Trigger Discipline

Team Oh Sh!t #1

by Jacqueline McCall

Gear up. Stay alive. Don’t fall for the guy who drags you out of the fire.When the skies over Washington D.C. darken with an alien invasion, paramedic Blake Lewis barely has time to register the end of the world before he's knee-deep in blood, smoke, and melted asphalt. Terrified but determined, he's holding the line for survivors—until a private military group crash lands in the middle of the invasion.

Gabriel Lennox has spent his entire life fighting someone else's battles. A hardened special forces operator, he's focused on the mission. But when a sharp-tongued medic with a bruised face and a bleeding heart saves his life, Gabriel finds something more terrifying than hope.

Thrust together in a city burning from the inside out, Blake and Gabriel must navigate hostile streets, inhuman enemies, and a crumbling government—all while trying not to fall in love at the worst possible time.

Fast-paced, brutally funny, and shockingly heartfelt, Trigger Discipline is the first novel in a duet. It’s a genre-defying, queer-centric military sci-fi romp that delivers explosive action, biting banter, and a cast of survivors you’ll actually root for.

Genres: M M Romance, Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Action, Romance, Slow Burn, Post Apocalyptic

280 pages, Paperback

Published December 20, 2025

About the author

Jacqueline McCall is a displaced Texan, living on a farm in Central Florida. Raised as an only child by a single mother, she was often left alone. To fill her time, she picked up reading. When hyper fixating on characters wasn’t enough, she started creating her own. Like her characters, she never pulls punches. Preferring to write characters that aren’t being rescued by the knight on the white horse, but rather a beaten, bloody, morally grey savior.

Basically nocturnal, she prefers long naps behind blackout curtains and energy drinks. She can never remember keyboard short cuts and hates when her phone updates. When not writing, she enjoys riding her horses, being judged by cats, and cursing.

Reviews

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** stars

No aliens were f*cked in the making of this novel.
Sorry. Maybe next time.

Bahaha, loved this little note from the author.

This was quite the adventure and had total Independence Day (movie) vibes. It was definitely a slow burn and I had to wait quite some time for the romance to really kick off but considering the circumstances they were in I could deal, I guess. lol


The setup is interesting and I look forward to seeing how the remaining introduced characters find their ways to each other romantically in this alien-invasion-fuckup.

*************
Team Oh Sh!t Series

Book 1 - Trigger Discipline - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Rally Point Zero - tbd

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t had so much fun in a book in a very long time. It’s a jam-packed action novel where the romance feels incidental, but is still pretty delicious.

We start with two first responders in their ambulance in Washington DC caught in the midst of some great catastrophe, only to find out that Earth has been invaded by belligerent aliens and everything is getting destroyed. They then cross paths with a small private military recon team and save their asses from imminent demise. And from there, the crazy action just does not stop.

Our paramedic MC is Blake, who I immediately loved. He is an extremely smart and resourceful guy, with like Sherlock levels of deduction and a razor sharp wit, sarcastic as all hell. Then our soldier MC is Gabriel, commander of his squad, an extremely competent and solid person with a complex backstory. Blake is not gay, Gabriel is, but in the insane few days they spend running around DC almost dying multiple times, they develop an attraction to each other that transcends sexuality. It’s a classic peri-apocalypse romance, and I am obsessed. The rest of the characters are also all great and unique in their own ways.

At the moment I don’t have super good feelings about the US military, but in this book they are at least defending from a credible threat and not bombing schools. So I could side with them here. I think the only thing that really bothered me was the debilitating injuries they seem to accrue but still manage to run around fighting aliens with. I’ve worked in trauma medicine for a long time and there’s just no way people are running around on broken limbs or losing enough blood to almost kill them but then seem to just carry on. Adrenaline can only take you so far. But if you can suspend your disbelief for something that’s maybe not that important in the grand scheme of things, this book is a ripping read.

I would say that book is criminally underrated. I mean, it’s fairly highly rated by people that have read it, but that’s really not a lot of people. So if you’re in the mood for sheer sci fi escapism, what I’m saying is: go read it!

