grief of war and we also get to see the difficulties that face women in the army. I have read many military romances but the way the author spin's this tale felt so refreshing and unique. I must tell you that my heart hurt a lot in this book! We get our HEA but just know there are some gut wrenching painful moments.
There are also moments of pure romance that made my heart swoon! I loved this hero so much! His love for Jamie was so selfless and unconditional. His grand/romanctic gestures had me completely undone and his overall cocky and jovial personality made him so damn loveable.
This is a love story that will long be remembered! Sexy, flirty and fun to read while also full of pain, passsion and yearning. I absolutely recommend! I have also read and loved Fighting Redemption but this can definitely be read as a standalone.
5 Stars
Military Romance
Heat Level: Moderate
POV: Multiple
HEA
Follow me for your next comfort read!
September 12, 2021
Questo è senz’altro un INDIMENTICABILE.
Sono ancora senza parole per la bellezza di questa storia. Si tratta di un libro davvero completo, non saprei come altro definirlo, in cui riesci a commuoverti, a riflettere, a ridere e piangere in momenti diversi e perfino nello stesso istante, ad emozionarti e a sorridere per la felicità.
È la storia di un grande amore ❤️
Rilettura: che meraviglia questo libro 🤩❤️
Sono ancora senza parole per la bellezza di questa storia. Si tratta di un libro davvero completo, non saprei come altro definirlo, in cui riesci a commuoverti, a riflettere, a ridere e piangere in momenti diversi e perfino nello stesso istante, ad emozionarti e a sorridere per la felicità.
È la storia di un grande amore ❤️
Rilettura: che meraviglia questo libro 🤩❤️
February 20, 2021
4,5/5 questo libro è un lungo cammino che passa tra la tenerezza dell'adolescenza, l'amarezza della guerra, il dolore della perdita, per sfociare nella redenzione dell'amore.
October 21, 2019
4.5 Little Warrior Stars
What a journey! This is my first book by Kate McCarthy, although I could have swore I’d read other books by her. Her story telling just spoke to me, and made me feel this experience as I turned the pages. I enjoyed the Australian verbiage, and her ability to tap into relatability and emotion was on point!
I read this one before, “Fighting Redemption,,� Ryan, and Findlay’s story. If you’ve read that story, this one is a must!! Usually I’d like you read a connected story in chronological order. However, “Fighting Absolution� runs parallel, for the most part, and I can’t say I’m sorry I read this first. I think it made this one a bit more special to me.
This story starts in Australia in 2006, with Jamie as a fifteen year old girl spanning out over a decade. It stayed in Jamie’s in POV until around the 35% mark. I was riveted once Jamie made the decision to join the, Australian Army! Man, I empathized with her, and was taken back to my training, and time spent in the, U.S. Air Force. As an Army medic, she had her work cut out for her, especially as woman! She was a true blue bada$$ with how she tackled the position, and the army in general!! GIRL POWER!!
“It’s you and me, Little Warrior. You and me against the world.�
I don’t want to give too much away, and it would be so easy to do. I’ll just say I loved the uniqueness of this book� I loved the connections—the lifelong friendships Jamie forged, and the personal growth she made. The relationships were the true heart of this story, one in particular that stood out, and stood the test of time! Talk about coming full circle! This is one will stick with me...no doubt!
What a journey! This is my first book by Kate McCarthy, although I could have swore I’d read other books by her. Her story telling just spoke to me, and made me feel this experience as I turned the pages. I enjoyed the Australian verbiage, and her ability to tap into relatability and emotion was on point!
I read this one before, “Fighting Redemption,,� Ryan, and Findlay’s story. If you’ve read that story, this one is a must!! Usually I’d like you read a connected story in chronological order. However, “Fighting Absolution� runs parallel, for the most part, and I can’t say I’m sorry I read this first. I think it made this one a bit more special to me.
This story starts in Australia in 2006, with Jamie as a fifteen year old girl spanning out over a decade. It stayed in Jamie’s in POV until around the 35% mark. I was riveted once Jamie made the decision to join the, Australian Army! Man, I empathized with her, and was taken back to my training, and time spent in the, U.S. Air Force. As an Army medic, she had her work cut out for her, especially as woman! She was a true blue bada$$ with how she tackled the position, and the army in general!! GIRL POWER!!
