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The Marine’s Little Secret: A Secret Baby, Second Chance Military Romance
I thought he was dead.
I grieved him.
I broke over him.
And then… I forced myself to move on.
Because United States Marine Corps Captain Jaxon Cole didn’t just disappear—
he never came back.
No calls.
No letters.
No goodbye.
So I buried the girl who loved him…
and raised our daughter alone.
Until he walks back into town.
Alive.
Dangerous.
Looking at me like I still belong to him.
I should be relieved.
Instead… I’m angry.
Angry that he left me behind.
Angry that he has no idea what I’ve survived without him.
And terrified of the one truth he doesn’t know—
Mercy.
The little girl with his eyes.
Because if Jaxon finds out…
he won’t walk away again.
He’ll claim.
He’ll fight.
He’ll take.
And the way he looks at me now—
possessive, intense, impossible to ignore —
tells me I’m already losing control.
Because Jaxon Cole isn’t the boy I once loved.
He’s a Marine who doesn’t lose…
and doesn’t let go.
And if he discovers the truth—
he won’t just change my life.
He’ll take everything I’ve fought to protect.
Author’s A steamy small-town romance featuring a secret baby, second chances, and a ruthless, possessive Marine who will claim what’s his and never let go. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.
I grieved him.
I broke over him.
And then… I forced myself to move on.
Because United States Marine Corps Captain Jaxon Cole didn’t just disappear—
he never came back.
No calls.
No letters.
No goodbye.
So I buried the girl who loved him…
and raised our daughter alone.
Until he walks back into town.
Alive.
Dangerous.
Looking at me like I still belong to him.
I should be relieved.
Instead… I’m angry.
Angry that he left me behind.
Angry that he has no idea what I’ve survived without him.
And terrified of the one truth he doesn’t know—
Mercy.
The little girl with his eyes.
Because if Jaxon finds out…
he won’t walk away again.
He’ll claim.
He’ll fight.
He’ll take.
And the way he looks at me now—
possessive, intense, impossible to ignore —
tells me I’m already losing control.
Because Jaxon Cole isn’t the boy I once loved.
He’s a Marine who doesn’t lose…
and doesn’t let go.
And if he discovers the truth—
he won’t just change my life.
He’ll take everything I’ve fought to protect.
Author’s A steamy small-town romance featuring a secret baby, second chances, and a ruthless, possessive Marine who will claim what’s his and never let go. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.
- GenresRomance
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 27, 2026
Jaxon has been away, serving in the military, for eight years. He left Emily behind with plans for their future but cut off all contact, leaving Emily thinking he was dead. In the meantime, Emily had a secret of her own...with Jaxon's eyes!
For most of this book, I wanted to shake both Emily and Jaxon as they kept blaming each other for mistakes of the past. The one thing I really didn't understand is why Emily lied about who Mercy's father was.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For most of this book, I wanted to shake both Emily and Jaxon as they kept blaming each other for mistakes of the past. The one thing I really didn't understand is why Emily lied about who Mercy's father was.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 29, 2026
Ok… really long review here, but I can’t help it. And I want to first say that there were some good moments in this book and the overall storyline wasn’t bad. It was just the mfc that ruined it for me. I loved the tropes- ex military, second chance, childhood friends-lovers, secret baby. Now for my thoughts…
Jaxson and Emily both had me frustrated and irritated throughout the entire book. I had a hard time finishing it, mainly because of Emily.
They both made huge mistakes- Jaxson may have ghosted her for years, but what she did was far worse. When she found out she was pregnant she lied to everyone- including her own parents- about who the father, saying she had a one night stand. It wasn’t until Jaxson came back and practically forced her to tell him the truth that her lies blew up in her face. She robbed Jaxson’s parents of the opportunity to watch their granddaughter grow up, and the worst part is Jaxson’s mom died never knowing she had a granddaughter.
Emily may not have been able to get ahold of Jaxson, but she knew where his parents lived and could’ve told them she was pregnant with their son’s baby. But she didn’t. She lied to everyone and then kept saying how she did it all herself, well yeah but she chose too.
I felt zero sympathy for her. And what pissed me off to the max was how she first kept refusing to answer Jaxson when he asked if Mercy was his; and then later even lied about how old Mercy was so he wouldn’t think she was his and would drop the issue. Emily was selfish, and for being almost 30 she was childish. All she thought about was herself. She never considered Jaxson’s parents having the right to know Mercy- when her parents did- and she never considered Mercy when Jaxson came back. Her first priority was protecting her secret so it didn’t blow up in her face. I couldn’t stand how she acted and the way she went out of her way to avoid seeing Jaxson or having him see Mercy. Yeah what he did wasn’t right- but he had a right to know he had a daughter and not be jerked around for weeks and months by Emily and her refusal to admit it. And she would’ve continued lying if Mercy hadn’t called her out. Her 7 year old daughter was smart enough to say she wasn’t 6 like Emily lied. Emily’s one comment was she didn’t want Jaxson to have anything to do with Mercy because he hurt her (meaning Jaxson hurt Emily). I was thinking you selfish bitch, it’s not about your hurt feelings, it’s about your daughter. Grow the f up. And her childish and selfish attitude really came out when she had an inspection at her bakery and there were issues. She called Jaxson several times needing him and he didn’t answer, it went straight to voicemail. For days/weeks she refused to talk to him, take his calls, made her parents kick him out when he showed up at their door. And his reason for not picking up that day- he spent all night putting out a fire at his family’s company and dealing with the mess. Even after Emily found out about the fire, she still refused to talk to him because he wasn’t there when she needed him. I was like seriously?!! He had his own emergency. He wasn’t out sleeping with some other woman or having fun. There was just so much about her I couldn’t stand.
But Jaxson had me frustrated too. He could’ve reached out to Emily at some point over 8 years. His reasoning was pathetic and another thing that didn’t make sense. He may have been special forces, and on classified missions, but 8 years and being forced to cut ties with everyone- no way. And that whole thing about no one, including his parents knowing if he was dead or not, didn’t work either because if he died in combat I’m pretty certain his parents would have been notified.
Jaxson just walked back into town expecting Emily to welcome him and when she didn’t he couldn’t figure out why she was so angry.
And how no one in town ever questioned whether Jaxson was the dad, especially her own parents- blew my mind and made zero sense. There were a couple things in the story that had didn’t flow-
1- Mercy looked exactly like Jackson, yet no one figured it out
2- Jaxson and Emily grew up together, were best friends, dated, knew each other better than anyone else knew them- yet Emily commented how she didn’t really know his parents because her and Jaxson’s relationship never got that far.
This whole book was frustrating really. Every time they’d fight they’d have sex- without any protection or conversation like hey are you clean? Have you been with anyone recently?
I was curious if Jaxson had any relationships over those 8 years. He claimed he missed her and thought of her every night, but I still wondered.
Jaxson and Emily both had me frustrated and irritated throughout the entire book. I had a hard time finishing it, mainly because of Emily.
They both made huge mistakes- Jaxson may have ghosted her for years, but what she did was far worse. When she found out she was pregnant she lied to everyone- including her own parents- about who the father, saying she had a one night stand. It wasn’t until Jaxson came back and practically forced her to tell him the truth that her lies blew up in her face. She robbed Jaxson’s parents of the opportunity to watch their granddaughter grow up, and the worst part is Jaxson’s mom died never knowing she had a granddaughter.
Emily may not have been able to get ahold of Jaxson, but she knew where his parents lived and could’ve told them she was pregnant with their son’s baby. But she didn’t. She lied to everyone and then kept saying how she did it all herself, well yeah but she chose too.
I felt zero sympathy for her. And what pissed me off to the max was how she first kept refusing to answer Jaxson when he asked if Mercy was his; and then later even lied about how old Mercy was so he wouldn’t think she was his and would drop the issue. Emily was selfish, and for being almost 30 she was childish. All she thought about was herself. She never considered Jaxson’s parents having the right to know Mercy- when her parents did- and she never considered Mercy when Jaxson came back. Her first priority was protecting her secret so it didn’t blow up in her face. I couldn’t stand how she acted and the way she went out of her way to avoid seeing Jaxson or having him see Mercy. Yeah what he did wasn’t right- but he had a right to know he had a daughter and not be jerked around for weeks and months by Emily and her refusal to admit it. And she would’ve continued lying if Mercy hadn’t called her out. Her 7 year old daughter was smart enough to say she wasn’t 6 like Emily lied. Emily’s one comment was she didn’t want Jaxson to have anything to do with Mercy because he hurt her (meaning Jaxson hurt Emily). I was thinking you selfish bitch, it’s not about your hurt feelings, it’s about your daughter. Grow the f up. And her childish and selfish attitude really came out when she had an inspection at her bakery and there were issues. She called Jaxson several times needing him and he didn’t answer, it went straight to voicemail. For days/weeks she refused to talk to him, take his calls, made her parents kick him out when he showed up at their door. And his reason for not picking up that day- he spent all night putting out a fire at his family’s company and dealing with the mess. Even after Emily found out about the fire, she still refused to talk to him because he wasn’t there when she needed him. I was like seriously?!! He had his own emergency. He wasn’t out sleeping with some other woman or having fun. There was just so much about her I couldn’t stand.
But Jaxson had me frustrated too. He could’ve reached out to Emily at some point over 8 years. His reasoning was pathetic and another thing that didn’t make sense. He may have been special forces, and on classified missions, but 8 years and being forced to cut ties with everyone- no way. And that whole thing about no one, including his parents knowing if he was dead or not, didn’t work either because if he died in combat I’m pretty certain his parents would have been notified.
Jaxson just walked back into town expecting Emily to welcome him and when she didn’t he couldn’t figure out why she was so angry.
And how no one in town ever questioned whether Jaxson was the dad, especially her own parents- blew my mind and made zero sense. There were a couple things in the story that had didn’t flow-
1- Mercy looked exactly like Jackson, yet no one figured it out
2- Jaxson and Emily grew up together, were best friends, dated, knew each other better than anyone else knew them- yet Emily commented how she didn’t really know his parents because her and Jaxson’s relationship never got that far.
This whole book was frustrating really. Every time they’d fight they’d have sex- without any protection or conversation like hey are you clean? Have you been with anyone recently?
I was curious if Jaxson had any relationships over those 8 years. He claimed he missed her and thought of her every night, but I still wondered.
Review of advance copy
I'm speechless. Completely speechless.
Before I get into the story itself, I think it's worth acknowledging something: while it takes two people to create a child, pregnancy and childbirth inevitably place a greater physical burden on the mother. That's not about patriarchy, misogyny, or feminism—it's simply reality. Women are the ones who carry the pregnancy, endure the physical and emotional challenges that come with it, give birth, and often take on breastfeeding and much of the early childcare. That's an important part of the context for this story.
I understand that a father has the right to know about his child. However, if the father disappears and becomes unreachable despite the mother's efforts to contact him, I don't think he can later return and act as though he was unfairly denied that right. That's my personal opinion, and it heavily influenced how I felt about this book.
Jaxon and Emily were deeply in love before he left for the military. As his career advanced, he was assigned to a special team that required him to cut off contact with most people in his life. But here's the thing—he didn't just lose contact with Emily. He chose not to maintain it. He managed to call his parents a couple of times each year, but not Emily. No goodbye. No explanation. Nothing.
Years later, he returns to their hometown and seems to expect Emily to welcome him back with open arms, as if they can simply pick up where they left off. The audacity of that attitude was infuriating. To make matters worse, it's implied that he had relationships with other women during their years apart, while Emily appears to have remained single. Then he discovers that he has a daughter, and his reaction only raised more red flags for me. Instead of showing understanding or remorse, he came across as entitled, angry, and demanding.
Needless to say, I did not like Jaxon.
Emily, on the other hand, was easy to admire. She's brave, strong, and incredibly mature. She raised her daughter as a single mother while building a successful business and creating a stable life for herself. She handled difficult situations with far more grace than I would have. Honestly, the only thing that frustrated me about Emily was her willingness to tolerate Jaxon's behavior.
Overall, my enjoyment of the book was heavily impacted by the hero. I simply couldn't get past his actions or his attitude, and I never felt that he truly earned the forgiveness he received. While I appreciated Emily's strength and resilience, Jaxon made this a difficult romance for me to fully enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Before I get into the story itself, I think it's worth acknowledging something: while it takes two people to create a child, pregnancy and childbirth inevitably place a greater physical burden on the mother. That's not about patriarchy, misogyny, or feminism—it's simply reality. Women are the ones who carry the pregnancy, endure the physical and emotional challenges that come with it, give birth, and often take on breastfeeding and much of the early childcare. That's an important part of the context for this story.
I understand that a father has the right to know about his child. However, if the father disappears and becomes unreachable despite the mother's efforts to contact him, I don't think he can later return and act as though he was unfairly denied that right. That's my personal opinion, and it heavily influenced how I felt about this book.
Jaxon and Emily were deeply in love before he left for the military. As his career advanced, he was assigned to a special team that required him to cut off contact with most people in his life. But here's the thing—he didn't just lose contact with Emily. He chose not to maintain it. He managed to call his parents a couple of times each year, but not Emily. No goodbye. No explanation. Nothing.
Years later, he returns to their hometown and seems to expect Emily to welcome him back with open arms, as if they can simply pick up where they left off. The audacity of that attitude was infuriating. To make matters worse, it's implied that he had relationships with other women during their years apart, while Emily appears to have remained single. Then he discovers that he has a daughter, and his reaction only raised more red flags for me. Instead of showing understanding or remorse, he came across as entitled, angry, and demanding.
Needless to say, I did not like Jaxon.
Emily, on the other hand, was easy to admire. She's brave, strong, and incredibly mature. She raised her daughter as a single mother while building a successful business and creating a stable life for herself. She handled difficult situations with far more grace than I would have. Honestly, the only thing that frustrated me about Emily was her willingness to tolerate Jaxon's behavior.
Overall, my enjoyment of the book was heavily impacted by the hero. I simply couldn't get past his actions or his attitude, and I never felt that he truly earned the forgiveness he received. While I appreciated Emily's strength and resilience, Jaxon made this a difficult romance for me to fully enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
❤️ Some Wounds Take More Than Love to Heal ❤️
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Ava Gray has become one of those authors I automatically pick up, so I went into The Marine's Little Secret with high expectations. While this wasn't my favorite of her books, I still found myself invested in Emily and Jaxon's journey and eager to see how everything would unfold.
Before Jaxon left for the Marines, he and Emily had their entire future planned. Then life took an unexpected turn, leaving them separated by years of silence, unanswered questions, heartbreak, and secrets that changed both of their lives forever. When Jaxon suddenly returns home after being presumed dead, neither of them is prepared for the emotions waiting beneath the surface—or for the little girl he never knew existed.
Emily was easily my favorite part of this story. She was strong, resilient, and incredibly easy to admire. While raising Mercy on her own, she built a successful bakery, created a stable life for her daughter, and carried the weight of years of unanswered questions with remarkable grace. She never stopped moving forward, even when life gave her every reason to give up.
Jaxon was a much more complicated character for me. I appreciated learning about the trauma he endured during his military service and understood that his experiences shaped many of his decisions. However, I struggled with some of the choices he made after returning home, particularly regarding Emily and Mercy. Personally, I never felt like he fully earned the forgiveness he was given, which made it difficult for me to completely connect with the romance.
Outside of their relationship, I really enjoyed the suspense surrounding the land developer threatening their hometown. The mystery, sabotage, and danger added another layer to the story and kept the pages turning. I also loved the strong sense of community and found family that surrounded Emily and Mercy throughout the book.
Even though this wasn't my favorite Ava Gray novel, I still appreciated the emotional journey, the small-town setting, and especially Emily's incredible strength. If you enjoy second-chance romances with military heroes, secret babies, emotional family drama, and a touch of suspense, this one may work better for you than it did for me.
Thank you to Ava Gray and BookSprout for the opportunity to read and review The Marine's Little Secret before release. As always, I appreciate being trusted with your stories. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Ava Gray has become one of those authors I automatically pick up, so I went into The Marine's Little Secret with high expectations. While this wasn't my favorite of her books, I still found myself invested in Emily and Jaxon's journey and eager to see how everything would unfold.
