Unfaded Glory

Home to Glory #2

by Sara Arden

In Glory, Kansas, a fairy-tale wedding has local tongues wagging. But through this false engagement, can a wounded warrior and the woman he's protecting find true love?

Byron Hawkins doesn't want to be responsible for anyone ever again. The former Black Ops soldier is better at taking lives than saving them. But on mission in Tunisia to deliver a package to safety, Hawk is dismayed to find that the precious cargo is actually a hostage rescue, and that his orders are to take Princess Demara Petrakis back to US soil and hide her in plain sight—as his newlywed wife.

Back in Hawk's hometown of Glory, Kansas, petite, fierce Demara keeps surprising him; she may be royalty, but she's fully trained in martial arts and will sacrifice anything for her country. As the town rallies around the returning hero and his bride, he's finding that it's way too easy to play the part, and after the hell he has seen, that terrifies him. Hawk didn't want another life to save, but the passionate beauty he's sworn to protect might just turn the tables and save him, instead.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Military Fiction, Ebooks, Princesses, Military Romance

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Sara Arden is the small town romance pen name of author Saranna DeWylde/Sara Wylde/Sara Lunsford.

She lives in a town much like Glory, all the way down to Haymarket Square and The Corner Pharmacy.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wavering between 3 and 3.5 stars on the follow-up to Return to Glory. Where Return well blended the feel of a small-town contemporary romance with the inner conflict of war-disabled hero, Unfaded reads more like an action adventure with bit of small-town sewn in. I have to admit I wasn't expecting to read a story like this. Byron has suffered emotional and physical trauma after a mission with his Ranger team, yet he's duty-bound to serve his country once more by rescuing the princess of a small, Mediterranean nation in the throes of political unrest. Reluctantly he enters a government-arranged marriage of convenience to protect Damara and eventually help her establish democracy in her homeland.

About a third or so of the story actually takes in Glory, AK, with the couple jetting from Damara's homeland to Spain and back again. It's well-written and Byron and Damara make for an engaging couple when not battling over love versus lust in their situation. I think the heaviness of the story caught me a bit off guard, but if you liked the first book in the series it's worth a read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day Fairy Tale where the Princess gets the US Army Ranger. He saves her and her country from her evil brother and his Russian cronies who want to take over her country and who are into illegal human trafficking and drugs and all kinds of other illegal activities.

Lt. Byron Hawkins saves Princess Damara Petrakis after she escapes, with the help of her guards to Tunisia. Byron is sent there, to what he thinks is just a package called The Jewel of Castallegna, to capture it and take it out of the country. But he gets a surprise when he finds out The Jewel is a person in the form of the Princess. Buy boat and plane he gets her to his hometown of Glory, KS and they end up married so he can protect her. They both get more than they bargained for in each other, and just who save who in the end... Well you will have to read it to find out..

[Dani C. (Polly's Place) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I started reading Unfaded Glory I wrecked my brain trying to remember what happened in the first book. For the life of me I could not remember a single thing. I decided to go and check Goodreads and behold, I had forgotten to read it! Whoops!

So the good news is that even though Unfaded Glory is the second book in the Home to Glory series, it can defiantly be read as a standalone. This is a wonderful story that starts out as a former Black Ops soldier rescues a princess and brings her back to the USA. Then we are swept into a small town called Glory, Kansas and into the romance between this battered soldier and tough but gentle royal.

This book was a wonderful way to spend the day and I look forward to reading both the first book, Return to Glory, as well as the next book coming out in May 2015, Finding Glory.

[Xavier University Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfaded Glory is the second in the Home to Glory romance trilogy. This a quick, lighthearted romance read about a princess and the Ranger who is rescuing her. It was your typical romance, a fun read but nothing too special.

[Denise Kulesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Sara Arden book. I cannot wait to read more.

Byron is sent to deliver a package to safety not knowing it is a Princess.

Damara is the Princess.

They do their best not to fall for each other as they are from different worlds but you cannot help who you fall in love with.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally recommend this book to any romance readers. I found this the perfect story to read while I was sick and kept my attention from start to finish

[Budd]

Sucked

[kingsley]

dnf

[Brittany Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the characters, the storyline, all of it!!

[Deb Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Arden brings readers the second book in her Home to Glory series, entitled Unfaded Glory. This novel has all the hallmarks of a fairy-tale romance, with a military flair to it. Glory, Kansas is a small mid-western town that readers will fall in love with. But Arden's real strength is in her character development. This is really a story of two troubled souls that find each other in some pretty miraculous circumstances. Readers who appreciate our service men and women will love Byron, and his approach to life. But they will also fall in love with his tough girl princess, Damara. A great addition to this series!

I have a soft spot for military romances or stories that feature a hero or heroine that is either serving their country or who have served in the past. So I knew the Home to Glory series was going to be one that I would enjoy. What I didn't count on was how much I would enjoy it. Sara Arden draws so many parallels to military families and life. From calling her fictional town, Glory to having her characters reflect the honor and character of our country. There is just something about this one that strikes a cord with me. And I think will anyone who likes a good love story.

Unfaded Glory gives readers two characters that have a lot on their plates. Byron is Black Ops Ranger that has seen some pretty horrific things in his past. He survived when no one else did. I could see signs of not only survivors guilt in his character, but it also affected his self worth in a really strong way. He was a flawed man, with a heart of gold. That is never more clear than when he realizes his latest assignment involves saving a princess, literally. I think Arden did a fantastic job with this character. The reader is able to see so many layers to Byron. He is a complicated man, but a good man and that is the strongest feeling you get from this book. This is a good man who deserves to be happy.

Damara is quite literally a crown princess. She wants to overthrow her brother the tyrant and rule in his steed. But in order to do that she has to be protected. That's where things get complicated. She needs to basically hide in plain sight. Once she is extracted by Byron, she has to play the part of his fiancee. Things get even more intense when their parts become easier and easier to play. I liked the fact that Arden uses a foreign princess in this one. She is unlike many heroine's you see in contemporary romance. She has spunk, drive and she has the elegance of a true princess.

This was really a fairy-tale like story. I enjoyed every word from Arden in this book. Readers who enjoyed the first book won't be disappointed as Glory is one of the best parts of the book. This little town is place where you'd want to settle down and raise a family. I enjoyed the small town charm and the wonderful secondary characters. Arden does a wonderful job of showing the reader what life in a small town is like and what happens when the hometown hero returns.

Bottom Line:

I liked everything about this book from the premise of the story to the well thought out plot and the exceptional characters. Byron was real and he was flawed and that made him all the better. He had issues but he was able to work through them and Damara was a good counterpart to him. She was strong and worth fighting for. A great book, you won't want to miss.

[Roz ~ My Written Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something wonderful about a story where you see the power of hope, love, and human strength shine through, in spite of some pretty solid darkness. I was lucky enough to find that in Sara Arden’s first Home to Glory novel, Return to Glory, and I am happy to say that same experience was had when I read its successor, Unfaded Glory.

Here are my thoughts on Unfaded Glory:
Unfaded Glory is not strictly a small-town contemporary romance – Sara Arden has blended into this story a fair measure of action, adventure, drama, and suspense. Much of the first part takes place away from Glory, however in the construction of their story, this is rather important, and excellently done.

Byron’s past is littered with intense pain and the haunting memories of the tragic mission he feels he should have never survived. He could have easily become a thoroughly tragic, hopeless figure, but I never lost that feeling that beneath the surface, there was a caring, compassionate man. Sara Arden seems to excel in writing this kind of hero – never making light of their past hurts – and I really wanted to believe that Byron would see his way to a life he truly deserved.

Demara may have been a princess – trained from birth to be blindly obedient and follow strict rules of behaviour – but boy, she is no shrinking violet. I loved how strong she was in her convictions, and the faith and trust that she has in Byron is incredible.

There are times where you can just about feel the intensity of their feelings for each other, and in turn, their despair at potentially experiencing a future without the other in it. However, I always found myself wanting and willing Byron and Demara to reach out and grab that chance at happiness. I may just have cheered when they did too 😉

The villains are truly villainous, and watching them being served a richly-deserved meal of ass-kicking was pretty damn satisfying. There are glimpses and visits from those we met in Return to Glory, and it’s just made me all the more keen to read more about this little Kansas town and its people.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was wildly heart-warming, exciting, and exhilarating. A fairy tale romance come to life. My heart was on the line through the entire story, waiting for the other shoe to drop and praying it wouldn’t. Arden made me laugh a time or two and cry once or twice as well. The story is well & intricately written, full of romance, action, and suspense. She develops her story in such a manner that readers can easily picture the characters in each of the locales they find themselves in.

I quite enjoyed the characters that we met in this novel. They were well developed and well-rounded individuals. And I mean, really, how can you go wrong when you pair a princess with a backbone with a troubled Army Ranger? Even more than that, these two were genuinely approachable individuals. Arden goes the extra mile to develop the two characters. Both have pasts that they are struggling against, and getting to know them at such an intimate level added a great deal to the story. Arden lets you know what makes them tick as they get to know one another. Surrounded by this cast of individuals who all seem to want something from them, you have a couple that you’ll find yourself rooting for.

This novel is definitely a fantasy come to life. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this novel to those who enjoy romantic suspense. It was a fantastic read. It can also easily be read as a standalone if you haven’t read the first novel in the series yet.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfaded Glory by Sara Arden (Home to Glory #2)



3 STARS



I liked the plot of the story, characters, the romance but I did not like all the swearing and sex scenes.

I also wish we had more scenes in Glory with a lot of the characters we met a bigger part of the story.



Byron Hawkins has a lot of guilt from going on a mission and he was the only one who survived. He does not want to be responsible for anyone else in his life. He was a Ranger black ops. He thinks he is being sent in to rescue a Jewel of Castallengna but instead finds a Princess.



Damara Petrakis is a Princess of a small island. She is supposed to wed a Russian Mob leader. Others want her for power too. Damara wants to see her country be away from royalty. US wants to have a base on the island.

I really like how Damara tries to make other little girls realize that they are special too.



Damara is tired of being sold so she wants to do away with her innocent and she chooses Byron. Supposed to be for one day. Instead they are made for the media a couple who are getting married for love to protect Damara. She will do anything to protect her people.



Byron will follow orders for National Security plus he does not like the other choices for her protection.



The setting for this book is all over the place. Spain, Castallegna, Texas and Glory, Kansa



I have one more book of this series ready for me to read and I am looking forward to it.



I was given this ebook from Netgalley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give honest review of Unfaded Glory.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Glory, Kansas story that takes place in several places around the world. Byron Hawkins is a haunted ranger unable to escape his memories of a mission that went bad and killed all of his team but him. Now his boss has ordered him to bring a jewel back to the US. He's confused and horrified to be confronted by a woman, the so-called jewel. Although he is successful in rescuing her, his dismay increases by both her total trust that he will save her and that the plan to keep her safe involves a highly-publicized love story and fairy-tale wedding.

He wants no part of it, but sees no way out. Damara has her doubts, too, because she has fallen in love with Byron but is certain he can't or won't love her in return. Nevertheless, she'll do anything to save her country (where she is the Crown Princess).

Throughout this story, these two people's respective emotions draw each other tighter until each comes to a crisis that forces Byron to face his deepest fears about that failed mission and the widow of one of his men. At the same time, Damara must go back home, but will Byron go with her as anything other than her bodyguard? And, if he does return with her, will he stay?

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, there are just no words to say how much I L O V E D this book. I've read all of this series and really can't say how much this series means to me. Even though each book contains different characters, there are touches with previous characters but they don't override the new characters. This is really hard to accomplish and just shows how incredibly talented Sara Arden truly is. Both of the main characters in the story are so damaged by their past that it's a miracle they've made it this far. You don't often hear the struggles of the soldiers that survive, especially not in romances. By including this in the story it brings the character to life more vividly than you can find in other books. Sara Arden has not only captured the romance of the characters in this series but she's also captured the reality that is faced by the returning soldiers, the voices they hear, the guilt they have to find a way to live with each and every day. This is so much more than a love story or romance, this is a story about survival, redemption and pain. I am looking forward to the next book to see what other miracles Glory, Kansas has to offer.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from the Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I was a little worried because I had read the first book in this series and for some reason just couldn't get into it. But this one is so much better. I felt bad for the hero, Byron, because he actually did not believe in himself after he was the only one of his men to survive. I thought the heroine was interesting because she was a foreign princess who planned to overthrow her tyrannical brother and bring democracy to her country. I usually don't like princess stories, but Damara is a strong-willed, daring and courageous while still remaining kind-hearted and caring about other people. This novel has an unusual plot that makes it different from other books of this kinds.

[Lynde Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. At first I was frustrated with all of Byron's inner dialogue about how he was no good and no good for Demara, but as the story unfolds, I felt his feelings and continued need to keep himself disconnected played out perfectly. The story wouldn't have been what it was if he'd given in to his feelings sooner than he did. Demara and Byron were both multi-dimensional characters whose strengths and weakness complemented each other's. I'm a sucker for the wounded war vet who is coping with PTSD and survivor's guilt as long as it's written well and believable and Ms. Arden has done that. Demara was strong, yet maintained an innocence and good heartedness that made her such a wonderful character you can't help but love. You just want her to get her true love and HEA. I very much enjoyed this story and definitely recommend it!

[Cora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh lord. Novel as an excuse for sex scenes. The author was way too visible here, just moving characters around into the places (and positions) she wanted them in, and I was SO BORED. A Ranger with issues (ultimately resolved miraculously without any therapy of any kind - just the love of a good woman, of course) and a Princess of an imaginary country with a brother who used to love her and is inexplicably trying to either kill her or sell her to the highest gangster bidder. This was completely lacking in any sense of humor at all. I should have known better. I should just stick to Kristan Higgins if I'm going to read a romance novel.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfaded Glory started off at breakneck speed and kept up the pace for much of the book. The synopsis tells you what you need to know.

I thought Sara Arden did a terrific job with conveying Byron’s internal struggle to go on living when the rest of his special forces team didn’t. Little did he know that Damara would be able to make him want to live – and by doing so, he would save her.

Unfaded Glory is a story about love, trust and courage. Recommended to fans of the series and Sara Arden. *I received a review copy in exchange for my opinion.
3.5 stars.

[Captmashpea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun story but I just feel like it kind of got lost a little bit towards the end. I really like the character of Damara. it is been a really long time since I've loved a female protagonist that much she just was innocent and a bit naive without being stupid. she really thought things through and was up front and open about her feelings I just really enjoy her character. The losing her virginity plotline kind of came out of left field but I understand her motivations. I didn't love Byron but he wasn't terrible. All in all enjoyable story.
(eBook).

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much like a fairy tale

I gave it 3 stars because I at least finished the book. The story seemed too unrealistic! The princess was good and pure and wanted to save her country from her evil brother. Byron a former ranger turned mercenary for hire was given the job of protecting her and even marrying her. He was no knight in shining armor because he was fighting his own inner battles.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read but not as good as Return to Glory. I felt like Byron and Demara aren't as clearly developed as compared to the first book, and Glory had a less important role. It was also very hard to keep straight who the "good guys" and "bad guys" were. I imagine that was partially on purpose at it was difficult for Demara to determine as well. I also can't believe that Byron's parents didn't make an appearance--presumably they still lived in Glory? That wasn't really very believable.

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile"]

All Romance, All The Time: The Closer You Come\The Devil Takes a Bride\Unfaded Glory\Flirting with Disaster\Wild Horses\First Time in Forever - inside cover says these are advance uncorrected proofs - pre-ordered on Amazon - $0.00 - ASIN: B00TOUIZ0Y

[Lesley Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a fairy tale about a princess and her Knight in (not so) Shining Armour? Loved it!!

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first in the series, but good characters, and an interesting storyline. Just a little slow.

[Ellen Thielen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mercenary and a princess. It doesn't get much more Hallmark romance than that!

[Maureen Hubley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a tough time getting into the book but when I did I could not put it down.

[Harlequin Books]

Home to Glory, book 2

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series brings home the catastrophic reality of combat PTSD! It also touches on human rights in a world that is not as regulated and well behaved as the developed world may like.