[Blog Tour Review]: "Once Her Man, Always Her Man"

Once Her Man, Always Her Man by Heather Long

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC (April 7, 2012)

Series: Always a Marine, 1 [1NightStand Series]

Genre: Contemporary Erotica (novella)

Fulfilling a favor and executing a business plan, Luke Dexter arrives at Dallas’ Sybarite Club for a one-night stand. He never imagined he’d come face to face with the woman he left behind a decade earlier.

Rebecca Rainier fell in love with Luke Dexter in high school and was crushed when he dumped her to join the Marines after 9/11. Set up on a 1Night Stand by her business partner, nothing could prepare Rebecca for who her date is.

Can Luke and Rebecca bridge the pain of a decade-long abandonment, in one cold Texas night?

 

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | BN | ARe

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site

My Review:

Usually novellas leave a reader hanging, wanting more. They're quickies meant to help tide you over until the next book in a series is out or to introduce you to a new author. Rarely have I seen a novella that offered much more than that—but I found it in Heather Long's newest novella, Once Her Man, Always Her Man!

Rebecca and Luke were childhood friends and highschool sweethearts. They were crazy for each other—up until the last part of their senior year, when 9/11 happened, a tragedy that even affected their small town. Luke, whose father was already a Marine, enlisted even before graduation, leaving Rockwell—and Rebecca—behind. He loved her, but felt that she deserved a better life, not one stuck in Texas, worrying about him in Iraq. It was a mistake, and one he's regretted ever since.

Out of the military now, he's came back to the area to start a rehab or sorts for returning Vets. When the rest of his team signs up for a dating service (1NightStand) he does so as well—to support them more than anything. After all, he still thinks of Rebecca...

His first setup is in a club-and who does he find waiting there? Rebecca, his love, the one he pushed away 11 years ago. It's rare to get a second chance, but Luke's taking this one. Can he explain to Rebecca why he left, why he never came home—why he stills loves her to this day? Will she listen?

OHM,AHM is indeed a quick story, only a few chapters total. But what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in romance, writing quality, emotions, and steamy chemistry! I absolutely loved reading Rebecca and Luke's story, devouring it in only about 20 minutes. And while, yes, I would have liked it to be a full length novel, it wasn't absolutely necessary—Heather manages to weave quite a story for us even with such limited pages to work with.

There was depth to the story, the background and characters—something that not even all novels have, little loan most novellas. Their story blew me away, and I'll even admit to blinking back a few tears while reading, as their relationship was very touching, very sweet. And once they worked out their problems and decided to, ahem, show their love for one another....Well, I'll just leave it at “hot damn!”. Yes, a Marine definitely knows how to treat his woman...*sigh*

5 STARS! For a quick, but totally satisfying, second-chance-at-love romance, this is the perfect choice! Sweet, touching and very sexy, this novella is a must read! And as it is short, it won't take you long to finish—even better for those times when reading a 400 page book is made almost impossible by our hectic lives! I will definitely be adding Heather Long to my list, and I look forward to seeing what one of her full length novels has to offer. Because when she can make me fall in love with a book in less than 40 pages, imagine what she can do in 300! :)

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I received this e-ARC from Sizzling PR blog tours n exchange for my honest review.
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Enjoy!


Until Next Time,

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