Heather Long is a terrific author with tales to tell in several different genres. This holiday season she has put out five books in a row each dealing with different aspects of the holiday season. Starting with Thanksgiving and ending with New Years. Each is special in its own way and to make it even more special she is donating a portion of the proceeds to Toys For Tots.
1.
Enjoy the following excerpt for A Marine of
Plenty:
“Miss Grimaldi?” A deep, smooth, masculine voice pulled her
back to the present and the officer dressed in the deep dark tan and olive
MARPATS waiting inside the door. He stood easily over six-foot. The uniform did
little to disguise his broad shoulders or thick muscular arms.
Rising, she adjusted her bag and held out her hand,
fumbling for a greeting. “Hi. Captain…?”
“Sparks.” Quiet hesitation arrested his features and a
muscle ticked in his jaw.
The congressman’s brother was her escort.
Her heart thudded against her ribs and her nerves stretched
taut. Captain Charles Sparks gave the order that led to her brother’s death—a
communication failure. She understood all the terms, the reasoning, and the
apologies. Even his letters expressed his heartfelt condolences and apologies.
Letters she’d answered, and he’d returned regularly.
He grasped her hand and the world seemed to shrink away, as
though someone dropped her in a drum and banged it loudly from the outside. His
words had provided a desperately needed source of comfort—straightforward,
blunt, and without any pretty excuses. A mistake had been made, one costing a
good man his life. He didn’t ask for her forgiveness. He’d never asked her for
it, no matter how many exchanges they’d had.
Staring into his coffee-brown eyes, she knew he hadn’t
forgiven himself. And that’s
why Congressman Sparks offered his help and asked for mine. Weak-kneed, she sat abruptly. Her
fisted grip on the captain’s hand pulled him forward a step.
Concern rippled across his face. “Ma’am? Jana?”
Unexpected grief locked her throat and tears filmed her
vision. She held up her other hand and he wavered. Fighting the urge to
sniffle, she squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated on breathing. Grief might
be the one emotion everyone had in common, but acceptance came in its own ways,
on its own time. Understanding the concept intellectually and experiencing it,
however, were two completely opposite things, because the crappiest part of her
grief lay in how she couldn’t control it.
“I’m okay.” She fought to get the words out. “I’m sorry.”
“No,” he said, his voice gruff. “I should apologize. I
thought you received my e-mail about being your escort.”
“I haven’t looked at my e-mail since leaving Dallas, I’ve
been so focused on getting here.” Moistening her lips, she struggled to bring
her tumbling emotions back into focus. It would be easy to hate the man, to
blame him for what happened, and to let anger take over her grief.
But easier didn’t make it right or fair.
Belatedly, she glanced up, surprised at her white-knuckled
grip still firm on his hand. He didn’t pull away or try to let her go, but
sadness clouded his eyes—sadness, and quite possibly regret. “I didn’t mean to
fall to pieces on you, Captain Sparks.”
Oh my. Heather Long
has done it again. Though this isn’t a
very long story it will have your emotions pinging the entire gamut from
laughter to tears and everything in between.
You definitely feel Ms. Long’s love for her subject. This book, this series, is pro service member
without the preaching you get in some other books. Politics aside, every American owes their
freedom to the men & women of our armed forces. Heather Long gets that. In this book we get a quick peek at life in a
war zone over Thanksgiving and in doing so it reminds us all what we have to be
thankful for.
2.
Always a Marine
A Candle for a Marine
Tormented
by the question of 'what if...'
Home
for Hanukkah, Sergeant Isaac Janko has never forgotten the baby his girlfriend
gave up for adoption years ago. But he didn’t realize how angry he
still was....
More
than time separates them....
A
chance meeting at Temple brings Zehava Elbaz face-to-face with the first
and only man she's ever loved. She sees a deep and hidden pain in him, one
she blames herself for...
An
invitation to Hanukkah brings them together....
The
two must confront their pain and loss. They have only eight days to face their
past, and win each other's trust, but it is a time for healing, reconciliation
and miracles….
A
Candle for a Marine
Always
a Marine
Release
Date: October 29, 2013
Enjoy
the following excerpt for A Candle for
a Marine:
Except this morning, of course. All the shops were locked
up tight for Shabbat. They would open later in the day, after sundown. The
nostalgic throwback reminded him about how home he was. He slowed to a stop at
the edge of the blacktopped playground area to consider the new center. A fence
separated it from the street. The chain-link didn’t disguise the effort toward
cheer conveyed by colorful wall art covering every inch of the building facade.
The city of Dallas could be seen in the distance on one
corner of the mural, a neighborhood ice cream shop that closed when he was in
high school closer to the front, and a dozen familiar faces made up the people.
Walking around the gate, he frowned at the man depicted in the bottom right
corner. It showed a ramrod straight figure walking away, a duffle on his back
and, upon a closer inspection, he recognized himself.
“It took a year to finish all of it.”
The low-keyed chime of her voice ricocheted to his bones
and crumbled his reserve and determination like so much ash and smoke. Steeling
himself, he slid his hands into the pockets of his shorts and turned. Despite
the cool temperatures, heat flash-fired through him. Zehava always had that
effect on him.
The center was her personal project. He knew that, the
reason why he’d come. He could lie about a lot of things, but not her. She wore
a dark green turtleneck, a lighter, camel-colored jacket, jeans, and a pair of
running shoes. Wariness shadowed her eyes and she had trouble meeting his gaze.
Jaw tight, he couldn’t suppress a flare of triumph at her discomfort.
“It’s lovely. I didn’t know you still painted.”
“Only projects like this and for some classes I teach here
during the week.” She folded her arms and unfolded them. A part of him wanted
to set her at ease, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to act on it.
Resentment slithered across his skin like a sand rash.
“Well, it’s good work. I’m particularly fond of my place in
it. Walking away.” Was that how she saw him? The man who left?
“Not walking away.” She shook her head and her chin finally
came up. “Walking toward the future. Defending our country, and lonely because
you had to leave us to do it. Inspiring because it’s not an easy choice and
even harder to live with. Brave because no one here can truly imagine what you
faced, so we hoped and prayed you’d come home, safe from hate and harm.”
Uncomfortable with how close her description struck, Isaac
dragged his attention away from her. She’d matured beautifully. The softness of
her features had taken on an aristocratic bearing, but she was too thin, and
her mouth too lush.
“It’s good work,” he repeated. So many words bottled up in
his throat and threatened to choke him. “I should get going.” He gave her a
quick, abrupt smile, the action physically painful, and jogged toward the
fence. The sooner he got the hell away, the better for both of them.
My review:
There aren't many
Hanukkah romances out there. I can think of maybe one (Light Me Up by Rebecca
Royce) I am sure there are others but they are few and far between so I was
thrilled when I found out that Heather Long was going to give it a try.
This, like so many of her Marine stories, will run you through a gamut of
emotions. This is a second chance love story that is enhanced by the
season. It is obvious that the author has done her research and has given
the characters and the holiday her respect. You don’t have to be Jewish
to enjoy this story but it doesn't hurt either.
3.
Always a Marine
Marine Under the Mistletoe
He used to believe in magic…
Kaiden Nelson looked like every other Marine, only most of
his guys didn’t grow up in a family of nudists, celebrating the wheel of the
year and the lunar cycles. His buddies wouldn’t name him a witch, either. But
after more than a decade at war, Kaiden isn’t sure he can—or even wants to lay
claim to that calling anymore. He’s got too much blood on his hands and he’s
tired…tired of war, tired of fighting. Some days…he’s tired of living. When
he’s sent on leave for the holidays, he’s unsure if he can ever really go home
again.
She’s a candle in the night…
Rowan Harper lives in two worlds, the mundane where she
handles tech issues for a major corporation and the pagan where she celebrates
the sabbats and esbats with her coven. Like so many in the region, she keeps
her beliefs private. It makes life more bearable from others who would judge,
and she likes nothing better than the great sabbat retreats the coven takes to
the sprawling Lake House. It’s a time where she sheds the shackles of everyday
life and embraces the divine.
The wheel turns…
When Kaiden turns up at the coven Yule, his Circle of family
and friends are eager to welcome him. He feels unworthy of the open warmth and
shies away to the darkness, but Rowan refuses to leave him in the shadows. Can
the inexorable pull of one woman help him face down his demons as they hold
vigil against the longest night of the year?
Marine Under the Mistletoe
Always a Marine
Release Date: November 10, 2013
Enjoy
the following excerpt for Marine Under
the Mistletoe:
He grunted, but didn’t complain. The boys cleared out
without further warning and the goddess in the pale, gray silk dress descended
the stairs slowly. He didn’t get a glimpse of her feet, but the way the skirt
swirled around her, it gave her the effect of floating.
“Aaron?”
“Rowan?” The man’s nudity hadn’t bothered Kaiden when he’d
arrived, not really. He hadn’t been gone so long he didn’t remember the comfort
most others had in their skin—hell, a comfort he’d once shared. But when Rowan achieved the last step, Kaiden fought
the desire to strip off his jacket and throw it at him. “Oh.” Realization
dawned across Aaron’s chastised expression. “My apologies, you two haven’t
met…I forget. Rowan Harper—this is Lorraine and Henry’s son, Kaiden. Kaiden,
Rowan Harper—she joined Blue Circle a few years after you enlisted, give or
take.”
“Merry meet, Kaiden.” She smiled, walked straight up to him
and brushed her lips to his—the contact a violent shock to his system and he
blinked once, going completely still. “It’s truly lovely to have you with us
this year.”
It took his mind a full minute to catch up to the wrench in
his body. “Hello,” the word came out strained and harsh, but either she gave
him a free pass as they were strangers or she didn’t notice it. Aaron gave him
an odd look.
Rowan gestured to the stairs. “Do you remember the way to
your room? I put fresh sheets on the bed and fixed it up when your parents told
me you had confirmed coming this year.”
He knew exactly where it was, but his manners finally
kicked awake. “Please.” Following her up the stairs, he glanced back at Aaron
once, aware of his amused gaze. Kaiden didn’t care for the sensation of being
watched. He’s a friendly.
They’re all friendlies. This is home.
The mental litany didn’t ease the tension winding him up.
At the curve in the stairs, she paused to wait for him and Kaiden picked up the
pace. He might be fucked up, but that didn’t mean he had to be rude.
“Sorry, it was a long flight.” Mentally groaning at the
obviousness of the comment, he sucked in a deep breath, determined to do better
and inhaled fruity, deeply feminine, and deliciously sensual scent that sent a
shiver of awareness through his body and his blood plummeted to southern
regions.
“I don’t doubt it and I’m a total stranger.” She started
climbing again, lifting her skirt with one hand. “But I meant what I said
downstairs—I am very happy to welcome you home this year. Your mother speaks of
you often.”
“She’ll be annoyed with me.” The effort to make casual
conversation came out rough and jagged. “I got an earlier flight and thought I
could avoid anything too elaborate when I arrived.”
“Ahh.” She hesitated and her teeth clenched together in a
smile-grimace.
“It’s okay,” he held up his free hand, palm out. “I know my
parents. I know they’ve planned something special—especially since I haven’t
been home. They can still have it all happen, I just get some time to be here
before it starts.”
“I could talk to them if you like.” It was a kind—if
tempting—offer.
“Thank you, but the last place you need to put yourself is
between my parents and I.” The sentence came out far tougher than he’d
intended. Exhaling a hard breath, he concentrated on sanding down his attitude.
“And by that, I mean I haven’t been the poster child for good son. They’re entitled
to react in a way that makes them happy.”
They’d arrived at his door and he found the silence almost
as unnerving as the house itself. He’d picked out this room all those years ago
because it was furthest from the others, nestled off a quiet hall that had a
storage closet and attic access.
“Rowan, please ignore me. I apparently haven’t been around
real people in a while.”
“Oh?” Her too innocent eyes glittered under the glow from
the single lamp illuminating the hall. “And what mythical people have you been
spending time with?”
My review:
An incredibly touching tale of a Marine reconciling what hes had to do in as part of his job with the tenets he was raised to believe. He has been a Marine for 10 years and has put in his time in the sandbox. You can't do that and not come out unchanged. His friends and family don't judge him as harshly as he judges himself. There comes a light in his darkness in the person of shy computer tech Rowan. She refuses to let him sit alone in the dark and the love in her heart may bring him into the light once more. I don't know much about Wicca but the peace of the season comes through loud and clear. It is apparent to me that the author really cared for the characters of this story and so I did too. A must read for the holiday season no matter what religion you are.
4.
Always a Marine
Have Yourself a Marine Christmas
Rebel
with a holiday…
Ryan
Edward Brun—Rebel to his friends—has always loved Christmas. Whether raising
money for Toys for Tots, delivering presents dressed up like Santa Claus or
driving his platoon crazy with Christmas ‘surprises.’ He never lacked for
Christmas spirit—until he lost his legs to an IED.
Operation
Good Cheer…
Noël
Torres has watched over Rebel for months, holding his hand when he wanted to
give up, and bullying him when he got lazy. But with Christmas right around the
corner and decorations filling every room in their wing of Mike’s Place, the
barren oasis Rebel surrounds himself in breaks her heart. He won’t call his
family, he’s not sending out cards, he won’t pull any pranks—she decides to get
this Marine back into the holiday action.
An elf
on a mission…
With
the help of some kids, a few good Marines, and Santa Claus and Noël is
determined to give Rebel a very Marine Christmas…
Marine
Under the Mistletoe
Always
a Marine
Release
Date: November 26, 2013 – All Links Pending Release
Enjoy the following excerpt for Have Yourself a Marine
Christmas:
Jingle Bell Rock blasted through the speakers and more
than one voice jammed out to the familiar tune, echoing the song up and down
the hall. The music still invaded his room, even after one of the nurses had
closed the door for him. Rebel thumbed the volume louder on the television,
hoping to mute the insidious little ditty before it wormed farther into his
brain.
A cramp fisted in his thigh and Rebel dropped the remote,
digging his fingers into the recalcitrant muscle. He gritted his teeth and a
hiss of air escaped—his only concession to the pain radiating up from his calf
to pinch his quadriceps. It’s all in your head, Marine. Suck it up. He
had no calf muscle to cramp.
Because he had no damn calves.
Staring steadily at the news report offered him a grim
distraction. Trouble in the Baltics and civil war raging in an African nation
earned top news bites. Somewhere, someone always hurt worse than he did.
Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he tried to distract himself, but
the thunk of the faux foot on wood didn’t have the same effect.
The door opened, adding fresh punch to his misery as Frosty
the Snowman followed behind the luscious, caramel-skinned torturer who looked
after him.
“Close the damn door.” He regretted the snarl the moment it
passed his lips. The aggravating pain in his quad wouldn’t let go and had begun
to radiate up his back. Flattening his prosthetic foot had zero effect and the
socket friction on his skin compounded by the damn song replicating like a
virus across the walls of his mind.
“Good afternoon to you, too.” Noel Torres pushed the door
closed with a thump. “Cramps?” She didn’t wait for his answer before
crossing the room and adding her nimble fingers to the job. Seizing his thigh
in both hands, she dug her thumbs right into the center of the knot,
brutalizing him with a fresh wave of agony. “You know the drill, Rebel.” Snappy
and crisp, her eyes clashed with his. “Breathe.”
He could no more ignore the order than he could the heady
scent of her perfume—not that he was expert in such matters. Noel’s was an
exotic, distinctly feminine scent he associated only with her, and for the last
year it had been his salvation. Deep breaths calmed his racing heart as her thumbs
continued to apply pressure to the violent spasm seizing his muscle until
bit-by-bit, it eased.
“Breathe,” she ordered him. “In for four. Hold. Out for
four.”
Struggling to follow the command, he kept his attention on
her. Dressed in deep yellow polo shirt that truly brought out her skin tone,
and her long black hair pulled back in a severe ponytail, she looked all of
twelve years old.
Yeah, if twelve looked hot and edible…. He scowled at
the new direction his mind wandered and Noel squeezed his thigh. A burning
lance of sensation stabbed him and then the muscle let go entirely and he
wanted to weep.
“You’re holding your breath again.” She frowned, but shifted
her grip on his thigh and begun to massage it.
Reminded, he exhaled a hard sigh. “Hurts like a bitch.”
“Of course it does, you’re tense and getting worked up. You
know your mood has as much of an effect on your recovery as your exercise
regimen.” Disapproval hung off the last two words and Rebel huffed. “And don’t
you take that impatient note with me. Did you really think they wouldn’t tell
me you skipped physio three days this week?”
“I was tired.” He tried to look around her, but she only
adjusted her firm touch to knead the taut muscles of his other thigh.
“Bullshit. Your physio is not an option. Get a grip on your
panties, Marine. You don’t get to play the I’m-too-tired card. We put
a pin in that one months ago.”
Three months before, he’d been in the midst of a black
depression and slept day in and day out. He refused to go to therapy, refused to
engage with his psych evaluation, and damn near ended up on forced medication.
Noel hadn’t allowed him the luxury of mind-numbing drugs. Instead, she’d all
but dragged him out of bed, helped him into a wheelchair and took him for a
walk in the park—pushing him around like a baby in a pram. Humiliating—but
effective. He returned to therapy the next day—and she’d smiled at him.
The soothing stroke of her fingers unlocked the tension in
his gut. “How was your trip?” he asked. Maybe distraction would work.
My review:
This is a holiday story with spirit. Losing his legs to an IED couldn't keep Rebel down but associated memories have played havoc with his love for the holiday. Can Noël help him find his way back or will it take a little Chrissy Carol? Like all of Heather Long’s Always A Marine stories this one will make you feel and think and laugh and sigh. Take a stubborn Marine and an even more stubborn nurse add in some chemistry and some seasonal spirit and you have Have Yourself a Marine Christmas. If this book doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, check your pulse.
5.
Always a Marine
Lest Old Marines Be Forgot
She never stopped grieving…
It’s New Year’s Eve, and thirty years since Brenda Connors
buried the only man she ever loved. Every year on the anniversary of his death,
she finds herself in the hospital, suffering from chest pains. No matter how
expected, it always takes her breath away. This year…this year she wants it to
be different and takes the advice of her best friend and would be sister-in-law
to sign up for a one-night stand. It seems ridiculous, just a year shy of her
fiftieth birthday to try and seek happiness she long since gave up on. She
never imagined a stern faced Marine with talent for making her laugh…
He doesn’t know what the future holds…
Married to his career and facing forced retirement, Major
Tom Baxter doesn’t see much of a future for himself in civilian life. A poker
game with the son of an old friend earns him some unwanted advice, but it’s
advice he can’t get out of his head. He signs up for a one-night stand, to
discover what life on the outside might have to offer. The last thing he
expected was an elegant soul with a streak of mischief…
Ringing in a new beginning…
Can Tom and Brenda make every second of their countdown to
midnight count, lest old Marines be forgot?
Lest Old Marines Be Forgot
Always a Marine
Release Date: December 2, 2013 – All Links Pending Release
About the Author:
National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks
in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche
bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot
as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary
military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of
her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her
menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers
family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit
off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends
with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.
Contact Details:
Website: http://www.heatherlong.net
Email: heather@heatherlong.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeatherLongAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HVLong
Enjoy the following excerpt for Lest Old Marines Be
Forgot:
Their table sat in an alcove that also doubled as a private
balcony and overlooked a lit garden. According to his hostess, he and his date
would also be able to see the fireworks over Dallas later should they still be
at their table at midnight. If not, then their reserved suite also had a
balcony and a good vantage point. A marble-floored hallway led to their dining
table and though the alcove was simply one of several such isolated settings,
theirs possessed heavy cream curtains that could be closed to afford them
further privacy.
Overall, it was an excellent choice on Luke’s part.
Fortunately, years of not doing much with his salary meant Tom could also
afford the evening comfortably. He finished the cup of coffee and checked his
watch. Fifteen minutes to operation launch and he heard heels tapping on the
marble floor caught his attention. Glancing sideways, he spotted a pair of
elegant, long legs. Trailing his attention upward, he studied the woman
approaching.
The body-hugging sheathe of a dress molded her curves, and
what a shape she had…. Dark hair brushed her shoulders, the silvery streaks
amidst the deep brown seemed almost artistic. Straightening, he frowned when
she hesitated and checked her phone. The curl of anticipation in his gut
flattened out.
It didn’t matter if the elegant woman searched for another
date; he couldn’t take his attention off her. She all but glared at her phone.
A heartbeat later, she rewarded his captivation when her exasperation
transformed into sparkling laughter.
Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin and their gazes
collided. Her smile faltered for a heartbeat, then warmed. At her look, he rose
to his feet and enjoyed her long walk down the hall.
“Ms. Connors.” He extended his hand automatically, her
smooth palm gliding against his.
A hint of shyness softened her expression, but she didn’t
look away. “Mr. Baxter. Can I just say that you chose the loveliest spot for
dinner?”
Boosted by the compliment and her lovely manner, he inclined
his head. “Only if you’ll allow me to say that you outshine the location—and
then some.” He’d never really been that good with flowery compliments, but a
hint of color bloomed over her cheeks and he let out a breath. “Here….” To pull
out her seat meant he had to let go of her hand.
She had slender fingers, beautiful and tapered, and they’d
been silky-soft with the barest hint of callouses on her index fingers and
thumbs. Callouses that meant she used tools, but probably didn’t build or work
with anything. His brain’s need to catalog details had proven a godsend in the
field, but he didn’t need to pick apart his date.
“Thank you,” Brenda murmured and slipped around him to take
the chair he held out and he scooted it in just as she sat. From his vantage
point, he had a direct view of her cleavage and the teasing hint of a dark mole
on the curve of her right breast.
Clearing his throat, he moved back to his seat. “Of course.”
My review:
This is a sweet story of closure and new beginnings.
Brenda has never fully moved on from losing her fiance and New Years Eve
is a painful anniversary but it has been long enough and she has to break the
cycle so she accepts a date through Madam Eve's 1NS service. Tom is at a
loss. The Marines are pretty much all he's known and now he is retiring.
He always put the Corps first so he hasn't a wife or family to get him
through this change. Luke Dexter tells him of the success he and his
friends have had with Madam Eve so he signs up. He and Brenda are so made
for each other. This story, like its characters, moves a little slower than the
others in this series but the flames are no less hot for it.
