Customer Reviews

Soldier For Love

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Recently promoted, Major Julie Collins is sent to Port au-Paux, the capital of Beljou Island in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The opposition has been subdued and a measure of political stability has been returned to the area. However the area, especially Cap-Verte, is still a powder keg. Should things go wrong many innocent citizens will die. On a more personal note, Julie is surprised to learn that one of the men under her command, Lieutenant Matthew Wolf, happens to be the same guy she had picked up from a bar the previous night. Though it was an unforgettable night for both of them, they must put it behind them.

Julie's father is the Army Chief of Staff with a direct line to the Defense Secretary and the President. When the one known as the Hougan kidnaps Julie, Matt knows that the powder keg is about to explode. To keep this from happening, Matt heads out for a solo rescue mission, risking both their careers.

**** Author Brenda Gayle manages to somehow combine military and romance in this exciting story. Believe me when I say that doing this could not have been an easy feat. A relationship between enlisted personnel is frowned upon, but between a Commanding Officer (C.O.) and a subordinate is unheard of. So watching this couple work their problems out is very interesting. Then there is the voodoo culture on Beljou Island. (An island that I could not find on any map, by the way. I believe Beljou Island is a fictional place, though the other ports mentioned are real.) The backgrounds of the main characters are developed, though not deeply until well into the tale, and the story never slowed down to a boring pace. A terrific way to spend your day! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Major Julie Collins has worked hard to have a successful military career and she feels the fruits of her labor are finally paying off with her first command. Making this position even better is that she is overseas in Bejou Island in the Caribbean so far away from the tentacles of her military family. Not one for one night stands, she celebrates with a stranger whom she felt an attraction with after meeting him.

The next day, Julie is outraged when her bed partner turns out to be a soldier in her unit. Making her even angrier is Lieutenant Matt Wolf knew who she was when he slept with her. Julie makes it clear she wants nothing to do with Matt, but he wants more than just a memory. When she is abducted, Matt tries to rescue the woman he loves from local rebels.

This is an exhilarating military romantic suspense in which the brass would frown on fraternization between the commanding officer and one of her junior officers. The story line is filled with action yet also has the feel of an overseas post, which anchors the location. The lead couple is a wonderful pairing, as fans will wonder whether Julie will be able keep her career that she loves and the man that she loves. Brenda Gayle provides readers with a strong contemporary thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Major Julie Collins is finally seeing most of her dreams come true. She has her first command overseas and it looks to be one where she will be far enough away from her familial military influence to flourish on her own. But when she sees the sexy stranger who just hours earlier left her bed as one of her new people under her command, she is hit by a number of emotions. She is angry, stunned and suspicious. All of these thoughts seem to be further exacerbated when she hears of his reputation with the opposite sex. She is more angered that he hid his true connection to her the night before. She never has done the one night stands and she thought they had connected.

What will happen when she is kidnapped and he appears to be the only one capable to saving her, without turning the rescue into an international incident? And what appears to be going on with all of this voodoo stuff anyways?

In Soldier for Love you not only have the commanding presence of a sexy military man but you also have a strong career military woman. I was quickly drawn into Soldier for Love and found I was unable to put the story down. Why had Matt hidden his connection to Julie? What happens when Julie is kidnapped? These are all questions I had to have answered.

I thoroughly loved that both characters had their own careers. I enjoyed the interaction with both characters and the local personnel. I also was interested into the foray into Caribbean voodoo cultures and local beliefs. I found Soldier for Love to be a winner by Ms. Gayle and hope she writes about Julie's brothers.

Tanya

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Major Julie Collins has worked extremely hard her entire military career to get where she is today. Finally in charge of her first overseas command, she looks forward to making a name for herself and ultimately making her family, especially her father, proud. She is not willing to throw her career away over a man but that is what it looks like she just might have done. In the early morning following a risqué and satisfying one-night stand, Julie finds herself looking into a familiar pair of eyes as she is inspecting her troops. Disconcerted to say the least, Julie vows to not let her feelings show and that is what she sets out to do - there is only one problem. Lt. Matt Wolf isn't willing to give up the memories of their erotic night together.

Matt and Julie reluctantly begin a truce. At every turn Matt tries to show Julie just how much he desires her, even when she wants to be left alone. Her career means everything to her or so she thought. When she is kidnapped by rebels and Matt is the only one capable of seeing to her rescue, Julie has a lot of time to think about their relationship. She comes to one conclusion and one conclusion only. Lt. Matt Wolf is her man. Now if she can live long enough to let him know.

I want to be Julie Collins when I grow up. Loyal, commanding, and surprisingly sexy, she is the epitome of one's idea of a good soldier. She did what she was supposed to do. She worked her way up the ranks from the bottom. But in doing all this, she sacrificed part of herself. Matt Wolf was unwilling to allow her to continue that sacrifice and his decision changed the course of SOLDIER FOR LOVE and I couldn't have asked for a better ending.

A huge fan of military themed books, I can't say when I have enjoyed one as much as SOLDIER FOR LOVE. It had intrigue, suspense, voodoo, and scorching love scenes. Reading it cover to cover just won't do for me - I may have to read it twice!

Natalie S.