Babs’ review of A SEAL’s Salvation by Tawny Weber
Contemporary romance published by Harlequin Blaze February 1, 2014
Subject: Navy SEAL Petty Officer Brody Lane
Current Status: On leave
Obstacle: The one girl who was off-limits…
Where Navy SEAL “Bad Ass” Brody Lane goes, trouble follows. Being run out of his hometown years ago for misbehaving with Genna Reilly—the sheriff’s daughter—was one thing. Now Brody is about to step into real danger. Not the suggestive letters he’s been exchanging with Genna, but the kind of trouble that can send a soldier home injured and broken inside…
Genna’s entire life has been orchestrated by her family. The right job. The right friends. Enough! Brody’s return offers the promise of lust-filled pleasures. Of flesh teased and tasted. She’s not expecting to find a soldier with distant eyes who has secluded himself from the world. But this good girl knows exactly how to bring a bad boy back to life….
Uniformly Hot! The Few. The Proud. The Sexy as Hell.
A SEAL’s Salvation is a very satisfying read. The chemistry between Genna and Brody is off the charts. Besides friend’s brother/sister trope (one of my favorites and favorite trope is the TBR challenge theme for June), there’s also the “bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks with the town princess” thing, a dash of second chance romance, and “we’re just going to be friends (but not really)”. While “bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks” doesn’t always land well with me, it definitely worked here.
Brody was a bad boy in town and Genna had a crush on him in high school. Brody crossed Genna’s dad, the town sheriff, and ended up in the navy. Years later, Brody is a SEAL and out of nowhere receives a letter from Genna after Brody’s friend (and Genna’s brother) dies. Brody ends up injured on a mission and back home recuperating. Genna is stuck in her hometown through her parents’ guilt and smothering. She wants to have whatever kind of relationship Brody will give her. He agrees to be friends. Soon after it’s more than friends. Brody is dealing with his own issues after the “failed” mission he was injured on and reconciling with his past. After a big fight then making up, Brody and Genna end up happily ever after.
My favorite moment of the story is towards the beginning when Brody and Genna reconnect after 10 years. I love how unexpected Brody’s response was and that Genna goes along with it. A great way to bring them back together (I don’t want to spoil it because I thought it was so delightful).
I picked this book for several reasons. 1. It was shelved on Goodreads as friend’s brother/sister. 2. Not gonna lie–the short length was a big selling point. 3. It has a solid 4 star rating on Goodreads. 4. It’s a Harlequin Blaze category romance and it’s been awhile since I’ve read a category romance.
This book is the third of a series. I haven’t read the other books (not normal for me but I powered through) and didn’t have any issues. Brody is the strong, silent type and I felt I didn’t get much from him especially when the story speeds through the weeks Brody and Genna are becoming friends/building their relationship. I do like how they both come out stronger in the end–choosing their paths instead of sticking to what they incorrectly believe they deserve or should do. Enjoyable, fast read for me and I recommend it.
Grade: B