SEAL's Christmas Daughter, by Katie Knight

 

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?

Sunburst (Sky King Ranch, Book Two)

 

SUSAN MAY WARREN

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, published 2022 by Revell.

How acquired: From Revell Reads Blogger Program.

First line: Ranger wasn’t here to get into trouble, but wow, she was pretty.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I loved the first book in this series, SUNRISE, so much. So so much. It was set in Alaska, and Alaska was very much one of the main characters of the book, which is a testament to the author’s descriptive powers. So I was very excited to get this book.

This one is initially set in Nigeria. Ranger and his brother, Dodge, are there running reconnaissance on a terrorist camp, where the third brother, Colt, is being held, along with several other prisoners, after having been kidnapped. One of the women prisoners makes a break for it, unknowingly giving Ranger and his team the opportunity to swoop in and effect a rescue. Ranger is shocked when he realizes that woman is Noemi, who he knew several years ago.

As with Alaska, the author provides a wonderfully evocative depiction of Nigeria, from the jungles, to the food, to a traditional Nigerian wedding. Though it’s a wonder Ranger could function day to day what with the multitude of injuries he sustains along the way. But I loved him as much as I had loved Dodge in the first book, as much as I know I will love Colt when his book comes out. And Noemi was a fiercely fascinating woman, strong and independent.

The narrative was a bit more...bouncy, for lack of a better word, than I remember from the first book, especially when the point of view was Noemi’s. Which was good, it was in keeping with Noemi’s character. There were also many, many, many instances of both Noemi and Ranger recalling past conversations or comments, with those lines interspersed in italics, which got tiring, especially the lines that were constantly repeated. For instance, in the first chapter, which describes Ranger and Noemi’s first meeting and swift relationship, they agree to meet somewhere, and Ranger says “I will find you”. That line was brought back time and time again, and yes, it has significance later, but it, along with all the other instances, got tiring.

Regardless, while I think I liked SUNRISE a little better, because I already had a thing for Alaska before I read it, I loved this book. I can’t wait for SUNDOWN, the third book, and I have got to hunt down more of this author’s work.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*

Synopsis from Goodreads: When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she's discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.

She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

Cowboy Commando (Special Ops: Texas, Book One; Harlequin Intrigue No. 1123)

JOANNA WAYNE

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Harlequin, 2009.

How acquired: Bought.

First line: “Welcome home, cowboy!”

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: I enjoyed this older Harlequin Intrigue. Cutter is a former Navy SEAL who misses his military days and feels a little lost now that he's back in Texas. He's half-heartedly job hunting and staying in his aunt's condo. She lives on the family ranch and would welcome Cutter back, but he isn't sure that ranching is for him. He comes home one evening to find Linney in his kitchen, with a small child who she admits that she “sort of kidnapped”.

This is an Intrigue, so there's a mystery – the child's mother, and Linney's best friend, recently drowned in her own pool, and Linney is convinced that her abusive husband killed her. Problem is, said husband is a cop, and Linney can't get anyone to take her seriously.

This is the first book I've read by Joanna Wayne, and I like her writing. Linney is a little foolish, determined to prove her friend was murdered but not going about it in a very sensible way, letting her emotions drive her. But she's goodhearted and worried about little Julie's safety. Cutter is reluctant to be pulled into Linney's investigation, but once it's clear that her life is now in danger, Cutter is all in, and not about to let anything happen to Linney, or young Julie.

There's a little history between them, a few days spent together several years ago, after which they didn't see each other again, and they both harbor bitterness toward the other for walking away. Those pesky misunderstandings, always driving a wedge between lovers.

The mystery was well plotted, with a surprise twist at the end. And of course, being a category romance, there's a happy ending. My only complaint is the cover photo. At no point in the book do I recall Cutter climbing over rocks shirtless. And why must cover models always have hairless chests?

Goodreads synopsis: On navy SEAL missions Cutter Martin had been a warrior. But when it came to Linney Kingston, he was just a red-blooded Texas cowboy with bad luck at love. Linney had walked out on him six years ago. Now she was back—with a motherless child and a crazy story.
Linney's theory of murder and scandal was as preposterous as her body's traitorous response to Cutter. Still, when she was shot at, the cowboy came to her rescue. Cutter—her hero. And the only man who could break her heart again. Trusting him a second time was more frightening than the killers stalking her every move….