New Review~~ Matt and Zoe by Charles Sheehan-Miles
Synopsis
When Army Sergeant Zoe Welch learns of the tragic death of her parents in a car accident, she has one concern: the care of her eight-year-old sister Jasmine. Once discharged from the Army, Zoe travels home from Tokyo to a life she never planned on.
Matt Paladino is Jasmine’s 3rd grade teacher. Handsome and athletic, Matt’s deeply concerned about Jasmine’s welfare. But Matt has secrets, hidden in the dark three-ring circus of his past.
When Matt and Zoe’s lives collide, they seem made for each other. But will the pasts that haunt them both keep them apart?
Nicole’s 4 Star Review
| Charles Sheehan-Miles’, Matt and Zoe, struck a cord with me for many reasons. Filled with references to what life is really like when a soldier leaves the Army, set in one of my favorite places on Earth, and what true self sacrifice looks like, Matt and Zoe is a great read.
Zoe is an Army Sergeant who separates from the Army because her parents are killed in a freak, tragic accident and she must return to her hometown to raise her younger sister, Jasmine. Zoe is no sissy. She served as an MP (military police) in Iraq for goodness sake! She can handle being under pressure, making split second decisions and taking charge of a situation. She does not, however, have a CLUE as to how to raise her eight-year-old sister. Faced with grieving both her parents and the loss of her Army career, Zoe must set her shoulders and soldier on…because her little sister needs her to. Unbeknownst to Zoe, she has an ally. Matt Paladino is Jasmine’s second grade, and then her third grade teacher. Matt gets Jasmine. He’s one of those teachers that kids can count on to be straight with them and consistent in their expectations. With Matt’s help, Zoe can give Jasmine the stability that she needs. Along the way, Matt and Zoe connect in more than just a parent/teacher kind of way. And like any good romance, there are secrets, miscommunication, missed opportunities and swoon-worthy moments. Set in one of my favorite places in the country, Western Massachusetts, familiar places, like UMASS, Amherst, and Northampton, all made Matt and Zoe’s story seem real. Being able to actually see those places in my mind meant that I could feel the fleeting warmth of summer as autumn approaches. Knowing the culture of the area made the local events more real. Matt and Zoe is an easy read, perfect for curling up in your favorite chair and getting lost in. |
About the Author
Charles Sheehan-Miles has been a soldier, computer programmer, short-order cook and non-profit executive, and is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including the indie bestsellers Just Remember to Breathe and Republic: A Novel of America’s Future. Charles and his partner Andrea Randall live and write together in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Find out more at http://www.sheehanmiles.com
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RHF9Mc
