#QueerLitLoft

Valden Bush’s newest release Brave Enough to Love hits the ground running, firing readers deep into the heart of the action.

What I enjoyed the most is that the author does a superb job at creating a storytelling environment where readers get a full sense of who the main characters are, not just emotionally but professionally as well.

Between Captain Jo Fitzgerald’s dedication to the British Army and her work as a Female Engagement Officer, and Toni James’ determination to be a top journalist away from her mother’s shadow, it could be easy for the story to become lost in the details. Rather, the details complimented Jo’s and Toni’s journeys in Afghanistan – I found myself deeply absorbed in their professions, in particular gaining a tangible insight into what it’s like to be deployed and out on patrol. Through Jo’s expertise and Toni’s fresh eyes, there’s a smooth transition into a world many readers likely know little about.

I also liked that the plot is modern and explore topics from recent years in terms of media transparency, misogyny in the armed forces, and the consequences of armed conflict on local civilians. All engaging and interesting issues which provide the perfect battleground for Jo and Toni’s verbal tussles. Those battlegrounds are etched with the opposing lines of desire and love, duty and truth. Is it possible to hold them all at once, or is an implosion inevitable?

The romance aspect of the plot is prominent – Jo is lumbered with ‘babysitting’ Toni; protecting her whilst out on patrol and at the base, despite Toni’s dangerous endeavours to pull out a Pulitzer-winning scoop. This sets up nicely a great enemies-to-lovers trope intertwined with a close proximity scenario. I also liked that the author pulls out more than just desire and danger from the main characters. There’s a beautiful part of the story where Jo and Toni both share their vulnerabilities under the guise of somethings being better suited to conversations in the dark – a place where those vulnerabilities can stay if needed, never to see the light of day. I could visualise this perfectly, the creation of a safe space for each of the characters to not only let go a little in a hostile environment but to let each other in too.

Brave Enough to Love is an enthralling story with two strong professional women striving to answer the call of duty whilst attempting to ignore the complicated lure of love. I hope the author continues to write in the action/romance genre, because she excels at it.

I received an ARC of this book from Butterworth Books, in exchange for an honest review.

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