A Soldier's Homecoming by Rachel Lee (SRS)

Ethan Parish is a wounded soldier returning to the states after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has arrived in a place he does not know to find a father he has never known. On his first day in town, Connie Halloran, sheriff's deputy, picks him up hitch-hiking.

In due course, Ethan meets his father and they agree to getting to know each other but to take it slow. Both men have the military and special ops in common so Micah can understand how Ethan is feeling about his time overseas and what he has seen and done in the course of his job.

Connie is also wounded in her own way. She was the victim of an abusive husband and has raised her daughter in a place she thinks is safe. The safe haven ceases to exist when a strange man confronts her daughter on her way home from school one day. The whole town comes to her aid in finding out who it is and catching him. The sheriff asks Ethan to move in with Connie and keep an eye on Sophie (Connie's daughter.)

Connie and Ethan find themselves attracted to one another but are very wary of starting a relationship. The author does a good job of dealing with the aftermath of Ethan's time overseas and his injury. The suspense overwhelms the romance in this story and the bad guy is relatively easy to guess but it is a good quick read.

This is the first book in Rachel Lee's new Conard County series-The Next Generation. I have not read any of her other Conard County books except for a recent novella. Although this book can stand alone, I think it would be more enjoyable if the reader is more familiar with the series. I would recommend it to readers of the original series. I liked the book and will probably read the next one in the series when it comes out.