Title: A Soldier’s Heart
Author: Nancy Fraser
Genre: Sweet Contemporary/Military Romance
Book Blurb:
Captain Brianna Higgs is a little over three months short of retirement after serving her country for fifteen years. She now has a chance to be a full-time mother to the daughter she shared with her late husband, military sniper Liam Higgs. Brianna looks forward to telling five-year-old Bailey all about her hero father.
The military has taught her to pivot with the punches. However, the one punch she never expected was to be in a custody battle with her late husband’s family. Brianna’s mother had been Bailey’s caretaker. But after her mother’s unexpected death, Brianna hired a housekeeper to help out, and Liam’s parents took over as part-time/weekend caregivers. Now, they’re looking to make their guardianship permanent. While she waits for the outcome of her request for an early return to the states, Brianna must find a way to handle things at home. Fortunately, her younger brother Dean has asked the woman he loves to marry him. Can Dean and Alicia help out until Brianna gets home?
Christopher Miller, Alicia’s brother, specializes in family law. When Alicia and her fiancé approach him for help, he has to refuse due to a conflict of interest. He’s already been hired as the counsel for the Higgs family.
Brianna arrives home just in time to attend the custody hearing, and Chris is knocked for a loop at their very first meeting. Not only is Brianna Higgs impressive in her dress uniform, but she’s also beautiful and determined. The fact that she could easily knock him on his butt in hand-to-hand combat doesn’t scare him away at all. If anything, it intrigues him.
Will Chris jeopardize his job to make sure the right party wins? And, once the smoke has lifted, can he convince Brianna he had no intention of taking her child away?
Excerpt:
Chris Miller poured himself a cup of coffee from the silver urn on the sideboard and took a seat at the table. The one upside to living at home was he was always the first one to arrive for meals. Although, if you asked his older brothers, Alex and J.W., such a fate was the worst thing in the world. Even his twin Cate had moved out on her own, as had Mackenzie, the oldest of the Miller sisters.
His mother arrived next and, as he’d done, she poured a cup of coffee, added a splash of cream, and took her place at the table. “You escaped the exhibit early,” she noted. “Any particular reason you were avoiding your family?”
“Maybe,” he admitted. “However, the respite isn’t going to last long. I’m pretty sure the ‘reason’ is coming to dinner.”
“Whatever do—”
His mother’s words were cut short when Alicia burst into the room, her fiancé Dean Cole, hot on her heels. Chris pulled in a breath and waited for his sister to speak.
“Chris, why did you disappear so quickly from Mackenzie’s show? Dean and I needed to talk to you.”
“Well, you’re here now,” he pointed out. “Talk.”
“We need your legal expertise,” Dean said. “My sister’s in-laws are suing her for custody of her daughter. She’s stuck in Kandahar for at least another month, and the court case is scheduled to take place before she returns.”
“I know,” Chris said simply.
“You do?” Alicia asked suspiciously. “How could you know?” Despite her diminutive size, Alicia squared her shoulders and boldly met his gaze. “Unless... Please don’t tell me you’re representing the grandparents.”
“Unfortunately, I am. Higgs Manufacturing is one of our most valued commercial clients. It was a natural extension for them to ask for our help with a family law matter.”
“But this is Dean’s sister—” Alicia began.
Chris’ glance went from his obviously irate younger sister to his future brother-in-law. Dean’s stoic expression gave away nothing.
“For the record,” Chris said firmly, “I was assigned the case and readily accepted because of our prior business relationship. I had absolutely no idea it involved Dean’s sister until I got into the paralegal’s notes.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Rebecca asked her son.
Chris shot his mother a resigned look. As the wife and mother of lawyers, she knew better than to ask. Sighing, he told them all, “I’m bound to attorney-client privilege, and by the rules of the court, to not discuss the case until all parties have been served their papers.” Turning to Dean, he added, “I’ll assume, since you heard from your sister, that she received her papers in Kandahar.”
Tears threatened the corners of Alicia’s blue eyes, nearly breaking Chris’ heart.
“Why would you ask for a court hearing while Brianna is still on deployment?” Alicia asked. “That’s so unfair.”
“First of all, we asked for a speedy hearing so the decision could be made before the end of the current school year. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be set so soon,” he admitted. “I can’t advise you on what to do, but only suggest you find representation for Captain Higgs’ interests.” He paused, then added, “And, no, I can’t recommend someone.”
“You can’t, but I can,” Rebecca spoke up, her voice filled with conviction. “Your father’s not the only lawyer I know and trust.”
Jeremy Miller’s rough cough announced his arrival. “What’s this about another lawyer in your life, sweetheart?”
Rebecca turned to face her husband of over forty-years. “It seems our son is representing the wrong side of a custody battle, so I intend to help Dean’s sister find the best possible counsel.”
“The Higgs’ motion?” Jeremy asked.
“Yes, they’ve filed for custody of Dean’s niece, Bailey,” Chris confirmed.
“That cute little sprite who claims our house is a castle?”
“Yes,” Dean explained. “My sister’s deployed for another month-and-a-half, and not scheduled to return before the initial hearing.”
Jeremy scanned the room, his gaze settling on his wife. “Randy Parsons, or Jim Davies.”
“Dad!” Chris admonished.
“What? I’m not allowed to steer my wife away from the younger, more attractive attorneys in the area?”
“How about we let this drop for the time being and enjoy our evening meal,” Rebecca suggested. “The rest of the family should be arriving in the next few minutes, and I’d hate for them to sense any tension.”
“For what it’s worth, Chris,” Dean said from across the table, “I understand loyalty. I don’t fault you for taking a business acquaintance on for your client. I just hope you won’t object if we ask the court for a continuation until my sister can get back on U.S. soil.”
“I’ll definitely steer my clients toward the possibility of a continuance,” Chris agreed. “After all, how horrible would we seem if we took advantage of an active-duty soldier?”
His father’s smile spread and he nodded in Chris’ direction. “Exactly, son. Exactly.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMGJHSNS
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/45xcdSM
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-soldier-s-heart-small-town-holiday-romances-by-nancy-fraser
What makes your featured book a must-read?
As both the daughter and mother of military personnel, I’ve always been a fan of military-themed romances. I’ve written a few featuring former military, but never delved much into someone who was active-duty. When the chance came to do one who was not only active, but a woman, I knew I had to do it. Add to that the fact that she’s facing a personal issue far more challenging than the danger she faces on deployment, and the book and my heroine’s plight spoke to me loud and clear.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to win.
Runs May 23 – May 31, 2023.
Winner will be drawn on June 1, 2023.
Author Biography:
NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Nancy’s most recent accolade was for her western historical romance, An Honorable Man for Katarina, which won the National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) award for sweet romance. She was also named a “bright new voice in sweet/inspirational romance” by Independently Reviewed.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
Social Media Links:
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