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The Stars Above Us
“You can do this. You’re not some kind of damsel in distress.”
“Then what am I?”
How did she not see it? She didn’t walk through fire; she was fire. I cracked a smile, “You’re the dragon.”
_____________________
What happened to Troy Davis?
That’s what Becks is determined to figure out. When life takes an unexpected turn and plops her in the middle of the Afghan desert, the hotshot journalist finds herself surrounded by bullets, grenades, and a grumpy Army captain with a chip the size of Texas on his very broad shoulders. The captain is determined to get under her skin just as much as she gets under his.
All Captain Nathan Griffith wanted was to shake off the hell he’d faced over the last few years during a quiet deployment in the middle of nowhere. Lucky for him and the rest of the boys of Company B, Forward Operating Base Blessing fit the bill. When word comes down that a war correspondent is going to be embedded with them during their deployment, SHE is the last person he thought would ever show up.
After the unthinkable happens, Becks and Griff are torn between duty and desire. He never expected to find his fresh start in the middle of hell, but what will happen when Becks finally gets the answers she’s been looking for?
_____________________
The Stars Above Us includes a sassy redhead, a grumpy Army captain, pranks, shenanigans, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Fall in love with Becks, Griff, and the boys of Company B in this steamy contemporary military romance.
“Then what am I?”
How did she not see it? She didn’t walk through fire; she was fire. I cracked a smile, “You’re the dragon.”
_____________________
What happened to Troy Davis?
That’s what Becks is determined to figure out. When life takes an unexpected turn and plops her in the middle of the Afghan desert, the hotshot journalist finds herself surrounded by bullets, grenades, and a grumpy Army captain with a chip the size of Texas on his very broad shoulders. The captain is determined to get under her skin just as much as she gets under his.
All Captain Nathan Griffith wanted was to shake off the hell he’d faced over the last few years during a quiet deployment in the middle of nowhere. Lucky for him and the rest of the boys of Company B, Forward Operating Base Blessing fit the bill. When word comes down that a war correspondent is going to be embedded with them during their deployment, SHE is the last person he thought would ever show up.
After the unthinkable happens, Becks and Griff are torn between duty and desire. He never expected to find his fresh start in the middle of hell, but what will happen when Becks finally gets the answers she’s been looking for?
_____________________
The Stars Above Us includes a sassy redhead, a grumpy Army captain, pranks, shenanigans, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Fall in love with Becks, Griff, and the boys of Company B in this steamy contemporary military romance.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2021
About the author
Maggie C. Gates
29 books2,536 followersMaggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews
September 7, 2024
I did really enjoy this, but it just didn't do anything extraordinary.
One thing I did adore is the fact that this is based whilst the main characters are on a deployment, within a battlefield - which is exactly the kind of novel I was looking for.
It is also the perfect combination of hate-to-love paired with a military romance.
CAWPILE: 4.86 / 10
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
One thing I did adore is the fact that this is based whilst the main characters are on a deployment, within a battlefield - which is exactly the kind of novel I was looking for.
It is also the perfect combination of hate-to-love paired with a military romance.
CAWPILE: 4.86 / 10
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
June 9, 2026
5 ⭐️
Хороша історія) тут і радість, і сум, я і плакала, тут все 🤗
Герої вибухові, ця хімія 🔥 палало все
Гріфф взяв за місію бісити Бекс, вона ж «вбий їх добротою». Ворогів звісно тут нема, бо щоразу Гріфф заспокоював свою хіть думаючи про руду 🥵
Я знаааала шо буде розставання в 3 акті, ні, не вхопила спойлер, все до цього йшло. Але вони не здалися 🤗 а коли Бекс дивилась фільм, очі були мокрі в нас обох 🥹
І дівчинка Чарлі - 💔
Хороша історія) тут і радість, і сум, я і плакала, тут все 🤗
Герої вибухові, ця хімія 🔥 палало все
Гріфф взяв за місію бісити Бекс, вона ж «вбий їх добротою». Ворогів звісно тут нема, бо щоразу Гріфф заспокоював свою хіть думаючи про руду 🥵
Я знаааала шо буде розставання в 3 акті, ні, не вхопила спойлер, все до цього йшло. Але вони не здалися 🤗 а коли Бекс дивилась фільм, очі були мокрі в нас обох 🥹
І дівчинка Чарлі - 💔
May 5, 2024
4 stars !!
Maggie Gates I am your biggest fan <3
This is possibly my first military romance and while I can't say I'll be seeking out the genre in the future, I did enjoy it a lot more than I expected. My favorite thing about this author is the way she writes characters. They feel so real, with human flaws and imperfections and that's what makes them so loveable. And this book was no exception!!
Rebecca, Becks, is going to a base for her first stint as a military correspondent, basically someone who goes to war zones and reports what is happening to America. She is a fiery redhead who lives for the thrill and does her job well. In the middle of the Afghan desert, she meets grumpy soldier Nathan Griffith. They're each determined to get under each other's skin, as he believes she's just a media barbie and her being there will cause issues, and she believes he's got the world's biggest chip on his shoulder.
Nathan just wants to have a quiet deployment and get his military career over with so he can return to the ranch his family lives at and owns (which you can read about in a dust storm!!)
When Becks shows up, his entire world shifts. She puts him on edge and gets under his skin in a way he can't quite shake off. He tries his hardest to make her want to leave, pulling childish pranks over the first few months she's at the base, but nothing works. If anything, it only steels her resolve to prove him wrong and show how resilient she really is. As the months pass, things change. They begin to respect each other and suddenly that animosity they once had suddenly feels like chemistry, like tension.
I loved the side characters of this as well, Charlie has my whole heart. There were a lot of secrets in this book that kept them apart while simultaneously drawing them together. The chemistry between the characters was great and I really enjoyed reading a setting I hadn't before! It was also nice getting some background on the characters you met and love in dust storm!!
Quotes:
"Becks and half of America thought that was was just an armed conflict between two opposing sides, but that wasn't all of it. There are always people caught in the middle. People like Zala. People who have no control over the country they were born in, the religion they were born into, or the beliefs that were pressed on them. The real horror of war is that the people who lose the most are the people who don't want to be involved in the first place."
"My girl looked like a pheonix. She was covered in dirt and soot. Blood streaked her face, but the steal in her eyes and fire in her hair only made her majestic."
"I like messing with you and uh- I don't like sharing."
"So you're the definition of doesn't play well with others?"
"Not when it comes to you."
"No one messes with my girl but me."
"He was Midas. I knew his touch would hurt. It would paralyze me. Still, I wanted it. No. I craved it. I wanted to know what it would be like to turn to gold."
"You can do this. You're not some damsel in distress."
"Then what am I?"
How did she not see it? She didn't walk through fire; she was fire. I cracked a smile.
"You're the dragon."
"Dammit. Who am I gonna fight with now?"
"Still me, baby. Always me."
"You didn't have to-"
"I know I didn't have to."
"Then why did you?"
"Because no one touches my girl."
"This view- there's nothing like it."
"This is my favorite view."
And he wasn't looking at the stars.
"There was so much love out there. So much life left to be lived. None of it mattered without her. I looked back down and realized that I held the world in my arms. She was it for me."
Maggie Gates I am your biggest fan <3
This is possibly my first military romance and while I can't say I'll be seeking out the genre in the future, I did enjoy it a lot more than I expected. My favorite thing about this author is the way she writes characters. They feel so real, with human flaws and imperfections and that's what makes them so loveable. And this book was no exception!!
