My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An emotional and satisfying second chance at the love of a lifetime.
Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Richard I. Levine's wonderfully emotional and satisfying story of heartbreak, healing, and a second chance at the love of a lifetime. Veteran Mitch Brody, medically retired from the Marines after a long and decorated career, returns to his small Pacific Northwest hometown of Roche Harbor, a village in the San Juan Islands of Washington state, uncertain as to what and whom he will find there. Twenty years had passed since he left to enlist in the Marines after 9/11, and his parents and only siblings were long gone; only his brother's widow, perhaps, still remaining on the family farm. Jess, his first and only love, had married his brother while he was away.
Mitch's story is heartbreaking and emotional as he finally confronts his past. His is a wonderful tale of another chance at the romance he missed out on the first time around but the plot also explores so much more: the emotional and physical healing he undergoes after being wounded, the guilt and pain of losing not only his brother but his mother while he was deployed, his unhappy relationship with his father, and his complicated feelings for his accomplished and adored brother, Alex. The book also presents the story from Jess's point of view: her side of their relationship, the aftermath, and the choices that needed to be made, as well as her experiences as an outsider coming into the close-knit island community as a child and life as a Puerto Rican immigrant.The author's descriptions of the settings create a vivid atmosphere in which the story unfolds, and the past feels very much alive. Mitch is somewhat shocked to discover how much has changed and how much he has missed out on while away. The change in his family farm felt absolutely shocking. Misunderstandings, hurt, and pride all play a role in keeping him from coming home on leave, making the story even more tragic. Tender-hearted readers may want to ensure they have adequate tissues on hand before diving into this story.
I recommend LIKE DRIFTWOOD ON THE SALISH SEA to romance readers, especially those who like a small-town setting, military service member characters, and wounded heroes returning home.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
