"Macomber delivers her usual high-quality read, placing interesting characters in an emotionally volatile situation that has particular resonance in these times." — RT Book Reviews on Navy Husband
Navy heroes become family men
Navy Baby
It was a night she'd never two strangers coming together in a moment of intense desire. But now, sheltered Hannah Raymond is expecting the child of a rugged naval seaman she thought she'd never see again. Riley Murdock has been searching for Hannah for months—ever since that soul-shaking night of passion. Now fate has reunited them. Determined to give his child the chance he never had, Riley marries Hannah. They've created the miracle of life together, but is that enough to spark love?
Navy Husband
Shana Berrie is her sister's official navy "parenting plan," so despite being unprepared, she's in charge of adorable nine-year-old Jazmine for the next six months. Shana isn't all that close to her niece, but she's trying her best. The little girl has lots of opinions—including ones on Shana's love life, or lack thereof. Shana also doesn't appreciate Jazmine's godfather, Lieutenant Commander Adam Kennedy, constantly checking up on her. She is definitely not looking for a navy husband, no matter what her meddling niece thinks. So why does infuriating Adam seem so appealing?
Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
I would have thought the first story’s as from 30 years ago. The storyline was archaic. The second seemed more modern, but it was the reverse. I just wonder if all the author’s hero’s are abrupt, hell this, damn this. First story left me cold and far more descriptive than I am used to. The 9-year old in the second one (Jasmine) was a hoot.
Contains 2 stories of navy heroes becoming family men. I enjoyed reading this book. Had never read a story intertwined with the Navy. I thoroughly agree with a review "Macomber delivers her usual high quality read, placing interesting characters in an emotionally volatile situation that has particular resonance in these times." RT Book review on Navy Husband.
First Navy Baby: Riley Murdock is my favorite character in this story. He seems harsh, and emotionally unattached. But he’s had a hard life, and managed to turn his life around by joining the Navy. He didn’t have a loving family that taught him how to handle life, and communicate his feelings and thoughts. He has three big weaknesses, 1st is his temper, he thunders about frequently in the story, but he always feels bad about it, and does his best to be better. 2nd, He’s not good at communicating, especially when it comes to his feelings, but he is still trying to understand them himself the majority of the time. 3rd, his own self-esteem, he doesn’t think very highly of himself, and so he’ll often make mistakes, or say things he shouldn’t because he feels his wife is too good for him. That being said Riley was sweet, protective, kind, sometimes irrational, often frustrated, but very loving.
Hannah finds herself pregnant after one night with Riley. She slept with him being angry with God, and hurting from the loss of her fiancé. She never expected she would get pregnant from that one night, but her father who is a pastor responded to her in the sweetest way, considering the situation.
After the kind way Hannah’s father handles the news he goes behind her back and contacts the army to find Riley. He and The Army chaplain (his friend) feel that Riley needs to “do right by Hannah” and marry her. Riley not understanding his own feelings for her, not wanting his child to grow up without a father like he did, feeling his upcoming promotion is in jeopardy based on his commanders unspoken threat, and Hannah‘s father and the chaplain he decides to marry her.
Hannah is hurting, and angry through a lot of the story, and I felt she treated Riley like he was to blame for everything she was unhappy about. She often would jump to conclusions, yell, or cry instead of communicating in a helpful way. She finally started to mature more and look at Riley’s point of view closer to the end of the story.
I often found myself annoyed at the characters, wanting to smack them and tell them to stop being selfish, and try and see things from the others point of view. If they would’ve just acted more maturely, they could’ve resolved a lot of their problems at the beginning of their marriage. However that would’ve made for an even shorter story than this short story already was.
Their bedroom scenes are way more detailed than I felt necessary, however I did appreciate the kind, and gentle way Riley always treated Hannah. I also felt the author over used the word damn to kind of describe feelings of love and anger.
Over all I did like the story, and I think it’s one I’ll read again.
Book 2 Navy Husband
Shana recently out of a bad relationship, and in a new city, and running a new business she just purchased is terrified to become guardian to her niece Jazmine who she doesn’t have much of a relationship with.
Jazmine can sometimes be really rude, but remembering that she’s only 9 trying to act more mature than she is, that she lost her father two years ago, and then her Mom is now shipping out with the Navy for six months her behaviors are generally understandable.
Adam The family friend, and godfather to Jazmin is funny, kind, and loving, and just who all the women in the story need to help them through their hardships
Allie is my favorite character, sister to Shana and mom to Jazmine. She is wise, caring, and loving. She is a nurse on the navy ship, and after bumping into an officer on board she starts to feel she can love again, and develops feelings for him. He thinking she is unfaithful in her marriage when he thinks she is overly kind to him, and he’s angry at himself for having an attraction to a married woman, so he acts like a complete jerk to her after becoming her patient upon having his appendix removed. Allie remains professional, and confronts him about his horrible behavior, and then leaves him alone. She is hurt from the experience, but she doesn’t act childish or irrational, even when she has to see him later. He finds out about her husbands death, and apologizes. Their relationship blooms from there. Allie’s strength is amazing. I found myself getting teary-eyed thinking of her situation and her feelings, but she remained a good and level headed person through everything.
