A Life Rebuilt

Lone Star Lovers #8

by Jean Brashear

Special Forces veteran Roman Gallardo is a ghost. With the nightmares of his past weighing him down, the best thing he can do is keep to himself. So when a heroic act forces him out of solitude, he's not expecting a connection to a woman as vibrant and alive as Jenna MacAllister. Or as determined to help other people, no matter how hopeless, no matter the cost to herself. He can't explain it, but he's drawn to Jenna and the rebuilding project she's started. And the more he works with her, the more he wants to leave his past behind and act on the intense attraction between them. The temptation is so strong, this could be his second chance at life…at love.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

A letter to Rod Stewart resulting in a Cinderella birthday for her daughter sowed the seeds of New York Times and USAToday bestselling author Jean Brashear's writing career. A lifelong avid reader, at the age of forty-five with no experience and no training, she decided to see if she could write a book. It was a wild leap that turned her whole life upside down, but she would tell you that though she's never been more terrified, she's never felt more exhilarated or more alive. She's an ardent proponent of not putting off your dreams until that elusive 'someday'—take that leap now.

Over fifty published novels later, the five-time RITA finalist and RTBookReviews Career Achievement Award winner has accumulated a whole passel of war stories to swap and loves nothing better than talking writing and books with readers and fellow writers.

And she'd still take that leap, war wounds and all.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Roman is living in his grandmother's house, doing some repairs on it, basically hiding out. He is haunted by the things he saw during the war, and avoids people because of his flashbacks. He rescues Jenna one night when she confronts someone who is stealing from one of her construction sites. He starts volunteering at that site to keep an eye on Jenna and also to try to help a homeless fifteen year old boy. He doesn't understand why he is drawn to Jenna enough to pull him out of his self imposed exile. Jenna is the eternal optimist. She always sees the best in people and is usually able to get them to use that best to help her projects. When she is rescued by Roman, and again when he starts working with her, she feels an intense attraction to him. She can also see that he is troubled and wants to help him. She gets advice from her brother who had also been military. As they work together to help the boy, their feelings for each other deepen, but Roman still insists he's no good for her. When Jenna is attacked again and Roman rescues her, he is the only one who is able to help her deal with the memory of what happened. I really liked both characters. Roman thinks he is a hazard to other people, but he is a protector under it all and that is the main quality that comes through. His memories of his last tour are heartbreaking, but it still shows what a deeply caring man he is. I liked Jenna too. She is a smart, independent and capable woman. She tends to take a few more risks than she should, but that is a reaction to the overprotectiveness of the men in her family. I loved the way that she insists on helping Freddie and how she gets Roman to help her. I also liked the way that she refused to give up on Roman.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jilly really made this book for me. She is a great heroine--smart, determined, loving, and so much more. She has definitely earned the nickname of "Sunshine" and she was a joy to read about. I also appreciated the vulnerability she showed at the end of the story.

Gabriel is a character you can't help but hope for. He has been through a lot and doesn't feel like he is quite whole yet. I loved how he quickly connected with the homeless teenager despite his resistance.

He and Jilly have a connection right from the beginning, and I enjoyed their love story. There was also a bit of action and danger to keep things interesting and show even more layers to these characters. I will admit that I would have liked more of them together, since there is a lot of push and pull in their relationship and they don't really get together until the very end. Perhaps another chapter before the epilogue would have helped for me. I did love the epilogue, but I wouldn't have complained to see things a little bit farther down the line. Still a very enjoyable story!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Leslie Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean Brashear ends her MacAllister/Deep in the Heart series with the story of the MacAllister baby, Jenna--a compassionate, competent woman tired of being just the youngest of a thriving, successful family who dote on her, protect her, and refuse to let her face life on her own.

When the the same derelicts she works so hard to help attack her, shadow-man Roman Gallardo materializes out of the darkness to save her. He continues to run interference as she goes to bat for a teenager trying to raise a six year old half brother, but the pain and damage of his experiences in Iraq make him unable to give Jenna what she deserves--a loving, forever relationship like those formed by all the other MacAllisters.

