Romantic Times
RT Rating: 41/2

With a hero who's not only a tough Navy SEAL but also an insecure, vulnerable father and a pretty but unsure heroine with a big heart and a huge amount of love to give, how can this story miss? It doesn't; it delivers in a huge way. Throw in a lost little boy and some great dogs and you get a heart-touching story that will keep you smiling and cheering for the characters clear through to the happy ending.

Summary: When widowed Navy SEAL Jax Graham is ordered by his superiors to help his 4-year-old son get over the death of his mother, Jax doesn't know where to turn. He really doesn't know his son, Tyler, and when an impending hurricane forces them to flee the beach house where they've been staying, they throw themselves on family therapist Pickett Sessoms' mercy.

Pickett lets Jax and Tyler take refuge in her home and brings Tyler out of his shell. She also agrees to help Jax learn to be a better father. Soon they can't hide their attraction for each other, even though Jax is against marriage and Pickett is against loving a military man. When Tyler's grandmother sues for custody and an outing turns deadly, Jax and Pickett must decide if their their love can overcome anything. (SOURCEBOOKS, Apr., 368 pp., $6.99) HOT

- Cindy Himler, Romantic Times

Booklist

Navy SEAL Jax Graham knows how to handle any situation except dealing with his four-year-old-son, Tyler. With his on-the-go job, Jax has not been a constant in his son's daily life. He expected to leave Tyler with his mother-in-law as legal guardian but must now make a final decision about custody or the job he loves. While staying at his mother-in-law's beach house in North Carolina, Jax's frustration level is going into overload until therapist Pickett Sessoms steps in. Jax is impressed with Pickett's communication skills, so when a hurricane threatens, he cajoles her into letting him and his son stay at her inland home so he can get parenting tips. What he does not bargain for is the attraction he feels toward this high-maintenance woman. Daughtridge delivers a well-written romance that is simultaneously tender and sensuous.

-Patty Engelmann, Booklist

Romance Junkies
RT Rating: 5 blue ribbons

Navy SEAL Jax Graham has found himself in a precarious situation. His ex-wife's death leaves him as the sole support to his four-year-old son, but his career leaves precious little time for him to play full-time dad. Granting custody to his ex-wife's mother seems like the ideal solution but after spending time with her and his son, Tyler, he's questioning if he's making the right decision . . . and if not then what should he do?

Family therapist Pickett Sessoms takes her job to heart. She knows exactly what she wants and love doesn't enter into the equation. She sees military families struggling all the time to stay together and knows she doesn't have the fortitude to withstand the demands of military life. So why is she obsessing over a little boy and his father she met on the beach? 

With a hurricane barreling toward the North Carolinian coastline, Pickett's mother volunteers her to prepare some elderly friends' beach house ’Äòbecause Pickett lives at the beach' - never mind that she lives thirty miles away in Snead's Ferry. While struggling to close the shutters she notices a young boy and his father on the beach, both uncomfortable with each other. Getting involved isn't part of her plans but she can't resist trying to help. When she leaves Jax and Tyler are happily building castles in the wet sand.

When the time comes to evacuate, Tyler's grandmother Lauren is panicky and demands to take Tyler with her. Jax is still on leave and insists that his son will stay with him. He hasn't changed his mind about giving her custody but her drinking is cause for concern. Before leaving Lauren projects her own fears onto Tyler so that nothing Jax does calms his fears. Finding a hotel to stay at until the storm blows over proves to be impossible, but Jax comes up with idea of calling Pickett and asking her to put them up for a few days. Against her better judgment she agrees and they move into her home but Pickett isn't prepared for the emotional attachment that she feels for them. The last thing she wants or needs is to become involved with a military man and SEALs are extremely focused on their career. What she doesn't realize is that she needs a hero just as much as he needs a family therapist to help him form a relationship with his son.

