Sandy M’s review of More Than a Touch (Snowberry Creek, Book 2) by Alexis Morgan
Contemporary Romance published by Signet 7 Jan 14
I enjoyed the majority of this second book in Alexis Morgan’s Snowberry Creek series. A small town where her characters are making their homes after finding love. A place where everything is possible, even when they think it’s not. Though this particular story is much slower in pace than the first, you’re right in the middle of everything these folks are going through.
There’s just one thing that doesn’t work for me.
As much as I like Leif and Zoe, their relationship is even slower than the main pace of the book. I never feel connected to them, never feel invested in what is going on between them. That’s mostly because it takes a while before there’s much interaction between them. Leif was injured in an ambush in Afghanistan in which fellow soldier Spencer was killed, so he’s now in therapy and trying to get on with life without his friend. Zoe is a physician’s assistant and is overseeing Leif’s therapy. The first good part of the book is spent in that therapy room with the physical therapist or with Leif’s new friend Mitch, a celebrated hometown quarterback, or both Leif and Zoe are talking things out with their respective friends. There’s really not much going on between them.
They initially meet at an outdoor BBQ at Callie’s, who is the heroine of the first book. Though they spend a bit of time together, there’s not a lot of attraction right off, and because they don’t spend that much time in each other’s company, that spark never flies off the page for me. By the time they get together, it’s too late for sparks. Even then, though, they go their own way afterward, Zoe worried about the professional relationship and Leif is going through a double whammy – why is he the one who survived that ambush and what’s going to happen with his military career due to his recuperation?
Now, all that being said, Leif and Zoe are great characters. They each have their own PSTD to deal with and you do feel their anguish when nightmares and flashbacks rear their ugly heads. You admire their grit and determination to get through it all and live life on their terms the best they can. I enjoy the friendships they have with others, the easy camaraderie and fun. The secondary characters are quite enjoyable. I really like Chief Logan. He tells it like it is and lets no one get away with a thing, including Leif and Mitch. And Mooch? Well, you have to read the series to find out about him and how he comes to be in Snowberry Creek. You can’t help but love Mooch. And I actually really like the side story about Austin, who we met in the first book. I didn’t expect to see him again and it turns out to be a nice twist with Leif getting totally involved with Callie’s cousin.
This is difficult for me, because Alexis Morgan has always been a favorite of mine. You can’t quite believe that a favorite’s book might not work for you, but it’s bound to happen because the old “you can’t please everyone all the time” definitely holds true. Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t a bad book by any means. What I consider a slow pace without sparks could be the exact opposite for you. So if you’re reading this series, stick with it and get to know Leif and Zoe. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, which is going to give us twists and turns like crazy when Leif’s and Nick’s (from A Time for Home) buddy shows up out of the blue.
Grade: C+
Summary:
Welcome to the small rustic town of Snowberry Creek….
Wounded in combat, Leif Brevik is haunted by survivor’s guilt. For the first time in his life-unsure if he still has a military career in his future-he feels completely lost. So when a war buddy calls for help with restoration of their fallen brother’s house, he jumps at the chance to regain a sense of purpose.
Zoe Phillips is assigned to monitor Leif’s physical therapy while he’s in town. But she’s a former military nurse, and sees that his wounds are more than just physical. As she pushes the handsome soldier to open up, the connection between them deepens beyond the professional facade she tries to maintain.
And as Leif begins to put down roots in her beloved hometown, Zoe realizes that maybe having him around is exactly what she needs to heal her own wounded heart as well…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
