Review ~ Consolation ~ Corinne Michaels #ShelfLove #TakeControl

Consolation by Corinne Michaels
Salvation #3, Consolation Duet #1
Release Date: March 18, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TakeControl
Goodreads

Synopsis
Liam wasn't supposed to be my happily ever after.
He wasn't even on my radar.
He was my husband's best friend - forbidden.

But my husband is dead and I'm alone. I ache for him and I reach for Liam.

One night with Liam changed everything. Now I have to decide if I truly love him or it he's just the consolation prize.

This was my first read from Corinne Michaels and yes, I realize I started at #3 but it's also #1 AND a friend really wanted me to read it. So I did. And I can tell you that I will absolutely be reading #4/#2 ASAP as well as starting at the beginning because Corinne Michaels? She left me wrung out and utterly shocked.

Consolation started off in a way that left no doubt that I was in for an emotional read. Witnessing Lee fall to pieces and then have to put herself back together - or at least look like she had - was difficult. I can't imagine being in her shoes. And although she put on a brave face, nothing and no one was getting through to help her move on. Then Liam knocked on her door. Liam was there to help his best friend's wife - a woman he'd known for years and had come to care about - pick up the pieces, do what needed doing so she could move on. This was done out of respect and love for both his best friend, Aaron, and for Lee. But what started out innocently grew into something so much more.

CMichaels handled all these challenging elements so realistically. The feelings experienced through grief and then those that came once new feelings began developing - guilt, betrayal, hope, desire...love. These are things no military spouse ever wants to deal with and yet there are many who struggle through it. I have no experience with it but I felt CMichaels portrayed it well. I also felt as though she portrayed the military "family" realistically. The supporting cast is filled with Lee and Aaron's friends who are currently or have served in the military alongside Aaron and who've been a support network for each other. This felt genuine and gave depth to the story.

And then there was the ending which left me stunned. I didn't see it coming and it left me a weepy mess.

Consolation would have been a 4.5 bookworm read but for one element that I felt was used more as a plot device and wasn't developed as well as it should have/could have been.

There's more to Lee and Liam's story. And I'm eager for it!