A Hero to Come Home To

A Hero to Come Home To
Marilyn Pappano
Published: Forever - Hatchette
Date: June 2013
Genre: Contemporary
Format: Paperback
Pages: 351
Source: Own book

Summary from Goodreads:

Two years after losing her husband in Afghanistan, Carly Lowry has rebuilt her life in Tallgrass, Oklahoma. She has a job she loves teaching third grade and the best friends in the world: fellow military wives who understand what it means to love a man in uniform. She's comfortableT and content...until she meets a ruggedly handsome stranger who rekindles desires Carly isn't quite sure she's ready to feel.

Staff Sergeant Dane Clark wanted to have a loving family, a twenty-year Army stint, and then a low-key civilian career. But the paratrooper's plans were derailed by a mission gone wrong. Struggling to adjust to his new life, he finds comfort in the wide open spaces of Tallgrass--and in the unexpected attention of sweet, lovely Carly. She is the one person who makes him believe life is worth living. But when Carly discovers he's been hiding the real reason he's come to Tallgrass, will Dane be able to convince her he is the hero she needs?

My thoughts:
This is the first in a series, and the first time I have read a book by Marilyn Pappano.  The book came to my notice on a facebook page where a group of us (who are Susan Elizabeth Phillips fans) share what we are reading.  Some readers liked it so I thought I would try it out.

I liked the book, the characters were interesting and their issues were out of my experience in life so it is always interesting to read about something that you have no experience of.  This book certainly explores what it is like to lose someone in war - such as those in Afghanistan or Iraq.  Or indeed to be injured and to lose a limb.  I felt this book did it well.

I liked one of the side character's issue.  She has been left with two children who actually were her husbands by his first marriage.  Therese is now the stepmom.  There is a actual mother in the picture but she doesn't wand the children.  The children are rather morose and surly. Especially the older 13 year old girl.  This story was only part of the book and I would like to know what eventually happens to them, so no doubt I will read the next book that comes out in 2014 in this Tallgrass novel.

At times I found the book moved a little slowly, to be honest I skim read some pages when it seemed to slow down.  However on the whole  I enjoyed the read.