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Honor Bound #1
Hearts Under Fire: A Lesbian/Sapphic Military Romance
Behind enemy lines, their lives aren’t the only things at risk—so are their hearts
Get ready for a steamy sapphic military romance with a Happily Ever After! Dive into my new Honor Bound Series with a bang!
Kate Cross, a no-nonsense medic, is haunted by the loss of her partner in combat. She’s built walls around her heart and has no time for romance—especially with Alexis Cole, the irresistible Combat Rescue Officer with a reputation for breaking hearts.
But when they’re forced to work together on a high-stakes mission, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.
As the mission spirals out of control and they end up trapped behind enemy lines, survival depends on trusting each other—both on the battlefield and in their hearts.
Can Kate take a chance on love, or will their dangerous world tear them apart?
Hearts Under Fire delivers thrilling rescues, intense action, steamy scenes, and a love that won’t quit—even in the face of danger.
Get ready for a steamy sapphic military romance with a Happily Ever After! Dive into my new Honor Bound Series with a bang!
Kate Cross, a no-nonsense medic, is haunted by the loss of her partner in combat. She’s built walls around her heart and has no time for romance—especially with Alexis Cole, the irresistible Combat Rescue Officer with a reputation for breaking hearts.
But when they’re forced to work together on a high-stakes mission, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.
As the mission spirals out of control and they end up trapped behind enemy lines, survival depends on trusting each other—both on the battlefield and in their hearts.
Can Kate take a chance on love, or will their dangerous world tear them apart?
Hearts Under Fire delivers thrilling rescues, intense action, steamy scenes, and a love that won’t quit—even in the face of danger.
194 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2024
About the author
Emily Hayes
463 books88 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For lesbian romance author please go to
Emily^^Hayes
For psychology (autism, ADHD, etc.) author please go to
Emily^^^Hayes
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For lesbian romance author please go to
Emily^^Hayes
For psychology (autism, ADHD, etc.) author please go to
Emily^^^Hayes
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 10, 2024
Short book that left enough loose ends to make a longer one, but concentrates on one mission, with everything else throw away lines. Enjoyed it and wanted to read the ending.
October 8, 2024
Finding Heart
Lt. Kate Cross is a combat medic who deploys on rescue missions for teams injured and wounded. Lt. Alexis Cole, am American Indian, is a Combat Rescue Officer, who leads recovery operations for soldiers in combat. Both have been wounded by life’s trauma and their fight to survive the desert and their enemies is a story of valour and love. Great story.
Lt. Kate Cross is a combat medic who deploys on rescue missions for teams injured and wounded. Lt. Alexis Cole, am American Indian, is a Combat Rescue Officer, who leads recovery operations for soldiers in combat. Both have been wounded by life’s trauma and their fight to survive the desert and their enemies is a story of valour and love. Great story.
October 1, 2024
I love a good lesbian military romance. These women are out there putting their lives on the line and they deserve a happy ending, I just hope for all of them, it is in real life. We have been lacking in lesbian military romance books, I'm so glad Emily Hayes is filling that oversight. There are just too few in this world and hopefully she will have a long string of them in this Honor Bound book series. This is a quick read but a well done read as we get to know the two main characters. She also does a great job in the steamy sex department in spite of all the surrounding insurgents.
September 24, 2025
Falling in love is difficult enough, but falling in love while struggling to survive war? Whoosh!
Emily Hayes has gifted many war hero’s with this story of courage and love in such perilous conditions is unthinkable. I am amazed by the audacity and the tenderness brought by her skills to share this story with us. This story brought many memories back to mind for me from my time in the service, good and difficult. The true sign of a good storyteller, bringing emotions long hidden to the forefront, job well done Emily.
Emily Hayes has gifted many war hero’s with this story of courage and love in such perilous conditions is unthinkable. I am amazed by the audacity and the tenderness brought by her skills to share this story with us. This story brought many memories back to mind for me from my time in the service, good and difficult. The true sign of a good storyteller, bringing emotions long hidden to the forefront, job well done Emily.
October 31, 2024
Military Romance? Yes, Please!
Emily Hayes has created two main characters that have heart and are strong. Kate and Alexis rescue each other both physically and emotionally. Alexis, a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of woman, falls hard for Kate. They assist each other as they make their way to an extraction area to be rescued. I enjoyed the action and romance. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Emily Hayes has created two main characters that have heart and are strong. Kate and Alexis rescue each other both physically and emotionally. Alexis, a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of woman, falls hard for Kate. They assist each other as they make their way to an extraction area to be rescued. I enjoyed the action and romance. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
October 1, 2024
Quite an Experience
This quick read covers a lot of ground, a great romance, and quite an experience. I don't know much about the military content of this but I really appreciated learning about it. The story carried me through it and I think that's a testament to the author's ability to tell a story.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys sapphic romance.
This quick read covers a lot of ground, a great romance, and quite an experience. I don't know much about the military content of this but I really appreciated learning about it. The story carried me through it and I think that's a testament to the author's ability to tell a story.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys sapphic romance.
April 1, 2025
Great story and characters. There were some tense moments that could’ve turned out differently, but they relied on their training to get out of the situation. It’s kind of funny that experiences in their personal lives caused them to look at life with rose colored glasses and then they fall for each other without realizing it. The heart wants what it wants.
October 11, 2024
Emily absolutely amazing
Emily I'm fast becoming a very big fan of your writing. You told me to try this. You were right I LOVED it. Is duty and desire the next one in honor bound? Please let me know. Just ask Kate granger about me.