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Discipline by Jacqueline McCall

💙 Paramedic x Special Forces Soldier
💙 Neurodivergent Rep
💙 Bi-Awakening
💙 Alien Invasion
💙 Sci-fi Romance
💙 Found Family
🔥 Marking

Review:
Alien invasion stories aren't usually something I would pick up but damn I got hooked on this one. I went into this book not knowing a huge amount about it and was blown away by the story. 

I absolutely loved both of the MCs and all of the side characters were fantastic too! I love how the author created this comforting found family in such an intense world. This was my first time reading a book by Jacqueline McCall but it definitely won't be my last. 

I can't wait to see Gabriel and Blake's relationship progress further and I'm excited to find out what happens to the rest of the team and the world around them. This is part 1 of a duet and I'm looking forward to reading part 2 ASAP!

Overall:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice:       🌶️🌶️
Humour:  🤭🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂.5
Angst:      🥺🥺🥺

Third person dual pov 👀

Content Warnings
On page: blood & gore, violence, gun violence, injury, war, death, murder, bombing, fire, car crashes, suicide
Mentioned: PTSD, nightmares, child death, alcoholism, addiction, suicide

[Lily S (Cover Lover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and fast paced story. There was a very different take on aliens and I loved the group that forms between the paramedics and military men. There is also a strong female character that joins the group. Together they all are trying to first rescue people and then just survive and hopefully get out of Washington DC and find a safe place.

In the midst of all this excitement there is a love story between EMT Blake and commander Gabriel. Their relationship grows slowly and I thought the pacing of it was a good fit for the circumstances and story.

There are other relationships brewing in this small group and this ends on a cliffhanger so I am excited for the next book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this and I can’t wait for book 2!

I needed something a little different and this delivered. Aliens invade the world but make it a romance. I adored Gabriel and Blake and their banter. I’m excited to see what Team Oh Sh!t gets up to next.

*****
I received an ARC of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start of a new sci-fi disaster story, including a whole lot of different aliens who are flattening everything on earth. Blake has a very unusual mind, which I found fascinating. Amidst a lot of dangerous and deadly situations ), he and Gabriel find themselves unexpectedly strongly attracted to each other. The whole new "team" of people helping each other to survive are really interesting, and I'm really curious about what will happen next.
Thanks for the advance copy, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg, this was so much better than I expected

my first book by Jaqueline Mccall, but it's definitely not my last one

I loved the world building and the characters.
the whole gang was interesting to read. I loved their interactions and how they worked together for their survival.

I really enjoyed reading this journey through post-apocalyptic US.

I can't wait for the next book in this series

[Catarina Águas · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

Loved the book so much.
I loved this type of books, you are stranded because something major happened, you have find a way to survive and along the way you meet other people and you became a team.
Gabriel was the man in charge and it showed in all his actions. Everything he did was with another person in mind. He wanted everyone to succeed even if he didn't.
Blake was caught up in all of this and ge was trying to do the best he could. He was a good guy and had the most outlandish plans but somehow they worked.
They shouldn't had found each other but they did and it gave them hope

[Vanessa V · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review – Trigger Discipline

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was such a hidden gem. I am so glad I requested an ARC of this duet because wow… it completely took me by surprise in the best way. I went in curious and came out slightly emotionally attached and mildly stressed 😅

The story is fast-paced right from the start. The opening chapters drop you straight into an alien invasion, with people trying to rationalize the impossible… until the aliens basically say, “nope, we’re real” 👽 You really feel like you’re in the story, and I kept thinking: what would I do? (Answer: probably panic and make bad decisions.) It’s intense and very hard to put down.

We follow Blake, a medic, and Tommy, an EMT, who save Gabriel and his team of soldiers. From there, they team up and try to survive in a world that has completely gone off the rails.

Blake was such a standout for me. His brain works differently, and he notices things everyone else misses, which leads to some seriously impressive saves. Meanwhile I’m sitting there like, “ Blake, please don’t die” 😭

There’s also a slow-building attraction between Blake and Gabriel, which I really enjoyed. It’s subtle, but it’s there, and it adds just enough emotional tension without taking away from the action. Watching this group turn into a found family made me way too attached, way too fast.

And the side characters?? So lovable. Which is honestly stressful because now I’m already worried about the sequel. Author, respectfully… don’t touch them 🫠 There are also hints of other romances, and I am very ready for that.

