Metal & Mud

Charlie 3/3 – A Military Romance #1

by Olivia Rigal

Logan Goodman is a math whiz turned infantry private, out to prove he belongs in a high-stakes rapid-response unit.

Sabby Adams isn’t Army. She’s tattoos and combat boots, metal concerts and rebel streaks. And yet, when this goth graphic designer crosses path with Logan, something clicks.

Logan’s drawn to her like a magnet to chaos but there’s one problem he can’t Sabby’s sister is his sergeant, and, with her, he’s already on thin ice.

Set on a small Army base brimming with grit, humor, and heart, Metal & Mud is a military romance about found families and the rules we’re willing to break for the people who matter.

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2025

About the author

Olivia Rigal writes emotionally charged romantic suspense novels filled with intense chemistry, pulse-thumping action, and gripping intrigue.

Drawing from her experience as an attorney, Olivia infuses authenticity and depth into carefully crafted plots and believable stories.

Her strong, intelligent heroines stand shoulder to shoulder with fiercely protective alpha heroes, each guided by their own deep sense of loyalty and personal honor.

Olivia weaves relatable emotional realities, gritty suspense, sarcastic humor, and unforgettable passion into fast-paced, addictive stories readers can't put down.

Her books are available in English, French, and German.

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

I’ll be honest, I didn’t fully read the description before diving in 😅, even though it does clearly say: “Set on a small Army base.” But when I read “military romance,” I thought it would be a little different. Something more like a deployment or mission overseas. Instead, most of the story takes place on base, focusing more on barracks life and a lot of internal drama. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely wasn’t what I was picturing going in?

Metal & Mud by Olivia Rigal is a fast-paced military romance with a lot of heart, heat, and grit while blending themes of found family, rebellion, and the tension between personal desires and duty. While it had a lot of heart, the execution didn’t quite deliver the emotional depth I was hoping for in the romance.

The story centers around Logan Goodman, who’s the new guy in the barracks—a math genius turned infantry private—and Sabby Adams, a goth graphic designer with combat boots, tattoos, and zero interest in playing by anyone else’s rules. Their chemistry is immediate, their connection electric… but I couldn’t help feeling like their romance got pushed into the background in favour of the surrounding conflict with Lieutenant Huffman. While it made for a compelling storyline, it overshadowed the development of the romance. Sabby’s karaoke moment and the fallout with Huffman added stakes and tension, but it felt like Logan and Sabby’s connection became secondary.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────
Spoilers?

Main Plot: Sabby sings a new “metal” song at karaoke, Huffman—drunk and arrogant—takes offense, and things spiral into harassment and power plays. Logan steps in to defend her, which leads to a fight, repeated warnings, and tension about his rank… but in the end, nothing major comes of it, which makes the buildup feel a little anticlimactic. The stakes were high, but the resolution felt flat?

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

This was a very short book, and everything felt like it was happening in a rush. The pacing felt off—even though the story technically takes place over more than six weeks, it really didn’t feel like that much time had passed. Because of that, the romance felt a bit surface-level, like an afterthought compared to the main conflict. I was hoping for more moments between Logan and Sabby. Their connection was immediate, and the chemistry was definitely there!! The smut was pretty good! Those scenes were written with intensity and chemistry, and gave glimpses into what could’ve been a deeper bond between Logan and Sabby. But their relationship moved way too fast for me. I just wish we had more romantic buildup between them outside of the physical moments—their relationship moved very quickly, and I wanted more emotional depth and quiet, intimate interactions where we could actually see them falling for each other.

That said, I did like all the characters. Sabby, our FMC, had a lot of depth. She’s been through a lot and is constantly misunderstood, especially by her parents, so it was great to see her grow with the help of her sister. Her sister Jess ended up being a surprising highlight—tough but supportive, and someone who gave Sabby space to come into her own. I really loved their sisterly dynamic. Logan’s journey throughout the book was satisfying to watch unfold. We get to see him do his best to fit in, adjusting to military life, earning his teammates’ respect, and trying to do right by Sabby, while dealing with his arrogant National Guard peers, which added a good layer to his character. But I felt like we didn’t really get to know him as much as we got to know Sabby and her sister Jess.

Overall, I liked the premise and the characters had potential—I just wish the romance had been more developed. It was still a quick, enjoyable read with some emotional moments, solid steam, and a very wholesome ending that wrapped things up on a sweet note, which is why I'm rounding up my rating.

I did like the author's writing style, so I'm looking forward to the second book.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥Forced Proximity
❥Touch her and d!e
❥Military Base
❥Movie Theatre spice
❥Found family
❥Fast-paced romance
❥Instalove
❥Morally grey MMC

Thank you for the ARC, Olivia♡
_________________________________
Metal & Mud | Review
Blitz & Breach | Review

Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook

[Ayda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually write reviews but since this was an ARC. Thank you, Olivia!

❤️ Overall: 3.5 / 5 stars
🔥 Romance & Chemistry: 3.5 / 5
⚡ Pacing: 3 / 5 (felt rushed, especially the romance)
🎭 Character Development: 4 / 5 (loved Sabby & Jess’s dynamic; Logan’s growth was solid)
🎯 Plot & Conflict: 3 / 5 (Huffman storyline was interesting? but anticlimactic)
📚 Setting & Atmosphere: 3 / 5 (small Army base vibe)
💥 Heat/Smut: 4 / 5 (enjoyed the steamy scenes!)

I want to rate this higher but it felt, boring and childish. What I mean by that, nothing particularly interesting happened—the plot was very 2D and the romance was severely overshadowed by the conflict with the National Guard guys.

The whole scenario with the National Guard was childish? Huffman was offended Sabby sang a "metal" SONG at karaoke night at the Bowling Alley. His drunk arrogant misogynistic ass had the audacity to confront her. Apparently, everyone on the military base HATES metal music with a passion. I'm not sure but the whole interaction felt so random? Logan the morally grey white knight that he is, stepped in an stood up for her in a way. Later on his rank was questioned, which added tension but anticlimactic resolution.

I liked the characters, they had a lot of depth to them, wish we got to know Logan better.

Logan + Sabby's relationship was pretty much insta love, insta attraction. They had a few sweet moments... mostly sexual. You can definitely tell they have a lot of chemistry but it isn't shown the best. We didn't that feels good, sweetness or wholesome moments between the two. I guess what I'm trying to say: we didn't really see them falling in love like other romance books. And I didn't get that feeling I get with other romance books while reading this. It felt like there was no build up. Suddenly they were boyfriend/girlfriend, they didn't have that 'relationship' talk, it just happened in the background. Their relationship progressed wayyyy to fast for my liking...

Overall, it was a short read, and I know a lot of people will love this, but I had some issues with it.

[Nycole Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This love story is a refreshing read—full of growth, understanding, and genuine heart. With strong character arcs, a satisfying resolution to conflict, and touching romantic beats, it’s the perfect book if you’re craving something wholesome and hopeful.
Sabrina “Sabby” Adams is a rocker-goth, finding her way back with the support of her sister, Sergeant Jess Adams, a tough-but-loving military fire squad leader. Jess is strict at work—but loving at home, especially with Sabby. Their sisterly bond highlights the healing power of family.
Enter Logan Goodman, the new recruit on Jess’s team. Always aiming for perfection, he’s disciplined, respectful. One evening, while unwinding at a bowling alley, Logan witnesses an officer bullying a civilian employee—Sabby. He intervenes, sparking tension that escalates into an unofficial investigation. Meanwhile, Sabby and Logan are both shaken by what might happen and a possible lost connection.
After a series of military “war games” and Logan’s clever actions, He is able to the bowling alley to find Sabby again. They begin dating, cautiously opening up. A comedic, heart-pounding moment comes when Logan drops her off, only to be surprised by… well, you’ll laugh when you read it.
There is a happily ever after. I do hope we get a glimpse of them in the books to come.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a well blended military romance and I enjoyed reading about the main characters as well as the secondary ones. Romance with depth and intensity, kept me engaged from start to finish and thoroughly entertained. The author does a great job allowing the reader the opportunity to really get to know them. Great couple, driven and determined, some steam with some sticky situations that made things a bit edgy but pretty much low drama, emotional and comical moments, great combination. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the found family camaraderie of this military tale. But the backstories of the three main characters really endeared them to me. Yes, I’m including Jess even though she was not a romantic lead because she was integral in Sabby’s emotional growth and in both Sabby and Logan’s everyday life. Which made their romance tricky since she is in essence Logan’s boss. I also like the everyday Joe feel of this tale, it was realistic with real life challenges and goals. I can’t wait for more of Charlie 3/3.

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logan and Sabby were really well suited. Chalk and cheese really but they worked so well.

This was a military romance, forbidden fruit kind of but the attraction couldn't be held back.

Logan was a math whiz who joined the infantry and met Sabby who was the sister of his sergeant. If she finds out there well be trouble.

So well done. I loved these two and the relationship they develop. Passionate but also more involved.

Writing is perfect and the characters come alive on the book. I couldn't put it down and was nicely surprised with the plot. So well done!!

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little different from your typical military romance. As a college graduate majoring in math, Logan was expected to be officer material. Instead, he wanted to prove himself as enlisted. He immediately finds himself on the outs after screwing up from trying too hard and is confined to base. Sabby was always getting in trouble with her parents because she didn't conform to their expectations. These two were perfect for each other, but they are not the norm for the atmosphere in which they both live. Metal & Mud is their journey to finding a HEA in difficult circumstances.

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the romance between Sabby and Logan: they’re both great characters!! She beats to her own drum, but has goals and appreciates her sister’s love and guidance. He’s a bit of a nerd, but he’s honest and willing to listen and learn. I love the realistic portrayal of their lives, the ups and downs, their struggles, and how well their personalities match!! Military meets civilian, rank vs class, snobbery vs character, and how we should treat each other with respect: a lovely lesson! A slow burn, but spicy in the right spots! Great start to a new series!!

[Eva T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Metal & Mud by Olivia Rigal is a bold and refreshing take on military romance. Logan, the math whiz turned infantry private, and Sabby, the goth graphic designer with a rebellious streak, make an unforgettable pair. Their chemistry crackles from the first page, and the tension—both romantic and professional—keeps you hooked. Set against the backdrop of a tight-knit Army base, the story explores loyalty, identity, and the messy beauty of found family. With humor, heat, and a whole lot of heart, this book hits all the right notes.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to confess I was a little lost in all the army details, but the romance was so sweet and in some ways old fashioned. The characters were great, especially Jess and I loved that it was Jess that came to Sabby’s rescue and supported Logan even if at times she was really hard on him. That his family were so lovely after everything Jess and Sabby had been through was great. A gentle romantic story.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delightful departure for me. While it started as a slow burn, I was captivated by the incredibly well-developed characters, Sabby and Logan. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, their shared love for metal music brings them together in a truly compelling way. The author also provides a fascinating and detailed look into the realities of military life for enlisted personnel.

[Evonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of Logan and Sabby. They aren't your typical couple. I felt sorry for Sabby and the treatment she's had from other especially her parents. I loved that her sister Jess was able to give her the ability to find herself. It was fun to watch as Logan earned the respect of his new teammates while negotiating his tricky relationship as well as arrogant peers. A page turner.

[Carolyn Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of book for me, it was a slow burn, but the characters were really well thought out. Sabby and Logan, two totally different backgrounds, but have found each other, they do have music in common, and it was really cool to read. Also, very detailed about the ins and outs of military life for enlisted personnel. Jessica was a hoot. Definitely not routine.

[Ursula Rommel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Metal & Mud erzählt uns die Geschichte von Logan, dem Neuling in der Schnelleingreiftruppe und Sabby, dem Gothgirly und Grafikdesignstudentin.
Eine turbulente Liebesgeschichte , bei der es natürlich nicht ohne Probleme geht.
Bezaubernd, spannend und spicy hat die Geschichte mich total gepackt.
Mehr Infos im Klappentext.

Das Buch gibt es in Englisch und Deutsch

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great read. You get amazing back stories from the three main characters that help you along the way. Logan and Sabby will grab your heart.

Military romance is not usually my genre choice but I am looking forward to learning more about these characters as this series continues.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted read. It’s a slow burn romance. I enjoyed the characters. I loved that even though they were different they still meshed together and had sizzling chemistry. It’s an entertaining well written story.

[Gin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked the story and the characters. There were a couple of details I questioned, but I assume those were smoothed out in the editing process.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Sabby!! She is one of these people who don't fit the mold that others expect. Logan is in the military but sees a kindred spirit in Sabby. I loved the characters and the storyline.