Even though these books are fiction you can certainly tell that the authors own life experiences influence each book. This story delves into what is like when a woman that has been deployed and lost a good friend to the war returns home a different person than what she was when she left and her struggles with how to “come home” which is the basis for all the books in this series. Both the main characters are in the Army and have been in a long term relationship that includes a child. For the past two years they both did a deployment at opposite times so one of them was home with the daughter. When Samanatha returns though from her deployment she is dead inside and takes her daughter and leaves instead of going to see someone or even talking things out with Patrick.

I am sure that every instance is different on how men and women compartmentalize their feelings and that is certainly at the fore front in this novella. One of the biggest touching moments was when Patrick decided he needed to open up and tell Samantha some of things that had happened to him while over there and how he came back and dealt with them, showed her that what she was feeling (or her lack of feeling) was perfectly normal and she just needed to open up and let out all of her grief whether that be with him or with a doctor.

This was another great addition to the Coming Home series that packed a mighty punch in a short novella.
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I loved this book! I've read many stories detailing the issues of men returning home from deployment but this was the first one I've read that was focused on the issues of a woman. It is beautifully done and really made me think.

As a mother and partner in a long term relationship, Samantha found it difficult dealing with day to day life as well as coping with the difficult images and losses she incurred in Iraq. When long time partner Patrick decides to fight for her rather than let her walk away Samantha is forced to face her fears.

I would recommend this book to everyone. A truly beautiful story. ( )

Coming Home by Jessica Scott – A Homefront Novella is a 2014 publication.

This holiday themed novella is centered around Samantha, Iraq war veteran, who returned home from her deployment feeling shell shocked. She feels disconnected from her daughter, Natalie, and can't feel anything for her lover, Patrick, a man who has been the only father her daughter has ever known.

So, she returns home to Maine, where her family lives for the holidays and maybe for good. But, when Natalie calls Patrick begging him to come to Maine because something is wrong with her mom, who cries all the time, he can't refuse. He's ready to fight for the woman he loves and for the little girl he thinks of as his own daughter.

This emotional read highlights the incredible difficulty soldiers have readjusting to civilian life and to the great loss and tragedies they see and endure during war. Patrick was the perfect partner for Sam because he could relate to what she was going through. He was strong, patient, and determined, even though he was scared to death of losing Sam and Natalie.

I can't say I related to Sam because I have never been in that type of situation, but I could empathize with her plight. It made perfect sense to me that she would feel numb and have problems reconnecting with life after all the had been through. So, with the help of Patrick she is on the right path for recovery and I think she made some good solid choices here and she learns that he does have still have the capacity to feel. Her road will be a rocky one, but she has the best support team ever! 4 stars ( )