Rebecca, Becks, is going to a base for her first stint as a military correspondent, basically someone who goes to war zones and reports what is happening to America. She is a fiery redhead who lives for the thrill and does her job well. In the middle of the Afghan desert, she meets grumpy soldier Nathan Griffith. They're each determined to get under each other's skin, as he believes she's just a media barbie and her being there will cause issues, and she believes he's got the world's biggest chip on his shoulder.
Nathan just wants to have a quiet deployment and get his military career over with so he can return to the ranch his family lives at and owns (which you can read about in a dust storm!!)
When Becks shows up, his entire world shifts. She puts him on edge and gets under his skin in a way he can't quite shake off. He tries his hardest to make her want to leave, pulling childish pranks over the first few months she's at the base, but nothing works. If anything, it only steels her resolve to prove him wrong and show how resilient she really is. As the months pass, things change. They begin to respect each other and suddenly that animosity they once had suddenly feels like chemistry, like tension.
I loved the side characters of this as well, Charlie has my whole heart. There were a lot of secrets in this book that kept them apart while simultaneously drawing them together. The chemistry between the characters was great and I really enjoyed reading a setting I hadn't before! It was also nice getting some background on the characters you met and love in dust storm!!
Quotes:
"Becks and half of America thought that was was just an armed conflict between two opposing sides, but that wasn't all of it. There are always people caught in the middle. People like Zala. People who have no control over the country they were born in, the religion they were born into, or the beliefs that were pressed on them. The real horror of war is that the people who lose the most are the people who don't want to be involved in the first place."
"My girl looked like a pheonix. She was covered in dirt and soot. Blood streaked her face, but the steal in her eyes and fire in her hair only made her majestic."
"I like messing with you and uh- I don't like sharing."
"So you're the definition of doesn't play well with others?"
"Not when it comes to you."
"No one messes with my girl but me."
"He was Midas. I knew his touch would hurt. It would paralyze me. Still, I wanted it. No. I craved it. I wanted to know what it would be like to turn to gold."
"You can do this. You're not some damsel in distress."
"Then what am I?"
How did she not see it? She didn't walk through fire; she was fire. I cracked a smile.
"You're the dragon."
"Dammit. Who am I gonna fight with now?"
"Still me, baby. Always me."
"You didn't have to-"
"I know I didn't have to."
"Then why did you?"
"Because no one touches my girl."
"This view- there's nothing like it."
"This is my favorite view."
And he wasn't looking at the stars.
"There was so much love out there. So much life left to be lived. None of it mattered without her. I looked back down and realized that I held the world in my arms. She was it for me."
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June 9, 2026Це було чудово.
Тут і сльози, і чудові думки, і просто сумні втрати
Нейтан- це справжній капітан, який за своїх людей горою і все зробить заради них
Бекс -це жінка, яка поставить багатьох на коліна своєю залізною хваткою
Війна перемелює багато чого, втрати найрідніших загартовують. Те,що Бекс захотіла зберегти памʼять хлопців в документальному фільмі - заслуговує поваги
І звісно чудові цитати Меггі:
«коли кохання недостатньо, тоді треба докладати зусиль. Ти маєш працювати і наполегливо старатися, навіть коли це не зручно. Коли не хочеться. Знаєте, багато людей кажуть, що шлюб — це просто нікчемний папірець. Це не так. Гроші — це теж папірець, але ти все одно щодня прокидаєшся і надриваєшся, щоб їх заробити. »
«— Брате, ти солдат. Одруження нічим від цього не відрізняється. Ти повинен озброїтися, інакше ти не виживеш. Беззбройний може лише тікати, коли стає важко. А війна — це важко. Шлюб — це важко. Дідько, життя до біса важке. І важкі речі не долаються втечею. Треба бути готовим залишитися і боротися.»
«Любов не вкладається в акуратні маленькі коробочки. Це не варіант на шведському столі, де ви можете вибирати, чи збираєтеся ви посипати нею певні частини свого життя, чи збираєтеся ви взагалі її брати. Це не галочка, яку потрібно поставити. Це не зручність. Любов — це не просто частина життя. Це все життя.»
.
Тут і сльози, і чудові думки, і просто сумні втрати
Нейтан- це справжній капітан, який за своїх людей горою і все зробить заради них
Бекс -це жінка, яка поставить багатьох на коліна своєю залізною хваткою
Війна перемелює багато чого, втрати найрідніших загартовують. Те,що Бекс захотіла зберегти памʼять хлопців в документальному фільмі - заслуговує поваги
І звісно чудові цитати Меггі:
«коли кохання недостатньо, тоді треба докладати зусиль. Ти маєш працювати і наполегливо старатися, навіть коли це не зручно. Коли не хочеться. Знаєте, багато людей кажуть, що шлюб — це просто нікчемний папірець. Це не так. Гроші — це теж папірець, але ти все одно щодня прокидаєшся і надриваєшся, щоб їх заробити. »
«— Брате, ти солдат. Одруження нічим від цього не відрізняється. Ти повинен озброїтися, інакше ти не виживеш. Беззбройний може лише тікати, коли стає важко. А війна — це важко. Шлюб — це важко. Дідько, життя до біса важке. І важкі речі не долаються втечею. Треба бути готовим залишитися і боротися.»
«Любов не вкладається в акуратні маленькі коробочки. Це не варіант на шведському столі, де ви можете вибирати, чи збираєтеся ви посипати нею певні частини свого життя, чи збираєтеся ви взагалі її брати. Це не галочка, яку потрібно поставити. Це не зручність. Любов — це не просто частина життя. Це все життя.»
.
December 19, 2024
Справжній жах війни полягає в тому, що найбільше втрачають люди, які не хочуть брати в ній участі.
Класно, що Меггі намагається охопити усі проблемні теми у своїх книгах. Не боїться експериментувати, писати те, чого інші автори бояться, додавати в любовні романи трохи драми і сенсового навантаження.
З цими героями я вже була знайома, оскільки перед цим прочитала дві частини з серії про братів Гріффінів. Нейтан – найстарший, і він відбуває останні роки у армії США, перебуваючи в Афганістані під час війни 2004 рік. Переживаючи розлучення, тяжкі часи і для нього, і для його родини, він думає, що повністю сконцентруваний на збройному конфлікті.
І тут з'являється руда Бекс з телеканалу, разом зі своїм напарником, які знають як репортажи, так і документальний фільм, присвячений її загиблому брату, який при невідомих обставинах загинув два роки тому.
Чуттєва історія. Все ж таки це не драма, тому тема війни не була описана наддетально, основний акцент сугубо на любовній історії. Трохи швидкі часові проміжки без позначок.
Мені подобається, що я не прочитала її першою. Бо тобі б я не була настільки прив'язана до Чарлі та їх майбутнього, як зараз. Нарешті мені розкрилася тайна, нехай і в самому кінці, щодо нової роботи одного з героїв, бо, чесно кажучи, для мене було загадкою, як з маленькою дитиною вони могли їздити по настільки небезпечних локаціях.
І, на щастя
Іноді життя все ж таки дарує тобі щасливий кінець.
Класно, що Меггі намагається охопити усі проблемні теми у своїх книгах. Не боїться експериментувати, писати те, чого інші автори бояться, додавати в любовні романи трохи драми і сенсового навантаження.
З цими героями я вже була знайома, оскільки перед цим прочитала дві частини з серії про братів Гріффінів. Нейтан – найстарший, і він відбуває останні роки у армії США, перебуваючи в Афганістані під час війни 2004 рік. Переживаючи розлучення, тяжкі часи і для нього, і для його родини, він думає, що повністю сконцентруваний на збройному конфлікті.
І тут з'являється руда Бекс з телеканалу, разом зі своїм напарником, які знають як репортажи, так і документальний фільм, присвячений її загиблому брату, який при невідомих обставинах загинув два роки тому.
