A guilt-racked hero vows to succeed …even if it costs him his life. Five million dollars for rescuing a kidnapped heiress? To reclusive Jason Hunt, the job’s about redemption, not money. But when the troubled former marine finds megarich Samantha Eddington, opposites attract as they escape her captors. Odds are they won’t survive the brutal Teton Mountains or the mercenaries after them. And … mercenaries after them. And if they do, will Jason’s reward be redemption or heartbreak?
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Julie Miller has been one of my favorite, go-to authors for years. I recently pulled a number of her books off my Keeper Shelf and started devouring stories previously read because they make such good, nonfattening 😉 “comfort food” in troubled times.
Once she gets her leads together, the story takes off on an exhilarating ride filled with thrills and fun personality quirks through the mountains and wilderness of Wyoming. From rock climbing, to hiding from the bad guys (and outwitting them, of course), reading about a troubled former Marine and the spunky, nerdy heiress he rescues was a blast. I loved their interactions and enjoyed my second read every bit as much as my first.
I enjoyed this fast-paced romantic suspense.
As a former Marine, Jase was beyond good at his job with search-and-rescue. Troubled by events in his past, he lived alone in the woods. When he was called to rescue a kidnapped heiress, he was on his way immediately.
Samantha was not interested in the money her family had or attending society functions. She was quite brilliant (a nerdy type) and would rather be in her lab. She was at a ball when she walked in on her boyfriend and stepsister in a compromising position. She ran out of the ball where she was kidnapped. She was frightened but managed to keep her wits about her.
I liked that Jase and Sam were opposites but had a lot in common. I enjoyed the way they shared the work while running from the kidnappers. Being an heiress didn’t mean Sam was useless. She was quite capable and didn’t let Jason do everything. She helped all the time. I was impressed that she was able to “cannibalize” electronic items to make one working one.
This romantic suspense had me reading as fast as I could to see what would happen next. And the ending was absolutely worth the wait.
Fast-paced suspense coupled with a fast-paced romance. Jason is a former Marine, haunted by his inability to save the woman he loved. Between that and his PTSD, Jason finds it more comfortable to live as far away from people as he can. He has his cabin in the woods and his job with search-and-rescue, which is his way of atoning for what he sees as the mistakes of his past. When he gets the call about rescuing Samantha, it brings back unwelcome memories, but he can’t refuse the job.
Samantha is a beautiful woman who is much more comfortable in the lab than at society functions. The story opens as she prepares to be the center of attention when her boyfriend proposes in front of party guests. All of that goes out the window when she finds him in a compromising situation with her younger stepsister. Furious, Samantha takes off, only to be kidnapped on her way out of the hotel.
Sam and Jase are complete opposites, but the sparks flew between them from the moment they met. There was also an unexpected connection, thanks to the tragedies both have experienced. I liked how Sam was able to get Jase to talk about his past, helping to relieve some of the guilt he lives with. The loss of Sam’s mother was a significant factor in the way she holds herself back from people and is exacerbated by the betrayal of the man she thought she loved. I enjoyed seeing Sam’s quirkiness, intelligence, and compassion work past Jase’s walls into his aching heart. At the same time, Sam experienced what it was like to be respected and protected by a man, instead of always being put down. I liked how quickly she came to trust Jase. She also gained the confidence that she lacked before and recognized the truth of her feelings for him. I loved the scene in the hospital, followed by the epilogue that showed the difference love made in their lives.
The suspense of the story was great. It started intense with Sam’s kidnapping and maintained that intensity throughout. The immediate questions that came to mind were whether the abduction was related to the kidnapping and murder of Sam’s mother, was it strictly ransom-based, or does someone have a grudge against her father? I was on the edge of my seat from the moment Jase appeared next to Sam as they raced to stay ahead of the kidnappers. The imagery was vivid as Jase and Sam fought the mountain as well as the bad guys. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as they were betrayed by someone they thought they could trust. I loved Sam’s part in their success and laughed at the part about the cellphone and keys.
