His Last Defense - Karen Rock (HB #935 - Apr 2017)

Series: Uniformly Hot (Book 70)

Semper Paratus. Always ready.

Years ago, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dylan Holt left Kodiak, Alaska, with his heart in pieces. He thought Nolee Arnauyq and her mouthwatering curves were behind him -- until he's sent to rescue the crew of a capsizing boat…including Nolee. And Dylan is definitely not ready for the too-familiar way his body aches at seeing her again.

Nolee's always gone after what she wanted, and to hell with the risks. Now she's a rookie ship captain taking on the deadly waters of the Bering Sea. But out on these treacherous waters, there's no way to avoid the sizzling sexual tension between them -- or the dangerous pull of emotions that could leave both their hearts lost at sea…

Good second chance story. I liked getting Dylan's story, as he intrigued me in His to Protect. At the end of that book, he's just been transferred to Kodiak, Alaska, his hometown, and he isn't at all happy about it. In this book, we learn that he left Kodiak almost a decade earlier, swearing he would never return. His memories of his father's emotional abuse and his mother's disinterest still affect him today. On top of that, the girl he loved broke his heart, so he walked away from it all.

Nolee's father left before she was born. She grew up with her and her single mom moving from relative to relative, house to house. She swore that she would never need or depend on someone else ever again. After years of hard work, she is now the captain of her first boat, with a crew that respects her. Fishing for crab in the icy Alaskan waters isn't easy work, but she loves it.

The book opens with Nolee's boat in trouble from a fast-moving weather system. When they start taking on water, she has no choice but to call in the Coast Guard. The last person she expects to see come out of that helicopter is Dylan. At the same time, he is shocked to find Nolee trying to keep her boat afloat.  This was a scene that had me on the edge of my seat as it all went down. I could almost feel the icy water as it rose further in the ship and the waves as they knocked it around. I could feel Nolee's desperation as she tried to save the boat and Dylan's frustration as he tried to get her to leave.

I liked both Nolee and Dylan, though each of them frustrated me too. Nolee is tough, caring, and has a good sense of humor. It takes a strong will to compete in such a male-dominated field, and she has what it takes. She also has a softer side, that can be seen in the way she tries to take care of her mother, and also in several scenes with various crew members. She can also be very stubborn, which especially shows in her refusal to ask for help when she needs it. Dylan can be just as stubborn, hence his refusal to return to Kodiak until ordered to do so. He loves his career with the Coast Guard, but he still has some trouble trusting people outside of his work environment.

I really enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Dylan and Nolee. Even though each of them believed that they had put their past behind them, from the moment they saw each other again the sparks flew. They quickly decide that the best way to deal with it is to indulge in a no-strings fling. All they have to do is keep their emotions out of it - something neither is willing to admit is easier said than done. To top it off, Dylan finds himself very protective of Nolee and fearing that she could take too many risks, signs on to help her while he's on leave.

The scenes on the boat were terrific. It doesn't take long for Dylan to see just how capable a captain Nolee is. It was fun to see him get back into the swing of crab fishing, reliving some of the better memories of when he and Nolee were growing up. It isn't all smooth sailing with them, though. Nolee's stubborn independence causes her to resist asking for help, and it takes some effort to get her to ask for it. Nolee can see that while Dylan has changed some, he is still as stubborn as ever when it comes to his family. Each of them can see what the other's issues are, but are willfully blind to their own. And whenever one of them tries to bring up a painful subject, the other is quick to use sex as a distraction. Over their time on the boat, they still manage to grow closer, with their feelings growing stronger. But once again, communication isn't their strong point. Misunderstandings about their future plans cause harsh words and accusations that split them apart. The question becomes one of whether they can unload that emotional baggage to make room for each other. I liked seeing each of them make peace with their pasts, which then opened up greater possibilities for their future. I liked their big moment at the end and seeing what was possible when they listened to each other. I will admit that I would have liked an epilogue showing where they are a few years down the road.

I was fascinated by the look at the crab fishing industry. I had never really thought about how it was done. The intensity was incredible and had me on the edge of my seat in several places. I also liked the very human elements shown by the personalities of the various crew members. I especially liked the newbie, Tyler, and seeing the changes he went through during those three weeks. I loved the conversation between him and Nolee. She treated his questions, fears, and dreams with respect and that made a huge impact on him.

Christmas with the Marine - Candace Havens (HB #915 - Nov 2016)

Series: Uniformly Hot (Book 68)

Subject: Major Ben Hawthorne

Mission: To make one sexy civvy's Christmas wish come true

Christmas is almost here, and guys are the last thing on personal shopper Ainsley Garrett's list. But her icy resolution melts when she sees an incredibly hot Marine shopping for toys. A man in uniform with a hot bod and a heart of gold? Maybe a gal can believe in Santa after all…

Major Ben Hawthorne has his career to think about, but when it comes to Ainsley, he's willing to break his own rules, at least for one night -- provided they can get this insanely wicked attraction out of their systems. Only, once isn't enough. Now Ainsley's checking her list twice…before she falls for a Marine who's naughty and nice.

Terrific story. I loved the way it started out and how Ben and Ainsley met. Ben lost a bet with his friends, which left him doing the Christmas shopping for his unit's Toys for Tots donations and the local retirement homes. He was in way over his head as he stood in the Barbie aisle at the toy store. I loved seeing him talking to himself and all but pulling his hair out. Luckily for him, a fellow shopper came to his rescue. Ainsley is a professional shopper, and Ben's situation tugs at her heart. I loved seeing her step in and walk him through it all.

Both Ben and Ainsley are career-focused, with no plans for any serious relationships in their immediate futures. But they can't deny the attraction that flares between them. They also suffer from over-zealous friends and family who keep throwing potential dates and mates at them. They form a quick friendship and mutual support team, as they promise to be each other's "plus one" during the holidays. I loved seeing them get to know each other and discover just how much they had in common. Both are hard workers who have plans for their futures. Both of them are big into helping other people. Their conversations are fun and flirty, and they really seem to understand each other. But each of them has a hot-button issue. Ben is a little bit insecure about his background. He grew up poor and joined the Marines right out of high school as a way to take care of his mom and sister. He's a little bit intimidated by the wealth that Ainsley comes from. Ainsley's problem is that of trying to prove and maintain her independence, especially against her father's machinations. She tends to get pretty huffy with anyone who wants to "take care of her."

There were some terrific scenes of Ben and Ainsley together. I especially enjoyed the night of the bachelor auction and watching Ben go all out to help Ainsley make her goal. I liked seeing Ainsley with Ben's friends and how well she fit in with them. But I could also see that there was trouble brewing as the night of her family's Christmas party drew nearer. I ached for Ben, whose insecurities got quite a workout when he saw her parents' house. I liked how Ainsley did her best to put him at ease. I was furious at her father's interference and the terrible things he said to Ben. Ben might have gotten through that okay, but he then had to listen to some pretentious jerk putting the moves on Ainsley. His insecurities collided with his jealousy, and he said some really boneheaded and hurtful things to her. I ached for Ainsley who was blindsided by his words and actions.

I liked seeing how both of them dealt with what had happened. I cheered when Ainsley had it out with her dad, and loved the support she got from her sister. I also liked seeing her brain start to work again, and how she thought about the things said and what may have driven them. I laughed at Ben's arrival home and how his mom and sister pried the story of what happened out of him. I especially enjoyed the insight of his seventeen-year-old sister. That same sister had a very effective way of getting Ben and Ainsley back together. I loved their big moment at the end and seeing the calm and cool Ainsley totally lose it. The epilogue was a terrific wrap up to the story.

I liked Ainsley's friend Bebe and Ben's friend Jake. I especially enjoyed Bebe's unexpected arrival the evening Ben and Ainsley were "cooking" in the kitchen. Her unflappable reaction was hilarious. I liked the close friendship between Jake and Ben. It was great fun to see Jake tease Ben about how much he was into Ainsley. 