Чуттєва історія. Все ж таки це не драма, тому тема війни не була описана наддетально, основний акцент сугубо на любовній історії. Трохи швидкі часові проміжки без позначок.
Мені подобається, що я не прочитала її першою. Бо тобі б я не була настільки прив'язана до Чарлі та їх майбутнього, як зараз. Нарешті мені розкрилася тайна, нехай і в самому кінці, щодо нової роботи одного з героїв, бо, чесно кажучи, для мене було загадкою, як з маленькою дитиною вони могли їздити по настільки небезпечних локаціях.
І, на щастя
Іноді життя все ж таки дарує тобі щасливий кінець.
September 14, 2024
I finished Fire Line and couldn’t stand the thought of being done with the Griffith brothers, so I knew I had to back track and read Nate and Becks story.
This book literally hooks you from the beginning and takes you on an emotional roller coaster of a ride. It made me giggle but it also made me tear up.
I haven’t read a lot of military romance books before, but I feel like it’s gonna be hard to top this one.
We have Captain Nate Griffith who has been separated (and now divorced) from his wife. The last thing he is expecting to see is a fiery redhead who knocks his world upside down.
We also have Rebecca (Becks) Davis, a journalist who decided to head into a war zone to make a documentary to help people see what truly goes on during a war.
There is laughter and also heartbreak mixed into this story. You also get to meet some of the Griffith family, which I love!
This book literally hooks you from the beginning and takes you on an emotional roller coaster of a ride. It made me giggle but it also made me tear up.
I haven’t read a lot of military romance books before, but I feel like it’s gonna be hard to top this one.
We have Captain Nate Griffith who has been separated (and now divorced) from his wife. The last thing he is expecting to see is a fiery redhead who knocks his world upside down.
We also have Rebecca (Becks) Davis, a journalist who decided to head into a war zone to make a documentary to help people see what truly goes on during a war.
There is laughter and also heartbreak mixed into this story. You also get to meet some of the Griffith family, which I love!
June 4, 2026
➸ військовий роман
➸ офіцер/військова журналістка
➸ від ворогів до закоханих (типу)
➸ травма/зцілення
Сумна, щемка та тепла книга. Про втрати, провину та новий початок.
Сподобались гг, такі вони запальнички. А яка між ними хімія🔥 Тут вони типу вороги на початку, але, як на мене, Гріфф просто від нудьги обрав стратегію якомога сильніше вибісити Бекс і він в цьому досяг успіху😄
➸ офіцер/військова журналістка
➸ від ворогів до закоханих (типу)
➸ травма/зцілення
Сумна, щемка та тепла книга. Про втрати, провину та новий початок.
Сподобались гг, такі вони запальнички. А яка між ними хімія🔥 Тут вони типу вороги на початку, але, як на мене, Гріфф просто від нудьги обрав стратегію якомога сильніше вибісити Бекс і він в цьому досяг успіху😄
July 20, 2024
Це був мій перший мілітарі роман, і як виявилось це досить важко для мене. Але я в жодному разі не жалкую, що прочитала. Бо це було пряме попадання в серденько 🫀
Книга подарувала мені масу емоцій. Я посміхалась, плакала, посміхалась. І так до безкінечності.
Я полюбила Бекс і Нейта. Вони чудові. До глибини душі.
Їх шлях був складним та тернистим. Таємниця, яка їх пов'язувала. Але вони це пройшли, хоч було і боляче.
Кохання сильніше за це.
Війна. Це завжди втрати. Це те, що лишає свій слід.
В книзі є персонаж, який мене вразив до кісток. Його історія. І наскільки все символічно вийшло 💔
Відчуваю, що історія мене ще довгий час не відпускатиме. Тому 5/5 ❤️🩹
Книга подарувала мені масу емоцій. Я посміхалась, плакала, посміхалась. І так до безкінечності.
Я полюбила Бекс і Нейта. Вони чудові. До глибини душі.
Їх шлях був складним та тернистим. Таємниця, яка їх пов'язувала. Але вони це пройшли, хоч було і боляче.
Кохання сильніше за це.
Війна. Це завжди втрати. Це те, що лишає свій слід.
В книзі є персонаж, який мене вразив до кісток. Його історія. І наскільки все символічно вийшло 💔
Відчуваю, що історія мене ще довгий час не відпускатиме. Тому 5/5 ❤️🩹
March 3, 2024
UGLY cried.
I was not even a little bit emotionally ready for this book. It’s very much that time of month and reading this now was a mistake. A beautiful devastating mistake. Will write a full review later when I’m done sobbing.
Edit 3/3/24:
Becks is a reporter that’s on assignment in Afghanistan. She’s on a mission to both document the lives of those overseas to show their families just how hard it is to be away from them, as well as give their families an accurate report on what’s happening across the world. When she lost her brother, that’s all she wanted to know. What was he doing? And how did he lose his life? But the details were kept a secret from her.
It’s not uncommon for a reporter to join the fray, so most of the men are willing to easily her accept her presence. Except for one of them. Captain Nathan Griffith wants her gone and isn’t afraid to show it. She hates the way he’s so unwilling to treat her with any decency. But most importantly she hates the way that her body still wants him, even with a ring on his finger.
After being served divorced papers, Griff has one request from the universe. No more crazy women. Only it looks like the universe has other plans for him…
He doesn’t have time to be a babysitter. He’s already busy trying to keep his men alive and the thought of having Media Barbie and her cameraman Charlie follow him around like ducks is grating his nerves. She’s asking a million questions that he doesn’t want to answer, and bringing up a bunch of feelings he had locked away. His men might be willing to accept the fiery redhead, but Griff will do everything in his power to make her time her miserable. It might be immature, but a few pranks never hurt anybody… And if it sends her running for the hills? Good.
But there’s something to be said about close proximity…
These two were such a joy to read! I was genuinely laughing out loud at their antics. I first met this couple in Dust Storm, and had the best time going back to see how their relationship started. Nothing could have prepared me for the shenanigans I was going to witness. I love a good enemies to lovers book, and this one satisfied that craving so well. The tension between them is blazing, especially as Griff fights for his marriage back home. He’s such a good man, and is still doing everything in his power to honor vows that his ex has long since thrown away. And when he finally accepts defeat, it’s a game changer.
This book was a rollercoaster of emotions and I was loving every second of it. Even when the characters were being stubborn I was having a great time.
There were so many poignant moments. I loved the way these difficult topics surrounding the military was handled. The conversations were heavy, but it still remains such a light book. Don’t get me wrong, I cried like a baby... BUT, there was so much tenderness that it made those chapters much easier to swallow. Seeing Charlie's relationship with his daughters really made me reflect on my own childhood. I really connected with those characters. I liked that the "villains" of the story weren't really villains at all. They just didn't understand the lifestyle, which gave Becks all the more reason to complete her documentary.
I could have read about these characters for a thousand more pages. I was so sad when their story came to an end. But I'm so glad that we'll continue getting glimpses of them in the Griffith Brothers Series. I'm already eager for more.
A million out of ten stars above.
I was not even a little bit emotionally ready for this book. It’s very much that time of month and reading this now was a mistake. A beautiful devastating mistake. Will write a full review later when I’m done sobbing.
Edit 3/3/24:
Becks is a reporter that’s on assignment in Afghanistan. She’s on a mission to both document the lives of those overseas to show their families just how hard it is to be away from them, as well as give their families an accurate report on what’s happening across the world. When she lost her brother, that’s all she wanted to know. What was he doing? And how did he lose his life? But the details were kept a secret from her.
It’s not uncommon for a reporter to join the fray, so most of the men are willing to easily her accept her presence. Except for one of them. Captain Nathan Griffith wants her gone and isn’t afraid to show it. She hates the way he’s so unwilling to treat her with any decency. But most importantly she hates the way that her body still wants him, even with a ring on his finger.
