Marine's Promise

Elle James — 2019

US Marine, Colin McKinnon, fell in love with Emily in high school, but when he elected to join the Marine Corps, Emily chose to marry Colin’s best friend, Alex, preferring a safe and secure life. Brokenhearted but resolute, at their wedding, Colin promised Alex he’d take care of Emily if anything ever happened to Alex. Though Emily loved Colin, she married Alex, one of her best friends. She couldn’t abide the heartache of Colin marching into harm’s way. Alex was the safe choice with a career in accounting. When someone runs their car off the road, Alex is killed, and Emily miscarries their baby. In her search for answers to who would want them dead, Emily realizes Alex was into something deeper than simple accounting. Her search for the truth, lands her in danger. Colin, on leave to search for his missing father, remembers his promise to Alex and is set on keeping Emily safe. Together, they unravel the mystery of who wanted Alex dead. In the process, they rediscover the love they never forgot, and uncover another clue in the quest to find Colin’s missing father.

Reviews

Nicola Sarah Brooks@nikkisbooknook

Dec 8, 2021

Colin has returned to the ranch to help in the search of his father. But when he finds out that Emily, is former friend and first love, has been targeted - he is determined to look for his father AND help her. Emily really did try to love her husband they way he deserved. She chose him after all, even when her heart wanted Colin. But her fragile grasp at love was fractured when Colin decided to join the military, she refused to become another military wife who hollowed out when their husband died, just as her mother had. But Alex died and it's becoming more and more evident that he was involved in something beyond safe accounting. I must admit I took a while to warm to Emily. She was pretty cold, assuming Colin would never come back to her alive, so she chose safe, staid and secure Alex, all whilst knowing she'd never truly love him with her all. But as we find out Alex was no angel either. Colin didn't want to rip Emily from the security she sought, so he bowed out before they even had a chance to start. I was happy that they managed to get past their own barriers and get another chance at love. I'm loving the way all the siblings stories are interwoven, really adds to the overall storyline arc. But I have to admit to wanting Dad McKinnon home soon! I think I know who is line for Molly but let's wait and see!