From What the Heart Wants through to A Life Rebuilt, Jean creates books that tear your heart out while gladdening your soul, and you'll probably like each book better than the last.

I loved how she somehow managed to tie up everyone's story in A Life Rebuilt, while giving the MacAllister's Sunshine girl a chance to shine--as her own, amazing woman.

[Dls]

This heroine is TSTL. Any woman doing the work she is supposed to be doing would be a lot more street wise. Meanwhile the hero is ignoring the threat he heard to her even though he is constantly trying to protect her. Not likely.

[Janka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Every time I read a book by Jean Brashear I get taken into her special world. And I was ready for my years to flow when I started reading this one. Oh what a story. I loved Jilly from the first time she was introduced to us. And I could not wait to read her at story. Her and Gabriel went through so much to be together. And Gabriel is such an amazing character and I'm happy he opened his heart to Jilly's sunshine. Wonderful wonderful story.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good if you enjoy reading damaged war hero stories but I did have a complaint about this book. The female heroine Jenna was sexually assaulted by a character named Mako, but she had no problem jumping into bed and making love to Roman, the hero in the story.

I would think a woman who had been sexually assaulted would be so eager to hop in the bed with another man not long after the sexual assault occurred.

[Anne Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent finish to a fantastic series

I loved this story about the romance that kindles between Jilly and Gabriel. I love a good romance especially those that aren't xxx rated. This brings the heat and touches lightly on both homeless kids and soldiers who live with PTSD. Excellent writing and warm characters in wonderful environments, this book has love, laughter, suspense and an HEA.

[Judi Radtke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jilly and Gaberial

This story brings you to the end of this series, and it is a great ending. General is a returning get who suffers PTSD, and Jilly is the sunshine that will lead him out of his tunnel. Yes they will have drama, laughter, and tears. I am sad to see this story line end, maybe a second generation series?

[Mrs. Garen L. Herd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Really hated to see this one end. Jilly is such a fighter and Gabriel is such a reluctant hero. She was so self assured and fearless until an attack. He is so wounded by his experiences in Iraq. But she refuses to give up on him. There's love, romance, danger, humor, some sadness, and a tiny bit of sex. Highly recommend.

[charmaine White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful

This is one amazing read.A story that grabs hold of you from the very beginning of the end.I laughed until I had tears in my eyes.Then I cried when I finished the last page.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much against his better judgment Gabriel Coronado finds himself drawn towards Jilly Sullivan after he rescues her one evening. Despite wanting nothing to do with people he finds himself embroiled in her causes and looking out for her. A lovely story.

[James Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfecting Life.

Another wonderful chapter of s Texas dynasty
Fear love lust is all accommodated. For your reading pleasure.
Looking forward to more.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad the series is over. I read all 30 book’s in the Texas Heroes series. I loved them all.

[sneza talevski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

It was a beautiful ending to a great family and all their individual stories. I’ve loved all of them and will definitely be reading them again

[Deb Fernow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many surprises to be found in this book! We all know of the wounded veteran with PTSD but this story turns it around and uses his situation to help a bright and cheerful woman cope with an assault. In the last book of the series, you again meet Jilly Sullivan who has always had a positive outlook on life and never takes no for an answer. Her overprotective brothers are constantly interfering and she’s learned to watch what she says and does so that they don’t know what she is up to much of the time.

Gabriel Coronado is the veteran who has healed from the physical wounds that should have kept him from moving on with his life but stills struggles with the emotional ones. He sets goals and doesn’t look back. Now that he has achieved all that he ever expected to and he has no direction.

Then he encounters Jilly being attacked by some punks at a construction site and a new goal appears. Only he knows that he can’t be her savior, he’s still got dark things inside him. As only Jilly can do, she sticks her nose in where it doesn’t belong and ends up on the wrong side of that same punk’s fists. Gabriel saves her again even though he knows that he must walk away.

The two wounded souls find common ground but can they care about each other and make it work? You know they can and will! A great HEA to a wonderfully emotional story. Each character is described so well that you feel like you are a fly on the wall!

I received an ARC from the author for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for this review.

