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Heroes Come Home #1

Soldier on Her Doorstep

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Soldier Alex Dane promised his dying comrade he'd make sure his wife and daughter were okay, and so he finds himself on a doorstep with his heart in his mouth.

Lisa Kennedy loved her husband, but she must focus on her daughter, Lilly, who hasn't spoken since her daddy's death. Still, the least she can do is offer this battle-weary hero a place to rest.

When Lilly's little hand reaches for Alex's big, strong one, for the first time Lisa feels her buried emotions begin to stir.…

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

4 people are currently reading
280 people want to read

About the author

Soraya M. Lane

124 books2,065 followers
Soraya M. Lane is the Amazon Charts & Kindle #1 bestselling author of THE SECRET MIDWIFE and THE ITALIAN DAUGHTER.

Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.

As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.

Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.

Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!

For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Kristiej.
1,528 reviews101 followers
August 2, 2011
This is another line of Harlequin’s that I hadn’t tried before. I gather it’s more of a kisses only line. I’ve really run the gamut when it comes to sensuality levels of books. I used to like the real hot oh so many years ago when I was reading the likes of Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Jennifer Blake and the like. Then I was turned off romance for a number of years and when I came back, it was kisses only. Then I slowly entered the sensuality pond until I wouldn’t read kisses only. Now I’ve completely confused the circle as I’m now reading and enjoying both. So despite the fact that there are no explicit sex scenes, in fact no real sex scenes at all, the author manages to convey a great deal of longing both the hero and heroine feel for each other.

My heart broke for Alex, the hero and I love when I experience that kind of feeling for either of the main characters. He’s so alone and needs Lisa and her daughter Lilly so bad. And they need him too. His family were killed when he was very young and he grew up in foster care. He has great feelings of guilt for both their death and the death of William, Lisa’s soldier husband. He died saving Alex. Alex is following up on a promise he made to William and delivering some personal items to Lisa in Alaska. He has left the services and as the army was his family, he is at very loose ends. When Lisa picks up on this and offers to let him stay in a small cottage on her Alaskan lake property, he is reluctant but agrees anyway. He is drawn to her daughter Lily; understanding the loss Lily if feeling. He is also very attracted to Lisa.

And in return, Lisa is very attracted to Alex though she is torn between her growing feelings for him and the feelings she still has for William. To be honest, I was kind of wondering how I would feel about this as William hadn’t been gone for that long. But the author wrote the story in such a way as it was very believable. William and Lisa hadn’t spent much time together as he was so often deployed on missions. And both men are complete opposites of each other so there is no comparison between them. I truly bought how she could develop such deep feelings so quickly.

And with troops returning, I think it’s a very timely book too. And I love the setting. As a heat hating reader going through a heat wave like I can’t remember, somehow reading a story set in Alaska made me feel just a little bit cooler – that and the fact that I have my air conditioning set way lower than the hydro people want me too. I am a heat hating reader after all.

This book was a wonderful surprise and thumbs up to Wendy for helping me find this heartwarming story. It was a win/win/win – new line, new author and very good book.
Profile Image for MBR.
1,381 reviews365 followers
May 2, 2011
3 Star Harlequin Contemporary Romance

Soldier on Her Doorstep tells the story of the journey taken by a soldier who suffers from survivor's guilt, and how a man who has been a loner for most of his life suddenly finds himself feeling a wealth of emotions towards the widow of the man who took a bullet for him and died in his place. And how in the end he finds love, peace and happiness in the most unlikely of places.

When Alex Dane drives up to Brownswood Alaska, his only intention is to deliver a message to Lisa from her deceased husband and get the hell out. But when Alex feasts his eyes on the beautiful Lisa Kennedy and her 6 year old daughter Lilly Kennedy who hasn't spoken a word to anyone apart from her mother since being informed of the death of her father, something that has stayed long dormant inside of Alex till now stirs to life.

Lisa can't help but be drawn towards the silent and broody soldier that shows up on her doorstep looking as if its the last place he wants to be in. However, it is Lilly's instant connection with Alex that astonishes and pleases Lisa the most where Lilly and Alex form a strange bond right from the beginning which turns around Lilly's healing process from the trauma of losing her father.

