Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Air Force sergeant Michael Baldwin wanted nothing more than to escape his family’s political ambitions, but his dream of freedom was shattered by an enemy bullet to the head. Two years later, he and his service dog, Kaylee, resist his father’s demand to join him on the campaign trail—where a photogenic “wounded warrior” is always an asset—and instead return to the family’s summer home on Hartsbridge Island.

There Michael and his beautiful German shepherd capture the attention of Josh Goldberg, co-owner of the local bagel shop. Josh has a knack for business and a killer repertoire of his bubbe’s recipes. But lack of education undermines his confidence, and Josh’s father doesn’t share his ambition for the restaurant’s future.

Chicken soup and bacon might be the way to Michael’s heart, but he and Josh need time to learn about everything that comes after—lessons that Governor Baldwin and his relentless ambition will do anything to thwart. Letting someone in is a tall order for two men who can’t trust themselves, but if they have any hope of a future together, that’s exactly what they’ll need to do.

Book Review

If there's one thing I'm familiar with in this world, it's the concept of comfort food. I'm a firm believer that it can definitely reduce stress and anxiety, give a much needed pick-me-up, and make your hurt and pain take a backseat, even if only for a while. I loved it that Josh and his dad own a bagel/deli shop on this island community in New Hampshire. It's hard to find good bagels outside of New York City and Josh's recipes come straight from Brooklyn and his bubbe. That's also where he gets the need to feed people. *grins* I thought it was a wonderful way to have Michael and Josh meet, while also setting the stage for a friendship and possibly more.

Michael comes from a wealthy, uptight political family, where whom you know, where you went to school, what you do, and whom you marry are the most important things imaginable. He has fought against it his whole life, going so far as to drop out of Dartmouth and join the Air Force instead of being forced to study law, join the family firm, and then move into politics. Michael was shot in the head while overseas and now suffers from PTSD which is where Kaylee, his therapy dog, comes in. Josh's family is Jewish, working class, full-time residents on the island, and Josh dropped out of high school when he was a teenager because his dad was going through treatment for cancer and Josh had to take over running Bagel End. His mom died when he was young from a serious heart condition so it's just the two of them and the business they run. Josh is a townie and Michael is a mainlander, something Josh is far more aware of than Michael is.

I really loved the way the author wrote Michael's character and the struggles he endures because of his PTSD. It gave me a much broader and more insightful understanding of what was going on in Michael's head. I also truly adored the way Josh and Michael's romance comes about so slowly and gently. The reality of both men's insecurities was handled with real life issues and concerns which made the characters more real to me. The drama with Michael's family-values driven governor father was expected but I liked that it didn't take over completely.

A beautiful story that had me falling in love with the characters, including some fabulous secondary ones, and completely head over heels for Kaylee. I have a much greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of PTSD therapy dogs, and I enjoyed learning about all their various capabilities.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 312 pages/81800 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	24-October-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $17.99 paperback, $24.98 bundle
Buy Link	http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/change-of-address