Emily I'm fast becoming a very big fan of your writing. You told me to try this. You were right I LOVED it. Is duty and desire the next one in honor bound? Please let me know. Just ask Kate granger about me.
October 31, 2024
Gripping Story
This was a gripping, heart-stopping story. I felt I was there with the two of them in the “sandbox.” It makes one appreciate all the military personnel who risk their lives each day.
This was a gripping, heart-stopping story. I felt I was there with the two of them in the “sandbox.” It makes one appreciate all the military personnel who risk their lives each day.
July 16, 2025
The military inaccuracies just got to me because I am a historical fiction nerd(especially military history), and I wanted to like this book so much but I just didn’t. I liked the banter though. It felt a bit rushed, overall it’s not one of my favorite reads.
April 15, 2026
Action-packed romance
I really liked this book. The action was really good and so were the main characters and their chemistry. It's a short book but is plenty long enough to tell the story. The writing is good. There are quite a few minor errors, though.
I really liked this book. The action was really good and so were the main characters and their chemistry. It's a short book but is plenty long enough to tell the story. The writing is good. There are quite a few minor errors, though.
October 4, 2024
being heroes
This was a lovely read two unreachable hearts that find their way to each other trials of their careers and finding a forever life and love together🌈
This was a lovely read two unreachable hearts that find their way to each other trials of their careers and finding a forever life and love together🌈
October 11, 2024
Quick read
I enjoyed this military story. I read it while waiting on my Jeep oil change & maintenance. The characters are strong women, who refuse to quit!
I enjoyed this military story. I read it while waiting on my Jeep oil change & maintenance. The characters are strong women, who refuse to quit!
November 6, 2024
Lt Cross and Lt Cole got caught under fire but escaped. Loved the action , wish it spelled out the words, but I am sure the military understood the acumen. A page turner.
November 9, 2024
This writing style is so not my jam. I can hardly find any FF romance book that actually makes it interesting to read though, so at least this isn’t the first of such cases.
January 14, 2025
good chemistry
Great sex scenes in the desert. Great explanation of the characters past. The story is really promising. Can totally be made into a longer book.
Great sex scenes in the desert. Great explanation of the characters past. The story is really promising. Can totally be made into a longer book.
March 24, 2025
Ouch
Casualties are not just death
It's a magazine, not a clip
Failed miserably at no one left behind
Military etiquette ignored
Otherwise not a bad story
Casualties are not just death
It's a magazine, not a clip
Failed miserably at no one left behind
Military etiquette ignored
Otherwise not a bad story
April 4, 2025
great story
Love the characters, the story is action filled, and the romance is beautiful. Combat and casualties, so be warned if this is a trigger
Love the characters, the story is action filled, and the romance is beautiful. Combat and casualties, so be warned if this is a trigger
September 18, 2025
amazing
The story kept me engaged and entertaining. I would recommend this book for your evening reading. Once you start you will want to finish.
The story kept me engaged and entertaining. I would recommend this book for your evening reading. Once you start you will want to finish.
March 5, 2026
there's so much potential given the plot but this book just fell short...because it's too short!
December 20, 2024
STARS - 4 stars - I really liked it
SPICE - spicy
CHEMISTRY - yes
ANGST - not too much
SLOW BURN - no instalove
CLIFFHANGER - no
This was a fun fast military read. With an added bonus of being a survival book. I love books that have these two themes. Being a novella means it is super faced paced. So some of the character builder may seem lost. But honestly this was just a little gem and I plan on reading more of this series.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK/HOW DID IT MAKE ME FEEL
This is a spicy military book that has a medic and a rescue leader. They are sent for medical rescue. But when they meet the helicopter they are separated and left in combat zone. Lots of secret hiding places and some sexy scenes. Making it not super realistic. But I don't read for facts I read for fun. And this was a whole lot of fun.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
I loved that the characters relied on each other during their survival period. I loved that Alexis was supposed to be a love em and leave em type but she fell for Kate.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
I love women in the military being portrayed as badass. I loved that Alexis was willing to do whatever it took to get them out alive.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Nothing I wouldn't expect from a novella especially one that is this jam packed. But everything is really rushed and they are in a life and death situation and carrying intimate relations.
TROPES
Military, survival, novella, insta love, action
SPICE - spicy
CHEMISTRY - yes
ANGST - not too much
SLOW BURN - no instalove
CLIFFHANGER - no
This was a fun fast military read. With an added bonus of being a survival book. I love books that have these two themes. Being a novella means it is super faced paced. So some of the character builder may seem lost. But honestly this was just a little gem and I plan on reading more of this series.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK/HOW DID IT MAKE ME FEEL
This is a spicy military book that has a medic and a rescue leader. They are sent for medical rescue. But when they meet the helicopter they are separated and left in combat zone. Lots of secret hiding places and some sexy scenes. Making it not super realistic. But I don't read for facts I read for fun. And this was a whole lot of fun.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
I loved that the characters relied on each other during their survival period. I loved that Alexis was supposed to be a love em and leave em type but she fell for Kate.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
I love women in the military being portrayed as badass. I loved that Alexis was willing to do whatever it took to get them out alive.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Nothing I wouldn't expect from a novella especially one that is this jam packed. But everything is really rushed and they are in a life and death situation and carrying intimate relations.
TROPES
Military, survival, novella, insta love, action
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews