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Men of Action

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Secret Santa
A nurse grieving the death of her twin brother receives an unexpected gift at the staff Secret Santa party: the bullet that killed him and a message of hope and love.

A Pirate’s Vacation

A storm. A past love. A battle with PTSD. Josie escaped to the Virgin Islands to heal, not to face the man who once broke her heart. But fate—and his sister—had other plans. Can they weather the storm together? #Romance #SecondChanceLove

Medal of Honor

Three days before Christmas, a homicide detective finds more than a murder—he finds a connection to his past. Can he and the victim’s daughter stop a killer before she’s next?

To Love & Honor

College sweethearts torn apart by betrayal… or was it a misunderstanding? Years later, Drew wants a second chance—but Davina gives him a bloody nose instead. Can love survive the past?

Merry Christmas Baby

Marine biologist Mattie Clark is back in town, but love wasn’t on her to-do list—until she collides with Charles Walker. A scarred hero. A determined woman. A love worth fighting for.

All stories have been previously published in other anthologies

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2015

5 people are currently reading
33 people want to read

About the author

Julie Rowe

37 books2,160 followers
Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the North West Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!” A double Golden Heart finalist 2006, Julie’s writing has appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), and Canadian Living. She currently facilitates communication workshops for her local city college. Julie enjoys hearing from her readers. You can reach her at www.julieroweauthor.com or on Twitter @julieroweauthor .

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5 stars
16 (41%)
4 stars
8 (20%)
3 stars
10 (25%)
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4 (10%)
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1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Tracey .
885 reviews58 followers
July 6, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written collection of three contemporary romance novellas. Each stand-alone story has a strong and capable male protagonist, a likable and engaging female protagonist, heartbreak, healing, sizzling chemistry, a heartwarming romance, and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Mr. John Gaunce, has a captivating voice and does an outstanding job voicing the characters. I also own the Kindle version of this collection, which I received as a subscriber to Ms. Rowe's newsletter. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,348 reviews172 followers
February 5, 2016
Great collection of story stories that all deal with grief in one form and each has a couple that bonds over that grief and find love.

Secret Santa 
Kenzie Bowman lost her twin brother Kennon on Christmas Day and ever since has hated the holiday. When the hospital she works at has a Secret Santa party she wants nothing to do with it. When she does finally open her gift its the bullet that killed him. Gage Remington made a promise to his best friend and fellow soldier to get that bullet back to Kenzie. At first Kenzie's grief is to much seeing her brother's childhood friend but eventually they both confess to always having had a crush on the other and see that by Kennon asking him to give Zenzie the bullet he was giving his permission for these two to finally admit their feelings.  

A Pirate’s Vacation 
Josie Zizzo and her husband were both doctors. They went on a mission to Syria where he was gunned down by rebels right in front of her. Once returning to the states she could no longer perform her duties as a ER doctor due to PTSD. She decides to start a new life in the Virgin Islands running a B&B. Its not long before she realizes she needs lots of help getting it up and running. She calls her best friend for help and instead of her coming she sends her brother who happens to be the man that broke Josie's heart years ago before she was married. Mark Durant is a fire fighter that recently lost his best friend while they were on the job. Due to how he died Mark cannot stand any type of burning smell. He jumped at the chance to get away and help Josie. These two were both suffering from PTSD and ended up being what the other needed to heal.

Medal of Honor 
Detective George Eaglefeather happens to be close by an ally when he hears guns shots. What he finds is a homeless man who on his dying breathe as him to tell his daughter that he is sorry. Allison Stoneman is a thoracic surgeon at the VA hospital. She is overwhelmed with grief when George comes to inform her of her father's murder. What she is shocked to learn is that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor when he served in Vietnam. As George digs into her fathers life he finds out not only who could have killed him and is now possibley after Allison but also that he and Allison have more in common and just being part Sioux. These were two lonely souls that recognized the other was each other “home”..
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews23 followers
February 25, 2018
These are each stand alone stories, each with a traumatic baseline, each with a couple needing each other.
A darn good read.

Story 1: Secret Santa

The "don't touch your best friend's sister" rule is demolished by the death and last wish of the brother.

Story 2: A Pirate's Vacation
Two people, each having experienced their own traumatic experience, are thrown together and learn to lean on each other.

Story 3: Medal of Honor
one man's death brings two wandering sould together.
Profile Image for Debbie Kolins.
370 reviews7 followers
December 31, 2021
Secret Santa
Kenzie Bowman lost her twin brother Kennon on Christmas Day and ever since then she has hated Christmas Day. The Secret Santa party at the Hospital she works at which she wants nothing to do with. When she does finally open the the Secret Santa gift only to see that it was a bullet. Kennon's best friend Gage and fellow soldier promised Kennon that he would give the bullet [that killed Kennon] to Kenzie. Kenzie and Gage had a crush on each for a long time but, neither admitted to it. When Kennon asked Gage to give the bullet to Kenzie he was giving Gage permission to admit his true feelings for Kenzie. Do Kenzie and Gage make a go of it!! Read the book to find out!!

A Pirate’s Vacation
Josie Zizzo and her husband were both doctors. While on a mission in Syria Josie's husband was gunned down by rebels right in front of her. Due to PTSD Josie was unable to do her duties as an ER doctor when she returned from Syria. She decides to try something different by running a B&B in the Virgin Islands. After arriving at the place she realized that she was going to need a lot of help fixing the place up. She decides to call her best friend for help but, instead of showing up the friend sends her brother Mark Durant who broke Josie's heart a long time ago. Mark is a Firefighter who is also suffering from PTSD from losing his best friend on the job. Can Mark and Josie get past the past and move forward?? Read the book to find out!!

Medal of Honor
George Eaglefeather [a Detective] happens to be across of an ally when he hears guns shots. He finds a homeless man who is dying from gun shot wounds. With his last breath he tells the Detective to tel l Allison that he is sorry. The Detective does some investigating and finds out that Allison Stoneman who is a Thoracic Surgeon at the VA hospital was the homeless mans daughter. George had to inform her that her father was murdered and thought her life was in danger as well. She is shocked to learn is that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor when he served in Vietnam. George does some more digging and he finds out not only who may have killed him and is now possibly after Allison to get the Medal of Honor from her. Do George and Allison have one thing in common as they both are part Sioux. What happens with Allison & George?? You have to read the book to find out!!
Profile Image for Teresa.
1,388 reviews3 followers
April 30, 2021
Men of Action: A Short Story boxed set by Julie Rowe

This book set contains Secret Santa, A Pirate's Vacation, Medal of Honor all are wonderful stand alone stories that I give 5 Stars each to.

Secret Santa:
This is Kenzie Bowman lost her brother to a sniper and when she receives the bullet that killed him from his teammate Gage Remington she'll have to hear the truth and let him know that she's in love with him and has been for years.

A Pirate's Vacation:

Dr. Josie Zizzo lost her husband and fellow doctor while volunteering in Syria. She decides to leave ER medicine in Boston for a run down B & B in the US Virgin Islands. Asking her best friend Benita for help leads to her sending her brother Mark Durant. But during a hurricane they will both need their skills for the islanders and finding out their love for each other.

Medal of Honor:

A Chicago detective finds out that the recent murder of a veteran is actually a Medal of Honor recipient. When he goes to find his daughter it will take some sleuthing to find out the real story about her father, his bravery and find the person who killed him. But can they also find out if their attraction for each other is maybe a HEA?
257 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2019
Three stand alone sort stories. Quick and easy to read, interesting and attention holding with enough detail to make them flow and be entertaining from beginning to end. Each with their own two people who need one another to help them move on from some trauma some PTSD that has them angry and in need of letting go in order to heal and become as whole as they can be.

Secret Santa - hands of a best friend's sibling is not a law when its right

A pirate's vacation - Both with their own post traumatic stress disorder come together to get the B and B ready for guests.

Medal of Honor - a murder brings two unlikely people together for their happy ever after.
Profile Image for Ree.
2,509 reviews53 followers
January 4, 2017
Though each of these stories dealt with losing a loved one, they each provided a ray of hope, and an opportunity for a second chance in the unlikeliest of ways.

I enjoyed these stories very much. They were short & very sweet.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this boxset.
Profile Image for Sammye.
4,314 reviews28 followers
June 2, 2020
This is a “must read” box set of three short stories. Each one is very well written and entertaining. I enjoyed them all. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review
Profile Image for Lesa Dunbar.
325 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2019
This is a must read. Once you start it you don't want to stop till the last page. It has passion and lots of action.
159 reviews
December 24, 2019
I enjoyed all of the stories. Felt any one of them could have been extened for a full length.
Profile Image for Teresa.
1,388 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2025
A wonderful set of stories

Each one of these stories will melt your heart as the main characters all get their happy ever after. I've all of Ms. Rowes book series and this set of shirt stories is just fantastic.
Profile Image for Barbara Van Zandt.
1,361 reviews1 follower
Read
August 31, 2017
I'd liked all 3 stories, hurting for lost ones and kinda of trying to heal but it took. 2 to heal and learn to lovecagain
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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