The Marine's Last Chance

Always Faithful #2

by Rogenna Brewer

There are two sides to every story...

He broke her heart...

Chief Petty Officer Mitzi Zahn, USN, is not the kind of woman to run from heartache. And she didn't run from HIShospital room screaming--she only wanted to. With her brother dead and Bruce badly injured, the last thing Mitzi expected was for him to call off their wedding. Postpone it, yes. Take time to mourn and to rehab his injuries. Yes. And yes.

But call it off? Damn straight there was an exchange of angry words and tears.

She left in a daze to bury her brother. And when Bruce didn't come to his senses, she took an assignment that allowed her to stay close to home and family.

She broke his heart...

Marine Raider, Gunnery Sergeant Bruce Calhoun, USMC Spec Ops, lost more than just his best friend in that ambush overseas. The moment Mitzi ran from his hospital room he knew he'd made a mistake. But he couldn't even look her in the eye. She was smothering him with care and concern he didn't want and didn't deserve.

He should have died. But he didn't. And she deserved better than a broken man.

After two years of licking his wounds, Bruce is shuffled off to his hometown recruiting office to work along side the girl he should have married.

Can she forgive him for breaking her heart, not once, but twice...

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

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2011

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars ~ 18 months before, Mitzi's brother Freddie died in a grenade blast in Iraq, and Mitzi's fiance lost half of his leg. Bruce hadn't wanted Mitzi anywhere near him while he tried to recover. He thought by pushing her away, he was doing it for her, that she was better off without him. There was no doubt in his mind that once he adapted to his prosthesis, he'd be fit to return to his unit and he had every intention to go back to the fight. While Bruce was a Marine through and through, Mitzi was a Navy gal, when Freddie died and Bruce was injured she'd transferred from Search and Rescue back to her hometown's recruiting office. She has a few months to go before she has to decide to re-enlist back to active duty, stay in recruiting or retire her commission. Mitzi's surprised to see that the new Marine recruiter is Bruce, and he's going to be sharing her office until he's fit for his physical. Having grown up as neighbours, their shared past is one filled with memories. Mitzi is ready to move on and date again; she's tired of always waiting for Bruce, so she decides to show him that she's done by returning the engagement ring. Bruce can't deny it hurts to see Mitzi kissing the high school basketball coach, but he keeps telling himself that he can't have her, not when he's going back to active duty.

This is the first book of Rogenna Brewer's that I've read and though it is a stand alone story, it has characters that were introduced in earlier books about the Calhoun family of military heroes. Meeting some of them here, I'm looking forward to going back and finding their stories. The issues that face Bruce and Mitzi as a military couple are realistic, as is Bruce's struggle to be the man he used to be before he lost past of his leg. Ms. Brewer is ex-military herself, and her knowledge and experience brings her characters depth. I particularly enjoyed Bruce's interactions with a Vietnam Vet, also an amputee, and the grudging friendship that develops. This is a sweet read that I enjoyed very much

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marine’s Last Chance Christmas is the second book in the Love in Uniform series by Rogenna Brewer. It was previously published as The Marine’s Last Chance in the Always Faithful series. Chief Petty Officer Mitzi Zahn, US Navy, is not the type of woman who runs from trouble. She even held her head high when she left the hospital room of Marine Raider, Gunnery Sergeant Bruce Calhoun. He was injured in the same ambush that killed his half-brother and his best friend, Ted, who is Mitzi’s older brother. When he called off their engagement, she left dazed and confused. Bruce knew he made a mistake ending their relationship but he believed she deserved better than a broken man. Now two years later, they find themselves working side by side at a recruiting office in their hometown. Is this their second chance?
The Marine’s Last Chance Christmas is a sweet second chance romance. It is the story of two people finding a way back to each other after deep hurts and broken hearts drove them apart. Mitzi is trying to move on with her life. She even has a new boyfriend; but something is off. She doesn’t realize what until Bruce walks into her life once again. The characters work through their grief as well as their hurts both physical and emotional. There are a lot of emotions in this story but it wasn’t an overtly tear jerker. There were a lot of great heartwarming and touching heart-to-heart conversations between Bruce and Mitzi as well as between Bruce and his various family members. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more in this series. I recommend The Marine’s Last Chance Christmas.

The Marine’s Last Chance Christmas is available in eBook

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I felt it was a continuation of The Marine's Baby, so many of the same great characters where all are related to each other in more ways than one. This is a second chance relationship as they grew up together, dated and were engaged before Bruce lost his brother and best friend in a bomb attack. He also lost his left leg and has survivor guilt. Bruce broke up with Mitzi for all the wrong reasons now that he is better he wants her back but she has moved on. This is a great story of how they find their way back together. Lots of feelings of loss and love.

[Steve Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a republished ebook, entitled "The Marine's Last Chance Christmas". It is a good romance with some thought provoking scenes. A veteran amputee with some troubles with PTSD. I had never thought much about the troubles an amputee would have and all the scientific advances that make it possible to do so much with one leg amputated above the knee. Their is also a lot about duty as a recruiting officer. As usual Rogenna Brewer has a lot of detail about military life that most of us never even think about. Good read.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marine's Last Chance Christmas

This is the second book in this series. Here you get to read about Bruce and Mitzi. He had lost his leg in combat. Not just that but his best friend and brother all at the same time. He broke up with her. She went on to become a Navy recruit in their home town. He is back now as a Marine recruit. What happens next is the rest of the story.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Rogenna Brewer story

Two great Rogenna Brewer books in two days, this second in the series is just as engaging as the first. Couldn’t put either one down once I'd started. No need to recount the story, other reviews already give too much away. Read the sample and you’ll be hooked.

[Kim Ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a sink in to kind of read. They both have things to work through to find their way back to Each other. Enjoyed all the characters and they added a lot to the story. Wish the end hadn't felt as rushed as it did to me but overall enjoyed the book.

[Cristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put the book down, I liked the characters and their struggle was well written, I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a complimentary copy of the book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Had a good lesson to it. Actually quite a few. They were thrown in there a sentence. Listening. Hearing. Pride. Accepting life challenges. Family.
Definitely recommend.

[james jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Liked it from beginning to the end a story of love ,how to over come injurys from serving member of the armed forces and finding love. Thank you very much for a great story

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun story - I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy a good romance.

[Kathy Fuentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot download

I had a very hard time with the download but I Loved the first book and wanted to read the second book as well.

[Sue Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Editing errors

Good storyline, but someone needs to do a better job checking for spelling, grammar errors. Some sentences made no sense.

[Donna S Danz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So good. I really can’t say in words how beautifully written this story was to read. Cried at some parts really enjoyed it so much. Thank you.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
I like the story tho I felt it drag on a little too long before it got to the good stuff

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading pages from my own heart ❤️ this story and characters hit so close to home. Beautiful story.

[Jill Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

A story ! This is a well written stimulating read. It is a bit hard to put down. Semper Fi

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Rogenna.
There's so much to learn from those clever and touchy stories about army people; each story is unique and stays with the reader for a long time.
Great read!

[Jacquellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book. But the timing was way off for me. The whole thing moves super slow until the very end. Then I'm left feeling like I got whip lash by how quickly things change and out of the blue. I liked the build up...but I also felt like it could have progressed faster. So I'm a little torn. I wanted the meat of the book to hurry up, but then the actual part when they finally reunite snuck up on you like wham!

I was also pretty confused by all the siblings and parents and step parents and half siblings etc. maybe I didn't read some books previous to this story, but I just couldn't keep it all straight. I don't like having to process a family tree as I read.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to this book because I wanted to know what had really happened between Bruce and his fiancee. Bruce was an important character in the first book, and I wanted to know more about him. Their story is a real slow burn, and it isn't clear how it will all work out until the very end.
I also liked the secondary characters and plots. There was a lot going on around Bruce and Mitzi. It was complicated but realistic. Ernie is an excellent foil for Bruce and added a lot to the emotion of the book.
This is a fairly clean read. There is some swearing but not very much. Otherwise, I would not be concerned about handing this to a teenager.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of issues in this story, handled pretty well. Hero's a one- legged Marine, heroine's a Navy rescue swimmer. They have a past together that they have to work through. It's nicely done. I liked it a lot.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: In Uniform

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: In Uniform

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

extra 1/2 star.

[Vicky Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing it was a great romance I really enjoyed please read this book it's so different on what I usually read and this is such a beautfuil story

[Marika · Rating 1 out of 5]

⛔️ (in notes)