The instant attraction between Lisa and Alex doesn't come without complications. Though Lisa in her mind is ready to accept that she feels something for Alex, her emotions wage an internal battle on whether it is the right thing for her to move on so quickly. And Alex would rather cut off an arm than give into his attraction towards the widow of the man who gave his life for him. Nevertheless, their attraction proves to be a more powerful drug than either of them could hope to resist and though they do give in to it, it is Alex's tormented soul that needs to heal before Alex and Lisa can have any real shot at happiness.

Soldier on Her Doorstep is a novel that has real good potential. I liked Alex and Lisa and Lilly as well, the 3 of them served to be endearing characters who lend the story a charm of their own making. I loved Lisa because she is someone whose character is strong enough to heal the very tortured soul of Alex who needs all the love and TLC in the world for him really put his demons to rest. Lilly makes for a very adorable character as well and I loved the descriptions that brought to life the connection between Alex and Lilly that serves as the healing point for Lilly's trauma.

However there were a couple of things that could have made this story better. The constant retelling and rehashing of what William (Lisa's husband) means to the budding relationship between Lisa and Alex gets a bit old after sometime. I would have loved to see more interactions between Alex and Lisa to witness firsthand how Alex heals from Lisa's love and care.

Recommended for fans of Harlequin romances.

Memorable Quotes:

She leaned across the counter toward him. Too close. He fought the urge to lean back, to literally fall off the stool to get away from her. Lisa's eyes danced over his. The connection between them scared him rigid.
He sucked air through his nostrils and tried to stop his hands from becoming clammy.

Lisa saw him as her friends would. Big, strong man, with shoulders almost as wide as Lilly was long. Muscled forearms tensing as he cast the line back and forward.
He bent over to correct Lilly's grip and almost ended up wearing a piece of bait in his eye. She started laughing. It took a moment, but Alex started too. They both stood there, this giant and his fairy, giggling.

She (Lilly) sighed and let her head rest against his arm. "But I don't want to talk to anyone else."
"You talk to me." He whispered the words, conscious that maybe she hadn't actually thought much about the fact that she spoke to him.
"Something's different about you," she whispered back.
Alex wished her therapist could hear all this. Maybe to a professional it would make more sense. "Why? What's different about me?"
"You make me think of Daddy."


Original Review Posted at: MBR's Realm of Romance
Profile Image for Scooper Speaks.
604 reviews28 followers
July 22, 2011
Favorite Lines: “Alex wasn’t sure whether to sit, stand, or just go wait outside. The two glasses of wine had started to help, but now they were just making him even more nervous. Of what? He wasn’t sure. All he knew was that there was something about being in a space alone with Lisa that made him feel in equal parts terrified and excited. Exhilarated, almost. He stood, awkward, in the middle of the room.” (p. 132, egalley)

Are you tired of reading about snippy heroines? You know… the ones who argue for the sake of arguing and feel the need to kick every man’s butt. Well, you don’t find that type of woman in Soraya Lane’s Soldier on her Doorstep.

You find a strong, quiet and caring woman. A healthy woman determined to raise her fatherless child. It’s been several months since the heroine, Lisa’s husband was killed in combat. He was her best friend before becoming her husband, lover and the father of her child. His death hurt, but he was a lifelong soldier. She was always aware of the danger he faced. He was gone most of the year, but that didn’t make his death any less painful for Lisa or her daughter Lilly.

The hero, Alex, is the most damaged character in the story. He had no family or place to go, and guilt was destroying him. He is a lost, little boy trapped inside the body of a grown man. Don’t take that wrong. He is not childish in any way, but he longs for a family and fights his belief that he is undeserving of happiness. Fulfilling a promise to Lisa’s dead husband is the road to life for him.

In the past I’ve had issues with series romance stories because they seem to be the same stories set in different places. I didn’t have any of those thoughts with Soldier on her Doorstep. I loved the characters and was pleased to see them find love. There were no surprises in the story. What you see is what you get. I knew how the heroine would react to his big, world-changing news.

Some people might not like how predictable Soldier on her Doorstep is, but I relished it. It is a sweet, classic romance which teaches forgiveness and the healing power of love. The story is not for adrenaline junkies, or those who cannot believe a widow can find love less than a year after her husband’s death. I didn’t have any problems suspending belief. Lisa and his family knew what her deceased husband would have wanted. I imagine he sent the very damaged Alex to Lisa to be healed. I also think he knew Alex could be trusted with his wife and daughter.

If I had to summarize the book in one word, I’d say it is quiet. The characters are quiet, seeking their own counsel. The town they live in is quiet. The romance is a quiet, getting-to-know-you action. The conflict is a quiet, internal battle. What did you think about Soldier on her Doorstep?
Scooper Speaks
Profile Image for Book Binge.
838 reviews152 followers
July 29, 2011
The premise for this story caught my interest, especially since it involves a soldier coming home from the war. I adore military heroes and Alex just seemed like he'd be such a yummy hero. The story was short but while I was reading it, I kept waiting for the story to get better. For me, the story just dragged, took it's time unfolding and I found that I was too anxious for the story to take off and when it didn't, I put it down.

I put it down around the 100 page count and stepped away for a couple of days, thinking that I just wasn't in the mood for this book but when I went back to it and finished it, I wasn't blown away with the story as I had hoped I would be.

So we have Alex and Lisa coming together in this story. Alex served in the war with Lisa's husband and when he dies overseas, Alex is there and promises the husband that he will deliver some stuff to Lisa and he'd take care of them however he could. So Alex gets debriefed and immediately sets out for Alaska where his buddy's widow is living with their young daughter, Lilly. Alex has a lot of guilt running amock inside of him and going to see the woman who was married to the guy that he holds himself responsible for getting killed is very hard. When we first meet Alex, you can tell that he's got a lot of emotional baggage from the war.

I enjoyed seeing the bond that grew between Alex and William's daughter, Lilly. I thought it was a great addition to the story and it was the part of the story that I was most interested in reading. Lilly has stopped talking and the people in her life are starting to get worried but when Alex comes into the picture, Lilly starts to slowly come out of her shell. There's a scene in the book where Alex and Lilly are out on the lake in the boat with Lilly's dog Boston. It was a cute scene and when the scene was over, I was bummed because the book went back to being just okay.

I guess my issue with this book was that even though there's the emotional angst that both Alex and Lisa go through after losing William, I didn't really feel their grief. I didn't feel like Lisa really felt lost without William and I thought she fell too quickly in love with Alex. It just didn't seem natural or flow quite right with me.

Overall, the story felt flat for me and when I finally finished it, I was only too glad to move on.

Grade: 2.5 out of 5

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Rowena.
Profile Image for Wanda.
253 reviews57 followers
May 11, 2011
I grabbed this galley from Netgalley. I'm a huge fan of Harlequin books. I can't get enough of their authors. Love them and love their imprints too. You will never go wrong when you pick up any Harlequin book. So in "Soldier on her doorstep", Lisa receives an unexpected visit from a soldier. Now normally when military wives receives visit from soldiers, it's never good news. But she had already received THAT bad news almost eight months ago. So this visit was unexpected.

Alex promised his friend was died in his arms that he'll grant his last wish. Which was to take certain belongings to his widow and check up on them. Not really wanting to go but refusing to abandoned his promise. He finds himself at the doorstep of his comrades widow. Not being a man of many words made it difficult for him to express himself and explain to his friend's widow how sorry he was about her husband death.

Lisa seeing how much pain Alex himself was in, offered him to stay for dinner. She asked him questions and he replied in silence. But Lisa's little girl somehow understood his silence and reached out to him. Something she has not done since the news of her father's passing. Seeing how Alex and Lily responded to one another, Lisa invited Alex to stay at their cottage.

