Ami's Hoard

Truly Sweet is the last book from Candis Terry's Sweet, Texas series -- and this basically a story about returning home and making it there after life gets you down. Marine Lieutenant Jake Wilder returns to Sweet, Texas after being honorably discharged -- he suffered injuries from his last mission in Afghanistan, which killed his best friend, Eli. While single mother Abby Morgan is back in Sweet since his no-good boyfriend left her when she was pregnant with their baby. So in a way, both Jake and Abby are trying to build their life again.

I found Annie to be my favorite among all of the women -- despite being slapped by life when she found herself with a baby and a missing boyfriend, Annie decides that she would not easily give up. I truly loved her determination; especially regarding Jake. Annie had a crush over Jake since they were only teenagers, and now that Jake is back in town, the crush has slowly transformed into love. What makes Annie a champion in my book is how she can see right through Jake. Annie understands Jake; she she knows him even more than Jake knows himself. Annie challenges Jake; she refuses to let Jake gives half of what he could give... and she sees what Jake needs to do for them to finally have a relationship...

... this isn't about me understanding. This is about your life. You keep taking two steps forward and one step back. For your own good, you need to keep moving forward. You have to figure this out. Trying to push it back isn't working...

Jake isn't too bad either -- well, when he doesn't frustrate me that is :). However, I also know that there IS such thing as survivor's guilt. Jake feels that he cannot keep the promise to his best friend (who died during their assignment) and this scars him. While this theme might be used quite often in regards to military characters, but at the same time Jake's inability to fully commit feels more believable for me compared to the other men in the previous books. Jake has a baggage and he must face it before he could open love fully. The part where he did brought tears to my eyes. It was a bit heartbreaking but hopeful at the same time.

I loved the chemistry between Annie and Jake -- they bicker wonderfully, that's for sure. Added with an adorable one-year-old baby and a dog named Hank, I thought the book as a satisfying closure to the series.