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The Soldier and The Baby
This wasn’t Anne Stuart’s first romance with a military hero, but the nun heroine was a new twist—one the author still gets a kick out of.
After making a deathbed promise to an army buddy, Reilly travels to a wartorn country to rescue his friend’s wife and child. But the woman he finds is nothing like the woman he imagined.
Carlie, a novice with the Sisters of Benevolence, stays behind to care for an expectant woman when the rest of the convent’s nuns flee. After the new mother dies, Carlie is determined to save her infant boy from the rebels who would kill him.
Then a gruff American shows up to take her and the baby to safety. Can Carlie trust Reilly? And can she trust herself to resist the temptation to give in to just one night of passion?
Previously published.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1995
62 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
203 books2,062 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 12, 2008
Reilly is an ex-soldier who goes to Sao Pablo, a tiny Central America in the middle of a revolution, on a mission to rescue the wife and baby of his deceased friend because he promised to save them as his friend died from a car accident. He doesn't expect much from his buddy's wife, he knows his friend's tastes ran to stacked blondes with more beauty than brains but he plans on saving both her and the baby no matter what.
Novice Carlie Forest has been in the nunery in Sao Pablo for nine years since she was 17 and her missionary parents were murdered right in front of her. At the nunery she has finally found peace from the nightmares and terror that the outside world brings her. She still hasn't said her vows because the mother superior does not believe that Carlie has a calling to be a nun, she is afraid Carlie is merely running away from life. When fighting gets too close to the nunery, all of the nuns except for Carlie leave for Brazil. Carlie stays behind to care for the pregnant Caterina Mendino, who delivers a healthy baby boy but dies a few days later due to infection. The baby, Timothy, is in danger because Caterina was the step-daughter of the deposed dictator of Sao Pablo and the revolutionaries would kill him merely for being related to the ex-dictator.
Reilly shows up at the orphanage and finds Carlie and Timothy. Carlie tries to tell him who she is, but he believes she is Caterina so she goes along with it so she can stay with Timothy to protect him. Carlie is not at all what Reilly was expecting, instead of a stacked blonde she is a small woman with short brown hair who seems innocent instead of a jaded socialite. As they start their trek through the jungle, Reilly sees how much Carlie loves the baby and how much courage and determination she has, all of which are unexpected.
Reilly, Carlie and Timothy go through a daring, harzard-filled journey to get to the plane Reilly hid away in the jungle. Along the way, Reilly comes to really admire Carlie and fights an intense attraction to her despite the fact he still thinks she is the selfish Caterina. Carlie has to face her fears of the outside world and come to grips with the violence she experienced so long ago. Reilly eventually finds out that Carlie is a novice nun, which puts a big damper on his feelings toward her because he knows she will leave him when they get Timothy safely out of the country. Carlie has to decide what she really wants - the safety of hiding away in a nunery or risking her heart on Reilly, just as Reilly has to decide if he can trust his heart to Carlie enough to risk declaring his feelings and bringing her with him to his home in Colorado.
This was fun, exciting story to read. The setting was exotic and the author does a great job of making you feel like you are racing through the jungle with Reilly and Carlie. The love story was very good, I enjoyed reading about how these two different people came to care for and understand each other. The epilogue was great, they were going to need quite a big house for all of those kids!
Novice Carlie Forest has been in the nunery in Sao Pablo for nine years since she was 17 and her missionary parents were murdered right in front of her. At the nunery she has finally found peace from the nightmares and terror that the outside world brings her. She still hasn't said her vows because the mother superior does not believe that Carlie has a calling to be a nun, she is afraid Carlie is merely running away from life. When fighting gets too close to the nunery, all of the nuns except for Carlie leave for Brazil. Carlie stays behind to care for the pregnant Caterina Mendino, who delivers a healthy baby boy but dies a few days later due to infection. The baby, Timothy, is in danger because Caterina was the step-daughter of the deposed dictator of Sao Pablo and the revolutionaries would kill him merely for being related to the ex-dictator.
Reilly shows up at the orphanage and finds Carlie and Timothy. Carlie tries to tell him who she is, but he believes she is Caterina so she goes along with it so she can stay with Timothy to protect him. Carlie is not at all what Reilly was expecting, instead of a stacked blonde she is a small woman with short brown hair who seems innocent instead of a jaded socialite. As they start their trek through the jungle, Reilly sees how much Carlie loves the baby and how much courage and determination she has, all of which are unexpected.
Reilly, Carlie and Timothy go through a daring, harzard-filled journey to get to the plane Reilly hid away in the jungle. Along the way, Reilly comes to really admire Carlie and fights an intense attraction to her despite the fact he still thinks she is the selfish Caterina. Carlie has to face her fears of the outside world and come to grips with the violence she experienced so long ago. Reilly eventually finds out that Carlie is a novice nun, which puts a big damper on his feelings toward her because he knows she will leave him when they get Timothy safely out of the country. Carlie has to decide what she really wants - the safety of hiding away in a nunery or risking her heart on Reilly, just as Reilly has to decide if he can trust his heart to Carlie enough to risk declaring his feelings and bringing her with him to his home in Colorado.
This was fun, exciting story to read. The setting was exotic and the author does a great job of making you feel like you are racing through the jungle with Reilly and Carlie. The love story was very good, I enjoyed reading about how these two different people came to care for and understand each other. The epilogue was great, they were going to need quite a big house for all of those kids!
September 9, 2019
There aren't many things sexier than a hot, alpha male cradling a baby in his manly-man arms, but The Soldier and the Baby has more going for it than just a sexy hero. It's funny, has heart and for being a whirlwind-cum-road romance between a former soldier and a novice nun was actually believable.
I really enjoyed this cinematic romance set in the fictional Central American country of San Pablo. Cinematic because the author possesses a true talent for evoking atmosphere and for engaging one's emotions. Reilly, in particular, had me cracking up with his sarcastic humor. As an added bonus, the author's irreverent humor is also brought to life through the secondary characters.
If it's not obvious yet, I loved Reilly. He's a real smartass yet beneath the snark lay an honorable, brave, and dangerous man—without the ruthlessness. (If one has read the author's "Ice" books, you know her heroes can be very ruthless indeed.) To top it all off, the man was also smitten with Carlie and not adverse to commitment.
Stuart's heroines usually pale in comparison to her heroes on the whole. Carlie does continue that pattern, but that doesn't mean she appeared overly TSTL or unlikable. On the contrary she earned my admiration for her fierce love for baby Timothy, and for doing only one stupid thing. LOL
It's not explored too deeply, but Anne Stuart did a good job of exploring Carlie's reasons for cloistering herself in a convent and of developing her subsequent, realistic awakening. Of course, forced to spend time with a snarky, sexy man with whom you share sparkling chemistry and placed in adrenaline-spiked situations will certainly do the trick. Timothy, too, did his part in bringing her back to life by igniting within her a maternal love.
A feel-good romance sprinkled with adventure, humor, and great chemistry!
I really enjoyed this cinematic romance set in the fictional Central American country of San Pablo. Cinematic because the author possesses a true talent for evoking atmosphere and for engaging one's emotions. Reilly, in particular, had me cracking up with his sarcastic humor. As an added bonus, the author's irreverent humor is also brought to life through the secondary characters.
If it's not obvious yet, I loved Reilly. He's a real smartass yet beneath the snark lay an honorable, brave, and dangerous man—without the ruthlessness. (If one has read the author's "Ice" books, you know her heroes can be very ruthless indeed.) To top it all off, the man was also smitten with Carlie and not adverse to commitment.
