Stranded With The Sergeant (Silhouette Romance, 1534)

Rating:
Summary: Sexy, lively, emotionally intense read
Review: Cathie Linz is a USA Today best-selling author of over 40 contemporary romances. She is the recipient of the highly coveted Storyteller of the Year Award given by Romantic Times Magazine (RT) and was recently nominated for a Love and Laughter Career Achievement Award from RT for her highly entertaining humorous short contemporary romances.

Stranded with the Sergeant is part of Ms. Linz's delightful Men of Honor series featuring heroes who are U.S. Marines. The first in the series is Daddy in Dress Blues, Sil. Rom. #1470.

Sergeant Joe Wilder has recently been transferred to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina following a disaster overseas where several men under his command died before his eyes in a helicopter crash. Unable to get over feelings of survivor guilt since this tragedy "happened on his watch," Joe fears he is falling apart. If he cannot pull himself together, he believes he will lose his cherished career as a Marine. In an attempt to distract himself from his torment, Joe has embarked on a round of wild behavior, including bungee jumping, white water rafting and too much drinking. His commanding officer (CO) calls Joe on the carpet and orders him to cease and desist his dangerous behavior. Joe is also commanded to immediately escort the CO's daughter, an elementary teacher, and five sixth-grade students on a camping trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains. An order is an order, and of course he will obey, but Joe is aghast at the assignment--he knows nothing about kids.

Prudence Martin is dismayed, too, when Joe shows up. She was expecting a family friend her dad's age to guide her field trip. Instead, she gets a gorgeous, young hunk with devastating blue eyes. Prudence is immediately attracted to Joe, but refuses to do anything about it. She's been burned before dating Marines, and she doesn't want to make that mistake again.

Joe is instantly drawn to the lovely Prudence, as well, but he, also, has no intention of getting romantically involved with her. She's his CO's daughter, and his CO would be bound to find out if Joe had a fling with his daughter. Which would be even more damaging to Joe's career than the CO finding out Joe has been a basket case since the crash overseas.

Unfortunately for these determined resolutions, a blizzard strands their little troop in a cabin in the mountains. During a break in the storm, a rescue helicopter ferries out the kids. But before it can come back for Joe and Prudence, another blizzard hits, and they are trapped again. But this time without their five little chaperones.

This is a "sweet" romance, meaning no consummated sex, but in spite of that limitation, there is a great deal of sexual fire as well as strong emotional intensity between the hero and heroine as they are irresistibly drawn toward each other in the isolated cabin. Joe learns Prudence has had to work through survivor guilt of her own from a past car accident in which her mother was seriously injured. And some serious kisses are exchanged before Joe tears himself away.

In spite of how close Joe and Prudence become in the cabin, once they are down from the mountain, Joe runs from Prudence, unable to deal with the powerful emotions she evokes in him on top of the turmoil he is already feeling. But Prudence refuses to let him go.

There are some very poignant scenes as Joe works through the issues keeping him apart from Prudence, and I found myself reaching for a hankie more than once. The relationships Joe has with his father and friends, and those Prudence has with her parents, help to establish the two of them as very three-dimensional, engaging, highly sympathetic characters. They are also a good match for each other in every way in terms of intelligence, integrity, caring and passion.

I agree with the RT review that this is a "fun and entertaining adventure." It is also a very moving one. Bravo, Ms. Linz. I can't wait for the next in the series!

Rating:
Summary: Hero is a hunk-love that cover!
Review: I read Cathie Linz all the time because shes pretty funny. I really like funny romances. This book is more into drama than usual for her, but not so much that it has you feeling horrible at the suffering of the hero or heroine. Well, like the other reviewer, I cried a bit...but not too much! I thought the hero was real sexy. And...boy...did they pick a great cover model! He really looks like I imagined the hero to look.

Rating:
Summary: I love Cathie Linz!
Review: I've read all Cathie Linz's book--in fact, I collect her! I think this is one of her better books. The hero, Sergeant Joe Wilder, is very sexy, and I like the heroine Prudence very much. I love stories with military heroes, especially when they are well written like this book. Lots of funny moments, and the love scenes are great!

Rating:
Summary: Another treasure by Cathie Linz
Review: Joe Wilder is very sexy, a strong, silent kind of guy (like Gary Cooper in those old movies on AMC). Prudence Martin is his commanding officer's daughter, and Joe is surprised that his CO is trying to match him up with her. Very intimidating situation, and at first he resists. But Prudence is such a kind, generous person, and very attractive, Joe can't resist her.

The sparks really fly between these two, and they are wonderful people. I really enjoyed being with them and didn't want the book to end.

Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: One of the girls at the office handed me this book today at lunch and said, Read this! I started reading and couldn't stop. I hated to go back to work! I've been reading it all evening, and my husband and kids are mad. My hubbie had to make the kids hot dogs for dinner, but I don't care, I got to finish the book. <G> It's great! Get it!

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed parts of this . . .
Review: Plenty of plot summaries have already been posted so I'll just add a little . . . The humor was great, and I loved how the kids were depicted, but I really didn't appreciate the whole "Let's see just how far they can go without actually (technically) having sex" routine. Plus, I was left a little uneasy with how Joe handled his guilt feelings. Did he actually resolve anything? I didn't actually LIKE either Joe or Prudence that much, for some reason. His consuming guilt made him come off as somewhat self-absorbed.

A much better alternative? Cara Colter's Major Daddy, one of my absolute all-time favorites.

Rating:
Summary: I'd like to be stranded with this guy!
Review: Sergeant Joe Wilder is a wonderful hero. He is strong, but very sensitive. The heroine, Prudence Martin, is a good match for him. I like military stories, the heroes are such strong men, and Joe is certainly that. Even though Prudence started out not wanting to marry a Marine, being a "military brat," she knows how to appreciate the worth of a good man like Joe. And in the end they make a wonderful match. I really believe in their happy ending.

I love this author and am going to look for more of her books.

Rating:
Summary: Saluting the Marines!
Review: WOW! And wow again. This series of books about Joe Wilder, his brothers and friends, focuses on Marines, on guys who are heroes by choice and by accident. What a terrific group of guys Cathie Linz has written--and the heroines match up, each and every one. This Marine series of hers, while it contains her usual lovely humor and cleverness, has poignancy and a very timely appeal. We're all looking for heroes in these difficult days, and, boy, Cathie Linz's heroes measure up. This book with its wonderful heroine Prudence is a real keeper. Raise the flag and salute this one!