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for honest review with no compensation

Texas Rescue is book 8 in the Lone Star Lovers series (Texas Heroes book 30). Another amazing end to a series within a series by Jean Brashear!!

Jilly Sullivan has a big heart and is helping those less fortunate by building homes like Habit for Humanity but on one particular evening while going to check on one such home she is assaulted and if not for the shadow in the dark man it could have been a lot worse. She wants to find the man who saved her but not knowing who he is, where he came from or how to find him it won't be easy. When she encounters him again helping the young man who was part of why she was assaulted, she is determined to find out more about him because he sparks something deep inside her and learns his name is Gabriel.

Gabriel Coronado is ex military who has healed from his wounds but not the PTSD. His struggles keep him from moving on with life after war and when he see Jilly being attacked on two different occasions his instincts are to help her at all cost to himself. He is determined to not get involved with her but she is constantly sticking her nose where it doesn't belong...

Can Jilly show Gabriel that with her growing feeling for him she can help bring him out of the shadows into the light and have a life worth living and can he help her understand her feelings because of her attacks?

Amazing, well written, gets you from the start and doesn't let go til the last word is read!! Wish I could give it more stars!!

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t miss any of Jean Brashear’s books but I’ve been waiting for Jilly’s story and it did not disappoint. I love Jilly’s determination and sunny personality. Enter Gabriel whose personality is the exact opposite due to his time in the service, the tragedy’s he’s seen and the physical and mental wounds he’s suffered. They meet as Jilly is building a home for a deserving family. She goes at night to check on the home and ends up being attacked. Gabriel is a runner and on his run he hears her cries of distress and rescues her. As soon as the police arrive he melts into the shadows. But it has begun. Gabriel finds Freddie, a boy of the streets and starts to mentor him a bit. He finds out Freddie was in on a robbery so he wants him to atone for his misdeed. They go to work on the home Jilly is readying for the family and he runs into Jilly again. There is a mutual attraction but Gabriel fights against it fearing he has no right to bring Jilly into his tortured world where he feels massive guilt. How their story progresses is compelling. There is love, sadness, and danger. Jilly has to fend off her overprotective family when she is injured. Again Gabriel to the rescue when she’s at her emotional bottom feeling terrorized and unable to recover. These two are so perfect for each other. There is always a warm hug in all of Jean’s stories. People you’d welcome into your lives happily. I can’t wait to read her next book.

[Marcia Haskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about people who who are sensitive and who suffer from not living up to their own ideas of what they should have done or who they should be. A number of the people in this story suffer from PTSD.

He was a soldier who tried to tried to take care of his men and the children in the village he was supposed to be helping to become free. When resentment of him and the other Americans led to children being killed and him becoming too injured to return to the army, he withdrew from everyone who cared about him. He believed that he was responsible for not preventing the deaths.

She was a ‘ray of sunshine’ for her family and those she helped. But when she is hurt by a robber she tried to rehabilitate, she loses faith in herself because she couldn’t keep her fear and pain from affecting herself.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was another in the series of Jean Brashear’s stories of real people who are real and interesting and who find ways to help those around them. The people in this story are loving, sensitive, and caring. They struggle with who they are and who they want to be, but mostly they struggle with not hurting those they care about.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel and Jilly seemed to have more than chemistry, it was a connection that seemed to be on a deeper level.

Their characters were very well written. Gabriel's pain and distress seemed very raw, dark, and sometimes, all consuming. Just as Jilly's emotions from her encounter with Mako gave a very intense look into her feelings.

There were some difficult situations taking place in this book, but it wasn't all darkness. They referred to Jilly as "Sunshine", and her spirit, determination, and persistence really did make the storyline lighter.

I wish there had been more time spent with the romance between Gabriel and Jilly. There was more push and pull between the characters as Gabriel struggled with not being deserving. It was also great to see his walls coming down as he worked to help Freddie.

I am happy there was an epilogue. The pace of this book was steady. It was often intense, emotional, and frustrating. You do get your HEA, so no worries. I would recommend it. It would have been five stars had there been more of Gabriel and Jilly after they decided they could be together.

I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Sue Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean Brashear has done it again!!! I just love her books and the way that they flow from one to another. You do not have to read them in order – but when you do, they make a whole lot more sense.

Jilly Sullivan has dedicated her life to making a difference for the poor. She is the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back if asked. Gabriel Coronado is haunted by his time in the military. Gabe is withdrawn and a loner. Then, one night – he comes upon Jilly being assaulted by a drug dealer and Gabe steps in to help. I don’t write spoilers – but this is a once you start reading, you read till the finish type book!!!

This is a wonderfully done story and a definite MUST READ!!!

[Robin James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jean's books and I love hearing the continuing story of the Sullivan family. This book was about Jilly. It drew me in from the first page! Her story and Gabriel's was one that I couldn't put down! The romantic suspense kept me reading till the end. I love that Jilly is the type of person that wants to help others and she is so good at it and always wants to see the potential in others! Gabe is drawn to that sunshine and goodness even though he has lost that ability to see it himself. Jean's characters are so real that I feel like I'm right there in the story with them! I read them to find out what happens next but I really hate when they end because I'm leaving good friends until the next book. You can't go wrong with this book!

[Tarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written wrap up to the Sullivan family series introduces Gabriel, a wounded veteran suffering from PTSD, to the idealistic Jilly Sullivan, who runs a charity that builds homes for low income families. As always, the author gives her characters real world problems and makes the reader route for them to succeed.

While checking in on her latest home project, Jilly surprises a robbery in progress. When she is attacked, Gabriel scares away the attacker, but leaves before she can thank him or the police can question him. Still she reconnects with him while they are both trying to help the teenage boy who was blackmailed into stealing the copper wiring.

I, for one, will miss the Sullivan family, but look forward to where the author takes us next.

I received this book as an ARC.

[Pamela Devereux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Brashear got Jilly Sullivan just right. With 4 over protective brothers, how's a girl suppose to find their soul mate. She wants what her parents have and what all her brothers have found. She is sunshine and light. She works to do good in her community. She is always ready to put a positive spin on things. Gabriel Coronado wants to be left alone to stew, simmer and feel guilty. Only he came into Jilly's world and the darkness he craves, has lessened it's hold. He is not only fighting for the darkness but he is also fighting his feelings. In the midst of all this, there is child's life in the balance. Hang on because the moment you start reading this book, you are not going to want to put it down.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are amazing and the connection Jilly and Gabe have jumps from the pages. Jilly is such a strong character who cares deeply about those around her. Gabe is haunted by his time in the military. He is withdrawn and lives his life in the shadows until one night when he steps out to help Jilly. From that night on he is inexplicably drawn to her. He tries to resist her but eventually his feelings become too strong to ignore and his heart too invested to stay away. This is a wonderfully done story and one I am sure everyone will enjoy. I definitely recommend it.

[Sherry Westendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is haunted and troubled both by what he has seen and had to do. He hides both mentally and physically so he does not have to deal with things. She is a champion of the underdog and helpless and is always helping them. They meet and just when she is bringing him out of himself bad things happen to her and blaming himself retreats back again. Read the rest. It is really good. I was given a review copy and voluntarily review it.

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid romance with some "drama" (suspense, I don't know) added into the mix.... Made me want to look up some of the other MacAllisters books. Enjoyed the delving into PTSD victims... Jenna and Roman had great chemistry and really seemed to help the real thems....if that makes any sense whatsoever.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author saved the best for last. Gabriel and Holly are perfect together. She is the light to his dark. He lives in the dark to keep his demons at bay until one night he saved Jilly's life and he is drawn to her.

This author lets her word smoothly build her story while developing her characters so well you just want to hug them. Nice work Ms. Brashear!

[Dianne Kenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Loved Gabriel and Jilly they were such a great couple even though Gabriel felt he was bad for her. Jean Brashear writes great stories and real life stories that so many people have gone through. Read this story to see if they work it out or if Gabriel walks away from her.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The MacAllisters
Category: Heart & Home

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The MacAllisters
Category: Heart & Home