Amanda's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 4 STARS 
 Review copy provided for an honest review 
 Carolina Man by Virginia Kantra is the 3rd book in her Dare Island series and concludes the continuing story of Luke and his daughter Taylor. Luke is a marine and was given the shock of his life 4 months ago when he found out he was a father of a 10 year old daughter. He's returned home after another tour in Afghanistan and needs to connect with his daughter Taylor. What makes this story so good is that is involves a whole family and their dynamics with one another. Kantra weaves all their thoughts and feelings together with an interesting plot. That is what I have come to love about her writing and the emotional ties the characters hold with one another. 
 Luke is a good marine and a good man. He keeps his emotions locked down and assesses his actions and feelings. He's out of his depth in how to raise a daughter but with some very sage advice from Kate Dolan I think he can do anything he sets his mind to do. Kate is a lawyer and has been involved in Taylor's case. Kate has secrets of her past growing up with an alcoholic father who also was a marine. She knows the lifestyle and what Luke and Taylor may be facing. What we see through her eyes is the love Luke has for Taylor but doesn't realize it herself. She also gets a glimpse of what a real love looks and sounds like when she's over for Christmas. The romance that developed between Kate and Luke seemed natural and I'm so glad that they complement each other so well. 
 I like that Taylor was a big part of this story. She had her own issues to go through and they were worked out by the end of the story. She brought both Luke and Kate together but her own story of being part of the Fletchers clan just showed me that they want her to be accepted and loved. 
 Ms. Kantra writes about families and the situations they face and I feel a personal connection to them. I can relate to how Luke's mother Tess feels about her children and wish the same for my own. I've enjoyed each one of these stories and they end too soon for me. I am so glad that the series isn't ending with each of the Fletchers getting their own story and that there is another story to come. Yay! I hope that we get more insights to them and see how each of them is faring in the future.