Overall, I loved this book. It’s action-packed, emotional, a little chaotic, and full of characters you end up caring about whether you planned to or not. I’m excited, nervous, and already preparing myself for whatever comes next.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, from a new to me author. It was a great scifi book with action and alien invasion and apocolyptic themes, interspersed with interesting introspection on PTSD and the impacts of being in high trauma fields of work. The writing was great, mixing poetic with edge of your seat moments. I'm very invested in the characters - this is absolutely one of those "look for the helpers" kinds of situations, as they'd all thrown themselves toward the danger when it happened. Looking forward to the next book to see how everyone fares.

[Precious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this book! I really loved how there was a build up to the actual disaster happening, giving a glimpse of the before and after of the world. This book was written in a way that grabs your attention and holds it until the very end. Truly a pleasure to read.

[Crisana]

DNF. Not feeling it at the moment. May come back to it later.

[Jenny (Nyxie)]

No rating DNF. Works in theory but just not grabbing me as I’m reading. Love the premise though!

[Arcturus170 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy through Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
3.4*
This is an alright book, but it didn’t work for me. I’m glad others are enjoying MM sci-fi, which always grabs my attention. I like the slow burn romance, even with only one scene of intimacy, but it’s very back-burner to humanity facing extinction by alien invaders. The emotional moments are strong and compelling, which kept me reading. Also, I like the medic angle because it seems thorough and competently written.

The aliens and action scenes just left me full of questions. The different types of aliens each have very specific strengths and weaknesses, as though designed for a strategy game. It feels very convenient every time Blake exploits one of their weaknesses. Later, we get an important reveal that explains their design purpose, but we don’t know why they’re exterminating humanity, or why they’re on foot and not just blasting everything from space. They seem to make dumb choices, honestly. Dumb or not, the aliens are deadly AF and the team sustains one crippling injury after another. Where are the crutches and/or wheelie carts to help move these injured folks?! I really started to question how they survived. Every near-death encounter, Blake or one of the crew manages to MacGuyver them all to safety, which, yes, I’m glad they live, but it feels like a game of Jenga blocks about to topple because of all the near misses and holes punched into these people.

The book has a quiet, small ending with the team ok, but facing a cliffhanger future. It’s really, really bleak, though, with little room for hope. I’m not going to continue with the series. Any “happy” ending seems to include the devastation of the earth and I just don’t want that in my brain. Things are hard enough out here IRL.

Other thoughts:
-The military angle is at first cheesy, but then quickly very dark, dealing with issues of addiction, PTSD, and suicide. It’s tough to read at points.
-DC doesn’t really feel like the setting. As I remember it, there are no familiar street names or neighborhoods. There are passing references to Capital Hill and the Whitehouse (maybe three times). Toward the end, the Potomac River is important. I’d say that’s the most DC this book ever gets. It’s disappointing.
-They’re just sitting around in a “safe house” for days doing nothing. No scouting or info gathering, no raids for food or medicine, no attempts to contact other resistance fighters who they know exist. It drove me absolutely crazy.
-Blake’s exploit against the alien shield is pretty ridiculous. I thought for sure he was going to arrange something big. I kept waiting for it. Nerp.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paramedic, Blake Lewis and his EMT partner Tommy Blevins were having a slow but normal day. Slow days were sometimes good, but they made for a very long day.
Tommy is in his twenties and ten years younger than Blake. He’s respectful, competent quiet and likable. Blake had always tried to keep work and his personal life separate, but Tommy became attached to him and like to spend time with Blake. They would watch movies, hang out and Blake could actually tolerate Tommy, where he couldn’t others. They had formed a bond. For Blake he would rather spend his time alone and reading. On there way back to the station, Tommy get’s a call from his mother, who’s a surgeon, the call was nothing new as she frequently called Tommy.

Tommy couldn’t understand his mother’s call, and then it was disconnected and then came the explosions!

Gabriel Lennox flew a Sikorsky Black Hawk, but today he only carried three. He really hated flying. Fifteen years of service, starting as a grunt, with boots on the ground, and squad leader.

Phineas “Phin” Johnson, they had a natural friendship. Phin suffered with PTSD, had a med discharge, and has heavy weapons knowledge. Gabe was always there to help Phin with his PTSD troubles. Judd Briggs was a reconnaissance specialist, loud, brash and Southern. In fact, that’s what Gabriel did, help everyone.

All three worked for Irving at Kinetic Solutions. Now they were headed for the drop zone to find the cell tower to re-establish communications and they still didn’t know why or what was really happening, until Gabriel has to tell them.

Blake and Tommy had figured out what they were up against and fighting their own war, until Blake sees the three soldiers. They were in a jam and one was badly hurt. Blake had an idea and put it to good use. Tommy and Blake were going into action with a motorcycle and an ambulance and saved the soldiers. That’s when Gabriel came up against a snarky medic by the name of Blake. Would they never find a way to get out of a world now filled with chaos?

Jacqueline McCall literally creates an explosive tale with “Team OH Sh!t: Trigger Discipline”. This story will grab you from the very beginning with over powering excitement, and danger. It’s a fast pace, page turner and doesn’t give your mind time to rest and it makes the story over with too soon.

It’s an in-depth look into all the characters involved and it starts with Gabriel and Blake.
As opposite as Gabe and Blake are they both need something from each other to fill there lives. A friendship will start to grow between these opposite characters and they bring intimate and steamy moments and one will discover their sexuality.

There’s Tommy and Phin, Judd, Victoria, even Scott, as they all bring something special to the story. Each one of these characters develop at their own pace that makes them stand out in their own way. It shows the intelligence and heroism of each one.

This is my first time reading Jacqueline McCall and she is outstanding with bringing the words to the page. The story is gripping, exciting, heartbreaking, filled with a variety of emotions and humor. It’s also scary, with two groups of invaders that bring their war to earth. The descriptions of the destruction and technical parts of the invaders and forms of aircraft, from two different worlds, are clear and precise. “Trigger Discipline” was a surprise and I liked every minute of it. I can’t wait for the next book, to see what the author will put the heroes of the “OH Sh!t Team” through, with “Rally Point Zero”.

[Sandy Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonstop action and difficult decisions hit, beat after beat, in this science fiction romance, as two battle-worn MCs survive an alien invasion and find something to fight for in the wreckage of civilization. A read featuring a bi-awakening, fighting for your life, and claiming happiness in the face of a nebulous future.

Paramedic Blake is near finished with a regular shift with his EMT partner Tommy when the world as they know it ends.

Mercenary soldier Gabriel is sent on what might be a suicide mission with his small team to try to find out what’s happened in Washington DC that’s cut off all communications.

When civilian saves soldier, a new awareness rises amidst death and chaos.

The book really goes there, making survival seem like chance and never letting up as truly alien aliens (no humanoid, “they’re like us but different” looks here) systematically destroy Washington DC and many parts of the world, for no comprehensible reason. This is what it might actually feel like to be under such an attack.

Disaster compounds on disaster, twists and pivots and dodges abound, and there’s almost no time to breathe as the aliens take down the city and trap everyone in it behind a massive force field. Two small human teams come together to try to reinstate communications outside the city, and are under constant pressure where every move could be their last. There’s no mercy, no quarter given, no way out. Unless they can McGyver their way, somehow, with literal sticks and stones and whatever odds and ends they can cobble together from the guns and dwindling ammo and medical supplies they have left.

It was… fun? That seems an odd word. But I was consistently engaged and eager to see what would happen next.

It isn’t the most emotional read, but it can’t be. Danger is constant, visceral, unavoidable. The romance is a subplot, a reward for surviving, built in moments out of time and place and sort of a last gasp for air before drowning.

This one ends in a good place, a moment of respite, and NOT an annoying cliffie, thank goodness, but I have no doubt the danger and difficult choices will escalate in the next installment. I’ll be here for it.

HFN, but a precarious one. It’s like one sneeze could destroy what's left of humanity. Paramedic (bi-awakening for him) and soldier/mercenary (good mercenary, not a killer for hire). Love in the apocalypse. No others/OM action or drama, just two men falling for each other as they try to save their teammates and survive. Recommended.

My thanks to BookSirens and the author for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Dísir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me a disaster movie (B-grade or otherwise) and I’m there faster than a big bunch of humanity can die off. ‘Trigger Discipline’ delivers on that front with an alien invasion that catches present-day Earth completely off guard, obliterating major cities in an instant.

Much of the book has a growing ragtag group of disparate people who are forced to get along because of circumstances, but they are also conveniently, a group with sufficiently good survival skills who help each other stay alive.

