Review ~ HER SUMMER WITH THE MARINE by Susan Meier

 

 

Book Description

 

Their competition has never been so irresistible
The last person Ellie McDermott wanted to run into after returning to her hometown is Finn Donovan, her high school nemesis and the guy she crossed the line from enemies to lovers with one night years ago. Now ex-military, tattooed, and still sexy as hell, Finn is a complication Ellie doesn’t need—she needs to concentrate on saving her family business.

Finn’s entire life, Ellie was there, going head-to-head with him in every class, bee, and test. So it’s no surprise she’d show up just as he was about to take over her father's struggling business. It is a surprise, though, that his attraction to her is even more explosive than it had been. Acting on their attraction is one thing, but Finn has to turn a profit to save his own family, and nothing—not even love—will get in his way.

 

Review

     Ellie must go back to her hometown to help her sick father and keep his business running.  He is the only family she has left and she is determined not to let him down.  What she doesn’t realize is how tough the struggle is going to be between her job as an Ad Executive, making sure her father gets the best possible care and keeping the family’s funeral home business open.

     After leaving the military, Finn opened his own funeral home in the same town.  He has tried on several occasions to purchase the rival funeral home, but he is always shot down.  He knows that the town is not big enough for both of them to survive and needs to make sure his business thrives so he can support his mother and show his abusing father he can make it.

    When they first run into each other the sexual attraction between them is clear.  When they finally give in, Finn makes sure she realizes this is just sex, nothing more.   If she thinks she has feelings for him, their time together is over. 

     Despite the warning, Ellie begins to fall in love with Finn.  She tries to keep her feelings buried, but can’t.  When she admits this to Finn, he ends their relationship as well as their friendship.  Then her father dies suddenly and she is left all alone.  Will Finn realize he loves her too?  If he does, will it be too late? 

     This was such a sweet and emotional story.  Ellie is such a strong character and you can’t help but feel sorry for her.  She has no one she can turn to to help her and she is determined to do the right by her dad, even if that is sacrificing her happiness.  Finn grew up with an abusive dad and has built a wall around his heart.  When Ellie comes back, he is happy to see her as she is the only one who has truly ever seen him.  When the emotional stakes get too high, he leaves her.  He regrets it almost immediately, especially when he is informed her dad passed away. 

     This book tugged at my heart.  At times, I couldn’t help but cry for Ellie.  While she tries to show everyone she is strong, inside she is breaking into.  Just when she thought she could count on Finn, he leaves her heartbroken.  I was so happy with how this story ended.  While I would have liked Finn to grovel more, I think how he handled it was great.  Don’t just take my word for it, go out and get your copy today!!       

 

Excerpt

    

     Watching Ellie say her final good-byes at the graveside, he swallowed.  His chest tightened and his heart did the funny thing it had done when he'd seen her at Sissy Martin's wedding in the sparkly little pink dress. No one had ever treated him so well.  No one had ever loved him so unconditionally she could look past her hurts and save him.  No one made him laugh the way she did. 

     He did not want her to go.

     Oh, God.  He really didn't want her to go.  He needed her.  If this awful feeling in his chest was anything to go by, he would wither up and die without her.  If watching her go didn't kill him, living without her would.

     His breath caught.

    He could not live without her.

     And he suddenly saw this was love.  Real love.  Not the odd relationship his parents had.  Not a trap for fools.  But two people who helped each other, looked out for each other, cared about each other so much they'd swallow their pride, do the right thing.  Which was what she had done when she signed the agreement to see McDermott's to him.

     So what the hell was he doing?  Why was he letting her go when he loved her?

 

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