Stuart's heroines usually pale in comparison to her heroes on the whole. Carlie does continue that pattern, but that doesn't mean she appeared overly TSTL or unlikable. On the contrary she earned my admiration for her fierce love for baby Timothy, and for doing only one stupid thing. LOL
It's not explored too deeply, but Anne Stuart did a good job of exploring Carlie's reasons for cloistering herself in a convent and of developing her subsequent, realistic awakening. Of course, forced to spend time with a snarky, sexy man with whom you share sparkling chemistry and placed in adrenaline-spiked situations will certainly do the trick. Timothy, too, did his part in bringing her back to life by igniting within her a maternal love.
A feel-good romance sprinkled with adventure, humor, and great chemistry!
September 28, 2022
What an amazing story and wonderful characters! I´m so happy I was able to find this OOP and VHTF book, it´s never going to leave my keepers shelf! :)
October 17, 2018
What can I say?
Set aside the the short time period (less than a week), Reilly’s insta-lust, Sister Maria Carlos’ naive bravery and baby Timothy’s ideal innocence. Forget that it was first published in 1995 when alpha males crowded contemporary romances. Shake off the disbelief that the threesome survived bloody feet, a gunshot wound and unsterilized bottles.
And go with the flow.
I did and I enjoyed their expedition in the jungle. I especially liked Reilly’s and Carlie’s epilogue three years later.
Set aside the the short time period (less than a week), Reilly’s insta-lust, Sister Maria Carlos’ naive bravery and baby Timothy’s ideal innocence. Forget that it was first published in 1995 when alpha males crowded contemporary romances. Shake off the disbelief that the threesome survived bloody feet, a gunshot wound and unsterilized bottles.
And go with the flow.
I did and I enjoyed their expedition in the jungle. I especially liked Reilly’s and Carlie’s epilogue three years later.
July 2, 2011
I loved the Solider and the Baby. At times I couldn't stop laughing or stop appreciating the courage and resilience of the heroine.
Carlie Forrest aka Sister Maria is still an apprentice nun, she has still not taken her final vows despite wanting to. She has spent her time ever since she was seventeen and witnessed the massacre of her village with her parents(they were missionaries) in Sisters of Benevolence. But now San Pablo is in a dicey situation, it is war and only Carlie has stayed behind when everyone has left. The dictator's step-daughter Caterina died giving birth to a baby boy and she promised that she would make sure he reaches his American father.
Reilly is an ex-soldier doing a favor to his friend who died. The last place he wants to be in is San Pablo, he is tired of wars and jungles, he only wants peace and quiet. He doesn't believe Carlie when she says she's not the spoiled Caterina, so she lets him believe what he wants and they make their way through the jungle with the baby.
Reilly doesn't like Caterina, she doesn't have the best of reputations. Carlie confuses him, first she doesn't breast-feed(they have this whole embarrassing conversation), and her eyes look innocent when he knows what sort of a person she is and she is a good mother and travels without complaining even when her foot is injured.
Carlie has spent her life sheltered and obedient and Reilly makes her frustrated and angry. She never raises her voice but with him she can't stop. She just wants to take her final vows but slowly she is coming awake of the sleep she has been in the past nine years and healing.
Carlie is so innocent, I mean when Reilly tries to kiss her you could see she was really confused, and when they have to spend that night in the same room.
Poor Reilly when he finds out that she is a nun and that he is attracted to her. I loved the book, every moment of it. How Reilly is one of those tough men, and then he is so gentle with the baby and even comforts Carlie when she has a flashback(and more when she asks and curses like anything).
I loved the ending and seeing these two fall in love. Reilly didn't stand a chance in front of her.
Carlie Forrest aka Sister Maria is still an apprentice nun, she has still not taken her final vows despite wanting to. She has spent her time ever since she was seventeen and witnessed the massacre of her village with her parents(they were missionaries) in Sisters of Benevolence. But now San Pablo is in a dicey situation, it is war and only Carlie has stayed behind when everyone has left. The dictator's step-daughter Caterina died giving birth to a baby boy and she promised that she would make sure he reaches his American father.
Reilly is an ex-soldier doing a favor to his friend who died. The last place he wants to be in is San Pablo, he is tired of wars and jungles, he only wants peace and quiet. He doesn't believe Carlie when she says she's not the spoiled Caterina, so she lets him believe what he wants and they make their way through the jungle with the baby.
Reilly doesn't like Caterina, she doesn't have the best of reputations. Carlie confuses him, first she doesn't breast-feed(they have this whole embarrassing conversation), and her eyes look innocent when he knows what sort of a person she is and she is a good mother and travels without complaining even when her foot is injured.
Carlie has spent her life sheltered and obedient and Reilly makes her frustrated and angry. She never raises her voice but with him she can't stop. She just wants to take her final vows but slowly she is coming awake of the sleep she has been in the past nine years and healing.
Carlie is so innocent, I mean when Reilly tries to kiss her you could see she was really confused, and when they have to spend that night in the same room.
Poor Reilly when he finds out that she is a nun and that he is attracted to her. I loved the book, every moment of it. How Reilly is one of those tough men, and then he is so gentle with the baby and even comforts Carlie when she has a flashback(and more when she asks and curses like anything).
I loved the ending and seeing these two fall in love. Reilly didn't stand a chance in front of her.
January 2, 2009
Another great book by Anne Stuart! Seriously, can this woman do no wrong?
Reilly travels down to a war torn Central American country to rescue his deceased friend's wife and newborn baby. It's a deathbed promise he made and he's determined to fulfill it. What he doesn't count on is the wife. He was expecting a spoiled, stacked blonde, a notorious celebutante that he was going to have to baby back to the States. What he finds is a brave, tiny little lady who takes her motherhood very seriously. He admires her courage as they tackle the jungle and is bemused by her uncomplaining attitude. He is also seriously alarmed to find himself growing very attracted to her and wonders how long he can hold himself back.
Novice nun Carlie Forrest promises to care for and protect the son of deceased Caterina Mendino, the stepdaughter of the newely deposed president. Unsure of what to do next, fate drops in a rough soldier who tells her Caterina's husband, Billy, is also dead and he's here to get her and the baby to the United States. Reilly refuses to believe she's not Caterina and she doesn't waste time arguing. The rebel armies are approaching and the grandson of the ex president would be an eventual problem no new dictator is going to let live. They've got to get out of there. They plunge into the jungle and after almost a decade, Carlie is outside her convent walls, facing the world again. She doesn't know if she can handle it, especially with her growing attraction to Reilly by her side.
The Soldier and the Baby was a good book. A simple, straightforward adventure story of two people trekking through the jungle, looking for a way out. They are alone for the better part of the story and have only each other for company. Carlie is surprised that her nunlike behavior is rapidly evaporating next to the virile, vexing soldier and Reilly is stunned that he's falling for a spoiled celebutante that seems to have the most innocent blue eyes he's ever seen. Until things stop adding up and he begins to wonder who exactly he's been lusting after. When he discovers she's an almost nun, you have to laugh at his horror. This was a fun romp through the jungle and these two were made for each other. I love these type of romances where the hero and heroine are stuck with each other in tight situations, forced to deal with each other day and (especially) night. This has the usual Anne Stuart witty banter and it was nice to see a little bit of the happily ever after at the end of the book. I highly recommend the Soldier and the Baby and can't wait to read more from this talented author.
Reilly travels down to a war torn Central American country to rescue his deceased friend's wife and newborn baby. It's a deathbed promise he made and he's determined to fulfill it. What he doesn't count on is the wife. He was expecting a spoiled, stacked blonde, a notorious celebutante that he was going to have to baby back to the States. What he finds is a brave, tiny little lady who takes her motherhood very seriously. He admires her courage as they tackle the jungle and is bemused by her uncomplaining attitude. He is also seriously alarmed to find himself growing very attracted to her and wonders how long he can hold himself back.
Novice nun Carlie Forrest promises to care for and protect the son of deceased Caterina Mendino, the stepdaughter of the newely deposed president. Unsure of what to do next, fate drops in a rough soldier who tells her Caterina's husband, Billy, is also dead and he's here to get her and the baby to the United States. Reilly refuses to believe she's not Caterina and she doesn't waste time arguing. The rebel armies are approaching and the grandson of the ex president would be an eventual problem no new dictator is going to let live. They've got to get out of there. They plunge into the jungle and after almost a decade, Carlie is outside her convent walls, facing the world again. She doesn't know if she can handle it, especially with her growing attraction to Reilly by her side.
The Soldier and the Baby was a good book. A simple, straightforward adventure story of two people trekking through the jungle, looking for a way out. They are alone for the better part of the story and have only each other for company. Carlie is surprised that her nunlike behavior is rapidly evaporating next to the virile, vexing soldier and Reilly is stunned that he's falling for a spoiled celebutante that seems to have the most innocent blue eyes he's ever seen. Until things stop adding up and he begins to wonder who exactly he's been lusting after. When he discovers she's an almost nun, you have to laugh at his horror. This was a fun romp through the jungle and these two were made for each other. I love these type of romances where the hero and heroine are stuck with each other in tight situations, forced to deal with each other day and (especially) night. This has the usual Anne Stuart witty banter and it was nice to see a little bit of the happily ever after at the end of the book. I highly recommend the Soldier and the Baby and can't wait to read more from this talented author.
February 28, 2013
Wonderful ebook! Read this old Harlequin a year ago, at least, when I bought the kindle collection that contains this story and four others: Anne Stuart's Out-of-Print Gems. Loved the entire collection of stories (most of which had a paranormal element) and especially this non-pnr romantic suspense.
Paying a debt to a dead soldier, Reilly decides to guide baby Timothy and his "mother" Carlie safely through the dense forests of Central America, where rebels and drug cartels rule. En route, he falls in love with Carlie, when originally he expected a whingy superficial socialite. After learning she is not Timothy's mother, he finds out she was hoping to become a nun. A nun!! Will she change her mind? Of course. But Reilly goes nuts along the way.
The Soldier and the Baby is a hoot! Nonstop adventure, a fast pace, witty dialogue, violence, and a somewhat dark hero with a melting center. Sizzling smexy times, too, plus a sweet epilogue with a little surprise in store (or maybe it was just the ending).
It's like "Romancing the Stone" and even the old classic "African Queen" but with sex. It reminds me of the last book in Stuart's incredible Ice series, On Thin Ice, and two wonderful romantic suspense novels by Linda Howard: Midnight Rainbow and Heart of Fire.
Thanks to Jill for reminding me of this e-book. I find it easy to lose track of titles in e-book collections -- and print collections -- even when I love the story itself.
Paying a debt to a dead soldier, Reilly decides to guide baby Timothy and his "mother" Carlie safely through the dense forests of Central America, where rebels and drug cartels rule. En route, he falls in love with Carlie, when originally he expected a whingy superficial socialite. After learning she is not Timothy's mother, he finds out she was hoping to become a nun. A nun!! Will she change her mind? Of course. But Reilly goes nuts along the way.
The Soldier and the Baby is a hoot! Nonstop adventure, a fast pace, witty dialogue, violence, and a somewhat dark hero with a melting center. Sizzling smexy times, too, plus a sweet epilogue with a little surprise in store (or maybe it was just the ending).
It's like "Romancing the Stone" and even the old classic "African Queen" but with sex. It reminds me of the last book in Stuart's incredible Ice series, On Thin Ice, and two wonderful romantic suspense novels by Linda Howard: Midnight Rainbow and Heart of Fire.
Thanks to Jill for reminding me of this e-book. I find it easy to lose track of titles in e-book collections -- and print collections -- even when I love the story itself.
May 11, 2019
"The Soldier and the Baby" is the story of Carlie and Reilly.
God! Ms Stuard is killing me with these amazing stories! And disaster-rescue romances are amongst my favorites.
Our h is a to-be-nun, raised in a convent in a war plagued zone, since her mercenary parents were brutally slaughtered. When she gets trapped in her abbey after the friend Caterina Morrissey dies giving birth to her son, Carlie is conflicted as to how she and the baby would survive.
Her prayers are answered when soldier Reilly, commissioned by Caterina's father in law arrives to take Billy Morrissey's widow away. He cannot believe the tiny, plain looking belle could be the woman lusty Billy chose, but owing to his responsibilities, whisks her and the baby through the jungles and towards safety.
He expects her to be superfluous, whiny and selfish. But what he finds is a caring, forgiving and selfless woman under all the garb. Attraction begins to simmer, but soon Reilly realizes the woman with him is not Caterina, but Sister Maria Carlos. But even though their lust for each other is forbidden, they cannot keep their hands off each other, and ultimately give into their passions.
But as they reach safety, will their newfound love survive? And can they let Timothy go?
Honestly, AMAZING read with very likable hero and heroine, adrenaline filled adventures and hot interludes. I think what makes this book a 5 star is the FABULOUSLY HEARTWARMING EPILOGUE!!! The couple have kids and still adopt half dozen kids and counting? You're killing me with all the feels.
Loved it.
Safe
5/5
God! Ms Stuard is killing me with these amazing stories! And disaster-rescue romances are amongst my favorites.
Our h is a to-be-nun, raised in a convent in a war plagued zone, since her mercenary parents were brutally slaughtered. When she gets trapped in her abbey after the friend Caterina Morrissey dies giving birth to her son, Carlie is conflicted as to how she and the baby would survive.
Her prayers are answered when soldier Reilly, commissioned by Caterina's father in law arrives to take Billy Morrissey's widow away. He cannot believe the tiny, plain looking belle could be the woman lusty Billy chose, but owing to his responsibilities, whisks her and the baby through the jungles and towards safety.
He expects her to be superfluous, whiny and selfish. But what he finds is a caring, forgiving and selfless woman under all the garb. Attraction begins to simmer, but soon Reilly realizes the woman with him is not Caterina, but Sister Maria Carlos. But even though their lust for each other is forbidden, they cannot keep their hands off each other, and ultimately give into their passions.
But as they reach safety, will their newfound love survive? And can they let Timothy go?
Honestly, AMAZING read with very likable hero and heroine, adrenaline filled adventures and hot interludes. I think what makes this book a 5 star is the FABULOUSLY HEARTWARMING EPILOGUE!!! The couple have kids and still adopt half dozen kids and counting? You're killing me with all the feels.
Loved it.
Safe
5/5
June 9, 2014
This was a comfort reread that I completed on my Kindle Text-to-Speech between May 21 and June 8th, 2014.
Anne Stuart is my all time favorite author. Her skill with writing romance is evident in her category Harlequin books as much as her mainstream books that she writes now. She has a way of combining romance with edgy danger and suspense to make the kind of book that a romance fan who loves action, thrillers or suspense can enjoy for equal components. She shows the knowledge of key elements to a scintillating romance story: A compelling hero, a likable and identifiable heroine, a scenario that allows tension to grow and culminate into a lifetime love, and plenty of moments of enjoyable, sigh-worthy scenes between said hero and heroine along the way.
