A Military Christmas — Mike Jackson

A MILITARY CHRISTMAS, Jim Scott Books #38, is a romance novel, with two romances going on. It has a good deal of humor, and some action, including an F-22 flameout and emergency landing in a small Missouri town. The first romance, in that same small town, has all kinds of problems. A Marine, who has a bionic leg, and bionic eye as a result of wounds received in action, is due for a Medical Discharge from the Corps. But, he is home for the days leading up to Christmas, as he is to be discharged two days before Christmas...at Camp Pendleton, California. Then, after his discharge, his plan is to go to work for Hector Garcia at Hector's detective/protection company in Los Angeles. However, during his stay in his home town, he runs into a lady who he had wanted to take to their High School Prom, but lacked the nerve to ask her to go with him. She has built a nice life for herself, but they start falling in love. She has no intention of living in California, especially Los Angeles. He on the other hand, has no job prospects in his home town, so, in his mind, almost has to take the job offered by Hector. They spend most of the book trying to sort things out.The other romance is far different...while not love at first sight, it may as well be. Man meets woman, and the Earth stood still...he proposes about twenty minutes after meeting her, and she accepts. Their problem stems from an F-22 flameout...he is the pilot of the plane. After his well-conducted dead stick (powerless) landing, he is ordered to stay with his plane until a maintenance crew and MPs to guard it arrive. At about the same time, a riot breaks out near the airbase he flew out of, so the base goes on lockdown, with only one plane allowed to take off. It is carrying the maintenance crew, but no MPs, as they are needed to protect the base. This presents no problem as the pilot is offered help guarding the plane. Our Marine with the messed up romance, with bionic leg and eye, Jim and Holly Scott, and the town Chief of Police, an old friend of our Marine. The Chief also decides he can spare two of his other officers to assist in the guard duty.Despite all of this, the two who agreed to wed after twenty minutes, are determined to go forward with the wedding. Holly Scott, and old pro at planning weddings, takes charge, and soon enlists the help of her close friend Michelle Becker. Summoned to help, Michelle is soon flying into the small town, with her husband Bob, another retired Marine along. On their arrival, they are both added to the group guarding the plane.The mother of the Marine soon be leaving the Marine Corps, who coins the nickname stupid son for her son for not figuring out how to progress his romance, soon volunteers, and is put in charge of feeding everyone involved in repairing the plane or guarding it.The one reporter of note on the town newspaper, married to the Chief of Police, is of great assistance to those involved in romantic interests.