Lily opened up more to Alex and they bonded in ways that she did with her own dad. Alex managed to help Lily find her voice and open herself up in a way no one else has. And that tugged at Lisa's heart strings. A super fine sexy soldier holding hands with a tiny little girl was something that her heart couldn't ignore. The question now is would they proceed and give into raw emotions or will they let the memory of a deceased soldier get in the middle?

I really liked this book. I did tear up a bit and I laughed at others. I don't ever want to imagine having a husband who died at war. Would I be as graceful as Lisa was? I don't know and never want to know. This was a beautiful story because it was realistic and no one jumped into things without thinking. And I like that in books. Also seeing a man love another man's child is something that aches in the heart and makes you fall more in love with that man. Simply beautiful! A 5 out of 5 stars and a definite Good Choice for reading!
Profile Image for Laura's Book Addiction.
2,741 reviews453 followers
April 25, 2011
I loved the premise and all the characters were FAB. Well worth a read if comtemp romance is what you like reading.
768 reviews24 followers
June 15, 2011
You see the cover, you read the blurb above, is there really anything else I need to say? I mean this book is what it is, but for the genre, I'd say it is well written with characters as developed as they are going to get, given the format.

Physically Alex is the strong one, and you'd think that the book would be about him helping her to heal, but in reality, he is the one who needs the most healing and I enjoyed seeing him blossom with love. I loved the way people gave her permission to move on with her life, and how she was able to do that without losing the love she had for her husband.

While the book mentions that they made love, we don't watch anything more intimate than kissing.

Grade: B- (pretty much the best I give this type of book)

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Profile Image for Kerry  sullivan.
957 reviews70 followers
June 20, 2011
This was a sweet story of forgiveness and over coming grief and guilt. The relationship between Alex and lilly was really endearing and between Lisa and Alex was bitter-sweet most of the time but still a joy to read. They were 3 broken birds learning to fly again and the journey was worth taking with them.
Profile Image for Cheri.
2,270 reviews28 followers
February 26, 2018
This is only the second story I’ve read by this author and I am impressed. My first read from her was an ARC from Net Galley, Cowboy Stole My Heart. I thought I would read more of her work and was surprised that my online library doesn’t have any of this author’s works available. Luckily, my local library had this one (but doesn’t have the next in the series) so I was able to make a judgement on her writing on more than one book.

Lisa and Alex are both such wonderful characters. My heart literally ached for Alex through most of this story. I’ll be honest, I was afraid Lisa was going to let me down at some point in this story. Not because of anything she did, but because of the way these stories usually play out. I was pleasantly surprised that Lisa remained a smart, compassionate, and determined woman throughout the whole book. Not only were the hero and heroine both wonderful, but I also fell in love with Lisa daughter, Lilly. What a sweetheart!

On top of the wonderful characters and stellar writing, the setting of this story is beautiful. I could totally picture Lisa’s home and yard and wanted to go there, hang up a hammock, and read my book in her yard.

I hope to be able to track down more by this author. It seems she has plenty out there, now I just need to hunt them down. So far, I find this author worth the trouble.

https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...
Profile Image for Neşe.
239 reviews5 followers
January 5, 2023
Kapıdaki Yabancı | Soraya Lane

Alex Amerika'nın sınır ötesi operasyonlarından birinde yakın arkadaşı William'ın kendisini kurtarması ile hayatta kalmış ve onun son dileğini yerine getirmek için aylar sonra terhisine karar verilince ailesinin evine varmıştır. Kapıda beklediği kişinin hamile olmaması onu biraz şaşırtmış ancak bozuntuya vermek istemiştir.

Lisa ise eşi öldükten sonra kızı Lilly'nin kendisi dışında kimse ile iletişim kurmamasını en az hasarla atlatmasına yardımcı olmaya çalışırken bir yandan da son çıkaracağı yemek kitabını hazırlıyordur. Alex'in gelmesi ve onun da bazı sorunları olduğunu görmesi ile birkaç hafta onlarla kalmasını önerir. Başta gitmek istese Lilly'de kendi çocukluğunu gören Alex kalmaya karar verir.

