"Life goes on, romance and suspense continue"

Sept. 1983 Rose Ann Shawnassy married Sergeant Mark Grady of the United States Marine Corp. because she was pregnant. Precautions were taken, but accidents happen. It seemed good that they were also in love. Yet it made it very hard when Mark didn't come home from Beirut, where he was sent right after the wedding.

It's not until after Mark is gone that his family finds out he is married. His older brother, Dennis, now part of Grady Security and Investigations, can't believe that Rose is anything but a gold-digger and so he starts investigating her. What he finds is a beautiful woman whom he can respect -- and to whom he is unwillingly drawn. Then Rose's father turns up and she discovers things about herself and him that she never suspected, things that put her life in danger.

For those who are too young to remember this time well, and even for those who do remember, it is an excellent history lesson. There was very good coverage in this story of the bombing in Beirut. More than I cared for really, because I remembered it too well for my peace of mind. Getting to know Mark made the first part of the book hard for me to enjoy. I'm not good with sad stories and knowing what was going to happen and liking Mark made this section less than enjoyable. I really have trouble with sad books that make me cry. Of course, this means this was written very well. For me, this was a predominantly sad story.

I know the heroine led an eventful life, but many of her actions and responses made it difficult to accept that she was only 18. The suspenseful action part of the story doesn't really get started until about 2/3 of the way into the book, and doesn't last that long. This is an interesting story. It is a romance and a sweet reminder that life goes on.

Sensuality: PG. Fairly non-descriptive masturbation, oral sex, and sex.

Reviewed by Flora Bell
Posted June 26, 2002