Cover Image: Falling for her Soldier

Falling for her Soldier

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Member Reviews

Perfect read. Well written with the perfect amount of character development.

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Proceed With Caution:

This book contains mentions of war injuries and PTSD.
The Basics:

Falling For Her Soldier is the third book of the series, but it does stand alone. We met Charlie in the previous books, but Ellie is a new character.
My Thoughts:

I was pleasantly surprised by Falling For Her Soldier. I generally don’t seek out military romances, but I already had this one, so I read it. It was very sweet and not too heavy on the military aspect. Charlie is currently on leave and waiting for his future assignment which should be coming any day now. Meanwhile, Ellie is trying to support her brother who was recently injured overseas and now spends all of his time at a rec center for soldiers. Of course, this is where she meets Charlie, but her brother introduces him as Hunter. This begins our romance based on mistaken identity!

Charlie and Ellie actually knew each other before the start of Falling For Her Soldier. He is the staff sargeant who e-mailed her to keep her updated on her brother’s condition. They kept on emailing for two months and formed a bond, until one day Charlie just stopped replying. Little does she know that the man she was falling for online is the same playboy known as Hunter that her brother was telling her stories about. Hunter claims to have changed, and wants to prove it to Ellie, but he can’t tell her who he really is because reasons! Oh, the drama!

Falling For Her Soldier does have a side plot involving the rec center where Ellie and Charlie officially meet. The two have to work together to save the place from closing down. Ellie is a dance teacher, so of course there has to be an I’ll-teach-you-to-dance-and-we-almost-do-the-horizontal-tango sequence, as she attempts to put on a benefit. Very cliche, but it works.

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I loved this book! Super cute. Will recommend for sure! This book was exactly what I didn't know I was looking for!

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Ellie Bell decided she was going to go without men for a whole year and that time will be up soon. However, the moment she meets Charlie 'Big Game Hunter' Johansson she finds that control slipping. But with Charlie being introduced to her as Hunter, she has no idea that she already knows quite a bit about him. When Ellie learns the truth while she and Charlie do everything they can to help keep open the Warrior Station, will she be able to forgive Charlie for keeping something so important from her, or will she walk away from her chance at happy ever after?

Ms. London pens such wonderfully sweet romances and this third book of her Perfect Kisses series was such a delightful story, as the hero is a bit of a player that has finally found the one woman for him; the heroine is determined to ignore the chemistry between them because she's interested in someone she's never met (in all honesty, all I could think was good luck to her); and the dialogue was a wonderful combination of intense moments and playful banter that had me loving this couple together. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where things get very interesting because Charlie is fascinated by his friend's sister, but Ellie has no idea who he really is.

Both the main characters were wonderful and I enjoyed every moment they conversed, especially since the heroine is on a hiatus from getting involved with a man. Will she be able to abstain for the time she's allocated to take time for herself? Moreover, the heroine is resilient, brave, kind, caring and I loved how determined she was to stick to her year-long hiatus of no dating. I also liked her determination to help keep Warrior Station -- a charity-run place for Veterans to have a place to go when they get out of the military -- open. Her idea to raise money was brilliant, especially since it allows her to spend time with the hero and use her skills as a dancer. While the hero, he's fun; a good guy because he's willing to help the heroine with her plan for raising money; and I liked how determined he was to win the heroine over, even though he knows their growing relationship could blow up in his face, if the heroine discovers the truth about who he really is.

Overall, Ms. London has delivered a splendid read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was delightful and the ending had me feeling sorry for the heroine for being blindsided when it came to the hero's true identity and not how he was introduced to her as, but had me loving how determined the hero was to make things right between them because he wants a future with the heroine. I would recommend Falling for her Soldier by Ophelia London, if you enjoy the brother's friend trope, the opposites attract trope, or books by authors Sonya Weiss, Donna Kauffman, Kate Clayborn and Melody Grace.

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It is lovely to read such a delightful story with great characters and plenty of humorous moments, too! I have to confess, some parts of it had me laughing out loud - especially the dance scenes and those involving references to Michael Bublé!

