Love and Lust rec: 'Uncommon Valor' by Rachel Ravenheart

Uncommon Valor by Rachel Ravenheart

What it's about (courtesy of CoolDudes Publishing):

Jason has just buried his brother, Sam, who was also his confidant. No one, other than Sam and Jason's best friend, knew Jason is gay and, after the funeral he meets Sam's superior officer Lt. Chase Johnson, who has a letter for him. In the next few days after the funeral, Chase's platoon is reassigned to Miramar and he invites Jason to Jason to their new abode to meet a few members of the platoon to which Sam had been assigned before he died. Jason approaches Chase with Sam's letter because he can't bring himself to read it without coming to tears.

But, Chase has had feelings for Jason ever since Sam had been assigned to his platoon and has little hope of anything coming from it. He finally decides to take a chance to see if maybe his feelings will be returned.

Then Jason is hit with the news that he is about to be a father from a night he doesn't even remember and the girl is intent on forcing Jason to marry her. Chase supports Jason when his father demands he marry the mother even though he doesn't love her, and when Jason refuses, he is disowned immediately. Out of spite, the angry woman outs Jason to his father. Chase continues to show his compassion by being there for him. But will Jason stand by Chase when he is blackmailed to get him out of Jason's life.

Realizing that Jason wants nothing to do with her, Tina places the baby up for adoption, but Jason blocks her plans by filing his own papers declaring that he is the father and he has paternal rights.

Why you should read it: I love it when I read a debut novel that promises a stellar career for a new author. Uncommon Valor is just such a book. Rachel Ravenheart spins the tale of Jason, a young man who has lost his beloved older brother in war, then meets Lt. Chase Johnson, a Marine and the man of his dreams, and falls in love. He also is confronted with a situation that could bring more pain than love when Tina, a woman who is a fellow law school student, threatens to destroy the relationship between Jason and Chase.

Jason is gay, as is Chase, but about six months ago Jason had sex with Tina, and the result is a pregnancy that Jason did not plan on. Jason doesn't even remember the night of the baby's conception, which brings some drama to the story. Another bit of angst is the fact that Jason's father is unwilling to accept that his son is gay and severs ties with Jason.

Questions need to be answered, including whether Jason will "do the right thing" regarding Tina and the baby, and whether Tina can be trusted to fulfill her end of the bargain regarding the baby's future. Can Jason mend fences with his father after the way his father has treated him? And what are Chase's plans for his own future as well as Jason and Chase's joint future?

This is a sweet love story that has a number of curves along the path to true love. It can be read in one sitting and has a very satisfying ending for anyone who enjoys reading romance. Some secondary characters help the two men reach their goal of a happy ever after but some interfere with their plans. All characters are well developed, and the plot flows smoothly from beginning to end. I enjoyed this story and eagerly look forward to the next book by this talented new author.

Becky Condit is a widow, mother of three and grandmother of 10 who reads all kinds of books, but her go-to comfort books are erotic romances. A romance novel coupled with just-out-of-the-oven chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of cold milk is her idea of heaven. She reads and reviews more than 250 books a year, so you won't often find her without her Kindle in hand, but when you do, she'll probably be gardening, doing needle crafts, working in her upholstery workshop and spending time with her family.