What do you think?
Rate this book
Finding You, Finding Me
You’re not supposed to find love in the middle of a war, and definitely not with someone in your same company.
Corporal Henry Iverson is 2nd Platoon’s Doc. He loves his job, even if the guys don’t quite love him back. Uneasy with the “company queer”, Henry is on the outs of everything, except when they need his help. He’s used to being lonely, though, and he’s got the tough skin to prove it.
Private Will Rollins joined the Army to get away from everything and everyone, but most especially from himself. Five thousand miles away, about to leap out of a plane over Utah Beach on D-Day, Will knows he’s missing something in his life, but he told himself he wouldn’t think about that. Not ever again.
When the jump doesn’t go as planned, Henry finds Will – a man he barely knows from another platoon – injured behind enemy lines, and it’s up to him to get Will to safety, despite the raging war and Will’s sudden amnesia… and Will’s out-of-seeming-nowhere searing attraction to Henry.
The war doesn’t stop for two men, though, not for a moment. Stuck between endless battles and a world that shuns their form of love, Will and Henry must fight to survive the war and fight for each other, though everything stands in their way.
Corporal Henry Iverson is 2nd Platoon’s Doc. He loves his job, even if the guys don’t quite love him back. Uneasy with the “company queer”, Henry is on the outs of everything, except when they need his help. He’s used to being lonely, though, and he’s got the tough skin to prove it.
Private Will Rollins joined the Army to get away from everything and everyone, but most especially from himself. Five thousand miles away, about to leap out of a plane over Utah Beach on D-Day, Will knows he’s missing something in his life, but he told himself he wouldn’t think about that. Not ever again.
When the jump doesn’t go as planned, Henry finds Will – a man he barely knows from another platoon – injured behind enemy lines, and it’s up to him to get Will to safety, despite the raging war and Will’s sudden amnesia… and Will’s out-of-seeming-nowhere searing attraction to Henry.
The war doesn’t stop for two men, though, not for a moment. Stuck between endless battles and a world that shuns their form of love, Will and Henry must fight to survive the war and fight for each other, though everything stands in their way.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2015
2 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 27, 2016
This is the perfect example how things that start out meh can turn into something utterly marvelous. When I read that Kleypas-y beginning I felt like rolling my eyes six ways to sunday. I thought this was going to become my next big mistake.
Only it wasn’t.
Yes, I’m pretty lame myself, choosing a book with a guy with retrograde amnesia. I plead guilty. The plot says it all: simple, obvious and straight to the point. The character is in a situation of vulnerability and lacking all the social and personal inhibitions that used to stop him from showing his real emotions. But once that obstacle disappears, there is only the raw longings and desires. And the object of such desire is… Yes! The other guy! As it should be.
Everything had a specific path and it was already written. Predictable, silly, definitely entertaining and of course with some PWP sex. Sounded like a plan!
I even made some popcorn. I was ready.
Only I wasn’t.
So, if you are looking for that book, you better start running now, because this is not a book for you.
This book lied to me on page 1 and I’m glad of that.
This book hides a beautiful story of two men with the enemies’ shots flying over their heads. This book is about jumping from planes and crashing into the ground and shutting down that afraid little voice in your head that begs you not to jump. This books is about weeks in the cold trenches in the middle of winter, with food running short, with supplies at the minimum and with only a dimming little hope to enlighten their hears. A hope that they will make it to Christmas, to the end of the hell on Earth. This book is about those liberty days secluded in a room and scratching a moment here and there. A one more moment together. A moment together alive. And about comradeship and death.
It’s not a heavy book, and it’s not long, either. But it’s definitely not the cheap version I pictured in my head when I decided to pick it up. Don’t let that cover fool you, it’s more epic than that. It’s much more than the amnesia easy plot. It’s of course not a PWP novel. The ending surprised me, in a good way.
It’s worth reading.
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
Only it wasn’t.
