In Embattled Minds by J.M. Madden, Zeke Foster had it all in high school: he was the classic jock with girls rushing to date him. After graduation, Zeke enlists in the Marines and is sent to Afghanistan, where he is seriously injured in combat. The battle leaves him physically scarred and with a traumatic brain injury that affects his speech. Once Zeke is recovered enough to resume life as a civilian, he joins the Lost N Found Investigative Service. On a chance encounter while having a drink with some buddies, he meets Ember Norton. Will she be able to see past the scars and love him?
I seriously can not say enough good things about this series!! Madden does such a superb job with every story. She pays such respect to her characters, especially the veterans, that it will bring tears to your eyes.
Embattled Hearts is John and Shannon’s story. The two of them have been working together for about six months and both have feelings for the other one but have yet to act on them. That all changes when John takes up a short term residence at Shannon’s house to protect her due to a stalker. While under the same roof, feelings start to come out and they slowly start up a relationship. John is the same stubborn hard ass he has been since was injured serving his country and Shannon is just the right girl for John, not putting up with his crap.
These three heroes each have physical and emotional challenges any Marine would have given the situation they lived through. It was very interesting watching them go through their hospital stay post injury and the road they each took from there.We don’t normally get to see the gritty stuff like this in typical romance books so the truth and rawness of these stories pulls you in and really has you falling for these guys and cheering for them.