His travels are over, but his journey is just beginning… It takes a different kind of courage to open up to love. An explosion ended Jake Kelly’s military career. Now his days are spent alone on his ranch, and his nights are spent keeping his PTSD at bay. But the former marine’s efforts to keep the beautiful local bartender at a distance are thwarted by his canine companion. Every time he … companion. Every time he turns around, Molly is racing off to the Circle G looking for Skylar Gilmore. Maybe the dog knows that two hearts are better than one?
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Discover more true-to-life stories in the Match Made in Haven series by Brenda Harlen:
Book 1: The Sheriff’s Nine-Month Surprise
Book 2: Her Seven-Day Fiancé
Book 3: Six Weeks to Catch a Cowboy
Book 4: Claiming the Cowboy’s Heart
Book 5: Double Duty for the Cowboy
Book 6: One Night with the Cowboy
Book 7: A Chance for the Rancher
Book 8: The Marine’s Road Home
more
Love reading good books, and those that are written by Canadian writers! I love this book and how Brenda Harlen does not shy away from writing about PTSD, it not only happens to service men and women but to anyone who has been involved in something violent (verbal and physical) and she shows that in this book. I just love her writing and have not been disappointed in any of her books. I started this one today and read it in a few hours, could not put it down. I love Molly!
I enjoyed this story of this ex-marine and his dog in a romance. I voluntarily chose to review this story and gave it a 4.5*. This is not for the under 18 readers. While I don’t believe in falling into bed with near strangers, I thought this addressed a growing issue of PTSD. I like how this ended.
The Marine’s Road Home by Brenda Harlen. An explosion ended Jake Kelly’s military career, and he spent his days alone on his ranch but at nights, his PTSD gripped him. Only Molly, his lovable canine friend, could sooth his raw nerves. One night he met the beautiful bartender, Skylar Gilmore, at a local watering hole. It was instant attraction, but Jake resisted to keep his distance, but Molly had other ideas. Sometimes a dog knows what best for her human master. Brenda Harlen stirs the pot of sizzling heat, the family’s nosiness, and a wholesome small-town feel into The Marine’s Road Home. I received this complimentary copy by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Who is John? Where is he? What does he do for a living? Or what did he do? Who is Jake? Where does this story take place? Who is Skylar and what does she do for a living? I had to laugh at Mr. Virga’s comment to Sky! My heart broke several times throughout this book, but it also lept with joy at other parts. Read and see why and what happens to and with Jake.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT from Netgalley FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
Skylar Gilmore is a big-hearted “Giver.” She is always there when she is needed. In addition to her job as a counselor for at-risk youth and her volunteer job at the local women’s shelter, Sky tends bar at Digger’s Bar a couple nights a week and that’s where she met Jake Kelly. Well, sorta met him. One night he walked into the bar, sat down on a barstool and ordered a beer and said not another word. In spite of his aloofness Sky found herself attracted to him even though she had sworn off men. For some reason in addition to her attraction to him Sky felt she wanted to solve the puzzle of what made this man tick. Every week at just about the same time on Wednesday evening the troubled man, she had decided he was troubled, showed up and ordered a beer, drank it and left. As the weeks went on she made progress and they actually had small conversations. That all changed the day Sky ran out of gas on her way home from assisting a client and Jake stopped to help her out. Yes, “Jake” stopped to help her out. She finally knew his name and a little about him. That was the beginning…
Jake Kelly is an ex-Marine with a TBI (Tramatic Brain Injury) and PTSD. He has inherited his uncle’s place in Haven, Nevada. Jake has fond memories of he and his brother Luke spending several weeks during the summer with their beloved aunt and uncle there. Jake’s dad is in the military so they moved frequently making time spent in Haven feel like going home. Maybe that’s why he left California to spend time on the property he inherited. It seemed to be a good move for himself and his dog Molly. Molly is Jake’s constant companion. She didn’t make the cut to be trained as a therapy dog but, as it turned out and lucky for Jake, Molly is an excellent emotional support dog. Molly seems to know when Jake starts to have a PTSD episode and is right there for him. She loves Sky. Guess he should take Molly’s advice and take a chance on a relationship with Sky. He has some issues to deal with before he finds himself ready to give his all.
The Marine’s Road Home by Brenda Harlen is the eighth book in this author’s Match Made in Haven series. I found this story to be a compelling, emotional read. Sky is the perfect fit for Jake with her counseling background and caring heart. Jake showed Sky that she truly is a lovable woman and all those exes who walked away from her were the ultimate losers. The storyline flows very well. The conflict was well articulated and the resolution was very satisfying. I love the cover!
Very good book. Jake came to Haven looking for peace and a way to get his life back on track after leaving the Marines. We first see him when he walks into Digger’s Bar and orders a beer. Sky is the bartender, and she attempts to make conversation with him, but Jake isn’t cooperating. He bluntly tells her that he’s “not here for conversation,” so she leaves him alone. But he made an impression on her, and she keeps an eye on him as he drinks his beer and leaves.
Sky is a friendly, kind, and compassionate woman. Besides a couple of shifts she works at Digger’s, she also works at her family’s store and is a counselor at the high school and the local women’s shelter. She is also on a relationship hiatus, as all of her previous relationships have ended badly. But there is something about Jake that stirs her up.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Jake and Sky develop. It started very slowly. Jake comes into the bar at the same time every Wednesday night, drinks one beer, and leaves. Sky never gives up on him and continues to talk to him until he finally talks back a little. The sparks are there, though Jake is determined to ignore them. He does pretty well until the day he finds her stranded on the side of the road. The sparks burst into flame, and they spend some very satisfying time together. But Jake is so freaked out by how right it felt to be with Sky that he behaved like a jerk to her. Fortunately, he apologized and explained, and they continued to spend time together.
I hurt for Jake because of his struggles. He was medically retired because of the injuries he received during the attack that also killed most of his team. Besides his PTSD, he also suffers from survivor’s guilt. He feels that he’s too broken to be suitable for anyone. He moved to Haven to get away from his family after a flashback incident. Jake feels like a failure when he compares himself to his older brother, Luke. Those feelings aren’t helped by their father, a retired Marine who continually harps on Jake’s lack of a plan for his future and his “quitting.” Jake’s best friend is his dog, Molly, who helps ground him during his episodes. Molly takes a liking to Sky, and there are some fun parts involving the three of them.
The more time that they spent together, the closer Jake and Sky grew. I loved how Sky gave Jake the space that he wanted by not pestering him to talk about his experiences or feelings. Jake fought hard against his feelings for her, convinced that he would only hurt her if he tried for something deeper. Meanwhile, Sky realized that she had fallen hard for Jake, and was looking at likely having her heart broken. There is an emotional and heart-wrenching confrontation between them when she calls him out on his refusal to take a chance on them. Jake gets some advice and help from an unexpected source, after a heart-to-heart that opens his eyes to what he needs to do.
I hurt for Sky during this time as she tried to deal with Jake’s rejection and disappearance. There’s a sweet conversation between Sky and her younger sister, Ashley, that helps her to feel a little better. The ending was great as Jake put his heart on the line spectacularly and romantically.
There were also some emotional moments as we get a peek into Sky’s professional life. Her actions regarding Ashley’s friend Chloe, as well as Chloe’s sister Jodie, showed the depth of her commitment to helping young people. I also liked the way that Sky helped her former high school classmate escape from her situation. Both incidents demonstrated Sky’s determination and compassion.