Sophia Rose is here with a Harlequin Heartwarming story, Her Marine Hero, by Jacquelin Thomas. Grab a cup of tea and check out her thoughts on this sweet romance….
by Jacquelin Thomas
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
For fashion designer Renee Rothchild, a friendship with marine Greg Bowman was always safer than imagining a future together. The stress of dating a military man might trigger the panic disorder she’s worked so hard to manage. Greg says he's ready to leave the military, but he loves his job, and she can’t let him give it up for her. Can Greg convince Renee that despite their differences, they do belong together?
Sophia Rose’s Review
A fashion designer with an anxiety disorder fears to start a relationship with a man who puts his life on the line in the military. Small town, friends to lovers from a new to me author had strong appeal, so I gave into temptation.
Her Marine Hero is the third standalone romance in the Polk Island series. I could see that the two previous stories were about the heroine’s cousins getting their romances and that Renee and maybe Greg had been introduced earlier, but I had no trouble diving in out of series order.
Greg Bowman returns after a few years. He’s been serving in the Marines and made it into MARSOC, the Marine Special Operations regiment which was his goal. But lately, he feels the pull to finish out his time and get out of the military since he never planned to retire. He is considering taking his friend up on a job offer and if that offer puts him close to the woman who turned him down and put him in the friends category? Perhaps he can persuade her to give him a chance once his job isn’t coming between them.
Her fashion designs and sales are a big success now and she feels a contentment for reaching the pinnacle of her success, but then a huge temptation arrives back in her quaint, pretty small town and stirs her up. Renee Rothschild has had a thing for Greg since they met and went on a date. She put a halt to things knowing that her anxiety disorder would eat her alive dating a guy in the military gone on active duty and besides her ex did a number on her and she hasn’t come to terms with that issue. But here is Greg and he’s well-nigh irresistible. They both have different dreams and needs though so how could it possibly be a good idea?
I settled into the author’s warm, tender, and gently-paced writing style right away. The setting sounds perfect- a small island community and family and friends supporting each other. The sweet time of friends who feel the sparkle of attraction and share some poignant moments made for easy reading and romantic feel throughout. It wasn’t lacking in layers and some drama, either.
The heart of the romantic conflict is the heroine struggling to get past her anxiety, her belief that she can’t handle a relationship with a person with a military career, and the pair of them struggling with the possibility that one of them will have to give up their dreams. I was cheering them on and admit to getting impatient with Renee for holding them back particularly when she seems to be making Greg pay for what her ex pulled on her, but she does deal with that, eventually. Also, I applaud her for seeing the hardship that a military relationship might be and her selfless desire that Greg not have to sacrifice his dream career. He doesn’t think he’s sacrificing, but there is a crisis when he needs to go back to duty for a friend and his desire to leave the Marines isn’t so cut and dry.
I appreciated that she had written characters of service and duty like her cousins and the hero in civic and military service careers, but also of different abilities with the heroine’s cousin getting used to a prosthetic after military duty and the heroine dealing with mental health struggles.
All around, this was touching and satisfying. I would definitely read more from the author and I was glad to see that there will be more Polk Island stories. Those who want a quick, but heartwarming sweet romance with solid character development should definitely give this book/series a try.
Her Marine Hero by Jacquelin Thomas delivered a touching and satisfying small-town romance. #bookreview #RomanceNovels #SophiaRose Share on XAbout Jacquelin Thomas
Jacquelin Thomas is an award-winning, best selling author with 80 titles published. Her books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. Jacquelin was a 2005 honoree at the Houston Black Film Festival for the movie adaptation of her novel, Hidden Blessings. She was the first recipient to receive the Writers Achievement Award at the North Carolina Book Festival in Winston-Salem. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine. Jacquelin has published in the romance, women's fiction, inspirational and young adult genres. Her second book in the YA series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award. Jacquelin is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Katherine
This sounds really good and I love that she added so much depth to the military characters. It’s been awhile since I read a Harlequin title but I wan to pick this one up.
Sophia Rose
I have recently really been enjoying the Harlequin titles I’ve picked up and I agree, she puts nice depth into her characters.
Carole @ Carole's Random Life
I haven’t picked up a Harlequin book in ages and I don’t know why that is. This sounds like it was very much worth a read.
Sophia Rose
I was late to the Harlequin party, but each year I seem to discover more authors to love. 🙂
Debbie Haupt
I love Harlequin, thanks I hadn’t read her yet
Sophia Rose
I do love trying new authors and its fun with the Harlequin lists come out each month. 🙂
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
It would be a difficult thing to have someone give up their career because you aren’t comfortable with it. Nice to hear they were able to work through it.
Sophia Rose
I thought her concerns about him hating her later if he did it were legit, too, but I also thought she was slow to take his word that he had thought it through. It turned out to be a sweet low-angst story which was what I liked.
Wendy
I love a good heartwarming romance. Terrific review, Sophia
Sophia Rose
It was definitely a lovely cozy small town one. 🙂
Maureen @ Maureen's Books
I’m glad to read you’ve enjoyed this story. I sure do love the sound of this one.
Sophia Rose
It was a sweet one full of close friends and family and small town happenings.
Nadene
Small town, touching and satisfying, sign me up. Great review, Sophia.
Sophia Rose
It was perfect for a quiet, lazy afternoon. Thanks, Nadene!
Lover of Romance
Great review you have here Sophia! It sounds like this was such a poignant story for you. I love seeing civic service in books like this and it sounds like this author did a grand job with it.
Sophia Rose
I love seeing the characters in community helper roles, too. The heroine’s cousins and the hero were all good friends and I loved that they served. Thanks, Renee!