Series: Dare Island (Book 5)After escaping a disastrous marriage, bakery owner Jane Clark has convinced herself that she has everything she needs -- her precious son, a thriving business, and a roof over her head. But the arrival of a handsome stranger on the island shows her exactly what she's been missing...
The only home Gabe Murphy ever had was the Marine Corps.
He's working hard to rebuild his life. It will take a special place, and a
special woman, to make him want to stay.
Now Gabe is determined to prove that he's worthy of
Jane's trust -- and her love. But when her past reappears, that trust will be
tested, and Jane and Gabe will have to fight hard to hold onto their love and
make their dreams a reality...
Excellent book about two people who find love and healing
with each other as they try to rebuild their lives. I was sucked into the story
from the beginning as Gabe touched my heart. He grew up in a home with an
abusive father and a mother who chose her husband over her son. While he had
the benefit of a caring uncle, Gabe never felt that he had a home until he
joined the Marines. But after leaving the Corps, Gabe had a run of bad luck,
including time in jail for accidentally killing a man while trying to prevent a
rape. He was acquitted of murder, but with everything that has happened, Gabe
needs a new start. All he can think of is Dare Island and his friend and fellow
Marine Luke Fletcher's family, who welcomed him with open arms years before.
I loved Gabe. His past and his troubles have worn him
down to the point where it's easy for him to believe others' low opinions of
him. But underneath that bad boy exterior is a man with a good heart. That
heart first makes its appearance when he shares his sandwich with a stray dog. I
loved how the dog sensed the goodness in Gabe and attached himself to Gabe. I
could feel Gabe's relief at Luke's welcome, and also his determination to turn
his life around. Gabe's encounter with Jane, her kindness to him, and the
immediate pull he felt toward her, made him feel things he'd never felt before.
Jane's life hasn't been that great either. Her mother
walked out when Jane was seven, leaving Jane with her busy police officer
father. Tom didn't know how to relate to her, so Jane was frequently left
alone, feeling isolated. She fell in love and married young, looking for the
family she craved. Instead, she ended up with a man who abused her for years
before she escaped and divorced him. Now she's trying to stand on her own two
feet, running her business and raising her seven-year-old son. She is
determined to put her past behind her and make better choices for her future.
Jane has a nurturing heart and gets great satisfaction from taking care of the
people around her, from her son and father to her customers and friends. Her
kindness and caring have her helping Gabe, even as she realizes that she should
stay away from him.
I loved the development of the relationship between Gabe
and Jane. Both are wary of risking their hearts. It was sweet to see Gabe show
his caring through the work he did on her shop. He was always on the lookout
for ways to make things better for her. It didn't take long for him to realize
that what he felt for Jane was more than just physical attraction. Jane is
attracted to Gabe, both physically and emotionally, but she is afraid of making
another mistake. I liked seeing her step outside her comfort zone as she tried
to overcome those fears. The dinner scene at the bakery was awesome, but also
magnified Jane's worries. Seeing Gabe's connection with her son, Aiden, dug him
deeper into her heart. I loved watching the changes in Gabe as his
determination to be the type of man Jane needed fueled his resolve. I ached for
him as he told her his feelings and her fears made her pull back. There was an
emotional scene as he dealt with his hurt, and Jane tried to make him
understand her concerns. When Jane's past makes an appearance, it creates
complications but also helps her see past her fears. There was an unexpected
twist that could have gone badly for Gabe. I loved how everything worked out in
the end. I loved the epilogue and seeing how things have changed for both of
them. I'd love to see more books in this series and catching up with all of the
people of Dare Island.
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