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NaN of -Infinity

Jess Mastorakos

Heartbeats in Honolulu - Signed Paperback

Heartbeats in Honolulu - Signed Paperback

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Chapter One: Nora

“I don’t want you to go,” Tess said, her eyes welling up with tears. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”

I smiled at my younger sister, my heart squeezing as she adjusted her sixteen-month-old baby on her hip. She’d only been eighteen when she married her high school sweetheart—against all of our advice—and immediately got pregnant. Then, exactly when we thought he might, the dude split, citing irreconcilable differences. If you asked me, he was nothing more than a punk kid who bit off more than he could chew and didn’t have the guts to be a man. But what did I know? I was just her big sister.

Carrying only a broken heart and a baby in her belly, Tess moved back in with our parents. She received absolutely no emotional support from anyone but me. Mom and Dad said they were trying, but they were so bent on reminding Tess that they were right about Jimmy that she wouldn’t even speak to them most days. I didn’t blame her for avoiding their judgmental tone—it was tiresome and affronting.

According to Tess, I was the only one she could count on, and now I was getting orders that might take me far away. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it if that happened. The needs of the Corps came before everything. Even family. But Tess didn’t need to hear that. She needed comfort.

I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around her and little Sadie. “You need to stay positive. I’ve been laying the groundwork for months, and I really think the recruiting command here in San Diego will assign me to one of their stations. Then I’ll get us a two-bedroom apartment, and you and Sadie can move in with me. It will be great, you’ll see.”

If they assign you here. What happens if they send you to the East Coast?”

“You can’t think like that. I’m a Marine, T. You know I have to go wherever they send me. But I’ve been doing all the right stuff to stay here in California with you and Sadie, so focus on that, okay?” I gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her and my niece, stepping back to finish packing my bag.

I’d been on leave for the last week leading up to the start of recruiting school, and I’d spent the whole time in my old room at our parents’ house. It had been so weird to be back, surrounded by old memories yet filled with a new perspective. It had been nearly eight years since I’d lived at home. I was so different now. The Marine Corps had changed me for the better, and for that, I was eternally grateful.

My eyes wandered out the window, the view of the rickety old swing set in the backyard reminding me of when I used to push Tess on the swings when she was little. They hadn’t been touched in so long they were literally falling apart. And my parents were apparently okay with letting that happen. But Sadie deserved a swing set that wasn’t going to fall down around her. So when I got my orders here, I’d make sure whatever apartment complex I found for us had a playground. Or, at the very least, I wanted it to be within walking distance to the park. And in a safer neighborhood than the one we lived in now. Sadie deserved that. And so did my sister.

“How long is recruiting school again?” Tess asked from behind me, breaking me from my thoughts.

“Seven and a half weeks,” I replied.

“And when will you find out where you’re going to be stationed?”

“I think about halfway through. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything. And remember, recruiting school is right down the road at the recruit depot, so it’ll be just like it has been for the last three years while I was stationed here at Miramar. So I’ll still see you guys all the time, okay?” When she didn’t say anything, I stopped folding the shirt in my hand and turned to her. “Tess.”

“Okay,” she said. “I just feel so … pathetic.”

“You’re not pathetic.”

“Yes, I am. Look at me. Sadie deserves so much better than me.” She looked down at her now sleeping baby. Sadie’s little hand was curled around the strap of Tess’s tank top, holding on to the mama she loved so much.

Tess may not have everything figured out, and she may be young and in over her head, but one thing she didn’t lack was love for her sweet girl. She also had this nurturing spirit that she surely hadn’t inherited from our own mom. So even though I was dedicated to helping her, I also didn’t have a doubt in my mind that Tess was a good mom and would do anything for Sadie. She needed some support, and that I could do. I just needed the Marine Corps to help me out a little bit location-wise.

I put the last of my stuff in my suitcase and zipped it up, turning to Tess and kneeling before her. I placed my hands on her knees and ducked to catch her eye. “Tess. You’ve got this. I know it’s not what you imagined when you and Jimmy got married, but this is where we’re at now. And together, we’ll make it work. For Sadie. You just have to trust me a little bit longer and keep your head on straight. Sadie doesn’t need you to get all down on yourself right now, okay? She needs her mama to be strong.”

Tess nodded. “I’m scared.”

“I know, T. I know. But I promise, one way or another, everything is going to be okay.”

“Okay.”

“Now, let’s go over your to-do list for this week again.”

“Again?”

“Yes. Let’s just make sure we’re on the same page.”

Tess nodded. “Now that I have my new job, I need to update my income with WIC and have the scheduled check-up with them, and I need to call the daycare you found to see if they have openings.”

“Yep. And remember, this daycare is used to working with single moms, so don’t feel like you need to explain your life story to them. They get it. I even read the owner was a single mom herself and opened it to help empower women in low-income neighborhoods to create a better life for their kids. Cool, right?”