“It’s you and me, Little Warrior. You and me against the world.�
I don’t want to give too much away, and it would be so easy to do. I’ll just say I loved the uniqueness of this book� I loved the connections—the lifelong friendships Jamie forged, and the personal growth she made. The relationships were the true heart of this story, one in particular that stood out, and stood the test of time! Talk about coming full circle! This is one will stick with me...no doubt!
September 12, 2019
A heart-hitting blend of emotion and humour�
Spellbound. Lost in the pages. There was no magic or addictive drug. It was a simple story of love, in all its many facets, told with an abundance of humour, emotion and heart. This was my first read by this author and it was just amazing�
There were so many heart-catching things I loved. The characters, oh the lovable, real characters. From Jamie, who tried to keep everyone away as she struggled with grief and a need to find her place in the world. Bear, who pushed and cajoled with laughter and empathy. From teenagers to adults, life’s choices took them in different directions but what they had couldn’t be over� Their path back to each other was full of life-changing drama as life in the military, with all it contains, was laid out with a matter of fact, yet telling hand. There was sadness and joy, light and dark, and I couldn’t read it fast enough�
Were there a few bird walks which left me wondering out loud? Yes. Did it matter? Not in the slightest. This was an amazing read, one of my top favourites of the year! ~Diane, 5 stars
Spellbound. Lost in the pages. There was no magic or addictive drug. It was a simple story of love, in all its many facets, told with an abundance of humour, emotion and heart. This was my first read by this author and it was just amazing�
There were so many heart-catching things I loved. The characters, oh the lovable, real characters. From Jamie, who tried to keep everyone away as she struggled with grief and a need to find her place in the world. Bear, who pushed and cajoled with laughter and empathy. From teenagers to adults, life’s choices took them in different directions but what they had couldn’t be over� Their path back to each other was full of life-changing drama as life in the military, with all it contains, was laid out with a matter of fact, yet telling hand. There was sadness and joy, light and dark, and I couldn’t read it fast enough�
Were there a few bird walks which left me wondering out loud? Yes. Did it matter? Not in the slightest. This was an amazing read, one of my top favourites of the year! ~Diane, 5 stars
September 16, 2019
I am not okay. My heart is so full and the love I have for this book knows no bounds. I don’t know how to move on. I took my time reading this book and I savored every word. The writing was brilliant, the characters were so real, I felt as if I was there watching it all unfold on a big screen. You’ll cry ugly yet beautiful tears, you’ll fall in love with every character, you will be sad when it ends. But most of all, you’ll fall in love!!
March 31, 2020
This book was beautiful from start to finish and I loved every second of it. I am so happy I was able to immerse myself in it and live in this beautiful tragic world. Thank you Cami for recommending this book to me. I can't imagine not having read this one. It would have been a devastating loss in my books (see what I did there?). I could go on and on about this one but i think quotes will do it best. Enjoy!
“I miss you when we’re not together. Is that weird?� His admission sends flutters through my belly. He misses me the same way I miss him. I’m not alone in this, whatever it is. “No,� I say softly. “It’s not weird.�
“You’re still strong, Little Warrior.� “Not anymore.� “How can you say that? Life brought you the biggest fight of your life, and you know what you did?� “What?� “You showed up. Every day. You showed up. You’re still showing up. One day you’ll look back and realise how much strength it took just to do that.�
Erin hesitates. “All the boys liked you. You just never noticed. You’re so � unobtainable. And so reckless. And beautiful as all hell.�
“You want to know why I came over?� “Yes please,� I breathe. “Because after I saw you, I couldn’t see anything else.�
You’re going to get yelled at. All the time. They’ll tell you you’re lower than a piece of garbage stuck to someone’s shoe. They’ll insult you where it hurts. Your family, your dad, hell, even your hair.
I look up at him from beneath my lashes with what I hope is a sultry smile, though it probably looks like I’m having a stroke.
The entire world has lost today. Something beautiful. Something incredibly vital. Something we’ll never get back.
He slapped me on the back, quoting the movie Babe. “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.�
I want to find a girl and fall in love. I want to know what it feels like to look at someone knowing I could never live without them. I want to get married. I want to watch her walk down the aisle towards me, my heart busting from my chest at the knowledge she was mine. I want to feel my babies growing inside her belly, and watch them grow with her by my side. I want to fill that house by the beach with all their little personalities. Take them camping. Teach them about the Earth, and life, and what it means to be a good person. I want it all.
She sighs deeply. “You’re such a bully.� “Yeah, what an asshole. Bringing you breakfast and making you eat it. I should be shot.�
“It’s just � I feel this weird kind of panic whenever I think of him. So it’s easier not to. But that means pushing him out, and—� “And that’s why you feel like you’re losing him.� “Yes.� Her fingers clutch at the sides of my shirt. “Stupid, huh?� “There’s no such thing as stupid when it comes to grief. We all deal with it in our own way.�
The whole situation is more awkward than the time when I was thirteen and tried to tongue kiss Margaret Ainsworth (an older woman at fourteen) for the first time and accidentally gave her a sloppy lick on the nose. To give me a bit of credit, we were out the back of the rugby sheds after a night game and it was pitch black. I couldn’t actually see where her lips were. Though I probably shouldn’t have come at her like a dog, my mouth wide open and tongue hanging out.
I mean, the man wasn’t entirely perfect. There’s the whole noodle thing. And who knows, maybe he would have run faster than Usain Bolt at the first sign of commitment. Maybe he kicked small puppies when no one was watching. I know he donated to the RSPCA once a year, but it could have been guilt money.
Me thinks she doth protest too much, but it won’t be me getting the fright of my life to wake and find Wood playing hide-the-sausage with Erin.
“You think?� “You’d be surprised at how much I think. I do it almost every day.�
I dip my head down, my face close to hers. “I don’t need anyone,� she whispers and then giggles. “Wait, that’s not it. Nobody needs me,� she corrects. “But that’s okay. Don’t feel sorry for me, Bear,� she slurs, reaching up to slap my cheek. “I’m tougher than old leather.�
Kyle is just like me. Strong on the outside yet bruised on the inside, where no one can see.
I’m not just army. Or a combat medic. I’m a female in a sea of dominating males who think the length of their dick is an acceptable form of measuring respect. I can’t appear soft. I don’t have that kind of luxury. And it’s hard to change that the moment the uniform comes off. I’m not a switch. And I’m not sweet. Nor am I feminine. But it doesn’t mean I don’t care, even though it comes across that way sometimes.
“Stab wounds?� “Just three.� “Oh just three, huh?� His tone is snide. “Just three?�
“You’re so beautiful.� “So are you,� I whisper. Kyle’s lips curve slowly. “You think I’m beautiful?�
And when she went over the edge of that mountain, I dived to my belly and would have gone right off the edge with her if I hadn’t managed to snag her hand. I would do anything for her.
I’m in love with her stubborn and ridiculous attitude, and the way she makes me laugh until I can’t breathe. I’m in love with the tiny hint of vulnerability that peeks out from beneath her wild, fearless heart.
“Sometimes the bad memories take up too much room. We start seeing more of the good ones when they start to fade.�
Jamie doesn’t want me. Not the same way I want her. And it’s not the right environment to bring a child into. Call me old-fashioned, but I want the girl I love beside me where I can take care of her, not pregnant and on the other side of the country, so I should be grateful. Jamie’s a practical girl. And she’s done the practical thing, which is more than I can say for myself. “Thanks.� “You’re welcome.� How fucking polite of us.
He’s a little rough around the edges, flawed in a million perfect ways, scarred, and yet so incredibly handsome and compelling at the same time. He has this beautiful light in his eyes and a smile that pulls at something inside me, making it hard to look away.
he’d seen the ugly side of life, and experienced the absolute worst of humanity, but he didn’t let it break him.
I tried so hard not to fall in love with her, but it was like scooping water out of a sinking ship with my bare hands.
“And that set you back how much?� “The entire deposit I tucked aside for my house on the beach.� The very one I talked about all the time. My dream. Every penny earned and squirreled away, gone because I was a fool who’d do anything to make her happy, to fix what was broken inside of her. “You’re a goddamn idiot,� Ryan said. I suck on my cigar for a moment. “I don’t regret it. It was worth every cent and more.� “Jesus, Brooks. Some days I think there may just be a heart inside that egotistical exterior of yours.� “I don’t know whether to feel insulted or not.�
I still wake every day wanting to tell him something, or make him laugh just to see that stupid movie-star smile of his because it made me feel like I was part of something special. Then I remember that he’s gone and it’s like a punch to the goddamn gut.�
“I’m in love with you, Jamie Murphy, and I don’t even know your middle name.�
“You know I can’t do that. There’s no changing the past,� he says, his voice faint now, fading on the wind. “But you can always change the ending.�
It’s always been him. All this time. I’m in love with him. I’m so in love with him, so deeply, so absolutely, unequivocally in love with him, that I couldn’t even see it.
I love you, Jamie. I fell in love with you because of the million things you never knew you were doing. But I want to be loved in return. I want the kind of love that’s so deep, and so endless, and so consuming, it goes beyond a lifetime. I want forever, and I wanted it with you.
Her next step is hesitant, and I catch a glimpse of fear on her face. I’ve never seen Jamie so scared in my life. Never. That’s she scared now, here with me, almost breaks me apart.
“My father told me I was born a fighter. I’ve spent my entire life trying to prove it. Only I never knew what I was supposed to be fighting for.
She loves me. Her strong, beautiful heart is mine, and damned if it doesn’t make my chest puff out like a goddamn peacock right now. I feel ten feet tall.
What kind of monster eats his woman’s donuts when she’s pregnant? I ducked out to the local 7-Eleven and bought her another box, though two somehow slipped free and flew out the open window on the drive home. Such a freak accident.
“Bit late for cold feet, isn’t it?� “Mate, we have two-point-five kids and a mortgage, and I still wake up waiting for her to realise she made a mistake.�
“I miss you when we’re not together. Is that weird?� His admission sends flutters through my belly. He misses me the same way I miss him. I’m not alone in this, whatever it is. “No,� I say softly. “It’s not weird.�
“You’re still strong, Little Warrior.� “Not anymore.� “How can you say that? Life brought you the biggest fight of your life, and you know what you did?� “What?� “You showed up. Every day. You showed up. You’re still showing up. One day you’ll look back and realise how much strength it took just to do that.�
Erin hesitates. “All the boys liked you. You just never noticed. You’re so � unobtainable. And so reckless. And beautiful as all hell.�
“You want to know why I came over?� “Yes please,� I breathe. “Because after I saw you, I couldn’t see anything else.�
You’re going to get yelled at. All the time. They’ll tell you you’re lower than a piece of garbage stuck to someone’s shoe. They’ll insult you where it hurts. Your family, your dad, hell, even your hair.
I look up at him from beneath my lashes with what I hope is a sultry smile, though it probably looks like I’m having a stroke.
The entire world has lost today. Something beautiful. Something incredibly vital. Something we’ll never get back.
He slapped me on the back, quoting the movie Babe. “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.�
I want to find a girl and fall in love. I want to know what it feels like to look at someone knowing I could never live without them. I want to get married. I want to watch her walk down the aisle towards me, my heart busting from my chest at the knowledge she was mine. I want to feel my babies growing inside her belly, and watch them grow with her by my side. I want to fill that house by the beach with all their little personalities. Take them camping. Teach them about the Earth, and life, and what it means to be a good person. I want it all.
She sighs deeply. “You’re such a bully.� “Yeah, what an asshole. Bringing you breakfast and making you eat it. I should be shot.�
“It’s just � I feel this weird kind of panic whenever I think of him. So it’s easier not to. But that means pushing him out, and—� “And that’s why you feel like you’re losing him.� “Yes.� Her fingers clutch at the sides of my shirt. “Stupid, huh?� “There’s no such thing as stupid when it comes to grief. We all deal with it in our own way.�
The whole situation is more awkward than the time when I was thirteen and tried to tongue kiss Margaret Ainsworth (an older woman at fourteen) for the first time and accidentally gave her a sloppy lick on the nose. To give me a bit of credit, we were out the back of the rugby sheds after a night game and it was pitch black. I couldn’t actually see where her lips were. Though I probably shouldn’t have come at her like a dog, my mouth wide open and tongue hanging out.
I mean, the man wasn’t entirely perfect. There’s the whole noodle thing. And who knows, maybe he would have run faster than Usain Bolt at the first sign of commitment. Maybe he kicked small puppies when no one was watching. I know he donated to the RSPCA once a year, but it could have been guilt money.
Me thinks she doth protest too much, but it won’t be me getting the fright of my life to wake and find Wood playing hide-the-sausage with Erin.
“You think?� “You’d be surprised at how much I think. I do it almost every day.�
I dip my head down, my face close to hers. “I don’t need anyone,� she whispers and then giggles. “Wait, that’s not it. Nobody needs me,� she corrects. “But that’s okay. Don’t feel sorry for me, Bear,� she slurs, reaching up to slap my cheek. “I’m tougher than old leather.�
Kyle is just like me. Strong on the outside yet bruised on the inside, where no one can see.
I’m not just army. Or a combat medic. I’m a female in a sea of dominating males who think the length of their dick is an acceptable form of measuring respect. I can’t appear soft. I don’t have that kind of luxury. And it’s hard to change that the moment the uniform comes off. I’m not a switch. And I’m not sweet. Nor am I feminine. But it doesn’t mean I don’t care, even though it comes across that way sometimes.
“Stab wounds?� “Just three.� “Oh just three, huh?� His tone is snide. “Just three?�
“You’re so beautiful.� “So are you,� I whisper. Kyle’s lips curve slowly. “You think I’m beautiful?�
And when she went over the edge of that mountain, I dived to my belly and would have gone right off the edge with her if I hadn’t managed to snag her hand. I would do anything for her.
I’m in love with her stubborn and ridiculous attitude, and the way she makes me laugh until I can’t breathe. I’m in love with the tiny hint of vulnerability that peeks out from beneath her wild, fearless heart.
“Sometimes the bad memories take up too much room. We start seeing more of the good ones when they start to fade.�
Jamie doesn’t want me. Not the same way I want her. And it’s not the right environment to bring a child into. Call me old-fashioned, but I want the girl I love beside me where I can take care of her, not pregnant and on the other side of the country, so I should be grateful. Jamie’s a practical girl. And she’s done the practical thing, which is more than I can say for myself. “Thanks.� “You’re welcome.� How fucking polite of us.
He’s a little rough around the edges, flawed in a million perfect ways, scarred, and yet so incredibly handsome and compelling at the same time. He has this beautiful light in his eyes and a smile that pulls at something inside me, making it hard to look away.
he’d seen the ugly side of life, and experienced the absolute worst of humanity, but he didn’t let it break him.
I tried so hard not to fall in love with her, but it was like scooping water out of a sinking ship with my bare hands.
“And that set you back how much?� “The entire deposit I tucked aside for my house on the beach.� The very one I talked about all the time. My dream. Every penny earned and squirreled away, gone because I was a fool who’d do anything to make her happy, to fix what was broken inside of her. “You’re a goddamn idiot,� Ryan said. I suck on my cigar for a moment. “I don’t regret it. It was worth every cent and more.� “Jesus, Brooks. Some days I think there may just be a heart inside that egotistical exterior of yours.� “I don’t know whether to feel insulted or not.�
I still wake every day wanting to tell him something, or make him laugh just to see that stupid movie-star smile of his because it made me feel like I was part of something special. Then I remember that he’s gone and it’s like a punch to the goddamn gut.�
“I’m in love with you, Jamie Murphy, and I don’t even know your middle name.�
“You know I can’t do that. There’s no changing the past,� he says, his voice faint now, fading on the wind. “But you can always change the ending.�
It’s always been him. All this time. I’m in love with him. I’m so in love with him, so deeply, so absolutely, unequivocally in love with him, that I couldn’t even see it.
I love you, Jamie. I fell in love with you because of the million things you never knew you were doing. But I want to be loved in return. I want the kind of love that’s so deep, and so endless, and so consuming, it goes beyond a lifetime. I want forever, and I wanted it with you.
Her next step is hesitant, and I catch a glimpse of fear on her face. I’ve never seen Jamie so scared in my life. Never. That’s she scared now, here with me, almost breaks me apart.
“My father told me I was born a fighter. I’ve spent my entire life trying to prove it. Only I never knew what I was supposed to be fighting for.
She loves me. Her strong, beautiful heart is mine, and damned if it doesn’t make my chest puff out like a goddamn peacock right now. I feel ten feet tall.
What kind of monster eats his woman’s donuts when she’s pregnant? I ducked out to the local 7-Eleven and bought her another box, though two somehow slipped free and flew out the open window on the drive home. Such a freak accident.
“Bit late for cold feet, isn’t it?� “Mate, we have two-point-five kids and a mortgage, and I still wake up waiting for her to realise she made a mistake.�
September 12, 2019
This book was without a shadow of a doubt an emotional ride.
Since the beginning I knew it was going to be an epic story, for starters I’m a sucker for military romance…duh. And second, I have read other books of Kate before and have loved them all.
I went into this book completely blind, I didn’t read the blurb or Fighting Redemption (now that I know Ryan and Fin I’m definitely going to read it). You will FEEL this story with your whole heart, It's crazy angsty and so emotionally charged that it will keep you on the edge most of the time.
Jamie has always been a fighter, just like her father used to tell her, but losing him left her broken and alone. When she was at her worse, Bear was there for her when no one else was, trying to put her back together.
And then, one day� he was gone.
At eighteen, she decided to find her way by joining the army, stronger and resilient she's a combat medic now, but all her life she felt that no one needed her, until she finds her childhood best friend when she wasn’t expecting him, in the ugly and brutal war. Bear is now a man, but he hasn’t forgotten about the Little Warrior he left behind all those years ago.
This story is complicated, real, raw and heartbreaking. In this story the Little Warrior learned how to laugh, love and live, she learned that there are more important things in life than war…to be happy. And in the process she helped Bear heal when he needed it the most.
Since the beginning I knew it was going to be an epic story, for starters I’m a sucker for military romance…duh. And second, I have read other books of Kate before and have loved them all.
I went into this book completely blind, I didn’t read the blurb or Fighting Redemption (now that I know Ryan and Fin I’m definitely going to read it). You will FEEL this story with your whole heart, It's crazy angsty and so emotionally charged that it will keep you on the edge most of the time.
Jamie has always been a fighter, just like her father used to tell her, but losing him left her broken and alone. When she was at her worse, Bear was there for her when no one else was, trying to put her back together.
And then, one day� he was gone.
At eighteen, she decided to find her way by joining the army, stronger and resilient she's a combat medic now, but all her life she felt that no one needed her, until she finds her childhood best friend when she wasn’t expecting him, in the ugly and brutal war. Bear is now a man, but he hasn’t forgotten about the Little Warrior he left behind all those years ago.
This story is complicated, real, raw and heartbreaking. In this story the Little Warrior learned how to laugh, love and live, she learned that there are more important things in life than war…to be happy. And in the process she helped Bear heal when he needed it the most.
September 12, 2019
‘Fighting Absolution� is not quite a conventional romance, so that’s best to get that out of the way at the start. For those who are used to the establishing scene of the protagonists following a particular trope they are familiar with, this tosses all of it out of the window. Maybe I’m one of those, so inured to tropes and straight-up, direct coupledom despite the difficulty the protagonists face getting together. After all, it’s the classification of romance, isn’t it?
Kate McCarthy strays from this a fair bit and inadvertently, treads on several triggers or safety boundaries that some readers might have. Incidental friends to lovers? Second chances? Or second choices? It’s hard to sit down and categorise it, as mixed as I am even as I write this review.
In short, I was afraid that this would become a love triangle within a ‘growing-up� type of story. In some ways, it is, and it isn’t, with some layers of complication (read: deception) between the protagonists. The romantic trajectory isn’t a straight one where both protagonists meet and then things are immediately set in stone from there onwards. It certainly follows Jamie Murphy’s journey more than a couple’s journey together for at least a third of the book, then takes a bit of a skewed turn when a third party so to speak, gets introduced.
Honestly, I’m sort of uncomfortable with this particular skew, but these are my own expectations talking because of McCarthy messing with my own idea of ‘meant-to-be� that I’m used to in romantic fiction. It’s not a bad read by any means, though there is the usual frustrating push-pull, some stubbornness and the lack of communication resulting in could-be-avoided-conflict as the narrative shifts from angsty to oddly light-hearted and back to angsty again.
‘Fighting Absolution� is a longer read with New Adult inclinations, and told in the shadow of war, PTSD and difficult personal histories, has a plot that relies on losses and gains for its emotional momentum. I’m not entirely sure how many years slip by between the pages, but the passage of time and the slow burn give the HEA a bit more depth and credence. I liked parts of it, was uncomfortable with some of the others…and that is going to be my bottom-line. But it wasn’t hard to get caught up with the drama of it all, and for that alone, it was quite worth it.
Kate McCarthy strays from this a fair bit and inadvertently, treads on several triggers or safety boundaries that some readers might have. Incidental friends to lovers? Second chances? Or second choices? It’s hard to sit down and categorise it, as mixed as I am even as I write this review.
In short, I was afraid that this would become a love triangle within a ‘growing-up� type of story. In some ways, it is, and it isn’t, with some layers of complication (read: deception) between the protagonists. The romantic trajectory isn’t a straight one where both protagonists meet and then things are immediately set in stone from there onwards. It certainly follows Jamie Murphy’s journey more than a couple’s journey together for at least a third of the book, then takes a bit of a skewed turn when a third party so to speak, gets introduced.
Honestly, I’m sort of uncomfortable with this particular skew, but these are my own expectations talking because of McCarthy messing with my own idea of ‘meant-to-be� that I’m used to in romantic fiction. It’s not a bad read by any means, though there is the usual frustrating push-pull, some stubbornness and the lack of communication resulting in could-be-avoided-conflict as the narrative shifts from angsty to oddly light-hearted and back to angsty again.
‘Fighting Absolution� is a longer read with New Adult inclinations, and told in the shadow of war, PTSD and difficult personal histories, has a plot that relies on losses and gains for its emotional momentum. I’m not entirely sure how many years slip by between the pages, but the passage of time and the slow burn give the HEA a bit more depth and credence. I liked parts of it, was uncomfortable with some of the others…and that is going to be my bottom-line. But it wasn’t hard to get caught up with the drama of it all, and for that alone, it was quite worth it.
October 9, 2019
It is with a heavy heart that I'm putting forward this rating. This was not a 3 star book! It was much more. I'm not going to be able to explain myself without a thousand spoilers.. I won't, I'm treading carefully.
I cared so deeply about the romance brewing between Jamie and Kyle, and they only had a measly 8% in the beginning. Following that I had so many hopes and dreams for their reunion, and the potential was sky high... By this point, I would have forgiven anything that had come before this. But no matter how much I wanted it, I'm left frustrated and let down at how it all turned out. Kyle's character also took a different direction to what I was expecting in the later years so I didn't fall for him as hard as I was hoping to.
Don't worry it was a happy ending, it's just a me thing!
'I’ll call you Little Warrior'
'That’s my made-up name for you. Bear.'
I cared so deeply about the romance brewing between Jamie and Kyle, and they only had a measly 8% in the beginning. Following that I had so many hopes and dreams for their reunion, and the potential was sky high... By this point, I would have forgiven anything that had come before this. But no matter how much I wanted it, I'm left frustrated and let down at how it all turned out. Kyle's character also took a different direction to what I was expecting in the later years so I didn't fall for him as hard as I was hoping to.
Don't worry it was a happy ending, it's just a me thing!
'I’ll call you Little Warrior'
'That’s my made-up name for you. Bear.'
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