Ex Libris

My Thoughts: I love Vegas wedding romances. And when I say love I mean: L-O-V-E. So as soon as I read the blurb of The Officer Says "I Do" my expectations shot sky high, which let's be honest can be more of a disadvantage for a novel. But despite this hard and unfair beginning The Officer Says "I Do" not only delivered but swept me up in a whirlwind and I didn't come up for air (or lunch break) until I finished it.

The Officer Says "I Do" starts with a guys’ night out in Vegas where Tim, the usually uptight and rule abiding soldier is egged on by his teammates and best friends Dwayne and Jeremy to let loose and just enjoy life. In the big enjoyment Tim gets so drunk that when he crosses path with Skye after a steamy first kiss encounter he proposes, and Skye being the firm fate-believer consents.

Skye's life motto:

Fate is never wrong, her mother used to say. It’s just waiting for you to catch up.

However the morning after isn't the usual "Oh my God, what did we do?!" as Tim has no recollecxtion of what transpired last night, so in the belief that Skye was a one night stand he leaves the room while she's asleep in embarassment (since he doesn't do one night stands), and leaves Skye to fend for herself. But Skye despite being a free spirit has an extremely strong will and after some investigation “hunts” down Tim across the country and goes to find him.

Their approach to their Vegas mistake is completely different: Skye wants more than merely give their marriage a chance, she wants to make it work. So after some convincing and deliberation Tim agrees to give marriage a trial run before they part ways.

I have to say besides the original premise of a Vegas wedding what definitely made The Officer Says "I Do" a favourite of mine were the characters. Though they were complete opposites with Tim the meticulous, duty-bound, rational and honourable marine and Sky the colourful, carefree bubbly butterfly, they were both very well developed and Jeanette Murray gave them enough nuances and details to make them well fleshed out complex and interesting characters. And I haven’t even told you about their chemistry yet! Because wow, that is off the charts!

But what made an even more memorable impression besides the sizzling chemistry and hot lovemaking scenes was the way Jeanette Murray portrayed the progress of Sky and Tim’s marriage and showed us what these two people made to make their marriage work. It was realistic and heartwarming. Reading about all the concessions, compromises and sacrifices Skye made was both humbling and moving. It beautifully portrayed what people are ready to do for love. Skye livened up Tim’s life and we could see how good she was for him in the way he opened up and got used to having her in his life and through all the small changes her presence made to his carefully organized and bland life. Reading about how these two people got to know each other and adapt their lives to create a joint life was realistic and heart-warming.

Besides the main characters the cast of secondary characters was wonderful as well! I can’t wait to read the next novels and discover their stories!

Verdict: The Officer Says "I Do" was the 1st novel I read by Jeanette Murray and I loved it! Great characters, smooth writing, sensual love scenes and heartwarming romance, the whole package was wonderful! I can't wait to read more of this series and revisit all the secondary characters!

Ps. And kudos and extra brownie points for Jeanette Murray for featuring a full length and sexy safe sex talk!

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10 - could have had an epilogue or one more chapter showing their marital bliss
Cover: 8/10

Review originally posted at Book Lovers Inc.