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Anchors and Eagles #1
What I Should Have Said
Where danger dances on the edge of desire and love comes with a price.Starting over in a small town, in a place Jane's never been, is hard enough without the fact that at her first day in a new gym, she sat on a guy's face. His face.Jane Barlow's life is upended when her father is killed by the cartel he's chasing. To keep her family safe, the FBI suggests moving somewhere new. Roped into a fake relationship that becomes anything but, she gives everything to Griffin, only for him to rip her heart out and then disappear.Griffin Marsh, an almost-retired Navy SEAL (almost being the keyword), finds himself absolutely smitten by the strangest woman he's ever met and fumbles the bag at a very crucial moment. Stubborn as always, Jane refuses to give him the time of day, and he knows it's deserved.When Griffin's military life collides with Jane's personal one, will he be able to make it to her in time to save her life? Will she be able to soften her heart and forgive him---before it's too late?Or will they both be destined to live in what could have been?Release Date MAY be pushed up as I finalize the Please check trigger warnings!
539 pages, Paperback
Published February 22, 2024
2367 people are currently reading
7022 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 383 reviews
February 27, 2024
This felt like the author wanted to cram in every idea they’ve ever had into one books and it didn’t feel cohesive. Fake dating, miscommunication break up, military romance, character gets deployed, teacher fired for a scandal, kidnapping, secret inheritance, toxic family, stalker, cartel torture scene, secret relationship, married before they are actually dating, and more.
Too much was going on and it didn’t give each problem enough time to be resolved before something else was happening.
Too much was going on and it didn’t give each problem enough time to be resolved before something else was happening.
August 18, 2024
If I could rate this lower than one star, I would. I got this recommended through TikTok and I should’ve known. The premise seemed interesting enough when I picked it up but then I started reading and I’m not sure if there was ever a full coherent thought that happened in this book.
It starts off with the FMC moving in with her mom and brother to a different state because her dad was killed by the cartel. The first scene we have with her involves her being held at gunpoint and then the MMC saving her from a robbery. The MMC was in the store to buy his mom a necklace, but I’m not entirely sure why she was in that store in the first place. The next time they meet, she accidentally sits on his face at the gym and we will never forget it because I feel like it’s brought up every 20 pages. The third time they meet is that a grocery store where her stalker finds her. This is where the plot really starts to kick off because now they’ve entered the fake dating relationship.
Every plot point in this book was started, but then very quickly resolved. The FMC talks about some trauma she has about being bullied as a kid for one paragraph but then it never gets brought up ever in the book again so it’s hard to say how traumatic that really was for her. She works out, goes to the gym,takes self-defense classes, but when the time comes, she does not defend herself. She has gotten attacked and/or kidnapped five times in this book. I enjoy reading a damsel in distress story, but there is a limit to how much she can be in distress and this book hit that limit within the first 200 pages.
Like I mentioned earlier, she has a stalker that followed her from Washington to Idaho, but she doesn’t think that this is that big of a deal and then just never mentions it to her family until the very end when everything is actually dealt with. She moved to Idaho because her dad was killed by the cartel, but it isn’t until the very end of the book that the cartel shows up and then everything is resolved within three chapters. She gets brutally tortured but then just has banter with the MMC and his navy seal buddies for a good couple pages before she remembers that she’s injured.
The MMC’s family are some of the dumbest villains I’ve ever seen. His aunt and grandma are both caricatures of what I would imagine an evil mother-in-law to be. They’re constantly belittling the FMC and she is just taking it. At one point, the aunt accuses her of cheating on the MMC because she found a picture of the FMC with a boy. That boy was her brother. And then like a cartoon villain, she tries, throwing the picture into the fire in a dramatic fashion. The MMC pulls it out and the FMC yells at his aunt and grandmother, but then she stays for this family reunion for the rest of the weekend, even though everyone is being rude to her about everything. I would have immediately left and I wish she did too for my own sanity.
