In A Soldier's Arms, by Romance Author, Marin Thomas 

Harlequin American #1200
ISBN-10: 0373752040
ISBN-13: 978-0373752041
February 2008
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In A Soldier's Arms

Determined to uncover the truth about her mysterious Appalachian past, Maggie O'Neil drives to Heather's Hollow in search of her granny, the only other surviving member of the O'Neil clan. Her grandmother's uncanny sixth sense and healing powers intrigues the nurse practitioner when they meet, but what really fascinates her is her granny's neighbor, brooding ex-soldier Abram Devane.

The secretive major pretends to like his solitude, nut Maggie's gut feeling says he's not immune to her. And as all of Heather's Hollow knows, when the O'Neil women look into the future with their bewitching green eyes, whatever they see comes true.

Herself in a soldier's arms forever is the sight before Maggie. Can Abram face down the demons in his past and allow himself to see the same thing?


I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to reading this book! I loved the first one in the series tremendously, and had high hopes that Ms. Thomas would be able to please me again with her sequel. She did not disappoint.
City-slicker Maggie O'Neil starts her journey into Appalachia with a run-in with one colorful character after another, not the least of whom is her grandmother "Granny" O'Neil. Once she finally gets past the outhouse and learning how to ride a horse, she begins to appreciate the charm of the backwoods. She also begins to appreciate the charm of Granny's closest neighbor, an "outsider" named Abram Devane. Despite the disapproval that rolls off Granny at Maggie's attraction, she can't seem to stay away from him.

Once again, Ms. Thomas has peppered her book with wonderfully drawn, fun and in-depth characters. Along with the amazing characters, there is a realistic and interesting conflict--two, actually-- and very real emotion between Maggie and Abram. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both of them slowly open up, not just to each other but to the community around them. It was also wonderful to revisit our friends from the first book and catch up with them to see how they've grown and changed. Ms. Thomas has done "pert near" everything right with this heart-warming sequel. Once again, I can't wait for the next book in this series. And, I'm so impressed with this author's writing, that I'm planning on digging in to her backlist! Do yourself a favor and dive right into this series. You won't be disappointed.
      Poppy, www.longandshortreviews.blogspot.com

IN A SOLDIER�S ARMS is another touching tale from the pen of Marin Thomas. Ms. Thomas manages to make her characters so real and compelling that readers actually ache right along with them as they struggle with the weight of their past. Abram is one of Ms. Thomas� most complex and intriguing characters to date, harboring blame for a military tragedy that caused both emotional and physical scars.

Tortured heroes are my weakness, and as I devoured the pages of IN A SOLDIER�S ARMS I couldn�t help but think that this book just might be my new favorite Marin Thomas story. She somehow manages to make Abram so real, his emotions so raw amidst a heartbreaking toughness. Taking a tough issue like post-traumatic stress disorder, Ms. Thomas doesn�t just tell us how it effects someone in Abram�s situation, we actually experience it through Abram�s eyes.

Ms. Thomas has created a delightful community in Heather�s Hollow, and I love how she manages to weave such interesting details and tidbits about the Appalachian region with a colorful cast of secondary characters. Seriously, you can�t help but fall in love with Granny O�Neil, a curmudgeon with a heart of gold!

Ms. Thomas has managed to pull off yet another book with her trademark down home, warm-hearted style, earning my devotion as a reader. IN A SOLDIER�S ARMS is destined to remain a favorite of mine, and I find myself eagerly anticipating the next story in her Hearts of Appalachia series. Whether you are a fan of Ms. Thomas� stories or a new reader, you will definitely appreciate what you�ll find between the pages of IN A SOLDIER�S ARMS.
      --- ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

IN A SOLDIER'S ARMS is a whimsical contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters with commitment issues, a wonderful Appalachian support cast, and the show stealer Granny, who in some ways will remind readers of Granny Moses of the TV version of the Beverly Hillbillies. Whereas Margaret learns home is where the heart wants to be, which is with Granny and Abram. Abram suffers from PTSD, but feels bewitched by the two O�Neal women who enable him to somewhat forget the anguish from his military experience. Marin Thomas provides a warm old Kentucky home romance.
      --- Harriet Klausner

www.armancereview.com awarded the book 5 Roses!.....Grab a copy of Marin Thomas� next next Hearts of Appalachia book In a Soldier�s Arms, pour yourself a nice cup of tea, curl up in your favorite reading chair and be prepared for a joyous romantic read that will truly warm your heart!

Determined to discover the remaining members of her family, Maggie O'Neil journeys deep into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. What Maggie finds, apart from a cantankerous old woman, is a wounded warrior with pain filled eyes. Abram Devane came to the secluded cabin to rest his weary soul and recuperate from his war injuries. Amidst the thriving vegetation of the mountain, it is in the verdant green of Maggie's eyes that Abram finds the peace he's been searching for. While circumstances forced these two lonely souls together, will personal demons and the good people of Clan Macpherson keep them apa