Yes, I’m pretty lame myself, choosing a book with a guy with retrograde amnesia. I plead guilty. The plot says it all: simple, obvious and straight to the point. The character is in a situation of vulnerability and lacking all the social and personal inhibitions that used to stop him from showing his real emotions. But once that obstacle disappears, there is only the raw longings and desires. And the object of such desire is… Yes! The other guy! As it should be.
Everything had a specific path and it was already written. Predictable, silly, definitely entertaining and of course with some PWP sex. Sounded like a plan!
I even made some popcorn. I was ready.
Only I wasn’t.
So, if you are looking for that book, you better start running now, because this is not a book for you.
This book lied to me on page 1 and I’m glad of that.
This book hides a beautiful story of two men with the enemies’ shots flying over their heads. This book is about jumping from planes and crashing into the ground and shutting down that afraid little voice in your head that begs you not to jump. This books is about weeks in the cold trenches in the middle of winter, with food running short, with supplies at the minimum and with only a dimming little hope to enlighten their hears. A hope that they will make it to Christmas, to the end of the hell on Earth. This book is about those liberty days secluded in a room and scratching a moment here and there. A one more moment together. A moment together alive. And about comradeship and death.
It’s not a heavy book, and it’s not long, either. But it’s definitely not the cheap version I pictured in my head when I decided to pick it up. Don’t let that cover fool you, it’s more epic than that. It’s much more than the amnesia easy plot. It’s of course not a PWP novel. The ending surprised me, in a good way.
It’s worth reading.
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
March 20, 2017
I'm such a space-head!
How did I not see that it is totally a "Band of Brothers" m/m fanfic when I read it the first time??
I'm a Band of Brothers huge fan! No wonder I adored this book.
I thought about it often, and I just *needed* to read it again.
How on earth does this book have only 8 ratings and 4 reviews is a HUGE mystery to me!!
Book, to me you are perfect!!!
How did I not see that it is totally a "Band of Brothers" m/m fanfic when I read it the first time??
I'm a Band of Brothers huge fan! No wonder I adored this book.
I thought about it often, and I just *needed* to read it again.
How on earth does this book have only 8 ratings and 4 reviews is a HUGE mystery to me!!
Book, to me you are perfect!!!
December 15, 2015
I love this story. I don't read historicals normally, especially those about war, but this book drew me in and didn't let me go. I've read it a few times, and every single time, I cry.
September 18, 2023
Re-Read: Sept 2023
Original Read: Feb 2022
This was everything I want in a WW2 MM romance! While the establishment of Will and Henry's romance was rushed and filled with eye-rolling plot conveniences, I ended up appreciating that the author found a way to get the characters together quickly (even if her method was ridiculous - ). The reason is because the author wanted to explore how two soldiers would navigate being in a relationship while also fighting on the front lines in WW2 and due to the short length of the book, she didn't want to waste time on the will-they-won't-they part of their relationship. I also liked that both Will and Henry are more or less comfortable with being gay at the start of the story so the plot skips over the usual sexual orientation discovery bit that these books usually have. Once again, I liked that the author had a specific story in mind and got right to it and gave readers lots of time to enjoy that story.
The majority of this story focuses on Will and Henry's experiences being soldiers (paratroopers) on the front lines in France during the last few years of WW2. I loved the attention to historical accuracy in terms of what life was like for the troops on the front lines. Making Henry a medic and giving Will a field promotion to squad leader halfway through allowed the author to portray all kinds of interesting situations related to the war. I really loved that the author didn't shy away or try to sanitize the harsh realities of what these soldiers went through. The book is quite graphic, detailing the filthy conditions, lack of food, horrendous wounds, sleep deprivation and harsh weather conditions that these soldiers had to live through for months at a time. In addition, . Both of these situations are described in graphic detail and the author didn't gloss over either of these horrific situations. Overall, the author did a fantastic job tracing the characters' journey through Europe and through the war by following historical facts but also exploring a variety of settings and situations.
The only area where the author wasn't quite on point in terms of the historical authenticity was the dialog. The author clearly worked hard to remove the majority of modern slang and phrases but there wasn't any 1940s slang either, which stood out. In addition, the characters' speech patterns and the way conversations were had didn't fit with the 1940s time period. But this is definitely on the 'less severe' side of the scale as far as non-historically-accurate dialog is concerned and it's easy to ignore.
