BOOK INFORMATION
Navy SEAL Luke Paulsen, on the verge of PTSD stemming from the death of his fiancée and a brutal tour overseas, knows he is damaged goods and unsuitable for relationships. While paying respects to a fallen comrade, he is unprepared for the chemical attraction he feels for the carefree dark-haired beauty playing in the surf one evening.
Julie Christensen befriends the troubled SEAL, motivated by her yearning to soothe the young man’s troubled soul. Fueled by intense mutual desire, they succumb to one night of mind-numbing passion. Afterwards, he is unable to shed the memory of his lost love and disappears.
When they meet again at a wedding that will forever bring their two families together, their passion and longing for one another forces them to confront their pasts in order to find a future together. But soon the trauma of his service separates them. Julie goes back to teaching and Luke deploys for North Africa with SEAL Team 3. Upon his return, he receives a frantic call that Julie's life is in danger. Will he make it in time to save the woman he now knows he wants to marry and spend the rest of his life with?
He wanted to say something but suddenly became hesitant. Everything had gone so fast, he didn’t want to spook her. He was unafraid to show her how much he loved being with her, especially since she’d promised to visit him in Coronado and they’d see where things went from there. It would have been like the cart before the horse, but he wanted to ask her to marry him at that impulsive moment, but he held himself back. Being the wife of a SEAL was a special assignment and there was no training for that, except the school of hard knocks. There was a community of wives that looked out for each other. And not all the stories from overseas made it home to them. The smart wives knew this. He knew it was a lot to ask of someone. He didn’t want to fall for a lady who didn’t really understand what she’d be getting herself into. But that was a completely crazy thought, because he’d already fallen for her. He decided he’d just put it out of his mind, and not discuss anything future-related, to keep the pressure off them both. Nothing wrong with having a little bit of—well, a lot of—fun in the next few days before his deployment. He held her under the starlight. Feeling eyes on him, he saw Julie’s parents eyeing him from their kitchen window, smiling. He couldn’t keep up the eye contact because odds weren’t in his favor. He wasn’t prince charming, or Sir Galahad riding in on his white horse. He was just a guy other guys sent in to blow stuff up, grab people and hopefully get out before getting shot or caught. And his intentions, although he liked to think of them as honorable, were merely to do everything in his power to be as irresistible as possible to her so that when he left, he’d be the one hard to miss. And then maybe she’d wait for him. Maybe she’d wait until he got fully well. It was a lot of ifs. The music stopped while he was kissing her ear through her hair, while he was holding her tighter as she melted into him. He liked that they were dancing because their thighs made soft caresses and the dress, that yummy dress, made all that noise. He just knew every time he heard the sound of layers of chiffon, he’d get hard. It was going to be something he’d have for the rest of his life.
My Review: 5 stars
This was such a good book. Surprisingly for me, the first in this series that I've read by Sharon. I've only heard good things, and I just couldn't turn down a hot SEAL, really who can? Granted, Luke isn't perfect. In fact her runs hot and cold, and I wouldn't have blamed Julie if she ran for the hills. But she proves time and again that she is the one for him. She is steadfast and true, she tries to deny what they have initially, just as Luke does. One night - no harm, no foul. Then fate steps in and gives them a push or two in the right direction. You don't just accidentally meet someone who makes you feel the things that these two do three separate times in three separate locations. You don't. You can try and hide, but when you keep ending up in the same place, that's someone telling you to pay attention.
I loved this story and Luke and Julie together. Luke is so complex, and doesn't know how to verbalize to Julie what he's going through. After their first meeting I thought he was an ass for the way he left things. Of course, then we find out why Luke is acting the way he does and what removes him from the present. He's been through some tough things. After his first night with Julie, he takes steps to learn how to deal with them. He's damn lucky to have been given a second chance with Julie. Not intentionally, just how things worked out. When Julie finds Luke on her parents front porch as the sixth groomsman for her brothers wedding, she's stunned and determined to stay away. Can't say I blame her. By the end of the wedding their chemistry is about to set the place on fire.
After a disastrous trip back home, Julie decides to go on a Vegas weekend with her best friend. They run into - yup, Luke and all his friends. Bless her heart, Julie gives Luke yet another chance. This time they talk before giving in to what their bodies are dying to have, touch and taste again. They are sensual and sexy, and no holds barred on how they feel and what they want. Luke gets called on a mission and while he's gone things go seriously wrong for Julie. She's put in a dangerous position with a dangerous man. Luke goes nuts when he find out what happened to Julie. There are a few more twists and unexpected turns, and they're all very good. I loved this book and can't wait to go back and read the first five in the series. Sharon does it all, great sexy romance, hot SEAL's on dangerous missions, laughter and more. Fantastic!!
Sharon’s award-winning almost-erotic Navy SEAL stories of the SEAL Brotherhood, have consistently made best sellers lists and review sites. Her characters follow a spicy road to redemption through passion and true love. She has been an Amazon top 100 author in Romantic Suspense since last fall.
Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany are not like any vamps you’ve read before, since they don’t have to go to ground and can walk around in the full light of the sun. Honeymoon Bite, Book 1 of the Golden Vampires of Tuscany Series was recently named the #1 Gothic Romance by Amazon. It is now available on Audible.
Her Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won’t find any of these beings in any Sunday school class.
Sharon lives in Sonoma County, California with her husband, and two Dobermans. A lifelong organic gardener, when she’s not writing, she’s getting vera vera dirty in the mud, or wandering Farmer’s Markets looking for new Heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers.
Prizes:
1) Signed set of print books 1-5 and a signed cover posted featuring Jimmy Thomas 2) Winners choice of audiobook (choose from book 1-5 in the SEAL Brotherhood series) (or an ebook of their choice if they don't read audio) 3) One $50 Giftcard
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Organized By:
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. So glad you get the book. I'm also delighted I have a new fan. Thank you again. Just what a writer wants to hear today. You made my weekend!! And beyond!! Hope you enjoy the others.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sharon! I'm so happy that you liked my review. :)
DeleteI Love Luke and Julie waiting now for the audio. Wish Sharon all the best with it. Nice review
ReplyDeleteLOVED the review hun - thanks again for being part of the tour
ReplyDelete