Jasper: A Military Man Curvy Woman Romance

by Kali Hart

Guardians of the North Book 5
A Small Town Military Romance

Vanessa
I have one I don’t date military men.
It was a promise I made to Mom on her deathbed.
All my life, I’ve lived by that rule.
Or so I thought.
Because that whirlwind romance weekend I had with a stranger four years ago?
Turns out the jerk was lying.
And now he’s my assigned coast guard liaison for the festival I’m planning.
I should hate him for lying all those years ago.
I shouldn’t want to climb him like a tree.
I certainly shouldn’t be thinking about uprooting my entire life to build one with him.

Jasper
The night I met Vanessa Wheeler four years ago, she was adamant she didn’t get tangled up with military men.
So yeah, I lied.
Because deep down I knew turning around and walking away was the biggest mistake I could ever make.
I had to know her.
After the best weekend of my life, she insisted we part ways without staying in touch.
For years, I’ve searched for even half of what I had with her that weekend.
Now that she’s back in my life, I understand why I never found it with anyone else.
Only problem?
She’s still pissed at me for lying.
Oh, and her father’s the admiral—my boss.
Maybe it’s too much to hope that fate has brought us together for a second chance.
If that makes me a hopeless fool, then so be it.
Because this time, I have no intention of letting Vanessa slip out of my life a second time, consequences be damned.

Meet the J-Squad. These six Coast Guardsmen formed an unbreakable bond in boot camp. After years of being separated on different assignments around the world, they’re finally back together again in their new North Haven, Alaska. They’ve all struck out on love. Until now. The curvy beauties of their dreams are finding their way to Alaska and into the hearts of these brave military men.

Sweet & steamy instalove romance with a military man and confident curvy woman. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating. Guaranteed HEA!

Genres: Contemporary

87 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2025

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four years ago Jasper and Vanessa had a weekend together and haven’t seen each other since. When they meet again in Alaska Jasper realizes that finally they may have a second chance. Until he finds out that Vanessa doesn’t date military men and he’s 100 percent military. Fast story, sweet and lots of heat, great charters and a great storyline. I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One weekend. One promise. One chance to rewrite their fate.

Vanessa (h) has built her life on control. A successful event planner and devoted daughter, she’s followed every rule, especially the one her dying mother made her swear to keep: never fall for a military man. But when her final event brings her to a small Alaskan town, the last person she expects to see is Jasper (H). The one man she never forgot. The one who still owns every inch of her heart.

Jasper thought the past was behind him until fate shoves Vanessa back into his world as the daughter of his commanding officer. Now grounded with an injury and working the same festival, he’s ready to risk everything. Including his career. Their chemistry still burns, but so do the secrets between them.

As passion resurfaces and memories blur with reality, Vanessa must weigh her promise against her future. Jasper has just one shot to prove love is worth the risk, no matter the cost.

Vanessa evolves from a guarded, career-driven woman into someone brave enough to choose her own path. Jasper goes from loyal soldier to a man ready to put love first. Their bond deepens into a relationship built on vulnerability, trust, and a fire that never really went out.

A steamy, second chance, enemies to lovers, small town, military romance about love, duty, fear, forgiveness, and finally choosing happiness. Raw, charged, and emotionally layered, this is about rewriting the rules for the one person who feels like home.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A second-chance sizzle with heart, heat, and one stubborn coastie you’ll fall hard for.”

Jasper and Vanessa’s story is the kind of small-town, high-stakes, “I shouldn’t want you but I do” romance that grabs you from page one and refuses to let go.

Vanessa made a promise—no military men. So when she finds out her mystery man from one unforgettable weekend is not only military but now her coast guard liaison (and her dad’s subordinate), all bets are off… or on, depending how you look at it. 💥

Jasper is pure protective alpha with just the right amount of regret and determination. He knows he screwed up, but he’s not walking away this time—not even if it costs him everything.

You’ll swoon, laugh, and maybe even yell “JUST KISS ALREADY” as these two stubborn hearts collide again.

