Books & Spoons review: Thunder Running by Rebecca Crowley

Military life may have subdued the wild child in Staff Sergeant Chance McKinley, but when he’s home on R&R, all bets are very much on at Kansas City’s casinos.
He’s barely back from Afghanistan before he volunteers to return—right about the time he’s reminded he won something more than money on the roulette wheel the last time he was Stateside. A wife.
Bartender Tara Lambert could have gotten an annulment right after she and Chance wove their tipsy way down the aisle, but she’s never been one to let a man off the hook. Even if he disappeared right after their nuptials.
When Tara finally tracks Chance down, he’s as irresistible as ever—and on the verge of leaving for another deployment. Their individual fires collide to burn bright and hot, but when it comes to changing the blazing paths of their lives, which will sound loudest in Chance’s ears? The call to battle, or the voice of the woman he loves?

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Original and touching story, absolutely fantastic love story!
I fell in love with Chance and Tara. They are so perfect together, I don't even know who to compare them to.
The beginning of the relationship might have been trite, and now it has been months that they have not seen each other. But the connection was so strong, genuine, they are both willing to give a new try, no matter what.
There were so many great points in this story, I don't know where to start. The loyalty, commitment to the relationship they have is rare. Even without seeing each other, with no contact, they did hold the vows. In this story the 'I do' really meant something to the couple, even though it was given in a drunken madness. They took it, and used the verb 'do' for what it is meant to be: not an emotion, but a constant effort to hold them together, a daily choice to be true to each other, commitment in its purest form.
Both Chance and Tara had not had the best of the beginnings in life, they shared the experience, bonded over it, but they are both survivals, and did not linger over the challenging childhoods. Yes, they were shaped by it, but they made the most out of it. But it had left some scars, that made them doubt of the value they hold in life.
When Chance realizes he is in love, his definition of love just floored me with its realistic, basic, everyday form. When Tara and Chance are together, it is like poetry in motion, sweet, loving flow of life.
The stress and longing for your spouse on deployment was described beautifully.
I enjoyed the author's voice, her way of telling the story, letting it unfold for the reader.
This book was a lovely surprise, absolutely a pearl, and I recommend it highly.
~ Five Spoons!