Marin Thomas, In A Soldier's Arms

In A Soldier's Arms

Marin Thomas

Harlequin American, Feb 2008, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373752041

The letter from her grandma came one month ago claiming that she Margaret O'Neal was emergency-room nurse Maggie O'Neal's last living maternal relative. Unable to resist she leaves Louisville to meet her late mom's kin in Heather's Hollow, Kentucky.

She drives over and to a caf she meets former soldier Abram Devane, who reluctantly shows her the way to Granny ONeal's place, next to his. Maggie is fascinated by granny's sixth sense gift and her healing skills so she decides to stay awhile and become better acquainted. She is also attracted to Abram, but though he seems to reciprocate at times; each advancing step leads to two steps in retreat as if he fears her love or perhaps his loving her. However, if he listened to either his heart or the natives he would know that when an O'Neal female sees the future, it always happens; Maggie sees herself in this soldier's arms forever.

IN A SOLDIER'S ARMS is a whimsical contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters with commitment issues, a wonderful Appalachian support cast, and the show stealer Granny, who in some ways will remind readers of Granny Moses of the TV version of the Beverly Hillbillies. Whereas Margaret learns home is where the heart wants to be, which is with Granny and Abram. Abram suffers from PTSD, but feels bewitched by the two O'Neal women who enable him to somewhat forget the anguish from his military experience. Marin Thomas provides a warm old Kentucky home romance.

Harriet Klausner