Bu kalış hem Lilly ve Lisa hem de Alex'in hayatlarını değiştirecektir. Okuması rahat bir kitaptı. Önceki harlequinlerdeki gibi isim değişimleri kelime hataları ve saçma cümleler yoktu. Vaha gibiydi resmen.
Profile Image for Nis.
65 reviews
December 6, 2024
Espere aaaaaños para leerlo, no miento que buscaba en cada rincón posible (gratis) el PDF de lectura, nunca di con el, hasta ahora, y: qué decepción me he llevado… la historia no tiene pies, o sea si, pero no, es insulso es sin sabor, no hay tensión, nada.
Profile Image for Leslie.
354 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2011
When you have a heroine who was deeply in love with her husband and has been widowed for a matter of months, it can be tricky to have her fall in love again and make it believable. I did believe in Lisa's love for Alex by the end, and while she had her moments of missing William, the conflict she felt at falling in love with Alex felt very minimal. Which would have been fine but I couldn't help but think it had only been months since William died. Yes, he had been overseas for months prior to that but still...

Lisa Kennedy knew there could come a day when her husband William might not make it home. It still didn't make it any easier when she found out that William had been killed overseas while serving in the army. It's been months since his death and Lisa and her six year old daughter Lilly are trying to move on with their lives in Alaska. The way Lisa is portrayed you can tell she loved William very much and still does. But she understands that loving him doesn't mean she can't someday love another man. She's just not ready for it, instead concentrating on helping her daughter speak again. Lisa's reactions and thoughts were realistic for her situation but I was surprised at how quickly she fell for Alex. I did like that she's practical about it and I think that had to do with her being in love before and still believing in love. She could have become cynical and depressed but instead she continues to try to keep a positive outlook, if not for herself, then for Lilly.

Alex Dane is just passing through to fulfilling a promise. But instead of a quick stop, he ends up staying for a few weeks. Alex would be the last one to call himself a hero but that's what he becomes in the eyes of Lisa and Lilly. The way the relationship between Alex and Lilly developed was critical because there was no way Lisa would ever fall for a man that Lilly didn't trust or feel comfortable with. In creating that relationship Lane allows for Lisa to have a relationship with Alex. With both these relationships, Alex shows little bits and pieces of himself, letting Lisa, Lilly and the reader get to know this solitary man.

The romance is there but it takes a while to develop which makes sense since neither character is ready to jump in, feet first, to love. The problem is, for a short book (187 pages) it moved at nearly a snail's pace. I kept waiting for something, although I'm not sure what, to happen. There is some conflict from Lisa's family, specifically her sister, but it didn't play a large role in the story. Alex's feelings of guilt are lifted after a serious talk with Lisa and Alex finally has a home to call his own.

Soldier on Her Doorstep was a sweet, if a bit slow, romance. The writing is easy to read even with what I thought might be regional terms but now I'm thinking they might be due to the fact that the author is from New Zealand. Whatever is the case, I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Lane.
Profile Image for Erin.
180 reviews14 followers
May 24, 2011
Lisa and William were friends turn lovers turn man & wife... They met as children, dated in high school, and shared their young adult lives together. While Lisa wrote cookbooks and raised their daughter, Lilly, William enlisted in the Army and was deployed overseas.

While overseas, William's team was assigned to a mission. While making their way back from their assignment, they came under fire by a sniper. William sacrificed his life, saving one of his men's. His dying words requested that the man he saved deliver his personal effects to his wife and to tell her to find happiness.

Now, Alex stands on Lisa's porch hoping to fulfill his promise to his friend and, hopefully, find some peace. He is haunted by a lifetime of demons and wants only to find some sliver of peace and solitude. What he doesn't realize, however, is solitude is the last thing he truly needs. He struggles with guilt and duty and ends up finding forgiveness and a home with Lisa and Lilly.

Lisa loved William with her entire heart and soul. When he died, she felt as though part of her died, as well. She knew her role as Lilly's mother, but she wasn't quite sure what else was expected of her. In her small Alaskan town, was she expected to live the rest of her life as a widow? Would finding a new love and a new partner betray William's memory? Fate delivers Alex to her doorstep, and the message he brings from William gives her the permission to live, laugh, and love again.

