MM Romance: Emotional, forbidden WWII Romance. Very moving.
Wow! This story has pulled my emotions up to the surface right from the start. I’ve always been in awe of the men who put their lives on the line, what they went through, the conditions they had to survive in. Add to that a secret romance, and you feel their need to have those stolen moments.
While this story is about his grandfather’s love story, it’s also a love letter from Levi to his grandfather. Tender, sweet, and heartbreaking. A story of two men who found each other in the middle of a war.
This is such a moving story. Ryan captured everything so well. It starts out with Levi hanging with a buddy, then getting a call from his mom. Next he’s stopping by home to grab some essentials before heading out to his Grandpa Jack’s house. His boyfriend Connor offers to go with Levi, and gets told to go back to sleep. They say their “I Love You’s” and Levi heads out. No drama, just trust and love. Reading this put a big smile on my face, so great to see a positive relationship, even if it’s in the background.
The main story starts when Levi finds his Grandpa Jack’s stash of love letters hidden under a floorboard in the attic. As he starts to read them, he realizes they are between Jack and another man, William. As he reads the letters we are taken directly into Jack and William’s experiences during the war.
As I’m reading the about battle scene where William pulls Latham off the battlefield, and goes to the field hospital with him, I’m getting the same thought as when I watch Band of Brothers. I am amazed and in awe of these men who keep on going through it, doing their duty when they are just barely surviving. I don’t know how anyone got through that.
Jack is a medic, and that is how he meets William. At a time when it wasn’t “acceptable” for two men to be in a relationship together, Jack and William took a chance, made a connection, and were able to share with each other how they felt. That is big, specially during that time and in the middle of a war.
Reading this story has me wondering how many men going through the hell of war managed to find moments of connection like Jack and William? Maybe not even romantic, but some type of connection. Maybe close friendship, maybe a few moments of peace before the artillery starts up again. For those who managed to find something more, I’m in awe of your bravery. Beautiful and devastating at the same time. It’s amazing how when someone opens themselves up, bares their soul to another, it feels so rare and moving.
I’m not going to go into further details, you owe it to yourself to read this book, and hopefully subscribe to Ryan’s mailing list to get the extra story “War’s Echo – Jack’s Story.”
One of the really nice things to see is the loving relationship between Levi and Connor. It’s in the background to the main story, but it’s important. I know Jack would be so happy to see his grandson in a truly loving relationship with another man. Not having to hide. The world may have changed too late for Jack and William, but it has changed, and Jack would have loved that.
Another nice little part of the story is Riley. Having him in this story not just as a runner, but a secret keeper, someone who knows and doesn’t judge, I really love that. It shows that even when society as a whole doesn’t accept something, there are plenty of people out there who are accepting.
