Series:
Camdens of Montana (Book 4)
First love dies hard
Or never at all…
Dalton Camden and Marli Abbott's teenage love story was
legendary…until a shared secret tragedy led Marli to flee town. Seventeen years
later, the former marine is in no mood to forgive and forget, not even when
Marli seeks his help for her brother. But buried feelings and unchanged
attraction are impossible to ignore as they work towards a common goal. Can
Marli convince Dalton their love is worth the fight when she reveals the truth
of her departure?
Good second chance story with complications. Dalton and
Marli grew up together in their small town, best friends from the ages of eight
and seven. That friendship grew into more when they were in high school. But
Marli always had plans to get out of the small town as soon as possible, while
Dalton's plan took him to the Naval Academy and the Marines. After a traumatic
experience, Marli followed up on her plans, leaving Dalton behind without a
word.
Marli is back in Merritt, happy to be there after ending
her third engagement, and looking forward to starting her new business. The
last person she expects to see is Dalton, who is back in Merritt to review the
court martial case of her brother Holt, accused of disobeying orders, causing
casualties during a rescue mission. Marli has long felt guilty about how she
left Dalton and now fears that it could hurt Holt's case.
The story opens as Dalton arrives to keep track of Holt
during his medical leave (Holt was paralyzed during the mission). His reaction
when Marli tries to apologize is rife with anger, resentment, and residual
hurt, and Marli is stunned by its intensity. I liked that she didn't give up on
trying to make things right. Fortunately, Dalton's normal level-headedness
returns, and he realizes he may have been a little over-the-top. He chalks it
up to venting, believing he has now managed closure on their former
relationship. But Marli isn't done with him - she wants them to return to some
semblance of friendship, even if a relationship is no longer possible.
I liked watching Dalton and Marli slowly rekindle their
friendship. It isn't easy, and Marli puts more effort into it initially. But it
isn't too long before their memories of the good times they had begun to
outweigh the bad memories. When that happens, what were sparks of antagonism
turn into sparks of attraction. There are some terrific scenes of them together
as that happens, from painting her new office to having dinner in a treehouse.
But Dalton has avoided relationships for years, citing his career, and makes no
secret of his return to duty once he's done in Merritt.
At the same time, Marli is wary of getting involved with
Dalton. Her fiancés have all turned critical of what makes her who she is after
they put the ring on her finger. I ached for her as she described their
attitudes to Dalton. I liked his support of her and how she remembers that he
was never like that when they were together.
I liked watching Dalton with his brothers and grandfather
and seeing how close they all are. He's surprised to see his brothers'
happiness after giving up their Marine careers for love and wonders about his
future. I loved his introspection as he examined his life and what he wanted
from it. His conversation with Marli is fantastic as they finally admit their
feelings and belief that they are now where they should be. I especially
enjoyed Dalton's comments about engagements and marriage and what was most
important.
Marli's brother was a first-class jerk. He's had a grudge
against the Camdens since he and Daltons were kids because of something their
parents did, and he took it out on Dalton throughout their school days and into
their time at the Naval Academy. When Holt was assigned to a mission under
Dalton's command, he disobeyed a direct order, making a complicated mission
even more difficult. It is also where he got hurt, and he is now looking at the
possibility of a court-martial. Even now, with Dalton the one to decide his
fate, he can't keep his mouth shut, and I felt his wife's and Marli's frustration
with his intransigence. Dalton has a lot to consider in his decision, and it
isn't easy to make. I liked how it turned out.
I enjoyed the story and thought it was well-written. My
only complaint is the author's inability to properly capitalize anything to do
with the United States Marine Corps. The word "Marine" is ALWAYS
capitalized when speaking of a member of the USMC. If you shorten "Marine
Corps," it is "the Corps," NOT "the corps." Dalton,
his brothers, and Holt all attended the Naval Academy, not the "naval
academy." This has been a consistent issue in any book she has written
involving Marines.
P 151, The Associated Press Stylebook, 2004
Marines:
Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Marines, the Marines, the Marine
Corps, Marine regulations. Do not use
the abbreviation USMC.
Capitalize Marine when referring to an individual in a
Marine Corps unit: He is a Marine.
Do not describe Marines as soldiers, which is generally
associated with the Army. Use troops if
a generic term is needed.
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