Nick Foster was the best U.S. Marine he could be. After suffering a devastating personal loss early in his career, he rose through the ranks and became a four-star general. Nick was now at the Pentagon as Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Gia Lorenzo enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps at seventeen years old. A smart, beautiful woman of Italian ancestry, she lost her Marine husband when his plane crashed. Looking for a change, she put in for orders and moved with her young son to the Washington D.C. area to accept an assignment at the Pentagon. Fraternization: Personal relationships between officer and enlisted members that are unduly familiar and that do not respect differences in grade or rank constitute fraternization and are prohibited. It hadn’t bothered Nick to be alone all these years…until he saw her. He was immediately taken with her. Gia probably had men asking her out all the time. She was a beautiful woman. He was probably twenty years older than her. Not to mention the “f” word. Fraternization. It could end both of their careers. But he had less than a year left and he could retire. She’d never go out with him…or would she? Will Nick and Gia take a chance on a forbidden love? How will they deal with what life throws at them? A fast-moving story of love and life with a few adventures thrown in.
Biggerstaff’s candid prose is the perfect fit to convey the everyday happenings of military personnel and showcases her experience serving in the Air Force. The characters are uncomplicated and appealing, the loving Gia a perfect fit for Nick, a “marine’s marine,” who manages to be as affectionate as he is hardcore. The possibility of their relationship leading to a court-martial for “fraternizing” is ever looming and complicates the wholesome, sweet flavor of the budding romance, but despite that wrench in the works, the courtship progresses smoothly, with snippets of tension interspersed throughout—including the consequences of an attempted kidnapping and the machinations of a sexual predator.
Those roadblocks introduce welcome conflict into the storyline, and Nick’s struggles with allowing himself the compassion to rebuild his life are palpably wrought. As he continues to rise in the ranks professionally, his feelings for Gia also expand, allowing them the necessary space to create their own happily ever after. Frequent references to the characters in Biggerstaff’s other novels water down the narrative at times, and Biggerstaff’s explanations of military lingo embedded in the storyline can be distracting, but ultimately Gia and Nick deliver a satisfying, feel-good romance.
Takeaway: A breezy military romance between a gunnery sergeant and an emotionally-scarred general.
Comparable Titles: Suzanne Brockmann’s The Admiral’s Bride, Susan Stoker’s Protecting Caroline.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Love At The Pentagon: A Nick & Gia Story is a work of fiction in the romance, interpersonal drama, and suspense subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers owing to some instances of adult language and adult themes and relationships throughout. Penned by author Kimberly A. Biggerstaff, readers are invited to follow the story of Nick Foster, a four-star general at the Pentagon, and Gia Lorenzo, a smart and beautiful woman of Italian ancestry in the U.S. Marine Corps who lost her husband in a plane crash. Despite the strict rules against fraternization, Nick finds himself drawn to Gia, sparking a forbidden attraction between them. As they navigate the complexities of their feelings and the risks to their careers, the novel explores themes of love, loss, and taking chances.
Author Kimberly A. Biggerstaff sweeps readers off their feet with this charming and suspenseful tale of forbidden attraction. I was really impressed with the character work around the central pairing, which develops a heat-filled dynamic that drives the novel forward as we wait with bated breath for each interaction, waiting for those vital sparks to turn into something more. With a fast-paced narrative and a touch of adventure, the novel is well-paced and offers many twists to captivate readers right through to the long-awaited, slow-burning conclusion. The challenges Nick and Gia face in pursuing their relationship amidst the constraints of military life are realistically portrayed but also suitable heightened for suspense and drama at just the right moments. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Love At The Pentagon: A Nick & Gia Story for fans of romance who want strong characters, exciting dynamics, and plenty of tension and complexity in their love stories.
