Cover Image: Her Marine Next Door

Her Marine Next Door

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Member Reviews

Ok, guys, first thing that caught my eye, THAT COVER. Absolutely stunning and steamy!

The blurb kept my attention and the book was literally me turning the ePage as fast as my eyes could zip through each page.

Word of warning for those who prefer clean romances, this is NOT that book. The sex isn't overly described, but the four letter words are used frequently to the point of punctuation, so be warned if you aren't into strong language.

Also, baby-mama drama, discussed drug-abuse, child mistreatment, if not full on abuse, off-page adultery and loss of a spouse and child.

None of that bothered me too much, I liked the characters, the plot while far-fetched doesn't snap credulity and it had my necessary HEA. This whole year has been one big "Can I please have some happy news?", so I have been gravitating towards HEA, which is the usual MO for a genre I usually don't read much of, romance.

This might not have caught and kept my attention in "normal" times, but if you are a fan of contemporary romance that has some sizzle and spice, then you are going to find this...nice. (Sorry, I had to go for the rhyme!)

3.5 stars, rounded down because the language wasn't quite my cup of tea. 3, I know I know I'm a bit of a prude, stars. One I would recommend if you don't mind strong language in your contemporary romance.

Also, there were other books listed in the back of this one and I impulse bought one of them that is 4th in a series. If I like it, guess what we are adding to our store shelves?

I do hope this is part of a series and we get to see Gibson's and Ioan's HEA. (Hint Hint!) Definitely an author I will be keeping an eye out for.

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC/Entangled: Brazen for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

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This was a quick read filled with well-worn tropes that were at turns comfortable and yet still somewhat
unsatisfactory.
So while this was an easy read and at no point did I feel like I wanted to set it down, it was rather frustrating in places.

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This was a total miss for me. I really wanted to get into it, but there was just nothing about it that I really enjoyed reading about. I normally love these kinds of stories, but there was just too much going on.

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This book was a letdown for something that has many individual things I like—a marine looking to get serious for the first time, a surprise baby (toddler), a competent heroine, and a tragic backstory. Spoilers ahead.

The litmus test I usually use for books featuring children is whether or not those children are treated like characters. In Cullen's case, he's not—he's an object, a way to prompt the plot, but he's not treated like a person by the narrative or by the adults. There's also a moment near the end where Skylar realizes that she loves Cullen, but that Parker means "so much more"—which, after her portrayal as the only adult who's at all decent to Cullen, cuts pretty deep.

I understand that Skylar having dark secrets is a plot twist for Parker later, but the way it plays out shows a huge imbalance in their relationship. She’s giving everything and suffering silently, while Parker is constantly using her, pushing her, and unloading his problems on her and she’s taking care of them. Parker hardly ever considers what Skylar needs except in the moment something bad is actively happening. Then, when he finds out her tragic backstory, his reaction is to be "hurt but not angry," but not to be horrified or feel sad for her?

Another issue that bothered me is the way the racism of certain characters isn't explored at all. Parker's parents treat Skylar terribly for no reason, but adore the (presumed white) mother of his child, also for no reason. No one brings up the likelihood that this is racist behavior—though it's sometimes hinted at between the lines. Parker does not respond at all adequately to his parents' treatment of Skylar, not if they're just being jerks, and certainly not if they're being actively racist. Neither Parker nor his parents can really be forgiven for that treatment, in my opinion, especially given that they don't do any level of groveling for it or listening and learning by the end.

Some more notes: there was a lot of slut shaming and "not like other girls"-ing going on. Side characters that could have helped somewhat redeem the book (Gibson, etc.) didn't show up nearly enough to effectively deliver on that role. In conclusion, everyone was terrible except Skylar, who deserved better, and Cullen, who deserved a personality.

