Books that linger

I can't speak on behalf of other people but every now and again I will read a book that haunts me. Sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a 'can't get it out of my head' way. Has this ever happened to you? Something that totally moved you for one reason or another? Here are some of mine:


Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell & Patrick Robinson



Blurb:
"Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to be very close to Bin Laden with a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, SEAL fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His squadmates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.

A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared. His account of his squadmates' heroism and mutual support renders an experience that is both heartrending and life-affirming. In this rich chronicle of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers a powerful narrative of modern war."

Holy Crap but this book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride and to this day my mind wanders back to those men and their families. I haven't re-read this book, I don't know if emotionally I can handle the onslaught. If you haven't read this I suggest you go and grab yourself a copy, it's been released as a Mass Market.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Blurb:
"Blue-Eyed Devil" is the story of the charming, volatile and ambitious Hardy Cates, who is determined to carry out his private revenge against the Travis family. Haven is the rebellious Travis daughter who struggles against her overpowering attraction to the most dangerous man in town. But when Hardy crashes a Travis family wedding, the heiress and the bad boy uncover an explosive chemistry that neither of them can deny. Hardy Cates is an unscrupulous rascal, but now he's trying to clean up his act. He is looking for the perfect society wife, the kind of woman Haven Travis could never be. Having once been burned by a love affair gone wrong, Haven vows to stay far away from the sexy heartbreaker. However, Haven discovers that the temptation of a blue-eyed devil is hard to resist. And then when a menace from Haven's past appears, Hardy may be the only one to save her..."

Honestly this blurb does not do this book justice. What the blurb fails to tell the reader, Haven the heroine of this book is a victim of domestic violence. Ms. Kleypas handled this book with care and respect and made this journey emotional yet heart warming. Powerful in it's message and powerful that love and healing can conquer all.


Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks


Blurb:
"For five years, Serena has run Fantasy Incorporated and has devoted her time to fulfilling her clients’ fantasies. Never her own. Until now…

Her most secret desire is to give ownership of her body to a man. Someone who will command her, pleasure her, and have complete authority over her. So she seeks out Damon Roche, owner of an exclusive sex club and a man strong enough to make her do anything he wants. Anything.

Together they’ll journey into a world she’s only dreamed of. She’s given the opportunity to immerse herself in a different life while her normal one waits for her to return whenever she wishes. Damon has no desire to let her go, however. Serena is the woman he’s long searched for, and it’s up to him to convince her to stay when the game is all over with. He wants their fantasy to become their reality and for Serena to remain his pampered, cherished submissive."

Wow, this book made me very uncomfortable, talk about reading outside your comfort zone. 'Submissive' does not describe what Serena has in mind. Slave is a better descriptor. This book had all my feminine hackles raised and screaming. While I always say each to their own and truly mean it, it was the hardest read in a long time and yet the hardest book to put down. Ms. Banks always does a wonderful job handling off the beaten path subjects. Serena still lingers in my mind and I could probably talk this book to death!


These are just a few in my favorite pile. What books are in yours?