Second Chance with His Army Doc - Charlotte Hawkes (HMED #1129 - Oct 2020)

Series: Reunited on the Front Lines (Book 1)

From first love…

To forever?

Fourteen years ago, teenage Kane Wheeler disappeared from Mattie Brigham’s life without a word of explanation. While nothing has filled the void left by Kane, Mattie has forged a successful life as an army doc. When they’re unexpectedly reunited in the line of duty, their attraction is still as fierce as ever. And Kane’s determined to convince Mattie they can still have a happy-ever-after above all!

Good book. As teenagers Kane and Mattie were an unlikely couple. She was the daughter of a high-ranking officer, and Kane was the son and brother of the town troublemakers. Unlike most other people, Mattie saw the good in Kane. Then one day, Kane disappeared from her life, leaving her heartbroken. She pulled herself together and continued with her plans to become a doctor in the army, but never forgot him.

Fourteen years later, Kane and Mattie met unexpectedly. The attraction between them is as strong as ever, and their reunion turns into a night of passion. They don't do much talking, especially when it comes to what they've been doing since they last saw each other. This comes back to bite them the next time they see each other. Mattie is Major Brigham, soon to be LtCol Brigham, and was assigned to run the medical side of an important military exercise. She is stunned when WO2 Kane Wheeler shows up in her office as the liaison for the infantry side of the activity, as is Kane. Neither knew the other was active military. The rules against fraternization in the military are well known to both, and their night together broke them all. Their confrontation over who knew what and when they knew it was intense, but in the end, they knew that any future relationship was impossible.

However, Kane and Mattie must work together on this exercise, putting their personal issues aside. Their time together is intense, with vividly described details of the work they do. Their attraction is always there, bubbling along under the surface, tempting them. I loved their honest talk about their love for their work, their attraction to each other, and the consequences of doing anything about it. I ached for them both during the night they spent under the stars, opening up to each other and sharing one last time together.

I loved the ending. Both Mattie and Kane did some soul-searching in the time they were apart, making some difficult decisions. I loved the scene in her CO's office, a surprising twist stopping her in her tracks. Kane's stunned reaction was fantastic. The final chapter was excellent, with a couple of emotional highs that showed great promise for their future together.

I liked the realism of the story. The medical events, the preparations for the exercise, and even the unexpected changes and challenges were all realistically portrayed. I was impressed by how the author kept Kane and Mattie true to their values regarding their relationship, rather than have them sneaking around. The solution to their problem was unexpected but not unusual.