They have the miscommunication trope during this reunion where she sleeps with him but then he gets worried about changing the dynamics of their relationship. Instead of talking to him about what he may mean by that she calls her brother and runs away. She then wallows in pity and complains about him not trying to contact her, even though he sent her letters literally every day afterwards through his mom. She doesn’t even read the letters, she just shreds them in front of his mother. At one point he shows up to her house and she refuses to speak to him. Another time he comes to her classroom and she ignores him again.
You will never catch me supporting a man, but honestly, he deserves better than her.
It starts off with the FMC moving in with her mom and brother to a different state because her dad was killed by the cartel. The first scene we have with her involves her being held at gunpoint and then the MMC saving her from a robbery. The MMC was in the store to buy his mom a necklace, but I’m not entirely sure why she was in that store in the first place. The next time they meet, she accidentally sits on his face at the gym and we will never forget it because I feel like it’s brought up every 20 pages. The third time they meet is that a grocery store where her stalker finds her. This is where the plot really starts to kick off because now they’ve entered the fake dating relationship.
Every plot point in this book was started, but then very quickly resolved. The FMC talks about some trauma she has about being bullied as a kid for one paragraph but then it never gets brought up ever in the book again so it’s hard to say how traumatic that really was for her. She works out, goes to the gym,takes self-defense classes, but when the time comes, she does not defend herself. She has gotten attacked and/or kidnapped five times in this book. I enjoy reading a damsel in distress story, but there is a limit to how much she can be in distress and this book hit that limit within the first 200 pages.
Like I mentioned earlier, she has a stalker that followed her from Washington to Idaho, but she doesn’t think that this is that big of a deal and then just never mentions it to her family until the very end when everything is actually dealt with. She moved to Idaho because her dad was killed by the cartel, but it isn’t until the very end of the book that the cartel shows up and then everything is resolved within three chapters. She gets brutally tortured but then just has banter with the MMC and his navy seal buddies for a good couple pages before she remembers that she’s injured.
The MMC’s family are some of the dumbest villains I’ve ever seen. His aunt and grandma are both caricatures of what I would imagine an evil mother-in-law to be. They’re constantly belittling the FMC and she is just taking it. At one point, the aunt accuses her of cheating on the MMC because she found a picture of the FMC with a boy. That boy was her brother. And then like a cartoon villain, she tries, throwing the picture into the fire in a dramatic fashion. The MMC pulls it out and the FMC yells at his aunt and grandmother, but then she stays for this family reunion for the rest of the weekend, even though everyone is being rude to her about everything. I would have immediately left and I wish she did too for my own sanity.
They have the miscommunication trope during this reunion where she sleeps with him but then he gets worried about changing the dynamics of their relationship. Instead of talking to him about what he may mean by that she calls her brother and runs away. She then wallows in pity and complains about him not trying to contact her, even though he sent her letters literally every day afterwards through his mom. She doesn’t even read the letters, she just shreds them in front of his mother. At one point he shows up to her house and she refuses to speak to him. Another time he comes to her classroom and she ignores him again.
You will never catch me supporting a man, but honestly, he deserves better than her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2024
DNF at 31%
The writing on this is killing me and the MCs are like a pair of stupid children. Their interactions with each other are making me cringe so hard I just can't stand it anymore.
I'm out!
The writing on this is killing me and the MCs are like a pair of stupid children. Their interactions with each other are making me cringe so hard I just can't stand it anymore.
I'm out!
May 9, 2024
Really juvenile writing and such confusing pacing. MCs were so dumb. Booktok lied again. DNF’d at 10%.
June 23, 2024
It read like a hot plate of dog shit.
Every trope possible is crammed into this book.
Every trope possible is crammed into this book.
March 14, 2025
Ok I had to throw in the towel. DNF’d @87% which I am shocked I got that far. This was so bad and you cannot convince me it wasn’t written by a 15 year old. The characters were so immature, especially the FMC who was supposed to be 27 years old but acted like a teenager. The MMC was no better and he was pushing 40!! Everyone’s reactions to everything were so dramatic and over exaggerated it was weird and kept taking me out of the story cause I’d be like WHAT?! It was like a really bad soap opera.
