REVIEW: A Soldier’s Return by RaeAnne Thayne

A Soldier’s Return by RaeAnne Thayne is the fourth book in The Women of Brambleberry House series. After her divorce, Melissa Fielding has returned to her hometown of Cannon Beach with her daughter, Skye. There she runs into Eli Sanderson, a military doctor on leave to take care of his father after his surgery and to temporarily take over his father’s medical practice while he recovers. Melissa has no desire for something temporary, and Eli has no plans of sticking around. But when it comes time for him to leave, will he be able to leave Melissa and Skye behind?

Both Melissa and Eli had past relationships that make them hesitant to be with one another. For Melissa, it was her jet-setting ex who blindsided her with the news he had gotten remarried and was moving back to his hometown permanently, something which he refused to do when they were married. For Eli, it’s Justine, a worker for Doctors Without Borders, and Miri, a young girl who helped out at the clinic they were stationed at. After losing them in an act of terror, Eli turned his focus onto helping as many people as he could because of the guilt he felt. Their romance is a slow-burn, as they spend a good portion of the book getting to know one another again.

The relationship Eli had with Skye was adorable. As much as Eli wanted keep his distance from her and not get attached, he ended up with falling for her as well.

He tried to steel his heart against Skye, using as a shield an image of a little dark-eyed orphan with a shy smile, but he quickly realized it was pointless.
He couldn’t resist her any more than he’d been able to resist her mother.

Melissa lives at Brambleberry House with some other women. There’s a twist at the end of the book involving Sonia, the most aloof and mysterious person in the house. I’m interested in seeing what her story is about.

While I’ve read other books by this author, I have not read any of the ones in The Women of Brambleberry House. That being said, this book works as a stand alone.

A Soldier’s Return is heart-warming tale of two people finding their way back home. Readers both new and old to the series are sure to enjoy this one.

Book Info:

Publication: January 15, 2019 | Harlequin Special Edition | The Women of Brambleberry House #4

Returning home to Cannon Beach and living in Brambleberry House, a place where good things seemed destined to happen, had brought Melissa Fielding and her young daughter such joy. Perhaps it was no accident when the single mom “bumped” into Eli Sanderson, and discovered the handsome doctor was also back in town. The ex-soldier was still so captivating, but also more guarded. Was now the time to put old ghosts to rest?