DNF

From Alaska with Love

You’re going to see the DNF and think that this is a terrible book but the heartbreaking reality is that this is actually a good book with some bad moments.

On a whim, Sara takes part in a project that sends cards to the troops for Easter. Her card ends up on Major Gabriel Randall’s desk. Cue an adorable conversation of emails, messages and FaceTime conversations. And I do mean ADORABLE. But Sara is conflicted; for the past three years she has worked as her brother’s nanny, taking care of her niece. Her mother is a narcissist and emotionally manipulates Sara into taking care of her too. Sara could just say no. But will she? Will she choose her family or herself?

It’s a romance, so we all know how it ends, but I’m still sad I didn’t get to enjoy what promised to be an emotionally satisfying conclusion. The sadness is also caused in part by the gratuitous slut shaming and casual sexism in the book. I can kind of understand sexism as a plot device, but when it serves no purpose in the plot, why does it need to be there? Each instance of slut-shaming, (for example: “since when is it a bad thing not to be a bed-hopping party girl?”) and ‘locker room talk’ (for example: “Dude, I hope she’s hot, because she’s obviously not the sharpest crayon in the pack”) would bounce me out of the story and I would struggle to find my way back into it.

Plot-wise we’re in new territory for me too; this is my first military hero book and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I appreciated the political neutrality, but personally the argument that “I’m just doing my job” doesn’t sit well with me. Obviously this is a combination of culture (being in the army isn’t as significant in South Africa as it is in the States) and personal opinion (I veer towards pacifism).

I’ve realised two key things. First, I’m no good with military heroes and I’m not going to do a book with a military MC any justice. Second, and more importantly, casual sexism is now so jarring to me that even a few instances of it is enough to put me off a book. While I don’t want to change this about myself, it does close the cover on this book.

– Lara

A soldier has six weeks to convince the only woman he has ever longed for to take a chance on life with him in Alaska….
Sara’s letters were the only bright spot during Gabe’s devastating tour in Iraq. With each new correspondence he fell harder, needed her more, wanted to be with her. Now, after initially rejecting his offer to meet, she’s shown up at the door of his isolated cabin in Alaska looking for…what? Gabe’s not sure what made Sara change her mind, but he knows he never wants to let her go.
Major Gabe Randall is everything Sara Ryan wants but nothing she feels she deserves. A modern-day spinster, Sara hides behind family obligations and the safe, quiet life she’s resigned herself to living. But secretly, even though she may have stretched the truth about who she is in her letters to him, she wants Gabe. Will he still want her when he discovers the real woman behind the pen?
Once they meet, Gabe asks her for six weeks in Alaska. Six weeks to spend getting to know each other, and then she’ll have to decide whether they are better together or apart.