Another thing I loved is that many of the side characters (fellow soldiers) play important roles in the story. In particular, I liked how Henry's relationship with his platoon changed and improved as the war goes on. It's never clearly explained, but his platoon found out Henry was gay before they came to Europe and this created a rift between them. But once his fellow soldiers see how professional, courageous and kind Henry is, their attitude towards him (and maybe gay people in general) starts to shift. I especially enjoyed how the relationship between Henry and his platoon Sergeant Giordano changed as the story progressed.
Of course, my favorite part was Henry and Will's relationship. Putting them both on the front lines together created lots of hurt-comfort situations as well as loads of emotional drama that I loved. While I did side-eye the story a few times when Henry and Will are being openly affectionate towards each other, I liked how the author clearly established how much these two love each other but they had to constantly balance their desire to look out for each other with their professional duties and their responsibilities. It felt realistic and it was exactly what I want in a book featuring characters who are soldiers.
The only reason this book wasn't perfect was because the ending felt weirdly rushed and had a fairytale vibe that felt at odds with the rest of the story. Near the end, . While I really liked the parallels that were drawn between the prisoners and Henry and Will, things veered into the eye-rolling area once again (like they had at the beginning of the book) when . It was very odd and unrealistic, which was jarring after the high level of authenticity that the author had established in the rest of the book (except the beginning).
In addition, the end of the story (including the war ending) was all telling instead of showing and was extremely rushed and wrapped everything up in a way too perfect bow. This was a letdown because it stole the potential emotion that these situations could have created. I understand the author didn't want to end the book without having the war end and she also didn't want to write a full length novel, but I wish she had wrapped things up differently.
But asides from my minor issues with the very beginning and the very end, this is one of my favorite WW2 romances and I highly recommend it to people who are looking for a story that does a great job balancing the romance with the realities of fighting on the front lines.
Original Read: Feb 2022
This was everything I want in a WW2 MM romance! While the establishment of Will and Henry's romance was rushed and filled with eye-rolling plot conveniences, I ended up appreciating that the author found a way to get the characters together quickly (even if her method was ridiculous - ). The reason is because the author wanted to explore how two soldiers would navigate being in a relationship while also fighting on the front lines in WW2 and due to the short length of the book, she didn't want to waste time on the will-they-won't-they part of their relationship. I also liked that both Will and Henry are more or less comfortable with being gay at the start of the story so the plot skips over the usual sexual orientation discovery bit that these books usually have. Once again, I liked that the author had a specific story in mind and got right to it and gave readers lots of time to enjoy that story.
The majority of this story focuses on Will and Henry's experiences being soldiers (paratroopers) on the front lines in France during the last few years of WW2. I loved the attention to historical accuracy in terms of what life was like for the troops on the front lines. Making Henry a medic and giving Will a field promotion to squad leader halfway through allowed the author to portray all kinds of interesting situations related to the war. I really loved that the author didn't shy away or try to sanitize the harsh realities of what these soldiers went through. The book is quite graphic, detailing the filthy conditions, lack of food, horrendous wounds, sleep deprivation and harsh weather conditions that these soldiers had to live through for months at a time. In addition, . Both of these situations are described in graphic detail and the author didn't gloss over either of these horrific situations. Overall, the author did a fantastic job tracing the characters' journey through Europe and through the war by following historical facts but also exploring a variety of settings and situations.
The only area where the author wasn't quite on point in terms of the historical authenticity was the dialog. The author clearly worked hard to remove the majority of modern slang and phrases but there wasn't any 1940s slang either, which stood out. In addition, the characters' speech patterns and the way conversations were had didn't fit with the 1940s time period. But this is definitely on the 'less severe' side of the scale as far as non-historically-accurate dialog is concerned and it's easy to ignore.