Ellie Bell has had enough of bad romances and has self-imposed a man-less year for herself. It has just twenty-four days to go. That shouldn’t be a problem, should it? Well, she has been exchanging emails with Charlie Johannson and is looking forward to meeting him for the first time, even though he has suddenly cut all contact. She’s at the Warriors’ Station, where she volunteers, when she meets ‘Hunter’, a member of her brother’s army unit and his close friend, who is on leave awaiting re-deployment after returning from a Tour on the front line. She has no idea that he’s also the same Charlie who she’d been emailing.

Her brother, Sam, had told her many stories about the antics of Hunter, most of them involving him being a player to be avoided. However, Charlie’s experiences on the latest Tour have changed him and his outlook. He only stopped emailing Ellie when he realised she was his best friend’s sister and that would break the brocode. Now they’ve met, the attraction is mutual, despite his bad reputation. Can he resist her - or can he convince both her and her brother that he’s changed? Will love find a way to bring them together Working together on a Charity fund raising event is how the two end up having dance lessons and there are some brilliant scenes. However, when Ellie discovers that Hunter is Charlie, how will she react? Can she forgive him for the deception? How will Sam react?

This is a great story, with well developed characters. It definitely put a smile on my face and it is so great to read a romance which is so well crafted it doesn’t need steamy action to make it enjoyable. If you are an fan of fun and enjoyable romances, take a chance on this one and see if you agree with me that it is a great example of this genre. I look forward to reading more of this series and by this author in future.

I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

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received in exchange for a honest review.

This was cute and quirky.

Ella has had a series of bad guys she has been in relationships with so she goes on a hiatus of sorts. For a year she is not going to have a man in her life.

ONly things don’t always work as we want. Her brother gets hurt and she gets emails from Charlie. Charlie who has her smile and feel she is ready to let someone in again.

Ella is a fun sweet main female character. She loves her brother fiercely and is very supportive of him. Her studio is a passion of hers and she now uses it as a crutch to help fill her nights and days instead of letting herself take a chance.

Charlie is the soldier who you root for. He is the one that is a decent guy but has not always been the best to date. He was a player until an incident changes him. One that haunts him and has him see he need to change. Change into someone better. Someone he wants to be-he wants roots and love beyond his family. so when he is on leave he decides that is the time to change.

He goes to visit Ellie’s brother and he sees her but they don’t have that meet cute. He is a doof and knows it. the second time her brother introduces her by his nickname and it doesn’t have her liking him much. So he goes about changing that only ellie doesn’t know who he really is. The one from the emails.

They work together to save the WS and in that time they get to know one another. We see them confide in each other and trust one another. We see charlie feel happy and learn to open up and see himself for the first time and who he yearns to be. We see friendship blossom to love. Charlie is so understanding and wants to help Ellie achieve her goal. but there is a secret and one that can hurt them.

The relationship is fun and flirty. These two are so adorable together and it is an intimacy outside the bedroom we get to see. The attraction and their love shines through and so does Charlie’s guilt. He so wants to do what is right but doesn’t really know what it is. I love how he makes up for his mistakes though.

this is a fun, quirky and romantic book. We have that awww ending and see that there is hope and it is love that gives the characters hope and strength.

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This is a very cute yet poignant story. Of how war can change us. As far as our outlook on life and how those around us and at home can affect us. As is the case with this story for sure.
This story revolves around Ellie Bell her brother Sam who was severely injured along with several other members in his unit. When an IUD went off. He was rescued by his best friend Staff Sergeant Charlie (Hunter) Johansson.
Knowing it was only Sammy and Ellie left in his family a long time before she would get official word Charlie started emailing Ellie info. It was such a comfort to Ellie. The emails to each other were a way to comfort her but to calm her to since she couldn’t get to Sammy. Yet, Charlie found that they had a calming effect on him too after a hard day in the trenches.
The thing is that they started out as one or two emails and then they turned into three months of them. The became deep and from the heart. Fool of truth and sharing from the two of them. About her dancing injury and him about his time there. Going both ways scaring the hell out of Charlie because of the Bro Code. So, he said once he knew Sammy would be stateside and back home with Ellie that he would be out of contact. She never heard from him again.
He never wanted to get her hopes up that there could be something between them because he had a be of a reputation. He was known as a player and knew that her brother would never approve. Friend or no friend. In fact, he got his name Hunter after “Big Game Hunter” from chasing tail as they say.
Heartbroken she went on to help Sam adjust as best she could as the W.S. (The Warrior Station: Rec Center, Counseling, etc.….) always wondering why he just stopped emailing her. Then one day she was due to have lunch with Sam at the W.S.
When she gets there he’s in a session so she’s in the parking lot on the phone with one of the parents of her student dancers. When then this sexier than sin, guy goes by making eye contact with her then says, “So, how you doing.” Like he is channeling Joey on FRIENDS…like a come on. She just wanted to laugh at his rudeness. Hello, she was on the phone.
So, when she goes inside and he is with her brother and he introduces them telling her his name is “Hunter” as in “The Big Game Hunter.” She is not happy because she remembers all the stories her brother thought was just so funny to be telling her when he first got home of all the women he had been with and his escapades. She was not impressed.
Hunter himself has the good sense to flinch. When Sammy introduce him as Hunter. He really hates that name. At the same time, his real name will get him busted with Sammy. He closes his eyes as his name is he is introduced. As he knows who she is. He knows that if he ever wants to have a chance with her knowing his real name is not good to know right at this moment. So, he is not sure if now is a good time or not. But is relieved when she doesn’t find out. He hopes to get to know her through his own merits.
He goes with it. She decides not to be a bitch since she was not one of his stable of girls. So, she just treats him as one of her brother’s friends. When she mentions she is going to start volunteering there at W.S. Sam is surprised. But She and Sam are both surprised when Hunter says he was thinking of giving time too. Since he has time while he is on leave. Sammy is the most surprised since he knows the only reason he goes there is because Sam is there.
When Ellie is not in earshot he calls Hunter on it. Warning him of his sister. This gets way off course. This is one funny story yet it does deal with PTSD. I give this: 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
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Very sweet story enjoyed it immensely! Can't wait to read Sam's when/if he gets one.

This is a voluntary review and I do not get paid for this review.

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This book is 'sweet and clean' – there is no sex and minimal cursing (no f-bombs). If those things bother you, you have nothing to worry about here.

I loved this story. The fact that Hunter kept his real identity from Ellie should probably have been a bigger deal, but his reasons for doing so took away any reservations I had about that. (You have to read the book to understand.) I loved that there was a real, solid relationship between Hunter and Ellie – it wasn't just sexual attraction, they really got to know each other and Ellie stayed true to herself even as she fell for him. Also, the dancing scenes were sexy and swoon-worthy without being smutty or crass.

As a reader who loves a good series, I hope that Sam will have a book because I really want his story!

If you enjoy a sweet, well-written love story, you should definitely read this book.

I requested and was generously granted an ARC of this book via NetGalley/the publisher. I wrote this review because I loved the book.

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This author's name sounded so familiar with me I thought I had read more of her books but lol only one other so I grabbed this one. It has my favorite formula in this romance and a soldier. Two different personalities will meet and take us on a romance even though they do not realize it at first. Ellie and Charlie "Hunter" are both written so you become endeared to them both. Funny she wants one man but when she meets Charlie she begins to change her mind on alot of things. This has you wrapped up from the get go with a refreshing story line that had me too. Funny too gets sprinkled in with this being the perfect one to wrap up in to brighten any day or night.

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Falling for Her Soldier is a sweet story. Falling for a soldier via e-mail is romantic and probably foolish, but Ellie doesn't regret it. She regrets the end of it. Not knowing why and not getting to meet him has her questioning her choices. Add to that her less than stellar track record with guys and well...she isn't exactly thrilled.

Hunter, Big Game Hunter to most, isn't actually named Hunter. A stupid nickname and a worse reputation make him uncomfortable now that he's decided to change...or has he. Charlie met a girl. He liked said girl. He realized it wouldn't work because she is his buddy's little sis. End of story...or just a beginning.

Falling for Her Soldier will have you shaking your head and grunting in frustration. It will also have you smiling and smirking at the corny innuendo. Enjoy the fall!