I received a digital advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Cute book. I wanted to scream at Parker for believing his baby's momma about her lies involving Skyler. Skyler is mourning / fighting her own private battles. She lost her son and husband several years ago and blames herself for her child dying. She has not shared her hurt with anyone except her best friend and her sister-in-law. She has lived next-door to Parker and witnessed his loud parties, heavy drinking, and having his friends / guest block her driveway. Secretly she has lusted after him - but will not act on it fearing he is a womanizer (just like her husband was).

Parker tell his baby momma that he is engaged to Skylar and that she can stay at his home with their child (he wants a penurity test done to prove that he is the father). The mom is an alcoholic and a drug addict. The mom attempts to convince Parker's parents that they should marry each other for the sake if their child. It gets ugly fast - Skylar starts to fall in love with the little boy and the child becomes attached to her.

I don't want to give the story away - it is a fast read and enjoyable.

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Single dad and military romances are my catnip yet I found this story to be only ok. I had a difficult time liking Parker as I found him to be spoilt, entitled and immature. Skylar was a bit of a doormat although I loved her interactions with Cullen. Her past kept getting hinted at, yet was not fully revealed until nearly the end. I would have liked that information earlier as it might have explained Skylar’s emotions and decisions better. I felt there were repetitive scenes as both Skylar and Parker kept having the same talk with themselves as to why the relationship should or should not continue. I really enjoyed the last quarter of the book when everything coalesced after the ‘big fight’. And the epilogue made me smile.

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Fun and sexy, a nice light read to pass a rainy and cold winters weekend. The characters and story were great!!

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I truly wanted to like this, but could not get thru it.

I did like the heroine, but much of the story felt rushed and just hastily written. Great premise, but not enough of a hook to get me truly invested in the story!

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This was a great, quick read by a new to me author. Right before I started it, I went to read a few reviews and went in thinking I wouldn’t like it after what I had read. But I really did and thought the story was great and it held my attention throughout.

My problem with the story was not with the characters, like several of the reviews seem to focus on. Mine was with the editing. Now while I usually don’t mention mistakes and errors if the book is an arc, especially if the author lets me know it is not done being edited, but there was no mention that this book was still in edits. So with that being said, a lot of sentences had to be reread because they came off confusing. There was even some guy’s name mentioned, and I am assuming there was a name change at some point and it got left in the manuscript. Also, there was mention of going to a jewelry store to get a ring, and then nothing else about it until the end. Like I said, confusing at times.

All in all, the story was an entertaining read that had lots of heat. Parker and Skylar’s chemistry was off the charts and they had this super charged intensity that was constantly sparking whenever they were near one another. I would absolutely recommend this book. 4 Stars!!

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Her Marine Next door was pretty much what you would expect from a novel in this genre. The sex was a bit awkward to read, and there are holes in the plot that I wanted to see more into. That being said, I felt the book was an entertaining enough read, and I did gift a copy to my friend on Kindle so she could read it too.

3.5 stars.

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This is the first book I have read by this author but will certainly not be the last! This was such an amazing book and I fell in love with the characters right away. The first chapter caught my interest, and I couldn’t put the book down. It had a credible storyline and realistic and easy to connect with characters. I enjoyed seeing the tough guy Parker Jax open up and show his sensitive side as the relationship between him and Skylar progressed. Skylar was fighting her own painful memories of her son and husband and dealing with their loss. They both had a lot of obstacles to overcome in order to have their happy ever after. I can’t wait for the next book to be released and to see another tough marine find his HEA.

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Parker is Skylars next door neighbor; hot, mouth watering, drive you crazy with loud parties and mess neighbor. They’ve been cordial with each other but things change when Skylar gets hurt.

They have secretly cared about each other since
Moving in next to each other. The problem?? Well Parker hasn’t made the best choices while he’s home on leave and now needs Skylars help.

She gladly steps in but when their fake relationship heats up, more than one heart is on the line and it will be everything they can do to hang on.