Another thing I loved is that many of the side characters (fellow soldiers) play important roles in the story. In particular, I liked how Henry's relationship with his platoon changed and improved as the war goes on. It's never clearly explained, but his platoon found out Henry was gay before they came to Europe and this created a rift between them. But once his fellow soldiers see how professional, courageous and kind Henry is, their attitude towards him (and maybe gay people in general) starts to shift. I especially enjoyed how the relationship between Henry and his platoon Sergeant Giordano changed as the story progressed.
Of course, my favorite part was Henry and Will's relationship. Putting them both on the front lines together created lots of hurt-comfort situations as well as loads of emotional drama that I loved. While I did side-eye the story a few times when Henry and Will are being openly affectionate towards each other, I liked how the author clearly established how much these two love each other but they had to constantly balance their desire to look out for each other with their professional duties and their responsibilities. It felt realistic and it was exactly what I want in a book featuring characters who are soldiers.
The only reason this book wasn't perfect was because the ending felt weirdly rushed and had a fairytale vibe that felt at odds with the rest of the story. Near the end, . While I really liked the parallels that were drawn between the prisoners and Henry and Will, things veered into the eye-rolling area once again (like they had at the beginning of the book) when . It was very odd and unrealistic, which was jarring after the high level of authenticity that the author had established in the rest of the book (except the beginning).
In addition, the end of the story (including the war ending) was all telling instead of showing and was extremely rushed and wrapped everything up in a way too perfect bow. This was a letdown because it stole the potential emotion that these situations could have created. I understand the author didn't want to end the book without having the war end and she also didn't want to write a full length novel, but I wish she had wrapped things up differently.
But asides from my minor issues with the very beginning and the very end, this is one of my favorite WW2 romances and I highly recommend it to people who are looking for a story that does a great job balancing the romance with the realities of fighting on the front lines.
November 22, 2015
It would have more stars if I could give them. I was completely immersed in this story from the beginning. I don't usually read historicals from the 20th century but Bailey's other M/M book, "Compromised" was so good, I decided to try this one. So glad I did. I felt every moment of the story; the horrors of the war, the determination and brotherhood of the soldiers, the sound of bullets and bombs and overall the love and commitment between Will and Henry. So well researched and so well written. This was not erotica but truly a romance. I will have Bailey on my auto-buy list of authors.
March 13, 2017
I will preface this by saying I was worried this would read a lot like a Band of Brothers fanfic. It didn't for the most part, and then the few times it did, I was totally okay with it.
I really loved our leads but at the same time I also enjoyed the side characters- especially Giordano. Will and Henry were great together. And I love the friendships they formed with the other guys as well. Again, mostly Giordano but there were a few others that got to shine for a bit.
Best thing about this story? LOW ANGST! OMG, it is so hard to find a historical M/M Romance without it drowning in angst. I get it. The time period wasn't good for homosexuals, I get it. But that doesn't mean you have to make it a focus of the story. And this is a perfect example of how you can make it true to the period while avoiding overdoing the anti-gay sentiment. The fact of the matter is that during WW2 most gay couples were ignored. No one really cared about it. Sure you had officers that would be a problem and you had plenty of people caught and discharged, but by in large your enlisted men didn't have problems because they all went through hell together. And that's something this book does beautifully. (And if you're worried about graphic violence/gore, you're safe there too.)
My only real complaint is that Henry was carrying a rifle. The Geneva Convention didn't forbid medics from carrying weapons, but they weren't allowed to use them offensively. They were allowed to defend themselves and their patients but that was all. Because of this some medics didn't carry weapons at all, but most carried a sidearm. I've never read a case where a medic carried a rifle. Frankly I believe it would have made them a target. It's a small nitpick, I admit, and even knowing that it wasn't quite right, I was okay with it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to WW2 addicts, Band of Brothers fans, and people wanting a lighter Historical.
I really loved our leads but at the same time I also enjoyed the side characters- especially Giordano. Will and Henry were great together. And I love the friendships they formed with the other guys as well. Again, mostly Giordano but there were a few others that got to shine for a bit.
Best thing about this story? LOW ANGST! OMG, it is so hard to find a historical M/M Romance without it drowning in angst. I get it. The time period wasn't good for homosexuals, I get it. But that doesn't mean you have to make it a focus of the story. And this is a perfect example of how you can make it true to the period while avoiding overdoing the anti-gay sentiment. The fact of the matter is that during WW2 most gay couples were ignored. No one really cared about it. Sure you had officers that would be a problem and you had plenty of people caught and discharged, but by in large your enlisted men didn't have problems because they all went through hell together. And that's something this book does beautifully. (And if you're worried about graphic violence/gore, you're safe there too.)
My only real complaint is that Henry was carrying a rifle. The Geneva Convention didn't forbid medics from carrying weapons, but they weren't allowed to use them offensively. They were allowed to defend themselves and their patients but that was all. Because of this some medics didn't carry weapons at all, but most carried a sidearm. I've never read a case where a medic carried a rifle. Frankly I believe it would have made them a target. It's a small nitpick, I admit, and even knowing that it wasn't quite right, I was okay with it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to WW2 addicts, Band of Brothers fans, and people wanting a lighter Historical.
December 12, 2023
These two literally jumped into it, the war that is. Henry and Will are part of a parachute platoon that are jumping into German occupied France just ahead of D-Day to support the landing. Bad weather and German fire make the jump less than ideal. Will lands in a tree suffering a nasty knock to the head. Henry, the platoon's field medic was lucky he missed the trees but knows that they're not where they need to be. Will's inhibitions are low when Henry finds him and he kisses Henry. Henry puts the kiss down to Willis injury, but Will insists that he's in earnest and thus their romance begins. Finding time to be together in the midst of the war isn't easy especially when the two aren't in the same platoon. A great love story in a time and place where a love like theirs is nothing if not dangerous.
March 19, 2022
Oh yes. This was a great read. If you're hesitating to read it because of how short it looks, like I was, then you don't need to. Although I did want some more of Will and Henry's story, the shortness doesn't make you feel like something's missing or lacking. There was the perfect amount of relationship building with just the necessary number of side characters and their relationship building with the MCs and there was an overlying message, with an accurate(as far as I could tell) historical setting. I especially loved Giordano; I think he'll be the first character that's my favorite who isn't the MC.
May 4, 2024
The romance between Henry and Will felt forced. It felt like Henry had more romantic tension with his friend/superior Giordano than Will.
May 27, 2016
Holding My Breath All The Way
What a heart-rendering, heart-in-mouth and breathtaking ride this is. I am becoming more familiar with, and appreciative of, MM romances in WWII, a subject I avoided for a long time because I was born in the year before it ended and there are too many memories. Lately, however, some of the best MM romances I've read are from that war, and this one is at the top of the list.
Short, swiftly to the point, and heartbreakingly accurate every step of the way, this one is in the third person but it completely focuses on medic Henry Iverson's day-to-day experiences after the D-Day invasion of France, while at the same time making sure we know that his lover Will Rollins is always around, even when they are separated by the cruelties of conflict.
The interludes they share are as daring as one expects for the army and the era, but there are some very good secondary characters here who keep the book grounded in reality, but not to a point where there is violence (save for one scene).
This is a romance to be treasured, and if the author deigns, to continue in a sequel. What a loving tale of a horrifying war.
What a heart-rendering, heart-in-mouth and breathtaking ride this is. I am becoming more familiar with, and appreciative of, MM romances in WWII, a subject I avoided for a long time because I was born in the year before it ended and there are too many memories. Lately, however, some of the best MM romances I've read are from that war, and this one is at the top of the list.
Short, swiftly to the point, and heartbreakingly accurate every step of the way, this one is in the third person but it completely focuses on medic Henry Iverson's day-to-day experiences after the D-Day invasion of France, while at the same time making sure we know that his lover Will Rollins is always around, even when they are separated by the cruelties of conflict.
The interludes they share are as daring as one expects for the army and the era, but there are some very good secondary characters here who keep the book grounded in reality, but not to a point where there is violence (save for one scene).
This is a romance to be treasured, and if the author deigns, to continue in a sequel. What a loving tale of a horrifying war.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews