Returning to Eden

Acts of Valor #1

by Rebecca Hartt, Craig A. Hart (Reading), Teralyn Davis (Reading)

MP3 CD Format A dead man stands on her doorstep.   When the Navy wrote off her MIA husband as dead, Eden came to terms with being a widow. But now, her Navy SEAL husband is staring her in the face. Eden knows she should be over-the-moon, but she isn’t.   Diagnosed with PTSD and amnesia, Navy SEAL Jonah Mills has no recollection of their fractured marriage, no memory of Eden nor her fourteen-year-old daughter. Still, he feels a connection to both.   Unfit for active duty and assigned to therapy, Jonah knows he has work to do and relies on God, who sustained him during captivity, to heal his mind, body, and hopefully his family.   But as the memories lurking in his wife's haunted eyes and behind his daughter's uncertain smile begin to return to him, Jonah makes another discovery. There is treachery in the highest ranks of his Team, treachery that not only threatens him but places his new-found family in its crosshairs.    

Genres: Military Fiction, Christian Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Christian Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance

1 pages, Audio CD

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

Rebecca Hartt is the nom de plume for Marliss Melton, an award-winning, best-selling author who, following her conversion, decided to spin suspenseful military romance in which God plays a key role in both character motivation and plot.

As a child, Rebecca lived in countries all over the world. She has been a military dependent for most of her life and knows first-hand the dedication and sacrifice required by those who serve.

Living near the military community of Virginia Beach, Rebecca is constantly reminded of the peril and uncertainty faced by US. Navy SEALs, many of whom testify to a personal and profound connection with their Creator.

Reviews

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Th heroine ruined the book for me

I thought she was the most self centered, non-compassionate character and I totally detested her. Yes I know he was stern and unimpeachable before but the she treated him when he came home was horrendous! I am not privy to their life before but I just can't abide selfish people. The story was good. I really wanted to give it two stars because of the heroine and her friend Nina but the other characters were awesome. I liked the story but I didn't love it and I don't know if it was just the heroine or what, but it took me a long time to finish. I kept putting it down and I had to force myself to finish it. Jonah was an awesome hero, and I loved Miriam too. Master Chief is falling in love with selfish character 2 unfortunately but I did like him. The plot was great. I loved the intrigue and trying to guess who was behind his captivity. I liked how he changed for the better and I did like the epilogue. Now comes the hard part. Do I read the others? Right now my heart is telling me no but I want to finish it out. It just may take me awhile. I actually loved the first incarnation of this novel which I rescuers ago but I honestly have forgotten a lot of it. I have a paper copy and now I have to go pull it out and see how it measures up.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always on the lookout for new authors within the Christian genre and so I was excited to give Rebecca Hartt’s Returning To Eden a try. Exciting, and tense, Returning To Eden is part romance and part suspense.

When Eden receives a phone call saying her husband, missing in action presumed dead, is actually alive and on his way home, it’s a shock. And not necessarily a good one. Eden and her daughter were just getting used to their freedom without a neglectful and controlling husband and stepfather. But Eden is resolved to offer Jonah support in his recovery, especially when she discovers he has no memory of the past two years, no memory of her or their marriage, and it seems he is a new and changed man. But Jonah is certain the dangers of the past year have followed him home and he is determined to protect his family, even if following his hunch means he could lose them forever.

I enjoyed Jonah’s side of the story. A story about his brave return from a year spent being tortured and to a situation of which he has no memory. He is determined to win back the affections of his wife and stepdaughter, realises he has a lot to make up for and is on guard for the trouble he can sense coming. He is a man of faith, determined to trust in God for guidance and protection, yet he’s not content to sit back and do nothing. There is plenty of both romantic tension, as Jonah tries to show Eden he is a changed man, and dramatic tension, as he tries to recall his last mission and prepares to counter a looming threat. While there wasn’t much room for surprise with the mystery of who was behind it all, as Jonah is so clued into the situation and the reader gets to ride along with him on his investigation, there was still plenty of close calls and action.

However, I didn’t like Eden all that much, which sadly detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. While I can totally understand her reluctance to resume a romantic relationship with her husband due to his previous ill treatment of her and her daughter, her constant doubting of Jonah, of putting his suspicions and concerns down to him having PTSD or being ‘crazy’, was annoying and narrow minded. Sadly I think Returning To Eden had a great chance to help destigmatise PTSD and failed to make the most of that opportunity. While I can totally understand why Jonah and his family would rather he wasn’t diagnosed with PTSD, I didn’t like the way it was referred to in such demeaning tones. Eden even mentions breaking up with Jonah should he be diagnosed. This, I believed contributed to the judgemental tone surrounding mental health in this book. She had no reason to doubt his training or combat experience (he was a lousy husband but an excellent warrior) and frankly her explanation for “I thought you had PTSD and so therefore I discounted all your observations, experiences and concerns, etc,” wasn’t good enough.

I really enjoy Miriam’s character. Strong, independent and just finding her way in the world, Miriam was the perfect tension reliever and I really enjoyed her blossoming relationship with Jonah.

Returning To Eden is classified as Christian fiction. The characters pray, quote scripture, attend church and freely speak about God. They are not without faults or profess to be perfect, which I liked (and also disliked, see rant above about Eden). There is also plenty of romantic and sexual tension between Eden and Jonah, as they rekindle their relationship.

Overall, Returning To Eden is a compelling story about second chances and faith-renewed romance, with action and strong military heroes.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like Returning to Eden. The premise was good, but I unfortunately found the execution of it missing something. Several somethings…

Jonah Mills was a Navy SEAL, presumably killed during a mission. But after a year of torturous captivity in Venezuela he’s able to escape and make it home to his former teammates, and wife and 14 year old step-daughter.

Eden Mills has mixed feelings about Jonah’s return, and is even more conflicted when she learns he doesn’t remember anything about their relationship - not their brief courtship, not their year-long marriage. But she’s determined to stick with him, at least for a year, to help him through his initial time of healing and recovery from his ordeal.

There’s a lot of readjustment for the small family, and it’s all made more complicated by the apparent lingering effects of Jonah’s post traumatic stress. Except all the paranoid thoughts running through his head turn out to not be paranoia, and the more his mind heals the more those close to him are in danger.

There were a couple things I liked about this book. First off, Jonah is not your typical hero. Turns out, he wasn’t a good husband or step-father. And because of that, Eden’s life when Jonah was away on missions was more peaceful. A year after his disappearance and apparent death, she is enjoying her independent life when Jonah comes back. This situation is in contrast to just about ALL other books with this basic plot, where the hero was the love of the heroine’s life and she is distraught for years after his death. So I was pleased to see an author create a hero who was incredibly flawed, and a heroine who questioned whether or not she was better off without her husband - and felt guilty and conflicted about those feelings. I like when characters are flawed and we get to see their growth.

However...there was just too much telling and not enough showing for me to feel invested in, and have a connection with, Jonah and Eden’s love story. We see (or hear) nothing about the beginning of their relationship, we see nothing about how it fell apart. Just a sentence or two here and there that things were not good once they got married. So even though I was told Eden was conflicted about Jonah’s return, I never did feel it. And once Jonah was back, I wanted to see him fall back in love with the woman he married, and watch the same for Eden. But there was more time given to the suspense part of the story, which left me feeling ambivalent about Jonah and Eden. By the end of the book, I knew there was some growth, I just didn’t feel like I got to see it happen.

Then we have the religious aspect to this book. Rebecca Hartt is apparently the pen name of a woman who used to write romantic suspense under another name, but since becoming a Christian is wanting to add a faith element to her stories. That’s all well and good, but again here I felt we got more telling and no showing, and the faith of the characters seemed tossed in and not really a part of who they were. I usually stay away from “inspirational romance” because a lot of times it seems the author’s main goal is to proselytize instead of giving the reader a good plot. That wasn’t really the case here - there was actually a good plot, full of twists, turns, and intrigue - but the religious aspects in this story weren’t exactly seamless, either. It’s a difficult aspect to weave into a story, and I’d be curious to see if it becomes more natural to the author in future books.

Something else that bugged me is that the synopsis is wrong. Jonah is only gone a year, not three. And maybe it’s just me, but I was expecting more about their relationship. I know it’s marketed as Christian Military Romantic Suspense, but you can sometimes get a sense of whether it’s going to lean more towards the romance or the suspense. Personally, I like to see equal parts of both, and not heavy on one or the other. I felt the romance took a back seat to the suspense, and I really wanted more of Jonah and Eden and them finding happiness together again. The book is called Returning to Eden, so I thought the book would be more focused on him trying to win his wife back, which is not what I felt the focus of the story was - it was more on him healing so he could get his memory back to catch the bad guys.

I find myself wavering over whether or not I want to continue with this series. On the one hand, I want to see the bad guys get caught. But on the other, I’m not sure I enjoyed the writing enough to keep going. When you throw in some stilted, awkward dialogue, along with characters using words people don’t use these days (like a woman who has been unable to get pregnant telling a date she is barren, which seems so old fashioned and out of place in a contemporary novel), in addition to the issues I mentioned above, I’m not sure my interest is piqued enough. When I thought this was a new author, I was willing to be forgiving about the telling vs showing issues, but learning she's written other books - and has apparently won awards under the other name - gives me great pause, and has me considering that Rebecca Hartt may not be my cup of tea.

So, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll keep reading this series, maybe I won’t. It will probably depend on my mood when I come across the next book.

* thank you to NetGalley and INscribe Digital/Rise UP Publications for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Jill Land · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recycled

This book was redone it was previously forget me not from Marliss Melton she changed her name and the characters from the book and locations .she made it christian fiction. It took awAy from the book and was kind of preachy.I read her old book next

This was originally titled Forget me not from Marliss Melton
. She changed her name and name of book. While she changed characters names and location it was the same book in fact I thought it was plagiarized until I remember a newsletter saying she was doing that. She made it christian fiction. Personally she tried too hard and it was too preachy the original book is better.I re-read next to die and I realize how better it was without the change. If not broke don't fix it. I suggest she write original christian romance so we Don't have anything to compare it to. Sorry but if you want to read her stories read her originals under Marlis Melton.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, painful and suspenseful are some of the adjectives I would use for this book. Caught in a terrifying situation, Jonah does what so many have done before him when he sees his life passing before his eyes: he calls on the God of his fathers to save him. And as many before him have done, he makes a miraculously escape from a terrifying situation. However, not everyone is excited about his return to the land of the living. Having adjusted to being a widow, Eden is relieved that she won't have to tell Jonah that their marriage was a mistake. Having her warrior husband return from the dead leaves her with the uncomfortable truth that despite being fearful that he will return to his careless attitude towards her and her daughter, she cannot abandon him when he suffering from memory loss and possible PTSD. Surprisingly, the one person who is excited about his return is his step-daughter Miriam. As Jonah slowly claws his way back from his year as a prisoner, he has to fight a new battle, one where he has difficulty sifting out fact from the figments of his imagination, but as the danger encroaches and threatens his family, Jonah knows that for their sakes, he cannot take the threat lightly. Despite Eden's cautious approach towards Jonah, I could not help but feel for her. Her marriage had been a disappointment and allowing Jonah back into their lives is a huge risk. Jonah had made mistakes in the past, but amnesia and a year in captivity give him a new perspective on the meaning of family. My heart went out to him as he battled through the shadows, trying to make sense of what was happening to him. There is a strong Christian slant to this book and if one has not been in desperate circumstances, it might be difficult to assimilate. However, having personal experience of extreme danger, I could identify with Jonah's story. The plot of this novel is well thought out and suspenseful and the circumstances facing a family under these conditions is also very believable. The book does close on a positive note although one has to assume that justice is served. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. First, you have a Navy Seal Jonah Mills who had been missing for over a year after a mission gone wrong. After going back to the site all they find of Jonah is a tooth that was knocked out and a building that is destroyed. Now over a year later and many months past the funeral, and just receiving the life insurance money. Eden gets a phone call that Jonah has been found. He actually was held prisoner and he escaped. When Eden and her daughter arrive at the hospital she is told that Jonah does not remember anything going back two years. Therefore he does not remember being married or Eden and his stepdaughter Miriam. Right away Eden is taken with how is talking with Miriam asking her questions and wanting to know what is going on in her life. He is also asking about her and though she is leery she accepts her role and knows she needs to help him get well. Eden’s character is wanting to be more helpful from the beginning but her friend who had a bad relationship keeps putting ideas in her head about walking away and that everything Jonah is doing is just a trick. Slowly over time, she realizes it is not a trick that he really has changed from the man that he was before he left. He really proves this when they visit her parents who have never accepted Miriam and after a short while her father is finally calling her daughter our granddaughter for the first time because of Jonah. She now knows the feelings she had before and having now are real. They just need to move on from the other part of the story which is who has been setting up the missions to fail. Overall a good book with good characters. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Cat B The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to Eden is book one of Acts of Valor series by Rebecca Hartt. It was a very fast paced, thrill seeking read and a romantic story. Jonah a Navy Seal goes Missing in Action and is presumed dead until he escapes a year after he is captured. When he returns, he finds out that he left behind a wife, Eden, and his stepdaughter, Miriam, who he has no recollection of. His memory from the past two years of his life including being captured is gone. Follow Jonah’s story as he tries to get his memory back, remembers the family he left behind and see how he discovers how he is still in danger! It also shows how when two people who are facing adversity in their life and marriage and they put God in the control amazing things can happen. If you are looking for action, suspense and romance this is the book to read! Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down! I cannot wait until the next one comes out! So many twists in turns it kept me guessing until the very end!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just reviewed Returning to Eden (Acts of Valor, Book 1) by Rebecca Hartt. #ReturningToEdenActsOfValorBook1 #NetGalley

[Negar Arvanaghi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue is exciting.

Nice car for a SEAL.

It sounds like he was a douche.

I think something corrupt is going on with his CO.

She could stand to have a little more compassion. Why did she even marry him in the first place?

Shut it, Nina.

Jeez, he's worth more dead than alive!

I knew something was going on.

Oh, Santiago is good.

I want to be Charlotte when I grow up.

For the love of Pete, Miriam!

Slow your roll, Santiago.

Duh, people.

Good job, Lloyd!

That was a wonderful prayer.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, a lot. Eden was trying to find herself without Jonah but realized that what they had was too precious to let go of. Jonah had been through something not many people can understand and was trying to find his place in the world, and one place he knew for sure was his was his family. He fought hard for them, he never gave up. Watching Eden fall in love with him again and Jonah just trying to make things work was beautiful

[Patricia Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly intriguing! Faith!

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden had bittersweet emotions storm her as she looked into her dead husband's eyes in the photo. Jonah’s eyes had mesmerized her when they first met. Jonah had disappeared only two years into their marriage, but he’d scarcely gave her the time of day. He did make it clear he didn’t want her to work. He was too wrapped up in being a SEAL platoon leader and in saving the world. He disappeared a year and a month ago. The navy wouldn’t tell her where he had been or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. All they told her was there had been an accident, an explosion Jonah hadn’t exited the building in time to escape. They had found Jonah’s tooth and the Navy immediately finally declared him MIA. The had finally declared Jonah dead. On the heels of Eden’s shock had come relief No more walking on eggshells , the way she did whenever Jonah was home. She wouldn’t have to give up her job that gave her so much satisfaction because he’d refuse to let her work. She would raise her fourteen year old daughter alone with Jonah’s life insurance money in the bank, her financial situation could not have looked more secure. With the benefit of hindsight Eden admitted to her best friend Nina marriage to Jonah had been a mistake. She had wanted her daughter mariam to have a father and she had been head over heels in love with Jonah. Marrying him had left Eden lonelier than ever. Less than a year into the marriage Jonah seemed to have forgotten Eden and Mariam. Now it was finally over. Eden still missed jonah from time to time. His touch and kisses had never failed to sweep her off her feet. Jonah’s quick wit had always made her laugh. His intelligence had always aroused her respect. Than as Eden was thinking about being free, she got a phone call Jonah was alive. But he doesn’t have any recollections of family, her or Mariam. Of course she’d be there for him. She’d been raised from childhood to consider marriage sacred. She would welcome him home warmly. She would help him regain his footing, do whatever was required of her. But after Jonah healed mentally, after he’d reestablished himself on the Teams, she might yet ask him for a separation. Blowing out a shaky breath, she accepted what had to be done . for now Jonak needed her. The knock at his hospital room door startled Jonah. He’d been staring at the blank TV screen envisioning a baseball game he had watched three years ago but couldn’t remember the two years that followed. Jonah thought maybe the knock had been his wife and kid -the ones he couldn’t remember. Jonah wondered when and how he had let the marriage happen. His father's death and years of abuse at the hands of his stepbrother had convinced Jonah never to wed. He knew he would be a lousy husband, and a terrible father. Tenderness? Compromise? Those were alien concepts to him. What had he been thinking to inflict himself on any woman? Than Eden and Mariam did show up at his room . Every cell in Eden’s body reacted to the to the familiar sound of his rough edged baritone. Her heart raced, her body heated. She said “ You don’t remember me, do you?” At last he shook his head” I don’t know how I could forget , but I’m sorry I don’t.” She pulled mariam close and introduced her as his stepchild. The Dr. told eden besides his PTS he suffers from chronic Sleep Fatigue Syndrome. A result of sleep deprivation. Plus he shouldn’t drive with the meds he was taking. His memory could return to him at any time. Some of them can be jarring, dangerous, shouldn’t be behind the wheel. The doctor said he could treat this like a mission. So much of it was out of Jonah’s control. Putting him in a familiar environment is the first step. Surrounding yourself with familiar smells, sounds, situation ought to trigger some memories others will return in the form of dreams. Though he’ll have significant trouble sleeping, He imagined a prescription of prazosin will help that. He could bring any issues up to Doctor bronson who was his therapist. Wednesday afternoon. Eden realized Miriam was right Jonah had been tortured. Eden had never heard Jonah converse casually with Mariam. Things had been steady, calm, and natural when Jonah was supposedly dead. Now that he was alive again, with no memory of their brief but disappointing marriage, everything seemed off kilter.. Unnerving, a little frightening to be honest. Eden was pondering how different Jonah seemed from the uptight husband she’d known.
Excellent book. I loved it. I didn’t want to put it down and only did when I had to. I loved the mystery, betrayal, intrigue, murder, danger, Seals, Upper command of the SEALS. Torture, captured by an enemy. Faith. Family, and so much more. I loved Jonah and Eden together. I loved that Jonah had found God in his cell being held by foreigners. I loved that God helps make him a better dad, and husband. Eden knew God was there for him and her. I loved the plot and pace. I loved how close the SEALS were. I loved the characters and the twists and turns of this book and I highly recommend it.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sitting on the edge of my seat a few time during this read as my emotions were fighting for the safe and happy ending. This is my first read by this author Rebecca Hartt, Christian romance is not my goto genre but this one had my total interest from the start to the very end. It was full of sweetness, grief, forgiveness, hope, danger, doubt, trust, military, suspense but most of all love.

Jonah Mills has literally returned from the dead after being missing for the last year after a Navy Seal op that went completely wrong. But he is returning home to a home he can not remember, a Wife he can not remember, a step-father to a daughter he can not remember and a dog he can not remember. But his wife can remember all too well the man he was when he when missing and presumed dead.

Eden Mills is not completely over the moon that her husband has been found safe and sound as she has come to realise that during the past year with him being gone that her marriage but not in a great place. She promises to give herself one year to help him to recover from his captivity and hoping to retain his memory before she asks for a separation.

Jonah can not remember what type of husband he was but he can guess from his wife that he was not the model husband. He may not be able to remember her but he knows he is a home with her and Miriam. He may have PTSD or just brain damage but he must remember the missing two years to be able to return to the job he loves. Jonah soon finds himself in danger is it his PTSD playing tricks on him or is someone after him?

This book has a strong military storyline with many references to God, scripture quotes and praying. Jonah and Miriam were my favourite characters during this story, I didn't relate with Eden for a lot of the book. Jonah's Navy Seal members were very interesting to get to know and with this being book one of "Acts of Valor #1" I really hope we will get to know some of them a bit more in the future.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just reviewed Returning to Eden (Acts of Valor, Book 1) by Rebecca Hartt. #ReturningToEdenActsOfValorBook1 #NetGalley

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like 3 stars was too little, but Goodreads has "liked it" for three stars. And I would say that's accurate. I liked it, but I didn't love it. This is the second book I read in a row that featured a member of the military dealing with Post Traumatic Stress (one as the disorder and the other not quite at the level of the disorder). Returning to Eden was more difficult to read for a few different reasons and slower to catch my attention. Eden and Jonah did not have a solid marital foundation as Jonah was more focused on being a SEAL than being a good husband or stepfather. So when Jonah "comes back from the dead," Eden is super hesitant to help him, especially when he tries to convince her that someone is really out to get him and it's not just the PTS. I mean, in a way I get it. You don't want to get your heart broken again, but stop listening to your naysaying friend and do your own thinking. That may be easy for me to say as I've never had to interact with a loved one who had PTSD.

The last 50 pages did catch my attention and I felt myself reading quicker than I did the rest of the book. When it comes to story lines dealing with the military, I always wonder how much is realistic and how much is blown out of proportion. I looked up Rebecca Hartt and it looks like she does have experience with the military so I felt better knowing a lot of what's in this book is probably true. I did feel like there were parts of it that were highly unlikely. In the author's defense, I don't know if I'm much of suspense fan because I always have the urge to read ahead to find out what happens. That could be part of why I didn't go from like to love with this book. Also, there were more sexual references than I would have expected from a Christian book. I know that's part of a healthy marriage, even for Christians. I just don't really need it in a book. Plus the phrase "make love" is kind of cringy to me.

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

[Tracey Cramer-Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little romance, a little mystery, a little faith...

Often, a soldier comes back from war (and, in Jonah’s case, captivity/torture) a changed person—and not for the better. In this case, it was the opposite. I liked how the book didn’t shy away from the fact that their marriage less than ideal, and Eden’s hesitation to believe Jonah was a different person and put her heart on the line again. Having a teenage daughter of my own, I can fully understand her concern for what it could be doing to her 14yo daughter as well (although I questioned how close she and Miriam were; there were no scenes between mother and daughter alone).

Jonah is safe in the US, but has no memory of the last two years—or his marriage to Eden. His intuition tells him he’s still in danger. Strange things keep happening (some stretched the imagination) but is he just paranoid? Is it PTSD, as everyone seems to believe? (I found myself wondering how he could NOT have PTSD considering what he went through!) I do think the story shied away too much from his torture; that was a pivotal point referenced in only a few places (like when Eden sees the scars on his torso, or his occasional reference to events like ‘caning’ in his nightmares).

He’s vulnerable emotionally as well, as the person most invested in keeping his marriage alive (even though he doesn’t remember it). I thought the portrayal of his journey (doubting himself, humbling himself) was well done. And then there’s the mystery, which I won’t go into detail on so as not to spoil it, but Jonah must unravel it to keep his family safe—and stay alive.

I did not feel the story was ‘preachy,’ in fact, all references to God and faith were low-key and the story kept moving. Note: there were some editing/spelling issues but I loved this couple’s journey and would give it 4.5 stars.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

RETURNING TO EDEN is the beginning story in The Acts of Valor series. I’ll be very frank upfront, there were parts of this story that touched my heart that had me rooting for a successful return to a happier marriage for Jonah and Eden – and on the other side, I spent most of this story being annoyed at the actions of Eden. I get that Jonah wasn’t that great of a husband/father before he went on that mission, became MIA… but really, to toss aside every single thing he says as part of his PTSD or amnesia was just rude and unnecessary. As far as the faith aspects went it felt as if most of the time some people (Eden) were really good at talking the talk (about their faith) – but not so good at walking the walk (of showing their faith in their actions).

I wanted to love this story, but the truth is that I didn’t. It may simply be that I see faith, showing the actions of any faith in a different manner than were shown here. No one is perfect yet Jonah was trying to show his changes, I just wish those who mattered would have listened to him sooner. The added suspense aspect was intense as were the tensions, both personal and sexual, between Eden and this stranger she married. I think there is an audience that will love RETURNING TO EDEN. I’m still undecided if I’ll return to this series, I never say never. I enjoyed parts of this story so it gets a 3.5-star rating which I will round up as I post this review elsewhere. This is a story that you really should decide for yourself.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

RETURNING TO EDEN by Rebecca Hartt is an emotional, compelling and suspenseful Inspirational Military Romance. Book 1 in "Acts of Valor" series, and what a beginning to what
promises to be an exciting and intriguing series! WOW!! And WOW!

Fast paced and a cast of characters that will definitely grab the readers heart. The storyline is unpredictable, intriguing, well written and well excuted.
Follow, Navy SEAL Jonah Mills, his wife Eden and their fourteen year old daughter, Miriam on their journey of drama, redemption, danger, and romance. Jonah on a Navy Seal mission has been declared dead after a mission went awry, he returns after three years, with PTSD, amnesia and the constant fear of betrayal or danger. He has no recollection of his and Eden's marriage or his fourteen-year-old step-daughter, Miriam. But danger lurks in the shadows of his mind and his life.

RETURNING TO EDEN will keep the reader turning pages as they are held in suspense. Filled with danger, suspense, a bit of mystery, sensual tension, redemption, faith, romance, action, strong military characters, second chances, love and a HEA.
RETURNING TO EDEN is an emotional tale of survival, betrayal, secrets, faith and more.
A sweet Inspirational Military Romance, but not preaching, just a beautiful story of faith, love, and the team of the Blue Squadron.
An absolute delight!! I can hardly wait to read Book 2 in the amazing series. Awesome read!!!

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Sweet
Reviewer: AprilR

[Kay Pealstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like reading about faith and the military...

I could NOT put it down, I read it before work, during breaks, lunch and even sneaked a few chapters between calls. i am so glad that i took a chance because i can hardly wait to start the next in the series.

We've all seen how brutal war has become since 9/11, and our military has met that brutality with skill and bravery. They have come home hurt, caught up in losses of their brothers and sisters in arms. They have lost limbs and PTSD, loss of family who cannot bare the trauma with them, and some walk the streets of our country homeless in order not to bring that trauma home with them.

Jonah in this book let's us see his fears, his struggles, his frustrations, his hopes, and his faith that there is a God who will chase us down, will rise us up, and will help us stand again. There is nowhere so deep he cannot reach down and find us. Nowhere too dark, too desperate, too hopeless, or too lost, that God is not there beside us. It may take some time to move the puzzle pieces of life, to bring us to the goodness of what he has prepared for His children.

Try this book, and see if the series tells you of how our country's warriors stand on that wall between evil and America, when God is beside them when we fight for peace and justice for all. I hope, Jonah and his family and faith find your interest. I've come to think the jailer that brought Jonah that small bible in the midst of his darkness, was surely someone the Lord used as a willing messenger. Maybe when you've finished this book, you will think so as well.

[Suzaan Jansen van Rensburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonah was presumed dead after a failed mission withnhis Seal team mates. But then he escaped and made it back home. His wife, Eden, did not know what to make of this. They did not have a happy marriage and she was actually relieved to be moving on. But now she could not abandon him, not when he bore the physical scars of torture and emotional scars which may lead to PTSD. She committed to helping him for a few months until he is healed and back on his feet but having him home made her realized that he has changed and along with his amnesia, is far different from the man whom left her and her daughter behind. Could it be what She prayed for? But before long Jonah suspects that someone is watching him, that there may still be people want in him dead. Or is it just his imagination and paranoia? The book follows the journey of two people finding their way back to each other and making a family for their daughter. It is also a story of a man finding his strenght in God and holding on to his Faith in order to stay alive and get back to his family. This is the first book I've read from this author but definitely not the last. Very well written and kept me hooked from start to end.

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

[Steve W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how interested I was in yet another inspirational/Christian romance. So many of them feel like they are rewrites of the same story. Part of what caught my interest (besides appealing to Dee Henderson fans) was the fact this was not just about two people falling in love, but about two folks that are already married, but working back toward love and God's ideal of marriage.

The action and suspense in the story kept me on the edge of my seat. The angst that Eden felt at the prospect of reuniting with the husband she thought was dead elicited in me feelings of frustration with her (her reluctance to give him a chance) and mixed sense of despair (at Jonah's mental and emotional condition) and hope (as she saw the changes in him compared to their previous life together).
I have heard of PTSD, but found it interesting to gain more insight into what PTSD is, how it affects the inflicted, and how they may be regarded by other people. The story of Jonah's combat experience, as well as his battle for his marriage was inspiring and encouraging. I am looking forward to reading more by Ms. Hartt.

[Irene S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though Eden is happy that her husband, Jonah is still alive, she is not ready to resume her marriage. Jonah has amnesia and doesn't remember his wife and step-daughter or how his last mission went wrong. Eden agrees to help him for a year or until he gets his memory back. Jonah knows that there is something important that he needs to remember about the mission. The big question is whether there is real danger for Jonah and his family or is he paranoid from PTS. I received a free copy of this book from eBook Discovery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love the idea that these books have been rewritten for the Christian romance suspense readers. That is my favorite genre and this is a terrific read. It is very suspenseful and their second chance romance is very believable. The book is enriched by the Christian references. I love this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

[SK · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased and read this book over two years ago, but as the book didn’t sail to the top of my best read list, I put off writing a review. The synopsis sounded interesting, which was the reason I purchased the book in the first place. Sadly, the more I read, the more disenchanted I became. The story had suspense and mystery, but the relationship between the no-longer-deceased navy seal husband and the wife was just depressing. But the real book rate chiller was the frequent use of swearing, chronic pseudo swearing (ex. freakin’), and even taking the Lord’s name in vain. This ended the story for me. I had purchased book two of the series, but after the disappointment of book one, I will not be reading it. I like to see a consistent faith and practice in my Christian fiction that is more than just listed scripture verses. This may not be a problem for others, so check out other reviews to see if the book works for you.

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just Wow is all I can say about this amazing tough yet compassionate Christian military story. Returning to Eden (Acts of Valor, Book 1) by Rebecca Hartt may be one of the best returning home military books I have read in a long, long, time.

As Jonah Mills memories return, he sees that he has not always been the best of husbands or stepfathers. It is a story that shows regret, forgiveness and the love of God to change a person. The characters are authentic, and the feelings expressed genuine. I was rooting for this small family unit to made it.

Besides being a second chance marriage story, it is a strong edge-of-the-seat military story where POW horrendous events have been experienced. Highly recommend this well-written book.

The publisher through Net Galley provided an ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

[Texas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning to Eden - This is my first read by this author and I found it OK but off the mark. While the romance and the mystery were well written, the author shows lack of knowledge of the military culture of a tight team and about weapons and skeet. The skeet meet was Hollywood and she confused shotguns and rifles.

The storylines were interesting and the characters, while not developed more, were good. Of course, this is a series, so there should be more growth for the characters.

God is always in the foxholes, whether carried or found there, ask any soldier that has experienced war. The blend of God into the storylines was well done.

The sneak peek beginning of the next book gives an intriguing start, which picks up on the same day that Eden finished. I found this book on Booksprout. 3*

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story really drew me in from the beginning. Others have provided a great synopsis of the story so I will not attempt to duplicate their work. I was impressed with the descriptions of the emotions of the H and h following his return. The brotherhood of his team mates was very well demonstrated. The emotional climate of the H was also well done and it was easy to feel his frustration and fears. To have his body, which once worked as a finely tooled machine, become frail and weak could have broken many weaker men.

The religious aspects enhanced the character development of both the main and many secondary characters. Well done, Rebecca Hart.

I was impressed with the h and her slow realization that her husband had grown emotionally and spiritually into a man she could love. She did not choose to stay with him out of a sense of responsibility or pity, she stayed out of love.

[JLH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonah, declared dead SEAL, finds an escape to a mission gone wrong. He returned a year later with scars and amnesia reaching back a few years. He is stranger to his wife and daughter due to his new behavior and Eden’s faith is not true in certain ways. Suspense, and PTS seems to a jumpy SEAL. God answers when the time is right in this book as in real life. HEA and great characters with twists and unexpected turns. * Spoiler alert* The cliffhanger is picked up by the next book for another character. A tease included at the end.

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

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to Eden (Acts of Valor, Book 1): Christian Romantic Suspense, my first read from author Rebecca Hartt, an author I first heard of in an email from another author. I'd received a free Audible copy of Every Secret Thing (Acts of Valor, Book 2): Christian Romantic Suspense and wanted to read the first book in the series so I went out & bought this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. The best book I’ve read so far this year, fans of Dee Henderson Marliss Melton, and Colleen Coble, will enjoy what looks to be the first book in an excellent series. I'll be reading more from this author and in this series just as soon as I get them! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Patti Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time author for me

Let me start with what I liked: uplifting relationship with our creator. Military suspense and drama. Assortment of good characters from which to build on.
Things I didn’t love: Editing problems (not major) and some lack of continuity. Also some rather implausible scenes from a military base standpoint. I also wish we had just a little more romance and more “real life” SEAL knowledge.
Overall: I’m invested enough in the characters to give book two a solid shot.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one in the Acts of Valor series a Christian Military Romantic Suspense story. This is a new Author to me and it looks like this is her debut book. A well written story that kept me turning pages. There is suspense, drama, danger, murder, evil, and romance. Navy SEAL Jonah Mills was reported as MIA a year ago but not he has come home to his wife Eden they will have alot to overcome. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Hartt out does herself with a book depicting what faith in God do in ones life. In the case of Jonah Mills a Navy SEAL thought to be MIA then declared dead found his way back from his captures. His wife Eden stunned by his return had come to terms with being single because before he left the had a less than stellar marriage.
This book brought me to tears and moved me in so many ways. It is a beautiful book a worthy of more than 5 stars.

[Lois Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return. To Eden

Return to Eden a totally different man then the one she had married two years ago. The man better known as Jaguar by his Seal team, returns from captivity one of torture. He left a man who was more interested in himself and his career, no with no memory and the journey ahead has to be pursued with caution from all, his wife and daughter. Danger, and love along with the teamwork of his team gives a basis for this plot. Very interesting.