A Hero to Love

Gail Chianese

Aug 2017 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

A military police officer on the verge of a new beginning. A beautiful woman devoted to her career and her dream of putting down roots. The hardest thing they’ll ever do is to take a chance on love . . .

Navy Chief Master at Arms Jackson “Jax” Faraday is at a crossroads. He has to decide whether to reenlist or get out while he’s young enough to make a difference in the civilian world. Either choice could mean leaving behind his girl: his K-9 partner, Bella. But when she’s injured during a training session, Jax’s only concern is making sure she’s okay.

As the Navy base veterinarian, town local Risa Reynolds is right where she belongs: close to her parents in a farmhouse full of animals—with room to grow. She’s seen enough to put military men are on her “not happening” list, because they always leave.

But when a tall, hazel-eyed sailor arrives in her clinic with his dog in his arms, Risa finds herself falling hard. And all kinds of rules will get broken when Jax, a man who sticks to the straight and narrow, learns that there’s no predicting the twists and turns of the heart . . .

Praise for Gail Chianese and her West Side Romance series!

“Engaging and down-to-earth . . . features characters readers can root for.” —Library Journal

“This book will make your heart smile.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

“A series destined for the keeper shelf!” —Roxanne St. Claire, New York Times bestselling author

“The West Side Romance series is like the perfect pick-me-up latte—hot and steamy, with a layer of frothy fun on the top!” —Jessica Andersan, New York Times bestselling author

“Convincing characters, hot love scenes, and emotional depth.” —Library Journal, Starred Review

Ratings and reviews

I enjoyed being there while Risa and Jax fell in love.  Neither one of them is really looking for someone and, while they feel a pretty big pull toward one another, circumstances just want to get in their way.  Luckily they keep getting pushed together because they make an adorable couple.  Risa has an extremely soft heart - caring and hard-working for her patients & their people.  That dedication has her in Jax's orbit and she's finding him awfully tempting.  One of those super-awesome southern gentleman, Jax was raised right but he's still got a bit of a bad boy streak in him :)  Sexy, attentive, and sharp, he's just about perfect ... except he's also military and that's a big no-no for Risa.  But he's also determined and turns his considerable charm on her.   My only real complaint came at the very end.  There's this aha! moment with who was causing trouble (although it isn't hard to figure out) but it isn't explained.  I have absolutely no idea why Jax was able to figure it out.  Maybe I skimmed over an important detail in my zest to find out what happened next (which kept me turning pages quickly through a lot of the book) but if I missed it then I'm sure others will too. Other than that, I will say that I was a little disappointed with Risa.  When the big conflict in their relationship comes up (which pretty much all romances have at some point) she shuts down.  Totally reverts to teenage drama and she should be mature enough to handle things better.  But then the resolution would have been a little too easy, I guess :)  For a first introduction to Chianese and this series (while this is the second book it can easily stand on its own), I found A Hero to Love a delightful read.  I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next - I understand that it is Risa's uber-cool friend, Fiona.  I'm anxious to see who gets to be her HEA! *** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

I really enjoyed this one! But then with a character as yummy as Jax Farraday what's not to enjoy?? Jax has had a long career in the Navy as an MP but now he needs to make a decision. Put in his papers and go civilian or reenlist again. He knows what he wants but landing that perfect civilian job hasn't been as easy as he hoped. Then when his K9 partner Bella is hurt he meets the base vet Risa Reynolds. Getting involved now is a complication he doesn't need but sometimes the desires of the heart don't care about timing. An excellent book and one I highly recommend.

About the author

Gail Chianese's love of reading began at the tender age of three, when she'd make her grandpa read Fourteen Country Rabbits over and over and over again (and correct him when he skipped parts). While she's branched out over the years by reading mystery, women’s fiction, and urban fantasy, she always circles back to romance in the end. That's probably because she's married to her real-life hero. Her wonderful hubby served in the US Navy for twenty-seven years and he’s done things he can’t tell her about. But it doesn’t stop her from being extremely proud of him and the sacrifices he’s made for her, his family, and his country. He’s also uber-supportive of her dreams and of their three children. Living in Mystic, CT and a member of Connecticut Romance Writers of America, Gail loves to hear from readers. Visit her online at GailChianese.com, follow her on Twitter @Gail_Chianese, or send her an e-mail at [e-mail].