Harlequin American Romance #573: The Soldier and the Baby

Reilly is an ex-soldier who goes to Sao Pablo, a tiny Central America in the middle of a revolution, on a mission to rescue the wife and baby of his deceased friend because he promised to save them as his friend died from a car accident. He doesn't expect much from his buddy's wife, he knows his friend's tastes ran to stacked blondes with more beauty than brains but he plans on saving both her and the baby no matter what. Novice Carlie Forest has been in the nunery in Sao Pablo for nine years since she was 17 and her missionary parents were murdered right in front of her. At the nunery she has finally found peace from the nightmares and terror that the outside world brings her. She still hasn't said her vows because the mother superior does not believe that Carlie has a calling to be a nun, she is afraid Carlie is merely running away from life. When fighting gets too close to the nunery, all of the nuns except for Carlie leave for Brazil. Carlie stays behind to care for the pregnant Caterina Mendino, who delivers a healthy baby boy but dies a few days later due to infection. The baby, Timothy, is in danger because Caterina was the step-daughter of the deposed dictator of Sao Pablo and the revolutionaries would kill him merely for being related to the ex-dictator. Reilly shows up at the orphanage and finds Carlie and Timothy. Carlie tries to tell him who she is, but he believes she is Caterina so she goes along with it so she can stay with Timothy to protect him. Carlie is not at all what Reilly was expecting, instead of a stacked blonde she is a small woman with short brown hair who seems innocent instead of a jaded socialite. As they start their trek through the jungle, Reilly sees how much Carlie loves the baby and how much courage and determination she has, all of which are unexpected. Reilly, Carlie and Timothy go through a daring, harzard-filled journey to get to the plane Reilly hid away in the jungle. Along the way, Reilly comes to really admire Carlie and fights an intense attraction to her despite the fact he still thinks she is the selfish Caterina. Carlie has to face her fears of the outside world and come to grips with the violence she experienced so long ago. Reilly eventually finds out that Carlie is a novice nun, which puts a big damper on his feelings toward her because he knows she will leave him when they get Timothy safely out of the country. Carlie has to decide what she really wants - the safety of hiding away in a nunery or risking her heart on Reilly, just as Reilly has to decide if he can trust his heart to Carlie enough to risk declaring his feelings and bringing her with him to his home in Colorado. This was fun, exciting story to read. The setting was exotic and the author does a great job of making you feel like you are racing through the jungle with Reilly and Carlie. The love story was very good, I enjoyed reading about how these two different people came to care for and understand each other. The epilogue was gr

Another great book by Anne Stuart! Seriously, can this woman do no wrong? Reilly travels down to a war torn Central American country to rescue his deceased friend's wife and newborn baby. It's a deathbed promise he made and he's determined to fulfill it. What he doesn't count on is the wife. He was expecting a spoiled, stacked blonde, a notorious celebutante that he was going to have to baby back to the States. What he finds is a brave, tiny little lady who takes her motherhood very seriously. He admires her courage as they tackle the jungle and is bemused by her uncomplaining attitude. He is also seriously alarmed to find himself growing very attracted to her and wonders how long he can hold himself back. Novice nun Carlie Forrest promises to care for and protect the son of deceased Caterina Mendino, the stepdaughter of the newely deposed president. Unsure of what to do next, fate drops in a rough soldier who tells her Caterina's husband, Billy, is also dead and he's here to get her and the baby to the United States. Reilly refuses to believe she's not Caterina and she doesn't waste time arguing. The rebel armies are approaching and the grandson of the ex president would be an eventual problem no new dictator is going to let live. They've got to get out of there. They plunge into the jungle and after almost a decade, Carlie is outside her convent walls, facing the world again. She doesn't know if she can handle it, especially with her growing attraction to Reilly by her side. The Soldier and the Baby was a good book. A simple, straightforward adventure story of two people trekking through the jungle, looking for a way out. They are alone for the better part of the story and have only each other for company. Carlie is surprised that her nunlike behavior is rapidly evaporating next to the virile, vexing soldier and Reilly is stunned that he's falling for a spoiled celebutante that seems to have the most innocent blue eyes he's ever seen. Until things stop adding up and he begins to wonder who exactly he's been lusting after. When he discovers she's an almost nun, you have to laugh at his horror. This was a fun romp through the jungle and these two were made for each other. I love these type of romances where the hero and heroine are stuck with each other in tight situations, forced to deal with each other day and (especially) night. This has the usual Anne Stuart witty banter and it was nice to see a little bit of the happily ever after at the end of the book. I highly recommend the Soldier and the Baby and can't wait to read more from this talented author.

This book is a wild ride you'll never forget, and definitely deserves a space on your keeper shelf. The hero is an ex-soldier known only by his last name, Reilly. The heroine sought refuge at a convent after soldiers killed everyone in the village, including her family. At the convent she cares for a woman who dies giving birth to a baby ... a baby that Reilly shows up at the convent to rescue from this war-torn region ... Description from the book back cover: Rescuing a late army friend's baby was a last request Reilly couldn't refuse. But he also found himself rescuing - and desiring - his friend's wife. At least, that's who he thought the stubborn lady trudging behind him through the jungle was ... Novice Carlie Forrest was used to convents, not hard-loving, shirtless soldiers. Resisting the temptations of the flesh so far had been easy, but those temptations had never before taken male form and slipped inside her sleeping bag! Reilly juggled baby bottles dexterously as he guided them through the jungle, and angelic Carlie fought to maintain her false identity as a grieving widow. Yet Reilly's every move made Carlie wonder about just one night of passion ...

Rielly [don't think he has a last name] came from his retreat in Colorado [plenty of nieces and nephews] to rescue his friend's? wife and child. The Central American country of San Pablo is in constant warfare, making rescue difficult. There is the black shirt renegade militia and the rogueing rebels and both factions want to kill the Mendinos grandchild. Caterina was a spoiled, high-flying adopted daughter of the El Presidente' who had married Billy Morrissey, son of the rich Morrisseys' of DC. And now a widow. Rielly owed Billy [never found out why] but they both had served in the Special Forces? together. Reilly was sick of killing and had gotten out. We, very soon, meet Sister Maria Carlos in the convent where Caterina took refuge. Thus begins a rolicking good story. Shall I give away a soon to be revealed secret? She hasn't taken her vows yet. This leads to a lot of frustration and guilt on both of their parts as the hormones kick in. She is too innocent and he is too horny. Enter the bad guys and a 4 day trip. Whoops! Great story - you should enjoy - try it you may like it - I think a keeper. DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED --M