His Soldier by Anna Lee

Sometimes you find love where you least expect it, for Sergeant Ryder Brooks that’s writing letters home to Dean Anders, his army pen pal…

After a tragedy, in a way to honor his brother and try to cope, Dean becomes a army pen pal to Sergeant Ryder Brooks. The two connect through letters and phone calls for a year, falling in love and making plans to meet when Ryder finishes his tour. However, in an effort to save one of his men who steps on a mine, Ryder loses his leg. Broken and depressed, he doesn't think Dean will want him. But once Dean learns what happens, he immediately goes to Ryder, determined to help him heal and show him that he loves him no matter what. Ryder has a long road of recovery ahead of him, but with Dean's support, he realizes his life isn't over, it's just beginning if he’ll only give them a chance.

This is about Dean, a school teacher that at a young age was kicked out of his home because he was gay. His best friend, Dax and Dax’s family took him in and raised him. While Dean went to college, Dax joined the military and made the ultimate sacrifice. While helping Dax’s Mama clean out his belongings, they started talking about the pen pal program and Dean decides to start writing to someone. Ryder is on deployment and signed up for the program, never expected to receive a letter. But once he and Dean started corresponding he quickly decides he can’t leave without the man.  And shy Dean never expected to fall in love with solider. Until one day, a simple misstep threatens to take it all away.  Can Ryder overcome what he feels is now less than a man? Can Dean step out of shell and be the man Ryder needs?

I loved everything about this story. I loved the fact that we got the back story but we didn’t spend a ton of time on it. After all this is Ryder and Dean’s story. I liked that they spent a year getting to know each other. Before becoming roommates and more, I liked reading the letters back and forth but again I’m super glad the whole book wasn’t filled with them. That actually made me nervous when I first signed up that it would be, so pleasantly surprised. Liked all the extra drama, they had to go through, it’s not just a simple story but lots of extra people making it difficult for these two.  And in the end they stood by each other against the world!

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