Navy Blues

This is the second book in Debbie Macomber’s “Navy” series.

As much as I love her writing (Heart of Texas/Promise, Texas series; Cedar Cove Series; Blossom Street Series; and Dakota Series – have yet to read the “Rose Harbor” series) – this “Navy” series after two books, is starting to wear on me.

Since I had “Navy Wife”, I got the rest of the books: “Navy Blues”, “Navy Brat”, and “Navy Woman”. I also need “Navy Baby” and “Navy Husband” (part of the “Navy Families” book), which I am not sure I want after reading this one.

This book features Steve Kyle, the older brother of Lindy (“Navy Wife”), who is divorced from his wife Caro. The reason? Her “alleged” infidelity – this is based show more on a miscommunication which is never really clarified.

Carol, hearing her biological clock ticking, wants a baby. Knowing her ex-husband, and still having feelings for him, thinks he’s perfect to be the father. This is despite the fact he accused her of cheating on him which lead to their divorce.

She tricks him into spending Christmas with her – and that doesn’t do the trick. One month later, she’s lucky – she’s pregnant. Thinking they’re on solid footing again, and might re-kindle their romance, she waits to tell him the good news until he returns from sea duty.

Steve isn’t happy – he isn’t even pleased. He, throughout most of the book, believes the baby is someone else’s and grows to “try to accept” the child because he loves Carol. Carol is heart-broken. She has emergency surgery which thankfully doesn’t result in the pregnancy terminating which Steve isn’t too upset about – that way when they try again (which isn’t needed), there would be no question of who the father is.

This constant tug-of-war isn’t resolved until nearly the birth of the child.

To be candid – this novel was half-way titled properly “Blues”. It made me heart-broken for Carol that Steve was such an a$$. I’m sorry, but as much as I love a good romance – I wouldn’t go back to someone who thought I was dishonest or unfaithful when I hadn’t been – especially being pregnant. More of this seemed to be Steve’s own insecurities which were, dare I say, immature. I agree with one reviewer with the amount of anger and resentment shown by Steve. Also, while I understand that military life isn’t easy, I don’t think the way Steve acted outside of his work was conduct unbecoming. I felt Carol was too needy. Yes, she still loved him, but the miscommunication and his distrust of her was insulting to her.

Again, the graphic sex scenes are a turn off and I felt like a voyeur for reading them. Some might like it, others may not. Since this is just my opinion and preference – take it for what it is worth. For me, it’s an FYI to future readers who might want the cleaner romances.

Since this is some of Debbie’s earlier work, and a “notorious” Harlequin romance novel, I gave it a chance. This is not her best work, however If not for these early novels we perhaps wouldn’t have some of the better work today. Anyone wanting an introduction to her work – I’d recommend the series I mentioned earlier in this review.

I’ve read “Navy Brat” which I will be reviewing, and am in the middle of “Navy Woman”. show less

In Macomber’s romance novel, Carol Kyle and Lieutenant Commander Steve Kyle have been separated for a year now. They are reunited by plan as Carol recognizes she wants a child and Steve is the only man she can see fathering her child. As Carol tempts him back into her bed for a passionate night, her plan backfires on her—Steve is unwilling to allow any child of his to be raised without him and Carol finds she loves him more now than ever.

Macomber has masterfully woven a memorable story of romance again.

Seducir a su ex marido no iba a ser nada fácil, sobre todo porque hacía más de un año que no hablaba con él, pero Carol estaba decidida a lograrlo. El capitán de fragata Steve Kyle era el hombre que ella quería como padre de su futuro hijo, aunque, por supuesto, no iba a contarle sus planes de inmediato…