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Yes I read this book twice and it was just as great the second time around; reminding me why I loved it so much the first time. It's an uncomplicated, love story with two wonderful characters, a grumpy brother and a cast of secondary characters that completed the full picture.
A very single Ellie teaches ballet at her now deceased Mom's dance studio, her bestie Jane works there also and since Ellie is coming down to the wire on her 365 day absolutely no men diet, Jane's been giving her gentle or not so gentle pokes. Okay Jane isn't subtle. We love Jane. Ellie has a history of making bad choices where men are concerned and doesn't trust her own judgement. The diet has worked, almost too well where she's had no life outside the dance studio. Or so Jane thinks. She doesn't know about Charlie and the e mails.
When Ellie's brother Sam is wounded overseas his best friend there gets in touch with Ellie, keeping her informed and giving her more information than the Army provides. They strike up a friendship and e mail each other. Charlie and Ellie both are open and honest with each other, it's a safe place to land for them both. Charlie knows that Sam is all Ellie has, since there Mom died it's just the two of them. Sam returns home to their town in Indiana and spends much of his time at the WS. It's a place where both active and medically outed soldiers can come and feel at home. The place is self contained offering everything from counseling to a deli, library and a great retired Marine who oversees the place. Ellie hasn't heard from Charlie in two months. She constantly checks her email on her phone hoping to here from him, but nothing. She worries that something has happened, repeatedly reading his last mail looking for any kind of clue. Nada. When she meets Sam at the WS for lunch she meets one of his friends from his unit who is home waiting for orders for his next assignment. His nickname is Hunter and you have to read the book to get the details on that one, which his reputation is well known, so much so that when Sam was recovering from his injuries he entertained Ellie with Hunter's stories with women. When the meet and she realizes it's that Hunter she immediately throws up the wall. What she doesn't know is that Hunter is actually her Charlie. Her missing man and after being warned of in the nastiest kind of ways by Sam to stay away from Ellie, Charlie still wants to be her friend and eventually tell her. Since Ellie just started volunteering at the WS Hunter signs up too. When Charlie tells his very pregnant sister what's going on, his brother in law encourages him to befriend her then tell her. Charlie wants to tell her in the worst way.
The two becomes fast friends and she eventually tells him about the no man diet. He's still conflicted over not telling her, Sam is still being an ass and poor Ellie is just Ellie. I loved Ellie.
When the WS looses its funding Ellie takes on the task of fundraising along with Charlie and with some help they have a plan. Charlie has a plan too, that he's going to tell her, but every opportunity this poor guy has gets screwed up by someone or something. When Ellie finds out in a very public way who he is, let's just say it's not pretty. Charlie is heartbroken, Ellie is one angry woman especially after finding out her brother knew and he was in part at fault. Yes it wasn't pretty.
Add Jane to the mix and a couple other angry women the men are dead meat. The worst of it is that the fundraising ball is a couple days away, Charlie and Ellie were supposed to dance as a highlight of the ball and Ellie... read the book. Just read this book. It's the book that serves up a great female lead and humble and repentant male and two people who love each other. Damn good. I'm so glad I read it again. Thank you to Entangled for that. Ophelia, big thumbs up!

**advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Entangled for my honest review; the opinions therein are my own**

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I liked the premise for Falling for Her Soldier, which certainly had its very cute moments, but as far as seducing the reader or offering unexpected quirks, it falls a bit short.

From the moment that Charlie aka Hunter agrees to Ellie's brother, Sam's suggestion that he not tell the truth to Ellie regarding his identity, the reader knows how this story is going to play out. For some readers that may be fine because they like the ride and don't mind knowing the romance obstacle, but even so an unexpected flourish would have been nice.

The scenes in which Ellie is teaching Charlie to tango, or trying to teach him, are sweet verging on sensual and are some of my favorite parts of the book. They made me wish that there was a little more fun, flirty dialogue and humorous interaction.

I liked Charlie as a character, although I can never fathom why anyone would not tell another person the truth. I felt as if there just wasn't enough justification for him not to tell Ellie who he was. And, I'm sure that in other reviews I've expressed my opinion on the supposed code about a guy not dating a friend's sister. Meh.

On the other hand, I never felt like Ellie was fully realized. While I thought it admirable for her to go a year without dating and actually stay with it, I never felt like it proved much as she never came across as a very particularly strong individual. A year was supposed to prove that she wouldn't be a victim of her choices.

All in all, Falling for Her Soldier is a romance reader's cotton candy: light, fluffy, sweet, and without surprises--and sometimes that's just what a reader wants.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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