Who doesn’t like hot military men? And I liked the guys in this collection of stories a lot because they were struggling with their emotions—not something you get to see very often in reality unless you are close to a man in uniform. And while military PR people all over the planet would probably cringe at seeing their elite’s innermost secrets revealed like this, the undeniable truth is that they are human, like the rest of it, and deserve to be loved for who they are.

The story settings range from the frontlines, be they a storm at sea or a desert full of hostiles, to the home front, where some men go through heavy adjustments when returning to civilian life. They cover the kinds of issues military men face, including having to deal with loss, PTSD, and leaving loved ones behind for long periods of painful separation. Above all, they show the kind of courage and determination needed to become a member of the very elite of the military: Marines, members of the Coast Guard, or Naval officers. All of the men in this anthology love deeply, and are ready to fight for that love. So, if you are so inclined, sit back and enjoy what the authors have come up with for you.

Anomaly by S.A. McAuley
In a somewhat amusing confrontation of “man against machine”, this story focuses on Galen, a Marine known for his ability to detect drones, and Zach, a man determined to design a drone offense system that can beat any human. Galen is pretty sure about his abilities on a professional level, but he is equally insecure about his skill for attracting the kind of man he is interested in. Zach isn’t exactly a man magnet either, or so he thinks, and I found the resulting “dance” between two men who are normally awkward and somewhat nerdy very entertaining. Their antics, be they chats or interactions in real life, went from cute to hot, and the developing relationship gave me hope for more.

Always Ready by T.A. Chase
Suspense on the high seas is the focus of this story, and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dean is out to save lives while exploring the possibilities of sharing his life with the man he has fallen in love with. Phil is a fisherman, and makes a living braving the Bering Sea on the family boat. The descriptions of icy waters, people potentially freezing to death almost before they can drown, and the desperate determination of the Coast Guard to save them before it is too late, held my attention. Dean’s reaction to the news of Phil’s ship having capsized was a little too professional and distant for me, but it is entirely possible Dean was just trying to protect himself. Don’t read this unless you’re snug and warm and far from any ocean!

A Ring and a Vow by Devon Rhodes
In this wonderful sequel to ‘A Ring and a Promise’, Marine officer Owen and Naval aviator Cary are back. This time, they intend to bridge the gap between the two arms of the service on a more permanent basis, and I loved watching them go through the necessary steps until they got to the “I do” that has been eluding them for years. Neither Cary’s nightmares nor time restraints imposed by uncertainty about the next posting can stop them from forging the future they have both been waiting for. This is a sweet story without major drama, well, unless you count wedding preparations and dealing with flower arrangements and relatives. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Owen and Cary were doing!

My Marine by L.E. Franks and Sara York
Marine Sean Kelly works in intelligence, so falling for an Afghani translator isn’t exactly something he planned for, nor does he want to succumb to Akim’s charms. Unfortunately he can’t help himself, and even the resulting mental anguish is pretty theoretical in the face of Akim’s attributes. And then the enigmatic man vanishes without a trace, and Sean is left wondering what is going on. It turns out Akim has a well-kept secret, and it leaves both Sean and him needing to deal with some pretty basic “can I trust him” considerations. While this isn’t an intense and emotional thriller, I found it to be a pretty tension-filled short story.

Soul Sick by Kendall McKenna
Marine officer Jamie may have made it back to his lover Tucker in one piece, with only a few physical scars to show for his year-long deployment, but his mental state is a different story. I didn’t understand his reactions at first, but once I realized what was going on, the things he did were as fascinating as they were scary. Nobody who has never been through the kind of hell Jamie had to endure while fighting the Taliban will be able to fully understand what it’s like, but this story gives an excellent, if painful, description of some of the consequences. A lot of the more factual information about PTSD and some important details are missing due to how short this story is, but if you’re looking for an emotional sketch, a somewhat shocking description of some of the consequences of warfare, give this read a go. It isn’t easy reading, but I found it well worth the effort, and one of the best in this collection.

Safe Shores by Morticia Knight
This is a great story about two men who have never really emotionally opened up to each other even though they’ve been together for three years. Partly this is due to the small town Kirk lives in, has always lived in, as a fisherman, it isn’t exactly gay-friendly. But not everyone is a homophobe either, so Kirk is beginning to think about telling Coast Guard officer Shane how he feels about him. Interestingly, Shane is in the same place, and the result is explosive. In a sense the increased intimacy prepares them to better deal with the catastrophe of Kirk’s teenage son getting lost at sea in the midst of an awful storm. Shane is the only qualified rescue swimmer around, and he is determined to save the kid’s life. Emotionally explosive and very hot, these two men will never be the same after going through their fears together. And what a perfect ending!


NOTE: This book was provided by Totally Bound Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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