5 Beautiful Stars!!!"Caro... I don't understand, why do you love me?"
"Just because... because the sky is blue and the sea is green."
“It’s been ten years, Caro,” he said, seriously. “I’ve waited long enough.”
It has been ten years, since that day where their lives were shattered. Where they were forced to be apart. Caroline is now a military journalist, writing under the name Lee Venzi, and living the life she had always planned with Sebastian, just ten years earlier. The only thing missing... is Sebastian. Sebastian is now a Chief of the US Marines, a well-known womanizer and a heavy drinker. He is hard, bitter, and doesn't remotely resemble that youth that was full of life, he once was.
"Did you mean it, Caro? Did you mean it when you said you loved me?"
"Yes, tesoro, I did. I loved you very much. But you're not the person I knew ten years ago. The Sebastian I knew was sweet and gentle and loving,... but your anger scares me... I can see that you think I let you down badly, but I can't fix it either - I can't change the past."
After that terrible cliffhanger, I had to dive quickly into this one. I couldn't believe so much time had passed. I wanted to know why they never contacted each other, when they had agreed to meet again in three years. Caroline is hired to write about those US soldiers, who fight for their country in Afghanistan. She is sent to Geneva, Switzerland first, where she will learn the basics to self preservation. To her shock, one of the instructors is none other than Sebastian Hunter, who is the language expert.
"Why didn't you come back?" he sobbed. "I waited and waited for you, like I said I would, but you never came back! Why? Why didn't you come back? I love you, I love you, I love you."
After a not so happy reunion, Caroline just wants to get away from Sebastian, but has trouble getting her papers to go to Afghanistan. Sebastian doesn't want her to go, so he prevents her papers from going through too quickly by pulling a few strings. Instead of just staying in Geneva, he suggest they go on the Italian adventure that they talked about doing all those years ago. Caroline may want to resist him, but finds she can't, so she agrees to go with him.
"I really fucking hate this, Caro. We're always running in different directions, we're always running out of time. I just want to wake up with you in my arms every day."
Unfortunately, not everything goes smoothly as expected, and soon Caroline learns that Sebastian is feeling resentful towards her because he thinks she never loved him enough to look for him. It takes a while, but they finally work together and accept that they love each other and can't stay away. Suddenly, they find they don't have much time, because Sebastian is being sent to Afghanistan. The separation is short lived, and Caroline ends up embedded with Sebastian's team. But they must keep their relationship a secret, or their careers will be damaged.
"I haven't changed how I feel. I still love you - I've always loved you. It's only ever been you."
David makes an appearance and I was surprised with him in this book. He was very kind and without a semblance to the man I had seen and thought he was. I had hated him in the first book. But I have to say, he was a bigger man than I had initally thought of him. He apologized and owned up to all the wrongs he had done to Caroline. I can tell he still very much loves and cares for her, and that all he did, was stemmed from his insecurities. He couldn't bear losing her, so he made sure she was dependant on him so she would never leave. Little did he know he was pushing her away. I know that everything he did was completely wrong, but I ended up forgiving him.
"I love you, Sebastian, please don't push me away. I love you."
"Oh God, Caro. I just don't know what I'm doing any more; I'm so fucked up - I feel like I can't fucking breathe. Don't give up on me, Caro. Please don't give up on me. I need you, baby. I love you so much. I'm so sorry."
The events after Afghanistan, were utter painful for me. No matter what I did, the tears would not stop. As I was reading how much Sebastian was struggling, now that he was back in the US, it totally broke my heart. I was feeling every bit of pain and frustration that Caroline was feeling. I couldn't stand my emotions. I didn't know if he would ever heal or if their relationship could take that kind of a strain. I am so GLAD that Caro never gave up on him. She proved to me how strong of a woman she has become. Especially, after being so mistreated by Sebastian, when it was reminiscent to her life with her ex-husband.
'Despite the difficulties we had been through, despite the difficulties we had yet to face, I had never been happier in my whole life, full of hope gazing through tears at the man I loved. We were beginning again, or, perhaps, adding a new chapter to our story.'
The ending was beautiful, and just, so them. I loved it! As well as the whole story. It was a long journey, but I enjoyed every moment of it. I Highly recommend this wonderfully written book.