In fact, I’m actually quite surprised by their abilities to keep on breathing despite the plethora of broken bits and copious amounts of bleeding, along with a hefty dose of angsty internal monologues and broody ruminations as they take a slow detour around a ravaged Washington D.C. simply trying to get a feel of what is really happening. There is non-stop action as they realise that Earth has inexplicably become a battleground between 2 extra-terrestrial species, with humans paying the prices as senseless collateral damage.

And while the group is pretty much the heart of the story, paramedic Blake Lewis and black ops veteran Gabriel Lennox come to the fore as a developing couple—the bisexual-awakening of the former is interesting to read, as is his preternaturally never-ending stream of ideas as he Macgyvers his way around obstacles that help the group come out of sticky situations. Gabriel is more of a textbook hero, as a soldier who protect and shields while leading 2 other sniping and volatile soldiers who provide some kind of entertainment as they wrestle their own demons.

Jacqueline McCall is a new indie author to me, but there’s a certain cinematic vision to this that I can appreciate; it’s short and intense where everything is amplified by hour and trauma that can make days feel like hours or years. Time is compressed, lengthened and stilled as our characters stop and move and battle creatures that they are inadequately prepared to face. Book 1 obviously sets the universe up, leaving more questions than answers, ending on a brief reprieve before our favourite group moves along. It ends on a cliffhanger but I’m hugely curious to see how McCall is going to go on with this.

*ARC by Booksirens

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger Discipline is the first book in Jacqueline McCall’s Team Oh Sh!t series, and it was a story that instantly grabbed my attention. I am always eager to dive into new apocalyptic reads, and Trigger Discipline had plenty to keep me hooked.

I will be honest and say that, in the end, my feelings toward Trigger Discipline were somewhat mixed. My rating is more of a three-point-five-star rating, which I did consider rounding up, but there were enough little things to have me rounding down. As a whole, the story was engaging. There were plenty of elements that had me intrigued, guaranteeing I powered through the story in no time. There were plenty of beloved elements from the genre, while also offering some twists that are less frequent – with the latter ensuring I was eager to see how things developed. Although I was hooked on seeing these developments, this was linked largely to the science fiction aspect. For me, the romance felt far too quick and forced. I did not truly believe it. The fact that this is the first in the series has me thinking it would be more believable if it had been a slower burn, without there being the sudden switch to awareness and action toward the end of the book. I one hundred percent understand the way things work at an unnatural pace in dramatic situations (it is one of my favourite trivia pieces, how you can basically take someone to a theme park for a first data and confuse them into believing they felt interest due to the crossed emotional wires). However, there was not enough substance for me to be convinced with the couple in this book. In large, I think this is because there was quite a bit of repetition within the writing. It bogged down certain aspects while preventing exploration into others, and I feel like it impacted upon my belief in the relationship between the characters. That is not to say I disliked it – the story certainly had me hooked and eager for more – but I do wish there had been a bit more exploration of the romance element.

All in all, this was a fun introduction to the series, and I am certainly curious about what comes next.

[Susi June · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I was a nail biter, I would only have nubs left, after reading this book!!

I'm not the biggest dystopian genre fan but I guess if it is mixed with two boys falling in love, I'm down for it. And it was truly dystopian, everything felt so hopeless and horrible. As soon as you got a breather from some awful event, the next one was right around the corner. Trough all of this you could really feel their emotions, all the negative but also the positive ones. The author did great job conveying how fucked up their (and everybodies) situation is, I really felt for them.

The feelings that started to grow between them are really sweet. I guess what is a better motivator to survive such awful situations then love.

I rather read about hot aliens that are looking for a mate but enjoyed this type of alien too. I mean not really, they were monsters but they were a good villain to hate. They were not humanoid whatsoever, basically they were weapons, practically indestructible.

It was a lot of internal monologue but I didn't mind it at all. It didn't feel like unnecessary blah blah but a lot of information about what was going on. Not gonna lie, sometimes I was a bit confused but it didn't diminish my enjoyment.

The team was great. Most of them were grumpy assholes, which of course they were, who wouldn't be if in their shoes?! I'm so excited for the next book.

I can't describe how much I loved it when Gabriel and Blake shared their soft moments. It made me melt every time when they fantasize about a different reality for them.
"Because whether there were aliens blowing up the Earth or we were standing in line at a coffee shop on a Tuesday afternoon... I would have kissed you."
Ugh Gabriel was such a sweetheart. He struggled with a lot of guilt, ptsd and he was a alcoholic (dry). Blake really gave him new hope in his life. I guess Gabriel gave Blake hope in his new life. He was snarky but so protective. He has a great heart and is really the mvp of this team.

Ugh I loved this book.

[Ibiliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

In her acknowledgments at the end of the book, the author talks about her love for sci-fi and disaster movies. Independence Day, one of the movies mentioned, was my favorite movie growing up. And this book brings Independence Day and all those other movies to MM romance.

On page 238 Blake says: ‘Like… am I okay with being in the middle of every shitty B movie I watched on Sunday afternoon, or am I okay with your dick touching mine?’ and that sums up the book perfectly. Although low in spice the relationship development between the MCs is great. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously. The author, as she said, is aware of where her inspiration came from and doesn’t hide it. She also didn’t need to. The story is refreshing, but at the same time, sci-fi lovers will enjoy all the good stuff of an alien invasion disaster story. The aliens are original enough, and the team is great without them having too much drama. The book touches on some angst but doesn’t go deep, and has banter and humor that fit the story. Also, I’m pretty sure no one can walk around on a broken leg as Victoria did, but it’s so typical of this kind of movie that it just worked in this book too.

All in all, a delightful book that only lost some points for having more typos than I could ignore and a bit of a confusing timeline at the start of the book. A solid 4 star read, but I added half a point extra just for making me want to watch Independence Day again.

For squeamish people, the book describes a destroyed city and the humans who didn’t escape or survive the invasion. The MCs see bodies on multiple occasions.

I received this book as an ARC through Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Woodatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I've read every book Jacqueline has written and I've loved each and every one. I love her writing style, her love for detail and strong characters. No different here in this first part of Team Oh Sh!t.

We immediately get thrown into the action when paramedic Blake Lewis and his assistent Tommy find out their country is under attack by aliens, and not just one species but two as we find out later who are fighting each other and see humans simply as collateral damage.

Whilst on the run they encounter and rescue Gabriel Lennox and two others of his team, Phin and Judd, who are cornered by some aliens. Theirs is a team of volunteers who are set out to help and see if there are some survivors to evecuate.

Amidst all the attacks and attempts to find out who, what and why, there's an attraction between Gabriel and Blake that throughout the book developpes into something way deeper. Gabriel is a soldier to the core, he's got a hero complex a mile wide but is also convinced he doesn't deserve any happiness. Blake on the other hand has always thought of himself as straight, never finding a real connection. Where Gabriel is the force, Blake is the quick thinker who saves their merry band quite a few times.

Trigger Discipline is a short first introduction to a world as we knew it, non stop action, a developping relationship and side characters with a lot of potential. It kept me glued to my Kindle and having the book ending on a cliffhanger, makes me hope that Jacqueline won't take to long to give us the next one.

*ARC kindly received from the author via Booksirens. I'm leaving a voluntary review.*

[Plaguedoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aliens have invaded Earth.

Three former military men who now work in a private sector, are sent on a reconnaissance mission to Washington D.C. where many areas have been turned to rubble and ash. Meanwhile, two medics are going about their day, driving their ambulance through the streets, when the attack happens-- first their phones go out, then their radios. Dodging explosions and destruction, they come across three men being cornered by a robotic alien, and plow their way through and wave the men inside. Those five men must now figure out how to get in contact with the military---or anyone, for that matter-- to help.

So, this story has a great premise, and I really love the characters. Gabriel is stoic but personable, Blake is sarcastic and good at solving problems on the fly. Phin is also stoic but a bit prickly, having likely been in some traumatic situations in the military that led to his PTSD diagnosis. Tommy is young and somewhat innocent, but super smart, and Judd is also pretty sarcastic and has a good sense of humor.

My only real problem with the story is that there are a lot of "huh?" situations that really don't make sense and/or aren't realistic. At one point, at the beginning of the book, Blake and Tommy come across some injured civilians, and Blake pushes the man, who is so injured he can't even stay on his feet...but yells at them to run. 🤔🤨 Just small things like that, and while they stood out to me, they weren't too distracting.

The writing is decent, and it has a good balance of drama, action, and goofiness.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ViVi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐

Lately I've been gravitating towards romance books that are more high stakes with good well-developed plot. That's why this book caught my attention right away. And the cover 👀.

Immediately after starting the book the writing kept me captivated and I didn't want to put it down. If real life didn't get in the way I would probably finish in one sitting. I don't normally reach for the sci-fi genre but the world the author created is phenomenal. Specifically, I really enjoyed how she described everything, be it a character or a scene. The attention to detail made you feel like you were in the story with the characters, feeling the pressure and fear of what was happening.

I fell in love with Blake the minute he was introduced, his personality was just so fun. I liked how confident he was in what he was doing, his perception of the world and people, as well as his more snarky and fun side. I do have to say all the other characters were amazing as well. They all had very distinct personalities that made you root for them and by the end of the story I was praying that nothing happens to them. Gabriel was very lovely, how he took care of Blake and all the others was heartwarming to see. He's definitely a complex character though. I appreciated how the author handled his addiction, I think it made him seem more human, because on the outside he seemed like an impenetrable wall that rarely shows any feelings but in reality he was dealing with so much.

I can't recommend this book enough and can't wait for the next one. Maybe we will see more of the world.

I recieved an ARC of this book from Book Sirens, and this is my honest review.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aliens have obliterated major cities all over the world and taken out military bases, power grids, cell towers, and governments. Gabriel and his team are there to restore communication from Washington DC to the outside world.

Blake is a paramedic coming back at the end of his shift with his young EMT partner Tommy when they see smoke clouds and fire and go back to try to rescue people.

As aliens attack Gabriel’s team Blake saves them by picking them up in the ambulance. Phin is injured and Tommy looks after him while Blake and Gabriel find a cell tower, but it’s destroyed. Blake has the brilliant idea of making a telegraph, and Phin sends a Morse code message to their boss.

The power is out and the aliens are using electromagnetic power for their weapons, which bullets do nothing against.
The group picks up a couple of pilots, one of whom is injured but tells them the alien’s ship has a shield.

When they go to check it out they find another alien ship trying to attack the first one so they get the shield down. It becomes clear that humans aren’t the target, the aliens are fighting each other on Earth, a location for the battle.

Blake and Gabriel share daydreams, secrets and truths, and among all the chaos find a reason to fight to live, each other.

They manage to all gather and make a plan to escape, but carrying it out means making a hole in a wall to get to the river, which Tommy does at great risk. They get to a marina and find a sailboat, escaping the city, but the war isn’t over yet.

An excellent adventure with a sci fi twist, and incredibly clever things that save the team more than once. I like Blake’s ideas that give them a fighting chance, and each team member has something to offer.

I received this ARC for free and am pleased to give it my honest review with gratitude.

[SNik · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in duet (Team Oh Sh!t). Sci-fi. Found family. Very slow burn. Dual POV.

An alien invasion decimates the city of Washington DC, and leaves paramedic Blake struggling to help others and survive the brutal destruction of his hometown. Gabriel is sent in by his private military firm to reestablish communication, but his group is cut off and definitely overpowered by the aliens, and joining Blake and his work partner the group are determined to survive together.

What an action packed, danger filled, fast paced story, where I was fully gripped and stressed through the entire book from start to finish. I really enjoyed how capable and intelligent both Blake and Gabriel are, they are also loyal, and although overwhelmed, they are dedicated to helping and surviving. There is a good amount of background for both Blake and Gabriel and their connection is unexpected and due to their shared terrible experiences it feels deep. All of the found family are meaningful and important to Blake and Gabriel, and I hope they all come out in the next book together and safe. I’m very much looking forward to Blake and Gabriel getting their HEA if they survive the battleground that is now Earth. 4.5 rounded up

[Minnie x · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC✨ 4.5🌟 🌶️3

I want to start this quick lil review off by saying this is the first ever sci-fi book I have read in my life and I was so pleasantly surprised. I do not typically like this genre at all but I was in a slump and decided to step out my comfort zone and I’m so glad I did.