Before Jaxon left for the Marines, he and Emily had their entire future planned. Then life took an unexpected turn, leaving them separated by years of silence, unanswered questions, heartbreak, and secrets that changed both of their lives forever. When Jaxon suddenly returns home after being presumed dead, neither of them is prepared for the emotions waiting beneath the surface—or for the little girl he never knew existed.
Emily was easily my favorite part of this story. She was strong, resilient, and incredibly easy to admire. While raising Mercy on her own, she built a successful bakery, created a stable life for her daughter, and carried the weight of years of unanswered questions with remarkable grace. She never stopped moving forward, even when life gave her every reason to give up.
Jaxon was a much more complicated character for me. I appreciated learning about the trauma he endured during his military service and understood that his experiences shaped many of his decisions. However, I struggled with some of the choices he made after returning home, particularly regarding Emily and Mercy. Personally, I never felt like he fully earned the forgiveness he was given, which made it difficult for me to completely connect with the romance.
Outside of their relationship, I really enjoyed the suspense surrounding the land developer threatening their hometown. The mystery, sabotage, and danger added another layer to the story and kept the pages turning. I also loved the strong sense of community and found family that surrounded Emily and Mercy throughout the book.
Even though this wasn't my favorite Ava Gray novel, I still appreciated the emotional journey, the small-town setting, and especially Emily's incredible strength. If you enjoy second-chance romances with military heroes, secret babies, emotional family drama, and a touch of suspense, this one may work better for you than it did for me.
Thank you to Ava Gray and BookSprout for the opportunity to read and review The Marine's Little Secret before release. As always, I appreciate being trusted with your stories. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Emotional Second-Chance Romance Filled with Love, Family, and a Hero Who Never Stops Fighting ❤️🇺🇸
The Marine’s Little Secret is a heartfelt military romance that delivers emotional reunions, second chances, family, and plenty of protective hero moments. Blending romance with suspense, this story keeps the pages turning while exploring forgiveness, healing, and rediscovering the love that never truly disappeared.
Jaxon is the perfect military romance hero—strong, loyal, and unwavering once he realizes what he’s lost. His determination to protect Emily and the daughter he never knew he had makes for an emotional and satisfying journey. Beneath his tough Marine exterior is a man willing to fight for the family he never stopped loving.
Emily is a resilient heroine who has spent years raising her daughter on her own while believing the love of her life was gone forever. Her heartbreak, strength, and cautious hope make her easy to connect with, and her emotional journey feels genuine throughout the story.
The secret baby trope is handled with plenty of emotion, while the small-town setting creates a cozy backdrop for the reunion. Watching Jaxon build a relationship with Mercy adds warmth and tenderness, balancing the suspense and romantic tension beautifully.
✨ What I loved:
* 🇺🇸 Protective Marine hero
* ❤️ Emotional second-chance romance
* 👶 Secret baby storyline
* 👨👩👧 Heartwarming family moments
* 🏡 Charming small-town setting
* 🛡️ Suspense that keeps the story moving
* 💕 Strong emotional chemistry
* 😊 Satisfying happily-ever-after
The combination of romance, family, healing, and action makes this an engaging read from beginning to end. Fans of military romances with protective heroes, emotional reunions, and secret baby tropes will find plenty to enjoy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A touching, fast-paced romance filled with second chances, family, unwavering devotion, and a Marine hero determined to reclaim the future he thought he’d lost forever. ❤️🇺🇸📚.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Marine’s Little Secret is a heartfelt military romance that delivers emotional reunions, second chances, family, and plenty of protective hero moments. Blending romance with suspense, this story keeps the pages turning while exploring forgiveness, healing, and rediscovering the love that never truly disappeared.
Jaxon is the perfect military romance hero—strong, loyal, and unwavering once he realizes what he’s lost. His determination to protect Emily and the daughter he never knew he had makes for an emotional and satisfying journey. Beneath his tough Marine exterior is a man willing to fight for the family he never stopped loving.
Emily is a resilient heroine who has spent years raising her daughter on her own while believing the love of her life was gone forever. Her heartbreak, strength, and cautious hope make her easy to connect with, and her emotional journey feels genuine throughout the story.
The secret baby trope is handled with plenty of emotion, while the small-town setting creates a cozy backdrop for the reunion. Watching Jaxon build a relationship with Mercy adds warmth and tenderness, balancing the suspense and romantic tension beautifully.
✨ What I loved:
* 🇺🇸 Protective Marine hero
* ❤️ Emotional second-chance romance
* 👶 Secret baby storyline
* 👨👩👧 Heartwarming family moments
* 🏡 Charming small-town setting
* 🛡️ Suspense that keeps the story moving
* 💕 Strong emotional chemistry
* 😊 Satisfying happily-ever-after
The combination of romance, family, healing, and action makes this an engaging read from beginning to end. Fans of military romances with protective heroes, emotional reunions, and secret baby tropes will find plenty to enjoy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A touching, fast-paced romance filled with second chances, family, unwavering devotion, and a Marine hero determined to reclaim the future he thought he’d lost forever. ❤️🇺🇸📚.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
Emily has made a life for herself and her daughter after she finds she is pregnant six weeks after the love of her life goes off to boot camp as a Marine. She never hears from him again and assumes he is dead. She makes up a story about a one-night stand to explain her pregnancy and sticks to it Eight years later she has a successful bakery in Beaufort.
Jaxson spent most of his military career out of touch due to his missions. He returns to his hometown not expecting much. His father has turned to alcohol to deal with his grief, his business is under attack by a greedy developer, and he is surprised to see his son.
Emily can't believe her eyes when she Jaxson at the counter. He pursues Emily, but she rebuffs his attempts. Her bakery is the result of her hard work as a single mom.
Both Jaxson and Emily hide their true hurt feelings all the while fighting their continued attraction.
The story continues with miscommunication, fights and disappointment. Jaxson is trying to make the family business a success while being sabotaged by the greedy developer.
There is a HEA ending, but only after confessions on both sides.
I loved both main characters, both had strong personalities and work ethics. The continued attraction after eight years of separation was off the charts.
Ava Gray has done a masterful job portraying the small-town mentality and true community spirt. Well done!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jaxson spent most of his military career out of touch due to his missions. He returns to his hometown not expecting much. His father has turned to alcohol to deal with his grief, his business is under attack by a greedy developer, and he is surprised to see his son.
Emily can't believe her eyes when she Jaxson at the counter. He pursues Emily, but she rebuffs his attempts. Her bakery is the result of her hard work as a single mom.
Both Jaxson and Emily hide their true hurt feelings all the while fighting their continued attraction.
The story continues with miscommunication, fights and disappointment. Jaxson is trying to make the family business a success while being sabotaged by the greedy developer.
There is a HEA ending, but only after confessions on both sides.
I loved both main characters, both had strong personalities and work ethics. The continued attraction after eight years of separation was off the charts.
Ava Gray has done a masterful job portraying the small-town mentality and true community spirt. Well done!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2026
3.5 stars.
I'm going to be honest and say that I have struggled with this story, this is no reflection on the author rather my personal reaction to what I have read. Jaxon expects truth, honesty, apologies and accountability but doesn't off it back, I was about 30% into the story and I knew that I did not like him as a character, this made it hard to connect to him and be invested in the story.
Emily was hurt, shocked, grieving and ashamed, rightly or wrongly she made a decision she thought was the best for her and stuck to it for years. Jaxon's whole me, me, me attitude rubbed me the wrong way, his behaviour and actions would do nothing for me if I was the mother of his child to want him around my child or to be part of their life.
What really got to me was that Jaxon chose to cut Emily from his life, he made her promises that he never kept and rang his parents but not her, he made no effort to keep their relationship alive. HE CHOSE TO DO THAT, and yet didn't comprehend that, I know he needed help and had been through so much but he came across to me for a lot of this book as selfish and self centered.
I persevered with the story and whilst I did see a change in Jaxon and see him and Emily face their past and work together to make things work between them, I just didn't feel a connect to them. As I said at the start, this is not a reflection on the author, I couldn't connect for personal reasons.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm going to be honest and say that I have struggled with this story, this is no reflection on the author rather my personal reaction to what I have read. Jaxon expects truth, honesty, apologies and accountability but doesn't off it back, I was about 30% into the story and I knew that I did not like him as a character, this made it hard to connect to him and be invested in the story.
Emily was hurt, shocked, grieving and ashamed, rightly or wrongly she made a decision she thought was the best for her and stuck to it for years. Jaxon's whole me, me, me attitude rubbed me the wrong way, his behaviour and actions would do nothing for me if I was the mother of his child to want him around my child or to be part of their life.
What really got to me was that Jaxon chose to cut Emily from his life, he made her promises that he never kept and rang his parents but not her, he made no effort to keep their relationship alive. HE CHOSE TO DO THAT, and yet didn't comprehend that, I know he needed help and had been through so much but he came across to me for a lot of this book as selfish and self centered.
I persevered with the story and whilst I did see a change in Jaxon and see him and Emily face their past and work together to make things work between them, I just didn't feel a connect to them. As I said at the start, this is not a reflection on the author, I couldn't connect for personal reasons.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2026
This journey by Jaxon and Emily who have their future planned out only to have it fall apart after Jaxon's life in the Marines takes him into a special until requiring limited contact with his family. Emily being left behind is heartbroken discovering that she became pregnant with no contact from Jaxon. Being young they both make mistakes for good reasons. Emily raises her daughter, Mercy as a single mom keeping who the father is a secret and Jaxon’s life in the service has him dealing with trauma thinking he past actions won’t allow him to be who he was. When Jaxon returns hoping to see Emily she hides their daughter and he only wants a chance to explain what happened. Emily is one protective and strong woman running her bakery that letting Jaxon back in goes against her heart and anger. As they try to rebuild their relationship Emily gives Jaxon a tentative chance without revealing her secret and as this fragile relationship has its ups and downs. The anger they both have for their choices in life will take its toll and when Jaxon does what’s necessary to save his father’s business Emily has her own trouble leaving her blaming Jaxon, again. When Jaxon and Emily realize who the real enemy is, the land developer they figure out a way to join forces to save their businesses, the town and each other. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2026
First off... let me just say Emily drove me absolutely insane. 😂 I understand she has trust issues, I really do, but girl... every single time Jaxon had a legitimate reason for something, she'd still find a way to blame him. After a while I just wanted to shake her and tell her to actually listen!
We have high school sweethearts who were completely in love until Jaxon leaves to join the military. Then... nothing. He disappears for eight years without a word. Emily doesn't even know if he's alive, so when he suddenly walks back into town, everyone is shocked—especially Emily.
Of course, Emily has been keeping secrets of her own, and it's clear neither of them fully trusts the other anymore. But despite all the hurt, the chemistry between them never disappeared.
Watching them figure out if they could move past the years of pain, unanswered questions, and buried secrets kept me turning the pages. I definitely got frustrated with Emily more than once, but I still wanted to see if these two could finally find their way back to each other.
If you enjoy second-chance romance, high school sweethearts, emotional reunions, military romance, and plenty of angst, this one is worth checking out. Just be prepared to have your patience tested by Emily every now and then!
We have high school sweethearts who were completely in love until Jaxon leaves to join the military. Then... nothing. He disappears for eight years without a word. Emily doesn't even know if he's alive, so when he suddenly walks back into town, everyone is shocked—especially Emily.
Of course, Emily has been keeping secrets of her own, and it's clear neither of them fully trusts the other anymore. But despite all the hurt, the chemistry between them never disappeared.
Watching them figure out if they could move past the years of pain, unanswered questions, and buried secrets kept me turning the pages. I definitely got frustrated with Emily more than once, but I still wanted to see if these two could finally find their way back to each other.
If you enjoy second-chance romance, high school sweethearts, emotional reunions, military romance, and plenty of angst, this one is worth checking out. Just be prepared to have your patience tested by Emily every now and then!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Marine Corps Captain Jaxon Cole
And Emily Carter has a history. A heartbreaking one with a bright light being one lil Ms Mercy.
We had two healthy, happy young people. Making plans for their future, filled with love. The he deployed overseas and they both become broken. Both drowning in secrets, miscommunications, misunderstandings, hurts, anger, blame. They have a long road ahead of them when he comes home. But through their personal tragedy, they also have to fight against a dirty land developer wan- ting to buy up their hometown. Using Sabotage and arson. Including Emily’s bakery Carolina Crumb and Jaxon’s father’s construction company, Cole And Sons.
They unite, they survive, they prosper. Getting a very hard earned happy ending. With found family and a renewing of a relationship badly damaged with time.
It is important to possible understand that even though he never called in the eight years he was deployed..the damage from war happened to him early on in his deployment. Leading to all the wrongs he contributed too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
And Emily Carter has a history. A heartbreaking one with a bright light being one lil Ms Mercy.
We had two healthy, happy young people. Making plans for their future, filled with love. The he deployed overseas and they both become broken. Both drowning in secrets, miscommunications, misunderstandings, hurts, anger, blame. They have a long road ahead of them when he comes home. But through their personal tragedy, they also have to fight against a dirty land developer wan- ting to buy up their hometown. Using Sabotage and arson. Including Emily’s bakery Carolina Crumb and Jaxon’s father’s construction company, Cole And Sons.
They unite, they survive, they prosper. Getting a very hard earned happy ending. With found family and a renewing of a relationship badly damaged with time.
It is important to possible understand that even though he never called in the eight years he was deployed..the damage from war happened to him early on in his deployment. Leading to all the wrongs he contributed too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2026
Emily has moved back to her hometown and opened a bakery. It is doing well. She also is raising her daughter Mercy on her own. She is 7. She is working at the counter when a man comes in that she knows. Jaxon was her boyfriend in high school. They had talked about getting married and having a family when he got back from the service. But that never happened. He didn’t write, didn’t call, didn’t come to his mom’s funeral. Nobody knew if he was alive or dead. And now here he was. Lots of things to talk about-or maybe not. Emily is angry, hurt, scared and confused. She doesn’t want him around. Doesn’t want him finding out about Mercy. There are secrets, desires and stubbornness on both sides. Can they find the love they shared for each other in high school again? Will secrets destroy them? Can they work together for the town? It’s an interesting storyline.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This story is about Marine Corps Captain Jaxon Cole and Emily Carter who not only have history as a couple, but after Jaxon joins the Marines and disappeared, Emily discovers that she is pregnant. When there is no word from him, Emily mourns him and gets on with her life with their daughter. Then suddenly he is back and expects life to go back to normal but he did not know about the daughter he shares with Emily. There are a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of anger, there is danger and there is excitement and most importantly, there is a reconciliation in the end. There are a lot of feelings in this book and a lot of miscommunications, but eventually these two were able to resolve the issues and have their happily ever after.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 13, 2026
I didn’t really like either character, they both have difficulty telling each other what they need or want, but Jaxon is the worst. I totally get feeling bad about taking human lives in the military, even though you know that is part of the job when you sign up. However, Jaxon talks about it for a page and a half and it’s all better, no therapy, just I killed people so I couldn’t call you. Umm, lies. You have access to the phone in training, not 24/7, but once in a while. If he wanted to talk to Emily he could have. I wish he was held hostage or the military told his family he was dead, instead he just decided to ghost them then he doesn’t understand why people don’t trust him to stick around.
It was dumb that no one thought Emily was pregnant with Jaxon’s baby, was their relationship a secret?
It was dumb that no one thought Emily was pregnant with Jaxon’s baby, was their relationship a secret?
July 25, 2026
emmmm lo deje al 34% no mas que decir.
No tengo palabras para explicar lo insoportable que era Jaxson, osea el chabon desaparece, se borra de la vida de todos y 8 años despues cae EXIGIENDO cosas??????
Osea de por si q cogieran a la primera q se veian, nada que ver, y que despues le fuera a exigir respuestas de si Mercy era su hija e incluso diciendo de q ella le hubiera mentido sobre eso era peor que el haberse borrado por 8 años y hacerle creer que estas muerto.
Ella tenia TODO el derecho de no contarle jna mierda, es mas como iba a contarle si no tenia forma de contactarlo, el no lo hacia y penso q habia muerto?, aparte de q aparece 8 años despues que carajos te voy a decir de q tuvimos una hija, anda a cagar.
Ni una justificacion, ni una excusa valida al porque de su desaparición aparte. terrible
No tengo palabras para explicar lo insoportable que era Jaxson, osea el chabon desaparece, se borra de la vida de todos y 8 años despues cae EXIGIENDO cosas??????
Osea de por si q cogieran a la primera q se veian, nada que ver, y que despues le fuera a exigir respuestas de si Mercy era su hija e incluso diciendo de q ella le hubiera mentido sobre eso era peor que el haberse borrado por 8 años y hacerle creer que estas muerto.
Ella tenia TODO el derecho de no contarle jna mierda, es mas como iba a contarle si no tenia forma de contactarlo, el no lo hacia y penso q habia muerto?, aparte de q aparece 8 años despues que carajos te voy a decir de q tuvimos una hija, anda a cagar.
Ni una justificacion, ni una excusa valida al porque de su desaparición aparte. terrible
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026DNF because what the fuck?
Jaxon is an absolute manchild who doesn’t really take responsibility for his actions. His poor parents put through that and now his father, thinking he could still leave him and his dad isn’t his problem when his dad is struggling? Then Emily keeping Mercy a secret when she could have at least told his parents and let them be grandparents to the child. This was completely selfish and not thinking of Mercy at all. They kissed way too quick without having serious conversations at 24%. I honestly do not know.
How did people not put 2 + 2 together and realise Mercy was Jaxon’s? They were childhood sweethearts for fuck sake.
So many plot holes like were there any other people for Emily or Jaxon during those 8 years? Who knows?
I tried to finish this but with so much glaringly absent and blatant dislike of the main characters, I just couldn’t do it.
Jaxon is an absolute manchild who doesn’t really take responsibility for his actions. His poor parents put through that and now his father, thinking he could still leave him and his dad isn’t his problem when his dad is struggling? Then Emily keeping Mercy a secret when she could have at least told his parents and let them be grandparents to the child. This was completely selfish and not thinking of Mercy at all. They kissed way too quick without having serious conversations at 24%. I honestly do not know.
How did people not put 2 + 2 together and realise Mercy was Jaxon’s? They were childhood sweethearts for fuck sake.
So many plot holes like were there any other people for Emily or Jaxon during those 8 years? Who knows?
I tried to finish this but with so much glaringly absent and blatant dislike of the main characters, I just couldn’t do it.
July 2, 2026
Are All Marines So Whiny?
Overall the book is pretty good, but the main character, Jaxon, is so whiny it makes it difficult to recognize his redeeming characteristics. He seems to believe that the world should revolve around him and his selfish decisions. While his patriotism is admirable, his inability to empathize with anyone else is breathtaking. He really doesn’t seem to understand that any hurt he feels has a direct correlation to his actions and decisions. I believe in a good character arc, but his is so annoying it makes it difficult to continue. Why his romantic partner is so ready to buy into his delusions is also something that is amazing. With the emotional maturity of toddlers, both of these characters deserve each other.
Overall the book is pretty good, but the main character, Jaxon, is so whiny it makes it difficult to recognize his redeeming characteristics. He seems to believe that the world should revolve around him and his selfish decisions. While his patriotism is admirable, his inability to empathize with anyone else is breathtaking. He really doesn’t seem to understand that any hurt he feels has a direct correlation to his actions and decisions. I believe in a good character arc, but his is so annoying it makes it difficult to continue. Why his romantic partner is so ready to buy into his delusions is also something that is amazing. With the emotional maturity of toddlers, both of these characters deserve each other.
Review of advance copy
I loved Jaxon and Emily. She thought he was gone. Never heard from again after he left for the military. She finally moved on. And she moved on with their daughter, Mercy. But one day Jaxon comes home. She didn’t expect it. She was angry. She’d built a life for just her and her daughter. And now he’s home. He doesn’t know about Mercy. Doesn’t want him to know. He’ll stay, he’ll want to be a part of her life again. She’s not sure if that’s what she wants. I was so deep in this story. I felt for Emily. But I felt for Jaxon too. It was such a mess, hearts were broken, lives moved on. This was intense and emotional. Steamy and sweet. I absolutely loved these two.
June 28, 2026
A truly heartwarming romance about two likeable characters getting past hurt, misunderstandings, truths unspoken, anger and angst but coming out the other side stronger than before. Add in a nefarious, power hungry individual stirring things up and making everyones lives so much harder and this is a wonderful story.
Emily is a true survivor and superb single mother of Mercy, who is a whirlwind of energy and joy. Whilst Jaxon is a strong veteran struggling with guilt and PTSD. Another winner from this author!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emily is a true survivor and superb single mother of Mercy, who is a whirlwind of energy and joy. Whilst Jaxon is a strong veteran struggling with guilt and PTSD. Another winner from this author!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 29, 2026
Ava Gray is a one click for me but I had a hard time connecting with Jaxon and Emily in this one. There was a lot of the blame game going on intermixed with can’t keep hands of each other steam. I was expecting a bit more maturity as they faced the issues between them. There was an interesting plotline with a fraudulent land company trying to take over land and businesses. I was relieved to see Jaxon and Emily finally work out their issues providing forgiveness and a future. Overall it was a good read but fell short for me personally.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2026
Jaxon left for the marines and Emily waited for him to write or call but he never did, he ghosted her. Eight years later he returns to town, and she wants nothing to do with the man who broke her heart, too bad her heart did not get the message. She also has a secret; she had his daughter about nine months after he left. He knows he hurt her but there are reasons he has a hard time talking about. When he found out he had a daughter he was really angry with her for not telling him. This is an emotional rollercoaster for both main characters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2026
He walks back onto her life like Lazarus
The Marine’s Little Secret by Ava Gray was a mixed read for me. The story is about Emily and Jaxon who have an unexpected second chance. The premise is that was believed dead by not only her but everyone. She grieved him and at the same time had a baby girl which he never knew about. Then he walks back into town and ready to claim Emily again. Now there are questions, secrets, emotions, and of course passion being stoked again. But to me both Emily and Jaxon were not characters I could root for fully because of the way they behaved and what was at times irritating immaturity, at least to me.
The Marine’s Little Secret by Ava Gray was a mixed read for me. The story is about Emily and Jaxon who have an unexpected second chance. The premise is that was believed dead by not only her but everyone. She grieved him and at the same time had a baby girl which he never knew about. Then he walks back into town and ready to claim Emily again. Now there are questions, secrets, emotions, and of course passion being stoked again. But to me both Emily and Jaxon were not characters I could root for fully because of the way they behaved and what was at times irritating immaturity, at least to me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lovers Jaxon and Emily had so many plans for the future that's just not going to happen the way they want.
He enlisted and never sent a message or called anyone for eight long years and others presumed him dead.
But he's back and the reception he got was not good and meeting Emily again was even worse.
There's a secret but if he'd in contact he would have known at the time, he had his reasons and she's got hers.
Its a really well written story that has problems that are not going to go away any time soon.
Ava Gray really knows how to grab your attention with this story.
He enlisted and never sent a message or called anyone for eight long years and others presumed him dead.
But he's back and the reception he got was not good and meeting Emily again was even worse.
There's a secret but if he'd in contact he would have known at the time, he had his reasons and she's got hers.
Its a really well written story that has problems that are not going to go away any time soon.
Ava Gray really knows how to grab your attention with this story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When Jaxon Cole drove back into town after being deployed eight years, he found things had changed. Sure he hadn't expected things to be the same, but it was like life had gone on without him. When Jaxon walks into Emily's bakery, everything paused. Eight years with no word from him, even when his Mom died. They had wondered if he was dead? Suddenly, her world was turned upside down and the pain was all crawling back. But worst of all? The secret she had been keeping was going to start unraveling. A really good book !!! Keep the tissues handy.
June 28, 2026
'Author’s Note: A steamy small-town romance featuring a secret baby, second chances, and a ruthless, possessive Marine who will claim what’s his and never let go. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.'
The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2026
I’m not cry’n, you’re cry’n 🥹
SPOILER 🚨 ‼️🚨‼️
This story got me in all my feels. Brings me back to my own high school sweetheart that left to join the military while I had my Senior year to go. Things didn’t work out for us but I still think about him almost every day. Eight years is a long time not to know about your own child, let alone, miss out on all the firsts. Jaxson went through hell and back but in the end…he got the love of his life, a daughter and one on the way. Their businesses are booming and there’s a happy ending for all. 💕
SPOILER 🚨 ‼️🚨‼️
This story got me in all my feels. Brings me back to my own high school sweetheart that left to join the military while I had my Senior year to go. Things didn’t work out for us but I still think about him almost every day. Eight years is a long time not to know about your own child, let alone, miss out on all the firsts. Jaxson went through hell and back but in the end…he got the love of his life, a daughter and one on the way. Their businesses are booming and there’s a happy ending for all. 💕
August 12, 2026
3.8-4 honestly. I liked it, the story was beautiful, but the FMC was a bit of a selfish brat. Like girl I know he fucked up years ago and yes the memories become fresh with his return, but he was trying and hard and he also came back to a mess; dad is a drunk at the verge of losing everything and finding out he had a child with his high school sweetheart that he didn’t know about because no one knew or told him. Plus his trauma of the army. She did redeem herself. I did love that she’s an independent boss bitch, but she was a bitch and not just to home boy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Marine's Little Secret
Jaxon and Emily
When I first started reading this book, I disliked both MCs. For being 'mature' adults, they were both very immature, had anger issues, played the blame game, and had avoidance issues. By the end I did see a lot of growth and felt they finally were coming into their own.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jaxon and Emily
When I first started reading this book, I disliked both MCs. For being 'mature' adults, they were both very immature, had anger issues, played the blame game, and had avoidance issues. By the end I did see a lot of growth and felt they finally were coming into their own.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I always enjoy reading Ava Gray's books and this one did not disappoint, I was gripped from the start and hooked until the end.
She grieves over his death, but this story is full of secrets and lies, he returns, he is possessive, intense and dangerous and he wants her back, but she has a secret he does not know about.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
She grieves over his death, but this story is full of secrets and lies, he returns, he is possessive, intense and dangerous and he wants her back, but she has a secret he does not know about.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2026
A beautiful and emotional story that takes us into the lives of Jaxon and Emily. They both have a lot to overcome and come to terms with, and sometimes even grow up a bit, but in their case, overcoming their past and gaining trust is what comes first. I enjoyed reading their story and highly recommend it!
I received an Advance Reader copy of this series and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this series and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 27, 2026
here’s the thing
There were good little aspects to the book but the FMC ticked me off so bad because she got so angry at the MMC for things completely out of his control. And they never got along due to her being unwilling to have anything to do with him so on the rare occasions she let her attitude take a hike all they did was have sex. I just found myself super angry at the FMC which made the book harder to enjoy.
There were good little aspects to the book but the FMC ticked me off so bad because she got so angry at the MMC for things completely out of his control. And they never got along due to her being unwilling to have anything to do with him so on the rare occasions she let her attitude take a hike all they did was have sex. I just found myself super angry at the FMC which made the book harder to enjoy.
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