COME BACK TO ME by Melissa Foster
Published by Greenforge Books (October 26, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0984716513
ISBN-13: 978-0984716517
At the request of the author, a Kindle edition was provided, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (from Amazon): As featured in USA Today's, Happily Ever After blog, "Come Back to Me is perceptive and penetrating look at the intricacies of love, respect and relationships. Foster's characters are solid; her writing style engaging and her story moving." --IndieReader 5 STARS
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Tess Johnson has it all: her handsome photographer husband Beau, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret--only she's never given the chance. Beau's helicopter crashes in the desert.

Tess struggles with the news of Beau's death and tries to put her life back together. Alone and dealing with a pregnancy that only reminds her of what she has lost, Tess is adrift in a world of failed plans and fallen expectations. When a new client appears offering more than just a new project, Tess must confront the circumstances of her life head on.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing honor killings find Beau barely alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged by the crash. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.

What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

My Thoughts and Opinion: This book is poignant, heart wrenching, emotional, a love story, suspenseful, with images of war, real life trauma, betrayals, friendships, family dynamics, lies, secrets, and so much more, that once the first page is opened, it can't be put down. Bravo Ms. Foster!!!! I finished reading this book on JDecember 30th, 2011, and as the saying goes, saved the best for last. This was definitely one of my top 5 books of 2011.

Ms. Foster's writing style allowed the characters to jump from the pages, they were so life like. Her writing style, with detailed descriptions, allowed me to create images as if it were in real time be it if I was in Iraq or standing outside the doors of both the ICU and PICU of the hospital. The emotions and relationship dynamics between the characters were so profound and touching within the story line. However, for the reader, at least for this reader, thought provoking as each character examined their own what ifs and the guilt of their actions that might have changed the course of the outcome (vague--do not want to include spoilers).

This is the 2nd book I have read of Ms. Foster's. The fist being Megan's Way, which I also enjoyed. I highly recommend not only this book but this author. This book is a must read, but, it is a box of tissue read. An Awesome Read!!!!

My Rating: 5 ( )

From my blog

Powerful, engaging, heartbreaking with an emotional grace. Melissa Foster has captured my heart and attention, definitely an author I will continue to watch and support. If you like Kristin Hannah, you will enjoy her books.

Every character is able to capture your heart and make you feel connected to them. When they hurt, you hurt, when they are conflicted, you understand and when someone dies you grieve as if you were family. Melissa has a special way of including a plot with great characters, creating a special story, no need to choose one over the other.

I enjoyed the style of the chapters going between Iraq and Maryland, back and fourth with what Beau is going through and Tess back home grieving for him. Dealing with loss and grief when you do not have a body to make it final was the fight Tess had and her family and friends trying to convince her to move on and allow them this process to grieve. Tess was unable to abide or share their belief, she continued to say Beau promised to 'come back to me'. This was used one to many times in my opinion but also effective.
There were so many delightful moments in this book. I had a gasp out loud moment at midnight, totally woke me, I got up and emailed Melissa immediately, subject line OMG....... Melissa happened to be online and emailed me right back. Got to love authors that connect with their fans. She made me cry, laugh and totally pissed off with characters at times. I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster.

When I first started to read I said oh no a war story, this is not of interest to me. I'm so glad I accepted to review this because I would have lost out on a remarkable story. Iraq and the flight from war felt true and the nationals authentic.
I have found Melissa's books to be the perfect book club reads and definitely for those that love adult fiction that pulls at your emotions. Highly recommend.

A favourite quote - He battled the dilemma within the confines of is mind, desperately trying to convince himself that the feeling, the pull to protect, was driven by circumstance, not by desire. ( )