Oh my heart... this book was painfully beautiful and not one I will forget very soon even though it has left my heart in knots and my emotions in shambles.

This is a romantic memoir of a love that spanned decades filled with love, hope, friendships and also various challenges.

Sam is a "deaf" forensic osteologist who meets Gerry, an awkward yet endearing young man in the military.

Gerry has not had the easiest or cushiest life growing up and knows little of love. But he knows ONE thing.. he is absolutely enamored of Sam.

With awkward first meetings and experiences, they form a bond through letter writing and reading the same books and chapters while he is away on deployment while she focuses on furthering her ambitions and Gerry on his. But one thing they are sure of is, that they love each others company and connection.

A long distance relationship ensues with all the joy, fun, excitement, disappointments, frustrations, tests and obstacles life throws at them. Trust me, there were many!

There is so much character growth and even stagnation because well, life...

I couldn't stop reading.

With a stunning set of side characters who you have to remember were REAL people! Honestly, this book really touched me to my core.

I am so sad I am not eloquent enough to write a better review. Because this memoir is a part of my DNA right now.

I feel, if you've never read a romance book or are a romance reader who has never read a memoir.. this would be a wonderful place to start!

A million thanks to Netgalley,Habencourt LLC and author for the opportunity to read and share my unbiased thoughts!

This book absolutely destroyed me—shattered my heart into tiny pieces. And knowing it’s inspired by true events? My gosh, that hit even harder.

Permission to Speak Freely follows the extraordinary, deeply human journey of Samantha Walker, a sharp-witted forensic scientist, and Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Martinez, a man shaped by duty, silence, and the weight of a life in service. From their first unexpected spark in the Arizona desert in 1981, their story unfolds across continents and decades; told through field notes, fragments, memories, and the fragile space between goodbye and home.

What makes this book so powerful is how real it feels. Their relationship isn’t just romance; it’s missteps, grit, stubborn loyalty, airport dances, care packages, shared rituals, and friendships forged in the most unlikely places. It’s the kind of love that grows not despite the distance, but because of it.

And the ending? I was absolutely crying my eyes out. The final letter of both Gerry and Samantha wrecked me in the best and worst ways. I haven’t read many memoir-style stories before, but as a die-hard romance reader, this one grabbed me by the heart and refused to let go.

It’s raw, intimate, beautifully told, and full of the kind of emotional truth that lingers long after the last page.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime love story I’ll be thinking about for a very long time.

4.5 Stars

Thank you Sutoscience LLC , Samantha Walker & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.


In this book we follow Sam & Gerry.
Samantha Walker a forensic scientist & Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Martinez who is a career soldier with a past he rarely speaks of.
This story follows a partnership that defies time , distance and duty across two continents and several decades. We follow their bond deepen as times goes on. This is a story of not just longing and separation it's also of joy , adventure and an unbreakable friendship.

This book was painfully beautiful. It gripped me from the very first chapter and made it very difficult to put down and when I did manage to put it down I couldn't help but think about it.
The writing style was lovely it made it very easy to read. I cant wait for the release of this book so I can own it physically.
This memoir was absolutely breath taking and I believe all romance readers should give this a read once they have the opportunity.