It’s Always Been You (Coming Home #5) by Jessica Scott

Contemporary Romance

What Goodread says:

She plays by the rules . . .

Captain Ben Teague is many things: a tough soldier, a loyal friend, and a bona fide smart-ass. He doesn't have much tolerance for BS, which is why he's mad as hell when a trusted colleague and mentor is brought up on charges that can't possibly be true. He's even more frustrated with by-the-book lawyer Major Olivia Hale. But there's something simmering beneath her icy reserve--and Ben just can't resist turning up the heat . . .

. . . and he's determined to break them

The only thing riskier than mixing business with pleasure is enjoying it . . . and Olivia can't resist locking horns--and lips--with Ben. He's got more compassion in his little finger than any commander she's ever met, a fact that makes him a better leader than he realizes. But when the case that brought them together awakens demons from Olivia's past, she will have to choose between following orders--or her heart.

It’s Always Been You is the first time I have read a book by Jessica Scott.  This is part of a series but I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone. 

The main theme of It’s Always Been You is the budding romance between two very unlikely people. 

Captain Ben Teague has lost faith in the military.  He is just passing time but that changes when he is given command of a unit.  He does not want the command but he does want to be fair to his troops.  That means he sometimes bends the rules just a little.  I felt that he had a lot in common with some of the long term military out there today.

Major Olivia Hale is just the opposite.  She is a military lawyer and follows the rules to the letter.  She has a very hard time bending and an even harder time understanding Ben.  When the two first meet it is oil and water – no chance they will mix.

While this is primarily a love story Scott touches on some of the problems in the military today.  She highlights the drug use, the multiple deployments into war zones, and the injuries that change the men who serve.  She offers no solutions just brings the problems to light and makes them an important part of the story.

It’s Always Been You has all the elements of a good love story along with a insight into how our military is coping with some of the problems they face today.

Forever published It’s Always BeenYou by Jessica Scott in 2014.

I received an ARC of It’s Always Been You from Netgalley.