KATIE KNIGHT
Stats for my copy: Kindle Edition, Relay Publishing Ltd, 2022.
How acquired: Hidden Gems ARC Program
(Goodreads synopsis below.)
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this quick romance with a bit of a suspense to it. Zach is a retired Navy SEAL, working an undercover job for a former teammate, providing protection for Lydia and her daughter Charlotte, though unbeknownst to them. Lydia took Charlotte and ran from her criminal thug husband, who is rumored to be in the area hunting them down. Marissa and her daughter Lacy live next door, and the two women and two girls are best friends.
Zach is very surprised to run into Marissa (literally!), and even more surprised to learn that her daughter is also his daughter, after they had a one night stand ten years ago.
Sometimes I don’t enjoy the “secret baby” trope, unless there was an actual compelling reason for the heroine to have not told the hero about the child they created together. In this case, Marissa did try to track Zach down, but he had been sent out of the country on an assignment the day after their one night together, and her message never reached him. Could she have tried to find him later? When Lacy was born? When she was 3, or 5, or 7? Yeah, I suppose so, but at that point I can more easily understand not doing so.
I loved how Zach, even though flummoxed by the news, was ready to step up and be a father. Even thought it wasn’t his fault that he wasn’t around for Lacy, he was filled with guilt and regret that he’d missed so much of Lacy’s life, and was determined not to miss any more. Lacy didn’t make it easy on him! She wanted nothing to do with him at first.
My only complaint about the story is when Lacy learned the news. Marissa told Zach she would introduce them and they could feel it out first, see how Lacy reacted to him. Then when she did bring Zach inside to meet Lacy, she immediately told Lacy this is Zach, he’s your father. It was just so abrupt, especially considering how she had told Zach she wanted to handle it.
Anyway, I loved Zach, and I loved Marissa, I loved watching them all get to know each other and beginning to form a family. There was a lot of internal angst, something I also love, with Marissa wondering how Zach felt, what would happen when his assignment was over, would he pick up and leave, and Zach wondering how she felt, and could he be a father and live a normal life with a family, and so on.
And then there was his assignment, which put Marissa and Lacy in danger also, though it created a good excuse for Zach to move into Marissa’s home, letting him spend time with Lacy and keep an eye on the house next door. As the danger seems to increase, with strange incidents happening, the suspense was ramped up, and the latter part of the book became tense and fast paced, until of course everything was resolved very satisfactorily in the end.
I hadn’t read this author before, but I will be looking for more by her.
*I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems ARC Program and have voluntarily reviewed it*
Goodreads Synopsis: A Navy SEAL makes for a sexy Christmas surprise…
Former
Navy SEAL Zach Walker could never get Marissa off his mind. Of all
the women in his life, she’s the one he just can’t forget—even
though it’s been ten years since they spent an unforgettable night
together.
So
when he’s assigned to stake out a house in a quiet residential
neighborhood, he’s shocked to discover Marissa living right next
door. But he’s even more surprised when he learns that one magical
night, all those years ago, left him a father…
Marissa
gave up on Zach long ago, and now she’s not exactly thrilled to
have him join her little family—even if it is Christmas. But his
smoldering eyes and shy smile quickly melt her resolve. When Zach
explains a murder suspect could show up next door, Marissa agrees to
let him stay so he can help protect her family – and get to know
his daughter.
But
she’s determined to ignore their growing attraction. Ignore his
ripped body, and those scorching kisses…
But
can she ignore what’s in her heart?
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