Reilly is the kind of guy you'd want to be stranded in the jungle alongside (if you want that at all). He's the strong silent type, and beneath the rough edges, he is a decent person with a firm moral compass. He's also sexy and strong and appealing in that luscious romance novel hero way. He's got more than enough bad boy appeal (or otherwise this wouldn't be an Anne Stuart book). I pretty much hate being hot and sweaty and dirty, so a jungle doesn't sound fun to me, but I love reading books where the hero and heroine slog together through a jungle because they are so much fun.
Carlie is one of my favorite Stuart heroines. She's actually rather innocent (courtesy of spending nine years in a convent), but also has plenty of emotional scars from the tragedy of her past. She's soft but also strong, and not a pushover that makes a dominant hero like Reilly seem like a bully when he acts all gruff and grumpy. She's taken a lot of licks in her life, but she keeps on ticking.
The chemistry between Reilly and Carlie is electric as it can only be in an Anne Stuart book. Even though the love scenes aren't that descriptive, they feel steamy to me. Because Stuart is so good at building tension. You can feel their attraction (reluctant at first) and the slow slide into love that makes it clear that neither will be able to walk away when they get back to safety.
I had a happy, sappy smile of satisfied romance lover when I finished the book, even though I've read this at least twice before now (probably more).
Timothy, the baby is an integral character. He reveals the vulnerabilities of both characters, and personalizes Reilly as a man who is tough as nails but also can be gentle and caring with an orphaned child.
The scenario is exciting and fun, although more energy is focused on the romance since this is a shorter-length category romance. There is more than enough atmosphere present to buy the sense of risk of being in a war-torn country south of the border.
Although this is from the 90s, it doesn't feel dated, but moreso classic. One of those tried and true romances from that period that I consider a sure thing when I need an escapist romantic pick-me-up.
I am biased in the sense that I am a diehard Anne Stuart fan, but this is definitely one of my all-time favorites by her. Recommended!
Anne Stuart is my all time favorite author. Her skill with writing romance is evident in her category Harlequin books as much as her mainstream books that she writes now. She has a way of combining romance with edgy danger and suspense to make the kind of book that a romance fan who loves action, thrillers or suspense can enjoy for equal components. She shows the knowledge of key elements to a scintillating romance story: A compelling hero, a likable and identifiable heroine, a scenario that allows tension to grow and culminate into a lifetime love, and plenty of moments of enjoyable, sigh-worthy scenes between said hero and heroine along the way.
Reilly is the kind of guy you'd want to be stranded in the jungle alongside (if you want that at all). He's the strong silent type, and beneath the rough edges, he is a decent person with a firm moral compass. He's also sexy and strong and appealing in that luscious romance novel hero way. He's got more than enough bad boy appeal (or otherwise this wouldn't be an Anne Stuart book). I pretty much hate being hot and sweaty and dirty, so a jungle doesn't sound fun to me, but I love reading books where the hero and heroine slog together through a jungle because they are so much fun.
Carlie is one of my favorite Stuart heroines. She's actually rather innocent (courtesy of spending nine years in a convent), but also has plenty of emotional scars from the tragedy of her past. She's soft but also strong, and not a pushover that makes a dominant hero like Reilly seem like a bully when he acts all gruff and grumpy. She's taken a lot of licks in her life, but she keeps on ticking.
The chemistry between Reilly and Carlie is electric as it can only be in an Anne Stuart book. Even though the love scenes aren't that descriptive, they feel steamy to me. Because Stuart is so good at building tension. You can feel their attraction (reluctant at first) and the slow slide into love that makes it clear that neither will be able to walk away when they get back to safety.
I had a happy, sappy smile of satisfied romance lover when I finished the book, even though I've read this at least twice before now (probably more).
Timothy, the baby is an integral character. He reveals the vulnerabilities of both characters, and personalizes Reilly as a man who is tough as nails but also can be gentle and caring with an orphaned child.
The scenario is exciting and fun, although more energy is focused on the romance since this is a shorter-length category romance. There is more than enough atmosphere present to buy the sense of risk of being in a war-torn country south of the border.
Although this is from the 90s, it doesn't feel dated, but moreso classic. One of those tried and true romances from that period that I consider a sure thing when I need an escapist romantic pick-me-up.
I am biased in the sense that I am a diehard Anne Stuart fan, but this is definitely one of my all-time favorites by her. Recommended!
January 29, 2017
The titles says it all. Great sunday afternoon read by one of my favourite authors. The story flows nicely with both the H and h being likeable characters. H is much more tamer than the Hs from the Ice series however he was still alpha. Carlie is not a whiny or tstl character, she knows her mind and is resilient. Being an apprentice nun she is however naive and this adds to the chemistry. Recommended read for when you want to curl up with a book with a good mix of storyline, characters and non sleazy sex.
April 30, 2017
***4 1/2 stars!***
First off, that COVER. Doesn't it just make your heart melt? *sigh*
As for the story, a romance between an ex-soldier on a rescue mission to save his late army buddy's wife and child, and a NUN? Count me in!
First off, that COVER. Doesn't it just make your heart melt? *sigh*
As for the story, a romance between an ex-soldier on a rescue mission to save his late army buddy's wife and child, and a NUN? Count me in!
October 5, 2020
Awesome adventure,hot romance and strongcoulered characters!
September 11, 2018
This was an ok read.
Its all in the blurb, the Hero is tasked to rescue the wife and child of a friend who has just died. He encounters the heroine with the baby and assumes she is the widow. It makes for a lot of misunderstanding, especially since the heroine is a novice (nun who has not yet made her final vows) She has spent the last 9 years in the convent. However a revolution is breaking out and the heroine stayed to assist the mother who was about to give birth, while everyone else evacuated the convent. The mother dies from complications, so now the heroine is alone with the baby. She is expecting the father to come and rescue them, however, its the Hero who shows up.
The couple had good chemistry together, so I liked how they had to deal with the complication of the heroine's vocation. The Hero assumes she is the mother, and she allows this misconception at first since she fears that he would take the baby away.
Everything works out, and all loose ends are neatly tied including the issue of the adorable baby, whom the heroine loves like her own. There was a very lovely epilogue in the end
Its all in the blurb, the Hero is tasked to rescue the wife and child of a friend who has just died. He encounters the heroine with the baby and assumes she is the widow. It makes for a lot of misunderstanding, especially since the heroine is a novice (nun who has not yet made her final vows) She has spent the last 9 years in the convent. However a revolution is breaking out and the heroine stayed to assist the mother who was about to give birth, while everyone else evacuated the convent. The mother dies from complications, so now the heroine is alone with the baby. She is expecting the father to come and rescue them, however, its the Hero who shows up.
The couple had good chemistry together, so I liked how they had to deal with the complication of the heroine's vocation. The Hero assumes she is the mother, and she allows this misconception at first since she fears that he would take the baby away.
Everything works out, and all loose ends are neatly tied including the issue of the adorable baby, whom the heroine loves like her own. There was a very lovely epilogue in the end
December 27, 2018
Oh, this is a seriously good one; H is deliciously alpha, h's tries to be serene but her true self comes out in front of H, chemistry is off the charts, the snark and banter is awesome and best of all; it comes with a cute plot moppet ... and the sweetest epilogue ... I absolutely loved his reaction once he knows she is a nun ... he gets all pale; he is also Catholic so it has a different meaning for him ... lol ... well worth reading ..