The romance was great and the action was absolutely spot on. I adored the complexity of both Blake and Gabriel, soldiers are my absolute favourite thing so I might be a little bias towards him hehe. I certainly wouldn’t mind him saving me during an alien invasion that’s for sure🤭 I was very appreciative of the fact there was no insta love and that they had pretty much the whole book to flesh out their connection which made it feel a little more real.

The secondary characters added a good amount of depth and definitely gave me a giggle or two, Judd is an absolute riot and may possibly be my second favourite character🤫 I don’t know a single thing about aliens in any capacity but they were obviously well researched/imagined and fit the plot fantastically, the suspense was great and I had a world of fun reading about all the different types. I can’t promise I’ll ever read another sci-fi book again after this book if the next book is anywhere near as good I’ll definitely be happy to give it a go!

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake Lewis and his coworker, Tommy Blevens, are on a typical tour when it becomes anything but. Hearing an explosion, they head in that direction when several more occur. The next thing they know communications are down and they notice what can only be aliens in the area. Saving a group of men who join them leads to the five of them joining into a team. Gabriel Lennox is the commander with Judd Briggs as a recon specialist and Phin Johnson as the weapons specialist. The five work together to try and figure out what is going on. They add in a Navy pilot, Victoria Hollis, and a National Guardsman Scott, who is later lost. Cut off, it becomes them against the aliens.

So much was going on. This group of five who call themselves Team Oh Sh!t are intense, loyal, determined and caring. Understandably, they relieve their tension with a bit of humor. They work hard and are set on leaving no one in the group behind. The romance is truly a slow burn, but has to be considering there are no utilities and very little privacy. This is only book one and I cannot wait for another pulse pounding book. Excitement, surprises, and nonstop action are in store for you when you pick this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book throws you straight into chaos and never really lets you breathe – in the best possible way. The alien invasion, the collapsing city and the constant pressure to keep moving all feel immediate and intense, without losing sight of the people caught in the middle of it all.

Blake and Gabriel are a fantastic pairing. Blake’s stubborn compassion and dark humour make him easy to root for, especially as he keeps patching people up in situations that feel completely hopeless. Gabriel, on the other hand, is all control and responsibility, carrying the weight of everyone’s survival whether they ask him to or not. Watching them learn to trust each other in the middle of disaster is incredibly satisfying.

What really surprised me was how much heart the story has. Between the action and the banter, there are quieter moments that show why these characters keep fighting. Their connection feels earned, not rushed, and the hope they find in each other becomes a lifeline in a world that’s falling apart.

A fast, sharp and emotional start to the series that left me desperate for the next book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up *mild spoilers*

High impact (pun intended!), fast-paced, world-ending action kept me engaged for the entire story as Blake and Gabriel, the paramedic and the tactical commander, along with their trusty sidekicks, fight what seems like an increasingly losing battle against the Oiff Formers and the Monkey Cats. Although the romance side of things was minimal, it intensified rather quickly. Thankfully, the HEA is still in the future; otherwise, it would have been less believable than the aliens destroying DC. I was pleased that the writer was apparently thinking what I was thinking about the Transformers connection, except I called the aliens Decepticons to her Off Formers--you'll have to read to see how THAT nickname stuck.

I rounded up to 4 stars because, despite how unbelievably fast the relationship was developing and the fact that the cliffhanger is NOT minor, the story felt organic. It gave us the chance to hear their back story as we see them growing toward each other. Also, I like them each as individuals, and I like that they see each other differently.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

When aliens attack, the good guys always save the day… just not this time.

Blake, saving lives is what he does. He just never thought he would have to save them from an alien invasion. Gabriel, ex military, works private security. Used to war zones, he wasn’t prepared for what he found in DC.

Apocalypse caused by an inter-stellar war between two vastly different races. Intrepid people fighting to live and find their way to safely. Love, creeping in softly to give Blake and Gabriel more reasons to get out of the madness.

Blake and Tommy, Gabriel and his men, and stragglers they pick up along the way, all make a formidable team.

When I started reading this book I didn’t know what to expect. I got it intelligent and disparate people facing horrific monsters. Their differences making them a formidable, yet damaged force. I thought there wouldn’t be losses so that surprised me.

Actually the whole book surprised me. Good writing, characters worth rooting for, a mission impossible, nasty aliens, and a romance that was unexpectedly sweet.

I received an arc of this book.