REVIEW: Return to Me by Kelly Moran

Return to Me (Covington Cove #1) by Kelly Moran: Ten years ago Cole deliberately broke Mia’s heart and neither have fully recovered during the intervening years. Mia is an RN and desperately looking for a new job so that she can continue to pay the tuition for her sister’s special school. She’s had to grow up very quickly to raise her sister due to their alcoholic mother. Mia is surprised and dismayed to receive a phone call and request from Lacey, Cole’s sister, after so many years.

Cole has returned after serving in the Army and being wounded in the war. He’s not himself anymore and refuses all visitors. Cole was once very popular and preferred to be surrounded by people. He’s struggling to come to terms with why he’s lived and the continued guilt over how he ended things with Mia all those years ago.

Mia doesn’t want to be around Cole, but she feels she has to take this job. Being back at the Covington’s summer house brings back all of the memories of the summers she spent with Cole, including her heartbreak. She’s surprised to see Cole struggle this much. Cole has dreamed of finally seeing Mia again, and he isn’t prepared for her to see him at his absolute worst. But Mia is exactly what he needs. Mia’s grown up and has a backbone she lacked as a teenager, which means she’s more than equal to the challenge of getting Cole back on track in his rehab.

Despite the years and emotional gulf between them, Mia and Cole seem to fall into an easy camaraderie that Cole has missed. The attraction and chemistry is also still there and even stronger now.

“What does that mean, Cole” Her voice shook as the words breathed out. She grabbed the counter behind her to keep upright.

He looked at her, straight in the eyes and held the gaze. “It means I may only be closure to you, but you mean the world to me.”

Return to Me is an enjoyable love story where young love between a privileged veteran and the housekeeper’s daughter gets a shot to become everlasting love.

Kelly Moran creates an engaging second chance love story that touches on the very real problem of PTSD in returning soldiers. Ms. Moran also provided plenty of angst courtesy of Cole’s family. Fans of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks will enjoy Return to Me.
 

Book Info:

Published March 3rd 2015 by Berkley | (Covington Cove #1)

With every beat of the heart comes a memory of what could have been…

Ten years ago, Cole Covington was just another rich kid who got everything he wanted—including young and trusting Mia Galdon. Then one night everything changed, and two hearts were shattered. Cole buried his guilt in the military, where love was just part of the past. Now Cole has come back home, emotionally damaged, guarded, and unprepared for what’s waiting for him…

At the urging of Cole’s sister, Mia has returned to the Covington family’s coastal home in Wilmington as a private nurse to help Cole recover. With her uncertain personal life at a crossroad, Mia doesn’t have the luxury of saying no to the job. And she soon finds out that the attraction is still alive. So are memories of betrayal. But Mia will discover more than the power of resilience. She’ll discover a secret Cole has held for years, one that will force them to confront the past and give new meaning to letting go, forgiveness, and a future worth fighting for.