His to Protect - Karen Rock (HB #911 - Oct 2016)

Series: Uniformly Hot (Book 67)

Subject: Lt. Commander Mark Sampson

Mission: Keep his eyes on the skies…despite one sexy distraction!

There are things a man can never undo. For Coast Guard search and rescue pilot Mark Sampson, it was the agonizing decision that cost him a teammate -- and his faith in himself. But an unbelievably sexy blonde on a secluded beach may help him forget…if only for a night.

Cassie Rowe needed a distraction -- and, boy, did she get one! How was she to know the brooding stranger who rocked her world was the pilot who'd left her brother to die? And now they're on the same mission. She should hate him. But she can't fight the storm of desire threatening to pull them under…

Good story of love, loss, and healing. Cassie is a nurse who has spent most of her life in her hometown, playing it safe with her life. Her adored big brother was the adventurous one who became a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. A year earlier, Jeff lost his life during a mission, and Cassie blames the pilot. Determined to honor her brother's memory by challenging herself, Cassie joined a Red Cross hurricane relief mission. Faced with intense nerves the night before, she hooked up with a sexy stranger who provided quite the distraction.

The night before his first mission in a year, Mark also needs a distraction. He's haunted by the last one, where he had to decide between leaving a man behind and saving the rest of the crew and rescued victims. Now he isn't sure if he has what it takes to continue his work. The sexy blonde who rocks his night gives him welcome relief from his dark thoughts.

The next day both are dismayed to find out each other's identity. Cassie has harbored a lot of anger toward Mark because of Jeff's death and finding out he's the man she had such a deep connection to has confused her. Mark is even more horrified. Cassie is the little sister of his friend, the one he feels responsible for losing. He has no business being with her. But no matter how hard they try, it's impossible for them to stay away from each other.

I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. The chemistry between Mark and Cassie is off the charts, but it's the emotional connection that really drew me in. As part of the humanitarian mission, Cassie got to see first-hand what drew her brother to his service. Working closely with Mark, she also realized that, rather than the cold-hearted pilot she had believed him to be, he is as deeply attached to his mission as Jeff had been. The more she sees of his anguish over Jeff's death, the easier it is for her to let go of her own.

I loved seeing Cassie come into her own during this book. Thanks to stepping outside her comfort zone, she realized that she hadn't been happy living the quiet life back in Idaho. She had been suffocating under her parents' overprotectiveness and her own need to please. I loved seeing her stretch her wings and discover a calling that matched her brother's. I ached for Mark through most of the book, as well as experiencing the occasional wish to shake him. Jeff's loss has damaged his self-confidence which causes him to question some of his decision. Then, as his feelings for Cassie grow, those fears make him over-protective of her.

When team injuries give Cassie the opportunity to fly rescue missions with Mark, she is quick to seize the opportunity. What for Cassie is an eye-opening and life-changing experience becomes a nightmare come true for Mark. When Cassie makes a decision about her future, she expects support from Mark, not the reaction she gets. Though I ached for her heartbreak, I cheered her resolution in following through. Mark's misery was obvious, but his stubbornness was stronger. I liked the straight talk he got from Dylan, who flat-out told him he was an idiot, and the conversation with his former mentor who showed him that love wasn't meant to be thrown away or wasted. I loved his big moment at the end, as his heart was finally ready to take a chance on the future.

I also liked the background of the book. The setting of the rescue work involved in hurricane relief was interesting and exciting. The insight into the long hours and sometimes heartbreaking situations gave an added richness to the story. The rescue flight that Cassie participated in had me on the edge of my seat. The intensity and danger leapt off the page and gave a good idea of what the SAR people go through every day. I also liked getting the viewpoint of some of those on the receiving end of the rescue, and the difference they made to Mark's view of himself. I also liked seeing the closeness of Mark's crew and can't wait to read Dylan's story.