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3 out of 4 stars
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Swept up in what she thought was a match made in heaven, Victoria Shannon never expected her world to come crashing down with the devastating truth: her fiancé’s proposal was a lie. Strengthened by her inner character and the opportunity to enjoy a few luxuries at the Miramonte Hotel in Cortina, Italy, Victoria makes the best of her embarrassing situation. But what started in tragedy promises an even brighter future when Captain John Gillespie enters the picture.
The handsome Army Ranger is also a victim of heartbreak and carries his pain hidden beneath his tough exterior. Still, the raging blizzard outside and the warm company of close friends have a way of bonding kindred spirits. As Victoria and Johnny have a chance to get to know each other, she begins to wonder if the feelings they share are love or lust. Before she can decide, Johnny is called to duty to take down the remnants of enemies left behind by World War II. With the Cold War knocking on the door, what future lies in wait for the fledgling couple in January of 1955? Read The Fighting Ibex by Leo Peterson to discover the answer.
I loved Peterson’s engaging approach to historical fiction! The author exceeded my expectations, creating a dynamic cast of characters and complex situations that kept this reader riveted. I highly enjoyed the relationships that developed among the various characters. The author established a theme of looking beyond the surface of a person to discover the heart within. Many of the vibrant characters in this novel held a host of secrets under the surface, and I loved learning who they were and empathizing with the pain they felt. The revelation of the human qualities of each character made them more realistic. I loved how the book captured the essence of the brotherly bonds and how war tests loyalties and brings unlikely heroes together in unbreakable alliances.
I also appreciated the author’s easy-to-understand writing style. Peterson incorporated many societal situations, revealing the political undercurrent of the time without allowing the writing to become dull, dry, and cumbersome. I liked that his novel focused on the relationships between the characters and added historical information as necessary to enhance the scene, rather than drown the reader in a long exposition that slowed down the pacing and made the book feel more like a nonfiction narrative. The story remained riveting, keeping me guessing and wondering how all the complications would affect Victoria and Johnny in the end. I also loved how the author got me attached to the many minor characters! Each played simple roles but felt like friends and family by the end.
I look forward to continuing this series because the author made me feel so invested in the characters that I can’t wait to see what’s next for them! There was nothing that I disliked about the story. Unfortunately, I did come across several lingering proofreading errors. While these errors did not detract much from my enjoyment of the novel, I had to reduce the rating by one star. Therefore, I give The Fighting Ibex three out of four stars.
I recommend this historical fiction novel to readers who enjoy steamy romance stories and endearing characters. This novel contains non-borderline swearing, moderately erotic content, and mentions several abusive situations. While this book is the first in the Cold War Series, readers can enjoy it as a novel with a satisfying conclusive ending and promises of more exciting things to come!
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The Fighting Ibex
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