Navy Rules

Whidbey Island #1

by Geri Krotow

Wounded during a military rescue, Commander Max Ford returns to a naval base on Whidbey Island to recover. And part of his treatment involves working with a therapy dog. Max is surprised to learn that the dog's owner is Winnie Armstrong, widow of his closest friend. She and Max were close in those months following her husband's death. But they drifted apart, until that one night two years ago. The night friendship turned to passion…Now he's even more shocked to learn that Winnie has been keeping a secret from him. A baby girl. His daughter. It's even more important he heal so he can be a part of his child's life—and Winnie's. Because all the attraction that pulled them together that one night is still there…only stronger.

Genres: Romance, Military Fiction, Fiction, Military Romance, Harlequin

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published June 12, 2012

About the author

Award winning, bestselling author of cozy mystery, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. Buffalo, NY native and proud of it. Navy veteran.

Reviews

[HarlequinRomanceReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commander Max Ford is back on Whidbey Island after serving in the military. He's retired at about forty years old from the life of aviation and danger, and he has returned to his home. A while back, his friend, who also served in the military, was killed, and his widow, Winnie, has two girls--Krista, age thirteen, and Maeve, who's still at that adorable phase between a baby and a toddler.

Winnie doesn't want to forget her husband, but when Max comes back home, sparks are flying. However, there's a deeper secret creating a canyon between them...Maeve was conceived the night Max and Winnie got reckless. She's not Krista's real sister. But every time Winnie tries to get the words to come out of her mouth, she can't. Because she's falling in love with Max and doesn't want anything to mess that up.

I think my favorite line from Harlequin is now Harlequin Superromances! They are adorable, have a depth that I really enjoy, and center around the main characters. In this one, I think I enjoyed all of the characters. Winnie is a strong heroine who misses her husband but is ready to move on, and I admire that. She is brave in her choices and will do anything for her beautiful daughters--except admit a certain secret to the father of one of them.

I really liked how the romance developed here. Obviously, romance novels should emphasize the romance (duh!), but this one was spectacular. Winnie and Max overcame several obstacles to come together, and through the course of accepting each other and falling in love, they changed as characters. Their personalities grew and they emerged as brilliant new people. They were still faulted, but they became better because of finding love. And that's what I always like to see in a romance.

There was a lot of depth in this novel, and I really like that. The romance goes beyond a fling, even though that was how it started, and carries into a more inspirational story. While this wasn't an inspirational, clean book by any means, I think the basis of the story reached into my heart more than any other steamy romance I've read. Fantastic novel, and definitely recommended.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the characters in this book extremely annoying. Max Ford, the hero, was the most likeable of the bunch but he also seemed pretty perfect at times, with his "faults" (aka PTSD) just being more plot devices to get the heroine, Winnie, and him together. Winne was such a constant source of annoyance for me that I almost wanted to stop reading this book. I understand she was afraid, had a phobia, disliked (?) flying, because her husband, a navy pilot, died in a plan crash?, but I don't even know as this "fear" didn't even really seem to be explained or even touched upon that much (was it related to a fear of heights that was mentioned once?) but was like key to the story. Winnie constantly "being strong" but really "just being a coward" was also an overused and exhausting plot device and her "I have the hots for Max but him flying means that even though I love him I can't be with him because it will hurt my daughters if he dies" thing was just too constant for me, especially when Max asks her to marry him.

I also really didn't connect that much with Krista, the 13 year older daughter from her marriage to Tom, who was like perfect older sister one moment and then bratty teenager (but only to her mum) the next. I understand that she wanted a father figure and that her depiction was pretty realistic but I just don't like it when kids (especially teenagers) are too big a part of the story. Children should maybe be seen in a romance story but definitely not heard. Like Maeve, Winnie's 2 year old who she had after getting pregnant from a one night tryst with Max, wasn't that obnoxious because she was 2 and a major part of the story but only seen not heard.

Overall, I had to force myself to finish this book because I found Winnie to be very off putting and Krista to be too major a character.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. I really liked both Max and Winnie. Max was back on Whidbey Island, recovering from his injuries and PTSD. The therapy dog belongs to Winnie, who he has been looking forward to seeing again. He has been dealing with some of his issues well, but doesn't think he really needs any more therapy. When he finds out that Winnie had his baby and didn't let him know, he feels hurt, betrayed and angry. He is also still very attracted to her. Winnie knows she should have told him, but didn't feel it was safe to hit him with news like that while he was at war, so put it off. Now she has to deal with the emotions, and the fact that she is still attracted also. She also is a big time control freak and stresses over many things. She feels that having lost one man to an early death, she has no intention of getting involved with another man with a dangerous job. I really enjoyed Max's patience with Winnie, even though I really wanted to shake her. He sister did a great job of trying to get through to Winnie about how ridiculous she was being. I did enjoy the ending very much, and can't wait for the next one. Hopefully it will be about Max's friend Miles.

[Misha Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being injured in the Middle East, Commander Max Ford comes home to the naval base on Whidbey Island. Although falling in love is not part of his plan, when he's reunited with Winnie Armstrong, the widow of his closest friend (and the woman with whom he shared a night of passion before his deployment), he realizes that the more things change, the more they stay the same. He's loved Winnie for years, and he loves her still.

For Winnie, Max's return means a shake-up of her carefully ordered life. And more than that, it means confronting a secret that she's kept from everyone for the past two years: that her baby girl, Maeve, is actually Max's daughter. What will her parents think, not to mention her older daughter? And what about Max? Will he be able to forgive her for keeping this secret?

The story of Max and Winnie is more than just a romance between two people. It's the love story of an entire family: one that grows and coalesces, finding joy and comfort in the wake of tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters, and I'm looking forward to Geri Krotow's next book!

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars.

“Navy Rules” by Geri Krotow explores the relationship between injured veteran Commander Max Ford and the widow of his closest friend who handles the therapy dog that is supposed to aid Max in recovering from his PTSD. Winnie Armstrong has made a life for herself and her children but has never revealed name of the father of her youngest daughter, a love child who was conceived two years prior. She is determined to never fall in love again with a man who thrives on danger, particularly not a tall sexy pilot who just happens to be the unwitting parent of her younger daughter.

This was a poignant and sweet military romance that reminds us of the many sacrifices made by those who serve in the military and those who love them. A wonderful light read that is filled with countless details which provide realism penned with a nice flair by someone who knows what it is to serve her country. Naturally, Sam the dog is a nice addition to the story but the two delightful daughters who have been raised by a strong mom are a great part of this heartwarming story.


© Night Owl Reviews


I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars -- ok, full disclosure, I just don't think this book is my type of book...it's so hard to tell b/c I'm both not too fussy and extremely picky at the same time. Think about that for a second. Anyways, this was an in the head book....where most of it took place in the head. I enjoy the thinking, analyzing, etc...but I prefer a bit more action mixed in. Especially since it felt like the thinking was just repetitive.... It was nice to see a heroine who actually acknowledged her faults early, but as in real life just b/c you know what they are, doesn't mean it's easy to change them. So yeah, this was not for me...

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Winnie slept with Max only once before he deployed but once was enough. She got pregnant and knowing that unwelcome news can cause soldiers to lose their concentration and die, she never tells him. Now he is home and the two have to work out where to go from here.

I never liked Winnie. She's a nasty little control freak. And this book took forever for me to read despite its short length. I read it a couple of pages at a time because the heroine got on my nerves so much. The set up for the next book looks like it involves another heroine with a chip on her shoulder. I won't be reading it.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Whidbey Island
Category: Heart & Home

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Whidbey Island
Category: Heart & Home

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A nice easy, light romance. A great summer beach read. I enjoyed the characters and how they were developed.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story and the main character frustrating as well as all the unresolved issues.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accurate with the Navy lingo and great characters.