✅ Small-town festival vibes
✅ Curvy girl with standards and sass
✅ Secret past romance
✅ Military man who knows what he wants
✅ Emotional depth with second-chance fire

Whether you’re a sucker for military heroes, forbidden love, or just want a story that gives you all the feels, Jasper is a must-read in the Guardians of the North series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper is Book 5 of the Guardians of the North series. It's a short and steamy, instalove with a second chance vibe, forced-proximity, curvy girl gets her military man romance. Vanessa is smart, sassy, and curvy event planner from Houston who wants to be a children's book author full time. Jasper is a hunky military man, who is a coast guard pilot in Alaska. He and Vanessa shared one hot weekend 4 years ago in cape cod. They agreed to part ways but neither has ever stopped thinking about the other. Now, her father, an admiral in the coast guard, has asked her to plan the town festival in Alaska. She agrees, but never expects to see Jasper. Her dad has him assigned to help her as he is currently injured and unable to fly. She is upset that he is a military man though, given a conversation with her late mother. Jasper is not about to let her get away again. Can he show her that he is all in? Will she changer her mind? The chemistry between these two was explosive. I am totally in love with Jasper. I think I got pregnant just reading about him. And we got the best HEA after a little angst. I love this whole series but this one might be my favorite to date. It was so good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Thisbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper and Vanessa spend a life changing weekend together in Cape Cod four years ago, They decided to delete their information and just keep the good memories, living far apart. But neither of them were able to forget about one another and really move on. Vanessa is a succesful event player, but wants to quit this career to write children books and broke up with her fiancé, because she could not forget about Jasper and felt something was not right before he cheated. She comes to Alaska for her last big event, where her father is the Admiral. Due to the profession of her father, her mother made her promise on her death bed not to date a military man, because she loved her father, but the military life was very hard on her. Then Vanessa meets Jasper again next to ther father, he lied to her and is a coast guard piot. They love each other and want to be wiht each other, but the stakes are high and Vanessa can not forget about her promise...
I enjoyed the details and connection of Vanessa and Jasper in this story. How all the half lies he told her when they first met, are deeply routed in his life, like the story about his cat. Made me smile, love and laugh with them-.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four years ago, Jasper and Vanessa shared a life-changing weekend in Cape Cod—brief, breathtaking, and unforgettable. But some connections don’t fade, no matter how much time or distance comes between them.

Now, Vanessa is on the brink of reinvention. A successful event planner ready to walk away from the spotlight, she’s yearning to follow her true passion. Her final event takes her to the rugged beauty of Alaska, where her father—a high-ranking Admiral—is stationed.

Then Vanessa sees him—Jasper. Standing beside her father. In uniform.

He hadn’t told her he was a Coast Guard pilot back then. Now, the truth cuts deep. But so does the love that never really left them. Old sparks reignite, and the pull between them is as fierce as ever. But so are the stakes.

Jasper wants forever. Vanessa wants to believe it’s possible. But between a promise made in grief, a life built on change, and the deep, complicated ties of family and duty, love might not be enough.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Praline 99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Military romance.
Vanessa is a military daughter who made a promise to her mother on her deathbed to never date a military woman. So when she sees her one-night stand Jasper, who promised her not to be a military reinforcement, she can't help but feel betrayed. And she was shocked when she realized he was also under her father's orders.
Jasper is a military man with a good career, he didn't think he'd find his one-night stand he couldn't forget in the guise of his boss's daughter. The same girl who didn't want a military man in his life and to whom he lied. But now, facing her, he knows he'll do anything to have a chance with her.
Will Vanessa and Jasper have a beautiful story or will Vanessa's promise to her mother be stronger...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the fifth story in the "Guardians of the North". It is a stand alone story in the series featuring the six men known as the J Squad. This second chance story that takes place in North Haven, Alaska. It is about Vanessa and Jasper. They spent an incredible weekend together in Cape Cod and then parted ways without any way of contacting each other. Neither forgot the other. Now several years later they meet again, now in Alaska. He is not who she thought he was, he is military. She made a promise never to marry a military man. This is a short, quick and fast paced read that is cute, sweet and sexy.

[Aspen G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper is alpha male hotness with fun and flirty chemistry. He definitely fell first and hard for Vanessa, and I love how the author reunites them with her plot. This short and sweet romance runs the gamut of emotions with awesome supporting characters, fabulous family members, and career driven and successful, brilliant Vanessa at the center. Aside from her stubborn streak, she is a total delight! A perfect match for Jasper and his small Alaska town, I adore these two together and their story is well worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cherie Alvaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jasper meets Vanessa he knows he knew he couldn't let him go so he lied! Vanessa's one rule is NEVER get involved with a military guy! When she finds out he lied she's done! Years later they are forced to work together. Jasper is still convinced she's the only woman for him and she is fighting her attraction to him to keep the vow she made to her mum. The storyline is great reading and the chemistry between the two main characters is off the charts! I love Harts story telling and this one did not disappoint. Personally I am not looking forwards to the next book being the end of this series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth installment of Kali Hart's Guardians of the North series is Jasper, a second chance age-gap romance. Jasper and Vanessa shared a steamy weekend years ago. When they run into each other after four years, Jasper isn't sure he wants to let go of the woman he's never forgotten. The only problem is Vanessa promised her late mother she would never get involved with a military man. But can she fight the pull to the one that she's long since felt got away? A steamy, entertaining second chance romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Trixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so relieved after that last chapter! I couldn’t believe how the bump in the relationship for our female main character got smoothed over by the very person they were worried about. Turns out, he was actually trying to play matchmaker! The main characters are just perfect for each other; they really are soulmates. He was doing everything he could to convince her to stay, while she was making the most of her last hurrah. It’s such a joyful win for our male main character!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper and Vanessa had one steamy weekend four years before, thinking they would never see each other again. But fate doesn't work that way, and they are given a second chance at love. She doesn't date military men, and opps, he's in the military. To make things even worse, her father is his boss. This is a forbidden love, second chance, military romance with believable characters, a great storyline, steam, and a great ending. Jasper is book five in the Guardians of the North series, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Melinda Swaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite insta love authors out there!!!

Kali Hart does not disappoint and this book was another great hit! I love these insta-love reads by this author, as they make your toes curl and leave you with a smile on your face. She just has me coming back for more each time. One of my favourite insta love authors out there. Another fantastic book Ms Hart. Please keep them coming. Happy reading

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Kali’s books and this one didn’t disappoint! After Jasper and Vanessa weekend hook up they didn’t think they would see each other again. Little did they know four years later they would be reconnected with the one who got away. I enjoyed every bit of this romance and the pair were meant to be!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper and Vanessa. She doesnt date Military men. Hes a Military man. He lied about it four years ago. She also kept a secret from him then too. Now hes helping her as a liason for the planning of the town festival. Shes still mad and her father is his boss. Short romantic read of a guy trying to convince his woman they are meant to be and all the chaotic goings on be danged. Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love that Jasper doesn't make it past first dates after he falls hard and fast for Vanessa years ago. It is a little confusing that he did call one girl a girlfriend but I'm going with what he says about first dates. Vanessa is really stubborn but a strong and lovable main female character. Her friend and assistant is also a sweetheart. This is a good story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new addition to the Guardians of the North series did not disappoint. The story focuses on two people who shared a weekend four years prior and never got over the encounter. Issues arise but not anything that can't be overcome. Lots of heat, great characters and great chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad to see Jasper and Vanessa finally get their happily ever after. They met 4 years ago in Cape Cod and both kept secrets about themselves. He telling her he was in the military, she will not date a military guy and her forgetting to mention her dad is an admiral. They meet in Alaska and things get interesting when they finally share their feelings.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that their connection had stayed strong throughout their time apart, that the chemistry was still between them despite the issues of lies, half truths, family and carers. I really liked the little ways that Jasper showed how he cared and the support they got from family and friends.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Jasper and Vanessa make a great couple. Jasper wanted Vanessa when he met her four years ago, but she was set against dating military men. So he lied to her. Now he's back, and he's determined to win her over for good—an excellent book with plenty of spice and a fantastic HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book five in the Guardians of the North series, I believe this was the first book that I came across in the series, and I loved it. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series...great characters and storyline.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

This is the 5th book in the Guardians of the North series and can be read as a standalone story, the storyline was well-written and quick to read. I relationship liked both Vanessa and Jasper, yes, he's military and yes he lied but Vanessa was adamant about her promise and wouldn't have looked twice at him. Good story.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Vanessa and Jasper. The heartwarming story keeps us turning the pages with connection, denial, second chances and steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanessa is smart, determined, sassy and caring woman. Jasper is hardworking, loyal, caring caring man. Their story is witty and steamy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jasper and Vanessa, They met four years ago and had a wonderful weekend. But he lied about being in the Military, They have a second chance, I enjoyed their story,.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books written by Kali Hart; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the fifth book in the Guardians of the North Series; it is a stand-alone short story. The story is about Vanessa & Jasper.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

They met 4 years ago and had a weekend together. Neither has forgotten the other. She is in his hometown to do a festival. Well guess what? He works with her father matter of fact her father is his Admiral. Will they rekindle that weekend? Or will she walk away at the end of the festival. I enjoyed their story and characters. Now I need to go read the others in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jurae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good short story. The characters were relatable and realistic. The story was well written.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasper & Vanessa were great. I loved the passion that they share and their banter was so good, A hit for me