Overall, this was a very sweet story with very real characters who are dealing with tragic circumstances. Lisa, Lilly, Alex, and even William were crafted with such care; they truly did feel like tangible people versus written words. Adding to the empathy and the depth of the characters and story was the perspective of the story, told from both Lisa and Alex's POV.

The pace of Soldier on Her Doorstep was a nice, easy pace - not too quick, not too slow.

What makes this book a solid "liked it" versus a "really liked it" or "it was amazing" is just the simplicity or ease of the story. Though there was a catharsis for both Lisa and Alex, there was no climax or action. I don't believe there was meant to be a climax- the message of the novel centered around forgiveness.

Again, an overall sweet and emotional read with excellently believable characters!
Profile Image for FicTalk Blog.
273 reviews16 followers
October 30, 2011
Reviewed by Autumn. 3.5 stars on Fic-Talk.com

Lisa Kennedy is a young widow living in Alaska with her daughter Lilly. Her husband, William, who was stationed overseas in the Army, had died eight months earlier. One day her life is changed forever by a knock on her door. Alex Dane, who served with Lisa’s husband, is there to fulfill a promise to William to check on his wife and daughter and to give Lisa a few of his personal effects. Alex is very quiet and is determined to drop off the items and leave. The last thing in the world he wants to do is to stay and get attached.

Lisa invites him in for dinner and he ends up staying the night in a guest room. Since Alex has no where to go, an agreement is made that Alex will stay in the cabin on Lisa’s land and help fix it up. Lilly had stopped talking since her fathers death, whispers only to her mother. For some reason though, she starts interacting with Alex and even speaks directly to him.

Lisa is attracted to Alex and likewise, Alex is attracted to Lisa. But with her husband, her high school sweetheart, dead for only eight months, can Lisa move on without feeling guilty? Alex has had no one in his life except the Army ever since his parents died when he was young. Can he accept love into his life again?

I want to share a few parts from the book that absolutely got to me.

Alex and Lilly have been bonding while he’s teaching her how to fish. “Alex, I know you’re not my daddy, but sometimes I wish you were,” she said in a small voice. A paragraph or so farther down Lilly says, “I think Boston would like you as his dad too.” Now, Boston is Lilly’s dog and best friend, but still, those two passages stabbed me in my little black heart!

Lisa had gone to town with Lilly and Alex and Sally, her mother-in-law, saw them. Sally comes to the visit and asks about Alex. Lisa explains who he is and that he served with William and was there when he died. The two of them talk about whether William would be okay with Lisa being with Alex. Lisa tells Sally that she thinks that William would want her to be happy. Sally, still grieving over the loss of her only child tells Lisa, “Then you have my blessing.”

Soldier on Her Doorstep was a quick and easy read. I thought the characters were interesting and realistic. It was a story of a healing, love, and acceptance. I definitely recommend it!
Profile Image for Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews.
5,476 reviews177 followers
June 21, 2011
originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

He’s a soldier who has come to bring her dead husband’s effects. She asks him in and later invites him to dinner…

With so many wars going on in the world today, this story theme is very relevant. This is a story of love and loss and coming to terms with life today. Ms. Lane has written a tastefully done story about a wounded warrior, Alex, who has learned to isolate himself and hold all emotion within. He’s made himself a life in the service, but he’s out of now and isn’t sure what to do with himself anymore.

The heroine, Lisa, has pretty well adjusted to being a widow, but his appearance and the letters he brings from her husband stir her emotions back up again. She’s not looking for a new man in her life yet, but when her daughter (who quit speaking when she found out her father had died) takes his hand to lead him out to look at the lake she can’t help but feel her heart respond.

This author talks of these emotions and how long it takes to heal with the resonance of experience. Perhaps not her own, but Ms. Lane is familiar with how hearts hurt and how they heal.

As you read about Alex and Lisa adjusting to being around each other, you begin to see the goodness in both characters and how Lisa is careful in handling the man she is growing to love. She knows there is something in his past, but doesn’t press him to talk about it. As she shares more with him, he finally begins to get more comfortable with her and shares a few things back.

The road to love is not easy, and when your potential partner is carrying some baggage, it’s even a longer road to smooth sailing. This is a sweet, romantic story with some challenges for the characters that’s well worth the read. Why not get a copy for yourself and see how it all turns out?

Profile Image for Becca.
313 reviews13 followers
July 12, 2011
Alex is a solider coming home from war. He has never really known family having lost his at such and early age and being put into foster care where he never found a home. His family became the military and his fellow soliders. So when a solider who died saving Alex's life requests that Alex deliver a message to his family Alex can't refuse. So Alex finds himself at Lisa's front door upholding his promise.

Lisa lost her husband months ago but when she see's this solider on her doorstep she feels his pain and anguish and knows that she will do everything she can to heal this wounded solider. Especially when her daughter Lily who hasn't spoken to anyone other than Lisa since her father died takes an interest in Alex. The man and girl bound and the relationship seems to help both of them. Lisa convinces Alex to stay and he becomes a part of their family. But when feelings begin to grow between Lisa and Alex both don't know what to do. Lisa doesn't want to betray her husband because she loved him and wouldn't want to do anything that would question that love. Alex feels guilt and knows that Lisa can never be his. He feels that he is the reason that Lilly won't talk and that Lisa grieves and misses her husband. He feels that he took that away from them and that he doesn't deserve a family of his own.
Profile Image for Mombo.
203 reviews9 followers
December 4, 2011
Gosh, I wish a soldier like Alex would land on my doorstep, too, because Lisa's longing for him made him seem too good to be true. He was quiet and worked hard and swam well and was a good protector and he was definitely a good listener.

I appreciated the way SL had Lisa ready to move on past widowhood and the way in which the author presented Alex's battles for all to see. Thou shalt not covet is always a tough one to do justice to, imho. Alex tried hard not to but anyone could see he definitely wanted what William used to have. Lisa and Alex both deserved their HEA.

The parallel between Lilly's problem and Alex's past was excellent. How fortuitous for both characters to come upon each other. It seemed almost like fate.

Also, I couldn't think of anything tougher personally than having to meet the dead ex's parents in the way Alex met William's parents. What a tower of strength you'd have to be to get through that encounter and it was certainly well done.

Finally, I loved the way Alex's job situation resolved itself with him becoming a park ranger. Maybe now he can convince Lisa to get a gun to defend herself and poor Lilly.

Seriously, a baseball bat versus a home intruder or a bear is not gonna cut it especially in a state where you don't need a permit to carry a concealed weapon. You are not always going to have the bear gently romp away.

Profile Image for Judith.
1,226 reviews
June 13, 2011
An engaging novel that pulls at the emotions as a returning Middle East War vet comes to the door of one of his dead buddies' family with last messages and personal effects. He himself is still traumatized by the war and its brutality, and he is determined that he will deliver his messages, hand over the package of personal effects and move on. But the open acceptance and easy friendship of Lisa and her daughter seem to hook him along with the beauty of the Alaskan scene, and Alex is caught up in something he has not experienced for a long time: a family. This is a very nice read, one that flows well and keeps the reader involved emotionally. There are ups and downs as Alex is working through some powerful feelings and memories. Lisa is also dealing with what it means to be a "widow" and how her future will play out. Her daughter is also dealing with her trauma over losing her dad--even six-year-olds feel the painful wound of grieving deeply. It is a story with substance and while not a complicated plot, there is plenty to deal with here and lots that will keep the mind engaged as well as be a very entertaining book.
Profile Image for Carrie.
2,036 reviews93 followers
November 23, 2011
2*-2.5* The book is okay.

The premise was interesting and the characters fairly well done, including the child. However, the writing was somewhat jarring at times. Mixed with some decent prose describing the Alaskan scenery were too many metaphors and similes. The author also rarely used common words and phrases to describe things, using lots of "high impact" words instead. People didn't feel relief, relief hit them or washed over them. Example:
"The smell of food hit Lisa's nostrils and made her mouth fill with hot saliva."
and
"The dread that had traced through her like a spiky stiletto was replaced with nerve-edged flutter of calm."

(I'm not even sure what a "nerve-edged flutter of calm" is.)

The author also has a habit of adding words after the end of a sentence, especially adverbs. For example:

"She laughed. Loud."
"Relief hit him. Hard."
(These two sentences actually follow each other in the book.)

There was too much repetitive internal monologuing by both lead characters for my tastes. However, it was nice to get the point of view from both the hero and heroine.
Profile Image for Cleffairy Cleffairy.
Author 1 book16 followers
May 5, 2011
Reviewed at: Library of Lights Library of Lights

Date reviewed: 6 May 2011

Review link: http://mykindaland.com/?p=237

Soldier on her Doorstep by Soraya Lane is very thought provoking, heartwarming and inspiring. It captures me the moment I flipped through the pages. While the plot is rather complex for me to grasps in the beginning, but I’ve develop a certain kind of liking towards this story.

If you’re sick and tired of all the typical harlequin plot, then you might want to try this book. You may find it refreshing. A forewarning though. This book is quite a tearjerker. If you’re the kind who easily cries a pail, then this book is definitely not for you… unless of course, you’re prepared with a box of tissues for it.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received a digital ARC of this book from harlequin publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for it.
78 reviews10 followers
June 17, 2011
What a great book ‘Soldier on Her Doorstep’ was. I absolutely enjoyed it from the opening scene right to the very end.

Lane did an exceptional job bringing the reality of loss to the written page. It is said that everyone copes with loss in a different way, and Lane truly brought that to life with the Kennedy Family. Each member is affected by the loss of William differently, and while one member maybe ready to “move on” for lack of a better word, not everyone feels the same way.

“Solider on Her Doorstep” is not just a story about grief and loss, but Lane touches on many other issues. Survivor’s guilt was also a big focus, but there was also forgiveness, and love. Lane did a wonderful job crafting and telling a complete story leaving nothing out. It was an emotional and heat wrenching read, and there were definitely times when a kleenex was in order. What a great wholesome read! One I will continue to recommend.
Profile Image for Jessica.
87 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2011
I sure love a man in uniform so I couldn't resist reading this book. I loved all the characters and their relationships, but I really liked the relationship between Lilly and Alex. It was heartwarming.


It was one of those books where I didn't find myself completely enthralled in it. I found myself reading through certain parts extremely fast to get to the better ones.
Profile Image for Jules.
40 reviews11 followers
July 25, 2011
I did enjoy this book. The plot was very deep and emotional (and very current for what's going on in the world), but on the same token the tone of the book was too depressing for my tastes. Plus, I had a hard time connecting to what Lisa and Lilly really saw in Alex. He was a little too troubled and quiet and I often wished he showed a bit more personality.
Profile Image for ValerieC.
1,342 reviews56 followers
August 10, 2016
2.5 stars

Cute little story, but very simplistically written. I don't read enough of these Harlequin romances to know if they are all that way for some reason, but it just wasn't very sophisticated writing. If you like a whole book where the same thing (misplaced guilt and angst) is repeated over and over, then this is for you.
Profile Image for Sue Lauzon.
297 reviews2 followers
June 23, 2016
Story of Alex Dane, a soldier without a family just returning from war who goes to visit the wife (Lisa Kennedy) of a fallen comrade. He has terrible guilt as William Kennedy died saving Alex's life but his guilt intensifies when he starts to have feelings for Lisa. Although the concept had a basis for a much longer book and more in depth book it just didn't wow me. It was just okay.
Profile Image for ReadingWench.
2,102 reviews13 followers
May 10, 2011
A light romance filled with serious undertones, makes this book a great read.

Soraya Lane's first U.S. book is quite thought provoking. A few times in this book, I was thinking "Hmmm...Would I react the same? How would I feel?" The answer was, I'm not sure.
Profile Image for Sarah.
560 reviews
May 15, 2012
Cute story with a happy ending. Definitely doesn't challenge the readers mind but a great little pick-me-up!
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