Over all I felt like this short story was the kind that would make a really cute movie, and I really enjoyed this story and will read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Another good read from Debbie Macomber. This is two books in one.
book #1: Navy Baby: Hannah is distraught over the death of her fiancee Jerry. She's a minister's daughter and Jerry was going to be a minister as well until he was killed in a car accident. One night, feeling sorry for herself months after his death, she meets Riley Murdock on the street. Clearly a Navy man, she spots him again when she ducks into a bar to get away from some seedy looking men. He offers her a drink. She doesn't normally drink and it makes her heady. She kisses him, then, the virgin that she is, ends up seducing him and spending the night in a motel room with him, slipping out before he wakes.
Next thing you know, Hannah is pregnant. Her mom died when she was young and it's just her and her Dad. He asks the father's name and she tells him. Well, he tracks him down to the Navy base and demands he marry his daughter. This is a funny "getting to know you without any sex even though we're married" kind of story. Enjoyable.
Book #2: Shana's sister is a Navy widow with a 9 yr old daughter, Jasmine. While her sister Allie is a Navy nurse, she has been called to sea duty, so Jasmine will live with Shana for the next six months. She isn't too thrilled about moving to Seattle, the only thing that makes her feel better is her Uncle Adam (not really her Uncle) lives close enough to visit.
At first, Shana, who is just out of a relationship and has moved and opened up a pizza parlor/ice cream store isn't thrilled with how much Jasmine takes to Adam but not to her, the more she ends up liking him. Seeing how the two are taken with each other, Jasmine finds ways to play matchmaker.
On the ship, Allie is taken with a Lt. that has come in for an emergency appendectomy. He likes her but notices the ring on her finger, (not yet taken off, even though she's a widow). The two have a love/hate thing going, but will she find love as well?
Debbie Macomber never disappoints when it comes to delivering feel-good romance, and this book is no exception. While this series wasn’t my favorite of her works, it was still an enjoyable read. Macomber has a talent for creating relatable characters and heartfelt stories that draw readers in.
Of the two stories included in this book, I found the first one more engaging than the second. Regardless, Macomber’s incredible writing shines throughout, making this a comforting and pleasant read. Fans of her signature warmth and charm will appreciate another sweet romance to escape into.
**AUDIOBOOK REVIEW** I loved both of these books! Debbie Macomber is an incredible writer! I have always loved reading her books. This was my first audiobook with Kristin Kalbi as narrator and I must say, she is FABULOUS! I truly enjoyed listening to Kristin reading “Navy Families”. I was born & raised in the USAF, married into it & raised a son who serves in the USAF. The military life is always unpredictible and Debbie does a wonderful job describing it in her books. I highly recommend listening to both of these books on audible.
Navy Families is a compilation of two novels by Debbie Macomber. These two novels deal with the Navy and living within the confines of its structure. Both novels deal with being married to an officer or wanting to be married and how it affects the family. Both novels are easy to read and are up to the Macomber standard of excellence.
This is 2 stories. Navy baby 3/5 🌟 After a night of intense desire, Hannah is pregnant. By a naval seaman she'll never see again Riley can't forget Hannah and searches for her everywhere. 2nd is Navy Husband. 4/5🌟 Leaving behind a going nowhere relationship, Shanna moves to Seattle. Her sister ships out, leaving Shanna in charge of her 9 year old Jazmine.
Navy Baby was ok. It was similar to the other two I read before and didn't necessarily like it, because of how descriptive she was.
I LOVED Navy Husband. It was fun, funny and just a nice story. I liked it how it wasn't descriptive like the others were. I liked the characters in this one too.
I would recommend Navy Husband! I liked that one the best!
Both stories pulled me in, the second even more than the first. I read it in a day because I wanted to know how it all ended. I was slightly disappointed in the ending of Navy Husband, but only because I wanted more detail between time jumps, more story, more of the growing romances. Loved both relationship there.
Two excellent stories in one book: Navy Baby - special and endearing - sometimes you have to work hard at making relationships with. Navy Husband - life is complicated but it can be wonderful too if you are willing to open your eyes, be willing to take chances, and open your heart.
Two romances that center around the Navy. The first a couple who meet after a tradegy and hook up end up getting pregnant. They end up learning how to become a family. In the second story two sisters meet Navy men who as time goes by the figure out they love and end up marrying.
Navy baby was too dramatic, glad it was only half a book. Every time you turn a page that girl is crying. Navy husbands was good & made up for it though
Quick one. This is two books, Navy Baby was better than Navy Husbands. Neither are believable at all but for a quick mindless read, I did enjoy the first one.