Book Review – “Feel the Rush: A Hard Feelings Novel” by Kelsie Leverich

Posted on August 25, 2013 Updated on November 14, 2013

After a plethora of twenty-something-billionaire-meets-ingénue-have-kinky-sex-and-a-HEA books, it was a pleasant surprise to find Kelsie Leverich’s work. I became a fan after reading her debut novel The Valentine’s Arrangement. As the wife of a Gulf War-Era US Army Veteran, I was drawn to her story about a soldier and his ladylove, because it did not shy away from the complexities of loving a man (or woman) in the military. Ms. Leverich wrote from personal experiences, with attention to detail and a deep respect for our troops and veterans. I had high expectations for her second novel Feel the Rush: A Hard Feelings Novel.

Feel the Rush began with the unexpected reunion of lovers who had an unrestrained, steamy, once-in-a-lifetime, one-night-stand. Megan Mitchell, a nurse at an Army hospital, moved from New York to Georgia, started a new job and vowed to find “Mr. Safe.” The first man she met was her next-door neighbor, Reed Porter, an Airborne Jumpmaster and daredevil extraordinaire – the epitome of “Mr. Wrong,” whom she recognized immediately as her one-time lover, from eight years ago.

Reed, however, did not recognize Megan until she jarred his memory and the same inexplicable attraction they felt was rekindled. Each time they were together the sex was hot and became progressively hotter. Neither was expecting the level of intimacy they experienced as they let their protective walls down.

These were likable characters – people we know, possibly our friends, or versions of ourselves. Megan consistently chose men who were emotionally unavailable. Reed seemed to fall into that category. He was the bad boy in an Army uniform, with a heart of gold, but uninterested in the same type of commitment, as Megan. While they seemed perfectly matched, they were looking for different things out of a long-term relationship.

Ms. Leverich built the tension slowly, as the lovers rediscovered their connection. We became invested in Megan and Reed’s emotional journeys as individuals and as a couple. Then, life happened, proving that they lived in a very small world. Two plot twists blew me away, and served to intensify Megan and Reed’s already complicated and moving relationship. I wanted to wrap my arms around both of these characters at different points during the book.

The secondary characters were fully developed people who added to the story. Megan’s best friends Eva and Trevor supported and confronted her on her own failings, as real friends would. The camaraderie exhibited by Reed’s fellow soldiers clearly illustrated the bonds created by men in uniform, who perform dangerous jobs. The soldiers were multifaceted alpha men, who cared for each other as family, and played a part in bringing Megan and Reed together.

Feel the Rush was funny, sad, sexy, and deeply poignant. It surpassed my expectations and had me reaching for tissues on several occasions. I highly recommend it for readers looking for rich characters who suffer unavoidable heartbreak, as they transition into the best version of themselves and learn to embrace love.

I highly recommend reading Ms. Leverich’s first novel in the series The Valentine’s Arrangement.

Links to my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.