Veena’s review of Always For You: Jack (Sergeant Joe’s Boys, Book 1) by Alexis Morgan
Contemporary Romance published by Loveswept 19 Apr 16
I was surprised to see a contemporary romance from an author whom I associate primarily with paranormal and fantasy romances. This is the first of what appears to be a sweet trilogy featuring three men who came from difficult and diverse backgrounds to be fostered together in Sergeant Joe’s home. After their foster father passes, Jack McShane is elected by his brothers to be the one to help his foster mom run their father’s construction business. Little did he know that his reluctant sojourn in Seattle would put him in a position to offer love and stability to a young teenage boy much like he had once been to find his own happily ever after.
Shortly after his return to Seattle, as he’s single handedly trying to repair a roof, Jack finds a young teenage volunteer who offers to help him out in return for some cash. The young boy reminds Jack a lot of what he had once been like, before being offered a home with Sergeant Joe. When the boy doesn’t turn up again, Jack is disappointed but moves on until the local cops come calling. It turns out the boy is in the hospital, and, while he won’t talk about how he got there, he does have Jack’s card in his pocket.
Jack and his foster mother come to the rescue, giving the boy a place to live in and an opportunity to recuperate from his injuries. Jack hires Caitlyn, a teacher recommended by social services, to help prepare Ricky to resume school and cope with keeping up in class. Ricky reminds Jack a lot of himself and his own teenage troubles, so he’s determined to offer Ricky what had turned out to be a saving grace for him at Ricky’s age. Even as he tries not to probe into Ricky’s life and troubles, he goes about giving Ricky stability, love, and discipline, even as he finds himself falling for the attractive teacher.
There are some cute and funny moments when Jack takes Ricky shopping for what he considers essentials and what Ricky considers a luxury. Ricky is definitely not ready to share either Jack or Caitlyn, so when he discovers the developing attraction between the two, he does not take it well, such that Jack wants to lie about going out with Caitlyn. There are so many different emotional threads in the story – Caitlyn with her baggage coming out of her first marriage and its effect on her future relationships, particularly this new and delicate one with Jack;,Jack with his memories of his own abusive childhood trauma, overlaid with the real-life events that are happening with Ricky.
All in all, I enjoyed the story. It’s a bit slow paced, but there’s enough drama and angst that kept me engaged. I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters and am definitely looking forward to reading the back stories of each of the men and seeing them find their HEA, but the true heroine of the story and the character that stood out for me is Marlena, Jack’s foster mother.
Grade: B
Summary:
Praised by Susan Mallery as a bestselling author whose “heartfelt, touching stories never disappoint,” Alexis Morgan introduces Sergeant Joe’s Boys: three brothers living up to a legacy of courageous military service—and pursuing the women who have captured their hearts.
No one understands family loyalty like Jack McShane. He’d do anything to honor his foster father’s last wishes, even if it means putting his own plans on hold to manage Joe’s construction business. An ex–Special Forces operative, Jack thrives on the thrill of globe-hopping rescues. But now he’s needed closer to home. His foster mother has her hands full with a troubled teen, and when Jack meets the hired tutor, he discovers a woman who stirs his protective instincts—and his deepest desires.Caitlyn Curtis knows that good looks can hide a hot temper. After an abusive marriage crushed her dreams of a happy ending, she swore off men—until one intoxicating dance in Jack’s strong arms breaks down every emotional barrier. Tough but tender, he leaves Caitlyn yearning for more of his gentle seduction. Despite the violence he’s seen, Jack is a good man. And even though passion can be dangerous, the promise of Jack’s kiss tempts her to believe that love is a risk worth taking.
Other books in this series:
Love, Alwasy and Forever: Mikhail – Feb 2017
