Customer Reviews

Navy Baby (The Navy Series #5) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 697)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read quite a few Debbie Macomber books, and so far, I thought this one was the best that I read so far. It was a great story, the characters were real, with emotional depth, and the pacing was great - everything was just right, and I enjoyed this one very much.

This is a classic we-made-a-baby, now-we-must-marry, storyline, and this one is hard to do well, and even harder to do well and realistically in a contemporary setting, yet in this story, Debbie Macomber manages to really make it work.

Hannah is a minister's daughter. She was engaged to a wonderful man, but he has just died, before they could marry. Angry, sad, and bitter, Hannah meets Riley Murdoch in a set of unusual circumstances, and, in a wholly uncharacteristic gesture, she throws herself at him. When Riley realizes that this is her first time, he tries to talk to her, but she disappears before he can get any information at all. Riley tries to find her - but without even a last name, it is pretty hopeless - until, Riley meets her in an unexpected way - at the other end of the *metamorphical* shotgun. Forced into a marriage neither of them wanted, do they even have a chance?

This story was done exceptionally well, we feel both Hannah's and Riley's very real reservations, their very real and realistic emotions, as they have to work out what they *really* want - and how they will get there. I loved this story especially because it was about two people who are trying to do the right thing, about two people who both try - eventually - to rise above their anger and bitterness to try to create something beautiful, meaningful - and lasting. And, at the end, isn't that why I read romance?

I loved this book and in my opinion, it was the best of the Navy series. Right from the beginning the book grabbed me and kept me glued to it's pages until I was done with it. I loved both characters and it was a delight to see them overcome their not so perfect situation and grow to love each other as they did. Debbie wrote another winner, one of her very best I believe. Do yourself a favor and read it, you won't be disappointed.

If ever a couple was in need of pre-marital counseling, it's these two protagonists. It's surprising that the navy chaplain and bride's preacher father didn't insist upon it instead of pressuring them into a hasty marriage. The first half of this book was painful to endure because of the volitile and angry way Hannah and Riley interacted with each other. They seemed to be together for all the wrong reasons, constantly fighting over issues that could have easily been resolved through open communication. One of the reasons I love Debbie Macomber's writing is that her characters don't usually fall into this type of incessant bickering, so this couple's eventual conversion towards more respectful and loving banter was a welcome relief and redeemed the second half of the story.

This book was a fast, but thoroughly frustrating read. One page they were in love, the next page (sometimes the next paragraph) they were fighting. This went on for the first half of the book. Then when they finally started to develop a somewhat loving relationship the pages were one page they would almost have sex, another page and they were trying not to have sex, then another page of almost having sex. This goes on until almost the end of the book. Then finally they have sex, Riley goes out to sea for two months, and when he comes back all of the sudden he does not want to have sex again because he is not good enough for her (come on, really, you have got to be kidding me). I really didn't feel the author put too much thought into this book; she just repeated the same arguments and sexual frustrations throughout the entire book. If you want to read about a couple fighting and having a frustrating sex life then this book is for you. Otherwise, don't bother because that is all you will get out of it.

I loved this book. It did take my a little while to warm up to it, but it was well worth the wait. The two characters are wonderful together, and even though they bicker you can tell they love each other. This is my first read of Debbies Navy Series and I know it isnt going to be my last.

This is a great book. I read this book while I was in high school many, many times. To this day, I can recall paragraphs off the top of my head. I loved the characters in this book. They were well thought out and there were no dangling issues left at the end. Enjoy on a rainy day under the covers.