I always love a good story where the hero and heroine are trapped in the wilderness, preferably snow bound. Since I’m a fan of Julie Miller’s Harlequin Intrigue’s, I was excited to pick this one up. The story was well paced, had lots of action, and a good plot with a slight twist. It has a hunky hero with a scarred past, and a heroine who doesn’t quite fit in with those around her. And yes, they get trapped on a cold, snowy mountain. It’s has all that one looks for in an Intrigue book, and you won’t be disappointed in this one.
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~~ 4.5 ADRENALINE-PUMPING STARS! ~~
“You believe in me, and I’ll believe in you.”
I have been a long-time admirer of Julie Miller’s Harlequin Intrigues–no one pens passionate, action packed romantic suspense tales featuring strong, stalwart alpha protectors and smart, feisty heroines quite like she does!. And woo-hoo did I relish RESCUED BY THE MARINE!!
THE PREMISE:
Captain Jason Hunt has never forgiven himself for failing to save the woman he loved when she was taken hostage by insurgents during a dangerous military op two years prior, and he is looking to right past wrongs. The former Marine gets that chance when he is hired to rescue a kidnapped heiress, but unlike last time, failure is NOT an option. This is his shot at redemption and he will see this mission through to the end at all costs. But as he risks life and limb to extract shy, geeky scientist Samantha Eddington from her menacing abductors, and attempts to escort her back to civilization, an unexpected fiery attraction ignites between the duo that not even the haunting memories from his past can extinguish. However, before they can even consider surrendering to their passion, they have a treacherous mountain trek to survive, bullets to dodge, and nefarious baddies to stay one step ahead of! Will justice and true love prevail?
MY MUSINGS:
Wow! RESCUED BY THE MARINE was all kinds of awesome!! I just adored this high-octane romance that evolves between a taciturn, former marine turned reclusive search-and-rescue mountain man, and the beautiful, eccentric wallflower he rescues amid unspeakable odds!
Set against a rugged mountain landscape that’s teeming with danger and sparkling with pristine beauty, Julie Miller masterfully weaves a powerful story of heart stopping suspense, exhilarating adventure and breathtaking romance. Although the story got off to a bit of a slow start for me, once the action kicked into high gear in the third chapter I was on pins and needles from that point on, frantically turning the pages, desperate to find out what would happen next! And as always, the author’s vibrant, atmospheric writing style, suspenseful, emotionally charged tone, and smoldering sensuality leaves you spellbound.
Overall, I found the plot to be fast paced and charged with excitement and raw emotional intensity, which made for one ADRENALINE-PUMPING read! Furthermore, the slow and steady romantic buildup that develops between Jase and Sam as they hike across the wilderness, combating exhaustion, the frigid mountain conditions and dangerous assailants was captivating!
Although this book is not as steamy as others I have read by this author, I nevertheless loved the potent sexual chemistry, palpable push-pull and the quick-witted banter that sizzled between this duo. But this relationship goes so much deeper than witty repartee or red-hot physical desire. The soulful connection they forged was what truly had me rooting for them every step of the way, and this was all due to the fantastic character development and organic emotional conflicts that the author masterful layered into the plot!
My heart ACHED for Jason, a broody, tortured soul who bears the weight of so much guilt and grief and soul-crushing regret on his impossibly broad shoulders. Ms. Miller did a REMARKABLE job of touching upon the devastating impact of war and exploring the hero’s crippling PTSD. Even though he’s been stateside for two years, Jason still harbors deep psychological wounds from his last deployment and prefers to live—and work—in quiet solitude in the remote mountainside to try to escape the haunting memories.
However, when he’s tasked with this dangerous new mission, he vows that NOTHING will stop him from bringing Samantha home safely. Jason knows he cannot afford to have another casualty on his hands and his inconvenient attraction for the woman he’s assigned to protect is a distraction neither of them can afford! But as hard as he tries to keep his emotional distance from Sam, it’s impossible to resist his magnetic pull toward the beautiful, brainy heiress who soothes his tormented soul and slowly but surely brings his cold, deadened heart back to life!
Sigh. Jason may be broken inside, but he is still 100 percent badass! I love this big, gruff mountain man’s rugged masculinity, his brusque tenderness, his tough, take charge demeanor, and his fierce protective instinct! Oh, and did I mention he’s BUILT LIKE A TANK, and oozes pure primal animal magnetism ? Yum!!
As for Samantha, she is a breath of fresh air and my FAVORITE Julie Miller heroine to date! This shy, socially-awkward young scientist is far from your typical spoiled rich “princess.” Samantha suffered a traumatic loss at a young age that left an indelible mark and is now reeling from an unforgivable betrayal that had her fleeing into the night and running smack dab into danger. But despite all the hardship and heartache she has endured, there is a strength, resilience and inner fire within this brave young scientist that’s utterly INTOXICATING.
Bottom Line? Sam and Jason truly could not be more different, but her quirkiness combined with her unconventional beauty, keen intellect, warmth, compassion and aching vulnerability, are just so endearing. And it’s no wonder that she worms her way into Jason’s grief ravaged heart! But can he risk being distracted by another woman after the blood that’s still on his hands from his last botched mission? And can she put her faith in this big, tight-lipped wounded warrior, considering the chaos that ensued from trusting the wrong man ?
Along with the heart-gripping romance, compelling emotional strife and pulse pounding danger, the author penned an intriguing mystery, planting seeds along the way as to who kidnapped Samantha and why, and her colorful cast of secondary characters infused the story with depth, intrigue and rich, robust flavor. And, of course, in true Julie Miller fashion, all the romance and suspense culminate in an explosive showdown—and a swoon-worthy HEA—that leaves us enthralled!
FINAL VERDICT:
RESCUED BY THE MARINE totally BLEW ME AWAY and I can’t wait to find out what the mega talented Ms. Miller has in store for us next!
Rescued by the Marine
Julie Miller
Jason Hunt liked the solitude of his life since getting out of the Marines. Just the place to heal until he goes to rescue Samantha Eddington who was kidnapped. It seemed to easy and it was as every time they seemed to loose the villains, they popped up again.
A fast paced suspenseful trek down the mountain in the winter full of twists and turns that keep you glued to the story.
Another great pairing of characters that have you holding your breath as the face the evil powers that be.
Filled with intense, non-stop action, the story is a roll-a-coaster ride of survival of the fittest. Not only are the protagonists fighting against the band of bad guys, but they have to face the unpredictable nature and its force as well. The story moves forward with a rapid pace, keeping the readers on the edge and making the book very hard to put down until the very satisfying end.
Samantha Eddington might have access to more money than most, but she is very down to earth kind of person. She is smart, capable, kind-hearted woman. She is funny, she is witty, and when sorting out her thoughts, she talks a mile a minute, not necessarily expecting you to listen to her mumbling.
Jason Hunt is reclusive and anti-social, yet he has dedicated his life to helping others, rescuing people from the wilderness, his atonement, after losing the woman he loved and his teammates in an ambush at the war.
I loved the chemistry between Sam and Jason, while completely opposite of each other, they complimented each other well. Together they made the perfect unit, a team, partners that got each other. The attraction is obvious and tangible. They do not have much time to build a relationship while on the run for their lives, but the author cleverly wraps up the story so that the relationship and romance between Sam and Jason get a fair and believable chance, a truly swoon-worthy ending to the explosively exciting story.
A smoothly yet rapidly flowing tale of severe action while vigorously running for your life and being fervently attracted to the one rescuing you and saving your life. A fragile relationship that started in the midst of danger and fear yet gets a chance to prove that it is lasting and true.
Julie Miller always delivers unputdownable, well-written tales with charming and intriguing characters that are easy to fall for and cheer throughout the tale
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side