The Gunnery Sergeant's Ready-Made Family

Book excerpt: Brought together by grief… When her brother is killed in action in Afghanistan, Stephanie (Stevie) finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the role of sole guardian of her two young nephews. Determined to do the best she can for them, Stevie enters a marriage of convenience with her brother’s best friend. After all, she has known Chase for years and knows that he will provide for and protect them as if they were a real family. It doesn’t matter that she had always hoped for more with Chase, for her nephews, she will put her own dreams on hold, the same way her brother had when they themselves had been orphaned too young. Will the weight of guilt tear them apart… There was nothing that Chase would not do for Kyle. Kids when they first met, they had spent more time together than apart. Marrying Stevie was a no-brainer. She and the boys needed a stable home, medical insurance, and familiar faces to help them heal, all benefits that Chase could provide. The fact that it was Chase’s fault that Kyle was gone was his own personal cross to bear. One that he was determined no one else should ever find out about. Or will faith lead them to forgiveness and love? As Stevie and Chase begin blending their lives together, helping the boys through the first year without their beloved daddy, they begin to see each other, and themselves, in a different light. When Stevie learns the truth of her brother’s death, will she be able to forgive Chase, and claim the happiness they both deserve, or will she lose him forever?