February 7, 2008
THE SOLDIER AND THE BABY on the other hand did not work for me. After seeing what she wrote I'm thinking maybe the problem was that I never loved the Rambo movies:
The Soldier and the Baby (1995) Harlequin American. Was originally titled The Soldier, the Nun and the Baby. Another Rambo-romance, the soldier of fortune hero picks up a nun from a Latin American convent, along with baby who was left behind, and tries to get them to safety.
Although we are told this is also a tortured hero I never actually saw evidence of that. He wore a detached atitude as mask that annoyed me more than made me curious.
The heroine, who is going to take vows as a nun, is taking care of an orphan she helped deliver, the hero appears - sent by the baby's father's family - to take the baby to the States. The heroine pretends to be the mother so she can leave the south american jungle where they are and reach America. Of course the hero soon discovers she is not the mother. He is very arrogant, first making assumptions and then by making decisions without telling her. I can see the attraction between such different people but this kind of hero really leaves me cold... I guess I prefer them to be mysterious and maybe even subtly arrogant than bossy and demeaning while openly arrogant.
The ending has been mentioned by some readers as a typical Harlequin ending but you'll have to read it to know why :-)
A C for me because I promptly forgot it after closing the book.
Now I'm looking forward to go and check some of the other titles she mentions as OOP Gems ;-)
The Soldier and the Baby (1995) Harlequin American. Was originally titled The Soldier, the Nun and the Baby. Another Rambo-romance, the soldier of fortune hero picks up a nun from a Latin American convent, along with baby who was left behind, and tries to get them to safety.
Although we are told this is also a tortured hero I never actually saw evidence of that. He wore a detached atitude as mask that annoyed me more than made me curious.
The heroine, who is going to take vows as a nun, is taking care of an orphan she helped deliver, the hero appears - sent by the baby's father's family - to take the baby to the States. The heroine pretends to be the mother so she can leave the south american jungle where they are and reach America. Of course the hero soon discovers she is not the mother. He is very arrogant, first making assumptions and then by making decisions without telling her. I can see the attraction between such different people but this kind of hero really leaves me cold... I guess I prefer them to be mysterious and maybe even subtly arrogant than bossy and demeaning while openly arrogant.
The ending has been mentioned by some readers as a typical Harlequin ending but you'll have to read it to know why :-)
A C for me because I promptly forgot it after closing the book.
Now I'm looking forward to go and check some of the other titles she mentions as OOP Gems ;-)
February 11, 2010
This was a 3.5 stars for me. I really did enjoy the book in the beginning and I loved the end. There were just times in the middle of the book when I wanted to hit Carlie over the head.
If I'm escaping through the jungle with a young infant and a hardened soldier who knows the ropes, with a bunch of dangerous rebel soldiers after me, I'm going to listen to the soldier who is trying to save my life. It just seemed that Carlie fought Reilly a little more than needed.
Despite my issues with Carlie's attitude at times, she was a strong woman in that she made the best of a difficult situation and loved little Timothy as if he were her own. She did have her moment where she broke down which was expected considering what she went through
However, having said that, I really did enjoy this book. The ending was spectacular, one of the best epilogues in a book and exactly how I would want this story to end.
If I'm escaping through the jungle with a young infant and a hardened soldier who knows the ropes, with a bunch of dangerous rebel soldiers after me, I'm going to listen to the soldier who is trying to save my life. It just seemed that Carlie fought Reilly a little more than needed.
Despite my issues with Carlie's attitude at times, she was a strong woman in that she made the best of a difficult situation and loved little Timothy as if he were her own. She did have her moment where she broke down which was expected considering what she went through
However, having said that, I really did enjoy this book. The ending was spectacular, one of the best epilogues in a book and exactly how I would want this story to end.
September 8, 2011
A decent read. Didn't really move me to love it or hate it. The hero wasn't as asshatty as Anne Stuart's heroes sometimes are. I think the books suffered a bit from lack of focus. At first he thought she was an slutty socialite. Then he thought she was just a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time then he found out she was a novice nun. So you couldn't really get into either development. Characterization wasn't as deep as I prefer. The girl had spent 9 years trying out for the nunnery but her character, while naive in a way, showed no actual effort to make her even try to practice what she preached/believed to be her calling. They went 4 days through the South American jungle and there was almost no description so you didn't feel their trials in any real way. I was disappointed and will be passing this one on.
December 12, 2016
This Anne Stuart's hero little bit rough but he wasn't mean like the usual her other heroes.
The heroine is too innocent tho, even as a nun for 9 years, I won't believe a 26 yo woman can be that naive, but hey this book published 21 years ago, I guess mobile and google not that familiar yet beside her convent right inside the jungle, she didn't have many contacts with outside world.
It's a lovely read eventhought I'm not usually like a story setting too much in wilderness, but it was work this time:)
The heroine is too innocent tho, even as a nun for 9 years, I won't believe a 26 yo woman can be that naive, but hey this book published 21 years ago, I guess mobile and google not that familiar yet beside her convent right inside the jungle, she didn't have many contacts with outside world.
It's a lovely read eventhought I'm not usually like a story setting too much in wilderness, but it was work this time:)
November 18, 2021
Usually insta-love doesn't work for me, but it really did in this book. A lot of books I've read with insta-love feels more like lust. In this story, our H/H are trying to sneak an orphan baby out of the war torn jungles of Brazil. The baby happens to be the only living relative of a dead military hero and the rebels want to capture the baby. They get to know each other on such a primal level and were forced to trust each other without first going through the motions of niceties like dances or picnics in HR. I think working together to get out of this life-or-death situation while caring for a newborn puts the H/H in such raw, extenuating circumstances that it forms a bond that can't be replaced.
I wish it was about 50 pages longer so there was more time for some angst and tension. This is also the least graphic AS I have read.
I wish it was about 50 pages longer so there was more time for some angst and tension. This is also the least graphic AS I have read.
September 11, 2020
I just... can't.
April 1, 2013
A soldier, a not-quite nun, a baby. A jungle adventure through a war zone.
Quite the combination. LOL.
Quite the combination. LOL.
April 22, 2013
Featured in 'Anne's Stuart's Out of Print Gems' and quite possibly the best in a great collection of stories.
August 17, 2009
“The Soldier and the Baby” (HQ American Romance #573) by Anne Stuart
Carlie and Reilly
This is my first Anne Stuart read, and although I never felt like it would become a DNF, it didn’t really compel me to want to stay up all night reading when I had no time, either. It falls right on the three star definition here . . . “I liked it.” I didn’t “love it,” but it was better than “just okay.”
Carlie Forrest, novice nun “Sister Maria Carlos” to those at the convent she has been living at for the past nine years of her life, befriends Caterina de Mendinos, the sultry and spoiled daughter of San Pablo’s reigning “blood money presidente”. Caterina appears seeking asylum at the nunnery as her father was murdered as part of the latest rebel rebellion, and 9 months pregnant with her American husband’s baby, she is a very likely target for assassination as well. The country has become so war torn, that the nuns now find it essential to abandon their convent and retreat to the safety of Brazil, but leave Carlie behind long enough to assist Caterina when her time comes. Unfortunately, Caterina dies shortly after childbirth, but not before securing Carlie’s promise that she will take care of and protect “Timothy,” her newborn baby. As Carlie is planning to take Timothy and join up with the sisters in Brazil to take her final vows, Reilly (“just Reilly”) suddenly appears on the scene to spirit them both off to safety under his own pledged commitment to rescue Billy Morrissey’s widow and child -- Caterina and Timothy. Stealthily dropping into Carlie’s bedroom, and under the impression that Carlie is Caterina, he surprises Carlie just coming out of the shower in nothing but a towel. Reilly immediately “responds,” much to his dismay, to Carlie physically despite his utter distaste for the “spoiled little rich girl “Caterina’s” reputation. Since Reilly is convinced Carlie is Caterina, he insists that she’s fleeing with him immediately whether she likes it or not. No one is going to stand in the way of his mission to fulfill his debt to his once best friend Billy to see them both safely in the U.S. with Billy’s family. These two embark on a dangerous “road trip” romance that takes them through the jungles of South America and off the beaten path, to hole-in-the-wall establishments in their trek back to America to deliver Timothy safety to his wealthy, if what seems to Carlie to be, emotionally-removed grandparents.
It’s quickly apparent that Carlie definitely has issues with the closeness of the situation between her, Reilly and the baby and I think experiences some “live in the moment” times when she laments not knowing how she can part from them after all they’ve been through. She definitely wants to be able to distinguish the difference in how she feels about them from the “desperate, on the run living” she’s currently involved in, and have some time for reflection to see if she feels the same, or it’s all fostered by the excitement of the moment. I liked that about her, and her character appeared admirably resolute. All that said, I wasn’t crazy about this story having a potential nun as the heroine. Although this book is really in no way “preachy,” having attended many years of Catholic parochial school . . . it normally squicks me out to mix ANY religious scenarios at all with my romance reading. :\
Reilly wasn’t particularly stand-out as heros go, until he found out that Carlie was a nun (which she wasn’t in actuality yet – she hadn’t taken any vows, and in fact, he became a ”wrench in her works” when it came to her complete commitment to the convent). His perennial cliche “tough guy” facade started to break down and he let us see his endearingly protective side once he had this information about Carlie. I really started to think he was more than just a one-note character at this point, because prior to this, Stuart just represented him with the usual toss-off/”I’m unconcerned and uninvolved” emotions. Reilly pretended to bail out emotionally every time he was actively caring for Carlie and Timothy’s welfare, and then blaming it on the reason that they “would slow him down.” (Sure Reilly, whatever you say. ;) Reilly was especially freaked out because he came from a religious Catholic upbringing (LOL! Did I just say that?!), yet now finds himself lusting after a nun . . . "What?!". A bit disconcerting to say the least; this quote really shows how pent-up and freaked out he is about the fact, as he unconsciously debates with himself over this new information that she’s a nun:
”He reined in his imagination with steely control. She’d been trouble enough in her other incarnations. . . . . Hell, she was probably used to silence, he thought bitterly. What kind of vows did they take? Chastity, he knew that one for sure, and it was a thorn in his side and his conscience. Poverty and obedience. Well, she’d flunked the last one, but if she was supposed to keep silent she was doing a good job of it.”
At this point, Reilly is basically not sure which direction to go from here, or what to do with his feelings for Carlie, afterall, up until this point of the story, we (the readers) have been aware of Carlie’s chosen vocation since the beginning, but Reilly’s been under the impression she’s a spoiled, rich jet-setter. Quite a 180 for him.
Overall, as a first Anne Stuart read, I enjoyed her writing and she did built some good chemistry with her characters over time. I had a distinct feeling, this early work probably doesn’t carry the depth of emotion she’s able to evoke from readers in her later books, so I’m planning to explore a few more by her (without the religion aspect would be a better choice for me personally ;). I think I have an idea of what everyone is drawn to with regard to her “emotionally distant” heros that are gruff and standoffish now . . . yet readers generally seem to swoon over in the end – good to know! This book is engaging enough overall, but with “barely there” steam, and a storyline that has the H/h together 99% of the time. . . and the author making little progress between them, it’s not one I’d say you are really “missing out” if it’s not in your “read” pile.
K.
Carlie and Reilly
This is my first Anne Stuart read, and although I never felt like it would become a DNF, it didn’t really compel me to want to stay up all night reading when I had no time, either. It falls right on the three star definition here . . . “I liked it.” I didn’t “love it,” but it was better than “just okay.”
Carlie Forrest, novice nun “Sister Maria Carlos” to those at the convent she has been living at for the past nine years of her life, befriends Caterina de Mendinos, the sultry and spoiled daughter of San Pablo’s reigning “blood money presidente”. Caterina appears seeking asylum at the nunnery as her father was murdered as part of the latest rebel rebellion, and 9 months pregnant with her American husband’s baby, she is a very likely target for assassination as well. The country has become so war torn, that the nuns now find it essential to abandon their convent and retreat to the safety of Brazil, but leave Carlie behind long enough to assist Caterina when her time comes. Unfortunately, Caterina dies shortly after childbirth, but not before securing Carlie’s promise that she will take care of and protect “Timothy,” her newborn baby. As Carlie is planning to take Timothy and join up with the sisters in Brazil to take her final vows, Reilly (“just Reilly”) suddenly appears on the scene to spirit them both off to safety under his own pledged commitment to rescue Billy Morrissey’s widow and child -- Caterina and Timothy. Stealthily dropping into Carlie’s bedroom, and under the impression that Carlie is Caterina, he surprises Carlie just coming out of the shower in nothing but a towel. Reilly immediately “responds,” much to his dismay, to Carlie physically despite his utter distaste for the “spoiled little rich girl “Caterina’s” reputation. Since Reilly is convinced Carlie is Caterina, he insists that she’s fleeing with him immediately whether she likes it or not. No one is going to stand in the way of his mission to fulfill his debt to his once best friend Billy to see them both safely in the U.S. with Billy’s family. These two embark on a dangerous “road trip” romance that takes them through the jungles of South America and off the beaten path, to hole-in-the-wall establishments in their trek back to America to deliver Timothy safety to his wealthy, if what seems to Carlie to be, emotionally-removed grandparents.
It’s quickly apparent that Carlie definitely has issues with the closeness of the situation between her, Reilly and the baby and I think experiences some “live in the moment” times when she laments not knowing how she can part from them after all they’ve been through. She definitely wants to be able to distinguish the difference in how she feels about them from the “desperate, on the run living” she’s currently involved in, and have some time for reflection to see if she feels the same, or it’s all fostered by the excitement of the moment. I liked that about her, and her character appeared admirably resolute. All that said, I wasn’t crazy about this story having a potential nun as the heroine. Although this book is really in no way “preachy,” having attended many years of Catholic parochial school . . . it normally squicks me out to mix ANY religious scenarios at all with my romance reading. :\
Reilly wasn’t particularly stand-out as heros go, until he found out that Carlie was a nun (which she wasn’t in actuality yet – she hadn’t taken any vows, and in fact, he became a ”wrench in her works” when it came to her complete commitment to the convent). His perennial cliche “tough guy” facade started to break down and he let us see his endearingly protective side once he had this information about Carlie. I really started to think he was more than just a one-note character at this point, because prior to this, Stuart just represented him with the usual toss-off/”I’m unconcerned and uninvolved” emotions. Reilly pretended to bail out emotionally every time he was actively caring for Carlie and Timothy’s welfare, and then blaming it on the reason that they “would slow him down.” (Sure Reilly, whatever you say. ;) Reilly was especially freaked out because he came from a religious Catholic upbringing (LOL! Did I just say that?!), yet now finds himself lusting after a nun . . . "What?!". A bit disconcerting to say the least; this quote really shows how pent-up and freaked out he is about the fact, as he unconsciously debates with himself over this new information that she’s a nun:
”He reined in his imagination with steely control. She’d been trouble enough in her other incarnations. . . . . Hell, she was probably used to silence, he thought bitterly. What kind of vows did they take? Chastity, he knew that one for sure, and it was a thorn in his side and his conscience. Poverty and obedience. Well, she’d flunked the last one, but if she was supposed to keep silent she was doing a good job of it.”
At this point, Reilly is basically not sure which direction to go from here, or what to do with his feelings for Carlie, afterall, up until this point of the story, we (the readers) have been aware of Carlie’s chosen vocation since the beginning, but Reilly’s been under the impression she’s a spoiled, rich jet-setter. Quite a 180 for him.
Overall, as a first Anne Stuart read, I enjoyed her writing and she did built some good chemistry with her characters over time. I had a distinct feeling, this early work probably doesn’t carry the depth of emotion she’s able to evoke from readers in her later books, so I’m planning to explore a few more by her (without the religion aspect would be a better choice for me personally ;). I think I have an idea of what everyone is drawn to with regard to her “emotionally distant” heros that are gruff and standoffish now . . . yet readers generally seem to swoon over in the end – good to know! This book is engaging enough overall, but with “barely there” steam, and a storyline that has the H/h together 99% of the time. . . and the author making little progress between them, it’s not one I’d say you are really “missing out” if it’s not in your “read” pile.
K.
March 20, 2021
I loved this book, it was pretty much the type of story Harlequin used to publish back in the day. Alpha male soldier hero and innocent heroine (novice nun), struggling to get through a central American jungle with a baby they have rescued and falling for each other, even though they don't want to.
This book was originally published in 1995. It's well written and I really don't know why this author wasn't on my radar years ago. This is the second book of hers I've read in the last couple of weeks. Apparently she's won many awards and her back list is huge, let me tell you. There's action and lots of drama and some pretty steamy, beautifully written romance scenes. These days if the couple had had a cell phone, this this whole story would never have happened the way it did, and I'm pleased about that. Modern technology has stopped plenty of these sort of romance plots. 4.5 stars. 💝
This book was originally published in 1995. It's well written and I really don't know why this author wasn't on my radar years ago. This is the second book of hers I've read in the last couple of weeks. Apparently she's won many awards and her back list is huge, let me tell you. There's action and lots of drama and some pretty steamy, beautifully written romance scenes. These days if the couple had had a cell phone, this this whole story would never have happened the way it did, and I'm pleased about that. Modern technology has stopped plenty of these sort of romance plots. 4.5 stars. 💝
November 4, 2024
I have a very loose goal of reading at least one book from each subgenre of romance… at some point… probably. Military/ instant family tropes have never interested me, but I just got into Anne Stuart, so I decided to give this one a try. It’s ridiculous. But a lot of fun. Probably not going to read any more of this specific romance subgenre, but hey, I can tick this one off.
August 2, 2016
Uscito negli USA nel 1995, il romanzo è stato pubblicato e ripubblicato in Italia, cambiando anche titolo. Torna oggi come e-book. Una robetta vintage, insomma, di quelle che vanno di moda e per accaparrarsi le quali non si bada a spese. Solo che, questa volta, i 3 euro e 49 centesimi si sborsano volentieri senza rimpianti.
Maschio bello e alpha all’ennesima potenza: ok, crocetta nella casella.
Femmina giovane e inesperta: secondo ok, anche se questa volta Anne Stuart si è superata. Già, perché Carlie è una novizia ventiseienne, cui la madre superiora proibisce da anni di prendere i voti. E fa bene, benissimo, perché…
Da dove saltano fuori questi due protagonisti? E perché?
Rispondo a tutte le domande.
Allora, abbiamo una piccola missione nell’improbabile Paese di San Pablo, di cui sappiamo solo che è appena uscito da una feroce dittatura, con una specie di vicepresidente che intende mangiarsi lo staterello per colazione, ribelli baldanzosi, e la figlia del defunto capo di Stato morta di parto dando alla luce un bel maschietto.
Chi si occuperà dell’orfanello, lasciato dalle suore alle tenere cure della novizia? Ovvio, il super-macho, deciso a rispettare la promessa fatta al defunto (Pure lui? Ma muoiono tutti? Cos’è un film horror?) amico, padre del bambino.
Com’è, come non è, il macho, ma sì diamogli un nome, Reilly, prende una bella scuffia per quella che confonde con la smidollata moglie dell’amico (vi ho detto che sono morti tutti e due? Sì, ve l’ho detto). Tira e molla, giungla, fiume con canoa e coccodrillo, locandieri viscidi e traditori, sparatorie, sesso (finalmente! Di solito Anne Stuart è un po’ più veloce) fra la quasi-suora Carlie e il bollente Reilly.
Il finale è degno di nota. I nonni del piccolo che fanno quando questo arriva, sano e salvo, nelle loro ricche mani? Non ve lo dico. Cosa succede ai due protagonisti, a parte il lieto fine di prammatica? Non ve lo dico.
Improbabile, divertente, assurdo. Leggetelo. Due ore in cui spererete di vedere i due mangiati dai coccodrilli.
Ah, Reilly ha i capelli rossi, lunghi, e li tiene legati con un cordino. Proprio tipico di un ex-soldato. Comodi, vero? Guardate le teste rapate dei marines e vi renderete conto di come tiene i capelli un macho vero. Ma Anne Stuart ci immagina mentre afferriamo quella chioma per un bacio bagnato e corroborante. Non gliene vogliamo, vero?
Maschio bello e alpha all’ennesima potenza: ok, crocetta nella casella.
Femmina giovane e inesperta: secondo ok, anche se questa volta Anne Stuart si è superata. Già, perché Carlie è una novizia ventiseienne, cui la madre superiora proibisce da anni di prendere i voti. E fa bene, benissimo, perché…
Da dove saltano fuori questi due protagonisti? E perché?
Rispondo a tutte le domande.
Allora, abbiamo una piccola missione nell’improbabile Paese di San Pablo, di cui sappiamo solo che è appena uscito da una feroce dittatura, con una specie di vicepresidente che intende mangiarsi lo staterello per colazione, ribelli baldanzosi, e la figlia del defunto capo di Stato morta di parto dando alla luce un bel maschietto.
Chi si occuperà dell’orfanello, lasciato dalle suore alle tenere cure della novizia? Ovvio, il super-macho, deciso a rispettare la promessa fatta al defunto (Pure lui? Ma muoiono tutti? Cos’è un film horror?) amico, padre del bambino.
Com’è, come non è, il macho, ma sì diamogli un nome, Reilly, prende una bella scuffia per quella che confonde con la smidollata moglie dell’amico (vi ho detto che sono morti tutti e due? Sì, ve l’ho detto). Tira e molla, giungla, fiume con canoa e coccodrillo, locandieri viscidi e traditori, sparatorie, sesso (finalmente! Di solito Anne Stuart è un po’ più veloce) fra la quasi-suora Carlie e il bollente Reilly.
Il finale è degno di nota. I nonni del piccolo che fanno quando questo arriva, sano e salvo, nelle loro ricche mani? Non ve lo dico. Cosa succede ai due protagonisti, a parte il lieto fine di prammatica? Non ve lo dico.
Improbabile, divertente, assurdo. Leggetelo. Due ore in cui spererete di vedere i due mangiati dai coccodrilli.
Ah, Reilly ha i capelli rossi, lunghi, e li tiene legati con un cordino. Proprio tipico di un ex-soldato. Comodi, vero? Guardate le teste rapate dei marines e vi renderete conto di come tiene i capelli un macho vero. Ma Anne Stuart ci immagina mentre afferriamo quella chioma per un bacio bagnato e corroborante. Non gliene vogliamo, vero?
July 13, 2017
A soldier, a nun and a baby walk into the jungle....
No joke, people. Don't let the cheesy 90s bookcover fool you, this quick little read has everything I love about romance reads.
Two strangers thrown together for a few days in a very dangerous location and situation. One of my fav tropes is that of the protector, especially when the hero isn't anything close to a shiny knight!
My least fav trope is the older heroine virgin, and not because I believe they are unicorns.
That "first virgin experience" is nothing new to romance readers, we all love that build up to new love! But an author can really screw it up with too much "oh my, whoa is me, whatever is happening, I really mustn't" cheesy inner dialog from the heroine to the hero's OTT dickish coercing, "come on baby, you know you wanna, I'll make it good for you!" Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
None of that stereotypical alpha conquest convo here (though the H is clearly alpha with an unspoken hidden agenda *winks*) or cheesy inner virgin banter (though its clear she really didn't like it. probably. maybe).
Praise to you dear author...the first truly intimate scene between Carlie and Reilly was refreshingly, deliciously plausible.
Other authors of YA and NA, you know who you are, take note of how it should be done!!
Therefore, IMHO, I give my reading heart award for:
Best first awakening of a 26-year-old virgin's body scene ever!
Edging on the razor edge of dubious consent, our confident hero's unemotional, practical (in his mind) approach to stress relief is delivered in believable simplicity. And our brave, intelligent heroine? Reverend Mother's words speaking to her in her mind's ear on survival as a woman...brilliant! Also brilliant? Our heroine relying on her instincts. Gods I love these two characters. This is worthy of reread status! Why only 4.5*? Because the wee babe fell asleep way too conveniently ;) And that epilogue was awesome to the point of cheesiness...but I lurve it ♡
More Anne Stuart reads STAT!!
No joke, people. Don't let the cheesy 90s bookcover fool you, this quick little read has everything I love about romance reads.
Two strangers thrown together for a few days in a very dangerous location and situation. One of my fav tropes is that of the protector, especially when the hero isn't anything close to a shiny knight!
My least fav trope is the older heroine virgin, and not because I believe they are unicorns.
That "first virgin experience" is nothing new to romance readers, we all love that build up to new love! But an author can really screw it up with too much "oh my, whoa is me, whatever is happening, I really mustn't" cheesy inner dialog from the heroine to the hero's OTT dickish coercing, "come on baby, you know you wanna, I'll make it good for you!" Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
None of that stereotypical alpha conquest convo here (though the H is clearly alpha with an unspoken hidden agenda *winks*) or cheesy inner virgin banter (though its clear she really didn't like it. probably. maybe).
Praise to you dear author...the first truly intimate scene between Carlie and Reilly was refreshingly, deliciously plausible.
Other authors of YA and NA, you know who you are, take note of how it should be done!!
Therefore, IMHO, I give my reading heart award for:
Best first awakening of a 26-year-old virgin's body scene ever!
Edging on the razor edge of dubious consent, our confident hero's unemotional, practical (in his mind) approach to stress relief is delivered in believable simplicity. And our brave, intelligent heroine? Reverend Mother's words speaking to her in her mind's ear on survival as a woman...brilliant! Also brilliant? Our heroine relying on her instincts. Gods I love these two characters. This is worthy of reread status! Why only 4.5*? Because the wee babe fell asleep way too conveniently ;) And that epilogue was awesome to the point of cheesiness...but I lurve it ♡
More Anne Stuart reads STAT!!
January 21, 2013
The premise is actually less silly than it sounds and could have been a great adventure-romance - especially because Anne Stuart's language is quite pleasant, not too simple, not too flowery and very on point.
Unfortunately it was neither a well constructed adventure (despite the fact that there are two militias roaming the jungle wanting the ex-dictator's grandchild it is just a sequence of rather unexciting events with no climax at all) nor a touching romance. When the heroine comes to the conclusion that she loves the soldier who rescues her I was baffled. How? Why? When? I thought I must have skipped some part in the middle where they were actually allowed to develop a connection.
The hero is a lifeless cipher who inexplicably finds the heroine intriguing from the start. She is a rather unspectacular looking 26 year old virgin with a sad backstory and meanders between martyr-like endurance of the jungle-hardships (maybe that's the character trait he fell for?) and silly naiveté. One time she bravely rescues him from harm but even that didn't make me believe in her strengths the author and the hero kept telling me about.
Moreover I can't stand scenes in which women are practically pressured into sexual acts. Of course they always want it at the end, feeling all tingly and drawn to the male but this is not the only conceivable way to describe sexual awakening. This could have been great - a novice slowly coming to terms with her sexuality - but their first time was handled in a way that left me cold and even a bit uncomfortable.
And the epilogue was just cringeworthy in light of their brief story.
Unfortunately it was neither a well constructed adventure (despite the fact that there are two militias roaming the jungle wanting the ex-dictator's grandchild it is just a sequence of rather unexciting events with no climax at all) nor a touching romance. When the heroine comes to the conclusion that she loves the soldier who rescues her I was baffled. How? Why? When? I thought I must have skipped some part in the middle where they were actually allowed to develop a connection.
The hero is a lifeless cipher who inexplicably finds the heroine intriguing from the start. She is a rather unspectacular looking 26 year old virgin with a sad backstory and meanders between martyr-like endurance of the jungle-hardships (maybe that's the character trait he fell for?) and silly naiveté. One time she bravely rescues him from harm but even that didn't make me believe in her strengths the author and the hero kept telling me about.
Moreover I can't stand scenes in which women are practically pressured into sexual acts. Of course they always want it at the end, feeling all tingly and drawn to the male but this is not the only conceivable way to describe sexual awakening. This could have been great - a novice slowly coming to terms with her sexuality - but their first time was handled in a way that left me cold and even a bit uncomfortable.
And the epilogue was just cringeworthy in light of their brief story.
November 14, 2013
My first Harlequin!
I just read one of Anne Stuart's regency romances which I loved... but this one was definitely of the same quality. This novel cut a few corners - I think it lacked sophistication and wasn't very well developed. I don't know if this is characteristic of all Harlequin romances, but I found that this one was quite low on the quality tier.
The setting was also new for me. I haven't read many South American (? I think it was) war time novels, but I think I found it likeable enough. It was a pleasant book but not particularly extraordinarily or good enough to merit any more than 3 stars.
I just read one of Anne Stuart's regency romances which I loved... but this one was definitely of the same quality. This novel cut a few corners - I think it lacked sophistication and wasn't very well developed. I don't know if this is characteristic of all Harlequin romances, but I found that this one was quite low on the quality tier.
The setting was also new for me. I haven't read many South American (? I think it was) war time novels, but I think I found it likeable enough. It was a pleasant book but not particularly extraordinarily or good enough to merit any more than 3 stars.
July 26, 2014
Reilly's mission is to rescue his late army buddy's wife and baby from a small war torn country in Central America. He finds them in an abandoned convent and begins to lead them through the jungle. Novice Carlie Forrest has lived at the convent for nine years. She poses as the baby's mother in order to get to safety. But she is not sure how safe she is with a man like Reilly.
Entertaining "on the run" trek through the jungle. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
Entertaining "on the run" trek through the jungle. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
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