Battle Born by Caitlin Ricci

Three years after running from Thornwood, Colorado, to join the Army, Daniel Messana is no closer to figuring out who he is or what he wants out of life. Now that he’s home, his constant companions are loneliness, PTSD, and guilt over the way he mistreated one of his brothers and abandoned the other.

Franklin Cooper, or Coop, enlisted at eighteen and loved every minute he spent in the Army—until an IED in Afghanistan took his sight. Now he’s home and, with his service dog by his side, ready to regain his independence. The trouble is no one will let him do anything for himself. He’s drowning beneath his family’s oppressive love, and his only respite is the time he’s allowed to spend at the on-base pizza place once a week. That’s where he meets Daniel, and those afternoons become even more special. But both men have a lot to work through before they can take the next step together.

A Companion to the Robbie & Sam Series

Book 3
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Harmony Ink

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This was the second story that I’ve read in this series. While I really liked the first one, this was somewhat disappointing.

Daniel has just returned from the Army and while he has learned a lot about the world outside of him and his father, I felt that he was still so immature in his view. I did like that he was able to grow more about his family, but also felt that it was very limited in how he was forgiven and how he was able to grow within his role as the big brother. I didn’t feel that he really embraced that again.

Then you have Coop. He’s learning that despite his injury, he still can be independent. I like that he was able to show Daniel that being gay wasn’t a bad thing, but I also thought Coop’s view of the situation between Daniel and his family was juvenile – there was really no depth to his understanding.

I like how Daniel was Coop’s champion – he wanted Coop to be independent, all while knowing that Coop will always need help with some things. I did think that their relationship was very “insta” and that bothered me some too.

I think, in the end, there was so much potential in this story and I just didn’t feel that it developed that way. Also, the ending seemed incredibly abrupt.

Also Available in the Robbie & Sam Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Harmony Ink

For reviews & more info, check out our Weathering the Storm post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Harmony Ink

For reviews & more info, check out our Head Above Water post.

Caitlin began writing when she was in middle school but it wasn't until 2012 that she first got up the guts to submit something to a publisher. That first short story was accepted and later that same year she quit her job and became a full time author. She is forever grateful to her readers for giving her first short story a chance and for their continued support as well.

Caitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiancé and their two dogs. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.

Connect with Caitlin

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Battle Born (Robbie & Sam #3) by Caitlin Ricci to read and review.

Head Above Water by Caitlin Ricci

Robbie’s life has improved since coming to Thornwood. Dan is safely behind bars where he can no longer hurt Robbie, his boyfriend, Sam, is loving and supportive, and he finds tranquility while riding his horse.

But Robbie still faces obstacles. Dan’s abuse haunts him, and the repercussions don’t end there. One brother’s pain and another’s rage threaten to rip Robbie’s family apart.

Sam cherishes his time riding with Robbie and the peace they find when they’re alone together. He’d do anything to preserve that happiness for Robbie, but the world and its problems are never far behind them—and they’ll need all their strength to deal with what might be their biggest challenge yet.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Harmony Ink

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the second book in the Ricci series. While I was glad that this series has continued, this book had some definite ups and downs.

Daniel is still sour about his life, the direction it's headed and confused. Not only does he take it out on his youngest brother, but on Robbie, still, too. He is mean, unsympathetic, and vindictive. It was a relief when he decided that he needed to leave.

Sam and Robbie are trying to navigate their relationship. It's new, but something that they both need and deserve. Even though there are some communication issues between the two, they seem to know when and how to push.

Sam knows that if he gives Robbie his full support, that even though Robbie is struggling right now, they will come through together. Robbie is it for Sam.

Robbie is struggling with what was revealed during the first book – his father's identity. Does he pursue a relationship with him? Will it help heal his broken heart?

This book reveals a lot more of the dynamic between brothers, Robbie and Sam's relationship, and the relationship between the kids' guardian. The chemistry between the lovers was lukewarm at best – but I think that this book was about more than their relationship. But, because this book was about more than their relationship, it seemed to have so much going on that there was a lot to digest in a short amount of time.

Overall, this was just okay for me.

Also Available in the Robbie & Sam Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Harmony Ink

For reviews & more info, check out our Weathering the Storm post.

Caitlin began writing when she was in middle school but it wasn't until 2012 that she first got up the guts to submit something to a publisher. That first short story was accepted and later that same year she quit her job and became a full time author. She is forever grateful to her readers for giving her first short story a chance and for their continued support as well.

Caitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiancé and their two dogs. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.

Connect with Caitlin

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Head Above Water (Robbie & Sam #2) by Caitlin Ricci to read and review.

Weathering the Storm by Caitlin Ricci

Robbie’s dad has always been hard on Robbie and his brothers, but when their mom dies on Robbie’s sixteenth birthday, he becomes downright abusive. Robbie doesn't understand why his dad is so mean to him or why his brothers resent him for their mom's accident, but he desperately tries to hide the bruises. On top of that, after his dad's horse training jobs run out, he moves them to Colorado to their uncle's ranch in the mountains.

At Uncle Caleb's cabin, Robbie meets Sam, a boy whose family also lives on the property. Finally he has a real friend who shares his love of horses, but Sam is black and openly gay. Both traits incur Robbie’s father’s rage. When his dad attacks Robbie in front of Uncle Caleb for standing up for Sam and himself, all of their secrets are thrown out into the open, and Robbie's life is changed forever.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Harmony Ink

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/M coming of age
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This was a hard story to read. Robbie's father is somewhat of a mean person, to put it nicely. This story is about growing up looking for constant approval. There are three brothers who are all show riders, but Robbie has it the hardest. His dad is constantly scrutinizing him, belittling him, hitting him.

I would say that this story is young adult – it's more about coming of age, accepting what you need, learning to navigate the world, and learning to trust yourself. It's difficult to read due to the father's propensity for violence. He strikes Robbie whenever he feels Robbie is deserving.

The brothers are somewhat cumbersome in the story and there is A LOT of growing up that is necessary for both. They treat Robbie very poorly throughout – the brotherly relationship is not very close.

Throwing in the relationship between Sam and Robbie, which is young, naïve, and juvenile, the whole story is cluttered. I wish that we had more of an ending – it felt abrupt. I am wondering if there will be more books, because the reader is left with a lot of questions.

Caitlin began writing when she was in middle school but it wasn't until 2012 that she first got up the guts to submit something to a publisher. That first short story was accepted and later that same year she quit her job and became a full time author. She is forever grateful to her readers for giving her first short story a chance and for their continued support as well.

Caitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiancé and their two dogs. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.

Connect with Caitlin

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Weathering the Storm (Robbie & Sam #1) by Caitlin Ricci to read and review. Review copy was purchased by the blog during a "freebie" promotion.