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Her Marine Next Door by Aliyah Burke is currently scheduled for release on December 14 2020. My next door neighbor Parker Jax is not my type. He’s covered in tats, rides a motorcycle, and his parties keep me up all night. The fact he’s sexy as sin doesn’t change the fact we are oil and water. I’m a quiet artist. He’s a rowdy marine. I’ve got a broken heart. I’m convinced he doesn’t have a heart at all. Thankfully, my bad-boy neighbor is on leave from the Marines for only thirty days. But then the jerk has to go and show me that he has a soft side beneath all those hard muscles. He actually leaves his own party to help me, and he didn’t even have to. I’m not worried, though. What are the chances he’ll need me to do anything before the month is up? But when a woman shows up with a kid at her side, knocking on Parker’s door, it turns out those chances are pretty good.

Her Marine Next Door is a frenemies to love romance. Parker and Skylar do not get along, they spar verbally just about every time the two neighbors interact. The attraction is just as strong as the irritation they seem to cause in each other. They both have more issues tan apparent at first glance, and there are more than are examined in the story. I felt like we got a bit more of Skylar's trauma than Parker's, and I feel like he has some lingering childhood issues based on some of the family interactions in the book. Those that do not like frank words about physical attraction are going to be annoyed right of the bat with this book, but I like the fact that Skylar is honest with herself about her attraction to Parker, even though she has no intention of exploring it at first. I thought some oft he secondary characters were very well built, and I would have liked to know more about most of them. There were some great moments of interaction and self reflection for both Skylar and Parker, and there were other moments that a little flat to me, lacking emotion or depth. I think the ideas were great, but maybe the amount of emotional subplots each needed a substantial amount of attention and there was just too much to give each part the attention it deserved.

Her Marine Next Door is a solid contemporary romance with several layers and plenty of heat.

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I loved this one so much! It's a fake fiance/true love romance done right. I was completely invested in the characters from the beginning.
Skylar is a strong female character. There is pain in her past that is slowly revealed as the book progresses. I was impressed with her sense of honor and her restraint. Parker is sexy, intense, and at times the biggest jacka$$. Their chemistry is off the charts but the road to HEA isn't easy.
There is drama, tension, steamy romance, and family. This story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The ending was absolutely perfect. Now I really want more Gibson and Ioan. Especially more Gibson.

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Thanks to netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
FINALLY a well written romance written by an author who knows what she's doing!!
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So let's break this book into 3 parts:

First 30%: that was my least favorite part, the story just dived in directly towards how much they lust after each other, there weren't a lot going on then so i wasn't impressed much.
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Second 40%: the drama begins with a fast pace, the tension starts and it was really hooking.
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Last 30%: the author did a really good job in this part as she tied all the loose ends and wrote an epic of an epilogue.
I really really loved the book, definitely not the last book with this author.

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ARC received for review

This started out with a great premise, neighborhoods (one who doesn't like the other) turned lovers plus throw in an ex with toddler. But it just seemed like there was always something missing. Reading along and then there's something that hadn't been explained (like where and when with the fake ring). It isn't until the end that it confirmed that she has an African heritage. We never know why his mom hates her on sight. [ maybe because of her skin color...who knows (hide spoiler)]. It also took way too long for him to find out about her past. There are just skips and gaps all over the place.

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I was drawn to this book because of the blurb. It sounded right up my alley. I'm so glad that I read this one. I really liked Skylar a lot. She's battling some demons and when she puts that aside to help Parker with Cullen she proved the heart she has. My favorite scenes are with Cullen and Skylar. They are so precious with him with his little tool belt and workbench. It's so sweet how he gravitates towards Skylar. It's not all sunshine and roses because Cullen's birth mom is a nasty piece of work. Parker is yummy, but I wanted to knock some sense into him several times. The story especially Skylar's backstory hit me in the heart. This is a make you feel good story. The epilogue was the cherry on top for this family.

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I have mixed feelings about this story. There are positives such as the way Skylar, the heroine, is described when relaxing. She’s a woodworking artist who enjoys crosswords and classical music and her relationship with her work is presented well, as is the gentle way she cares for Cullen, the frightened little three year-old boy who moves in next door. I also liked the fake fiancee trope, though this showed hero Parker up in a less than ideal light.
There are also negatives. For a woman who enjoys crosswords I found Skylar’s vocabulary really limited. Parker, the injured marine next door and alleged father of Cullen didn’t resonate well at all for me. He has loud obnoxious parties when he’s home on leave, he treats Skylar appallingly at first, for example banging on her door during one of his parties just so he can borrow her blender and assuming she’ll pretend to be his fiancee and let him move in with her all without even asking her first.
His parents are obnoxious, racist snobs who definitely deserved a dressing down and the mother of his son is a bitch. Add to this the fact that every second word is f*ck or f*cking and you might just get the picture that I wasn’t all that taken with the story. I’m sorry because I read it through hoping to change my mind but sadly to no avail.

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This book was a quick read which follows a often used trope of fake dating/engagement. I liked the male love interest he had the right mix of kind and caring and possessiveness (although I did want to shake him at some points). I also loved the female protagonists she is strong and independent, I also like that we get hints of her secret throughout the book but it takes quite a while for her to get the full story of her past. I was a bit confused with her personality why she allowed the fake dating to happen. That is something that kind of bug me for part of the book because she was so strong and independent, I’m surprised she ran with the idea when it was presented to out of the blue. As well as the two main characters I love the complex family with the interfering mother and the cute son who presents challenges of their own. Overall I really enjoyed the story and it is an enjoyable romance are you at 3.25 stars because it’s a good book but it is not overly unique.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Skylar picked up the pieces of her life after tragedy and now lives a peaceful life in her house with her woodworking business. The only disruption is her next door neighbor Parker. He’s gone a lot as he’s a Marine but when he’s home it all loud parties and half dressed women and cars parked in Skylar’s driveway. She’s counting the days until he is gone... even though she’s rather attracted to him. But they aren’t friends they are neighbors who can barely speak to each other without it going back.

When Skylar hurts herself it’s Parker to the rescue. He takes her to the hospital stays with her and completely ignores the people hanging around his house. He’s very much attracted to Skylar and for reasons he hasn’t made a move. Until now. But just as he’s ready to make move a huge curve ball is thrown in the mix in the form of a woman he had a onenightstand with four years ago and the 3 year old son he never knew existed.

In order to keep his baby mamma at a distance while figuring out of this is in fact his son, Parker comes up with an idea. He decided to announce that Skylar is his fiancé so while baby mamma Gemma and little Cullen stay at his house he moves in with Skylar. And the events that follow are full of drama, disaster and heartache. There’s more than mere attraction between Skylar and Parker and things get complicated very fast.

So there was something about Parker that kinda put me off from the start and I can’t figure out what it is. Maybe his personality? Though there was all the stuff with Gemma and him being kinda spineless multiple times. Skylar also got on my nerves but I get that she had trauma that isn’t something you just get over. So I guess she gets more of a pass for that, but they were both annoying. It wasn’t a bad story but like Gibson and Ioan I don’t think Parker deserves Skylar. Though both of them could have solved a lot of problems before things exploded in their faces if only they had real conversations. Yes opening up and sharing yourself with another person is hard but they seemed to make everything far more difficult than it needed to be. Also Parker’s parents are sucky people and I can’t understand their feelings towards Skylar at all, especially considering that Gemma was a mess.

All in all it was ok I was curious about Skylar’s secret emotionally scarring backstory. Both Skylar and Parker (mostly Parker) were annoying but I still read on wanting to know what would happen. I mean you can guess how a romance story will end but there’s always the chance of a surprise twist or turn along the journey. There weren’t many surprises or anything complex I think I expected Gemma to be more of a threat but she was just petty and childish. This was my first read by the author and I would be open to reading her work again though I’m not sure I like her writing style there was something about it that was a little off for me but that’s just my personal opinion.

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