Reclaimed

SEAL Team 12 #8.5

by Marliss Melton

This short story is based on Marliss Melton's novella LONG GONE and also features characters from Marliss Melton's beloved Navy SEALs series. FBI Special Agent in Charge, Connor Donovan, devoted his adult life to advancing his career, but he lost his marriage in the process. Having learned from his mistakes, Connor, now in his mid-fifties would do anything to win back his wife, only he doesn't know how to begin. When the mobster he recently incarcerated makes bail and disappears, Connor gets a strange phone call from his estranged wife, alerting him to the villain's intent to avenge him. Suddenly, Connor has the opportunity to save both Karen's life and his marriage to her. Will he pull of this enormous feat of love and enjoy Christmas the way it was meant to be spent?

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Novella, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2012

About the author

Marliss Melton is the author of over twenty romantic suspense, medieval, and inspirational stories. She relies on her experience as a military spouse and on her many contacts in the Spec Ops and Intelligence communities to pen realistic and heartfelt stories about America's elite warriors and fearless agency heroes. Daughter of a U.S. foreign officer, Melton grew up in various countries overseas. She has taught English, Spanish, ESL, and Linguistics at the College of William and Mary, her alma mater., and to this day she lives in Williamsburg, Virginia. Marliss also writes inspirational romantic suspense as Rebecca Hartt. Be sure to “friend” Marliss on Facebook! Visit www.marlissmelton.com or https://RebeccaHartt.com for more information.

Series:
* SEAL Team 12

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short, but intense story based on characters from one of her previous books.

Connor Donovan and his wife, Karen, have been separated for three years. Meeting again at their son's wedding, she's remembering how much she had loved him and how much he had basically ignored her. Connor has devoted his entire life to the FBI and lost his wife and marriage in the meantime.

A mobster who has some really hard feelings for Connor has escaped imprisonment and means to make him pay. When he and an associate break into Karen's house and take her hostage, Connor jumps into action.

A really short story .... but well-written. It has all the elements of a great Marliss Melton book ... love, sex, action, energy, macho men and heroes and beautiful women who always seem to need help of one sort or another.

I really wish this one was a full length novel. If you want a Romantic Suspense ... this is the author to read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short book about the parents of Drake and Lucy Donovan who were previous characters in the series. Connor devoted his life to his FBI career missing out of most of his kids childhoods and emotionally neglecting his wife of almost 30 years. They have been separated and not spoken in years until the wedding of their son, when someone from his and his new daughter-in-law past comes back to exact revenge and takes Karen hostage. Connor and Karen come to realize that their love hasn't died but will they get a second chance.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novella of what can happen when people take their marriage partner for granted. Sometimes a partner, usually the husband, thinks all he needs to do is bring home a paycheck and be faithful. With no communication and no intimacy the wife can feel her needs are being ignored.

Karen is 55 years old and has been separated from her husband, FBI Agent Connor for 3 years. They have had very little communication and when their son Drake marries Skyler they are together for this joyous event. Connor makes an attempt to reconcile, but Karen is shocked and doesn't handle it very well. Not long after a baddie that Connor apprehended skips bail and is out for revenge against Connor and is going to use Karen to get it.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor and Karen Donovan, Drake and Lucy's parents, have been estranged for the last three years. Just as Karen thinks there might be a thaw in their relationship, he retreats. However, a man who Connor was responsible for bringing to justice now threatens not only his future with Karen but her very life.

This short story wastes no time in ratcheting up the tension and packs a wallop. It brings closure to the Donovan family though an odd ending to an enjoyable series.

[Evanne Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast moving romantic suspense

[Jo-Ann Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book of the series. It is a very small and quick read.

You meet the hero in the last small book of the series when his son was the hero in it. You get to learn about the hero and his marriage to his heroine, which has fallen apart over the years. However, the heroine, who hates her marriage has come down to a divorce. She's never wanted that, but with her son's marriage and life ahead of him, she knows she has to do something and living how she has been isn't the answer. Even her daughter, who's been the heroine in a past book, is happy with her hero. However, what she's been dealing with isn't the way.

Our hero has never stopped loving his wife. In the past few years, he has tried but has felt like he's been forced out of his wife's life at the same time. However, when his wife calls and asks him to come over, he knows something is wrong. Can he save his wife and marriage in time?

Once again, the smaller books sometimes don't give you the entire story. Because when we had the hero's son's book, I really didn't like the father at all. However, in this one, you get to know the hero and his reasons behind being the way he is. This makes you like him. At the start of the book, you immediately like the heroine, so its takes you awhile to warm up to the hero. Overall, not bad for such a small book.

[Deb Diem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reclaimed is a contemporary romance by Marliss Melton. This is a very quick read, perfect for those with limited reading time. This story is loaded with drama, action and suspense.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a Marliss Melton fan and this short story does not disappoint in any way. Even though it has been awhile since I’ve read some of the books in this series, I was able to jump right into the story and not feel lost with the characters or referenced events.

Reclaimed is loaded with action and suspense. I loved the ‘mature romance’ aspect of the story as well, giving us all hope that passion is still relevant as we age and second chances can be had. I would recommend this book.

Rating: 4

Heat Rating: Mild

Reviewed by: Karen C

Review Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this story from the author for an honest review. I enjoyed the short novella about two people who have parted ways and it seems like divorce is the answer. They met up at their son's wedding. And trouble soon follows. Since the story line is very short I won't tell much more than what was stated in the synopsis here. I haven't read any books by Marliss Melton before. But am interested now.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella! I had been wondering about Drake's. Dad's story since the other novella, and here is some of it! A quick read novella, romantic with some drama in there too when Connor's work intrudes! I recommend this!

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intense, action oriented very short story that was enjoyable although an odd ending for the series. It did wrap the story with the Donovan family although it didn't mention any of the other members of SEAL Team 12. Still I enjoyed the story and the wrap up with the villains.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

For honest review. This was a short story of a husband and wife that their love fell apart for no communication .after a break in will he finally communicate to her? Very cute story .

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand this was a short story, but it was just too short.......But still good!

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short, but still a nice story overall. I hope to hell the author never resurrects these centurion villains , ever again. sick of them.