The Twisted Road to You

Perfect, Indiana (Book 4)

by Barbara Longley

Struggling with both PTSD and the trauma of his ex-wife’s infidelity, retired Marine Wesley Holt seeks a simple civilian life. His favorite waitress at the Perfect Diner secretly stirs his heart. Yet Wes—scarred by betrayal and racked by guilt over his fallen comrades in Afghanistan—stays quiet, convinced he can never love again…or be loved.

Waitress and single mother Carlie Stewart hides fear behind her smile. Her ex-husband has escaped from prison and wants their son—and revenge. When the fugitive arrives to wreak havoc, Wes insists Carlie and her son stay with him for protection. Finally daring to let her guard down, Carlie divulges her dark past to Wes, and to her surprise, Wes appreciates her strengths and longs to trust her with his tattered heart. The safer they feel with each other, the more trust and passion grow. But can they overcome the demons in their pasts—and the heartbreak they’ve carried into the present—to build a lasting future together?

This is the first of this series that I’ve read, but I don’t think it will be my last.  The Twisted Road to You is a fantastic blend of danger and emotion – we have to deal with Carlie’s ex and the trouble he causes, but more importantly we get Wesley & Carlie’s struggles to open their hearts again.  Both have been badly hurt in the past and neither of them thinks that they are a good bet.  Although none of their concerns are all that new, it doesn’t stop them from making an impact on the reader.

Wesley is struggling with PTSD and he had his ex break things off with basically a Dear John letter.  Neither of these things add up to relationship material in his mind.  But he doesn’t factor in that he’s caring, giving, hard-working, and brave.  He’s willing to do just about anything for his friends and they feel the same about him.  With his attraction to Carlie and the danger she faces from her ex, she quickly becomes part of that group.

Carlie is a good mother but with her past she’s kept herself a little separated from the other people in Perfect.  Thanks to Wes and his friends though that doesn’t last long.  I can understand why she thinks her past is too much for a partner to overcome, but I love how Wes proves her wrong.  Just a little understanding and acceptance goes a long way to changing how she views herself.

Even though I wasn’t familiar with any of the people, Longley does a great job of giving all relevant info when you need it – not too much and only when it makes sense.  The book focuses on Wes and Carlie but they don’t live in a bubble so the other people are important.  And I’m sure that, for returning readers, it is a treat to catch up.

With just that right amount of action to keep things hopping and the perfect amount of emotional drama, The Twisted Road to You is a wonderful story of letting go of the past and opening up to something new.

 

Available at Amazon