When they first met, Justin Silverton, 20, was a Marine on leave and Valerie 16. He was immediately smitten, as was she. After a wild night, he never heard from her again; she seemed to have vanished into thin air. What Justin didn't know is that Valerie had been sent away to school by her father to keep her in check, and mostly away from him.

Val's father hates Justin's, for reasons we get to know as we move along. Edward Willis, Val's father, is a control freak, so much so that he convinced her to marry a man she didn't love and she stayed with him for a few years until she could not stand it any longer, which did not go over well with her father. Now 26, Val has never been in love because of her bitter experience with her now ex-husband, and something else I'd rather readers discover for themselves.

She has serious anger issues, but it's the only way she's found to cope with her father's demands, as she's forever hoping he will demonstrate her some love; treat her like a daughter and not a pawn to be moved to advance his political career.

Ten years later, Justin is now a civilian, and manages his father's farm, along with his older brother. His father has had drinking issues for too long and it has made Justin's life hard as well. Justin and Val meet again; she is adamant about not dating anyone, not wanting to get married, but Justin would like to convince her to take a chance. Due to a mix-up in a contest and Val's father, Justin and Valerie both end up attending a matchmaking weekend. At first, the story seems like a typical reunion of high school kids picking up where they left off, but the more we read, the more we learn what makes Valerie tick, and it's very painful at times.

BAD GIRLS DON'T MARRY MARINES is so much more than a love story: it's about standing up for yourself, making your own choices and taking risks at happiness. Very harsh words are exchanged between the characters, and the dialogue is so genuine, it feels like eavesdropping at times. Since it's a romance, we know there will be a happy ending, but it's a tortuous road for Justin and Val before they get theirs; honestly, I wasn't sure until the end that it would end well for them.

BAD GIRLS DON'T MARRY MARINES is a very powerful book, and I'm very much looking forward to what Codi Gary will offer us in the future. And, everyone will remember the first kiss between Val and Justin: it's a very short scene but unforgettable.

Book Summary