After being served divorced papers, Griff has one request from the universe. No more crazy women. Only it looks like the universe has other plans for him…
He doesn’t have time to be a babysitter. He’s already busy trying to keep his men alive and the thought of having Media Barbie and her cameraman Charlie follow him around like ducks is grating his nerves. She’s asking a million questions that he doesn’t want to answer, and bringing up a bunch of feelings he had locked away. His men might be willing to accept the fiery redhead, but Griff will do everything in his power to make her time her miserable. It might be immature, but a few pranks never hurt anybody… And if it sends her running for the hills? Good.
But there’s something to be said about close proximity…
These two were such a joy to read! I was genuinely laughing out loud at their antics. I first met this couple in Dust Storm, and had the best time going back to see how their relationship started. Nothing could have prepared me for the shenanigans I was going to witness. I love a good enemies to lovers book, and this one satisfied that craving so well. The tension between them is blazing, especially as Griff fights for his marriage back home. He’s such a good man, and is still doing everything in his power to honor vows that his ex has long since thrown away. And when he finally accepts defeat, it’s a game changer.
This book was a rollercoaster of emotions and I was loving every second of it. Even when the characters were being stubborn I was having a great time.
There were so many poignant moments. I loved the way these difficult topics surrounding the military was handled. The conversations were heavy, but it still remains such a light book. Don’t get me wrong, I cried like a baby... BUT, there was so much tenderness that it made those chapters much easier to swallow. Seeing Charlie's relationship with his daughters really made me reflect on my own childhood. I really connected with those characters. I liked that the "villains" of the story weren't really villains at all. They just didn't understand the lifestyle, which gave Becks all the more reason to complete her documentary.
I could have read about these characters for a thousand more pages. I was so sad when their story came to an end. But I'm so glad that we'll continue getting glimpses of them in the Griffith Brothers Series. I'm already eager for more.
A million out of ten stars above.
April 21, 2021
5 Stars! Now this is how you do a military romance! Loved it!
Becks - she's used to her glamorous lifestyle behind an anchor desk in New York. However since her brother got killed while on deployment, she's made it her mission to find out what happened to him, as currently the family has had radio silence. What she didn't expect upon arriving at Base Blessing, was the not so warm welcome from grumpy Captain Nathan Griffith. It doesn't matter that the man is hotter than hell, he seems determined to make her want to leave and she's not going to sit back and take it.
Nathan - after being handed divorce papers while out on deployment, the last thing he needed was to have to babysit a hotshot city reporter, no matter how stunning she was. He had a job to do, and she was only going to get in his way. However it seems after spending months together out in the field he can't help but be more and more drawn to her. As they get closer, can he ever reveal his secrets from the past? Or will a disaster tear them apart?
I loved this book, it's a prefect military/enemies-to-lovers combination! Rather than in usual military romances, where the hero will briefly mention his time serving, with this book you are fully immersed in it from the very beginning. There is so much detail about life in a base, that I really have to commend Maggie on the amount of research she must have done! There is heart-ache, comradery, drama, plus oodles of back and forth banter between Becks and Nathan accumulating to smoking hot passion. Can't wait to read what Maggie does next!
No cheating. No cliff-hanger. HEA guaranteed.
Becks - she's used to her glamorous lifestyle behind an anchor desk in New York. However since her brother got killed while on deployment, she's made it her mission to find out what happened to him, as currently the family has had radio silence. What she didn't expect upon arriving at Base Blessing, was the not so warm welcome from grumpy Captain Nathan Griffith. It doesn't matter that the man is hotter than hell, he seems determined to make her want to leave and she's not going to sit back and take it.
Nathan - after being handed divorce papers while out on deployment, the last thing he needed was to have to babysit a hotshot city reporter, no matter how stunning she was. He had a job to do, and she was only going to get in his way. However it seems after spending months together out in the field he can't help but be more and more drawn to her. As they get closer, can he ever reveal his secrets from the past? Or will a disaster tear them apart?
I loved this book, it's a prefect military/enemies-to-lovers combination! Rather than in usual military romances, where the hero will briefly mention his time serving, with this book you are fully immersed in it from the very beginning. There is so much detail about life in a base, that I really have to commend Maggie on the amount of research she must have done! There is heart-ache, comradery, drama, plus oodles of back and forth banter between Becks and Nathan accumulating to smoking hot passion. Can't wait to read what Maggie does next!
No cheating. No cliff-hanger. HEA guaranteed.
March 6, 2025
DNF page 40.
Say it with me:
Normalize 👏🏻 building a 👏🏻 foundation 👏🏻 before 👏🏻 making 👏🏻 the book be 👏🏻 about anything 👏🏻 sexual.
My Godddd, 20 pages into this thing and they were already undressing each other with their eyes. 40 pages in and the MMC is thinking about wanting to kiss her and being ready to pin the FMC against a wall and “take her”.
Like… These people have interacted on page a total of three times, the MMC is supposedly heartbroken about a divorce he doesn’t want, the FMC and MMC don’t get along, and yet there’s all this “SeXuAl TeNsIoN” between them. 🙄
Give me a break.
Absolutely no interest in reading a book that’s full of nothing but unrealistic and cringey/badly written insta lust.
Say it with me:
Normalize 👏🏻 building a 👏🏻 foundation 👏🏻 before 👏🏻 making 👏🏻 the book be 👏🏻 about anything 👏🏻 sexual.
My Godddd, 20 pages into this thing and they were already undressing each other with their eyes. 40 pages in and the MMC is thinking about wanting to kiss her and being ready to pin the FMC against a wall and “take her”.
Like… These people have interacted on page a total of three times, the MMC is supposedly heartbroken about a divorce he doesn’t want, the FMC and MMC don’t get along, and yet there’s all this “SeXuAl TeNsIoN” between them. 🙄
Give me a break.
Absolutely no interest in reading a book that’s full of nothing but unrealistic and cringey/badly written insta lust.
April 19, 2024
4.5 stars and yes i did cry
April 16, 2025
Someone was definitely cutting onions while I read this one. I took a full ride on the emotional rollercoaster that is this book.
The characters and plot were both well-developed in this enemies-to-lovers army romance. There was real depth to the story and the emotions felt genuine. I flew through it because I just couldn’t put it down. And can I just say…the epilogue was absolutely swoon-worthy!
This book totally hooked me and now I’m off to dive into the Griffith Brothers series next!
The characters and plot were both well-developed in this enemies-to-lovers army romance. There was real depth to the story and the emotions felt genuine. I flew through it because I just couldn’t put it down. And can I just say…the epilogue was absolutely swoon-worthy!
This book totally hooked me and now I’m off to dive into the Griffith Brothers series next!
June 5, 2026
Maggie Gates does one thing really, really well. She puts a character's grief and trauma and other huge emotions front and center in her books.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but either way - there's no denying that she's not afraid of sitting with the heavy stuff.
This is the 4th book I've read from this author, and my ratings have been a bit all over the place. I haven't decided yet what that means.
This story was pretty good for me, but it's definitely not without it's flaws.
I'll start with the timeline. Becks and her cameraman Charlie are paired up with Company B in Afghanistan for well over a YEAR, nearly two, throughout this novel. But there's no definitive timeline for any of that. You just have to pay attention to the "several months later" sentences as they fly by. If you missed them, you'd only think these people had spent, at most, a month together.
The enemies-to-lovers makes no sense if you take just the interactions we see at face value, because there's really not a ton that happens between Becks and Griff throughout the early part of the story - it's not until you remember that the pranks he pulls on her go on for MONTHS that you realize that these two really did have a kind of contentious relationship in the beginning.