“Yeah, that’s cool. Even moms as young as I am? I’m only twenty-one with a toddler.”

“Sometimes even younger, Tess. Besides, I’m in the military. Do you know how many couples I know who got married at eighteen? It’s super common.”

“Right, but Jimmy wasn’t in the military. We were just … dumb.”

I closed my eyes, biting back a groan. I loved my sister to death, but she was so dramatic. Yes, the situation was rough. But we had this. We didn’t have time to get caught up in this kind of negativity. Besides, I was no expert, but it probably wasn’t good for Sadie. “Chin up, buttercup. We got this. Call me and let me know how everything goes this week.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tess replied, saluting me with the hand that wasn’t holding Sadie. 

I shook my head. “I’m enlisted, not an officer. I don’t rate a salute.”

“You do to me,” Tess said. “Thank you for everything, Nora. I really appreciate it.”

“I know, T. Love you.”

We said our goodbyes, and Sadie slept through the whole thing. Our parents were both at work, so I didn’t have to deal with that brief and awkward farewell. Not that it mattered much, since I’d be back within the next couple of days to hang with Tess and Sadie like I did all the time, so I’d see them. That was if they took a break from hanging out with their friends down the street long enough to say hi. They had quite the front-porch-sitting social life, and it didn’t include us.

As I walked away from the house and loaded my seabag in the trunk, I had a feeling in my gut that big things were coming. Changes were on the horizon for the Cannon girls. I just hoped they were going to be good ones. We needed it.

❤️ Enemies to Lovers

❤️ Workplace Romance

❤️ Military Hero AND Heroine

❤️ Competition/Rivals

❤️ Beach Romance

❤️ Small-Town Vibes

Kailua Marines

📚 Treasured in Turtle Bay - Roman & Molly

📚 Promises at Pyramid Rock - Mac & Ana

📚 Stranded at the Sandbar - Tyler & Kate

📚 Romance on the Reef - PJ & Maggie

📚 Heartbeats in Honolulu - Hunter & Nora

📚 Christmas in Kailua - Logan & Tess


📚 BONUS 📚

Love the Kailua Marines? They follow our San Diego heroes! For a fun detour, you can read "Trusting in You" between "Heartbeats in Honolulu" and "Christmas in Kailua." It's where our San Diego and Kailua worlds collide! But no worries—if you're all about that island vibe, feel free to skip straight to "Christmas in Kailua."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best one yet!

"Nora and Hunter’s story brings hardships, hurt, loss, love, and laughter. Their personalities totally captivate the reader. Being from a USMC family (generations) makes this story even more meaningful!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A new respect for recruiters

"This was a beautiful story of two people concentrating on their careers. Hunter is an absolute gentleman and Nora wants to be seen as a Marine. They both need to do this recruiting job to their absolute best but for different reasons. I liked that a few specific things were addressed in this story. First, woman can be Marines and be a good Marine. Second, the harassment the women get because of it. I am glad that Hunter's parents taught him that no means no and he backed off immediately. I'm glad the story showed what lengths recruiters will go to to get their numbers. I love, love, love these stories. I hope there is a plan to go beyond number 6. They are so full of reality meets romance!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A sweet and loving military LOVE story.

"I always feel like I’m getting a birthday present when a favorite author releases a new book. I feel like I know all of the marines in Jesse’s books. She has an amazing way of telling the life struggles of military life and also throws in the great love stories."

 

I need this promotion. But if I win, what will I lose?

I've done everything right in nearly a decade as a Marine, but thanks to stuff outside of my control, it's all gonna come crashing down if I don't pick up a rank soon.

Enter recruiting duty. My one chance to kill it and earn the promotion that will save my job.

There's just one thing standing in my way. Her.

Hot-tempered, pigheaded, and frustratingly gorgeous Sergeant Nora Cannon is gunning for the same promotion. Shots were fired the moment we met, and I can tell neither one of us is going down without a fight.

The only problem is, when we’re not fighting, sparks are flying. And I can’t get her fierce attitude and cunning smile out of my mind. But I can’t afford to let her distract me. I can’t afford to let her win.

Or can I? Because as much as I don't want to lose my job, I don't want to lose her, either.

 

 

If you're into enemies-to-lovers romances with a competitive edge, you'll be hooked on this story of two Marines vying for the same promotion—and each other's hearts.

Expect plenty of sizzling chemistry and swoony kisses in this sweet military romance.

📚 BONUS 📚

This book is part of a series where a close-knit friend group finds love, and each of them pops up in each other's stories. But don't worry—each book can be enjoyed as a standalone read. 


 

Here's the rundown on how to get your signed copy of this book:

  1. Pop your paperback into your cart and zoom through checkout 🛒
  2. I'll personally sign your paperback and package it with love! (and bonus swag!) 💌👀
  3. You'll get tracking info as soon as it ships!  📦✨

The current time for delivery is 2-3 weeks, so keep that in mind if ordering Christmas gifts!

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