Heroes for Ghosts by Jackie North
Love Across Time #1
Romance M/M
Blue Rain Press | June 13, 2018
About the Book:Soulmates across time. A sacrifice that could keep them apart forever.
In present day, near the village of Ornes, France, Devon works on his master’s thesis in history as he fantasizes about meeting a WWI American Doughboy.
In 1916, during the Battle of Ornes, Stanley is a young soldier facing the horrors of the battlefield.
Mourning the death of his friends from enemy fire, Stanley volunteers to bring the message for retreat so he can save everyone else in his battalion. While on his mission, mustard gas surrounds Stanley and though he thinks he is dying, he finds himself in a peaceful green meadow where he literally trips over Devon.
Devon doesn’t believe Stanley is who he says he is, a soldier from WWI. But a powerful attraction grows between them, and if Stanley is truly a visitor from the past, then he is Devon’s dream come true. The problem is, Stanley’s soul wants to finish his mission, and time keeps yanking him back to relive his fateful last morning over and over, even as his heart and body long to stay with Devon.
Will Stanley have to choose between Devon and saving his battalion? Will time betray their love, leaving each alone?
A male/male time travel romance, complete with hurt/comfort, French coffee, warm blankets, fireplace kisses, the angst of separation, and true love across time.
Funny story, I had no idea what a Doughboy was before I picked up this book. I actually turned to my friend, a history buff, and asked her what a WWI Doughboy was, because all I could picture was the Pillsbury mascot and I just didn’t get what the appeal was. Now I know, and… I still don’t get the appeal, but hey! To each their own!
I loved the setup for Heroes for Ghosts. I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for time travel romance, probably because of how much I love Outlander. The downside is usually time travel romance doesn’t measure up. I felt pretty good about this read, because it’s got such a nice rating on Goodreads and it came highly recommended. It also had an interesting synopsis I thought could have been paced out beautifully.
I’m of two minds, after finishing Heroes for Ghosts. There was half of me that was crazy about the history, and the realism of the war. I felt like the author really put her heart into making us feel the despair and fear the soldiers faced in the trenches. Thinking of their pain and heartache really made me feel deeply for Stanley and his buddies in the 44th. I was really drawn to his relationship with Isaac in particular. It was the relationship I shipped. My hardcore non-canon love for Isaac and Stanley was a major hindrance to the half of the story that took place in present day.
Basically Stanley and Devon didn’t have enough chemistry for me. Or, maybe the issues was that I was supposed to accept their connection far too fast. I think I’m at a stage in my life where I just don’t believe in love at first sight anymore. I spent my entire read, wary that the only reason Devon felt so strongly was because he had a real live Doughboy in his house, and he had a bit of a WWI fetish. I kept waiting for the moment when I knew his affections went beyond the uniform to the person Stanley was, and it never happened for me. Since I loved Stanley so much, I wanted more for him. (*Ahem, Isaac.) Not that Devon was a jerk or anything. Something just felt false in their ‘love story’.
Still, very enjoyable read, and I know I’ll be thinking of this book (really just Stanley and Isaac with some chocolate) for a long time.
Birdie Bookworm 
Wait… what is a Doughboy? 😂 I think I’m at the point where I don’t accept love at first sight either, which is why I’m sooo picky with my romance reads. Great review though!
LikeLike
HAHAHAHA!! Right! That was exactly my thoughts too! It was a term used for the young, fresh-faced, soldiers in WWI. Who’da thunk it!
LikeLike
Oohhh okay, see, it DOES make sense but also now I just see a really oval faced, blank-stared boy. it’s much too funny to take seriously!
LikeLike
HAHA!!! I agree!
LikeLike
OH MY GOSH YOU READ IT!!!!! I’M SO HAPPPYYYY!!! It’s so funny because so many of the things you mentioned my sister said as well, like the WW1 fetish that Devon probably had + shipping him w Isaac. I agree w both things, I think that Devon was sometimes a complete jerk forcing Stanley to reenact certain things. I was so mad @ him bc **Stanley literally just emerged from battle????” SLDKFJLS STANLEY WAS JUST SO DAMN CUTE???? I’m so glad you liked him toooo c: c:
*also I’m CR “How to be Normal Person” and THE STONER IS MY FAVORITE PERSON IN THE WHOLE WORLD c: c: ((his ace rep is so so good????))
LikeLike
YES! “You’re obviously terrified and have PTSD, but here put on this uniform and walk through the spot you DIED because it turns me on!” I had wished it had been about Isaac and Stanley. That would have been purrfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HOLY crap!! You’re reading Normal Person!! Casey is AMAZING! Though I love Grumpy Gus too. I love them together. I love Casey’s patience with Gus’s autism…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was wondering if Gus was autistic!!! After “Carry the Ocean” I feel in tune with the autism characteristics, and Gus had many of them, like his amazing memorizing abilities (((THE I LOVE YOU CONFESSION SCENE MADE ME SOB))
I want to demand a second book, just to see them moving in together and stuff ❤ We need to make our demands to TJ Klune
LikeLike
TJ has said he is. But that he didn’t want to name it in the book, because Pastor Tommy never would have. There IS going to be a second book next year, called How To Be A Movie Star. About Casey’s friend who did the noodle soup commercial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ohhh!!! I like that he did that, because sometimes labels are just unnecessary (especially when authors let it “define” the character)
ALSO WHAT!!! BIRDIE!!!! A SECOND BOOK??? MY DREAMS HAVE ACTUALLY COME TRUE
((and w the noodle soup character, i rlly loved himmm!!! c: ))
LikeLike
I loved him too! Josiah, who is demisexual!
LikeLiked by 1 person