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Oakside Military Heroes #5.5
Saving Ethan
She’s a high school sweetheart. He’s back in town looking after being discharged from the military. Is he ready for the huge secret she’s been keeping from him?
Bri
Ethan was my everything growing up, my first everything, my best friend, and my soul mate. Until he walked away and ended us.
We had one last beautiful night together and then he was gone.
That night gave me our son. The problem is Ethans is back in town, and he doesn’t know about our little boy…
Ethan
Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it was the right thing to do. She didn’t have a future with me.
I was planning to make the Navy my whole life until I was injured and discharged.
Having to start all over I pack up and head home to my parents.
Walking into the diner that first morning I never thought I’d see her.
The only woman I’d ever loved but the biggest shocker? The little boy sitting next to her is the spitting image of me…
The Heart of the Wounded Hero series was created to pay tribute to and raise awareness of our wounded heroes. Each of the over eighty authors involved have contributed time, money, and stories to the cause. These love stories are inspiring and uplifting, showing the sacrifice of our veterans but also giving them the happily ever after they deserve.
By increasing awareness through our books, we believe we can in a small part help the wounded heroes that have sacrificed so much.
Thank you for reading!
Bri
Ethan was my everything growing up, my first everything, my best friend, and my soul mate. Until he walked away and ended us.
We had one last beautiful night together and then he was gone.
That night gave me our son. The problem is Ethans is back in town, and he doesn’t know about our little boy…
Ethan
Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it was the right thing to do. She didn’t have a future with me.
I was planning to make the Navy my whole life until I was injured and discharged.
Having to start all over I pack up and head home to my parents.
Walking into the diner that first morning I never thought I’d see her.
The only woman I’d ever loved but the biggest shocker? The little boy sitting next to her is the spitting image of me…
The Heart of the Wounded Hero series was created to pay tribute to and raise awareness of our wounded heroes. Each of the over eighty authors involved have contributed time, money, and stories to the cause. These love stories are inspiring and uplifting, showing the sacrifice of our veterans but also giving them the happily ever after they deserve.
By increasing awareness through our books, we believe we can in a small part help the wounded heroes that have sacrificed so much.
Thank you for reading!
78 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2023
About the author
Kaci Rose
146 books1,442 followersJoin Kaci's VIP mailing list and get 2 FREE Novellas at
http://www.kacirose.com/free-books
Kaci runs on coffee, chocolate, and Oreos. She loves her book boyfriends with tattoos, muscles, beards, and a little dirty.
Kaci loves romance books and has been jotting down ideas since she was in high school and is now putting the ideas down on paper. She believes in satisfying, happily ever afters with a lot of steam on the way.
Follow Kaci Rose
Facebook @KaciRoseAuthor
Instagram @KaciRoseAuthor
http://www.kacirose.com/free-books
Kaci runs on coffee, chocolate, and Oreos. She loves her book boyfriends with tattoos, muscles, beards, and a little dirty.
Kaci loves romance books and has been jotting down ideas since she was in high school and is now putting the ideas down on paper. She believes in satisfying, happily ever afters with a lot of steam on the way.
Follow Kaci Rose
Facebook @KaciRoseAuthor
Instagram @KaciRoseAuthor
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 3, 2022
Sorry to say, maybe he is a soldier but he’s a freaking coward too,
She is a doormat
Awful second chance romance
He doesn’t deserve anything
All about his mother stuff is even funny, mom issues…
He doesn’t love heroine, period
Not romantic at all
May 9, 2025
WOW!! Fab*u*lous Absolutely love this one!! I couldn't put this one down. This was a nice quick, short read.
Ethan and Bri dated in high school when they graduated she wanted them to go off to college together. Ethan joined the Navy, and told Bri to go to college and broke up with her. Ethan and Bri spend one more night together the next day Bri wakes up and Ethan is gone. Bri is sick for several weeks, when she passes out her parents take her to the emergency room where they find out she's pregnant. Five years later, while Bri's out with her parents and son Blake having breakfast Ethan walks in. Ethan walks to Bri and her parents, she finds out he was medically discharged. Bri and her parents leave the restaurant before they're finished. When Bri gets home to her parents house, they asks her if she's going to tell Ethan that Blake is his son. Bri knows she needs to tell Ethan, but she tried to write him she even told his parents. Bri just thought that Ethan didn't want anything to do with her or her son Blake. Bri gets a hold of Ethan and tells him to met her at the park and she'll introduce him to their son. The next day Bri and Blake arrive early and she lets her son play. When Ethan comes Bri calls Blake over and he knows that's his dad. When Blake goes to play with his friends Ethan asks Bri why she never told him she was pregnant. Bri explains to Ethan that she tries to get a hold of him she wrote him letters that were returned, she even told his mother. Ethan asks Bri if he can spend some time getting to know his son Blake. When Bri comes to pick up Blake Ethan tells her he wants to be a part of their lives, she tells him she doesn't want to keep him from his son. Two weeks later, Ethan and Bri are getting to know one another again. When Bri goes to pick up Blake at Ethan's he asks her if she'll go on a date with him. Ethan tells her that he would like to get to know the mother of his son if for nothing else but so they can parent together. Bri's parents are more than happy to watch Blake. Ethan pick up Bri from her parents house and they head to the next town to have a nice dinner. Ethan asks Bri why she never asked why he was medically discharged from the Navy. Bri tells Ethan that she wants to focus on the fact that he's safe and here. Ethan explains why he was medically discharged from the Navy to Bri. Ethan tells Bri he doesn't want the date to end, and she doesn't either. When they arrive at Ethan's house he kisses her and then they make love. The next morning while Ethan is cooking breakfast someone knocks on the door. Ethan asks Bri to get it, and she finds his mother. When Ethan hears who it is he goes to find out what she wants. Ethan's mother tells Bri that her son isn't Ethan's child. Ethan doesn't understand why his mother is so hateful towards Bri. Ethan and Bri agree to get a DNA test done to prove that Blake is Ethan's son. After breakfast they pick up Blake from Bri's parents and tells him that they all need to get a test done to see if they caught a bug. Ethan comes the next day with the results he's Blake's father. Ethan tells Bri that his mother still doesn't thinks he's Blake's father. Ethan told his mother it's her choice if she wants to be part of her grandson's life. Ethan tells Bri her and Blake are the most important people in his life, but he loves her and never stopped. Bri tells him she loves him too, Ethan asks her if they'll move in with him. Bri and Ethan asks Blake and he loves the idea, they spend the next days moving in with Ethan. This is the life that Ethan and Bri planned five years ago, they just took a few detours. Three months later, Ethan and Bri are at their engagement party the whole town showed up to support them. When Ethan's parents show up, they go to greet them. Blake asks who they are and Ethan tells him they're his parents. Ethan's mom tells them life is to short and she doesn't like tearing their family apart. Ethan's mom apologies to Bri she only wanted to protect Ethan. Bri hugs Ethan's mom and tells her she forgives her but she won't forget. Coming home was the best thing Ethan has done, it's how Bri saved him.
Ethan and Bri dated in high school when they graduated she wanted them to go off to college together. Ethan joined the Navy, and told Bri to go to college and broke up with her. Ethan and Bri spend one more night together the next day Bri wakes up and Ethan is gone. Bri is sick for several weeks, when she passes out her parents take her to the emergency room where they find out she's pregnant. Five years later, while Bri's out with her parents and son Blake having breakfast Ethan walks in. Ethan walks to Bri and her parents, she finds out he was medically discharged. Bri and her parents leave the restaurant before they're finished. When Bri gets home to her parents house, they asks her if she's going to tell Ethan that Blake is his son. Bri knows she needs to tell Ethan, but she tried to write him she even told his parents. Bri just thought that Ethan didn't want anything to do with her or her son Blake. Bri gets a hold of Ethan and tells him to met her at the park and she'll introduce him to their son. The next day Bri and Blake arrive early and she lets her son play. When Ethan comes Bri calls Blake over and he knows that's his dad. When Blake goes to play with his friends Ethan asks Bri why she never told him she was pregnant. Bri explains to Ethan that she tries to get a hold of him she wrote him letters that were returned, she even told his mother. Ethan asks Bri if he can spend some time getting to know his son Blake. When Bri comes to pick up Blake Ethan tells her he wants to be a part of their lives, she tells him she doesn't want to keep him from his son. Two weeks later, Ethan and Bri are getting to know one another again. When Bri goes to pick up Blake at Ethan's he asks her if she'll go on a date with him. Ethan tells her that he would like to get to know the mother of his son if for nothing else but so they can parent together. Bri's parents are more than happy to watch Blake. Ethan pick up Bri from her parents house and they head to the next town to have a nice dinner. Ethan asks Bri why she never asked why he was medically discharged from the Navy. Bri tells Ethan that she wants to focus on the fact that he's safe and here. Ethan explains why he was medically discharged from the Navy to Bri. Ethan tells Bri he doesn't want the date to end, and she doesn't either. When they arrive at Ethan's house he kisses her and then they make love. The next morning while Ethan is cooking breakfast someone knocks on the door. Ethan asks Bri to get it, and she finds his mother. When Ethan hears who it is he goes to find out what she wants. Ethan's mother tells Bri that her son isn't Ethan's child. Ethan doesn't understand why his mother is so hateful towards Bri. Ethan and Bri agree to get a DNA test done to prove that Blake is Ethan's son. After breakfast they pick up Blake from Bri's parents and tells him that they all need to get a test done to see if they caught a bug. Ethan comes the next day with the results he's Blake's father. Ethan tells Bri that his mother still doesn't thinks he's Blake's father. Ethan told his mother it's her choice if she wants to be part of her grandson's life. Ethan tells Bri her and Blake are the most important people in his life, but he loves her and never stopped. Bri tells him she loves him too, Ethan asks her if they'll move in with him. Bri and Ethan asks Blake and he loves the idea, they spend the next days moving in with Ethan. This is the life that Ethan and Bri planned five years ago, they just took a few detours. Three months later, Ethan and Bri are at their engagement party the whole town showed up to support them. When Ethan's parents show up, they go to greet them. Blake asks who they are and Ethan tells him they're his parents. Ethan's mom tells them life is to short and she doesn't like tearing their family apart. Ethan's mom apologies to Bri she only wanted to protect Ethan. Bri hugs Ethan's mom and tells her she forgives her but she won't forget. Coming home was the best thing Ethan has done, it's how Bri saved him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2023
This was like 78 pages, took me 10 or so minutes to read and they wanted 2.99 for it. Thank goodness I have Scribd. It was an okay story. Not much character development, kind of choppy writing, didn't flow but the storyline itself was good. Both of them were celibate for five years. The hero's mom was a terrible piece of work and didn't tell him about the baby because she thought the heroine was trying to trap him. She made them do a DNA test because she was telling everyone it wasn't her sons baby. And of course it was. Not much angst or anything because it was just too short. I will read this author again. I'd like to see if she gets better. As long as she keeps faithful heroes of course. Lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2024
3.5⭐️
I really liked the way this one started. It’s “5 years earlier” so we get a little backstory before the present. I’m not a big fan of this trope but since I’m reading the whole series I forced myself to read it. I’m glad I did! It was so cute hearing their story and how she made a scrapbook for him because she knew he would want the memories even if he never responded to any letters or the messages his mom was supposed to give him for her. I loved how Ethan stood up for her to his mom and had her back 100%. This one doesn’t take place in Oakside which I thought was interesting. Ethan had just left there and returned home after being rehabilitated. I really missed being in the Oakside setting but I still really enjoyed this story. It’s super quick and had me smiling.
I really liked the way this one started. It’s “5 years earlier” so we get a little backstory before the present. I’m not a big fan of this trope but since I’m reading the whole series I forced myself to read it. I’m glad I did! It was so cute hearing their story and how she made a scrapbook for him because she knew he would want the memories even if he never responded to any letters or the messages his mom was supposed to give him for her. I loved how Ethan stood up for her to his mom and had her back 100%. This one doesn’t take place in Oakside which I thought was interesting. Ethan had just left there and returned home after being rehabilitated. I really missed being in the Oakside setting but I still really enjoyed this story. It’s super quick and had me smiling.
June 14, 2023
Second chance
Ethan, feeling like he has nothing to offer his HS sweetheart Brianna, decides to abruptly join the Navy. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize he’s left part of himself behind and when he returns home after medical discharge finds he has a son. Very quick and sweet read with mild spice but has some editing issues. There are a few things that made me need to reread a paragraph to understand the flow… there was a place where he states he was injured during his last appointment instead of deployment 😒…. Not very in depth emotional read, very surface level and super quick forgiveness and resolution of drama. Was just ok.
Ethan, feeling like he has nothing to offer his HS sweetheart Brianna, decides to abruptly join the Navy. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize he’s left part of himself behind and when he returns home after medical discharge finds he has a son. Very quick and sweet read with mild spice but has some editing issues. There are a few things that made me need to reread a paragraph to understand the flow… there was a place where he states he was injured during his last appointment instead of deployment 😒…. Not very in depth emotional read, very surface level and super quick forgiveness and resolution of drama. Was just ok.
June 25, 2025
Outstanding story But only 65 pages— I feel I got cheated
I read this book in 1 sitting I love the story, it was outstanding. The fact it was only 65 pages was a huge disappointment. I feel you have cheated your readers. It was like reading a child's book and that's on me as I should have checked how many pages were involved. I have read thousands of books and never once have I felt this way. This book should have been part of the kindle unlimited and not charged for no longer than it was. I won't read any more of your books and I feel sad about that.
I read this book in 1 sitting I love the story, it was outstanding. The fact it was only 65 pages was a huge disappointment. I feel you have cheated your readers. It was like reading a child's book and that's on me as I should have checked how many pages were involved. I have read thousands of books and never once have I felt this way. This book should have been part of the kindle unlimited and not charged for no longer than it was. I won't read any more of your books and I feel sad about that.
May 28, 2023
Not really an Oakside book.
Doesn’t mention Oakside, but in passing. Kinda disappointed in this one, because the others were so GOOD. Story doesn’t flow together lots of gaps and they don’t get closed. Never understand why his Mom didn’t tell him about Blake and why they don’t have anything to do with them. Don’t waste your money definitely not worth it. Love the others though they are worth every penny.
Doesn’t mention Oakside, but in passing. Kinda disappointed in this one, because the others were so GOOD. Story doesn’t flow together lots of gaps and they don’t get closed. Never understand why his Mom didn’t tell him about Blake and why they don’t have anything to do with them. Don’t waste your money definitely not worth it. Love the others though they are worth every penny.
February 20, 2023
This was alright with a slight connection to the Oakside series, and it was still and ok read, but after reading the entire current Oakside Military Heros set it's just not as full of energy. So while it's not related, and I'm happy to have read it, I could take it or leave it and just do a re-read of Oakside.
February 14, 2025
While this one was cute, I didn't see that it had a connection to Oakside, other than Ethan was in the military. I think Ethan and Bri did a good job of not letting the past ruin anything in the present and both of them were good about actually seeing that something was still there for them to build a future on.
Read
July 10, 2023Short and sweet
OK, well, I'm not sure which came first, but it's a repeat story. So nothing really new here. As always, characters are well developed and flow is good, but not an original.
OK, well, I'm not sure which came first, but it's a repeat story. So nothing really new here. As always, characters are well developed and flow is good, but not an original.
November 3, 2022
3.75 stars
January 1, 2023
Not bad, just not stellar.
May 1, 2023
Great read. Highly recommend.
June 23, 2023
A wonderful love story. A fast read. I loved it.
March 29, 2024
Easy little novella to read. Short and sweet, a book finished for the tally
April 18, 2024
Book was like 70 pages, that isn't even a book.
The story had no depth whatsoever, it was predictable.
The story had no depth whatsoever, it was predictable.
June 7, 2024
Short and heartbreaking
Ethan breaks Bri's heart when he leaves to join the military . This story picks up 5 years later. Short, painful heartbreak, and 2nd chances
Ethan breaks Bri's heart when he leaves to join the military . This story picks up 5 years later. Short, painful heartbreak, and 2nd chances
July 5, 2025
Absolutely in love with this series
Loved Saving Ethan and all the other books in the series I've read so far! Going for the next Kaci book!
Loved Saving Ethan and all the other books in the series I've read so far! Going for the next Kaci book!
January 4, 2023
Ethan has major changes and decisions in his life -- medical discharge, successful rehab through Oakside. Now arriving in his hometown he found out about his past and his present, about trust and openness.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews