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Once A Hero...
Once a hero always a hero Subject: Captain Luke Andrews, M.D. Current Status: On stress leave in beautiful Hawaii Mission: Rest and recovery Obstacle: There's no rest from the wicked chemistry he's found with her After a too–close–for–comfort brush with cancer, ocean photographer Kristen Turner heads to Hawaii for three months, where fate hands her a smokin'–hot opportunity she can't resist Captain Luke Andrews has to get some serious R & R, but he can't keep his hands off Kristen. She's wild and irresistible, and spending his nights with her seems more dangerous than his last mission. But is their hot little vacation romp an escape from real life or will the survivor and the hero battle it out and learn to live each day as a gift?
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2012
3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Burns
36 books33 followersJillian Burns fell in love while reading such classics as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice and has been reading Romance novels ever since. She lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-five years and their three active kids. She likes to think her emotional nature—sometimes referred to as moodiness by those closest to her—has found the perfect outlet in writing stories filled with passion and romance. She believes romance novels have the power to change lives with their message of eternal love and hope. For more information and excerpts you can visit her website www.jillianburns.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 3, 2012
What an emotional book. It wasn't merely about the sexy times as Blazes usually are instead it handled many deeper issues, healing from a tragedy, a hero, an army doctor suffering from PTSD and nightmares about not saving people and a heroine who when we meet, seems happy at the surface and then we find out at 21 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, went through hell and three and a half years later is determined to live life to the fullest.
So, she takes a chance asking the hero out. We see the hero grappling with flashbacks even when he is wide awake while the heroine wants to move forward but is scared of revealing her scars to a man. Their first night together goes well but then the hero freaks about, about the heroine's life expectancy and hurts her in the process. I liked how he made up for it and enjoyed the end when we see the hero work to get through his issues.
I also enjoyed the friend's story. What I liked the most about this book was that it took two damaged people and made us experience their healing and falling in love.
So, she takes a chance asking the hero out. We see the hero grappling with flashbacks even when he is wide awake while the heroine wants to move forward but is scared of revealing her scars to a man. Their first night together goes well but then the hero freaks about, about the heroine's life expectancy and hurts her in the process. I liked how he made up for it and enjoyed the end when we see the hero work to get through his issues.
I also enjoyed the friend's story. What I liked the most about this book was that it took two damaged people and made us experience their healing and falling in love.
March 19, 2017
Hurt/comfort romances carry an additional joy as we see people dealing with their problems (aka, real life), understanding that they’re only frail, flawed human beings and that pain is no excuse for retreating from happiness. Go for the gusto! Grab for that brass ring! Kiss that hot guy or gal if they’re willing! YOLO!
But such romances must tread a careful line if they’re not to become maudlin or banal. This novel easily surmounts that difficulty as we find Luke Andrews, once an army doctor, in retreat from the horrors he witnessed in Afghanistan. He’s drawn to the sexy and sensual Kristen Turner. But it’s not her body that intrigues him but her unabashed joie de vivre. She’s chatty, open and genuinely curious about her reclusive neighbor who saved a man’s life and then disappeared. He’s pulled in by her total lack of defensiveness and before long, a friendship is growing between them as well as undeniable passion.
The novel passes muster with its secondary romance between the equally playful Amy and the rigid, uptight Kekoa, a Maui native who’s got his own reasons for keeping his distance from any romantic entanglement. These two have their own problems although nothing like what is happening in the minds of Kristen and Luke.
These two struggle, push at each other’s boundaries but respect one another’s privacy. The sex, when it happens, is very heated but also tender. The sex between Amy and Kekoa is truly hot, too, and I’m talking about their second encounter, not the first. It’s undeniably different from what I’ve read in a lot of other romances and will appeal to ladies who like the idea of dominating in the bedroom.
This is one of the better romances out there and I can recommend it to anyone who likes romances set firmly with contemporary sensibilities.
But such romances must tread a careful line if they’re not to become maudlin or banal. This novel easily surmounts that difficulty as we find Luke Andrews, once an army doctor, in retreat from the horrors he witnessed in Afghanistan. He’s drawn to the sexy and sensual Kristen Turner. But it’s not her body that intrigues him but her unabashed joie de vivre. She’s chatty, open and genuinely curious about her reclusive neighbor who saved a man’s life and then disappeared. He’s pulled in by her total lack of defensiveness and before long, a friendship is growing between them as well as undeniable passion.
The novel passes muster with its secondary romance between the equally playful Amy and the rigid, uptight Kekoa, a Maui native who’s got his own reasons for keeping his distance from any romantic entanglement. These two have their own problems although nothing like what is happening in the minds of Kristen and Luke.
These two struggle, push at each other’s boundaries but respect one another’s privacy. The sex, when it happens, is very heated but also tender. The sex between Amy and Kekoa is truly hot, too, and I’m talking about their second encounter, not the first. It’s undeniably different from what I’ve read in a lot of other romances and will appeal to ladies who like the idea of dominating in the bedroom.
This is one of the better romances out there and I can recommend it to anyone who likes romances set firmly with contemporary sensibilities.
April 25, 2024
A great read
In all the romance books I've read I've never found one with a main character having has a mastectomy. It was nice to see yet another usually hidden subject finally in a romantic book.
In all the romance books I've read I've never found one with a main character having has a mastectomy. It was nice to see yet another usually hidden subject finally in a romantic book.
January 3, 2012
Captain Luke Andrews, MD is on the beautiful island of Maui for some much-needed R and R after some traumatizing events in Afghanistan. Kristin Turner is on a quest to make her dreams come true while living life to the fullest. These two will pull you into a relationship that is very realistic and one that will tug at your heart. Shadows of the past haunt both of them but it is their friendship, awkward at first, which will forever change them. Luke is standoff-ish while Kristin rejoices in life with a strong personality and positive outlook. Their relationship is a dance of life and the passion created between them sizzles with emotions that will touch your soul, because these two could be anyone we know. Once A Hero has realistic characters, a realistic storyline, and real heart-wrenching situations that lives in the world we know. Once I started reading this story, I found myself staying up the rest of the night just to finish it. Jillian Burns has written a story that grips you with emotions and a romance that stays with you long after the last page is read. Very memorable book and one I would recommend.
Night Owl Review rating: 4.5 Hearts
Night Owl Review rating: 4.5 Hearts
September 21, 2013
I loved the parallel love stories but Kekoa and Amy's could have been a stand-alone sequel! All of the main characters are working, or have worked, to overcome adversity. You can admire them for the strength of their convictions and an unwillingness to give in to despair. The romance doesn't hurt either and the setting sounds beautiful! At times I felt like I was reading a travel brochure.
Topics included an active duty military physician, PTSD, a cancer survivor, spousal abuse, cultural mores, and struggles to adhere to long-held family expectations. Something for everyone...
Thanks for the book, Jillian!
Topics included an active duty military physician, PTSD, a cancer survivor, spousal abuse, cultural mores, and struggles to adhere to long-held family expectations. Something for everyone...
Thanks for the book, Jillian!
June 5, 2012
Eh, it was alright. Nothing about it truly held me captivated. It touched on some very intense emotional issues such as cancer and PTSD, but I didn't really see much interaction between the characters. They barely spoke or had sex. If there was some sort of interaction physically, mentally, or maybe of they'd known each other from the past I'd get it but I just didn't. I also didn't see the purpose of the second romance :/
February 26, 2019
Luke and Kristen - two damaged souls. Luke is trying to resolve his PTSD from being a medic in the Army, but eschewing qualified help. Kristin is starting to put her life together after surviving cancer. They meet but despite attraction seem to be more at loggerheads with their secrets. A gentle romance whilst dealing with some extreme issues.
June 17, 2012
Book was a wonderful read. I read it in a a few hours in one day. The book was very inspiring and though it is a romantic novel there were a lot more to it than love. I think that this book definitely sits on my top ten list!
June 21, 2012
Not a bad story, but I really felt that having 2 couples falling in love diluted the stories of each, especially when dealing with some heavy issues like cancer survival and PTSD. I didn't feel like we got to know any of the characters
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August 14, 2017Miniseries: Uniformly Hot!
Category: Passion
Category: Passion
April 14, 2012
A very true to life story. Loved the story line. Also liked how the main characters came together, and how their relationship developed. Moving.. gave it 5 stars.
May 6, 2012
An okay book. My full review is here: http://scienceofromance.blogspot.com/...
July 24, 2012
WOW!!! Must read more by Jillian Burns :)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews