The Gunnery Sergeant's Ready-Made Family

by Kathleen Ryder

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?

Genres: Small Town Romance

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2023

About the author

An international bestselling and award winning author of sweet contemporary romance, Kathleen's novels showcase thought provoking plots and strong emotions that have been likened to a Hallmark movie. Featuring feisty heroines and strong heroes, where everyone gets a happily ever after.

To discover more about Kathleen: https://linktr.ee/KathleenRyder

Reviews

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gunnery Sergeant's Ready-Made Family is a standalone romance by Kathleen Ryder. This is an incredibly sweet and poignant, if unconventional, start of a family and a relationship. If you're into military and smalltown romances, which usually guarantee to melt hearts, then you should give this ago.

Stephanie (Stevie) loses her widowed brother in Afghanistan, towards the end of his first deployment after tragic death of his life. These two have faced a lot of death and tragedy and they had stuck together in response. Stevie had stepped in to help her brother and his two very young and adorable sons. Now she's alone with her nephews. Chase is her brother's best friend and was in the same unit. In fact Chase had been in charge and witnessed the horrific event that led to the death of his best friend.

While there is a sweet connection between the, feelings of guilt and anxiety to makes things OK for the two boys, Chase and Stevie decide to marry. They are friends, that's a good start, and they outline their boundaries. However, as usual things get difficult when feelings become deeper. The book plays out the heart wrenching battle the pair have with their own feelings before they allow themselves to be completely truthful to each other.

Knowing that some people have issues surround faith and religion, it's worth a warning that there is strong connection to faith by both characters in this book. I personally found it very heartwarming and made sense for the characters to use their faith as a way of meditation and reflection. Christian romance is in the tags for this book, I honestly missed it when I first looked into the book, but at the same time I don't mind as long as it fits the book and isn't crowbarred in without context.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gunnery Sergeant’s Ready-Made Family by Kathleen Ryder is a sweet, emotional, military, small town romance filled with sadness, loss, guilt, PTSD, and an unexpected marriage of convenience. Stevie (Stephanie) has been helping take care of her widowed brother’s, Kyle, boys while he was away on deployment when she gets the dreaded visit from military personnel with news of her brother’s untimely death. With his two boys left in her care, she knew she had to be strong and do what it takes to give them the best life they could possibly need despite the circumstances. Kyle’s best friend, Chase, had survived the incident and out of respect and love for Kyle and for his kids, he comes up with a solution that he and Stevie should marry. This would benefit Stevie and her nephews as they wouldn’t have to move to a new town, would receive great benefits, and be financially provided for with two stable adults in the home. Stevie has known Chase for a long time; she even had a crush on Chase during her teenage years. It turns out that Chase also had feelings for Stevie. There are obstacles that both Chase and Stevie need to work through first before realizing their love goes much deeper than friendship. Their chemistry was that of a slow burn; not wanting to admit true feelings, etc, playing that dance for a little bit.

Knowing that some people have issues surround faith, prayer, and religion, it's worth warning that there is a very strong connection to faith by both characters in this book; continuing throughout their relationship. My biggest complaint is that both characters are late twenties, early thirties, but act much younger; struggling to communicate and make decisions. It made it difficult to connect with the characters. I recommend Vanished to other readers who enjoy faith based military stories.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an emotional story about loss, family, forgiveness and moving forward and it is Stevie and Chase’s story. When Stevie’s brother Kyle is killed in action in Afghanistan she is named as sole guardian to her two young nephews and even though she knows that it will not be easy especially as the boys had already lost there mom and now there dad and they are all grieving but Stevie was determined to give them the best life that she could and that is how she agreed to a marriage of convenience to Chase who was her brothers best friend. Chase is full of guilt and blames himself for the death of his best friend Kyle and Chase is determined to be there and help Stevie and the boys navigate a life without Kyle, so to do that the best thing is to offer Stevie a marriage of convenience so that he can give them all a stable home life but what will happen when Stevie finds out the truth about her brother Kyle death that Chase never wanted to be revealed. The more time that Stevie and Chase spend together there feelings for each other changes and neither knew that the other had a crush on them for years and as a strong friendship grows so does love as they all come to terms with their new situation. I really enjoyed this slow burn love story that was filled with so many emotions, pain, loss, guilt, grief, hope, connection, heartwarming, compassion and happiness after going through so much tragedy and I loved them all as a family. I definitely recommend you read this book and you will not be disappointed and I can’t wait to read more books by this author in the future.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevie is looking after her two nephews while their father, her brother, is overseas. Her sister in law died from cancer a little while ago.
Then she gets the worst news, her brother has been killed. Chase, her brother's best friend, moves in to help with the boys, and takes compassionate leave from the Army, but Stevie is going to have to move out of the base house.
Chase knows what happened to Kyle but hasn't told Stevie the truth, as his superiors told him not to. He suggests that they have a marriage of convenience, then the boys will get medical care and cover , they will also still be able to live on base, so not disrupting their lives as much.
Chase is being troubled by nightmares of when Kyle was killed in front of him, and feels that it was his fault. His feelings for Stevie start to change, or perhaps just come to the forefront of his mind. How will all this resolve itself?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

An emotional read from Kathleen

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevie’s brother, Kyle, has just been killed in action. It was only a short time after Kyle’s wife passed away from an aggressive form of cancer. They leave behind two boys, Ranger - a toddler and Finn -an infant. Chase, Kyle’s best friend has agreed to help Stevie with everything. They have known each other for about two decades.
Chase is harboring a secret and carries that burden. In order to let everyone keep their benefits and continue on with their base life, Xhase tells Stevie that they should marry for the sake of convenience. Chase has always loved Stevie but wants to make sure that she and the boys are cared for. Stevie had a crush on Chase but is willing to accept his proposal and his friendship after praying on it.
This was a beautiful book! I loved how everyone did simple prayers requesting guidance. I was not sure that I would like this book because of the Christian aspect, but I could myself loving every bit of it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevie, her brother Kyle and his best friend Chase know what it is like to lose your parents at a young age. When Kyle's wife dies from cancer and then he dies on a mission, Stevie is left to protect and raise his kids, Finn and Ranger. Chase offers Stevie and the kids safety, insurance, support and protection as they start a life without Kyle. They both have deep feelings for each other but have never stated it. Is this the time to bring it up? Is Chase hiding something? Can they become a family? Chase has longed for a family of his own to come home to and this might be his only shot at it. Loved the characters, their backstories, chemistry, and deep feelings for family and friends. The storyline deals with a lot of issues of everyone involved, and mixes mild prayer and spiritual guidance in as well. Strength, commitment, support, revelations, entertaining situations and some romantic moments kept the pages turning. Loved how it all came together after some obstacles.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy. Stevie and Kyle lost their parents when they were yound. Kyle stepped up and help keep them together. Chase was Kyle best friend and they enlisted in the military together. Chase recently lost his wife and his raises his young sons: Finn and Ranger when he is killed in action. Stevie steps up to raise her young nephews with the help of Chase, whom she has feelings for. Chase offers to marry Stevie to give Stevie and the boys a stable environment. Chase feels responsible for Kyle's death and feels it is the right thing to do by helping Stevie but will he be able to hide his feelings for Stevie?

Stevie and Chase are perfect for each other and I was rooting for them along with Finn and Ranger. Will Chase's secret ruin his happy ever after?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Naughty Nightie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance between a gunnery Sergeant Chase and his best friend Kyle's sister Jamie. Kyle gets killed in action and Chase feels it was all his fault that Kyle died. Kyle was a single dad to two young boys, and the boys are being looked after by Jamie. The story revolves around Jaime and Winston bringing up the two boys. Chase is hiding secrets from Jaime about how Kyle really died, plagued with nightmares going over Kyle's death in his nightmares every night. Will he ever be able to tell Jaime the truth about how Kyle really died that day, or will he be unable to tell her for fear of breaking up their relationship? Kathleen gives you a real insight into military families and their upheaves
I received an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog If you love a sweet military romance you will enjoy this book.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Stevie receives the devastating news that her brother has been killed while serving his country her primary concern is her nephews. She will do whatever is necessary to ease the transition even if that includes a marriage of convenience with Chase, her brother’s best friend and the man she has been hiding her feelings from for quite some time.

Chase is devastated by the loss of his best friend and the fact that he couldn’t save him. There is nothing he won’t do for his best friend and that includes marrying Stevie and being there for her and the children as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives without his best friend.

This is an emotional story about love, loss and healing. Both Stevie and Chase are trying to deal with their emotions which clouds their true feelings for each other and adds some additional turmoil.

[Booklvr89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the plot points and wouldnt have minded some religious references but it was very religious heavy. I didn't deduct stars for that because I was warned before reading it, but while I liked the overall story line the story was dry in some areas, and I'm not talking about the lack of steam (that was ok), I kept wanting to skip the non talking areas to get to the point.

I absolutely loved the plot where she is responsible for her deceased brother's kids and his best friend helps her; I loved the military aspects; I loved how they both had crushes on each other before... I just didn't feel sucked into the stories or endeared by the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alisa Crosson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Reading their story, I wanted to cheer for them and see them happy, to see them overcome the obstacles they faced. Some of the struggles of loss were heavy knowing they reflected real life for many. My only complaint is that I felt like some of their reactions to one another didn’t make sense, as though they could have easily solved an issue with just a few words. It felt a bit like it was being drawn out on purpose for no reason, to the point of maybe not being very logical or likely. Overall, characters you want to cheer for, and some unnecessary complications made it good but not great for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Stephanie / Stevie’s brother Kyle is killed in action, she is granted sole guardian to her two little nephews. Chase was Kyle’s best friend and haunted with guilt over his death. Stevie and Chase enter into a marriage of convenience, so that she and the boys will have a stable home and covered with medical insurance. The more Chase and Stevie are together, they begin to see each other in a new light.
This is a well written story which is an emotional roller coaster, with loss, grief, guilt, family, friendships, healing, forgiveness, revelations, romance, and love, which leads to an entertaining and heartwarming page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking start to a story. My heart went out to Stevie for the losses she had to cope with. In addition Chase had his own cross to bear regarding the death of his brother in arms and the guilt he felt.
Two incredible people who put the children’s well-being before their own is commendable and well written.
Chase’s character is so honourable and his first counselling group had me in tears. It was so touching.
I particularly loved the ending of the story. Although religion featured throughout the book it was sensitively included and a lovely happy ever after ending of true love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lucia Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story runs the full gamut of emotions, from tragedy and misunderstandings to a HEA. Neither Chase nor Stevie are aware of the depths of their feelings for each other. Chase’s guilt over her brother’s death and Stevie’s determination not to allow herself to be hurt present seemingly unsurmounable problems. They are both deeply faithful, but seem to forget to go to God first. The characters are very well written. I really enjoyed reading this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Texas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gunnery Sergeant's Ready-Made Family - My first read by this author. The book started out well but by the end I disliked Stevie. Her drama was a bit too much, and hypocritical. She needed to pray more. Otherwise, the story lines and the characters were interesting. I laughed a bit about an American family in the Army and the writer using the Queen's English. Gunnery Sergeant is a USMC rank. Army E7 is a Sergeant First Class. Source: BookSprout. 3*

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an emotional tear jerker with strong characters in Chase, Stevie and her two orphaned nephews. The author pulled me in with all the pain, brief and guilt as they enter a marriage of convenience for the sake of the boys. It's a story that brought tears to my eyes. The author does a wonderful job bringing out the emotions as she paints her scenes perfectly. Loved and recommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poignant story will have your emotions all over the place and cheering Stevie on to getting happiness. She is thrown into guardianship after her brother is killed in the military. When his best friend proposes that they get married to offset living arrangements she accepts, and it will lead Chase and Stephanie on their path that has twists and turns that will have them testing their character.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing Christian love story. It draws you in from the first page and you won't be able to put it down. Beautifully written and the storyline is heartbreaking and sweet. It will definitely pull the heartstrings. The characters are wonderful with great chemistry. This book was an amazing read that was simply delightful.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Kathleen Ryder; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

She has written another good stand-alone book. The story is about Stevie & Chase; after her brother is killed she becomes the sole guardian of her two nephews; he was her brother’s best friend and offers to marry her to help with the kids.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a roller coaster of emotions, sad, happy, and so many emotions. It was a wonderful read that made you wonder about how you would feel if this happened in your life. I really enjoyed reading this book and was so happy when things worked out. I just wanted to hug Ranger. A lovely book that I would recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kitty Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance. I appreciate the opportunity to read a military romance without having to deal with skipping over profanity
The plot flows smoothly, and the characters are well-written. It’s a nice length for a quiet afternoon reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us an emotional story that pulls us into the lives of Chase, Stephanie/Stevie and her two orphaned nephews. The story keeps us turning the pages with grief, a marriage of convenience, guilt and realizations. I suggest you have tissues nearby while reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has just lost her brother and now she needs to look after his children. A marriage to his best friend should keep them all together. He blames himself for the death if his friend. How will they all get on? Will life get better for them all? See just how it will all go for them all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely hate giving low reviews but this book wasn’t my cup of tea at all. The plot might’ve worked if it wasn’t so cheesy and it didn’t feel like it was forced writing. It started out pretty good, but I had to force myself to finish it even though I was wanting Stevie and the boys to be happy after all the heartbreak they had experienced. - By Elizabeth

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christian romance novel! It is a great reminder of what it takes to make a relationship work. Filled with intricately woven pointers and notes about love, support, family and the power of prayer Kathleen Ryder has crafted a well-written, light and meaningful novel.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gunnery Sergeants Ready made Family

Unfortunately the editing of this book wasn’t that good. Case in point Rangers name changed in hospital. Also it jumped from narration style to real time dialogue in the same paragraph. There was also no need to repeat Chase’s nightmare word for word every single night he had it.
Other than that it was an okay read.

[Heather Gibbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written storyline with realistic characters. Chase and Stevie have a marriage of convenience. This is an emotional rollercoaster. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. Stevie's brother was killed on duty. His best friend is helping her take care of her nephews. They have feelings for each other. However, they have some complications but in the end everything works out.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story started with tragedy, moved into survival and cooperation, then secrets and misunderstandings. The characters are engaging and relatable and once they get it together they have an HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional growth demonstrated!

Growing to accept that we cannot control all aspects of our life is hard but necessary. Many times we fail to accept that we can't control everything. We forget to forgive ourselves for expecting too much.