Letters to Her Solider

By Hazel Gower

Can you fall in love with someone through their letters?

Bianca Gardiner’s best friend Greta asks her to write a letter to her brother on the front line, she just never expected a response. Yet Caleb asks for more. Bianca uses the letters as a confession each week, pouring out her soul and divulging information she normally wouldn’t share with anyone.

Warrant Officer, Caleb Sutten fell in love with Bianca through the letters she sent him over five years. Each sweet word helped to keep him sane. But every time he comes home for leave, Bianca goes into hiding.

Not this time.

From the moment they’re together, their passion ignites. Caleb will stop at nothing to pull her out of the dark and put her into his arms, where she belongs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hazel Gower
• Release date: Jan 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215706961

Hazel Gower

I'm a mother of four amazing children. I started writing down my story ideas in high school, and never really stopped. Writing, I have to say, is my salvation. After I've gotten all the kids in bed and have cleaned up, I sit at my computer or sometimes a notebook with a pencil and relax, write, and escape.I love to hear from any of my readers, so feel free to send me an email and like me on Facebook.

Book preview

Letters to a Soldier

By Hazel Gower

Copyright © 2023 Hazel Gower

Letters to her soldier, by Hazel Gower

All rights reserved. 2023

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the author or publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use the material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained from the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, are coincidental.

Edited by Susan Child

Cover by Jess Buffett Graphic Designs

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

THIS BOOK IS set in Australia. In Australia the legal age to drink, vote, and get married is eighteen. The characters speak Australian English, so if you see the word ‘arse’ instead of ‘ass’ it is because that’s how we say it in Australia where the book is set. If you find a word you haven’t heard before, look it up or message me, I’d be happy to talk to you.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my book.

Hazel Gower

Dedication

To my wonderful family, I love you. Thank you for all your support. Also, thank you to my amazing critique partners, Tamara Gill and Bianca Sarble.

Chapter One

I don’t know why you can’t pick your brother up, Bianca said into the phone to her best friend Greta.

We’re getting a surprise ready for him. You know it’s his birthday next weekend. We’re doing a big combined welcome home party. It’s taking a lot to organize. Greta paused. Because I’m off next weekend for the celebration, I couldn’t get this weekend too. And I thought you might like to pick him up since you’ve been sending him letters for the last couple of years.

Bianca groaned. Sending letters is totally different than talking and seeing him in person. The last time I saw Caleb, I was a chubby little girl who followed him around everywhere.

Greta laughed. Well, you’re not anymore. You can’t keep avoiding him. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that every time he gets leave, you go MIA. He’s home for a while now teaching new recruits, so you won’t be able to avoid him the whole time. Unless you move.

Bianca wondered if her work would okay a transfer. She was their star wedding cake maker.

Don’t even think about it, Bianca. I will hunt you down and drag you back.

Sighing in defeat, Bianca looked around the airport for Caleb. Fine, but he doesn’t know what I look like. I haven’t se—

Yes, he does. I’ve been sending him pictures of us, of you.

You what? A bunch of people turned to glare at Bianca. You did what? I told him no when he asked for pictures.

Why on earth would you do that?

Scrubbing a hand over her face, Bianca looked up at the arrival board to see Caleb’s plane had landed a good fifteen minutes ago. I was scared. I didn’t know what picture to send. I look nothing like the girls I remember he liked to date. I’m not five-nine with legs that go on forever, a blonde, or a size under double digits. I don’t think I ever will be any of those things. I’m a wedding cake maker, designer, and I like taste testing my food too much.

There was quiet on the other end of the line for a moment before Greta replied. You do realize the way to a man’s heart is with food.

You can say that because you’re a size ten, and your mother taught you how to cook. Hey, aren’t you supposed to be at work? That’s why I had to come and pick Caleb up instead of you? I’m surprised they’re letting you talk to me for so long.

Bianca was met with another silent reply, and a niggling feeling came over her that Greta was up to something more than just a welcome-home, birthday surprise for Caleb.

Sorry. Busy working and getting the surprise ready to go. Talk later. Bye.

The uneasy feeling got bigger as Greta rushed her goodbye and hang up before Bianca could respond. She mentally shrugged off her growing worry over what her friend was up to and focused on the situation she was in. Slipping the phone back in her bag, she straightened her shoulders, and looked around again. Army men come out of the gate in full uniform, and she slowly walked forward. Oh my, they do look so good.

An older lady next to her chuckled and asked, Yes, they do. Any of them yours?

Bianca shook her head. Ha, once upon a time I wished. An image of Caleb came to mind and Bianca sighed. Nope. Truthfully, I still wish but, n… Bianca’s whole body froze as soon as her gaze caught Caleb walking out with two other men. Tall, he stood well over six feet with broad shoulders and a tight muscular body. Bianca couldn’t see much of his dark olive skin in his Army uniform. His hat covered his jet black hair and his piercing deep dark brown eyes set above a strong masculine jaw.

Caleb stopped, the two men stilled also, and Bianca watched as Caleb looked around the thinning crowd, before his gaze stopped