Review for Infatuation: A Little Harmless Military Romance by Melissa Schroeder

To prove her love and save her man, she has to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Infatuation: A Little Military Harmless Romance

Francis McKade is a man in lust. He’s had a crush on his best friend’s little sister for years but he has never acted on it. Besides that fact that she’s Malachi’s sister, he’s a Seal and he learned his lesson with his ex-fiancé. Women do not like being left alone for long months at a time. Still, at a wedding in Hawaii anything can happen—and does. Unfortunately, after the best night of his life, he and Mal are called away to one of their most dangerous missions.

Shannon is blown over by Kade. She’s always had a crush on him and after their night together, it starts to feel a little like love. But, after the mission, Kade never calls or writes and she starts to wonder if it was all a dream. Until one night, her brother Mal drags him into her bar and grill and Shannon gets the shock of her life.

Kade isn’t the man Shannon knew in Hawaii, or even the last few years. Twelve hours of torture changes a man, especially one who had never felt so vulnerable. He still can’t shake the terror that keeps him up at night. Worse, he is realizing that the career he loves just might be over.

Shannon is still mad, but she can’t help but hurt for the man she loves. He is darker, a bit more dangerous, but beneath that, he is the Kade she's known for so many years. When he pushes her to her limits in the bedroom, Shannon refuses to back down. One way or another, this military man is going to learn there is no walking away from love—not while she still has breath in her body.

Warning: This book contains two infatuated lovers, some drunken dancing, a hard-headed military man, a determined woman, some old friends, and a little taste of New Orleans. As always, ice water is suggested while reading. It might be the first military Harmless book, but the only thing that has changed is how hot our hero looks in his uniform—not to mention out of it.

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Ms. Schroeder has done it again!  She's created a story that perfectly balances steamy sexual interludes with the harsh affects of war on our loved ones.  The hero and heroine of this story have to work hard to reach their HEA, especially the hero who has to learn to open up about his feelings.  Their journey is a hard one but well worth the emotional pain they experience along the way.

Francis "Kade" McKade has loved Malachi's little sister, Shannon, for years.  After a wedding in Hawaii he finally makes his move and they share a night of passion that both of them realize is anything but casual.  The next morning he's called away on a mission that goes horribly awry and returns to Shannon a changed man.  Kade no longer feels happiness, he's a man haunted by injury and death with a leftover physical impairment as a constant reminder.  He's realized that life is fleeting and can end at any moment and it's caused him to close himself off from feelings for fear of loss.  I was sad to see him so closed off from the world with nightmares haunting him nightly.  The author realistically shows Kade's depression and the subtle emotional issues of his two friends who return with him.  Ms. Schroeder shows that war really is hell in the eyes of our returning heroes.

Shannon, with her outgoing manners and speech, is just what Kade needs.  She too has loved him forever and has no intention of letting him go once they finally connect.  She forces him to confront his demons and makes the ultimate sacrifice of her love to help him heal completely.  His final romantic act is one that makes your heart ache and would make Richard Gere jealous.

The sexual interludes between Shannon and Kade are hot and perfectly spaced throughout the story.  There's a light touch of BDSM to these scenes that adds a nice bit of heat and excitement to their times together.  They were a great match for each other and complimented one another beautifully.

Also enjoyable in this story were two secondary characters, Shannon's brother Malachi and their older military buddy Deke.  Both of these men have their own demons that the reader just catches a glimpse of.  Deke's pining for a lost love while Malachi has commitment issues.  These men are strong, sexy, and full of charm and I look forward to them getting their own stories.    

This story had me enthralled from beginning to end.  With sexy yet angst-ridden men and a strong and likable heroine, I was drawn into this world that Ms. Schroeder created.  I hated to reach the end but look forward to the future and will be counting down the days until Deke's story is released.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.