Tell It To The Marines

AMY J. FETZER

Synopsis: HOT CONFLICT: Rule number one for “How to Throw a Wedding”: Don't get kidnapped. Rule number two? Don't let your rescuer be DJ McAllister, as in tall, dark, and secretive with a bod to die for. As in the man who pushed wedding planner Mary Grace Heyward away once and left her heartbroken for, um, well forever. But now that they're running for their lives (so that's what it takes to get a man to commit!), the looks DJ's giving her tell another story, one that's making her very, very warm. And Mary Grace's mission is clear: Indulge the hot Marine's every fantasy and secure a victory of the everlasting kind...

HOT LANDING ZONE: The mission went bad, really bad. And Jake Mackenzie blames Dr. Katherine Collier, the egghead scientist his team was rescuing from terrorists. If she'd just obeyed his orders they wouldn't be stranded – alone – on a remote island with no way off. But hell, Jake's a Marine. He'll improvise, adapt, and overcome...as long as the drop-dead gorgeous Katherine stops accidentally setting off his booby traps, prancing around in what's left of her clothing and driving him wild with desire. Protecting her is his sworn duty, and the lady seems to have some specific requests in that area...

HOT TARGET: Rick Cahill's got his orders: Drop into the Amazon and pick up American Peace Corps volunteer Sam Previn. Who knew Sam was actually Samantha, a beautiful redhead with a temper to match? And who knew the Colombian drug cartels would be after them? On the run in the jungle, searching secluded spots for shelter, Rick has to remind himself that Sam is off-limits, no matter how it unhinges him every time her skin brushes his. But when the savvy Sam stars speaking in military abbreviations and can load a sidearm without looking, it's clear she's something special – and just Rick's type...

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Kensington Publishing Corp., 2004; purchased at Half Price Books (based on the title, which caught my eye, and then the cover picture, which held it).

My thoughts: Three novellas. Three lusty Marines. Three feisty women. Three hot stories. Three cheers for Ms. Fetzer!

The stories all follow a similar theme, and all open the same way. Our hero of the day is embarking on a rescue mission in a remote area (Panama, East China Sea, South America). It's just another job, another duty, another “package”. Marine and package are separated from the rest of the unit and spend a couple of days alone, and the package becomes more than just a package, more than just a duty.

I can't decide if I like this book better than the previous Fetzer book I read, INTIMATE DANGER. I generally like full length novels better than novellas or short stories. When I reviewed INTIMATE DANGER, I noted:

“While I love military heroes in romance novels, I think I prefer reading abut them stateside. Crashing around in the jungles of some foreign country just doesn't really do it for me.”

I'd like to now revise that opinion. I think it was more the plot of INTIMATE DANGER that didn't do it for me. Because I loved crashing around in the jungle with these guys.