This book had it all HIPAA violations, privacy violations, security violations, weird teacher/student friendships, horrible family dynamics, slut shaming. BRUTAL.
This book had it all HIPAA violations, privacy violations, security violations, weird teacher/student friendships, horrible family dynamics, slut shaming. BRUTAL.
February 23, 2024
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The writing was SO GOOD. The angst, the thrill, the romance, the twists and turns. The aloha man and the feminine strong female. Gosh, but I wasn’t even expecting the action part to the book.
The closure was absolutely top notch. This is the first book I’ve read by R. L. Atkinson and I’m so impressed. I’m hooked. Hook, line and sinker-all the way and I can’t wait to read her other novels.
This book was so good that I immediately ordered the discreet hardcover and the regular paperback.
The writing was SO GOOD. The angst, the thrill, the romance, the twists and turns. The aloha man and the feminine strong female. Gosh, but I wasn’t even expecting the action part to the book.
The closure was absolutely top notch. This is the first book I’ve read by R. L. Atkinson and I’m so impressed. I’m hooked. Hook, line and sinker-all the way and I can’t wait to read her other novels.
This book was so good that I immediately ordered the discreet hardcover and the regular paperback.
March 28, 2025
Whelp. It’s finally happened my first ever DNF. This was a BookTok suggestion, I got sucked in by a quote slideshow and it was totally out of context and quite possibly the worst book I’ve read. The straw that broke the camels back you ask…. when she found her fake fiancé naked in the shower and said…"I guess the only question left now is, are you a grower like my brother, or a shower?" Like bish WHAT?!?! life’s too short. I’m out ✌🏻
February 1, 2025
Literally just… don’t read this.
February 24, 2024
The book wasn't a bad read. It's just not what I thought it would be. The premise seems like it'll be a fast-paced book with an interesting plot line. I feel that the synopsis over sold how complex the plot would be. Things with the cartel storyline ended up being anticlimactic. It just didn't make sense why it was wrapped up so quickly and with little fuss, especially when it was mentioned as a big deal at the beginning of the book.
The characters themselves I loved. Noah, Griffin, and Jane were great characters, and I love the dynamic. My issues were when it came to the side characters. How wishy washy and hot and cold they were to Jane and their reactions. It just didn't make sense and just served to annoy me.
Overall, the pacing was off. It just didn't work for the story. I don't think the book is bad. Just wasn't for me. I wish things had been a bit more put together and not so scattered.
The characters themselves I loved. Noah, Griffin, and Jane were great characters, and I love the dynamic. My issues were when it came to the side characters. How wishy washy and hot and cold they were to Jane and their reactions. It just didn't make sense and just served to annoy me.
Overall, the pacing was off. It just didn't work for the story. I don't think the book is bad. Just wasn't for me. I wish things had been a bit more put together and not so scattered.
January 24, 2025
This book was recommended by a friend & I’m glad I gave it a chance.
This book had a lot going on, but I ended up liking the story and characters. Small town, fake dating, protective MMC, military romance, with some thriller/ suspense. This book did have some miscommunication and a lot of drama, but overall I had a good time with it!
This book had a lot going on, but I ended up liking the story and characters. Small town, fake dating, protective MMC, military romance, with some thriller/ suspense. This book did have some miscommunication and a lot of drama, but overall I had a good time with it!
February 12, 2024
Wow. Just wow! This book was absolutely amazing! I couldn’t stop the smiles in some parts! Some scenes were so raw and full of so much emotion that it was hard not to get addicted! While I was struggling in the first few chapters to get into it, I slowly became entranced in the world that was Jane and Griffin.
For someone that’s so used to full on spice it was nice to be on a diet for once. While you could tell Griffin knew what he was doing it wasn’t in so much detail that it went on and on for pages and pages ! I absolutely loved it to say the least!
I absolutely fell for these characters. Without getting into too much detail, the first gym scene?! Oh. My. Flipping. Gosh.
I haven’t smiled and giggled like that from a book in a while and it was great! In this book there’s a lot of miscommunication between the characters and while yes it was justified. Jane. Come on. Just get back to Griffin already!
While Griffin was the protective, hero alpha male, Jane was this absolute bad ass FMC. She’s funny, smart and as Griffin says, a smart ass.
While this book is about 500 pages, it honestly doesn’t feel like it! I flew through it, I think I read it in two days (not as fast I would have liked, having an 11 month old didn’t help).
This book had a mixture of straight up romance but also a slight dark twinge to it, I absolutely adored this book and the characters.
The scene where Jane gets rescued by Griffin and has the audacity to say that three days was too long to travel across the world, take down a whole ass cartel and save her and the other girls?
I loved the banter between these characters, it was such an amazing change of scenery from the typical books we’re all reading nowadays.
R.L. Atkinson, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this story and the opportunity to fall in love with these characters and their story.
I would give this book 6 stars if I could. I loved it!
For someone that’s so used to full on spice it was nice to be on a diet for once. While you could tell Griffin knew what he was doing it wasn’t in so much detail that it went on and on for pages and pages ! I absolutely loved it to say the least!
I absolutely fell for these characters. Without getting into too much detail, the first gym scene?! Oh. My. Flipping. Gosh.
I haven’t smiled and giggled like that from a book in a while and it was great! In this book there’s a lot of miscommunication between the characters and while yes it was justified. Jane. Come on. Just get back to Griffin already!
While Griffin was the protective, hero alpha male, Jane was this absolute bad ass FMC. She’s funny, smart and as Griffin says, a smart ass.
While this book is about 500 pages, it honestly doesn’t feel like it! I flew through it, I think I read it in two days (not as fast I would have liked, having an 11 month old didn’t help).
This book had a mixture of straight up romance but also a slight dark twinge to it, I absolutely adored this book and the characters.
The scene where Jane gets rescued by Griffin and has the audacity to say that three days was too long to travel across the world, take down a whole ass cartel and save her and the other girls?
I loved the banter between these characters, it was such an amazing change of scenery from the typical books we’re all reading nowadays.
R.L. Atkinson, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this story and the opportunity to fall in love with these characters and their story.
I would give this book 6 stars if I could. I loved it!
February 29, 2024
I was super optimistic about this book but it was just too chaotic and there was so much drama. The main characters were all over the place personality wise and the side characters made me want to kick something. Too many plots and I’m not even really sure what the main purpose of the story is because even the tropes that are linked with this book aren’t really there.
January 8, 2025
You know those chapters in Twilight where Bella just stares at the ceiling and sinks into a deep depression because her dude abandons her? Well this has that, except our FMC just calls herself a whore the whole time. And that's like the least worst thing about this book.
No one should read this.
No one should read this.
February 27, 2024
Amazinggg
Absolutely in love with this book! The story line and the characters 😩 the growth of the main characters I was in love. Griffin hs definitely secured his place as #1 on my book boyfriends list.
Absolutely in love with this book! The story line and the characters 😩 the growth of the main characters I was in love. Griffin hs definitely secured his place as #1 on my book boyfriends list.
May 13, 2024
This book was recommended to me by the bestie and it did not disappoint! I loved this book! It made me laugh quite a few times as the banter between Jane and Griffin was entertaining and comical!
I would read this book again! The book is fast-paced and easy to follow, but there is a miscommunication trope that I found slightly irritating but done well. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. Definitely worth the read. I'll definitely check out other books by this author as this was a nice palate cleanser from what I usually read.
I would read this book again! The book is fast-paced and easy to follow, but there is a miscommunication trope that I found slightly irritating but done well. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. Definitely worth the read. I'll definitely check out other books by this author as this was a nice palate cleanser from what I usually read.
May 16, 2024
Oh my god 😍😩
I absolutely loved this book!
Griffin & Jane were absolutely 🤤 their whole relationship & how it started was pure chaos but sometimes fate has a way of throwing you in the thick of it.
Between hiding from a cartel to trying to dodge the family trying to force your hand about an inheritance, this story had so much going on but still didn’t feel like it was too much.
Their meet cute….away from the antique store….but at the gym was down right hilarious & I’m pretty sure I would’ve hightailed it out of there too 😂
But as these two got to know each other better & their feelings developed more, the chemistry became completely undeniable. And man was it hot 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved that epilogue too & would totally love more of it just because of how stinking sweet it was.
Hands down definitely recommend this book!
Amazing job!
I absolutely loved this book!
Griffin & Jane were absolutely 🤤 their whole relationship & how it started was pure chaos but sometimes fate has a way of throwing you in the thick of it.
Between hiding from a cartel to trying to dodge the family trying to force your hand about an inheritance, this story had so much going on but still didn’t feel like it was too much.
Their meet cute….away from the antique store….but at the gym was down right hilarious & I’m pretty sure I would’ve hightailed it out of there too 😂
But as these two got to know each other better & their feelings developed more, the chemistry became completely undeniable. And man was it hot 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved that epilogue too & would totally love more of it just because of how stinking sweet it was.
Hands down definitely recommend this book!
Amazing job!
February 15, 2024
Small town military romance with lots of drama. Jane (FMC) cannot seem to catch a break, drama coming at her from all parts of her life. Griffin (MMC) is always available to help Jane out of whatever issue that has followed her.
Easy, quick, fun read. Interested from the beginning, had no issues staying focused on the story line. The attraction and banter between the FMC and MMC is great and well written. There is spice but it is exactly as the author describes it, diet spice. The amount of drama that surrounds the FMC is a lot but the story continues to flow. Book is well written, kept me engaged, made me laugh, finished the book in about 12 hours, would recommend to others to read.
I did receive ARC for this book but all thoughts are my own and honest.
Easy, quick, fun read. Interested from the beginning, had no issues staying focused on the story line. The attraction and banter between the FMC and MMC is great and well written. There is spice but it is exactly as the author describes it, diet spice. The amount of drama that surrounds the FMC is a lot but the story continues to flow. Book is well written, kept me engaged, made me laugh, finished the book in about 12 hours, would recommend to others to read.
I did receive ARC for this book but all thoughts are my own and honest.
February 10, 2025
did i love it? no. did the pacing drag on unbearably? yes. just to randomly speed through things like crazy at the end? also yes. did the plot make sense? only abt half the time. did i still devour this book? yes, but only bc i was promised a specific scene via an insta reel i watched that was apparently at the end of the book & it fell flat imo :/ [also the smut scenes were the vaguest depictions i think i’ve ever read — despite /everyone/ constantly talking abt the mmc’s d!ck throughout the last third/quarter of the book — like i’d rather it had been fade to black then whatever this was, truly]
but ig its a sign i gotta go back to my romantasy 😜
but ig its a sign i gotta go back to my romantasy 😜
January 10, 2025
Stopped at “So bone-tingling alpha.” Ew.
February 17, 2025
God this was rough. It was like reading a Wattpad story written by a 13 year old who shouldn’t have access to all the different tropes and storylines in the world
February 17, 2025
Ugh, imagine every single romance trope thrown into one book. This was annoyingly slow and completely unrealistic.
February 14, 2024
Omggggggg
Ok I want to start off by saying I am so happy that I was chosen to be and Arc reader. I had seen the TikTok with the book scenes and immediately wanted to read. I’ve always wanted to join the Navy , and this year is the year that this will become real. With that being said I have always been intrigued by Navy seals. When I say this book did not disappoint, I mean it.
I loved this book so much. I smiled the entire time. Griffin is this badass navy seal who takes care of those around him, even if it means he has to do stuff he may not want to. Jane is this badass who is shy at times. This book had so many cute moments and the banter between the MMC and FMC were everything. I love their relationship and how they knew from the beginning that they loved each other, even though they were both hardheaded.
Now as far as writing goes. I really enjoyed it. Like I said I was intrigued the entire book. There was never a moment when I was like , “can we hurry up already”. No the whole book was good. I do wish it had a little more spice, but I love the fact that the spicy scenes were done so tastefully .
I’m sad that I finished this book so quickly, but I just could not put it down.
I lovvveddddd it so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much R.L .Atkinson for allowing me to be and ARC reader and giving me the pleasure of falling in love with Jane and Griffin.
Ok I want to start off by saying I am so happy that I was chosen to be and Arc reader. I had seen the TikTok with the book scenes and immediately wanted to read. I’ve always wanted to join the Navy , and this year is the year that this will become real. With that being said I have always been intrigued by Navy seals. When I say this book did not disappoint, I mean it.
I loved this book so much. I smiled the entire time. Griffin is this badass navy seal who takes care of those around him, even if it means he has to do stuff he may not want to. Jane is this badass who is shy at times. This book had so many cute moments and the banter between the MMC and FMC were everything. I love their relationship and how they knew from the beginning that they loved each other, even though they were both hardheaded.
Now as far as writing goes. I really enjoyed it. Like I said I was intrigued the entire book. There was never a moment when I was like , “can we hurry up already”. No the whole book was good. I do wish it had a little more spice, but I love the fact that the spicy scenes were done so tastefully .
I’m sad that I finished this book so quickly, but I just could not put it down.
I lovvveddddd it so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much R.L .Atkinson for allowing me to be and ARC reader and giving me the pleasure of falling in love with Jane and Griffin.
December 17, 2024
I’m genuinely confused why I liked this book so much. Every time I turned it felt like the author was just throwing things in there. She was kidnapped at least three times, held at gun point, fake dating/engagement, stalker scandal, job scandal, military deployment, inheritance scheme, miscommunication (ugh). Like I’m surprised she was able to throw it all in and the only reason I can assume I am blindly looking past those things is because of the BANTER. They were so fucking funny to me and they both held their own. Idk. Maybe I’ve reached my book quota for the year and everything is just good now.
June 24, 2024
This is a must read!
The way this book flows with its characters and commentary is astounding! I laughed, teared up, got angry all because RL Atkinson knows how to read in her readers! I will continue with this series and others she has written!!!
The way this book flows with its characters and commentary is astounding! I laughed, teared up, got angry all because RL Atkinson knows how to read in her readers! I will continue with this series and others she has written!!!
February 11, 2024
This was an amazing book. Griffin and Jane are amazing characters. Their love story is so natural..so hilarious with the banter..and the spice is beautiful. I fell in love with Griffin...protective. alpha...delicious hero. Jane is such a badd ass FMC...she is intelligent, empathetic. Brave and witty. I loved this book from start to finish...the pool scene, the bathroom scene...and the first kiss live rent free in my brain forever. I enjoyed every part of this book. I instantly purchased all this authors books. This book made me an instant fan.
I honestly had never read any of her books before. I was humbly allowed to read an ARC for this book...and fell in absolute love with this author...she is talented to say the least. She grabbed me from the first page, This book had me in one hell of a choke hold, from the first interaction with these amazing tough and beautiful characters until the very last page. Even now...this book has a hold on my heart. I love this book!
I honestly had never read any of her books before. I was humbly allowed to read an ARC for this book...and fell in absolute love with this author...she is talented to say the least. She grabbed me from the first page, This book had me in one hell of a choke hold, from the first interaction with these amazing tough and beautiful characters until the very last page. Even now...this book has a hold on my heart. I love this book!
February 24, 2024
Lovedddd this book! RL Atkinson killed it with this book. It started a little slow but with a plot to build, there was a reason for it.
July 23, 2024
This book was so drawn out, it had no reason being 500+ pages. The plot and story was great, though.
January 5, 2025
This is the best book I've read in A LONG TIME. I could not put it down. It had everything and more. Griffin Marsh the man you are 👏👏
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