HER SOLDIER’S TOUCH by J.M. Stewart-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 16, 2015

Experience has taught single mother Rachel Madison that the only person she can truly rely on is herself. But what she wants most in the world—to give her son the life she never had growing up—means she must put her faith in a man who once walked out on her.

Retired from the service, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Colten Taylor makes a detour to Phoenix to bury his brother. Nobody is more surprised than he to see Rachel waiting for him at the airport. He regrets the morning he walked away from her, but coming from an abusive home taught Colt to put limits on all his relationships—especially this one.

So when he discovers he has a son, Colt knows this is a chance to prove to himself he’s not a chip off the old block. Turning his life around doesn’t come naturally, though. Then a drug dealer crops up from his brother’s dark past, threatening their son and forcing Colt and Rachel to face their demons … and each other.

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REVIEW: HER SOLDIER’S TOUCH is a stand alone adult, contemporary romance storyline from author J.M. Stewart-a second chance trope that finds single mother, nurse and part time waitress Rachel Madison, and retired Army Sergeant Colten Taylor struggling with the rebuilding of their relationship after a six year separation, and too many dark and tormented memories.

Told from alternating third person perspectives the focus of the storyline finds Colten Taylor returning back to the States to bury his brother-a brother whose addictions led to the destruction of his own life. Finding Rachel Madison at the airport was the last thing he expected but is the secret she reveals that totally blows his mind. After meeting Rachel’s five year old son Greg, Colten knew he was the child’s father.

Colten and Rachel’s childhoods were horrific. Colten’s father was an abusive and murderous alcoholic whose demons led to his youngest son’s addictions and troubles. Rachel’s own father walked out on his family leaving Rachel behind with a drug addicted mother and a revolving bedroom door. Colten and his brother Paul, along with Rachel sought refuge with one another-best friends from an early age-and eventually lovers and strangers when their world’s began to completely fall apart. Paul’s death from an overdose is a reminder that all was not well, and now the people to whom he owed money are looking for retribution and revenge.

The secondary and supporting characters include Rachel’s best friend Amy; Colten’s childhood friend Jake Ramirez, and Jake’s mother Rose who became Colten and Paul’s refuge in the storm. Rose’s motherly advice plays a significant role in Colten’s decision to remain and fight for the family he never knew he had.

The relationship between Colten and Rachel is a friends to lovers/ second chance storyline that finds our couple at odds with their future path. Colten is a man who tends to run when the world comes crashing down; he keeps his emotions reigned in tight. Rachel fears that Colten’s habit of running will leave her and her son alone-once again. She has been a single parent and has no problems continuing to be a single parent if Colten is unable to overcome his past. The $ex scenes are intimate without the heat of the erotic.

HER SOLDIER’S TOUCH touches on many family issues including drug and alcohol addiction, physical and emotional abuse, abandonment and single parenthood. It is an emotional and heartbreaking storyline where the sins of the father (and mother) continue to haunt the next generation. J. M. Stewart will pull you in and never let go.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy