Semper Fitz
by Aurora Russell
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GENRE: Romance (Billionaire, Men in Uniform, Contemporary)
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BLURB:
He’s always strong, always faithful…but will he be always hers?
Pregnant, alone and temporarily staying at her family’s cabin in northern Minnesota, Clara Olafson is determined to overcome the hurt of her recent past and build a good life for herself and her child. The last thing she expects to find on her morning walk through the state forest nearby is an unconscious and injured former Marine.
Colin ‘Fitz’ Fitzhugh might have initially joined the Corps to prove that he was more than just a wealthy playboy, but he grew to love the brotherhood and purpose he found there—until his last mission in Afghanistan cost the life of one of his men and left him badly scarred in body and mind. Hoping to shed some of his pain and guilt alone in the wilderness, instead, he finds a feisty, pregnant angel.
Sparks fly as sassy Clara nurses the gruff and mysterious Fitz back to health, but the happiness and peace they both begin to find in the little cabin is shattered when Clara faces a health emergency. When Fitz reluctantly chooses to return to the wealth and privilege of his family in order to save her and the baby, he plunges them all into a glittering society that Clara doesn’t know if she likes. But Fitz might just prove to her that, whether he’s being a billionaire philanthropist or a sudden stand-in dad, he’s always hers.
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EXCERPT:
“I know it’s not my place, and maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I believe a man ought to be there for his woman, not just stop by because he’s so busy.” Fitz heard his voice deepening and roughening as he spoke, but he was really pissed.
Clara looked confused at first, but then understanding crept into her eyes. “You’re right that it isn’t any of your business, but I’ll explain anyway. Lars is my brother. He’s excited to be an uncle but worried about his baby sister. I’m lucky he can make time every day to see me, since there are only two doctors in this half of the county.”
And doesn’t that just put me in my place? Fitz thought wryly.
“Before you ask, Major Nosy-pants, I’m on my own—no husband or boyfriend waiting to meet his son or daughter. No wife or girlfriend either, for that matter.” Clara’s eyes dared him to question her, but even as her expression challenged him, he could hear a deep hurt in her voice, well-hidden. He recognized it because he was intimately familiar with burying pain.
He wouldn’t hurt her by asking. Still, “Major Nosy-pants?” he asked, unable to keep the shocked laughter out of his voice.
“Oh, is it General Nosy-pants?” she challenged, and he was glad to hear some of the raw hurt had receded.
“I’m guessing that you don’t know much about the Corps, ma’am,” he drawled, surprised to find that he wanted to flirt with her.
Oh, Mylanta! I love me a billionaire that doesn’t care that he is a billionaire. Throw in a pregnant heroine that doesn’t need saving and let’s just watch the sparks fly. Fitz and Clara are that and more. I hated that this book ended. I could have read another book about these two; that’s how much I loved them.
Clara ended up in a bad situation with the biggest douche canoe on the planet but she soldiered on. She took a bad situation and made some good. Of course, she never imagined that the love of her life would end up on her property, injured and suffering through survivor’s guilt. Of the fact that he was a billionaire and would never leave her side for a minute. To feel Fitz’s love and caring ways towards her and her child are precious to her but to be in his world was a bit overwhelming.
Fitz had some bad stuff happen to him when he was a Marine. I admired his decision to become one and I understood it, too. Dealing with awful parents but a wonderful, caring, and understanding grandfather, Fitz picked himself up and lived the life he wanted…not what was expected of him. Finding Clara was a godsend for him. She is the light to his dark and made him a better man. I loved how he just took control of the health crisis for Clara and the baby. On the other hand, I understood the complete confusion that Clara had. Uncomfortable at first and honestly who wouldn’t be, she finally realized that this wasn’t Fitz but at his core was the injured man that she met at the cabin.
I just loved this book. It was funny, sweet, heartbreaking, inspiring, but more importantly, it is about hope. Clara and Fitz are in pain, emotionally and physically. They have some things to work out and they do that together. These two are gold from the beginning and the angst is low. It’s a character-driven story with just the right amount of romance, humor, snappy dialogue, and Minnesota for this reader. Yes, Minnesota. The setting is definitely a secondary character in the book and it shows how Ms. Russell still has an affection for the Midwest.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and for some reason, I’m thinking Mac is next. And yes, I thought of Top Gun, especially Ice Man. Love Val Kilmer in that movie.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Aurora is originally from the frozen tundra of the upper Midwest (ok, not frozen all the time!) but now loves living in New England with her real-life hero/husband, two wonderfully silly sons, and one of the most extraordinary cats she has ever had the pleasure to meet. But she still goes back to the Midwest to visit, just never in January. She doesn’t remember a time that she didn’t love to read, and has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has always liked the romantic scenes best in every book, story, and movie, so one day she decided to try her hand at writing her own romantic fiction, which changed her life in all the best ways.
Find out more about Aurora, upcoming releases, and news at https://aurorarussellauthor.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arussellromance/
Twitter: @arussellromance
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LVH89TG/
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/semper-fitz-aurora-russell/1140570733?ean=9781839435645
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/semper-fitz-1
First for Romance: https://www.firstforromance.com/book/semper-fitz
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Aurora Russell will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
A great review & I like this title.
Thanks for the great blurb and excerpt. The book sounds very interesting.
Thank you for sharing your awesome review of this book, I can;t wait to read this story myself!
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, Aurora, Semper Fitz sounds like my kind of book and I like the cover! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a splendid day!
I like the cover! It sets the stage for the book.
Thanks for hosting!