Mary Margret Daughtridge really pulls at the readers heartstrings with her newest release SEALED WITH A KISS. Pickett, Jax and Tyler are wonderful characters who are struggling with their own issues and insecurities that makes it easy to be able to relate to them. I loved getting to know these characters and being privy to their relationship through its ups and downs. What stunned me was how my feelings toward the grandmother went from hatred to almost feeling sorry for her.  

Military men are often considered the ultimate hero and highly desirable. Ms. Daughtridge presents Jax in a ’Äòhuman' light and we get to see his vulnerabilities and insecurities. Not traits we normally expect to see in heroes but in this case it works beautifully. SEALED WITH A KISS is a wonderful story that will have readers experiencing a whirlwind of emotions and culminating with an awesome scene that will have your pulse pounding.

SNIPPET - He's a hardcore Navy SEAL. She's a family therapist. They're all wrong for each other or so they think. Through their love for his son, Tyler, Jax and Pickett may just discover that they can be heroes to each other.

Reviewer: Chrissy Dion

Revisiting the Moon's Library
Dora MakRating: 9/10

When I first heard about SEALed with a Kiss, I was told that it's touching, has a little boy who needs a family, dogs, and a muscle-y hero. I'm a sucker for strong men dealing with new challenge and needing a strong woman's help. And did I tell you there are dogs in the story?

Lt. Jackson "Jax" Graham has always put his career in the SEALs first, so much that his marriage had been very brief, and he has seen very little of his four-year-old son Tyler. His ex-wife passed away suddenly and he has to figure out if he should sign full custody of his son to his ex-mother-in-law. I didn't know this until I read the book, but SEALs are away for at least 200 days a year, and when they are home, they're training all the time. I can see how that would put strain on a marriage.

While in North Carolina visiting his mother-in-law and Tyler, he meets Pickett Sessoms, our heroine. She happens to be a family therapist and does some work with Marine families as well. Her family isn't very supportive and makes her the odd ball out with their little verbal jabs, criticizing her being single, rescuing mutts, and having celiac disease (can't eat products with wheat flour). Being a family therapist and counseling marriages, Pickett has very strong notions about what kind of man she wants to marry, and a SEAL definitely doesn't qualify.

While Jax thinks Pickett is high maintenance and not what he's looking for in a woman, she thinks he's unacceptable as a love interest. But when they're thrown together in Pickett's house during a small hurricane, they find out they might have to rethink their first impressions. They coax Tyler out of his shell and act like a real family, complete with three rescued dogs.

This is a great book for readers who have a problem with alpha males due to their macho manliness. Jax, while an alpha male (he even says that all SEALs are), is in new territory that his elite training can't help him conquer. And don't be afraid that there'll be too much technical SEAL mumbo jumbo. There's enough facts to make Jax's character believable, but it was in no way a Tom Clancy super-techno-action novel. Heck, Jax keeps thinking about how his extensive training can't prepare him for fatherhood. It was so lovely seeing these characters grow: Pickett stands up to her family; Jax realizes he can be a father and want a real marriage; and Tucker shows himself to be a smart little boy. SEALed with a Kiss is greatly touching and heartwarming, a cozy read for a rainy day. Daughtridge's descriptions of the setting for the book made me want to live in Pickett's charming farmhouse, tucked in safely from a storm (preferably with Jax!) with a dog warming my feet. I wanted to read more about the new little family, but books have to end sometime. I can't wait to read the next SEALs romance!

Book Binge
Holly Mercer

Navy SEAL Lt. Jax Graham has no idea what to do with his young son after his mother's death. Although Tyler is 4-years-old, Jax and Tyler's mom divorced shortly after he was born and Jax has been out of the country more than he's been in it. As a result, when his ex-wife dies, Jax is more than happy to let his ex-mother-in-law have custody of his son and just keep the same visitation rights he had before his ex-wife died. But his commander isn't happy with that and orders Jax to take a 30 day leave to spend some time with his son.

Jax reluctantly agrees to meet his ex-MIL at her beach house so they can spend some time together. Only shortly after they arrive, a hurricane warning goes into effect and they have to evacuate. Grandma heads back to her house in (I forget what city) but Jax is determined to stay and spend as much times as possible with Tyler.

Enter Pickett Sessoms, family therapist. She happens upon them at the beach just before they're evacuated and tries to help Jax and Tyler communicate with each other. She can tell Jax is doing his best, but he's obviously out of his league with Tyler. When Jax can't find a hotel room, Pickett agrees to let him stay with her for a few days, but before you know it Tyler is getting attached and the adults are battling a mutual attraction. But Pickett is gun shy, and Jax knows he'll be heading back to his life as a SEAL before too long....

I've been trying to organize my thoughts on this for a few days now, and I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly how I felt about this story.

It's wonderfully written, as evidenced here. Mary Margret Daughtridge has a beautiful writing voice and I was drawn in from the beginning, anxious to read more. The characters were wonderfully drawn. There are subtle nuances with each and the more I read, the more I wanted to know about them, and then the closer I felt to them. Fully 3 dimensional, with real personal struggles that sprang from real life problems. I think this is what I loved best about this novel. Each character was real. No fairytale life here, but instead a woman who's insecure and struggles with self-image problems and a man who doesn't know how to be anything but a hero, who's failing in his most important role, that of a father.

Pickett grew up overweight and constantly lacking in the eyes of her family. Even though she's a family therapist, she's always avoided close relationships for herself, for any number of reasons. Mostly because she's afraid to open herself up to someone.

Jax wants to be a good father. You can see that he does. He tries so hard, but he just can't seem to get it right. So he asks Pickett for help. And then he really listened to her and tried his best. Oh how I loved reading these parts. When he really focused on what she was saying, then made the effort to do as she suggested.

I think this is the best portrayal of a SEAL I've ever read. Not because he was all hard and tough, but because he had a softer side. I'm married to a cop. He goes to work every day and puts himself in danger to keep others safe. Before that, he was a Marine. He's tough, and sexy and he's a hero. He's my hero. But he's also sweet and sensitive. He puts my needs before his own, and he tries to be the best man he possibly can. Do I think he's a wuss? Or that he can't handle whatever he has to handle at work? Of course not. But when he's at home with me he's different. He's my husband. He's just a man.

That's how Jax was. He was sweet and sensitive, he was willing to learn what he needed to be a great dad. He was willing to stand in front of Tyler and Pickett if they needed him to, but more importantly he was willing to stand beside them and offer strength while they fought their own battles. That is the measure of a real man, a real hero. He didn't "have" to be in charge all the time, to make himself feel more like a man. He was a man and that's all that mattered. I heart him.

That's not to say I didn't have issues with him, however. The way he constantly went on and on about how Tyler would be better off with his grandmother, even after Jax realized she drank all the time and Tyler said he hated it at her house pissed me off. It was obvious that Tyler hated living with his grandmother, even to Jax, but he still refused to consider other possibilities for where Tyler should go once he went back to full duty. I understand that he couldn't care for Tyler on his own (being away from home 200+ days a year doesn't work when you need to be a full time parent), but he refused to even consider other options. That bugged the crap out of me.

And Pickett. I don't even know where to start with her. I guess I'll start with my biggest issue: Her refusal to consider a long term relationship with someone in the military. Maybe this is a hot-button issue for me because I have family in the military, but military marriages can work. They aren't easy, but life isn't easy. Pickett is a family therapist who works on a military base. She councils couples who are dealing with life in the military. Constant deployments, time apart, secrets, etc, etc. But she helps these people work through that. So why then would she flat out refuse to even consider someone in the military for a long term relationship? Hypocrite much?

She also had some odd insecurities and hang-ups about sex I found to be..strange considering her occupation, but I was able to most past these, mostly because she was able to move past them.

Despite my issues with her, however, I really enjoyed both her and the story. Especially her interactions with Tyler. There's no doubt she's good at what she does if Tyler is anything to go by. I also loved how, with Jax's help, she was able to finally stand up to her family. I think I re-read that scene several times.

I also loved that the focus on the story was the relationships. Jax and Tyler and Jax and Pickett. It was very refreshing to not have some mystery or suspense plot thrown on top of it.

Overall an extremely well written story with wonderful characters and a poignant story. I'd highly recommend it because even though I had some issues with it, I was able to move past them. No easy feat for me.

4.5 out of 5

Carolyn Crisher
Romance Reviews Today

North Carolina - Present Day

I'm Tyler, and I'm almost five years old. I live with my Gan-Gan 'cause my mommy is gone. I guess she got lost, cause Gan-Gan says she's not coming back. Gan-Gan sometimes scares me; she likes to talk to me about funny things at night and won't let me play with my cars and trucks. My daddy is back from somewhere, but now he says he's going away again. What if he gets lost like mommy? I'm scared of being all alone, what can I do?

Jax Graham has been told by his commanding officer to see to taking care of his son Tyler a month after his mother died. Jax and Danielle had been divorced since after Tyler was born, and being out of the country so much, Jax was lucky to see his son every six months or so. Jax figures his son will stay with his grandma, and life will go on as usual for him; he can visit when he's back in the States. But, his commander is insistent that he take time off to be with his son and make the best arrangements he can for him. How can Jax get along with a boy who seems scared of him and plays with cars and trucks by himself like it's an obsession. Taken with the drinking he sees Tyler's grandmother Lauren doing all day, Jax is worried, but what is a SEAL on active duty to do? A boy needs his grandmother if his mother isn't available -- doesn't he?

I'm Pickett Sessions, and I work as a family therapist at Camp Lejeune, helping to keep together military marriages that must endure the hardships of long periods of separation and the difficulties of the military life...I know all about the dangers and high rate of divorce among my patients. Because I live "close" to the ocean, my mother nominated me to close up the beach house for friends of hers before the upcoming hurricane...thanks Mom. But as I watch the man and little boy next door, I can tell they aren't getting along too well, and the man (who looks like the father), clearly isn't communicating in any way with the boy. I try to stop myself, but as a family therapist at Camp Lejeune, I just can't help introducing myself. I don't need to be a therapist to tell the man has that "look" in his eyes when he talks to me, and it's not concern over the boy. Clearly, Jax is clueless about talking to and being with a small child, even if he is his own. It's probably best if I leave them alone to work out their problems.

When a hurricane comes and Jax and Tyler can find nowhere to stay, Jax calls Pickett and asks if they can stay with her. Pickett realizes quickly she is getting too close to this beautiful man and his adorable boy, and vainly tries to take control of her emotions. As a therapist for many military families over the years, Pickett knows that life is very hard, and she is sure that type of life is too hard for her to cope with. Little does she know, Jax is willing to be her partner in coping with life, and will shoulder his half of the load. Now that's a man to seriously love. Will Pickett be able to teach Jax how to relate to Tyler, and can she resist the love of a small boy? Those are two questions Pickett must dig deep into her heart to answer.

Mary Margret Daughtridge has written a completely fascinating, enchanting, poignant novel that touches the heartstrings. The pathos of a little boy who isn't quite sure where his mother is, trying to get along with a barely known father, and Jax trying to reconnect with his son, leads us on a path of emotions uncovered and a man's responsibility to his son remembered. Written from Jax's and Pickett's points of view, we can totally see how Jax would prefer the easy way and let his son's grandmother take care of his son. It was inspiring to have his commanding officer clearly understand what was happening and use his authority to make Jax pay attention to Tyler and get to know him. Every situation and every emotional moment in the story was dead on and kept me captivated all the way through.

While Jax, Pickett, and Tyler face the hurricane together, their story revolves around them. Providing background is Tyler's grandmother Lauren; Pickett's family; and Jax's friend "Do-Lord" providing some peripheral background. Great stories don't need anything more than just the main characters and the chemistry between them.

SEALED WITH A KISS astounded me with is sensitivity, the connection between Jax and Pickett, and their love for a lost, scared little boy. If Navy SEALS, romance, and a great and extraordinary story are what you are looking for, give SEALED WITH A KISS a try.