Title: A Hero of His Own
Series: Sailor’s Knot, 03
Author: Susan Laine
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (117 pages)
Publisher: Siren Publishing (January 30th 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5Hearts
Blurb: Dan West is on his way to his friends’ place for some R & R from the Navy. But before he makes it to the small fishing town in Maine, a car accident changes his destination.
The injured young man, Patrick Prescott, turns out to be the mayor’s troubled son. He needs help, and Dan offers it. As a result, the lives of the two men become entwined. The old adage of saving someone’s life giving you responsibility over them seems to hold water.
Patrick is haunted by inner demons. His closeted life pushes him to recklessly pursue Dan at all costs, as though he actively sought his own ruin. But Dan has his own reasons for coming to meet his former CO, and that does not include getting in bed with Patrick, since he’s not in town to stay.
When two different worlds collide, even two men who are oceans apart in every sense must find a way to cope—together
Product Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/a-hero-of-his-own
Reviewer: Showme
Review: This book started off promising. The blurb was intriguing, but I didn’t love it. Dan, the XO of a submarine for the Navy, stumbles upon the wreck in the country while on vacation. He calls his friends for assistance and they let him know it’s probably Patrick the town screw up. Dan goes to check on the man and quickly realizes the man is wasted and is indeed Patrick. Dan tries to do the right thing by denying some pretty strong advances at the crash site, but a few kisses occur and Patrick dubs Dan his fiery Angel.
Dan feels some strange need to take care of the man after the strange moments they shared at the crash site. He can tell Patrick is scared and prepared to be ridiculed for another failure, but Dan tells him it’s just a bad day. Patrick knows he’s out of control. He’s has his own dreams but they’re being crushed under his father’s guilt and vicarious expectations. Dan instantly brings a calm to Patrick’s life. No judging or lecturing. He’s just there for Patrick who seems to need him. Patrick is drawn to Dan and after his kindness he wants him near while he fights the hangover and injuries. Dan takes him to his friend’s home to recuperate. Patrick and Dan quickly give into their lust, but Dan is leaving in a week and Patrick isn’t out in his town. So what does this mean for their budding romance?
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it weren’t for the continuity problems. A person shouldn’t be able to speak of the character of someone they’ve known for less than a day so strongly. If it was one time I could have over looked it but it just kept happening. If someone has repeatedly crashed their car drunk enough to have a reputation then police should be called regardless of the person’s stature in the community. Dan stating early in the book he’d always wanted to be in the navy then saying he just followed his brother. I feel like if I can see these things, someone else should have.
Also, all conflict in the book was resolved too easily. Years of problems are reconciled after a few minutes of talking and it just wasn’t realistic at all. I liked the premise of the book but sadly will probably remember the faults far outweigh the positives here.