These huge time-skips also keep us at a distance from a lot of the side-characters. And this is probably my biggest issue with this story.
I wish we'd gotten to see Rebecca spend time with other members of the company. In the final act of the book, right before she's slated to leave after nearly 2 years with the company they have a bit of a gathering that serves as a kind of goodbye party, and she mentions that one soldier or another taught her to fight or shoot or spent time playing cards with her, etc. But we never got to see ANY of that.
Most of her interactions were with her cameraman or with Nathan. Her entire world was narrowed down to just 2 people and it does such a disservice to the story to have all these side characters we know virtually noting about only to have them portrayed as huge parts of the MCs lives 85% of the way through the story.
We hardly get to see Nathan interact with his men, too. Outside of when they're in battle, his entire focus is on Rebecca.
It might have worked better in another setting, but I'd really looked forward to the company of men being a close-knit, banter-heavy group of guys that adopted Charlie and Becks into their family. We're TOLD this happens, but we don't really ever get to see any of it.
Lastly the 3rd act breakup - predicated by nothing more than our MMC being a coward and lying to our FMC by omission. It's a difficult pill to swallow. And while the man DOES finally do the hard thing he chickened out of several years before, and while he DOES continue to call Rebecca twice a day, he doesn't really have to grovel for anything. She's the one who comes to him. She's the one who bridges the gap when he did the wrong thing.
I love me a girl who grand gestures, don't get me wrong - but only when they're the ones in the wrong.
The end of this story just came together a bit too easily for me.
I did enjoy this book. The darker elements were portrayed well and were exactly what I was expecting picking this book up. The grief and loss, the horrors of war - all of that was very well done.
But the framing of the story is odd, the lack of interactions between the MCs and the side characters felt ... chilly, and ultimately, I don't know that the romance satisfied me by the end.
This one's landing right in the middle for me.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but either way - there's no denying that she's not afraid of sitting with the heavy stuff.
This is the 4th book I've read from this author, and my ratings have been a bit all over the place. I haven't decided yet what that means.
This story was pretty good for me, but it's definitely not without it's flaws.
I'll start with the timeline. Becks and her cameraman Charlie are paired up with Company B in Afghanistan for well over a YEAR, nearly two, throughout this novel. But there's no definitive timeline for any of that. You just have to pay attention to the "several months later" sentences as they fly by. If you missed them, you'd only think these people had spent, at most, a month together.
The enemies-to-lovers makes no sense if you take just the interactions we see at face value, because there's really not a ton that happens between Becks and Griff throughout the early part of the story - it's not until you remember that the pranks he pulls on her go on for MONTHS that you realize that these two really did have a kind of contentious relationship in the beginning.
These huge time-skips also keep us at a distance from a lot of the side-characters. And this is probably my biggest issue with this story.
I wish we'd gotten to see Rebecca spend time with other members of the company. In the final act of the book, right before she's slated to leave after nearly 2 years with the company they have a bit of a gathering that serves as a kind of goodbye party, and she mentions that one soldier or another taught her to fight or shoot or spent time playing cards with her, etc. But we never got to see ANY of that.
Most of her interactions were with her cameraman or with Nathan. Her entire world was narrowed down to just 2 people and it does such a disservice to the story to have all these side characters we know virtually noting about only to have them portrayed as huge parts of the MCs lives 85% of the way through the story.
We hardly get to see Nathan interact with his men, too. Outside of when they're in battle, his entire focus is on Rebecca.
It might have worked better in another setting, but I'd really looked forward to the company of men being a close-knit, banter-heavy group of guys that adopted Charlie and Becks into their family. We're TOLD this happens, but we don't really ever get to see any of it.
Lastly the 3rd act breakup - predicated by nothing more than our MMC being a coward and lying to our FMC by omission. It's a difficult pill to swallow. And while the man DOES finally do the hard thing he chickened out of several years before, and while he DOES continue to call Rebecca twice a day, he doesn't really have to grovel for anything. She's the one who comes to him. She's the one who bridges the gap when he did the wrong thing.
I love me a girl who grand gestures, don't get me wrong - but only when they're the ones in the wrong.
The end of this story just came together a bit too easily for me.
I did enjoy this book. The darker elements were portrayed well and were exactly what I was expecting picking this book up. The grief and loss, the horrors of war - all of that was very well done.
But the framing of the story is odd, the lack of interactions between the MCs and the side characters felt ... chilly, and ultimately, I don't know that the romance satisfied me by the end.
This one's landing right in the middle for me.
August 4, 2024
I’m so mad the kindle cover isn’t an option on goodreads. I hate this cover.
Anyway, Maggie still never misses so I knew from the start this would be a good book. I don’t really gravitate toward military romances, but the plot of this kept me HOOKED
Nate and Becks are so fun and genuine I love them.
Having read the Griffith Brothers books before this one it makes me want to go back to reread and sob every time Charlie is in a scene
Anyway, Maggie still never misses so I knew from the start this would be a good book. I don’t really gravitate toward military romances, but the plot of this kept me HOOKED
Nate and Becks are so fun and genuine I love them.
Having read the Griffith Brothers books before this one it makes me want to go back to reread and sob every time Charlie is in a scene
June 7, 2026
Nathan is a grumpy Army captain who is less than thrilled about a war correspondent joining his unit and living among them. Beck isn't exactly impressed by his attitude either, but as they spend more time together, they begin to understand one another on a deeper level. I absolutely loved watching their relationship develop and was so happy that Nathan found someone who truly understood the sacrifices and realities of war.
Through all the chaos, they became each other's source of strength and support, but their journey was anything but easy. Their story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, balancing tender moments with the harsh realities they face.
Samantha Brentmoor and Sean Masters delivered phenomenal performances that truly elevated the story for me. Samantha Brentmoor perfectly captured Beck's strong, independent nature, while Sean Masters absolutely nailed Nathan's gruff exterior and soft spot reserved only for Beck.
This book was so good, do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR!
Thank you, Maggie Gates and Tantor Audio for the ALC.
Through all the chaos, they became each other's source of strength and support, but their journey was anything but easy. Their story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, balancing tender moments with the harsh realities they face.
Samantha Brentmoor and Sean Masters delivered phenomenal performances that truly elevated the story for me. Samantha Brentmoor perfectly captured Beck's strong, independent nature, while Sean Masters absolutely nailed Nathan's gruff exterior and soft spot reserved only for Beck.
This book was so good, do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR!
Thank you, Maggie Gates and Tantor Audio for the ALC.
February 12, 2024
The Stars Above Us - Maggie Gates
⭐Book Rec⭐
"𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆. 𝑰 𝒈𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
This was my first Maggie book and absolutely not my last. This was such a well written spicy and swoony book with a touch of feels and emotion. Griffs and Becks are forced to spend time together while overseas and have another connection that she has no idea about that could destroy what they finally stopped denying they have. I adored these two and Maggie's writing and can not wait to read more from her!
“𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒔, 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅.” 𝑯𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒌. “𝑨𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏.
🪖Forced Proximity
❤️Military Romance
🪖Enemies to Lovers
❤️Sass and Brood
⭐Book Rec⭐
"𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆. 𝑰 𝒈𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
This was my first Maggie book and absolutely not my last. This was such a well written spicy and swoony book with a touch of feels and emotion. Griffs and Becks are forced to spend time together while overseas and have another connection that she has no idea about that could destroy what they finally stopped denying they have. I adored these two and Maggie's writing and can not wait to read more from her!
“𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒔, 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅.” 𝑯𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒌. “𝑨𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏.
🪖Forced Proximity
❤️Military Romance
🪖Enemies to Lovers
❤️Sass and Brood
February 17, 2026
★ 3.5
-military romance
-hate to love
-army captain x journalist
-hidden secret
พระเอกเป็นทหารปัจจุบัน deployed อยู่ที่ Afghanistan ในพื้นที่สงคราม ส่วนนางเอกเป็นนักข่าวที่จะมาอยู่ที่นี้ด้วยเพื่อรายงานข่าวและทำdocumentary พระเอกฮีไม่ชอบที่จะมี press มาวุ่นวายในพื้นที่ทำงาน ทำให้ตั้งแต่เจอหน้านางเอกครั้งแรกก็ป่วนชีมาตลอด แกล้งนู้นนี่ prank นางเอกไม่จบไม่สิ้นไปหลายเดือน แต่นางเอกชีถึกทน ไม่สนใจ ฉันจะอยู่ 555555
แทบจะทั้งเล่มดำเนินเรื่องใน Afghanistan น่าจะ 90%ได้ แต่ส่วนตัวเอนจอยนะชอบพาร์ทการทำงานของทั้งคู่มากกว่าโรแมนซ์ 😅 เป็นhate to love ที่ไม่ค่อยซื้อเท่าไหร่ รู้สึกว่าที่พระเอกทำมันไร้เหตุผลเกินเพราะนางเอกไม่เคยสร้างความวุ่นวายอะไรให้ต้องมาเกลียดแบบนี้ ถ้าเป็นตัวเองคงวีน มันน่ารำคาญ 555555
สรุปโดยรวมก็อ่านได้เรื่อยๆแหละ แต่คิดว่าศัพท์เล่มนี้แอบยากนิดนึงช่วงแรกไม่ค่อยชินเท่าไหร่ แต่ผ่านไปครึ่งเล่มก็โอเคเอนจอยรี้ดอยู่แต่ไม่ได้ว้าวตรงไหนเป็นพิเศษ
-military romance
-hate to love
-army captain x journalist
-hidden secret
พระเอกเป็นทหารปัจจุบัน deployed อยู่ที่ Afghanistan ในพื้นที่สงคราม ส่วนนางเอกเป็นนักข่าวที่จะมาอยู่ที่นี้ด้วยเพื่อรายงานข่าวและทำdocumentary พระเอกฮีไม่ชอบที่จะมี press มาวุ่นวายในพื้นที่ทำงาน ทำให้ตั้งแต่เจอหน้านางเอกครั้งแรกก็ป่วนชีมาตลอด แกล้งนู้นนี่ prank นางเอกไม่จบไม่สิ้นไปหลายเดือน แต่นางเอกชีถึกทน ไม่สนใจ ฉันจะอยู่ 555555
แทบจะทั้งเล่มดำเนินเรื่องใน Afghanistan น่าจะ 90%ได้ แต่ส่วนตัวเอนจอยนะชอบพาร์ทการทำงานของทั้งคู่มากกว่าโรแมนซ์ 😅 เป็นhate to love ที่ไม่ค่อยซื้อเท่าไหร่ รู้สึกว่าที่พระเอกทำมันไร้เหตุผลเกินเพราะนางเอกไม่เคยสร้างความวุ่นวายอะไรให้ต้องมาเกลียดแบบนี้ ถ้าเป็นตัวเองคงวีน มันน่ารำคาญ 555555
สรุปโดยรวมก็อ่านได้เรื่อยๆแหละ แต่คิดว่าศัพท์เล่มนี้แอบยากนิดนึงช่วงแรกไม่ค่อยชินเท่าไหร่ แต่ผ่านไปครึ่งเล่มก็โอเคเอนจอยรี้ดอยู่แต่ไม่ได้ว้าวตรงไหนเป็นพิเศษ
May 21, 2026
DID I FINISH THIS BOOK OR DID IT FINISH ME??? OMG. MAGGIE. HOW DARE YOU.
I have been in love with the Griffith brother's series, and IDK WHY but I never jumped back into Nate's book. When this published as an audiobook, I knew it was time. I am currently letting the tears streak down my face as I write this review, knowing that every single moment of this story touched me someplace deep.
No matter political opinions, this is a story of a active military captain and a war correspondent, working on an active military base in Afghanistan while one is deployed and one is on assignment. These two have such different stories, and yet they've found themselves in this place together, forced to work together, trying to make it from one day to the next and carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Maggie Gates writes characters that feel so real and raw and human to me, and Nate and Becks are no different.
Nate is: a captain, a man whose wife literally mailed him divorce papers while he was deployed, a leader, strong and capable and gritty, soft for Becks
Becks is: a grieving sister whose heart for military service people stems from a place close to her heart, an absolute baddie who took an assignment in an active war zone, a girl's girl but also not afraid to get a little dirty, ready to share the heart of the story with as many people as possible, afraid to let anyone in but for some reason lets her guard down around Griff
READ IF YOU LOVE:
- Military romance
- Forced proximity
- Stories with all the feels
- Tragedy and hurt/comfort
- Life on base/life after deployment
- Enemies to lovers
- Maggie Gates Universe easter eggs
- A return home to the Griffith family ranch!
- Found family
THE AUDIOBOOK: AMAZING. I ate this story up. Samantha Brentmoor was literal perfection as Becks. I couldn't have asked for a better fmc! Sean Masters ABSOLUTELY delivered for Nathan... after "knowing" the growly eldest brother through the Griffith Brothers series, this performance brought Griff to life in a way that I hadn't known him before, and now I feel like I *know* him.
Five stars. Give this one a read or listen ASAP!
I have been in love with the Griffith brother's series, and IDK WHY but I never jumped back into Nate's book. When this published as an audiobook, I knew it was time. I am currently letting the tears streak down my face as I write this review, knowing that every single moment of this story touched me someplace deep.
No matter political opinions, this is a story of a active military captain and a war correspondent, working on an active military base in Afghanistan while one is deployed and one is on assignment. These two have such different stories, and yet they've found themselves in this place together, forced to work together, trying to make it from one day to the next and carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Maggie Gates writes characters that feel so real and raw and human to me, and Nate and Becks are no different.
Nate is: a captain, a man whose wife literally mailed him divorce papers while he was deployed, a leader, strong and capable and gritty, soft for Becks
Becks is: a grieving sister whose heart for military service people stems from a place close to her heart, an absolute baddie who took an assignment in an active war zone, a girl's girl but also not afraid to get a little dirty, ready to share the heart of the story with as many people as possible, afraid to let anyone in but for some reason lets her guard down around Griff
READ IF YOU LOVE:
- Military romance
- Forced proximity
- Stories with all the feels
- Tragedy and hurt/comfort
- Life on base/life after deployment
- Enemies to lovers
- Maggie Gates Universe easter eggs
- A return home to the Griffith family ranch!
- Found family
THE AUDIOBOOK: AMAZING. I ate this story up. Samantha Brentmoor was literal perfection as Becks. I couldn't have asked for a better fmc! Sean Masters ABSOLUTELY delivered for Nathan... after "knowing" the growly eldest brother through the Griffith Brothers series, this performance brought Griff to life in a way that I hadn't known him before, and now I feel like I *know* him.
Five stars. Give this one a read or listen ASAP!
September 17, 2024
5/5 ⭐️
Ця історія дуже ніжна і зворушлива, вона зачіпає глибокі емоції та важливі теми. Люблю книги Меггі, вони не просто про кохання, а завжди підіймають якусь важливу тему (в тих що я читала, так точно).
Авторка майстерно передає відчуття надії, втрат і внутрішньої сили через головних героїв, які борються зі своїми особистими трагедіями. Війна змінює людей, так і головні герої, Бекс і Нейт, проходять через різні ситуації в книзі. Тут є біль, надія, втрати, маленькі перемоги та радості, пошук спокою, відповідей на питання та світла серед темряви.
Книга подарувала мені різні емоції та точно торкнулася мого серця. Точно рекомендую до прочитання.
Ця історія дуже ніжна і зворушлива, вона зачіпає глибокі емоції та важливі теми. Люблю книги Меггі, вони не просто про кохання, а завжди підіймають якусь важливу тему (в тих що я читала, так точно).
Авторка майстерно передає відчуття надії, втрат і внутрішньої сили через головних героїв, які борються зі своїми особистими трагедіями. Війна змінює людей, так і головні герої, Бекс і Нейт, проходять через різні ситуації в книзі. Тут є біль, надія, втрати, маленькі перемоги та радості, пошук спокою, відповідей на питання та світла серед темряви.
Книга подарувала мені різні емоції та точно торкнулася мого серця. Точно рекомендую до прочитання.
May 20, 2025
So well done. I technically read this out of order as I read the “Griffith brothers” trilogy first a few months ago (and this is technically a prequel) but absolutely loved getting Nathan and Beck’s back story.
I think the epilogue broke my heart and put it back together in the same breath. Maggie is so good at what she does.
I think the epilogue broke my heart and put it back together in the same breath. Maggie is so good at what she does.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
LOVEDDDDDd this Becks is so badass and everything I could never be as a journalist and she’s just so cool
January 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Kindle 😊
Kindle 😊
May 17, 2026
Dare I say...my favourite Maggie Gates?
September 17, 2024
In my intense grief surrounding Fireline ending, I realised Nate and Becks had their own story and I was lucky enough to hold onto this series just A LITTLE LONGER.
Cheers to Charlie.
Cheers to Charlie.
November 6, 2024
god that was cute
March 22, 2021
This book is fantastic. I love a good military love story and this one doesn’t disappoint at all. You will laugh, cry, be ready to scream at your device and feel the heartbreak as it happens throughout the book. This book shows a small amount of what happens overseas in a war. I can’t wait to read more books from this author.
Becks is sassy, smart-mouthed, and doesn’t hesitate to call Griff out on his crap. Griff is a Alpha military man. Becks and Griff are both very relatable and you can’t help but love them and cheer them on from afar. I didn’t want to put this book down once I started reading it.
Becks is sassy, smart-mouthed, and doesn’t hesitate to call Griff out on his crap. Griff is a Alpha military man. Becks and Griff are both very relatable and you can’t help but love them and cheer them on from afar. I didn’t want to put this book down once I started reading it.
August 12, 2025
Listen, I did honestly quite like it- I’m a big fan of simple romances and this was a really good book when you just don’t wanna think and let you’re brain focus on something else. However, I’m a whore for slow burn and this is anything but- one second they hate each others guts and the next they’re both, with no explanation or anything, desperately in love with each other etc etc. It’s really fast paced when it maybe shouldn’t be, and the timeline is a bit confusing and rushed?? Like its played out over ish 14 months but felt like it was 2?
So basically the too high of pace of the book made it get a lower rating from me, but it’s not bad Cx
So basically the too high of pace of the book made it get a lower rating from me, but it’s not bad Cx
August 13, 2024
After reading Dust Storm I knew I needed to go back and get Nate and Becks story.
And holy moly. 🔥
This was military romance done right.
Becks was bada** FMC
War correspondent
Fiery redhead
Nate
Military man
Newly divorced
Set overseas in a war zone.
On a lighter note: I loved the banter!
I honestly hardly cry ever when I read but there was a part in here that 😭
A top read of the year for me.
And holy moly. 🔥
This was military romance done right.
Becks was bada** FMC
War correspondent
Fiery redhead
Nate
Military man
Newly divorced
Set overseas in a war zone.
On a lighter note: I loved the banter!
I honestly hardly cry ever when I read but there was a part in here that 😭
A top read of the year for me.
May 9, 2025
4.5 🌟
Nathan Griffith, Captain of a company B, a military base in Afghanistan, is struggling on his deployment as his wife Vanessa is insistent on a divorce. After trying to delay it until he got home, she’s too persistent and asks him about it on every phone call home he gets:( Frustrated already, Nathan is even more disgruntled when he gets asked to help the new embeds get settled. After meeting Rebecca (Becks) Davis the new media reporter, they get off on the wrong foot and Nate isn’t impressed by her arrival. He spends the next month ignoring her but also winding her up, doing silly pranks to scare her! When Becks opens up about her motivation behind doing a documentary on soldiers is her brother Troy who passed a while ago, Nathan is quick to decline her request for an interview. When they go out on a trip to the village to patrol, Becks tags along and Nathan is quick to volunteer to help with her helmet and protection as the tension between them rises. When an attack on their convoy arises, Nate is quick to defend her, putting her safety first and ushering her into the humvee as quickly as he can! After she finally manages to interview someone for her documentary, Becks decides to get some overdue sleep. But when an attack on their base lands on her room, Nate is left panicked and pulls her out of her hiding spot rushing her to the medic! After she recovers they finally call a truce when he gifts her mascara, as she always wears it when reporting and lost it in the explosion:’) After a difficult phone call finalising the divorce, Nate ends up snapping at her, blaming her for using footage of him saving her after the attack! He claims she used things he told her in confidence in a moment of vulnerability a few days prior on the news as his ex had told him! Becks is quick to explain she didn’t and it’s simply the video footage of him helping her that’s been used and out of her control:( He quickly apologises and the following evening when they find each other at their secret meeting spot under the stars, they open up to one another more. The tension between them rises as they get to know one another, eventually giving into the undeniable chemistry and kissing! Whilst Becks is away on a 48hr trip to Dubai, Nate finally agrees for Charlie, Becks colleague and best friend, to interview him for the documentary. When he asks him to recall a story of someone who sadly didn’t make it, Nate is honest and tells the heartbreaking story of ‘cowboy’ who was killed in an explosion before his eyes that he’s never forgotten and blamed himself for:( Charlie asks ‘cowboys’ name to help people at home understand what it’s like and Nate reveals it was Troy Davis, becks’ brother who she’s been trying to figure out what happened to all along:’( Charlie, wanting to protect Becks, gives him an ultimatum to tell her within 24hours of her being back, or he’ll break the news to her. Nate struggles to tell her as he’s kept it to himself the 10months she’s worked there, and knows she’ll be angry and upset with him:( However, he doesn’t get the chance to before they get a midnight wake up call that they need to secure the village. Whilst Becks is reporting, Charlie tragically gets hit and Nate is quick to get her away not wanting her to see the devastating aftermath:’( Nathan does his best to comfort Becks as she breaks down finding out her best friend is gone. Over the next week, with the help of Nathan, becks slowly comes back to herself preparing for her new cameraman to arrive! Finding herself seeking comfort in Nate, they finally give in and cross the professional boundaries they had put in place! When the new cameraman arrives and is rude to Becks, Nate is quick to jump to her defence and switch the rooms around so she’s staying with him not Vince! Becks is angry, thinking that it jeopardises both their careers if people know they’re a thing. He begs her for the last 3m of his deployment and her placement to prove to her it’s not just a no strings thing for him. Nathan wants to prove she’s it for him and he’ll make it work however possible and becks reluctantly agrees, unsure of what the future when they return home looks like! After a scare which could’ve been fatal for Nate, saying she loves him is on the tip of becks tongue on her last night at company B. However, things quickly turn south when the new captain shows up and lets slip that they all knew Troy. Becks quickly pieces the puzzle together, realising that the tattoo Nate had and the story from Mosul was about her brother:( Hurt by the fact he lied by omission, Becks decides to leave a night early and decides she’s done with Nathan. He spends his last 8 weeks on deployment thinking about her 24/7, calling and leaving voicemails at every given opportunity begging her for a chance to explain! Once he’s finally home, Nate decides to put things right and goes to tell her parents about Troy, admitting he was too proud to do it the first time round. When she finally gets the finished uncut documentary, Becks sees the interview Charlie and Nate did where he first admitted he knew Troy, and confessed his love for her all those months ago! She realises what a mistake she’s making leaving him in the past and quickly flys to him to put things right:’)
My thoughts :
Where do I even start:’) Obsessed in love this book is so god damn good! I had a feeling from reading the Griffith brothers ranch first that their baby was named Charlie in memory of him but yet still sobbed and was shocked when he died!! I’ve never read a military set book before and it was really emotional and written so well! I absolutely loved Nate’s character and how he cared for becks and put her first! Their dynamic together and the way she trusted him so much which was why she was so hurt when she found out about her brother:( I also think the 3rd act conflict breakup was warranted in this book and the way it was written made sense to their story! It was emotional and felt necessary given how big of a deal the secret he had hidden about her brother was. I think I found the first 100 ish pages a little bit slow, the same way I did with fire line, and wasn’t obsessed as they but once it got going I was hooked and read in under a day!
Some of my fav moments / things I noted down whilst reading:
* read the Griffith brother ranch series & needed to go back to read Nate’s story!
* Red (fav nickname x)
* He buys her mascara after her concussion bc he knows she doesn’t work without it on 😔
* Him doing the interview with Charlie and telling how Troy died crying
* Omfg I didn’t expect Charlie dying I’m sobbing?
* Her being so worried and almost risking her life when he got shot at🥲
Overall, I absolutely adored this book and would 10000% recommend it! I also think you should read this before the Griffith brothers ranch, although it’s not necessary I feel like it would be better to do it that way! I will definitely be reading more Maggie gates books soon as the 4 I’ve read this week have all been amazing! 4.5 🌟 I loved this!
Nathan Griffith, Captain of a company B, a military base in Afghanistan, is struggling on his deployment as his wife Vanessa is insistent on a divorce. After trying to delay it until he got home, she’s too persistent and asks him about it on every phone call home he gets:( Frustrated already, Nathan is even more disgruntled when he gets asked to help the new embeds get settled. After meeting Rebecca (Becks) Davis the new media reporter, they get off on the wrong foot and Nate isn’t impressed by her arrival. He spends the next month ignoring her but also winding her up, doing silly pranks to scare her! When Becks opens up about her motivation behind doing a documentary on soldiers is her brother Troy who passed a while ago, Nathan is quick to decline her request for an interview. When they go out on a trip to the village to patrol, Becks tags along and Nathan is quick to volunteer to help with her helmet and protection as the tension between them rises. When an attack on their convoy arises, Nate is quick to defend her, putting her safety first and ushering her into the humvee as quickly as he can! After she finally manages to interview someone for her documentary, Becks decides to get some overdue sleep. But when an attack on their base lands on her room, Nate is left panicked and pulls her out of her hiding spot rushing her to the medic! After she recovers they finally call a truce when he gifts her mascara, as she always wears it when reporting and lost it in the explosion:’) After a difficult phone call finalising the divorce, Nate ends up snapping at her, blaming her for using footage of him saving her after the attack! He claims she used things he told her in confidence in a moment of vulnerability a few days prior on the news as his ex had told him! Becks is quick to explain she didn’t and it’s simply the video footage of him helping her that’s been used and out of her control:( He quickly apologises and the following evening when they find each other at their secret meeting spot under the stars, they open up to one another more. The tension between them rises as they get to know one another, eventually giving into the undeniable chemistry and kissing! Whilst Becks is away on a 48hr trip to Dubai, Nate finally agrees for Charlie, Becks colleague and best friend, to interview him for the documentary. When he asks him to recall a story of someone who sadly didn’t make it, Nate is honest and tells the heartbreaking story of ‘cowboy’ who was killed in an explosion before his eyes that he’s never forgotten and blamed himself for:( Charlie asks ‘cowboys’ name to help people at home understand what it’s like and Nate reveals it was Troy Davis, becks’ brother who she’s been trying to figure out what happened to all along:’( Charlie, wanting to protect Becks, gives him an ultimatum to tell her within 24hours of her being back, or he’ll break the news to her. Nate struggles to tell her as he’s kept it to himself the 10months she’s worked there, and knows she’ll be angry and upset with him:( However, he doesn’t get the chance to before they get a midnight wake up call that they need to secure the village. Whilst Becks is reporting, Charlie tragically gets hit and Nate is quick to get her away not wanting her to see the devastating aftermath:’( Nathan does his best to comfort Becks as she breaks down finding out her best friend is gone. Over the next week, with the help of Nathan, becks slowly comes back to herself preparing for her new cameraman to arrive! Finding herself seeking comfort in Nate, they finally give in and cross the professional boundaries they had put in place! When the new cameraman arrives and is rude to Becks, Nate is quick to jump to her defence and switch the rooms around so she’s staying with him not Vince! Becks is angry, thinking that it jeopardises both their careers if people know they’re a thing. He begs her for the last 3m of his deployment and her placement to prove to her it’s not just a no strings thing for him. Nathan wants to prove she’s it for him and he’ll make it work however possible and becks reluctantly agrees, unsure of what the future when they return home looks like! After a scare which could’ve been fatal for Nate, saying she loves him is on the tip of becks tongue on her last night at company B. However, things quickly turn south when the new captain shows up and lets slip that they all knew Troy. Becks quickly pieces the puzzle together, realising that the tattoo Nate had and the story from Mosul was about her brother:( Hurt by the fact he lied by omission, Becks decides to leave a night early and decides she’s done with Nathan. He spends his last 8 weeks on deployment thinking about her 24/7, calling and leaving voicemails at every given opportunity begging her for a chance to explain! Once he’s finally home, Nate decides to put things right and goes to tell her parents about Troy, admitting he was too proud to do it the first time round. When she finally gets the finished uncut documentary, Becks sees the interview Charlie and Nate did where he first admitted he knew Troy, and confessed his love for her all those months ago! She realises what a mistake she’s making leaving him in the past and quickly flys to him to put things right:’)
My thoughts :
Where do I even start:’) Obsessed in love this book is so god damn good! I had a feeling from reading the Griffith brothers ranch first that their baby was named Charlie in memory of him but yet still sobbed and was shocked when he died!! I’ve never read a military set book before and it was really emotional and written so well! I absolutely loved Nate’s character and how he cared for becks and put her first! Their dynamic together and the way she trusted him so much which was why she was so hurt when she found out about her brother:( I also think the 3rd act conflict breakup was warranted in this book and the way it was written made sense to their story! It was emotional and felt necessary given how big of a deal the secret he had hidden about her brother was. I think I found the first 100 ish pages a little bit slow, the same way I did with fire line, and wasn’t obsessed as they but once it got going I was hooked and read in under a day!
Some of my fav moments / things I noted down whilst reading:
* read the Griffith brother ranch series & needed to go back to read Nate’s story!
* Red (fav nickname x)
* He buys her mascara after her concussion bc he knows she doesn’t work without it on 😔
* Him doing the interview with Charlie and telling how Troy died crying
* Omfg I didn’t expect Charlie dying I’m sobbing?
* Her being so worried and almost risking her life when he got shot at🥲
Overall, I absolutely adored this book and would 10000% recommend it! I also think you should read this before the Griffith brothers ranch, although it’s not necessary I feel like it would be better to do it that way! I will definitely be reading more Maggie gates books soon as the 4 I’ve read this week have all been amazing! 4.5 🌟 I loved this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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