STARR Crossed Desire: An Agent of STARR Military Romance

by Marlie Sable

He survived a monster. Now he hunts them.
Haunted by his past, Cole hunts those who steal the future from the innocent. A dictator targets a remote village and Cole is the only line of defense.
She's spent her life saving others. Now, she needs saving.
Marked for death by a warlord, humanitarian Lyra knows she has to run. Rescued by a powerful man with scars, a soldier's instincts and a hard stare, Lyra isn't sure she can trust him. Or the dangerous emotions he stirs within her.
With its blend of military grit, heart-pounding suspense, and a forbidden spark, STARR Crossed Desire is ideal for readers who want their romance served with high stakes and raw emotion.

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

"Where fierce hearts fight hardest—for love, for justice, for each other."

Marlie Sable writes edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense where passion burns hot and danger always lingers close. Her heroines are bold, her heroes unforgettable, and her stories dive deep into the grit of trauma, trust, and redemption. Drawing on the pulse-pounding intensity of military missions and the raw vulnerability of hard-won love, Marlie crafts emotional journeys that linger long after the final page. When she’s not writing, she's working on crafts, crocheting, or out in the garden.

Reviews

[Krissy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is filled with action, romance, and thrill. I loved it. You have orders to do an extraction but do you force it or do you follow your own path? You have protection and them falling over heels for one another.

[Teresa LaBella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced plot with a story that grabs and holds the reader to the last word on the final page.

Special agent Cole Remington's mission: find and rescue a diplomat's daughter from a murderous menace in the depths of the Mali jungle. But Lyra Benson won't go without the children from a ravaged village that she has promised to lead to safety. The story of two determined people damaged and driven by their past both puts them at odds and brings them together on a path to redemption and healing.

Military romance isn't a genre I typically seek out. But Marlie Sable's first novel holds the promise of future compelling reads to enjoy from this author.

[Shalene Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starr Crossed Desire was an interesting one to get into. With the way the female character talks to her deity, I almost thought I was starting a romantasy at first.
The author has a stilted way of writing that is unique and may not be for everyone, but I found it grew on me quite quickly.
Cole is a stand-up guy with plenty of
baggage from his past weighing him down.
Lyra is an aide worker who takes on much more than her job requires, including the survival of children.
When their paths cross insta-love is on the horizon, along with plenty of danger and drama. The twists and turns take us in some expected and unexpected directions. A maze of decisions takes place that are seen from many different sides of the story, giving us insight into everyone’s perspective.

[Allison Coley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has great world and character building. You really get to know the characters and start resonating with them in some aspect. It is about soldiers working with a private agency and an aid worker who is being targeted. It even discussed self-defense and how that may feel/change a person who must defend oneself using a weapon. The romance and pull towards each other is felt throughout the book. It is love that slaps you in the face when you aren’t looking for it scenario. The betrayal is crazy. It speaks on how one may go through a hardship but end up finding love at the end of the chaos and hurt.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was heart-racing, filled with vivid imagery, and had two unforgettable MCs. The story opens with a high intensity scene, and doesn’t let up from there. Sable does an excellent job with making the book feel like a thrilling romance movie, bringing each scene to life. Lyra has such a big heart, even when it puts herself in danger. The romance is slow burn, which fits with the situation they find themselves in. The story has great pacing, moving along smoothly. There are so many heart-racing moments, you won’t want to put this down. If you enjoy slow burn romantic suspense stories, then you need to read this!

[Annette Drewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced storyline with a twist. A retrieval mission in Mali changes mid rescue and turns deadly. Lyra and Cole are a great couple who deserve to be together, unfortunately outside forces are determined to keep them apart. This book is filled with suspense, drama, danger, betrayal and a romance that proves to Lyra and Cole that they are worthy of happiness. I found it very hard to put this book down as I didn’t want to miss what was coming in the next chapter. Don’t miss this one.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Patricia Bates]

Marlie's a new author - but what a debut. There was a delicious slow burn to this book as they struggled to keep one step ahead of the known enemy while an unknown enemy stalked them. Great chemistry, the banter was on point and I really enjoyed the story. Cole and Lyra are opposites of the same coin but neither was willing to give up on the children or each other. Definitely worth a read!

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to know the author and received a copy pre-release. This is her debut book under this pin name. The book did not disappoint. Secrets, romance, and action through out.

[Marlie Sable]

Dear Reader,
Thank you for diving into STARR Crossed Desire.
There are some stories that find a home in your heart and remain there. Not because they’re perfect, but because they’re raw, messy, and a reflection of life.
Lyra and Cole’s journey is one such story.
At its core, their story is about survival. About beating the odds. Not just continuing to breathe, but to grab hold of every shattered piece of yourself and put yourself back together after life has broken you. After life has run you over and left you broken and bleeding.
Lyra’s quiet strength and unshakable compassion give her the strength to face life amid the trauma and misery of war, famine, and the unknown. It allows her to believe in saving others even when everything life throws at her tells her she should stop.
Cole is a man forged in fire, in trauma, in the darkness of a twisted mind. Yet, he is a man who has overcome every obstacle to become someone who lives by a unique code. Who looks at the weak, the defenseless and sees people who are worthy of being saved.
Even if he does not believe it of himself.
When their paths collide, it isn’t because of fate, or some fairytale... it's because they have made their choice. The choice to stand together, to trust when experience says only a fool does so.
Theirs is not a love story in the absence of danger—it is a story of love taking root amid danger. A story of healing and finding that part of yourself in another’s eyes, another’s heart.
STARR Crossed Desire is for the reader who carries scars. It's for everyone who ignored the impossible and let someone in. It offers proof that even in the darkest part of the jungle, whether it’s made of trees or memories, there’s a way through. There’s someone willing to walk with you.
Thank you for stepping into the shadows and the light with them. I’d love to hear from you about STARR Crossed Desire. You can find me online, or send me a quick note via email at marliesable@sultryreads.com
My inbox is always open to fellow lovers of fierce romance and edge of your seat suspense.
Stay sharp, stay wild, and remember you’re not alone!