A Hero to Love by Gail Chianese

A military police officer on the verge of a new beginning. A beautiful woman devoted to her career and her dream of putting down roots. The hardest thing they’ll ever do is to take a chance on love...

Navy Chief Master at Arms Jackson “Jax” Faraday is at a crossroads. He has to decide whether to reenlist or get out while he’s young enough to make a difference in the civilian world. Either choice could mean leaving behind his girl: his K-9 partner, Bella. But when she’s injured during a training session, Jax’s only concern is making sure she’s okay.

As the Navy base veterinarian, town local Risa Reynolds is right where she belongs: close to her parents in a farmhouse full of animals—with room to grow. She’s seen enough to put military men are on her “not happening” list, because they always leave.

But when a tall, hazel-eyed sailor arrives in her clinic with his dog in his arms, Risa finds herself falling hard. And all kinds of rules will get broken when Jax, a man who sticks to the straight and narrow, learns that there’s no predicting the twists and turns of the heart...

Books 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

I love a good romance and when it involves a hot military soldier and his dog, it doesn't get much better.

Jackson "Jax" Faraday is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life: stay in the Navy and accept his next posting or try to find a job in law enforcement that lets him stay in New England. One of the main sticking points is that he doesn't want to lose Bella, his K-9 partner. He knows that she's not his dog, but she has saved his life and the lives of his friends on more than one occasion.

When Bella is hurt, local vet Risa Reynolds is on hand to treat her and soothe the ruffled feathers of her handler. Problem is that Risa finds herself wanting to soothe Jax as much as Bella.

Risa has a rule about dating military men but she never really explains why. Risa also seems to have a deep seated fear of being left behind or not being loved enough for people to stay.

Jax has a hard time understanding Risa at times, but he truly is the ultimate book boyfriend.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Unrequited love

This was a sweet story. There are some communication issues, but it's mostly because both Jax and Risa are scared of the feelings that they feel for each other.

Jax is at a crossroads with his career. I'm unsure why he is seen as being some kind of trouble, but his superiors believe that he needs to get his act together or be sent to a base that, apparently, nobody wants to be sent to. When his dog, Bella, is acting strange with her new handler, Jax needs to find a way to reach her.

Risa is doing her best to prove herself to the owner of the vet clinic that's on base. She has worked very hard to get where she is and loves it there. She has great friends and even though her best friend has questionable taste in men, she sticks by her.

When Jax and Bella are out playing and Bella is injured, Risa comes to the rescue. It's over Bella that Risa and Jax take a chance on each other. Their relationship is somewhat juvenile, but the relationship progresses quite naturally. I think that the animals helped create the story.

I can't wait to see what happens next.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
The only thing better than a man and his dog has to be a military hero and his K-9 partner. At the end of his naval career, Jax is devastated when his K-9 partner, Bella, is injured during training. Risa is the vet who cares for Bella and sparks immediately fly between Jax and Risa.

It is impossible not to fall for Jax. The man would do anything for his dog, even spending his nights at Bella’s kennel when she’s injured. Where Risa is settled in her home and her job, Jax is conflicted and struggling to secure a life beyond the Navy. He is an alpha protector for Risa but he is also able to accept her help and care.

Risa is a fantastic female lead. She is passionate about her work as a vet, she lives with a menagerie of rescued pets and at times, she struggles with her human relationships. I love well developed women in romance and Risa is pretty amazing.

As much as this is a very sweet romance, there is also a suspense angle to this story when Risa finds herself the target of vandalism and stalking. Jax helps Risa stay safe as he tries to identify the person who wants to harm her. There are some quite frightening scenes as Jax and Risa evade her stalker.

I really enjoyed this story but I do have to complain about the cover – the story fits best in a romantic suspense category and I’m not sure we ever see these two frolicking on the beach with a dog. The story has quite a bit more grit than the sunny cover suggests.

Also Available in the Changing Tides Series

Books 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Love Runs Deep post.

Gail Chianese's love of reading began at the tender age of three, when she'd make her grandpa read Fourteen Country Rabbits over and over and over again (and correct him when he skipped parts). While she's branched out over the years by reading mystery, women’s fiction, and urban fantasy, she always circles back to romance in the end. That's probably because she's married to her real-life hero. Her wonderful hubby has served in the US Navy for the past twenty-two years and he’s done things he can’t tell her about. But it doesn’t stop her from being extremely proud of him and the sacrifices he makes for her, his family, and his country. He’s also uber-supportive of her dreams and of their three children. Living in Mystic, CT and a member of Connecticut Romance Writers of America, Gail loves to hear from readers.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Hero to Love (Changing Tides #2) by Gail Chianese to read and review.